Habitat house project is 'extreme'

PENN YAN—In order to repair a house for its new family, the Yates County Habitat for Humanity have had to completely gut it.
John Keenan, Yates Habitat president, said work started May 8 and is expected to take about a year. The house this time is located on North Avenue, across from Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital.
Even from the outside, the house looks like it needs more than a little work. However, this is the Habitat for Humanity’s 12th such rehabilitation, so the needed work is nothing new. As always, the work is being done by volunteers, with donated supplies.
Keenan said as the whole building was gutted, it will need new electrical wiring, plaster, and plumbing. He explained that one of the first things that needed to be done was fixing the water damage to the building, including the foundation.
Keenan said the back corner of the building (where the kitchen will be) dropped down four inches, and that needed to be jacked back up. He added the other side had a two inch drop, which was also fixed. Keenan said the roof also needed to be replaced.
He called it “an extreme renovation.”
The house is also getting new windows and a back door. The workers also have to take into account that the house is in an historic district. Keenan said that meant the three sides seen from the road have to have historic, wooden siding.
This year, the house will go to the Campbell family; Adam and Jennifer Campbell, seven-month-old Sophie, and six-year-old Isabel. The family was announced at the May 5 Habitat for Humanity meeting. As a requirement, the family must also contribute to the work.
Volunteers work on the house Wednesdays and Saturdays. Keenan said volunteers can either just show up to help, or call Charlie Marks at 315-536-8213. Keenan added that another way to help is to donate meals for the workers.