Migrant Housing Dedicated Wednesday

Duke joined Mt. Olive and others on project

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

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Durham, N.C. -- A new migrant house, designed to promote quality migrant housing in North Carolina, will be dedicated Wednesday, May 31, in Kinston.

The house was built by Harvey Farms just off U.S. 70 near Kinston. The 2,800 square-foot structure will house 17 workers when they arrive for work in early June.

The project is a collaboration between Harvey Farms, Mt. Olive Pickle Company, Duke University and the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Mt.Olive, Duke and The Duke Endowment on behalf of the N.C. Conference contributed approximately one-third of the house’s construction cost. Mt.Olive also funded the project’s design work, done by Partin-Hobbs & Associates of Goldsboro. Group III Management of Kinston served as the project’s general contractor.

Harvey Farms, Mt.Olive, Duke and the N.C. Conference signed a formal agreement to build the house in April, 2005.

Initially, the house was designed with several parameters: to meet or exceed the state’s migrant housing standards; to address the needs of the farmworkers who occupy the house; to be simple to replicate; and to be cost effective to build.

Bill Bryan, president of Mt. Olive Pickle, said the project met all of those parameters but the last.

“We realize the project cost exceeds what is economically reasonable for most farmers,” Bryan said. “But, we believe the innovative appearance, the materials used, and the design features offer lessons that are useful and thought-provoking.”

Among the features in the house’s design:

  • A commons area with a higher ceiling, operable exterior and interior windows, and an 8-foot wide corridor, all designed to improve natural ventilation throughout the house
  • Four bedrooms housing up to four workers each, and one one-person room
  • A design based on an eight-foot grid to conform to standard building materials, minimizing waste
  • Durable, common materials: concrete floors, block walls and a metal roof
  • Covered porches created by the roof’s overhang
  • Bathroom, kitchen and laundry facilities that meet or exceed state migrant housing standards
  • Access to bathrooms and laundry areas from outside
  • Basic telephone service, which is not required by state migrant housing standards
  • In addition, Harvey will provide a soccer/recreation area for workers at the housing site.

Duke has long been involved in affordable housing efforts in the Durham area, said John Burness, Duke’s senior vice president for government affairs and public relations. The migrant housing project is an extension of that interest.

“When we were talking with Mt.Olive a couple of years ago, one of the priorities we all recognized was the need for adequate, decent housing,” Burness said. “The N.C. Conference, Duke and Mt.Olive all resolved to make something important happen.”

“The issue of good housing for migrant farm workers is a long standing one with the United Methodist Church and other members of the North Carolina Council of Churches,” said Dr. Charles M. Smith, director of Connectional Ministries of the N.C. Conference and a Duke trustee. “We are thankful for the opportunity to be in partnership on this project, and we look forward to a wonderful celebration of this pace-setting venture.”