Restoration House buys land for 'The Village'

Nonprofit Restoration House of East Tennessee has bought 5.7 acres of West Knoxville land to build an apartment complex for single-mother families.

Called The Village, the gated complex off Robinson Road initially will include 18 apartments in three single-story buildings. Another building fronting Robinson Road will house Restoration House offices, community space and an exercise room.

The Village will quadruple the ministry's capacity to work with single-mother families, Executive Director Daniel Watson said Wednesday.

Restoration House provides up to transitional housing and team mentoring for single mothers and their children. Two families now live in a duplex on the property of ministry founders Daniel and Mandy Watson. Three more live in apartments in a complex where the ministry helps pay their rents.

Restoration House in May paid Taragon Vandewerken $140,000 for the land. Groundbreaking for the $2.2 million project is set for October with construction to be completed by April 2013.

Each frame-construction apartment building will incorporate two-, three- or four-bedroom apartments. A two-bedroom apartment would be about 900 square feet. The complex will include community gardens, play areas and shared yards. A master plan includes a fourth six-unit apartment building to be built when funds are available.

The property is adjacent and south of the Watsons' home. Their house and the adjacent duplex used by Restoration House families were built in January using volunteer labor and materials through the television program "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." The build will air as a November television special for the now-canceled program.

Watson said $1.3 million has been raised to build The Village. Donations include a $250,000 gift by Michael and Jackie Crabtree of Knoxville. Nine churches from four denominations each pledged $36,000 toward an apartment construction.

The churches also will provide mentors for families and perform maintenance on their family's apartment. Restoration House is looking for more churches for the project, Watson said.

The ministry is requesting contributions from foundations and major donors this summer and will begin a public fundraising campaign in the fall. Fundraising events include a September open house on The Village property.

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Restoration House buys land for 'The Village'