In This Issue ----- December, 2023

Our Newest Partner -- CMCL!
THANK YOU
Milburn Update

Our Newest Partner -- CMCL!

This month Chestnut Housing and Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster (CMCL) finalized a unique partnership to add another quality, affordable apartment to Lancaster's housing scene. This partnership has been in the works for a number of years, and we're so excited to see it come to fruition.

More than a decade ago CMCL purchased a historic commercial property adjacent to its church building. Much of the existing building was deemed too run down to salvage, and was demolished several years ago. The congregation opted to renovate the remaining, compact office building to create a ground floor community room, an upstairs apartment, and an incredible mural.

"Renovating the building was a long process and I'm proud and thankful for the countless hours spent by many skilled volunteers," reflected Mike Sharp, CMCL Council Chair.

Chestnut Housing will manage the one-bedroom apartment for our mission to provide affordable housing to those experiencing homelessness.

Lynn Bergey, a CMCL volunteer giving leadership to the project, said, "I hope that residents will be able to experience in their own lives some of the love that went into the restoration of a long-vacant building."

THANK YOU

A huge thank-you to the many volunteers who have been helping us renovate one of Chestnut Housing's apartments on Manor Street. Ten volunteers came out to work on Dec. 9, painting nearly the whole apartment in one day! Another volunteer planned and installed the new kitchen, and when we told our drywall contractor about our mission at Chestnut Housing, he did all the drywall repair pro bono.

Together with your volunteer work, we are able to keep rent affordable for our residents. THANK YOU so much!

A dozen or so musicians wrapped up their Thanksgiving weekend on Nov. 26 by performing back-to-back benefit concerts at Landisville Mennonite Church. Dale Stoltzfus dreamed up the concept and put countless hours into planning and promoting the event.

Their effort resulted in nearly $10,000 donated to Chestnut Housing from hundreds of supporters who attended the event.

We are SO GRATEFUL for friends like Dale who bring fresh ideas and energy to help us expand affordable housing opportunities in Lanca

Milburn Update

What is the latest news about Chestnut Housing's development of Milburn Apartments on Rockland Street in Lancaster? Here are some updates:

Construction drawings are nearly complete, and we will soon be obtaining building permits and seeking final approval from the city's Planning Commission.
Construction will begin in the first quarter of next year.
We have secured 90% of the funds needed for this $2.2 million project. We have applied for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from Lancaster County, sufficient to close the funding gap. And we expect county commissioners to make final funding selections by the end of Jan.
A huge shout-out to our planning partners: EG Stoltzfus, Envision Architects, and RGS Associates.

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