Beaches Habitat for Humanity replaced dilapidated housing on Mayport Road with an affordable community called OceanGate and is now building 44 more homes nearby. One recurring donor says his support started with what he saw on his commute.

Dan, identified only by first name in a donor spotlight published by Beaches Habitat on Friday, Aug. 28, said he has lived in the Beaches community for 35 years. He served at Naval Station Mayport from 1991 to 1998, first as commanding officer of the Naval Legal Service Office and later as circuit military judge. His daily drive took him past run-down housing on Mayport Road.

After retiring from the Navy, Dan took a position with the City of Jacksonville as program administrator for the Juvenile Justice Comprehensive Strategy and Youthful Offender Programs. Through that city work with Youthbuild, he encountered Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville, his first experience with a private-sector affordable housing program.

About 12 years ago, Dan reconnected with Mary Anne Christensen, whom he had met during his city work when she was an assistant to Sheriff Nat Glover. Christensen was then serving as development director for Beaches Habitat and introduced Dan to the organization's leadership and its OceanGate project on Mayport Road.

OceanGate was built on the same land where the derelict housing once stood. Dan said the project is complete and fully occupied.

He said the project "turned blight into beauty on Mayport Road by establishing an attractive, vibrant, and permanently improved new Beaches neighborhood."

The organization's next major effort, Coastal Haven, is a 44-home affordable townhome community in Atlantic Beach, also on Mayport Road. A wall-raising for Building No. 2, which includes four homes, took place Feb. 7 at 2150 Mayport Road, according to the organization's project page.

Dan said he became a recurring donor and event sponsor after visiting construction sites and meeting with staff. He described being impressed by family partners putting hundreds of hours of sweat equity into their future homes. Among his priorities for the organization: completing Coastal Haven, sustaining financial literacy programs and funding home renovations for low-income seniors and veterans.

Beaches Habitat's annual Beach Bash fundraiser is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 19, and features food from Jacksonville Beaches restaurants, live music and three auctions, according to the organization's event page. Jennifer Waugh of WJXT is set to host.