(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Lillith Bear, who lives in one of four Habitat for Humanity energy-efficient homes built in Kearns, talks about a number of construction challenges she has faced on Thursday, July 15, 2021. In 2015, Habitat for Humanity of the Salt Lake Valley raised a bunch of money for a project to convert an old baseball field into a community with 20 energy-efficient homes. Now 6.5 years later, four have been built, with the other three remaining vacant. Habitat has spent $1.5 million in grants and donations on the project so far. Community members want to know where all the money went and why things are taking so long.
Leia Larsen is a sixth generation Utahn and a water and land use reporter reporter for The Salt Lake Tribune. She has covered environment, energy and political issues throughout the West. When she’s not chasing the news, Leia can be found exploring the Wasatch Mountains, sleeping in the desert or rooting around her garden.