On Saturday morning, Habitat for Humanity of Conyers/Rockdale officially dedicated its new Olde Town Village, a 32-lot subdivision acquired specifically to provide Habitat homes in the community.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was held on the aptly named Hope Street, as Habitat board members, past presidents, volunteers, and families gathered to mark the occasion, which had been long in the works.

The neighborhood’s first homeowner is single mother and flight attendant, Cynthia Cannon. Although she was pulled away for work and unable to attend the ceremony, most Saturdays, Cannon is at the site chipping away at her required 200 hours of “sweat equity” alongside a team of volunteers from corporations and regular individuals.

Volunteers and Rockdale residents John Ubriaco and Nick Shimmel said they regularly work on Habitat projects because "it's the right thing to do."

"It's God's work," said Ubriaco.

Schimmel said this was the 29th house he's worked on. Most were in Atlanta so he was happy to find Habitat projects in his own community. "It's good to do it in your hometown," he said.

HICOR’s (Habitat Interfaith Consortium of Rockdale) President Marget Hall said the construction of the first house in the subdivision brings Habitat full circle. Rockdale’s first Habitat homeowner from 1981 recently finished paying off their mortgage in full this year.

As funds come in, new homes will be built. With the recent inflation in the cost of materials, each house costs about $75,000 to construct, according to advisor Gene Hall.

HICOR is currently accepting applications for the next home lot.  According to Marget Hall, among many qualifications, the candidate must be a minimum one-year Rockdale resident, demonstrate ability to meet mortgage payments, have no bankruptcies in the last seven years and have no criminal record.

The board is also looking for volunteers who could help out in the Habitat Surplus Store at 1117 West Ave., which is another way they earn revenue. Another way of volunteering is to provide meals to the construction volunteers - a service that some churches and women's groups have been providing.

For more information or volunteering opportunities, go to www.habitatrockdale.com or visit the Habitat Surplus Store, open Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. or call 770-785-7675.