Even with the sudden reality of having a new home, Melody Adams already has plans.
"This is Avery's room here," she said, pointing at an empty, freshly-painted room.
Before this weekend, her son's future room didn't exist. The fresh paint and windows and doors were all a dream.
But by Sunday afternoon, the whole house was there, light switches, landscaping and all - the result of the pure hustle and muscle of area contractors.
The "blitz build" project sent construction crews Friday to a concrete foundation at 915 Homewood St., charged with working together to build Adams a home of her own before the weekend ended.
The project was part of a national push to erect 400 Habitat homes nationwide in a week.
More than 100 Lawrence Home Builders Assn. members and Lawrence Habitat for Humanity volunteers showed up, framing the house in hours, setting the plumbing and electrical systems just as fast - all so Adams and her two kids could move out of her mother's home, ready to start a new life on her own.
Frank Salb power cleans the living room floor one final time at a new Habitat for Humanity home. Salb organized the job site and helped the crew with the final touches Sunday.
"Everybody showed up," Bobbie Flory, executive director of the home builders association, said. "Everybody brought extra people."
So many, in fact, that the home was finished ahead of schedule, with the final construction phases ending Saturday night.
Which left Sunday for city inspectors - who scrambled over the weekend to inspect all phases of construction - to do a last walk-through and for Adams to dream about what the home will be like when she gets to move in.
But to move into the new, 1,080 square foot home, Adams must fulfill her 225 "sweat equity" service hours, a Habitat requirement.
Video
Blitz Build time-lapse video. Enlarge video
Typically, future homeowners earn those hours while building their home. But with the whole house flying up over the weekend, Adams will have to spend time at other home construction sites - possibly at Habitat's new Comfort Neighborhood in north Lawrence - or at the Habitat store.
"What she'll do now is complete that balance of hours," Flory said.
But Sunday, walking through her new home, Adams could already imagine what it will be like.
She's excited for her kids, she said, who have been sharing a single queen-size bed at their grandmother's house in McLouth.
"It's a nightmare every night, I swear," Adams said.
Video
Blitz Build Day 2 time-lapse video Enlarge video
Now Avery, 4, will have his own room down the hall. Autumn, 5, will sleep in the room across the hall from mom, so she'll be close by in case a real nightmare sends her searching for comfort.
"She has that stronger attachment thing," Adams said. "She can just hop in bed with me."
Adams wasn't quite sure to what degree her kids understood the move or how their mom was able to do it. But looking at her new, complete home, Adams knew whom to thank.
"I'm so grateful," she said. "If it weren't for Habitat, I don't think I could afford this."
More about the Blitz Build
- 6News video: Blitz Build comes together quicker than expected (06-04-06)
- Teamwork gets house up in a flash (06-03-06)
- 6News video: 'Blitz' house well on its way (06-03-06)
- Lawrence contractors brace for Blitz Build (06-02-06)
- Chat with Bobbie Flory, Lawrence Home Builders Assn., about 'Blitz Build' (06-01-06)
- More on the Blitz Build
Comments
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Informed (anonymous) says…
What a wonderful thing! I'm very happy for Melody and her family.
Now, a serious question:
What are the downsides to a house going up this quickly? I'm not saying that corners were cut. I'm asking this as a legitimate question.
mommaeffortx2 (anonymous) says…
I do not think there is a down side, the house is up to code and when the things like electical and heating and the things like that are all done by licenced proffecinals so sounds good.
mommaeffortx2 (anonymous) says…
bad spelling sorry
OldEnuf2BYurDad (anonymous) says…
I don't care what anyone says. In my mind, "rush job" means "bad results".
MD: My framing nailer will go all the way through two pieces of stud. What's wrong with that?
mommaeffortx2 (anonymous) says…
not a rushed job just had about every free worker out ther nailing screwing painting the works.
Ragingbear (anonymous) says…
Habitat for Humanity crews were quoted as saying "It would have gone up faster if it weren't for Ti Pennington running around screaming into that !#%^^#@ bullhorn!".
mommaeffortx2 (anonymous) says…
where,Ty wow lets go get him
jimincountry (anonymous) says…
Bout the time I think the world's gone mad and people come along doing good things like this. Guess I got things wrong again...........been this way ever since the LJW piece on depression.
cowboy (anonymous) says…
MULTI , nails cost very little in the big picture , this is just plain silly conversation , these little houses are so simple that they could be built in your sleep for the most part.
justsomewench (anonymous) says…
off-topic: i worked with kelly drake years ago at another firm in town. *funny* guy, great to work with. i can see how this endeavor would suit him well. cheri's the tops, too.
good work, all involved. bravo!
(sign me up!)
KSChick1 (anonymous) says…
Since 1/12th of your taxes and 112 of your insurance are taken from what you pay as a homeowner each month, you cannot let the insurance lapse or not get your taxes paid unless you are not paying your house pmt.
House pmts are made to KS Secured Title with escrow accts to handle the insurance and taxes.