By SAMANTHA COSSICK
P.O. Staff writer
CHAMBERSBURG PA

Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County was given a house on King Street recently and intends to turn that property into cash for other projects.

The deed to a house at 458 E. King St. was transferred to Habitat in late November, said Mark Story, executive director for Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County.

"The building came as an outright gift from two donors in the community," he said. "We didn't solicit for it and we were very surprised by it."

Habitat had originally looked into using the building as a permanent office, instead of its rented office. However, the 6,000-square-foot building with 14 offices proved too large.

"Given the size of the building, we realized that using it as an office is probably not the best use of that building," Story said.

Instead, Habitat is looking to sell the building and use the funds to continue its construction programs or possibly secure a long-term office, he said.

"What we're intending to do now is put the building up for sale and use the funds that will come from that to honor the donors' wishes -- and that's that the value of the building would further our mission, which is to build houses in Franklin County," Story said.

The value of the building could be used to potentially build two or three new homes in Franklin County, he said.

Donated by Robert M. and Rachel L. Snyder, as well as Eugene A. and Demaree D. Deardorff, the $255,000 building was used as an accounting firm for several years. The building was constructed in the 1900s as a home and later housed a printing press and then the accounting firm, Story said.

In addition to the donated home, Habitat has several other projects it will be working on in 2012.

Two rehabilitation projects next year will bring the total number of Habitat homes constructed or worked on in the county to 30 since 1993, Story said.

The first rehab project will take place at 522 S. Main St., literally next door to the house that Habitat finished working on last year, he said.

While they were working on the house at 538 S. Main St., the adjacent property was foreclosed and went up for sheriff sale, Story said.

Additionally, the house at 402 E. Washington St. that Habitat was working on rehabbing will actually be demolished after evaluation and a new house constructed in its place, once permitting requirements are met, he said.

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Samantha Cossick can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and 262-4762 or follow her on Twitter at @SCossickPO.