Blitz Build on 2 houses will close Franklin Street for a week – MLive.com

JACKSON, MI -- Franklin Street in Jackson is closing for a week in August for a Greater Jackson Habitat for Humanity, Blitz Build.

The street is closing to through traffic from Jackson to Mechanic streets while two houses are constructed starting Monday, Aug. 16. It is anticipated construction will be complete Friday, Aug. 20.

The road is being closed from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily to accommodate volunteers and equipment needed for the build, said Troy White, assistant city engineer.

The two houses are a part of a larger project to build six two-story houses adjacent to the new Jackson YMCA on the corners of W. Franklin, S. Mechanic and W. Mason streets.

The six houses will make up the DeLand Pointe neighborhood, Greater Jackson Habitat for Humanitys first neighborhood development, said Wendy Clow, executive director.

The neighborhood was named for the DeLand family, which had a homestead at the intersection and has a historical significance to the Underground Railroad, Clow said.

Volunteers will work alongside staff and contractors to raise walls and roofs, install siding and weatherize homes.

The Greater Jackson Habitat for Humanity invited sponsors, companies and volunteers from around the city to participate in the Blitz Build to raise and enclose the first two houses.

The event will kick off Monday, Aug. 16, with a First Responders Day, where Jackson Police Department, Jackson Fire Department, Michigan State Police and Henry Ford Allegiance Health staff will frame the first floors and prepare construction of the second floors.

Other participating companies during the week include CertainTeed, Gerdau and Jackson Area Association of Realtors.

We will have groups volunteers each day who will literally raise walls, we will have a big crane there to put the trusses on the roof and get the house enclosed by the time the week is up, Clow said.

Greater Jackson Habitat will use the southeast portion of the YMCAs parking lot for the event. YMCA member may use the citys parking lot across W. Wesley Avenue for free.

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Blitz Build on 2 houses will close Franklin Street for a week - MLive.com