Habitat for Humanity building in Cascade area

Habitat for Humanity has come to Renton.

They broke ground on a 2.5 acre parcel of land in the Cascade region of Renton—in the community of La Fortuna in December 2010. A total of 41 town homes will be built from now through the next three years.

The Habitat for Humanity project is a true community effort between the City of Renton, private citizens, volunteer groups, and the corporate world.

In recent weeks, City and church community volunteers and employees were on-site to lend a hammer and a hand toward the efforts to build new homes.

“We are excited to get started in the community of Renton,” said Jodi Marmion, Special Events and Communications officer for Habitat for Humanity East King County.  “Renton has been embracing our project and already getting involved with numerous volunteers.”

In case you were wondering, La Fortuna was named such by the original developer when they bought the land. Marmion said the name seemed fitting for a Habitat community so they decided to keep it.

With the Master Builders Association, Habitat builds homes that are Built Green Certified, with materials that are donated or purchased with donated funds.

To qualify for a home, residents must agree to 500 hours of “sweat equity” on his or her own home, earn between $23,000-$40,700 annually and be able to pay the mortgage.

The homes are built by 90% volunteers, many coming from faith-based organizations and Americorps volunteers. There are usually 5 or 6 Americorps volunteers on each site.

Mike Hammerquist is the construction supervisor for the site. He is the one to give volunteer orientations on the site, and to lead the construction efforts. “I’m the person who knows how to build a house,” he joked. Each volunteer receives a "safety first" orientation,  Hammerquist said.

Groups normally include 20-25 volunteers.

Last week, the City of Renton brought a group of volunteers to work on the site, including City Facilities Director Peter Renner and Community Services Administrator Terry Higashiyama. Council member Don Persson volunteered his services to cook lunch and Mayor Law helped serve lunch as well.

“Twenty city employees worked on the project in pouring down rain and were soaked to the skin,” said Persson, “But they kept on working with no complaints. They really are wonderful people.”

Persson and Mayor Law said they were were happy to lend a hand.

This was Renner's eighth Habitat for Humanity experience.

"As a former carpenter and home builder with sawdust in my blood, it's always nice to work on a construction project.  Working at a Habitat site fulfills that craving and helps keep my skills sharp, even if I'm not quite so agile as I was 30 years ago," Renner said.

The land for the project was acquired in 2008, and phase 1 ground breaking occurred in December 2010. The building schedule plans to have 11 homes completed by May 2013. Three more phases will follow. When the project is complete, there will be 41 townhomes in the community.

Two acres of the Renton parcel of land will be preserved as wetlands. High school students recently worked with picks and shovels  to clear a large area of bamboo that had overgrown the parcel, said Hammerquist. 

Habitat families purchase the homes at cost (around $110,000) with 0% loans.

Renner said the shared experiences with co-workers is priceless.

"Participating as a work group, as me and my co-workers from the did, is a great team building exercise.  The shared experience extends our mutual respect and adds increased value to our normal day-to-day working relationships. You learn a lot about your co-workers doing something so out of the ordinary compared to our usual work, " Renner said.

Marmion said that a lots of volunteer opportunities are available and needs change daily.  Volunteers are needed in Renton on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday's. 

"Opportunities are always listed six weeks out.  Sponsor groups may have priority scheduling," Marmion said. Habitat also works with corporate offices interested in coming as a group.

Information about is available online, and you don’t even need to swing a hammer or stand on a roof, if that's an intimidating factor. Habitat also needs office support, fundraising assistance and help recruiting volunteers.

"I've seen plenty of participants surprise themselves with what they were able to accomplish on a Habitat site," Renner said.

The La Fortuna site is at 12710 SE 173rd St., Renton