Exciting News, I will probably get at least one of these

The city of Hopkins recently found a way to fill two vacant lots - a solution that will help two families.
The City Council approved a motion in its Feb. 19 meeting that authorizes selling the lots at 13 and 15 Harrison Avenue in Hopkins to Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH) for $75,000 each. TCHFH plans to construct two single-family homes with detached garages on the lots. It will be the organization's first project in Hopkins.
"We're excited to add a new home-ownership opportunity in the city," said Tara Beard, Hopkins' community-development coordinator.Councilmember Rick Brausen said the new homes would benefit the community."It's a win-win for the neighborhood and the city," he said.Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity's mission is to eliminate poverty housing from the metro area and make decent, affordable shelter for everyone. The organization sells its homes to families, who are selected based on need, for no profit and with zero-percent-interest mortgages. Homeowners pay full principal, taxes, insurance and maintenance escrow payments. The homes are sold at the fair market value, which is determined by an appraiser. Local volunteers help build the houses.Also, homebuyers are required to provide 300 to 500 hours of "sweat equity," helping to build their home or other Habitat homes, and attend 11 first-time homebuyer classes.The two vacant lots on Harrison Avenue used to belong to Surge Water Conditioning. The city purchased the property for $33,668 in 2006 when it was expanding Excelsior Boulevard in the area. It re-zoned the property for residential use in March 2007 and hired a realtor to sell the lots for sale. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity indicated an interest in the lots at the end of last year.The profit the city stands to make on the sale will go towards paying down debt on the Hopkins Center for the Arts, Beard said.Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is requesting $50,000 through Hennepin County's Home Investment Partnership Program to purchase the lots.Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity focuses its land-acquisition activity in cities that have good job growth and high-quality schools, such as Hopkins, said Karl Batalden, government and community-relations officer for the organization."It's wonderful partnering with Hopkins," he said. "Every time we can work with a new community is a good thing."When the organization moves into a new community, he said, it forms partnerships with churches, rotaries and businesses that often last beyond one project."Being able to meet new partners helps sustain our future," Batalden said.Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity interviews about 300 applicants each year for one of its houses. About 60 are chosen based on financial need and living conditions. They must demonstrate they have a stable income and the ability to make monthly mortgage payments.The Hopkins City Council requested that Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity market their program to Hopkins residents. Batalden said the organization can't guarantee that the two homes will be sold to Hopkins residents, but added that good applicants from within the city might have a better shot because they will be ranked higher in terms of community relationship.He said he expects construction on the two homes to begin in late 2008 and for families to move into them in 2009.