(Photo by Zachary Meseck)

NORWICH – The Improve Norwich Now (I.N.N.) home rehabilitation project was helped by volunteers over the weekend, as individuals pulled up nails, old carpeting, and trim from a dilapidated home in the City of Norwich.

According to Improve Norwich Now President Jen Westervelt, I.N.N. has been working on a home located at 13 Jones Ave in the City of Norwich since the nonprofit closed on it in October of 2020.

Westervelt said the home needed a number of repairs after being left vacant, and INN has already made progress replacing electrical wiring and plumbing.

“Through conversations between Improve Norwich and Norwich Building Tomorrow Foundation, it was decided that we could have a strong partnership that would help revitalize our community by purchasing 13 Jones Ave, the city tax sale property, rehabilitating it, and offering it for sale upon completion,” said Westervelt. “We are pleased to be working with local contractors to complete the work, and we are mobilizing our even increasing network of volunteers.”

“We anticipate the home will be available for sale by the end of this summer, and the sale will be complete by the end of this year.”

She said Improve Norwich Now Vice President John Trottier assembled a team of volunteers to help get work completed on the home last Saturday, and that the volunteers completed a variety of tasks including pulling out old nails, removing carpets, trim, and old flooring.

“This is a home that has been vacant for quite some time, and has become very dilapidated due to that neglect,” she added. “Some of the volunteers who worked on the home were former residents or had childhood friends who lived there, and they said it was nice to be able to help fix a piece of their history.”

“The neighborhood is excited that this home is being restored, and they’ve said it will improve even their quality of life.”

Westervelt said I.N.N. hopes to have the home ready for sale by the end of the summer, and sold by the end of the year. She said any proceeds from the sale will be used for local nonprofit efforts.

She added that there is still work to be done on the home, and volunteer work days like what occurred over the weekend are vital to helping make the project a success.

Those who are interested in learning more about Improve Norwich Now may visit its facebook page or visit its website at https://improvenorwichnow.org/ for more information.