NAPA VALLEY REGISTER
Historic Napa parsonage gets new life through Habitat-led restoration
The project, which began December 2024, aims to enhance the prominent residence’s curb appeal and preserve its historic redwood siding. The exterior repair project included caulking, scaffolding, siding repair and asbestos removal.
A core group of 18 Habitat volunteers — along with members of the church, service personnel from Travis Air Force Base and contractors — got to work pressure washing, stripping away aging vinyl siding and filling in nail holes for seven months to complete the undertaking by mid-June.
The parsonage is home to Rev. Stephanie Johnson, who stepped into her role at Napa Valley Lutheran Church last November. Rev. Johnson, who hails from Alameda, said using the property for low-income and transitional housing is a central focus of the congregation.
“I think the neighborhood has seen this house’s potential for a long time,” Rev. Johnson said. “This project signals to our neighbors that we care about the neighborhood, and we want to be partners.”
Volunteer Leanne Martinson said her love of the church was her motivation to help caulk and fill in holes during a shift on June 6.
“We want to have pride in our community, and we want a nice place for our pastor to call home,” Martinson said. “I think Habitat for Humanity does such good work making houses into homes for people who need them.”
SNHFH, a nonprofit group that builds and repairs homes for families in need of safe, affordable housing, typically doesn’t take on a restoration project unless it qualifies as in need of “critical repair.” Project manager Jerry Castanon said although the parsonage did not rigidly meet the organization’s definition of a critical repair, they supported it because of the site’s community value. “We saw it as a perfect critical repair project,” Castanon said. “It’ll make a big impact. Seeing something restored motivates others to improve their own homes. It beautifies the neighborhood and inspires our volunteers, too.”
According to SNHFH board member Gerry Raycraft, the venture is funded jointly. The church is covering most of the supplies and paint costs, while the nonprofit’s providing the tools and volunteer labor. The parsonage is the Solano-Napa chapter’s 27th critical repair project.
Raycraft, who joined SNHFH in 2010, explained that finding new-build projects in Napa proves difficult due to the high cost of land in the area, which ultimately hinders their ability to develop affordable housing. His team is exploring partnerships with for-profit developers who are required by law to include a certain number of affordable housing units in new buildings. This, he says, could open up more opportunities for the group to have a presence and make an impact in Napa. So far, one new home construction has been completed in the county since the chapter’s advent in 1991.
Raycraft continues to identify new critical repair projects in the area, which include fixes that address safety and accessibility issues, such as roof repairs and ramp installations, but he’s always looking for opportunities to develop from the ground up.
Recently, under Raycraft’s supervision, the team built two large veterans homes operated by partner nonprofits in Dixon and Rio Vista, now home to 12 seniors.
“That’s something I’m really proud of, and it’s a model that could be replicated in Napa,” Raycraft said.
Rev. Johnson encourages those interested in volunteering with SNHFH to show up regardless of DIY skill level. Training for basic tasks like painting and caulking is provided on the spot by seasoned experts.
“You’ll get shown the right way to do things and eventually become confident enough to do it on your own. It’s empowering. This project has been such a gift.”
The organization also accepts donations through its website (solanonapahabitat.org/restore/donate), and can be supported through purchases from its nonprofit home improvement store ReStore at 104 Commerce Court in Fairfield. This month, Napa’s Silverado Resort donated hundreds of high-end condo furniture pieces to the store that are available now for purchase.
For more information about SNHFH, visit solanonapahabitat.org.