Housing project is given OK

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — A much-anticipated 11-unit affordable residential condominium project on the 700 block of North Kenwood Street crossed the administrative finish line Wednesday after the Planning Commission unanimously approved its tentative tract map, a common procedure that formalizes the splicing of ownership units.

The project developer — San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity — can now concentrate fully on completing the project in time for 11 low-income families to move in to the 1,200-square-foot, two-story condos in December 2009. To meet that timeline, officials for the nonprofit say they need more volunteers who are skilled in various aspects of home building to come out and direct the rank-and-file workers.

“That’s the real tough one for us, to find those people that have been in the home construction business,” said Chuck Wolski, chairman for the volunteer committee. “At this point in the construction process, you need people who can direct people in what to do.”

A private contracting firm is expected to complete the semi-subterranean parking garages for the condo units next week, which will open the site up for the nonprofit’s greatest asset — its volunteer workforce.

While Habitat for Humanity rarely has problems attracting volunteer, unskilled labor from corporations, churches and other nonprofits, Wolski said, it is much harder to find those who are skilled in framing, dry wall installation, painting, electrical engineering and other areas of home building who can read plans and direct groups of volunteers.

Finding those skilled workers has taken on a greater sense of urgency as the San Gabriel Valley branch works to complete its seventh Glendale project, Wolski said.

It is also more than twice the size of the nonprofit’s last housing project — a fact that has city officials hailing the nonprofit’s growth and rapid maturity.

“The Kenwood project is the first example of stepping up to that level,” said Peter Zovak, deputy director for the city’s Community Development & Housing Department. “It’s nice to be able to see that.”

The commitment to the Kenwood Street project was a major one for the Pasadena-based San Gabriel Valley chapter, which was given 14 months starting in 2006 to raise $1.1 million to put up against the city’s contribution of $1.5 million.