POTTSTOWN — A house built in the 1900s and owned by several generations for many years is starting a new chapter, with a new family and a new story.
Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties recently celebrated the complete refurbishment of a 1,900-square-foot single-family home at 444 Cherry St.
The organization has been building and preserving affordable homes in this region for more than 35 years,
Work at the property has been ongoing since the summer with volunteers, professionals, and, of course, the new owners who, by Habitat’s rules, are required to provide a certain amount of “sweat equity” into the work.
Those new owners are Salif Kane and Didy Haidara. They have three children and one more on the way.
The two were on hand Feb. 12 for the grand opening, where Kane told Action News the house represents “a dream come true.” It is “far more than a place to live. It’s a foundation for safety, memories, and growth.”
Tiffany Loomis, vice president of real estate acquisitions and development, said thanks to the volunteers bringing costs down, the house was gutted and rebuilt from the studs up for $230 a square foot.
It has new electric, new plumbing, a new roof, new windows, a new washer/dryer, central air conditioning, and new bathrooms and kitchen, with a dishwasher.
It also has a garage and driveway out back.
Loomis said the borough was easy to work with.
“Pottstown was wonderful as a partner,” she said.
Habitat obtained the property in January 2025, and work began last March.
The organization is often known for its projects building new homes from the ground up, but restarted its program refurbishing existing homes in August of 2024.
Other Habitat projects underway include one on the 300 block of East High Street and another on the 600 block of Walnut Street. Both were purchased through the efforts of the Pottstown Land Bank, Loomis said.
