111411 Community celebrates completion of Howey Houses project

  • By Sharon Haught
  • November 7, 2011
  • 342
                        
Summary: The community gathered at SoMAR Wine Cellars to celebrate the successful completion of the Howey Houses project. As the community gathered at SoMAR Wine Cellars in late October to celebrate the successful completion of the Howey Houses project, a pair of dusty work boots sat silently within a plexiglass case near the podium. Attached to the case is a small brass plaque bearing the inscriptions “One Pair of Boots That Can Never Be Filled” and the name Jamey Howey. According to Main Street Wooster Executive Director Sandra Hull, it was Howey himself who had the vision to undertake a community wide project to revitalize a downtown neighborhood and return it to its former glory back in 2006. “The thought process was that by purchasing existing homes that had been neglected, refurbishing them back to single family homes and selling them to families that wanted to be near downtown we could further enhance the attractiveness of our downtown,” said Main Street Wooster Board of Trustees Chair Mark Norton adding “in the process we hoped we would spur others to do the same thereby transforming an entire neighborhood.” “With Main Street Wooster and Sandra (Hull) as the driving force, Howey Houses LLC was formed in 2008 to accomplish this goal,” said Norton. “Two houses on North Buckeye Street – 438 and 546 North Buckeye – have been refurbished and purchased by families who share a vision of a vibrant downtown Wooster and had the foresight to get in on the ground floor of something that will be great,” said Norton. In addition to the two Howey Houses homes, new life was also breathed into three other homes on the street as a result of the project. According to former Main Street board chair Roger Proper when it was discovered that a third home purchased by Howey Houses was too far gone to be saved, the team opted to demolish the home located at 449 North Buckeye Street and sell the lot to Habitat for Humanity. The City of Wooster purchased another nearby lot and made it available to Habitat as well. In addition “Habitat will be doing another home on their own for a total of five refurbished or new properties on Buckeye Street,” said Norton. “All of this was done with the hope that what started here will serve as a catalyst for North Buckeye and the surrounding neighborhoods and that’s exactly what’s happening,” said Norton. Norton, Proper and Hull expressed their appreciation to all the local businesses and community members who came together to make the project a reality. Amongst the long list of community organizations stepped up to make the project happen was a group of local banks who committed a total of $400,00 in seed money on a no interest basis – Apple Creek Bank, Commercial and Savings Bank, First Merit, First National Bank, Huntington Bank, Premiere Bank and Trust, Wayne Savings Community Bank and Western Reserve Bank – and the guarantors of the project – Stanley C. Gault, The Ralph and Grace B. Jones Foundation, The Donald and Alice Noble Foundation, The Seaman Family Foundation, The Wayne County Community Foundation and the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce. The trio also thanked city officials and the hundreds of volunteers and local companies who gave of their time or offered free or reduced price products and services. “This has been a very, very rewarding project,” said Norton adding “it speaks to what can happen in a community when a group of people pursue a common goal.” “This is a true community project. Lots of people came together to do this,” said Hull. “I know Jamey is pleased,” Hull added. For more information on Howey Houses LLC visit Main Street Wooster’s web site at www.mainstreetwooster.org.


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