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Habitat to build new homes in Ashland By Morgan Rothborne Aug 29, 2022 12:45 AM A A Due to land costs, it’s been 20 years since Habitat for Humanity has built in Ashland A rendering shows a side view of an affordable house planned by Habitat for Humanity in the Beach Creek neighborhood. [courtesy photo] A rendering shows a view of an affordable house planned by Habitat for Humanity in the Beach Creek neighborhood. [courtesy photo] For the first time in 20 years, Habitat for Humanity is preparing to build new homes in Ashland. The application process to become the owner of one of these homes begins next week. At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31, in Wesley Hall of First United Methodist Church, 175 N. Main St., Ashland, those who have never owned a home can find information and applications to help build their own with Habitat for Humanity. “When it’s all said and done, we’ll have built eight lots total, but we’re starting with four,” said Brandon Thoms, director of programs for Habitat for Humanity. All those selected by the charity will be required to invest what Thoms referred to as sweat equity. “Each family participates 500 hours and helps build alongside our volunteers — and helps us with events and in the ReStore,” Thoms said. “It’s great; it gives them pride of ownership and self-reliance and teaches them new skills.” Habitat for Humanity has not built in Ashland for two decades because of cost, Thoms said. The charity often has to buy the lots they build on, and in Ashland it’s become too expensive. But the city of Ashland has an inclusionary zoning ordinance, he said, meaning for every new development of a certain size, a certain portion of the land or buildings have to be used for affordable housing. Whenever land is annexed into the city or the number of homes — rental, single or multifamily — increases, Ashland requires that a certain number of affordable housing units be included in the development, said Brandon Goldman, senior planner for the Ashland Community Development Department. “It’s more of a menu of options,” Goldman said of the requirements for developers. They have to build comparable units and consider the median income of the buyers or renters when they choose the number of affordable housing units to build, but which organization they choose to work with and how they want to create the affordable housing is up to them, Goldman explained. If they choose ACCESS or the Housing Authority of Jackson County, as some developers have recently done, he said, then they create rental housing. KDA Homes, a local developer, is preparing to build a new subdivision off North Mountain Street called Beach Creek and chose Habitat for Humanity to fulfill the inclusionary zoning requirement with homes a family can own through sweat equity. “We chose them for their enthusiasm and their mission,” said Mark Knox, a partner with KDA Homes. “KDA homes will be transferring the land to Habitat for Humanity,” Goldman said. “But they actually went a bit further than a straight land transfer. KDA actually designed all the homes, as well, and they will be putting in infrastructure to serve all of them.” Infrastructure includes roads, sidewalks and utilities for each lot, all of which will make the homes more affordable for Habitat for Humanity, he said. The selection process will take some time, Thoms explained. Habitat for Humanity will accept applications for 30 days, then spend 45 to 60 days reviewing them and interviewing candidates to determine who qualifies. “We’re looking for construction to begin early next year,” he said. No RSVP or application for Wednesday’s event is necessary, according to Habitat for Humanity, and anyone interested is welcome to attend. The day after the event, applications will be available to download on the Habitat for Humanity website, Thom said. Reach Mail Tribune reporter Morgan Rothborne at [email protected] or 541-776-4487. Follow her on Twitter @MRothborne.