Home »

Builder of Florida mansions puts up basic shelter for poor Haitians

Saturday, March 10, 2007

CAP HAITIEN, Haiti(AP) - Trudging through muddy sewer water, Frank McKinney sidesteps a pig wandering aimlessly through a destitute neighbourhood in this northern coastal city, passing two dozen children with bloated bellies.

He pauses to give a stuffed toy to a young girl in a yellow dress.

He doesn't grimace at the stench, but seems pained when he learns the children fish through the water scavenging for crabs to eat or sell. There is no electricity or running water in this makeshift village built on a garbage dump.

A day later, the developer entertained billionaires interested in a US$135 million (euro102.6 million) home he built near Palm Beach, Florida, renting a red carpet and a Bentley with diamond encrusted wheels and hiring models wearing fruit.

The multimillionaire, who is building one of the most expensive homes in the US, is also one of Haiti's benefactors - he's already commissioned four villages for the poor, including one for those living in the garbage dump, and is planning two more this year. The homes are given free.

"It's taken a lot of work to be able to understand I can live in both worlds," said McKinney, 43. "I train myself to understand that this is part of the stewardship. I'm not in this to feel good. It's all part of the calling."

The Palm Beach mansion, complete with a combination shark tank-swimming pool, bowling alley, and ceiling aquarium that snakes into a wet bar, is the 32nd multimillion dollar project for the Delray Beach developer. It is worlds away from the simple US$5,000 (euro3,800) homes he builds in Haiti.

He is eccentric - and a self-promoter - but not a show-off about his wealth. Though he makes about 17 per cent in profits from his home sales, he drives a 2002 Honda hybrid, walks his eight-year-old daughter to school daily and attends church every Sunday.

For the unveiling of a US$20 million (euro15.2 million) Florida house he built in 2005, he appeared in a black cape and mask and defeated an evil invader in a mock duel to draw attention to the project.

"Never losing the little boy inside really keeps one in touch with creativity," said McKinney, whose office is an elaborate two-storey tree house with an oceanfront view.

McKinney builds his houses on spec, despite Florida's fickle housing market. His long, teased blond hair makes him look like a 1980s rocker, and he uses his star status in the real estate world to raise money for his Haiti projects.

When McKinney went on a nationwide book tour for his second book - a how-to on getting rich in real estate - investors joining him for parts of the journey had to donate money to "The Caring House Project Foundation" that creates the villages for the poor.

"He's really a modern day Robin Hood," said St Louis real estate investor Marlene Trice, who also accompanied McKinney on a recent visit to Haiti to see the village she helped fund.

McKinney, who would not disclose his net worth, ran into government red tape when he tried building for Florida's homeless and quickly realised he could build more cheaply and faster in one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. His Haitian villages cost US$400,000 (euro303,880) to US$500,000 (euro379,850) to build.

To Haitian children, he is known as the Beanie Baby man - on a recent trip brought along 750 of the toys to pass out. Crowds of school children followed McKinney, dressed in a tattered shirt and faded camouflage pants, as he toured the village's two-room white concrete homes with freshly painted red doors.

The new village includes homes for 30 families, a community centre, clinic, school, orphanage and acres of farm land with goats and chickens so the village can be self-sufficient.

With McKinney were 12 other real estate investors from around the US who have contributed to his projects. He's hoping that seeing poverty here would inspire them to larger donations, and the day after the trip, he received an e-mail from Pittsburgh real estate investor Jim Toner pledging $100,000 (euro75,970) this year.

McKinney noted the area around Cap Haitien set in lush mountains near the coast would be prime real estate anywhere else than this violent country.

"This is the best thing that ever happened to me," said Jean Louis, 47, who lives with his wife and five children in another village McKinney built nearby. "This home makes me feel safe. No one will ever kick me out again."