Welcome to our online chat with Bobbie Flory, Lawrence Home Builders Assn., about ‘Blitz Build’.

The chat took place on Thursday, June 1, at 1:30 PM and is now closed, but you can read the full transcript on this page.

Moderator: Welcome to our chat today with Bobbie Flory, executive director of the Lawrence Home Builders Assn.

I’m Dave Toplikar, online editor, and I’ll be moderating today’s chat.

Bobbie, thanks for coming down to the News Center today to have a discussion with our readers about the planned Blitz Build.

For starters, can you tell us a little about the project and how the Home Builders Assn. got involved?

Bobbie Flory: Thanks for hosting an on-line chat today about the Blitz Build. The Lawrence Home Builders Association is very excited and pleased to be partnering with our local Habitat for Humanity affiliate on this project! We first learned of the national Blitz Build event through one of Habitat’s volunteers, Dave Baldwin. He brought the initial energy to the project and it has taken off from there. We have been planning the Blitz Build for about a year with most of the details coming together in the last two months.

Moderator: Can you describe what’s been done so far in preparation?

Bobbie Flory, of the Lawrence Home Builders Association, responds to reader's questions about the 'Blitz Build.'

Bobbie Flory: So far, we have sought material, labor, and cash donations from our membership for the building of the 3 bedroom home. Habitat officials are responsible for purchasing the land, getting the building permits, and preparing the site for the actual building. We have poured the slab, sidewalk, and driveway already. All the utilities are available to the site.

Becky, Lawrence: I’ve always wanted to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, but I don’t know if I’d be of much help. I have no background in building homes, installing plumbing, electrical wires, etc. What types of work could I do if I helped with a build like this one?

Bobbie Flory: Habitat for Humanity relies on their community volunteers. They have skilled workers at the homes who supervise those who lack the building experience. There is so much work that you can do with guidance! If you would like to volunteer, you should contact Jean Lilley at the Habitat for Humanity office, 832-0777.

Moderator: I understand that this particular house is being build with skilled construction people. How is it organized and what can we expect to see first.

Bobbie Flory: As I said earlier, the site preparations have already been done…permits, slab, sidewalk, and driveway. On Friday morning, the walls will be set up. Next comes the mechanical and plumbing subcontractors, followed by the electricians. In the afternoon, the exterior painters will begin. The insulations and drywall contractors will work in the evening. On Saturday, the interior painting will be done. The trim carpenters will install the trim while the cabinets are set. In the late afternoon, bath trim and mirrors will be installed. The yard work will follow. On Sunday, the subcontractors will return to finish their trim and the yard will get the finishing touches. This is coordinated to occur very quickly, so many of the subs are cooperating and working side by side.

Moderator: I wanted to let our readers know that we have a Web cam set up at the site, which is at near Homewood and Bullene in east Lawrence.

http://www2.ljworld.com/downloads/webcams/

Can you tell us how this site was selected?

Bobbie Flory: This site was already selected and owned by Habitat for Humanity.

Moderator: What are the types of donations that have been made?

Bobbie Flory: We approached our membership, approximately 260 members, about donating to this project. They responded by donating either material or labor relating to their respective trade. Of the companies who do not offer a specific product or service that could be used on this blitz build, for example banks or title companies, they donated cash for the items that we could not get fully donated. When this project is complete, we anticipate that we will be able to completely fund and home with donations from members of the LHBA!

Ryan, Lawrence: I applaud your efforts. I understand Habitat’s efforts are based on financial support from major churches here in Lawrence. How do you all get funding for the homes you want to build? Again, I support your efforts & wish you the best. Thanks.

Bobbie Flory: The funding for this particular house is almost entirely from our membership. The LHBA members have responded to the project with incredible enthusiasm. It’s really been a pleasure to work with both Habitat and the businesses from the LHBA who are participating.

Moderator: When the house goes up so quickly, how do make sure that all the building codes are followed correctly?

Bobbie Flory: First of all, the builders from the LHBA who are working on this project are licensed by the City and are very familiar with the building codes. In addition to using experienced volunteers on this project, we have asked the City Code Enforcement Manager, Barry Walthall, to join us in our planning efforts. Barry understands the schedule of work that will be occurring and has volunteered along with other inspectors on his staff to be available throughout the Blitz Build to make the required inspections.

Moderator: Are there any special features that are going into this home?

Bobbie Flory: This Blitz Build home is going to be consistent with the other Habitat homes built in Lawrence. Although we had many members who wanted to donated “extra” items such as fireplaces, appliances, etc., we were limited by specifications that were provided to us by Habitat officials. This is understandable, as it is important not to have one home built with more amenities than another. Also, while the home is being donated by the LHBA, the homeowner will still have to assume a mortgage. The home must be built to a safe, decent, and AFFORDABLE level for the homeowner.

M, Topeka: What is the cheapest price possible for building a home that meets Lawrence building codes?

Bobbie Flory: On our last Spring Parade of homes, there were a few homes in the $190,000 range. I have noticed that many people are turning to townhomes rather than single-family homes to get into homeownership. Some of the smaller surrounding communities can offer slightly lower housing costs, most likely due to raw land costs.

Maro from CA: Although this isn’t related to the Habitat campaign per se, I wanted a perspective from a head builder in the community.

With it a well known fact that Lawrence’s home prices are the highest in the state, and the latest reports from the US Census Bureau indicating almost no population growth in Lawrence the last several years, is it conceivable that the high prices are driving people out to competing cities for housing? Do you think the pace of building can be sustained at current levels if population growth doesn’t start to pick back up again? Thanks!

Bobbie Flory: We have seen growth in surrounding communities from the inability to get affordable housing in Lawrence. The mild winter and spring seasons allowed builders to get their products on the market faster this year, so the housing supply is good right now. The national trend remains strong for housing and Lawrence has traditionally exceeded the national trends.

Moderator: That will be our last question for the day. Bobbie, thanks for coming down to tell us about the project.

And we’ll be watching the project as it goes up on our Web cam this weekend.

Bobbie Flory: Thanks!