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For Delores and Jerry Green, Monday morning's ribbon cutting at 13200 Nestle Dr. was more than a ceremony celebrating a new house.
It was a homecoming without having to leave home.
The Greens received the keys to a newly constructed three-bedroom home Aug. 17 as part of the Valwood Park Revitalization Project, a partnership involving the City of Farmers Branch, Dallas County and Builders of Hope Community Development Corp.
The project will replace 10 older homes with new single-family houses for qualifying Farmers Branch families.
Dallas County awarded Farmers Branch $2.5 million in HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds for the project. The money is being used to demolish and construct 10 homes for families at or below 80% of the area median income who meet additional eligibility requirements.
Each new home is at least 1,300 square feet and includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a two-car garage, heating and air conditioning and appliances. The homes are also ADA-compliant. Qualifying families receive the homes at no cost, subject to deed restrictions.
Builders of Hope CDC was selected as the project's general contractor.
"It’s important to keep people in their neighborhoods," said Christopher Lewis, president and CEO of Builders of Hope.
For the Greens, however, the project is about considerably more than square footage.
Jerry Green told those gathered for Monday's ribbon cutting that the couple had been living in an aging house that had previously belonged to his parents.
Delores Green has lived in the neighborhood all 71 years of her life and attended elementary school across Valley View Lane, where the rose garden now is.
"This is unbelievable to us," Jerry Green said. "We were living in an old, dilapidated house in a very nice neighborhood on Danny Lane."
He said the couple learned about the program and waited and prayed for the opportunity to participate.
"It's unbelievable," he said.
Delores Green described receiving the home as a dream and thanked the people who helped build it.
Farmers Branch Mayor Terry Lynne, District 1 City Council Member Lupe Gonzalez, District 4 City Council Member Elizabeth Villafranca and representatives from Dallas County, Builders of Hope and project partners attended the ceremony.
Lynne called completion of the home an important milestone for Farmers Branch and emphasized the partnerships necessary to make the project possible.
"This first completed home will have an especially meaningful impact for all the families in the program," he said.
Dallas County representatives also highlighted housing as part of building stronger communities and allowing longtime residents to remain in their neighborhoods.
"Being able to stay in their neighborhood is very important to them," said Tom Ervin, chief of staff for County Commissioner Andy Sommerman, who was unable to attend the ceremony.
That connection was particularly personal for Gonzalez.
Gonzalez said she already knew Delores Green through Green's granddaughter, who attended the dance studio where Gonzalez previously worked. She did not know Green was receiving one of the new homes until she arrived at the ribbon cutting.
"It's especially meaningful for me to be here today as a representative of this district," Gonzalez said.
She told Green it was a blessing to know she would be able to remain in the community "for many, many more years."
Builders of Hope President and CEO Christopher Lewis also recognized the organizations involved in making the project possible and said the organization wants residents to hear directly from families benefiting from the program.
The Dallas-based nonprofit works to preserve and develop affordable housing and strengthen neighborhoods.
Monday's celebration ended with one of the traditional symbols of a new beginning: Delores Green holding the keys to her new home.
And, with a pair of oversized scissors in her hands, she helped cut the ribbon.
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