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BSC, HBA Build New Home for Katrina Victims in One Week
Nearly four years after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home of 30 years in the Lower Ninth Ward, a New Orleans couple will be moving into a new home next month thanks to recent efforts by NAHB’s Building Systems Councils (BSC) and members of the Louisiana Home Builders Association and HBA of Greater New Orleans who built the home and expect to have it under roof and weather-tight less than a week after beginning frame construction.
HBA and BSC members — including manufacturers, suppliers and builders of systems-built homes — donated materials, money and labor to the project. Additional funding was provided by the Louisiana HBA’s Louisiana Homebuilders Disaster Relief Fund and an $85,000 grant from NAHB’s Home Building Industry Disaster Relief Fund.
The new construction was coordinated through “BSC Project Rebuild,” an effort begun by Gary Grossman, CEO of Lancaster Redevelopment Corporation of Selinsgrove, Pa., and the 2008 BSC chairman, after he struck up a conversation with New Orleans cab driver Henry Adams about a year ago. Grossman was visiting the still flood damaged city when he discussed the cabbie’s plight.
After returning to Pennsylvania, Grossman rallied support from the BSC, Louisiana HBA and NAHB to rebuild Adams’ home.
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The home's foundation was poured and finished on Thursday, July 23. | “This project puts a spotlight on the rebuilding efforts needed in the Lower Ninth Ward,” said Randy Noel, owner of Reve Inc., a custom home builder
“This is a very rewarding project on many levels,” said Grossman, who provided the home’s shell through his panelized manufacturing company, Forest Homes. “BSC Project Rebuild showcases how the systems-built industry can provide a permanent solution to post-disaster housing needs. Getting the Adamses back into a home is a wonderful demonstration of the capabilities of the systems-built industries.”
A crew began foundation prep work on the Adams home in May and the foundation was poured and finished on July 23.
The home was framed and under roof during the following three days using panelized construction, and on Monday, July 27, a roofer installed tar paper. The home is expected to be weather-tight on Wednesday, July 30, when the shingles are installed.
“It is hard to believe this is happening,” said Gwendolyn Adams, a former teacher and now the happy home owner of a new home. “I’m so grateful to everyone involved in this project.”
“The NAHB disaster relief fund is proud to be able to help families like the Adamses get back on their feet and into their homes,” said Bobby Rayburn, 2004 NAHB president and head of NAHB’s disaster relief efforts. “The fund is dedicated to helping rebuild communities across the country that have been affected by disasters.”
To view the progress of BSC Project Rebuild, visit www.nahb.org/bscProjectRebuild on the NAHB Web site.
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Using panelized construction, the framing was completed by Sunday, July 26. |
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