History

In 1988, a small group of concerned citizens established Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County. The first two houses were built in 1989. Since its founding, Habitat Gaston has steadily increased its building capacity.  The organization has moved from building individual homes to building blocks and has developed plans for an entire Habitat neighborhood. Habitat’s work on McArver Street and in the Parkdale Community exemplifies the impact that the organization wants to make all over the county.

Early in Habitat’s history, we began building houses in the Highland area, including Habitat’s very first and second house on Pryor Street.  In 2010 the City of Gastonia gave eleven Pryor Street lots in the Highland area to Habitat that was able to be subdivided to allow us the ability to build more homes.  We mobilized donations for three additional Pryor Street lots.  This core of 13 lots led Habitat to plan a continued revitalization project for the Highland area.  Habitat’s efforts will contribute to 32 homeowner houses in the Highland neighborhood. 

For thirty years, we have been working with the faith community, and with corporate and community partners to complete 116 homes in Gaston County: 78 in Gastonia, 19 in Belmont, 8 in Mt. Holly, 3 in Cherryville, 2 in Bessemer City, 6 in Dallas, and 2 in Lowell. Through the Habitat of Humanity International tithing program, Habitat Gaston has helped to renovate over 600 houses and build 51 new houses in Honduras.

Habitat Gaston Timeline

1989                                                                                  
First two houses built
1990-1994                                                                        
Fifteen houses built throughout Gaston County
1995                                                                                 
Hired part time executive director
1997                                                                                 
Searching of building for ReStore
1998                                                                                 
Bryant family loaned use of building 210 S. Avon for the ReStore
1999                                                                                
First Board retreat Moved ReSale to 608 E. Second Ave 10th anniversary house
2001                                                                                
Plans to add addition to ReStore for office space
2002                                                                                
Moved office to 608 E. Second Ave – Hired first Store Manger
2005                                                                                
Parkdale Mills donated 9 tracts of land on Parkdale Ave
2006                                                                                
First Blitz Build – Gastonia Homebuilders Association
2008                                                                                
Community Garden dedicated on Parkdale Ave in Honor of Duke Kimbrell
2010                                                                                
Dedicated two 20th Anniversary houses
2011                                                                                
Relocated from a 6,400 square foot building to a 35,000 square foot building. Habitat offices and ReStore located at 1840  E. Franklin Blvd
2013                                                                                
Dedicated our 100th house
2014                                                                                
Celebrated 25th anniversary
2015                                                                                
Received Cannon Foundation Grant
2016                                                                                
Opened the Johan Newcombe Event Center
Received a Publix sponsorship for a home