The groundbreaking ceremony Monday celebrating McClellan Meadows is staged by Habitat for Humanity. (Journal photo by Annie Lippert)

MARQUETTE — On Monday morning, representatives from Habitat for Humanity, the city of Marquette and residents of Marquette gathered for a groundbreaking celebrating the start of a new affordable housing development in town called McClellan Meadows, located on McClellan Avenue between Wright Street and Fair Avenue.

The project is replacing an unused parking lot with seven new single-family homes that will provide safe and affordable housing for local families.

Marquette County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Deanna Johnson said that quite a lengthy process proceeded the new development, including a land swap with the Beacon House, who received a lot on Spring Street. The project on McClellan has been years in the making.

“This is a group effort,” said Johnson. “Today is about more than breaking ground, it’s about opportunities for families to achieve safe, affordable homeownership, and build a strong future.”

While some of the homes have already been assigned to families, others remain available. There are also Habitat for Humanities homes in Tilden Township which are available.

“For us, today’s about possibility,” said Johnson. “Seven homes will eventually stand here and today we’re going to take our first step.”

The homes will be single-story, with the opportunity to build up a habitable attic space for families who need more than two bedrooms. All of the trees behind the parking lot will be left standing.

“We’ve had very good support from the neighbors here that pass by on the bike path,” said Andy Engstrom, construction director for Marquette County Habitat for Humanity.

“We’re really, really excited to get started with this project. Leading up to this, we’re going to be starting with house number one or lot number one soon, and then moving on with the next six.”

The homes will be built with help from Blitz Home Builders, which is a national volunteer group who travel to help build Habitat for Humanity Homes. Engstrom just got back from a trip to Wyoming, where he worked with 92 volunteers from the group to build six homes in two weeks.

“(Blitz Home Builders) are joining us next year in July, and they are blitzing six houses in a few week period,” said Engstrom. He also said that they will be attempting to completely build one of the houses in twelve days.

“We’ve got some really, really fun, great opportunities for local support and volunteers,” said Engstrom.

Some of the families who will be moving into the homes were present at the groundbreaking.

“I’m just grateful for the opportunity,” said Jamie, one of the future residents of McClellan Meadows. “I’m looking forward to an accessible, affordable house.”

Volunteer opportunities are available at https://mqthabitat.org/volunteer/.

Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.