BRIDGEPORT--A blighted property in Bridgeport is being put to good use after 15 years in disrepair.
David Katz, a proud owner of two rehabilitated homes on Clifton Place, was relieved Wednesday morning to see the home at 31 Clifton Place finally being demolished. “When the people left this house 15 years ago, all kinds of criminal elements started to use this house for drugs and sex and things of that nature,” said Katz, who says he won awards from the city for the renewal of his two properties.
But now that Habitat For Humanity has purchased the property, they are going to build a “dream home for a family with a handicap child that currently is living in a second floor apartment,” said Christopher Rosario, the city’s anti-blight director.
The child is 14-years-old and wheel chair bound. “Each and every day they have to carry the child and the wheelchair up a flight of stairs,” noted Rosario.
Habitat For Humanity has erected nearly 200 homes in communities between Bridgeport and Stamford since 1985. A typical Habitat home is two stories, but this one will be a one-story, ranch-style home that will be completely handicap accessible.
The family is expected to be in its new home by this time next year. Among the qualifications for Habitat to build a family a home: families commit to repaying a zero-interest, 30-year mortgage and investing 500 hours of time into building their own home and other Habitat homes.
“It should be like a wonderful final puzzle piece to making the neighborhood perfect,” said Katz.
