Volunteers strapped on helmets and hammers Friday as crews got to work on one of St. Albert’s biggest affordable housing projects.
Construction of Aurora Place at 70 Arlington Drive began in earnest Friday morning with the arrival of seven volunteer workers. Aurora Place is a 30-home affordable housing project run by Habitat for Humanity Edmonton approved by the city in late 2010.
Professional crews started work on the site in mid-summer, says site superintendant Bill LePage, and are now pouring the last of the foundations for four duplexes slated for construction this winter. “I hope to experience my first move-in on the first duplex here by the end of spring.”
But they’ll need help to make that happen. Alfred Nikolai, CEO for Habitat for Humanity Edmonton, says the site needs an additional two to three volunteers to step up each day until Christmas to stay on target. They’ll need another 30 per day come January when they start doing drywall.
LePage had his Friday crew down in the pits using nail-guns to attach insulation to the outside of foundations. This insulation, he explains, in addition to other features such as drain heat recovery units and recycled materials, will help the homes meet the provincial Built Green standard for energy efficiency. Future crews will raise the walls, floor and roof of the buildings.
You don’t need to be a construction expert to work on a Habitat site, LePage says. “We’ll take anyone who’s willing to come out.”
Sandy Esposito was one of the newer volunteers at the site Friday. A city employee with little construction experience, she took a day off work to help what she says is a good cause.
Affordable housing is a necessity in St. Albert, Esposito says. “I went to school in St. Albert, and I didn’t move back [here] until 11 years ago because I couldn’t afford to live in St. Albert,” she says. “I’d like to see my kids stay in St. Albert, but quite frankly, when they’re going to be looking to have their own home, I don’t know how they’ll be able to.”
Working with her was city resident Peter Johnston, who should not be confused with Peter Johnston of the federal Green Party. A local IT consultant, he’s spent several years working on builds for Habitat. “I’m glad they’re doing a project in St. Albert,” he says. “I don’t have to drive as far!”
Johnston says Habitat builds give him a chance to get out of the office and use his hands. He also liked how these projects were a hand-up rather than a handout, as the future owners of the homes work with volunteers to build them. “You don’t see anybody who works harder than the partner families that come out.”
The best part of any build is the finish, says local retiree Leo Reindeau, when crews turn the keys to the home over to a new family. “You see the whole thing come together and the finished product turned over to the family. You see how excited they are to move in.”
Interested volunteers should call Habitat at 780-451-3416 ext. 234.
