Some of the lumber ready to be used to build the two new ELM Homes in Blue Earth. The basements, visible in the background of this photo, have been dug and built. When the rain ends, the construction will resume.

The last two weeks of on- and off- and on-again rain has caused delays in many outdoor activities.

That includes the construction of two new ELM Homes residences being built in Blue Earth.

Construction began last month and the basements were dug in and built. Some of the building materials, including the rafters and trusses, were dropped off at the site the northwest corner of the intersection of North Rice and East Fourth streets.

But it has been slow going since then, with too many wet and soggy days.

The two residential buildings will house persons with developmental disabilities. They are being built by ELM Homes of Waseca, which has many such facilities around Southern Minnesota and is planning to build quite a few more.

The first of those new structures are the two being built in Blue Earth. Both the Blue Earth Economic Development Authority (EDA) and the Blue Earth Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) have supported the project with funding both for the purchase of the lots and for demolition of a house that was on one of the lots. Some of the funding for the lot purchase came from a grant from the Bevcomm Foundation.

All of the loans will be forgiven if the homes are built and operated for at least five years.

The homes are expected to have two or three residents each, along with a total of 10 employees, as the homes are staffed 24/7.

When completed the two homes will fit in with the neighborhood and resemble a typical single-level home or townhouse.

There are garages in the front, but those are for employees and a transport van.

ELM Homes has been in existence for nearly 40 years, since 1979, and employs 500 people in nine counties and has 60 locations, including New Prague, Montgomery, Elysian, Le Center, Waterville, Mankato, Waldorf, Owatonna, Albert Lea and others.

Its name is composed of the initials of the founder and owner, Eugene Lorenz Miller.

Miller was quoted in a previous article in the Faribault County Register as saying, “We see this as a great opportunity to work with the people there in Blue Earth. These new homes will be totally handicap accessible, include things such as wheel chair showers, and be fully functional for the residents.

Construction is expected to resume just as soon as the weather conditions and the soft ground allows.

Two other ELM Homes facilities were built in Blue Earth in 1995-1996, according to information on the company.