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Second Marion Community Build ready to hit the market
House renovated by Marion, Linn-Mar high school students in partnership with the Marion Economic Development Corporation
Feb. 14, 2023 4:00 pm
An open house will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 2095 Third Ave. in Marion, to celebrate the successful completion of the second Marion Community Build property. Under the program, the Marion Economic Development Corp. buys deteriorating homes and high school students renovate them for sale to families with low-to-middle incomes. (Marion Economic Development Corp.)
An open house will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 2095 Third Ave. in Marion, to celebrate the successful completion of the second Marion Community Build property. Under the program, the Marion Economic Development Corp. buys deteriorating homes and students renovate them for sale to families with low-to-middle incomes. (Marion Economic Development Corp.)
Linn-Mar and Marion high school students work on renovating an existing Marion home at 2095 Third Ave. in Marion. The house was bought by the Marion Economic Development Corp., and renovated by high school students for sale to families with low-to-middle incomes. (Marion Economic Development Corp.)
MARION — A house renovated by Marion and Linn-Mar high school students is open to the public on Wednesday, Feb. 15.
The open house at 1 p.m. Wednesday at 2095 Third Ave. in Marion, will celebrate the successful completion of the second Marion Community Build property. Under the program, the Marion Economic Development Corp. buys deteriorating homes and students renovate them for sale to families with low-to-middle incomes.
“The completion of this project represents work completed over two school years that will have generational impact in this neighborhood,” said Nick Glew, president of the Marion Economic Development Corp. “These students have completed a unique experience exposing them to various career pathways while being part of an impactful project to reinvest in our community’s core.”
Through the class, students learn trade skills and work hands-on with tasks that go into rehabilitating a home. The program is part of the economic alliance’s Community Promise initiative to connect area youth to high-demand jobs in the region.
The open house is being hosted by the Marion Economic Development Corp., City of Marion and Linn-Mar and Marion school districts.
This year’s project included significant structural improvements, floor leveling, complete kitchen renovations, paint and wall removals. Students also constructed a new garage on the property. The property will be listed for sale later this month.
The students worked on the house nearly every day for about half the school day. One of the highlights of the project was demolishing the old garage, students told The Gazette.
Home renovations are an opportunity for students to learn about various trades. The projects also present an opportunity to invest in Marion neighborhoods and provide affordable housing.
Students will begin construction on a new single-family home in the same neighborhood this spring.
For about three decades, local students have built new homes to sell. The first community build home at 330 Eighth Ave., Marion, was completed and sold in 2021.
The home at 2095 Third Ave. had been unoccupied for at least a decade and purchased — before renovations — for $60,000.
Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com
