Neighbors near Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Work Project excited to see build begin

MISHAWAKA, Ind. --- A Mishawaka common councilperson described the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project as a sign of “new life and new hope” for the Princess City.

Councilmember At-Large Bryan Tanner said the Habitat for Humanity work project will create 23 homes in Mishawaka. The build is set to take place after Sunday’s 5 p.m. open ceremony at the Purcell Pavilion at the University of Notre Dame. 

“It’s probably going to be something like we’ve never seen before,” he said. 

From August 26 to August 31, close to 500 volunteers will build, renovate, or repair 41 homes in South Bend and Mishawaka, according to Habitat for Humanity. 

“This is a community-wide effort to really revive and create a sense of place and a sense of pride in our community,” Tanner said. 

He said the Mishawaka Common Council approved land purchases and budgeting costs for the site near Byrkit Street. On Saturday, volunteers were on site completing advance work that needed to be done to the site’s infrastructure, in order to have a clean build, Tanner said. 

People who live near the work project site in Mishawaka said they’ve been waiting to witness the build since November 2017. 

“From the looks of it, it’s already built,” said Mike De Maegd, who lives nearby. 

De Maegd said he thought families living inside the homes being constructed would be the ones building them. Habitat For Humanity said the families will take part in sweat equity, which essentially means they will, along with volunteers, build their homes. 

“I hope it’s a good idea, I hope it puts some people in there that need homes,” De Maegd said. “I just hope it works out.”