When Dave Curro opens the trunk of his car to reveal a model of the neighborhood he wants to build for developmentally disabled adults, the project looks like a distant dream. But when Curro points to a manhole on the property where he plans to build the complex, the idea doesn’t seem so far-fetched.
He calls it the Midtown Housing Coalition, an affordable housing development to give developmentally disabled adults an independent life. It would consist of 26 tiny homes surrounding an activity center and event space. Curro, a 67-year-old retired quality engineer from Durham, conceived of the project more than three years ago, in part to give his son Bret, 37, who is developmentally disabled, a place to live on his own. His goal is to start construction as soon as possible.
Disabled veterans will also be invited to live in the small houses. Curro, who spends time at the American Legion in Durham, said he included them in the mandate for the project because he is a 50% disabled veteran. Curro anticipates that three to four of the 26 homes will be used to house members of this population.
Among other conditions, developmental disabilities include autism spectrum disorder, Tourette syndrome, and Fragile X syndrome, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To reside in the new community, Curro said a person needs to be independent enough to handle basic tasks, like waking up on time in the morning and going to work.
However, the community could hire an administrator to help residents carry out more complex tasks that are outside of daily routine, such as grocery shopping or paying utility bills. This would help them get the support they needed while removing the burden from caretakers like Curro.
For Curro, it’s vital that developmentally disabled adults learn to live independently of their parents. “If I get hit by a bus tomorrow, what happens to my son?” he asked.
Bret used to live alone, but after it became no longer feasible due to his disability, moved back in with his dad. He now works in the laundry department of a Durham hotel, where Curro says he is beloved by his colleagues.
Although Curro has an impressive vision, it’s clear that he still needs to work out key details. His website says he has an agreement with Habitat for Humanity to build the first six homes. However, a Habitat official declined to discuss the project with The 9th Street Journal since the organization does not yet know how many structures will fit on the site.
According to Curro, Habitat does not want to discuss the project publicly until a contract is signed; however, Habitat did give approval for the use of their name on his website.
Bethany United Methodist Church, which is adjacent to the site and owns property where the homes would be built, did not respond to calls from The 9th Street Journal.
Curro said the church was hesitant to accept the project at first. In response, Curro and the other two board members of the Midtown Housing Coalition with developmentally disabled adult children brought their kids to meet church members. The meeting went well, and since then, the church has been on board, Curro said.
Last spring, he organized a “spring fling” fundraiser in the church’s parking lot, which included live music, games, barbeque, and face painting. The church even whipped up its famous in–house stew—which it makes in a designated stew hut behind the main church building—that’s normally reserved for special church events. A Durham county commissioner and state senator Mike Woodard were in attendance too.
Curro said that he and the church are negotiating a contract for the lots, but that it takes a long time to reach an agreement. So far, he has “submitted a letter of intent to the church, and they verbally agreed to (the project).”
Once the church and the Midtown Housing Coalition sign a contract, Curro plans to sell the lots to Habitat at cost, at which point Habitat can begin construction and later sell the homes.
The lack of certainty hasn’t deterred Curro, whose vision is clear and detailed (and, in the case of his model, includes miniature cars, trees and shrubs). The development will be situated around the community center, where residents can host activities for all members of the complex. Curro gives the example of a “WWE wrestling party on Friday nights.”
He says the location is ideal because it’s close to a bus line, which will help residents who work downtown or who are veterans visiting the VA health center. The tiny homes provide independence and ease for daily structure but not too much space.
Curro’s next big task is landing a meeting with the mayor, Leonardo Williams. The goal is for Williams to waive certain fees and taxes, like utilities and public schools, for residents of the complex. Curro also needs permission to bypass rules over how many tiny homes can be built on church property.
He realizes he still has some hurdles to turn his dream into a reality. But he’s determined to make it happen.
“If you don’t have a target, you’re not gonna ever hit it.”
Photo at top: Dave Curro on the property where he wants to build a community for developmentally disabled adults. Photo by Kulsoom Rizavi – The 9th Street Journal
