The Evergreen Habitat for Humanity office in West Vancouver is packing for a move. So is the Habitat for Humanity Store on East Fourth Plain Boulevard.
Both local arms of the worldwide charitable homebuilder — the one that recycles and resells construction materials and household wares, and the one that finds affordable land and worthy working-class people to build and live on it — will be taking up residence in the former Curt Warner Chevrolet showroom at 10811 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd.
That building was purchased in March by local philanthropist and businessman Steve Oliva, according to county property records.
The location is at the prominent southwestern corner of Mill Plain and Interstate 205.
Habitat executive director Josh Townsley confirmed that Oliva is offering the charity a charitably sweet deal on the rent.
“The store’s lease is up and they went looking for a new building,” Townsley said.
Meanwhile, he said, the affordable rent on Habitat’s little freestanding west-side office building — a former home on 33rd Street — was about to rise.
So it seemed like the right time to find someplace where the two could move in together and realize some cost savings as well as greater visibility, he said.
“Our hope is … that people who come to the store to shop will want to learn about our affiliate and want to volunteer,” Townsley said. And some may want to learn more about becoming Habitat residents, he said.
But first, Habitat is looking for help with packing up its old office and making the actual move. If you have even a little time and muscle to spare between 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, June 26 and 27, your assistance is welcome.
Call or email Brady at 360-737-1759 or volunteer@ehfh.org.
Evergreen Habitat for Humanity has built 29 affordable, owner-occupied homes in Clark County since 1991 through a combination of low overhead and volunteer labor (otherwise known as “sweat equity”) as well as the support of Habitat for Humanity stores in Vancouver, Portland and Beaverton.
Those stores sell donated building materials, appliances, furniture and other home improvement products at thrift-store prices; last year they had the added benefit of diverting more than 3,500 tons of materials from landfills.
