A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on September 24th at the first completed house through Welcome Home Greenville (WHG), an innovative community-financed housing project as part of a larger initiative launched three years ago by The Almanor Foundation (TAF).
“This has been quite the journey for the foundation with more challenges than anticipated,” said Susan Bryner, TAF chair. “After the 2021 Dixie Fire destroyed more than 800 homes in Indian Valley and the surrounding area, it only added to the already problematic issue of affordable housing that is at an all-time high here, as well as, nationally. We wanted to do more than just build a house. We wanted a sustainable solution to minimize the problem. To do that we started an initiative that has now taken us to the first home with plans and a model that will allow more homes to be built meeting the goal of this multi-tiered project,” she added proudly.
With monies from the Wildfire Relief Fund that TAF started within five days of the fire, the initative began by contracting with LMNOP, a firm specializing in the design and construction of branded environments and public spaces. Founder, Tyler Pew, an Indian Valley resident, and his team spent three years doing extensive research, sourcing and development necessary to create a model that would work in a rural area where Federal and State disaster grants for new single-family homes are not available to small for-profit developers; and the high degree of investment risk in rural communities like Greenville makes securing affordable development capital almost impossible.
Ribbon Cutting from left Patrick Joseph, Dixie Fire Collaborative; Kelly Konzelman, RRA Builders; Guy McNet, and Kest Porter, PHC; Tyler Pew, LMNOP; Josh Huddelston, and Susan Bryner, TAF; Hector Vizcarra, RRA Builders
Within the last year, the Plumas Housing Council (PHC) was formed comprised of like-minded companies and individuals to advise and oversee the ongoing initiative with TAF, as the initial funder, taking a seat on the council. “TAF is not a developer so it was essential in order to continue the initiative to have the experience and expertise in financing and building to oversee and implement the model for on-going attainable work-force housing,” added Josh Huddleston TAF representative on the council. Progress is already in place for the second home as well as the Build to Rent (B2R) program, which is the development of 38 rental-units on 19 single-family zoned sites within the next three years.
The 1,280 sq ft., three-bedroom home located at 166 Hot Spring Road, was completely financed by local community members. The house is being sold at the developer’s cost of $285,500 with the proceeds from the sale to be reinvested into building additional low-cost homes. “Community investors have pledged and pooled their personal funds with an investment horizon of two years. As new homes are sold, the funds will be re-invested providing new high-quality, low-cost housing, helping to rebuild Greenville, and stimulating local economic development,” says Kelly Konzelman, PHC member and owner of RRA Builders who has over 40 years of experience in construction, development and investment banking, whose participation was key in bringing this first home to market.
Award to Plumas Housing Council from Senator Dahle, given at the Welcome Home Greenville Ribbon Cutting.
“TAF is proud that as a ‘just founded’ foundation when the Dixie Fire devastated our area, that we were able to take our first initiative to fruition, hand it off to experts who are able to sustain it and now move on to other needs of our community,” Bryner adds as she, guests and housing council members toast to their success.
