ATLANTA -- Atlanta Habitat for Humanity kicked off construction of a new building model this past weekend. As one of the city’s most productive affordable housing builders, Atlanta Habitat introduced two-story attached townhouses to its housing mix to use valuable land more efficiently and ultimately to keep homes affordable. By constructing townhouses in addition to traditional single-family houses, Atlanta Habitat contributes to smart urban planning for the community and wise use of resources while providing more housing options for working families. Introduction of the townhouse project in 2008 adds yet another important milestone to Atlanta Habitat’s significant 25th anniversary year.

The project is being supported by a strong partnership of metro Atlanta’s corporate leaders, including Atlanta Gas Light; Equifax; GE; Hardin Construction Company; Jordan Jones & Goulding; and SunTrust Bank, Atlanta. The collaboration exemplifies the benefits of corporate volunteer programs by increasing employee morale, enabling team-building among co-workers, and providing professional development outside of the workplace, while making a significant impact on the City of Atlanta and providing an affordable housing solution for three families.

Smart urban planning characterizes the townhouse project. The site is located on a beautiful wooded tract in the Sylvan Hills neighborhood within easy walking distance of the Lakewood/Ft. McPherson MARTA station. The townhouses are being constructed using “green” building practices adopted by Atlanta Habitat in 2004 when the affiliate began building all houses to EarthCraft certification standards.

The townhouse project provides opportunities to use building techniques new to Atlanta Habitat and to adapt its valued volunteer resources. Townhouse construction will be different from the single-family detached home process, with some steps, such as stairs and all upper roofs, to be undertaken by an outside vendor. Volunteer activities on the exterior will be completed from scaffolding and will include the installation of all doors and windows, siding, and trim, as well as painting. A total of 90 volunteers each week will also provide significant interior construction work on both floor levels and the completion of all low roof areas.

The townhouses will be built in two phases: Phase 1 (units 1, 2, and 3) kicks off on Saturday, May 31, and ends on Saturday, July 26, with no build on July 5. Phase 2 (units 4, 5, and 6) begins in mid-August. Each building phase (of three units each) will take 8 volunteer build days to complete.

Six total townhouse units will be built, three in each of two free-standing buildings. The 3-bedroom townhouse units will be constructed to EarthCraft/Energy Star standards in energy conservation and designed to be handicapped visitable with a bedroom and accessible bathroom on the first floor. Two bedrooms and an additional bathroom complete the second floor spaces. The goal is to use the available land wisely by providing opportunities for six families on a tract of land that would only accommodate three detached houses.