Habitat building 10 homes

Erin Neff

Tuesday, Dec. 15, 1998 | 11:07 a.m.

For most of those gathered at a Habitat for Humanity groundbreaking Monday morning, the turning dirt symbolized a fresh start for the Vegas Heights neighborhood.

But for 11-year-old twins Patrick and Patrice Russum, the shovels signified the beginning of a reality to an old dream - not having to share a bedroom.

The fraternal twins and their mother, Angela Conway, will be the first to receive one of 10 Habitat homes to be built in the old westside neighborhood bounded by Lake Mead and Martin Luther King boulevards.

"You look at this now, and it's nothing," said Jim Evans, executive director of Habitat's Las Vegas branch, pointing at an ungraded lot landscaped with just the rocks, weeds and shards of broken glass. "But out of this will be 10 families that will own a home that would never have been able to own a home without this program."

The city of Las Vegas and Clark County each contributed $150,000 to buy five lots. Habitat then reached out to "home sponsors" to fund the construction costs and to volunteer in the actual building process.

So far, Habitat has obtained funding partners for five homes and is still seeking more organizations to lend their efforts. Current sponsors are: Household Bank, Bank of America, the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, the Clark County Bar Association, The Meadows School, Norwest Bank, the Allstate Foundation and Home Depot.

"It gives the school an excellent chance for the students to do community service that will last," said 17-year-old George Newbury, a Meadows School senior. "The effects won't go away in a week or two."

Habitat for Humanity is a national organization that brings together corporate funding, donations of construction materials and volunteer labor to build simple, decent homes for low-income families.

City officials are hoping the new homes also help in the revitalization of one of the city's most troubled neighborhoods.

"This will be a neighborhood where you want to raise your children and a neighborhood that's good for the city of Las Vegas," said Sharon Segerblom, director of the city's Neighborhood Services department.

Faye Trend, a Neighborhood Services management analyst who is in charge of the Vegas Heights revitalization efforts, said the two-year process has been a true community effort.

"All of the residents were involved in the design of the new park here," Trend said of the recreation area planned nearby. "They live here, and they know what their neighborhood needs more than anyone from the outside."

In the next few months, the vacant lot will each transform into a three-bedroom house with attached garage.

Habitat board member Jim Mahan said he also expected the surrounding neighborhood to look different.

"The people down the street will paint their house," Mahan said pointing, "and he'll put a new roof on over here."

Patrick Russum was just looking forward to the future of the lot on which he and his sister were seated among the bankers, city officials and Habitat volunteers.

"I'd really like a house," Patrick said beaming. "I'm so excited."