Franklin Co. Habitat Takes Next Step in Rainbow Drive Project

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Franklin County Habitat for Humanity is moving ahead with plans to tear down some old houses on Rainbow Drive in Lavonia and build new ones.

Tuesday, Habitat Executive Director Cathy Wood said three of the four houses, which were built in the 1930’s, are now vacant and ready to be demolished.

Wood said crews will begin the demolition in the next several days.

“Waste Management is bringing in about six demolition dumpsters and we’re going to get started knocking the first two houses down. Andrews Dozier is taking care of that and shouldn’t take long at all to get those down. And then we’re going to begin house number eight,” Wood said.

Once the houses are torn down and removed, work will begin to build Habitat’s eighth house in Franklin County.

According to Wood, there is already a family ready and waiting for their new home, but an exact date to begin construction has not yet been nailed down.

“We’re going to see how long it takes to get the houses torn down,” Wood explained. “And then we’re going to get the foundation laid and then we’re going to do a roof raising. We’re really excited about this house number eight. She’s been waiting almost a year for her house, and we’re beginning to start as soon as we get them knocked down.”

Wood said once the eighth house is built, Franklin County Habitat will begin working on building the next two houses.

She said Rainbow Drive is a very central location near downtown Lavonia and is a great family area.

“It takes us about six months to build a house and then it takes another six months to raise money to build the next house,” she said. “Once this house is done, then we’re going to start raising the money to build house number nine. They really really need new housing over there. So I’m really excited about doing this.”

There are a total of four houses on Rainbow Drive that had been rental properties owned by the Vandiver family.

Earlier this year, the Vandivers sold the properties to Franklin County Habitat for Humanity.