By Kevan Goff-Parker
For The Piedmont-Surrey Gazette
Maxwell Supply Company and Edmond’s RE/MAX at Home volunteers teamed up and framed the first house at Cornerstone Creek on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at NW 150 and Morgan Road in far northwest Oklahoma City near Piedmont city limits.
Sponsored by Maxwell Supply Company, the landmark home build is the first affordable house to be built at Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity’s (COHFH) newest and largest affordable housing development. The historic home build was the construction supply company’s seventh COHFH home build sponsorship in 17 years. COHFH Chair/CEO Ann Felton Gilliland said she is very grateful to Maxwell Supply for their leadership and ongoing support.
“Maxwell Supply Company’s ongoing support aligns perfectly with our mission – to put God’s love into action by building homes and nurturing hope,” Felton Gilliland said. “They sponsored and built our 1,000th house and it is only fitting that as our long-term supporters that they build the first home at Cornerstone Creek. All the volunteers did an excellent job and framed the new home in less than three hours, plus the company treated everyone to a delicious smoked rib and brisket barbeque lunch onsite.”
Maxwell Supply Company President Charlie Thomason said his company planned to do their home-build sponsorship last year as a part of Maxwell Supply Company’s 65th anniversary, but construction and permit delays pushed the event to this year.
“Once you do one (a home build), it’s in your blood – in your system – you want to do another one!” Thomason said. “And I’m glad that Ann gives us a year off or so to recuperate … then we do another one. So, this one is for our 65th anniversary and we’re just honored because it is great to help a neighbor and fellow Oklahomans.”
When Cornerstone Creek is completed in eight to 10 years, it will feature 450 homes, three parks with workout stations and a gazebo. Cornerstone Creek’s parents also have the opportunity to send their children to Piedmont, Oklahoma’s excellent schools.
Homebuyer applications for Cornerstone Creek are now being accepted for consideration by COHFH. Interested future homeowners are encouraged to go to the nonprofit’s website to learn more about the development at https://cornerstonecreek.org/. For more information, call 405-232-4828 or go to www.cohfh.org.
What is coming
There will be 450 new houses on streets with Oklahoma City water and utility services on land that was farmland for decades.
In eastern Canadian County, along NW 150 just west of Morgan Road, Deer Creek passes on the north side. A wheat field is on the west side. And earth has moved at the southwest corner of Morgan and NW 150.
Under the protection of a corrugated steel hay barn that has protected many farm tractors over the years, Gov. Kevin Stitt joined Ann Felton Gilliland and others from Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity for a groundbreaking ceremony on a chilly afternoon Tuesday, April 2.
It was the same day that voters in the Piedmont Public School District were deciding the fate of their largest bond issue in district history, about $114 million for buildings and transportation. And the new development by Habitat for Humanity, called Cornerstone Creek, is in the Piedmont Public Schools district. It will bring more students to the schools. More traffic will follow with population increases in Oklahoma City’s Ward 1, about a mile from the Piedmont city limits.
Gov. Stitt talked about the need for affordable housing, and he praised Gilliland for bringing the project to fruition with a team of dedicated people.
“I’m such a huge fan of Ann Felton like everybody else in this room,” Still said in his remarks at the groundbreaking. “I get inspired when I get a chance to travel all over the state to see a lot of these projects and a lot of these ribbon-cuttings. And really, it’s usually one person’s vision that makes these things happen. So, we can do it. We can do it as Oklahomans. And as government officials and government leaders we put $215 million into affordable housing this year. And we know that is something we want to partner with the private sector and build more affordable homes and entry level homes for people. So, we are so excited about this project. And Ann comes along in the private sector and the Noble Foundation and Dr. David Brown and his family and all of this worked together. It is really cool to see these projects come to fruition,” Stitt said. “The neighbors want the neighbors and it is the Oklahoma standard and I just see that all over the state. I am really excited about this project. Home ownership is an important part of our society. I think it is so important to give people that feeling of ownership,” Stitt said.
The first phase of construction will build 91 houses.
Gilliland said she found out about the 150 acres for sale about five years ago. There will be three parks built in the housing addition with a gazebo. It is “Our largest affordable housing project ever,” Gilliland said.
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Maxwell Supply Company and Edmond’s RE/Max at Home volunteers surround Maxwell Supply Company President Charlie Thomason and Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity (COHFH) Chair/CEO Ann Felton Gilliland (first row, sixth and seventh from left) after a successful the frame day of the first home ever to be built at the affordable-housing development. Maxwell Supply Company also provided a barbeque lunch at the site. The new home will be Maxwell Supply Company’s seventh home sponsorship with Habitat in 17 years. (Photo by Kevan Goff-Parker)
