City considers donating lots

Having donated four lots to Habitat for Humanity projects, the city’s Building and Grounds Committee is again discussing the donation of additional lots to the housing effort.

At the Dec. 13 meeting, there was confusion as to which lots Habitat for Humanity is asking to be donated with the committee chair Michael Chrisawn stating, “Once we know which ones, then we can discuss it at the next meeting and come to a decision.”

Lots at Mt. Leo Heights were discussed; however, Chrisawn said, “I don’t think they want those two lots. There is a really steep drop-off behind them.”

A Habitat for Humanity representative admitted the organization didn’t know which ones it wanted either and this may have led to the confusion.

“We didn’t realize that there was a steep drop-off behind the one lot,” said Habitat for Humanity secretary Kay Ramsey. “We were just as confused.”

Now that the confusion is settling down, Habitat is making plans to ask the city of McMinnville for all four lots along that road. The lots will include one 20-foot lot, two 50-foot lots, and one lot that already has a house.

“I know that sounds like a lot,” said Ramsey concerned with the amount of land Habitat is asking for, “but we always ask the city for lots that they can’t do anything with. That makes it a win, win situation. We build on the property and the city will collect the taxes from the homeowner. Right now, the city isn’t collecting anything.”

If given the four lots, Habitat is planning on having the land surveyed and divided into three lots says Ramsey.

“We think we can make three really nice lots out of what is there,” said Ramsey. “In the past the city has given us five years to build on the lots. We had the house built in three years on the last lot donated by the city. So five years is plenty of time.”

The local Habitat for Humanity has built 11 houses and has set a goal of building at least two new houses a year.