WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, ALGroup home for mentally ill begins renovations

Group home for mentally ill begins renovations

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By Christine Pae - email
305 8th Street home in Huntsville to undergo much needed renovations to the building. 305 8th Street home in Huntsville to undergo much needed renovations to the building.
HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -

A group home for mentally handicapped residents began renovations Saturday.

The house, known as the 305 8th Street home, is located at that exact address in Huntsville.

An electrical fire last July prompted the home's board members to plan plumbing and electrical upgrades.

"Probably the main reason for doing it now is because the decision was made a year ago to do it and it took a year or two in fact to raise the money to get it done," Board Director Dan Nash said.

Nash said they've raised funds to replace old cast-iron piping with more conventional and efficient PVC piping. 

In the meantime, the 16 residents are staying at a hotel until March 11th when renovations are complete.

The house, built in 1949, is home to 16 mentally handicapped residents.

The home is considered one of the oldest group homes for the mentally ill in the Huntsville area.

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