It is official! We have broken ground on our first property of the fiscal year 2020. First, let’s take a moment to let that sink in… can you believe we are this close to the year 2020? It is unreal, but as we move into 2020 we have a lot to be excited about. This year, HOME, Inc. is planning to build 8 affordable single-family homes.
The first two homes will be on Watson Street which will complete HOME, Inc.’s revitalization project of 8 new homes in the Birdland neighborhood. Current HOME, Inc. families are settled into the neighborhood and are eager to welcome the two new families.
The Birdland neighborhood sustained devastating flood damage from the floods of 1993 and 2008 when the levee breached along the Des Moines River. Before the flood, there were more than 270 homes in the Birdland area, and the flood left behind only 54 homes. Now with the levee rebuilt to protect the Birdland area, federal regulators have deemed this area to no longer be a flood zone. With the go-ahead from government officials, revitalization efforts have been full steam ahead. Both DSM’s Habitat for Humanity and HOME, Inc. have dedicated the last few years to turning Birdland into the thriving neighborhood it once was. We are proud of the revitalization work we have been able to complete in the Birdland neighborhood alongside Habitat for Humanity. We hope our dedication to rebuilding Birdland will be a catalyst to get others to invest in the neighborhood!