FORT MYERS, Fla. - TelAve -- Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties celebrated the recent completion of McNeill Village, a 36-home HOA-managed community near the border of North Fort Myers and Cape Coral.

Residents, supporters and project partners joined Habitat board members and staff on May 13 at Patino Park in McNeill Village, marking Habitat's sixth neighborhood in Lee County since 2018.

"This neighborhood is home to health care workers, social workers and teachers; young families just starting out and families approaching retirement; those who have lost spouses and those who are caring for loved ones with special needs," said Becky Lucas, outgoing CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties. "It is truly a diverse, hardworking and resilient group, which I know will carry forward into a strong and thriving homeowners association."

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During the celebration, Habitat expressed gratitude to its donors, volunteers and community leaders for their support in completing McNeill Village. Among those honored, Habitat recognized Lee County for its partnership through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, a reimbursable federal grant administered by the County to support the development of McNeill Village. Following Hurricane Ian's destruction in 2022, the County awarded Habitat CDBG-DR funding as part of its commitment to expanding access to affordable housing for local families. Habitat also expressed appreciation to Edison National Bank for its willingness to provide financing to help build the final section of homes.

"They say the best things come to those who wait, and McNeill Village is proof of that," said Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman during his remarks at the event. "Becky and I first discussed this development about six years ago, when rising home values were putting homeownership out of reach for so many Lee County families. Standing here today in this beautiful neighborhood, I can say it was absolutely worth the wait. Habitat, you've made us very proud."

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Habitat also honored Construction Project Manager Eduardo Patino at the event, a Habitat homeowner who started as a volunteer in 1999 before becoming a full-time employee in 2001. The greenspace at McNeill Village is named "Patino Park" in his honor and features benches that honor Patino and his late wife, Maria, who also championed affordable homeownership.

"I always say that to be here for 27 years, I have three things that start with the letter 'H,'" said Patino, who refers to his Habitat co-workers as his second family. "I always use my head because I like to do everything right; I use my heart because love is the reason I do this; and I use my hands because I come here ready to work."