GREENVILLE, S.C. –Several houses being built Friday in a new Habitat for Humanity of Greenville neighborhood could offer another solution in the affordable housing toolkit for the nonprofit.
The Sturtevant Street houses sit on 1.708 acres donated by Fitch Irick Corporation and Creative Builders, Inc. in 2021. Land prices are one of the largest obstacles for Habitat Greenville and other affordable housing advocates.
“One of the biggest hurdles in affordable housing in Greenville is the cost of land. Our community’s growth and success makes it difficult to find land that is cost effective,” said Monroe Free, president and CEO of Habitat Greenville. “Land donation is one of the keys for future growth and keeping housing prices down.”
This particular tract of land came about after Fitch Irick and Creative Builders developed The Assembly Apartments, a rental community featuring 384 units built over two phases between 2017 and 2022, said Hollis Fitch, CEO of Fitch Irick Corporation. There was a remaining parcel of land that was not going to be used.
“We talked about a lot of things that could be done with it, but we kept coming back to giving back somehow,” Fitch said. “Habitat seemed like an ideal fit because their goals and ours lined up almost perfectly.”
But donating the land was just the start. Both firms agreed to help build four of the nine houses on Sturtevant in the Bramlett community. Creative Builders also is a long-time Habitat Greenville supporter and has taken part in CEO Builds in the past. Teams from both companies were on site Friday building together.
“Philanthropy is one of our core values,” said Will McCauley, president of Creative Builders. “We strongly believe in giving back to the community. We have donated time, materials, monies and talents over the years to many local nonprofits.”
About Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County:
Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County opened its doors in 1985 to bring families, community partners, and volunteers together to construct affordable, energy-efficient homes that help families build strength, stability, and self-reliance. As of May 2023, Habitat Greenville has completed the construction of 405 homes. Habitat Greenville received the 2017 Builder of the Year award from EarthCraft, and in recognition of financial health, accountability, and transparency, maintain a 4-Star Charity status by Charity Navigator. Habitat Greenville ReStores are located at 3033 Wade Hampton Boulevard in Taylors and 1818 Woodruff Road in Greenville. Call 864-312-5016 for free donation pickups.
Learn more at www.habitatgreenville.org.
About Creative Builders, Inc.:
Creative Builders was founded in 1971 by William H. “Billy” McCauley II, as a general contractor in Greenville. Today, Creative Builders is licensed in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee and is one of the fastest-growing commercial builders in the region, with offices in Greenville and Charleston. As general contractors, they are extremely proud of their highly diversified portfolio and reputation – the results of a dedicated team of co-workers who live up to the Creative Builders name every day on every project. For more, go to www.creativebuilders.net.
About Fitch Irick Corporation:
Fitch Irick Corporation was formed by Hollis Fitch and Charlie Irick in 2014 as a North Carolina Limited Liability Company with the original purpose of developing affordable housing in the Southeastern United States. They have since grown the scope of services by vertically integrating the property management and asset management functions. In 2021, Fitch Irick Partners LLC was reorganized into Fitch Irick Corporation to best position the company for future growth. Learn more at www.fitchirick.com.