Mecklenburg Times: News for Mecklenburg, Union and Iredell counties Real Estate, Development, Construction, and Community News in the Charlotte area and throughout Mecklenburg, Union and Iredell counties
CHARLOTTE — Thirteen weeks and 3 1/2 miles later, the house built by Habitat for Humanity in an uptown parking lot during the 2012 Democratic National Convention was turned over to its new owner at a ceremony Thursday.
Darcel and James Fennell took the keys to the “DNC Legacy House,” at 3121 Amay James in Reid Park, a distressed neighborhood that Habitat is trying to revitalize by building affordable houses. Already, 40 families live in Habitat homes in Reid Park, which is off West Boulevard near Tyvola Road.
During the DNC, volunteers from Bank of America, the Charlotte regional chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont’s Construction Training Program helped complete the exterior of the house in a parking lot next to the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture. In the name of publicity, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx even picked up a hammer and drove a handful nails as cameras clicked.
When the Dems packed up and went home Sept. 8 after four days in Charlotte, the house was moved to its permanent location, where workers put a foundation under it, framed the interior and applied finishes inside and out.
Like all Habitat houses, the Legacy Home has U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. Volunteers from Florida installed special solar panels on the house during the DNC.
City Councilwoman Lawana Mayfield was among the dignitaries present for the ceremony.
Tony Brown can be reached at [email protected], (704) 247-2912 or on Twitter at @tonymecktimes.
