MOUNT VERNON — The morning chill fueled the anticipation as neighbors, students, tradespeople, and local and state officials gathered Monday to “Rock the Block” on Columbus Road.
“Rock the Block” formally kicked off a housing project that will build 12 homes in South Vernon. Two houses are underway. 47 Columbus Road is a traditional stick-built house; 61 Columbus Road is an ICF house (insulating concrete foam).
Monday’s “Rock the Block,” held at the ICF construction site, highlighted the many partnerships supporting the ICF house and the entire project.
Area Development Foundation President Jeff Gottke said at least 10 entities contributed to the project through funding, leadership, construction, labor, or land donation.
“The county is demonstrating once again that it knows how to collaborate for the advancement of the community,” he said. “This program is just the latest example of a successful partnership.
“As we stand here in the shadow of a world-class park, itself a testament to the power of cooperation, we have once again demonstrated that through the power of creative thinking, meticulous planning, and collaborative execution, we can create economic opportunities and neighborhood revitalization that increase quality of life for the residents of the South Vernon neighborhood.”
Terry Shultz, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Knox County, thanked the visible and behind-the-scenes partners who carry out Habitat’s mission: Bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope.
“This event today is a celebration of the mission coming alive here in South Vernon, Clinton Township. … I can say that these two [housing] projects have brought more people together than anything,” he said.
“But we aren’t just building one amazing ICF house. We’re constructing 12 homes in the neighborhood. We will help to uplift this community over the next two years.”
Welcome Home Ohio funding
The idea of building 12 houses sprang from the Foundation Park Conservancy’s donation of 15 lots to the Knox County Land Bank. The catalyst for making it a reality was a $2.46 million Welcome Home Ohio grant through the Ohio Department of Development.
DOD Director Lydia Mahalik was on hand for “Rock the Block,” the first opportunity she’s had to celebrate the start of a project supported by the Welcome Ohio program.
“You can tell how important something like this is to Mount Vernon by the amount of people that are here today,” she said. “Today truly marks something very, very special.”
Mahalik said moments like “Rock the Block” remind us why we do our work: “Because this work changes lives.”
“Partnerships like the one we’re celebrating today are the cornerstone of community development, whether it’s a local land bank, industry, professionals, community organizations or local and state governments,” she said. “You all should be very, very proud.”
Mahalik told the students their work is vital to the project and their future.
“This hands-on experience is going to ensure that you have the knowledge and the skills needed to step very confidently into some of the world’s most in-demand jobs and build the life that you’ve always dreamed of right here in Ohio,” she said.
“This site will be the home of one of 12 future homes that will empower hard-working Ohioans to build a future for themselves right here in this community.”
‘Rock the Block’: Fruit of a long-held goal
Knox County Commissioner Teresa Bemiller set a goal of creating a land bank long before its formation in 2017. She chairs the board for the Knox County Land Bank.
“Land banks are unique entities that assist in community and economic goals and improve lives,” she said.
“A perfect example of this is the Columbus Road housing project. In partnership with Habitat for Humanity, it will provide much-needed affordable housing for working families while serving to revitalize the neighborhood through programs that also target existing housing.”
“The collaborative spirit that is alive and well between partners across all sectors is what makes great things like this possible.”
Lydia Mahalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development
Bemiller said she appreciates Mahalik’s presence and the Welcome Home Ohio grant.
“The state and legislature are showing they recognize the need for affordable housing and the value of working through land banks,” she said.
Weathering the storm
Students in the Building and Trades program at the Knox County Career Center are building the ICF house in conjunction with the National Ready Mix Concrete Association, Ohio Concrete Association, and Ellis Brothers.
Colby Clippinger, building trades instructor at the KCCC, gave a “bottoms-up” perspective on the “Rock the Block” celebration.
“Every day I’ve looked at this as a job site. Today when I looked at it, it was a home.”
Colby Clippinger, building trades instructor at the Knox County Career Center
A donation from the Central Midwest Carpenters Union 18 months ago started things rolling for Clippinger. The only criteria was that Clippinger “continue the craft.”
Using some of the money to update students’ equipment, he sought the help of Ellis Brothers to build an ICF home with the rest.
‘They said, ‘That’s really cool, but that’s not enough [money].’ But they made us whole,” Clippinger said. “A few weeks later, they shipped us everything.”
Ellis Brothers connected Clippinger to the Ohio Concrete Association, which trained the students. Clippinger then contacted Habitat, saying, “This is how we should build.”
Clippinger said most passersby will look at the house and think, ‘This is really cool.’
“And it is. I couldn’t be happier for Brandon and his family,” he said. “But for Habitat, the home is the product. For me, the students are the product.
“Looking to the future, this house can weather the storm. … From the students’ side, the skills they’re learning on this project will also help them weather the storms in the future in their trade. Life isn’t easy, but with a good foundation, these students will weather the storm of whatever gets thrown at them.”
Partners at all levels
Lisa Weaver Moon, promotion director for Ohio Concrete, said the trade association teamed with the National Ready Mix Concrete Association, International Concrete Forming Manufacturers Association, National Concrete Pumping Association, and National Habitat For Humanity to provide a resilient, sustainable concrete home for Habitat for Humanity in all 50 states.
“This is the most robust building trades program I have ever encountered,” Moon said. “They’re not just building birdhouses and picnic tables. Colby leads his students to execute various projects within the Knox County community.
“Colby works closely with the Knox County Habitat For Humanity leadership team, including Matt Gutridge and Terry Schultz. These great partnerships are why Knox County Habitat for Humanity was chosen as the recipient of this ICF concrete home.
“These students are the first building trade center program in the United States to build a Habitat for Humanity home from start to finish, and they deserve our applause,” she added.
The American dream
“The homes born from this project represent so much more than just walls and roofs. They represent opportunity and stability and community,” Mahalik said. “Homeownership plays such a crucial role in the quality of life, community development, and economic development. Today is one more step in strengthening not only Mount Vernon, not only South Vernon but all of Ohio.”
Kathleen Young Riley and Mary Kate Hastings represented Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted at “Rock the Block.” Hastings thanked everyone involved.
“We are proud to build hope here in Knox County.”
Executive Director Terry Shultz, Habitat for Humanity Knox County
“The governor and lieutenant governor are dedicated to making Ohio a great place to live, work, and raise a family,” she said. “You can’t do that without access to attainable housing throughout the state, which is why projects like this and collaborative efforts throughout counties are so important.
“It’s why we have programs like the Welcome Home.”
“This is a great example of what we wanted to see happen through this particular program,” Mahalik said. “You are doing infill in an existing neighborhood that absolutely needs more units. There’s an extreme demand for housing across the state of Ohio. Programs like this with partners like this are going to be successful because of the people.”
Mahalik said the project is significant because 61 Columbus Road is one of 12 homes that will be built in South Vernon.
“And while that isn’t all they need, it’s 12 more than they had before,” she said. “We’re happy to be a partner in this effort. It’s exciting to see families move in, call this place home, and continue to live their version of the American dream.”
Knox County natives Brandon and Taylor Lang, and their daughter, Ava, will become the homeowners of 61 Columbus Road.
A house full of blessing
High school sweethearts, the Langs have been together for 15 years. They have always lived in an apartment.
“We used to talk about this all the time, how we would build a home,” Taylor said. “I just can’t believe we’re actually building a home from the ground up and getting to see it.”
“I’m also a student of the career center,” said Brandon, who works at Modern Builders. “So when I told Colby it was going to be our house, it made it more personal for him, too.”
For the Langs, the most exciting thing about moving into the house is not more space or a yard.
“It’s having a place to call ours,” Brandon said. “Something we can actually call home.”
“To walk in and feel like you’re at home,” Taylor said. “I don’t think you feel like that in our apartment.
“Everybody wants to own a home for their family and have this,” she continued. “This is like beyond anything I could ever imagine. It is such a blessing. Every time I come over here, I want to cry just because it is a dream come true, you know, for Ava, so she has a home.
“It’s wonderful to see everybody come out here and be a part of this and support us in the house. It’s amazing.”
“This is a dream come true for us. We’ve come a long way in the past couple of years, and we got this opportunity. It’s a blessing for sure,” said Brandon.
In a variation on the traditional construction “topping out” ceremony, “Rock the Block” attendees signed the Styrofoam walls of the house. County Commissioner Bill Pursel concluded the event by blessing the home.
