News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Mustard Seed Ranch will soon learn from the Tennessee Fire Marshal’s Office on whether they can begin construction of two new homes.
Executive Director Tammy Depperschmidt said the housing plans will likely be approved in the next couple weeks.
“We’re really excited because we’re on the verge of approval from the fire marshal,” Depperschmidt said. “We anticipate that within two weeks we’ll have that approval and we’ll be able to start scheduling excavation to begin the two builds for our two new homes.”
In June, the Ranch had to reevaluate its plans after the fire marshal’s office labeled the homes as a commercial building project.
“When we started this process, we weren’t aware that we were actually going to have to sit under the commercial codes instead of residential,” Depperschmidt said. “When we built 10 years ago, Mustard Seed Ranch was designated under residential codes. Those codes are quite a bit different than the expectations for commercial code.”
Despite the setbacks, Depperschmidt remains positive and looks forward to the project being completed.
“We are on the cusp of it happening,” Depperschmidt said. “It’s been a long process just because we’re building two homes at the same time. But it’s going to be great because there will be two homes, one of which will be for boys and the other will be for girls.”
The two-story houses will each feature ten bedrooms, six bathrooms, large kitchens, and several large gathering spaces. Depperschmidt said the homes will likely be completed in eight months with enough space for up to 16 children.
Mustard Seed Ranch provides a home for children who are victims of abuse or have been abandoned before placement by DCS.
