Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake is continuing its investment in Pigtown with a five-home project on the 1100 block of Ward St. The project includes three new-construction homes, two home rehabs, a community green space, and some parking spaces for adjacent Paul’s Place.

The new homes, green space, and parking will replace a vacant lot. The lot was created after the demolition of eight homes that were lost to a fire in the early-2010s.

The three new homes will be two stories with three bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms, and a rear parking pad. They are designed with a brick front and a cornice to fit in with the exiting housing in the area.

The home rehabs will be two-bedroom, one-bathroom homes.

All of Habitat’s homes are designed to be energy efficient to keep costs down for the homeowners.

The homes will be available to families which earn 30% to 80% of median income. With this scale, a single person can make anywhere from $21,250 to $52,850 per year and a family of five can make anywhere from $32,750 to $81,550 per year.

Habitat partner families which complete 250 to 350 “sweat equity” hours are eligible for a 0% interest mortgage. Homes are also available to any buyer who meets the income qualification and obtains private financing.

The homes are sold at market rates to not bring down values in the community.

Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake Director of Communications Kate Same told SouthBMore.com the new homes often cost about $150,000 to build and rehabs have costs ranging from $150,000 to $180,000. She noted new construction is more efficient and allows them to subsidize the price of rehabs. Sale prices are also kept down with the help of donors.

Habitat is hoping to begin construction on this project in the summer and has a build week with 300 volunteers planned for August.

Contributors to this project include The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, South Baltimore Gateway Partnership, Brown Advisory University of Maryland Baltimore, and University of Maryland Medical System.

Habitat has been working in Pigtown for 13 years and has constructed 18 new homes and renovated 27 existing homes.

Habitat is also in planning for 10 new homes in Curtis Bay.

Rendering from Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake

About the Author: Kevin Lynch Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, beach volleyball enthusiast, dog lover, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, beach volleyball enthusiast, dog lover, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin