Fluvanna Habitat Aims High and Goes “Green”

2009 promises to be an exciting year for both the Douglas family and the Fluvanna County Habitat for Humanity.   Construction of the Douglas’s new home, the eleventh house to be built by the local Habitat affiliate, began recently.  For the family, the new home represents an opportunity to live in a decent home and achieve the dream of homeownership.  The Douglases are raising their three grandchildren and both generations are looking forward to partnering with Habitat to build their new home.

For Fluvanna Habitat, the new home will also be very special because it will be the first one built in their first subdivision.  In addition, it will be the first subdivision designed according to the County’s new “small rural cluster” standard.  This type of subdivision is defined as one that is six houses or less and that permanently preserves 75% of the land as open space. The subdivision, called High Mountain Acres, is located on Route 650 (High Mountain Road), not too far from Fork Union, and is approved for five houses

In the past, Fluvanna Habitat has built one home a year, on individual parcels of land scattered around the county.  With the approval of High Mountain Acres, they hope to raise enough funds to construct the subdivision’s second home in 2009 as well.  Another partner family, a single mom that is adopting a foster child, has already been selected to purchase the second home.  “Two years ago we purchased a parcel of land large enough that we can have our own subdivision” according to President, Gladys Albright.  “We were very fortunate to be able to partner with the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF) who provided a $9,000 grant which helped to defray the cost of developing this land. Now our challenge is to raise enough money to build two homes with our partner families and other volunteers in 2009.”

At the monthly Habitat Board of Directors meeting on December 4, 2008, Habitat raised the bar again and decided that all future homes would be built to meet Earthcraft Certification standards.  According to Mike Himes, a local developer and Fluvanna Habitat’s Vice President, “These standards were adopted as the accepted green certification for Virginia last year.  Earthcraft certification will result in healthier, more energy efficient and durable homes that are environmentally friendly.  Plus, lower utility bills will give our homeowners a break and the higher quality of building supplies should decrease the need for home repairs.”