Habitat adds on to ReStore

By JEANNE STARMACK

starmack@vindy.com

Mahoning County and city officials braved the cold Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the coming expansion of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

A 6,000-square-foot, $170,000 addition is breaking ground next to the store on Youngstown-Poland Road. It is expected to be finished by spring.

The ReStore, which opened in May 2008, accepts donations of furniture and other household goods for resale to the public. Revenue from the store helps Habitat build homes for people who otherwise could not be homeowners.

The addition will house materials from the deconstruction of homes — more than 8,400 homes throughout the county sit vacant, pointed out Stephen Hanzely, acting executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning County. The aim is to keep recycling the materials so less of them end up in landfills, he said.

“We will work with the city and county to salvage siding, basement stones, light fixtures and cabinets for use in our homes or to sell to do-it-yourselfers,” he said.

Witmer’s Construction of Columbiana is the contractor for the addition.

Company president Nelson Witmer told the small crowd gathered for the groundbreaking that he’s happy to work on the project.

“We appreciate the work,” he said, “but it’s gratifying to be part of a project that’s good for society.”

“Anytime you see expansion, that’s a good thing,” said Mayor Terry Stocker.

County Commissioner David Ludt said he is glad to “be a part of something positive.”

Commissioner Anthony Traficanti thanked Hanzely and county Green Team director Jim Petuch for writing for an Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant for the project.

The grant netted the project $100,000, and Habitat had to come up with a $50,000 share.