Community Corner

Habitat for Humanity Completes 8th Island Home

Celebration and ribbon cutting to be held Saturday, June 23rd

Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard (HabitatMV) will host a ribbon-cutting and volunteer appreciation reception for its most recently completed affordable home in West Tisbury on Saturday June 23 at 4:00 p.m. The home, Habitat’s eighth on Martha’s Vineyard, will be purchased by Joe and Jennifer Fragosa and their young daughter with a land lease from the Island Housing Trust. It is located at 49 Bailey Park Rd, off Great Plains Rd (which comes off Old County Rd) in West Tisbury. The event will include a house tour and will last approximately 30 minutes with refreshments to follow. The public is warmly invited to attend rain or shine.

According to Neal A. Sullivan, Executive Director of HabitatMV, the Fragosas’ one-story, three-bedroom home was moved in two halves to Bailey Park from the State Road site of Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank, which donated the structure, foundation and moving costs. Stripping the house down to the frame and rebuilding it consumed more than 2,600 hours by 141 community volunteers, including some 600 sweat equity hours by the Fragosas and their families, as well as thousands of dollars worth of building materials and services donated by island individuals and businesses.

For the Fragosas, cutting the ribbon and thanking the volunteers means they are close to move-in. “We’re so grateful for all the help, and we’ve really enjoyed the relationships we’ve built with volunteers in the process,” said Joe Fragosa, an arborist who is the owner of Water Views Tree Service in West Tisbury. Jennifer Fragosa, who is a swim teacher, translator and home-schooling mom, added, “Right now our daughter’s play area, her school room, our living room and kitchen are all in one room. We look forward to having separate spaces for all those.”

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Construction is currently underway on the second of the three HabitatMV homes slated for Bailey Park. Sullivan says he anticipates completion of 50 Bailey Park Road this year.

The third and final HabitatMV home at 45 Bailey Park is in the design phase and will begin construction after a partner family is selected this summer.

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