Habitat for Humanity Flathead is celebrating its first groundbreaking in Whitefish in 15 years as construction starts on a pair of three-bedroom townhomes on Whitefish Avenue.

The project is the first in the nonprofit’s Grounded in Whitefish campaign that aims to build 10 homes in Whitefish each year for a decade. The group currently has 10 houses under construction in Columbia Falls. 

The ceremony last week included short speeches by Habitat's Board President Matt Venturini, Whitefish City Manager Dana Meeker, Whitefish Community Foundation CEO Alan Davis, Jamie Goguen from the Whitefish Advisory group, City Councilor Giuseppe Caltabiano and MaryBeth Morand, executive director of Habitat Flathead.  

Morand said the grassroots campaign is intended to help solve a national socioeconomic problem of affordable housing and that the assembled crowd represented the movement well. 

"We're taking private sector businesses, we're taking philanthropy, and we're taking the city government, and we're all coming together to solve this as a team," she said. And that's why I'm so confident that we will get 100 houses built within 10 years.  

"I'm willing to bet with anyone we'll get it done before 10 years," she added. 

The city granted $250,000 from the resort tax fund to Habitat for the purchase of the lots on Whitefish Avenue. Meeker said Habitat was not only building homes but building hope and stability for community members. 

"Each step to finally be able to see us move forward with more projects, more homes for our workforce and our local families to live in, is excellent," she said. 

Davis said the Whitefish Community Foundation has given Habitat over $1 million in the last 25 years. 

"It's because they are fulfilling a critical need, and I would say it's because they're nimble and able to tackle very unique problems," Davis said, citing the RV park near the Habitat for Humanity Restore in Kalispell and the pre-production facility the nonprofit developed inside the Restore. 

Working with the Habitat board is the Grounded in Whitefish team made up of, arguably, the community's heavy hitters.  

John Kramer heads the group that meets for lunch each Monday. Also involved are Cameron Blake, whose work has bolstered the Glacier Nordic Club and the North Valley Music School, Carolyn Pitman, who had a big hand in creating and running the O'Shaughnessy Center, and Rhonda Fitzgerald, a fixture on local committees and an unofficial town historian. 

Additionally, Goguen plays an active role, as do Steve Lull, who's perhaps best known for his work bringing the Whitefish Dog Park to life, and artist Brogan Thomsen. 

Richard and Carol Atkinson, the motor behind several Whitefish gems including the Performing Arts Center and The WAVE, are also on board. 

Fitzgerald said she looks at this group each Monday and thinks to herself, "How can this not work?" 

"Because, if you name a thing in Whitefish that's extraordinary, and you can't believe a small town has it, those people made it happen," she said. 

The group is focused on raising funds to buy land for the houses because, in part, they realize the importance of keeping the community together. 

"They love Whitefish and Whitefish is a community of people who work here, and if we lose the people who work here and make it a community, then they'll lose what they love," Fitzgerald said of the Grounded in Whitefish group.  

Those interested in applying for one of these homes are encouraged to read about the criteria for participation in the program at habitatflathead.org/homeownership.  

To volunteer with Habitat, contact Hilary Devlin, community engagement manager, [email protected]. 

Reporter Julie Engler can be reached at 406-862-3505 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at whitefishpilot.com/support. 

    John Kramer and Cameron Blake throw the first shovelfuls of dirt at the Habitat Flathead groundbreaking ceremony on Whitefish Avenue. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    A crowd assembled on a hot day for Habitat Flathead's groundbreaking ceremony for two townhomes on Whitefish Avenue last week. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    Habitat Flathead celebrated a groundbreaking on Whitefish Avenue last week. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)