'Never give up'

First home in Woodside Park dedicated by Habitat, city

Simpsonville, S.C. — When Councilmember Jenn Hulehan (Ward III) spoke at the dedication of the first completed house in the new Woodside Park development, her mantra was, "Never give up."

"The story of this journey, the story of this house is never give up," Hulehan said to the crowd gathered in the Woodside Park Community the Sunday before Christmas. 

Councilmember Jenn Hulehan (Ward III) speaks at the dedication of the first Habitat for Humanity house in the Woodside Park Community on Dec. 19, 2021. Hulehan said the project has been successful because the partners in the project have never given up | City of Simpsonville

Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County and the City of Simpsonville celebrated on Dec. 19 the completion of the first home in Woodside Park, a development made possible by the partnership among Habitat, Simpsonville and the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority. While the City donated the land for the development, Habitat and the Redevelopment Authority are building 10 houses and 3 houses, respectively.

Hulehan told the crowd the completion of the first home was 13 years in the making as Habitat first approached the City about the property along Beattie Street in 2008. An agreement between Habitat and the City reached in 2013 eventually fell through before Hulehan was elected to Simpsonville City Council in 2015.

After a meeting with Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County President & CEO Monroe Free, Hulehan and Councilmember Matthew Gooch (Ward I) asked City Attorney David Holmes to look at the agreement.

"Get that agreement out; dust it off; renew the language; refresh it; update whatever needs to be updated, and get it before Council, and we did," Hulehan and Gooch said to Holmes. "What we discovered was it's not an easy journey, but we never gave up."

An initial approval of the agreement to donate the land to Habitat passed by a slim margin of 4-3 in July 2016, and final approval of the agreement passed 5-2 the following month. Ground was broken on the Woodside Park development in October 2020.

Councilmember Lou Hutchings (Ward VI) attended the dedication of the first home to be completed in the Woodside Park Community on Dec. 19, 2021. Hutchings has been a steadfast supporter of the project by Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County and the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority | City of Simpsonville

Also in attendance at the dedication in December were Mayor Paul Shewmaker and Councilmember Lou Hutchings (Ward VI). Shewmaker acknowledged the pivotal role the Simpsonville community has played in the project.

"We are so fortunate to enjoy the vision and commitment of leadership in all its forms and the support from the community of that leadership," Shewmaker said. 

Mayor Paul Shewmaker speaks at the dedication of the first Habitat for Humanity house in the Woodside Park Community on Dec. 19, 2021. Shewmaker welcomed the homeowner, Ashley Malaczewski, and her family to the community | City of Simpsonville

Council approved the land transfer to fulfill its vision of a Simpsonville that offers affordable housing to all. Affordable housing is in need across the Upstate, and the Woodside Park Community made possible by Habitat and the Redevelopment Authority met that need.

Ashley Malaczewski is the head of the first family to own a home in Woodside Park. Malaczewski completed 25 hours of homeownership education and 200 hours of sweat equity by helping to build her house and the houses of her fellow Habitat homeowners.

"You have to keep pushing in life," Malaczewski said in a news release by Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County, referring to the journey that brought her to the steps of her new home on Sidney Wilson Court.

Ashley Malaczewski, the first homeowner in the Woodside Park Community, receives the keys to her family's home. Malaczewski completed 25 hours of homeownership education and put in 200 hours of sweat equity by helping to build her house and the houses of other Woodside Park homeowners | City of Simpsonville

Homeowner Ashley Malaczewski and her two sons were celebrated on Dec. 19, 2021 at the dedication of their home, the first house to be completed in the Woodside Park Community, a project by Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County and the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority | City of Simpsonville

Shewmaker noted the hard work and planning required by Malaczewski for homeownership.

"We all will enjoy the strengthening of our community by having Ashley in it," Shewmaker said. "Ashley - we’re glad you’re here. Welcome to Simpsonville. Welcome home.”