, 
, 
, 
, 
City Council members on Tuesday, April 18, toured an East Dodge Street home that’s being remodeled with help from students in Luverne High School’s trades class.
The class is called “Today and Tomorrow’s Tradesmen” (Tnt Tradesmen), and it’s led by LHS woodshop teacher Darrel Van Aartsen of Van Aartsen Construction.
The school partners with the city through building inspector Chad McClure.
The city had an empty lot at 409 East Dodge Street after a structure was taken down through the blight removal program.
The home, formerly office space for Real Estate Retrievers on South Highway 75, found its way to the vacant lot last fall after the Realtors sold it to the city for $1.
The city arranged for Berghorst and Son, Hull, Iowa, to move it, and the trades class learned about all the construction processes along the way.
Students used computer aided drawing to help plan the layout of the rooms, and they helped build the new garage and basement.
It’s now a five-bedroom house with two bathrooms, new kitchen cabinets and appliances, new basement and a new 26-by-30-foot double garage.
As the interior process is nearing completion, students and builders will have a chance to showcase their work during a May 21 open house from 4 to 6 p.m.
“They’re pretty excited about it and feeling pretty good about what they did,” Van Aartsen told council members during their April 18 tour.
TNT students are Josh Evans, Austin Ossefoort Nick Hansen, Luke Hansen, Trenton Carson, JT Remme, Harrison Uithoven, Ryan Vos and Tyson Cowell.
Van Aartsen said his goal for the class was to introduce many types of trades and occupations involved in building a house.
For local contractors, plumbers, electricians and other trades, educating a local workforce will hopefully mean some students learn the trades and remain in Rock County to work.
Council member Caroline Thorson praised Van Aartsen, McClure and the other professionals involved.
“Darrel, this is such a cool thing you’re doing for the kids,” she said. “It’s another great public-private partnership and an example of what this community is able to do.”
The city owns the property and will sell it once construction is complete.
Proceeds from the sale of the home will support another construction project — another home remodel or new construction — for the 2023-24 school year.