Habitat for Humanity building new house in Groveton

Habitat for Humanity will be building a new single-family house on this Donora Drive lot.

Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia will soon break ground on a new single-family house in the Groveton neighborhood.

The new home will be in the 6800 block of Donora Drive, just west of Richmond Highway and behind the Beacon of Groveton apartment building. Habitat  NOVA, which is a self-funded and independently operated affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, will construct a two-story home with three bedrooms and two baths.

“Habitat NOVA builds to EarthCraft Gold — a green building program — and we are mindful of building for energy efficiency, air quality, and water conservation,” said Romana Sanchez, Director of Construction for Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia. “Our goal is to ensure affordability and sustainability for the Habitat NOVA first-time homebuyer.”

Habitat purchased the 0.18 acre lot for $175,000 in April 2016. There is no structure currently on the property.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new home is tentatively scheduled for late April. Once the permits are secured, construction typically takes between 14-18 months, Sanchez said.

This will be the third home built by Habitat NOVA in Groveton. Last year the group completed two new single-family houses on Clayborne Avenue, just around the corner from the Denora property. The Groveton Community Association, who has coordinated with Habitat during the construction process, held a ceremony in Sept. 2016 to celebrate the move-in of the two new families.

Sanchez credited the association, as well as Supervisor Jeff McKay (D-Lee), for supporting the redevelopment process. 

“Providing the neighbors with ample information, opportunities to visit, and ask questions​ ​to Habitat staff helps facilitate a​ ​warm and welcoming atmosphere for everyone in the neighborhood,” Sanchez said. “The Groveton Association, in particular, has been wonderful in this respect.”