by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
It was a mighty goal but with the help of 22 builder groups, more than 700 volunteers and a host of corporate sponsors, it was achieved.
Last Friday, 30 people joined the ranks of Jacksonville’s homeowners thanks to the efforts of HabiJax, the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, and the Northeast Florida Builders Association. The new homes were built as part of a national effort that built houses for more than 1,000 people in 130 locations in just a week.
Mary Kay O’Rourke, president of HabiJax, said that Habitat for Humanity challenged the local affiliates to conduct what she called a “blitz build” and that HabiJax chose 30 homes as its goal in honor of Habitat for Humanity’s 30th anniversary.
“To build that many houses in so short a time, professional builders had to do the work. The builders really stepped up and volunteered to provide superintendents, labor and materials,” said O’Rourke. “HabiJax handled the logistics involved to make sure the builders had the materials they needed at the right times. It was controlled chaos.”
NEFBA President Jerry Linder said, “They are quickly built but well-built. We knew that we could do it. We were challenged as an organization to step up and we did. The builders, subcontractors and their support staffs really pitched in to achieve the goal. It really shows how much our industry cares about the city and the people who live here.”
O’Rourke said that there were 400-600 volunteers working each day during the blitz at McNair Park Villas, the former site of the Brentwood housing project. When the project is compete, there will be 94 new homes in the development, one of HabiJax’s largest to date.
“We have staff members and volunteers, but we could not have done it by ourselves in six days,” she added. “We start two houses a week and it takes us about 12 weeks to complete a house. We have built more (houses) but it took much longer. This is a record for us.”
As he handed Alfredia Williams the keys to her new home that NEFBA sponsored, Linder said, “Our association has always been very involved in helping people and our group is very giving of their time and talents. This is the best part of my job.”