Habitat dedicates three new homes to local families

May 18, 2010

By: Perkasie News-Herald

Photo by Ken Zepp

By Erin DuBois
Staff Writer

Three families received the keys to their new homes at a Habitat for Humanity dedication ceremony on May 15. The Stitchery, at 815 West Chestnut St, Perkasie, was formerly home to the Hubbert baseball factory andfh the Pennridge Senior Center.

The Women Build Program, GMAC, and First Savings Bank of Perkasie, major donors to the project, presented the families with their keys.

A special guest at the ceremony was the oldest living relative of the Hubbert factory’s founder.

“She was thrilled with what we’re doing with the building,” Linda Andrews, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County, said.

Attendees at the ceremony were invited to “pound” the new families by bringing them a pound of non-perishable goods, such as food or a cleaning product.

The Stitchery consists of six condos on three floors. Two of the condos are handicapped accessible, one of which is currently in use. Two single mothers live in the other inhabited units. The remaining three condos are currently available, although families have expressed interest in them, Andrews said.

The Stitchery is Habitat of Bucks County’s first adaptive reuse project.

“Adaptive reuse is adapting a building into a new purpose, from commercial to residential, instead of taking raw grounds,” Andrews said. “We’re not taking new space.”

Habitat considered the environmental impact throughout the project.

The Stichery has blown-in, soy-based insulation, which is not only healthier for the environment, but seals better as well, reducing energy consumption. Builders used low VOC paints and removed the original, carcinogen-emitting flooring.

Constance Lezenby, a Certified Sustainable Building Advisor, assisted with the final design and code review.

Habitat aims to reach Energy Star standards and to receive a NAHB National Green Building program rating at the Stitchery.

Senior Cent, the Stitchery

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