The Sisters of Mercy West Midwest in partnership with CommonBond Communities broke ground on Jan. 22, for Unity Square, CommonBond Communties' newest family town home development. Located on a three-acre site at the corner of Newell and Mobile Streets and just a block from the Walter Cunningham School for Excellence, the development will consist of 40 new units of quality, affordable, service-enriched family rental homes. These units will include two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes for families living on limited incomes. Other amenities will include surface parking and tuck-under garages, as well as a playground for residents' children.

The projected cost of the project is $9.3 million, which CommonBond obtained from a variety of funding sources. The Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community's commitment to the funding is $300,000 over five years. Construction will begin immediately and project completion is anticipated by fall 2010.

What makes this development special is the community center where residents can take advantage of comprehensive, on-site services that promote economic self sufficiency, empowerment and youth and academic success, a goal of CommonBond developments. The services will include mentoring for adults and children, computer classes and employment preparation. The Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community will collaborate with CommonBond to provide these services. The 1,650 square-foot center will be called Mercy Advantage Center and will be located in the center of the development.

Before they walked to the construction site for the groundbreaking ceremony, developers and supporters of the project gathered at the nearby school for official remarks. Speakers were: Sisters Kathy Thill, RSM, Ministry Director, and Kathy Thornton, RSM, Leadership Team, both of the Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community; Paul Fate, president, CommonBond Communities; Charles Myles, President, Unity Neighborhood Association; Quentin Hart, City Council Member, Ward 4; and Ernest G. Clark, Mayor of Waterloo. Representative Deborah Berry, State Representative, House District 22, a major supporter of the project, was unable to be present.

According to Sister Thill, Unity Square is the culmination of years of efforts by the Sisters of Mercy to address Waterloo's need for quality low income housing for the east side of the city.

"My excitement today can only be topped when we gather a block from here in a few months to celebrate the grand opening of Unity Square," Sister Thill said. "As Sisters of Mercy we're proud to bring this much needed quality affordable housing to Waterloo, but the reality is it's all of us who are bringing it here," Sister Thill said.

Sister Thornton said she could feel the presence of Catherine McAuley, who founded the Sisters of Mercy. "Catherine was a woman of great faith and great action," Sister Thornton said. "One of the things that has been said about Catherine is that she did the work of God on earth….Together we have together been doing the work of God on earth."

Fate said this project was a perfect fit for his organization. "It's perfect in terms of the type of housing we build and our partnership with the Sisters of Mercy, the city and the community," he said. "We are all in alignment. We share the vision to build hope, home and community with support services as a major component of the project. We build affordable, dignified housing as a stepping stone for success. We know that we can only be as good as our partners on the ground we don't think there are any better partners than the Sisters of Mercy."

Myles said the name of the development was perfect fit for the neighborhood. "It's time for us to come together in unity to make this a better neighborhood," he said. "Unity (Neighborhood Association) has accomplished a lot in our community and this is an addition to our accomplishments. Thanks for showing that our neighborhood can still go."

Councilman Hart said he can personally attest to the importance of the housing project to the Sisters of Mercy. The day after he took office in November 2007, "I received a call from Sister Kathy…to talk about the partnership opportunity with CommonBond." His initial skepticism about the project disappeared when he did his homework on the project and CommonBond. "It was meant to be," he said. "Taking a look at the actual name, CommonBond, that's exactly what we have. It's a common bond to do what we can to make this a better place for everyone. Provide housing for everyone who needs to have housing."

Mayor Clark said he couldn't take credit for the project, but assured the crowd that he would provide city support as it moved forward. "Housing, especially affordable housing and the right kind of affordable housing, is so vital, so important for the entire community, but especially the fourth ward. I couldn't be more thrilled to have this particular organization in our community. I'm thrilled to be part of his, thrilled about what is going to be happening in the 4th Ward of our city."

Based in St. Paul, Minn., CommonBond is a nonprofit developer that has similar properties in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. The general contractor is Frana Cos. Inc., based in Hopkins, Minn.

The relationship between the Sisters of Mercy and the people of Waterloo began in 1909 when Sisters came to teach at Sacred Heart School. That ministry expanded over the years to include service as administrators, pastoral ministers, ministers of liturgy and music and in the area of housing, service at St. Mary's Villa. Early on, the Sisters identified the need for low income housing on the east side of Waterloo. The Sisters of Mercy attempted to bring the dream of this project to reality in 1994, but were not successful. Still, the dream of helping address the need for quality, affordable housing was not abandoned. In 2003, the House of Mercy was established to provide a Mercy ministry presence to the residents of East Waterloo. In 2005, the House of Mercy took up the cause of affordable housing once again. They turned to Mercy Housing, Inc. for help. With strong community support, Mercy Housing was hired to do an affordable housing Opportunity Assessment. In July 2006 the report was received and indicated both need and strong support from the city and other service providers.

The disappointing news was that Mercy Housing, Inc. was no longer able to be the project developer and manager, as a change in their policies stipulated that Mercy Housing would not go into any locations in which they did not already have managers. The good new was they agreed to help find a developer who was equally qualified and credible and who held similar values. "Our disappointment soon turned to delight with CommonBond and the rest, as they say, is history," Sister Thill said.

Once CommonBond was involved, the process moved forward with the support of the city and the community. CommonBond sought input from Unity Neighborhood Association for the architectural design of the new family townhouse development, construction bidding process, property management and tenant screening. Sister Thill thanked CommonBond and the many city, county and state representatives, neighborhood residents and businesses, and various Waterloo agencies and programs who have supported this project.

As Unity Square comes to fruition, the Sisters of Mercy can celebrate the interminable spirit that led them to complete the project they envisioned so many years ago.