Local Builders join forces for Habitat for Humanity's 2014 Home Builders Blitz

Under the leadership of Howell Custom Building Group, seven local building companies (Cote & Foster Construction, JSR Adaptive Energy Solutions, Lavallee Plumbing & Heating, Red Phoenix Construction, The Remodeling Company, Steeplechase Builders, and architect Andrew Steingiser) joined forces to plan and oversee construction of a duplex in Lawrence, MA for Habitat for Humanity.

Steve and Susan Howell of Howell Custom Building Group with the happy homeowners

Built in just five days, from June 9th-14th 2014, this project was part of Habitat for Humanity's national Home Builders Blitz, where affiliates across the country built 200 homes in one week. The labor and materials for these homes were donated by local building professionals; so that the homes could be built quickly and professionally, at little cost.

Sara Elmer of JSR Adaptive Energy Solutions, Sharon Mason of MV Habitat for Humanity, Susan Howell of Howell Custom Building Group, Mary Honan of For Marketing Matters, and Beezee Honan of Designer Bath

Locally, two deserving families who could not otherwise afford a home became the grateful homeowners of the Lawrence duplex. Both families, each of whom has five children, recently emigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo and have been granted asylum in the U.S.

The 2014 Builders Blitz Team: Steve Howell, Gary Moffie and Jim Lavallee with the homeowners and the stars of A&E TV's Flipping Boston

To build the houses in such a short time required careful coordination and nine months of planning. The lead build team began meeting in September, 2013.  Each of the lead builders reached out to their own subcontractors and vendors to ask them to donate labor and materials to the build. The result was 200 local building professionals coming together for one week in June to implement a carefully choreographed construction schedule that resulted in two homes progressing from foundation to landscaping in just 5.5 days.  In one week, the lives of two families were forever changed and a poor neighborhood was improved.

Beezee Honan of Designer Bath mans the registration table

The 2014 Blitz Build team with the family 

The leadership team was supported by additional industry professionals from Designer Bath, Linda Holt Interiors,  Foster/Sullivan Insurance and many others who coordinated all of the non- construction details. More information about the build and all those who contributed can be found at: www.merrimackvalleyhabitat.org/blitz/

(Photography/Linda Holt, Linda Holt Interiors)