restoring structural integrity to a community with community.

9.29.2008

moving day approaches...

Frankie and her daughter Erika will be the first family to move into the Holding House this Thursday, October 2!

Way back when this started, the decision about who moves in first, second, third went solely into the residents' court. There are 5 families (some with 8 members, some with 2) and 5 houses (some in need of renovation, some in need of ground up new construction) leaving loads of details to consider. Those details and discussions with residents led us to believe that the family of 8 would go first, but things have shaken out in a way we feel will enable each family to get the best quality design and construction: with a crew of 6 and funding set to come in the new year, it is better to take on a renovation project than a new construction project.

Kenneth, Embrike and Michael are here!

We're 'Lucky' to have an incredible AmeriCorps office here in Dallas that always comes through so we can keep folks paid for the wonderful work they do.

Case-in-point: early last week Benje, Jevon and Steve were joined by Kenneth, Embrike and Michael Lucky - cousins who are helping to finish out the Holding House and will move on with the crew to renovate Franke's house. They'll post over the next few weeks, so check back in for the introductions!

9.19.2008

2008 AIA Dallas Design Awards

To all who swung a hammer, drew lines, cooked eggs, taped and bedded, blasted music, hauled lumber, poured concrete, bent re-bar, sat to visit...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Last evening, Thursday, September 18th, the Holding House / CONGO STREET INITIATIVE was honored with not one, but two awards at the 2008 AIA Dallas Design Awards celebration. The Holding House received both the Sustainability Award (.pdf) and the Community Design Award (.pdf). (Check out this video clip - Thanks, Curtis! - and mention in the Dallas Morning News)

Each and every one of you should be incredibly proud of your role in the project and the evolving process of the INITIATIVE - "your input is vital".