Good neighbors

[bczoom]

Thanks Inspector for your offer. I'll let you know once we get closer.

For an update:
I've been working a lot with the Social Services coordinator from the church and the GC. Labor wise, it looks like we have plenty of volunteers. Material wise, we still need to get a lot of things.
A few of us have been "pounding the pavement" heavily looking for the things needed to complete the structure itself as well as furnish.
The first in a series of newspaper articles is going out today. If I can link to it or scan or something, I'll include.

Brian

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Hey Brian,

Any UPDATES on the progress of the house? How about PHOTOS of the kids, house progress, etc. Have you been able to locate any corporate sponsors to help? What about the local newspaper articles?

 

[bczoom]

Bob,

I've been trying to get a CD of the pictures taken so I could post but haven't gotten it yet.
Here goes (without pictures).

First, I hadn't realized how large the house was going to be.
The design will be pretty much a hillside ranch.
The main living floor (LR, DR, Kit, 2 baths + 6 bedrooms) will be 2400 sq/ft. The basement will be another 2100 and include a 2 car garage, family room, utility, 1 bath and a small kitchenette.

The construction of the shell and interior walls went very quickly. In 10 (working, not calendar) days we had it under roof and all interior walls completed.

We're wrapping up the ele, plumbing, HVAC, windows, doors... this week and insulation is going in this coming weekend.

Drywall is going up next week.

As for sponsors, we haven't received any large (national) sponsors yet but many local business' have donated time and materials. A charity golf outing is going to occur in July.

When we started, the local paper did an article on the project that covered most of the entire front page. They have 2 versions of the paper (free and subscription). I only get the free one but have heard the subscription version has been getting follow-ups. A couple weeks ago, one of the Pittsburgh news channels (KDKA) came out and did a news segment on it so I made the news that night. I don't think I did too bad but I wasn't ready for it. I had no idea they were coming nor the fact I was a "spokesman" for the news. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I had surgery on my mouth that morning and my face was "puffed up" and I was on pain killers. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Oh well...

Brian

 

[BoneheadNW]

Brian-

Is there an update to this great story? We could all use a bit of cheering up I think.

Thanks in advance,

Bonehead

 

[bczoom]

Bonehead,

Yea, I think we could all use some good news. Thanks for resurrecting the thread.

The house is getting very close to completion but we've lost the use of many volunteers. Timing got a bit off as school and such started as well as suppliers have tapered off since the iron isn't as hot.

Interior painting is about completed. Kitchen and bath cupboards/accessories are on hand but waiting on flooring. We're so close to being able to have the family move in but labor and donations have slowed waaayyyy down (as expected). We arranged for the owner to get a home equity loan to complete things (at least buy the materials) and are now hoping to get them in within the next month.

I'm still trying to get the pics of the new house. It's pretty impressive. They were in not much more than a very small trailer and the new house has approx. 2400 sq/ft per level (2 story).

Brian

 

[Jagmandave]

Will the family be able to afford to keep the house once it's finished? (You know, taxes, upkeep, utilities, house payment etc?)

 

[bczoom]

Dave,

I try to stay out of the financing part of it but yes, that has been arranged/taken care of.

Brian