Seeing Double (Twice)
National “Property Brothers” Twins Partner with Analogous Rochester Twins on Custom Project for Habitat’s First JOSANA Neighborhood House
Rochester, NY—Thanks to Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity (GRHH) and Habitat for Humanity® International, a very special partnership has taken place with acclaimed HGTV twins Drew and Jonathan Scott (The Property Brothers) and their analogous Rochester twins Edwin and Erwin Mageary, longtime Habitat Construction Site Supervisors (25 and 30 years, respectively).
The project is a pair of customized flower boxes signed by both sets of twins for Lissette F’s home, the very first of the 100 houses built in the JOSANA neighborhood by Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity.
“The JOSANA neighborhood is just one of many examples of Habitat’s commitment to building a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live,” said Matt Flanagan, GRHH president and CEO. “We are elated that Drew and Jonathan (Scott) understood the importance of this project and stepped right up with our own Mageary brothers to continue making a difference in the lives of our Rochester residents.”
Follow this link https://youtu.be/jVT010ejWfU for the video of identical twin brothers and long-standing Greater Rochester Habitat Construction Site Supervisors Edwin and Erwin Mageary installing the window boxes at Lissette’s house. Drew and Jonathan Scott added a bit of flair with an engraved note of encouragement.
Twenty-five years ago, Rochester’s historic Jay-Orchard Street neighborhood was broken by violence and crime, pervasive poverty, vacant lots and abandoned homes. The tragic shooting death in 2001 of 10-year-old Tyshaun Cauldwell drove the City of Rochester, its residents and social service organizations to make a change. The result was the formation of the Jay Orchard Street Area Neighborhood Association (JOSANA) to transform the community’s grief into multigenerational investment and opportunity.
In 2011, Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity committed to building 100 new homes in the JOSANA neighborhood within a half mile of Enrico Fermi School No. 17—where Tyshaun attended middle school. GRHH fulfilled that promise in early 2022 with the completion of the 100th home. GRHH has now begun conducting home repairs in the JOSANA neighborhood and has already begun revitalization projects in the nearby EMMA & Beechwood neighborhoods.
NOTE: Local interviews and photos are available on request.
About Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity:
Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity is a non-denominational Christian housing ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard housing in Monroe, Ontario, and Wayne Counties. With a combined 100-plus years of service, the Flower City, Ontario, and Wayne County affiliates merged in 2023 to create a stronger organization to assist families and a stronger voice to advocate for affordable housing solutions in the state. Since 1984, Greater Rochester Habitat and its volunteers have served more than 425 families with new homes, much-needed home repairs, and financial education. These Homebuyer families have put in 300+ hours of sweat-equity to earn and then purchase their home through an affordable 30-year mortgage. Greater Rochester Habitat has offices in Rochester, Canandaigua, and Newark and operates ReStores in Rochester and Canandaigua. For more information, visit www.GRHabitat.org
