Two 100-year-old Iowa homes saved from demolition to house refugee families

…of First Presbyterian who led the project. "Now they have the opportunity to serve our community in a renewed way. They will be lived in, cared for and filled with the everyday moments that make a house a home." " In a time when our community is struggling with having enough affordable housing, the renovation of these two homes represents one model of how collaboration can turn viable, yet vacant, housing into beautiful homes, " added Ann McGlynn, founder and executive director of Tapestry Farms. Over the past 18 months, crews have worked to rehabilitate the two properties and bring them back to life. The $180,000 project required the…

…Falcon Home Improvements served as the project's contractor. Director Shawn Manning said crews repaired or replaced furnaces, ductwork, plumbing, electrical systems, roofs, porches and other parts of the properties. " There's nothing on these properties that we haven't touched in order to get it ready and safe for a family to come into, " Manning said. McGlynn said the homes' original features were worth preserving. "Oh, but they have such good bones," McGlynn said. "You know, there are fireplaces and there are cabinets that are built into the walls…

…school, bank and other amenities. For project manager Lupe Morales-Salsido, the work carried a personal connection. She said she comes from a large family and that her parents immigrated to the United States. " It just gave me a lot of pride, " Morales-Salsido said. The two refugee families are expected to move into the renovated homes in the coming weeks.…