Habitat Prepares to Pound the First Nails

It's been years in the making, but the Habitat for Humanity builds on Stonebridge Road in Wayland are nearing the moment that actual construction can begin.

A groundbreaking ceremony at the site Saturday ushered in the coming stage of building two townhomes on the property, residences for four families.

Josh Rose serves on the Board of Directors of Habitat For Humanity's Metro West/Greater Worcester chapter and is the Wayland local project committee chair. 

“The groundbreaking is a great milestone, and it’s certainly nice to start seeing construction," Rose said. 

He explained that the Wayland project is actually a few steps away from construction really getting started, but the groundbreaking was a moment for families who have already donated to project to see the next stage begin before they leave for summer vacations.

“We are finally getting close,” Rose said.

The Planning Board must sign off on the plot plan, as it is being subdivided so the town retains a portion of the parcel and Habitat builds on the other section; regulatory agreements still need to be finalized with the Town of Wayland, Habitat for Humanity and the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development; and the actual transfer of the land needs to take place.

Permitting and access have caused some issues on the site, most recently when Habitat for Humanity cleared some trees from the lot, believing it had the right to do so, but before the town had officially signed the license agreement.

Selectmen discussed that issue with Habitat representatives at Monday's meeting, expressing a desire to work with a single person going forward and develop solid processes so such confusion doesn't occur in the future. Selectmen also signed a license agreement allowing Habitat to access the site for the groundbreaking, to remove the trees that have already been cut down and then not access the site again until all transfers are complete.

For Habitat's part, the representatives said at the meeting that they were sorry for the mistake and they were looking forward to getting started. 

"I get emails every day asking when the project is going to start. We have people who really want to get started," local Habitat committee member Mary Antes told selectmen. "It has taken three years to get to this point, which is far longer than, I think, any of us dreamed it might be."

Rose said that once all the permits are granted and construction can begin, Habitat will quickly begin the process of selecting families for the homes.

"We like to select the family as early in the process as possible so that they could be as much a part of the build as possible," said Rose, who also chairs the family selection committee. He explained that families must invest sweat equity into the project to the tune of 100-200 hours depending on the household.

The foundations for both buildings will be laid at the same time, Rose explained, for economic reasons. One foundation will be capped while the other townhome structure is constructed. As funds allow, work could be done on both buildings.

“Fundraising has been pretty successful," Rose said. He explained that the full project is estimated to cost about $720,000. Wayland voters agreed to provide $356,000, with $150,000 provided as up-front cash and $206,000 of that being doled out as matching gifts.

He explained that Habitat's policy is to have 30 percent of the project funds in hand prior to groundbreaking.

“We’re well over that," Rose said of the Wayland project. "If you count the money the town has committed … we’re probably at a half-million dollars raised.”

For photos and ongoing updates about the project, check out the Wayland Build – Habitat for Humanity page on Facebook.