Builders transform Woodland Park motel into condos

Nine families in need of affordable housing in Woodland Park will soon have a place to call home. The town is one of eight sites selected by Habitat for Humanity to participate in their Home Builder’s Blitz.

The Lofthouse Motel, off Henrietta Street, is being transformed by volunteers and crews from a vacant, rundown, eyesore into a place where families can live.

The motel has been standing vacant for more than 10 years in Woodland Park. But now, Habitat For Humanity workers are taking the original framing down to make room for nine new condos.

“We build about three houses a year because we are a small affiliate. But to be able to build about nine homes in such a short amount of time, in a four month period, is exciting for us and our community,” said site supervisor for Habitat For Humanity of Teller County, Paul Summeril.

The nine families will move in by the end of September. Each of the families will pay a $500-$600 mortgage for the one, two and, three bedroom units. The families also go through a training process and are required to do 300-400 hours of volunteer work on the build sites before they live in their new home.

The Lofthouse Motel project is currently being worked on by volunteers and 10 contractors who are donating their time.

“My excitement as a builder is to have the contractors work together, side by side,” said Summeril.

All of the efforts put into the project however, do not hide the fact that Woodland Park is in greater need of even more affordable housing.

“If we could only do 200 families, we still couldn’t meet all the needs,” said Habitat For Humanity of Teller County’s Executive Director Jamie Caperton.

Putting the focus on what’s next for the Teller County families in need.

“So we’re looking at what else are we doing after this,” said Caperton.

To apply for residency or to volunteer, go to www.tellerhabitat.org