A publication of the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity
In concert with Habitat’s Brush With Kindness program, and as part of the bank’s community reinvestment program, JP Morgan Chase Bank (“Chase”) donated a 5-unit apartment building (on Elmira Street in Pasadena) to SGV Habitat for Humanity. Currently, there are five families who reside in the apartments, and Habitat’s goal is to improve upon the buildings and make them decent, yet still affordable, living spaces. This property is one of the largest single donations ever received by SGV Habitat, and when the rehab work is finished and the buildings sold to a new owner, net proceeds will help build more homes and touch even more lives. “This was a wonderful opportunity to come in and do what we do best, improve the lives of these folks, and generate cash that will go into our next build,” says Paul McAnnally-Linz, who is heading up the Elmira rehabilitation
while he is on a year-long social service leave from Xerox to help advance SGV Habitat for Humanity’s affordable housing work. The goal of the renovation process is to complete improvements on the property very quickly (within a year). SGV Habitat chose to do the exterior renovation of the front house first to improve the appearance of not only the building, but the neighborhood as well. Prepping, priming, coating, and painting were done in under a month and can be seen in the photos above. Structure repair, replacement of some windows, and repair of the fence were also completed in the first phase of the repairs. SGV Habitat’s Board of Directors extends sincere thanks and gratitude for this Chase property donation and also for the Chase Corporate Team Build Days when bank employees came out to help complete needed
August 2011
repairs. Everyone had a great time, including local volunteers and some of the tenants who also took part in the renovation efforts. Although the appearance of the front house and landscaping is much improved, there is still a lot of work ahead. A schedule is being put together for renovation of the apartment interiors, as well as the exterior of the back unit and garages. Please contact Amy Borton at 626-387-6899 x17 if you’d like to join in and help maximize this donation. Low-income homeowners who have not been financially able to make needed exterior repairs are invited to inquire about Brush With Kindness by calling Damien Allen, 626-230-8917. John MacLean, Senior Loan Consultant: Chase Bank, Guest Writer
To see more photographs, go to sgvhabitat.org 1