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Development
Good Faith Effort
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leaving a $13-billion debit trail that included damage or destruction of some 55,000 homes. Soon after, religious leaders responded, spearheading formation of the Interfaith Housing Coalition of Northwest Florida, with help from a Catholic Charities USA recovery grant.
“There was just not sufficient housing on the market for workforce people — firefighters, police, nurses and teachers,’’ says Bishop John H. Ricard, head
of the Catholic diocese of Pensacola-
Tallahassee and IHC president.
IHC recently began developing Journey, a $42-million, 250-unit residential community in west Pensacola that will be Escambia County’s largest workforce housing project. Journey’s site is 26.3 acres of undeveloped oak-canopied land. The Catholic diocese, which owned the property since the mid-1900s, sold it to IHC for $1.5 million.
The county in August pledged $2.78 million for infrastructure. Site preparation will start in January, with construction in April. Completion is targeted for 2010. Most homes will be under $150,000; all will be “affordable,’’ meaning buyers’ housing costs won’t exceed 30% of gross income.
IHC now represents 12 faith communities from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. United Way of Escambia County is also a partner.
Presbyterian minister Cherie Isakson, who moved from the Chicago area last year to become IHC’s director of community development, says: “We wanted to be a model, to show that those with different theology and practice can do the work that’s needed without those divisions stopping them.’’
Journey
- 100 rental units, 150 single-family homes
- Commercial storefronts, above-store residences
- Three parks, community center
- Traditional neighborhood design with sidewalks and porches
- Pensacola vernacular architecture
