by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Operation New Hope and other local community development corporations (CDC) have some new help in their mission to provide affordable housing – and it’s a familiar face to the area.
Based in Springfield, Paul Witt of R.P Witt Construction returned to his Southeastern roots and late last year began trying to improve local communities through affordable housing and commercial rehabilitation.
“We’re here to help build communities through new and efficient affordable housing,” said Witt, who is president of the company.
Witt was born and raised in Gainesville, but got his start in rebuilding blighted areas nearly 3,000 miles away in San Diego and San Francisco. During his time in California, Witt was a project manager who oversaw eight projects and helped build 482 homes, with about 20 percent of those going to affordable housing, he said.
While building affordable housing in blighted and high crime areas such as South Richmond, California — dubbed “The Iron Triangle” — Witt had a few interesting experiences.
“One time we found a dead body behind a site,” he said. “I’ve seen it all and had to deal with it.”
Witt said he enjoyed the time in California, but moved to Jacksonville for his family. His wife, Ashley, wanted to be in a less populated area and Witt wanted his children, Tristan and Kaylen, closer to their grandparents.
“I just wanted everyone to be closer to family,” he said. “I also wanted the opportunity to start my own company.”
Witt was born and raised in Gainesville with sawdust in his veins. His father was a lumber salesman and small homebuilder and his uncle was also in the homebuilding industry. Both helped teach him the trade.
With Operation New Hope, Witt is also working close with family.
“We’re cousins,” said Operation New Hope President Kevin Gay. “Paul came from California and has done an absolutely fantastic job.”
Working with the CDC, the company is in the process of building three Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) homes on Oakley Street, east of Springfield. The LEED certification is the first of its kind for affordable housing in the state. Witt will break ground on three more within the next few weeks.
Witt’s company is responsible for general contracting and construction management of the homes. He manages all subcontractors on a project and helps set the quality and standards of each home.
“We’re trying to build more efficient homes for less,” said Witt.
He is also in talks with the Riverside Avondale Development Organization about doing similar affordable housing and rehabilitation projects within the Riverside area. He hopes to sometime also work directly within the Springfield area.
“The best thing about creating affordable housing is to see the synergy in the communities you’re working with and to see the look on a family’s face when they’re moving in,” he said. “Without the help, they might not have been able to do such a thing.”
The projects are just a start for Witt, though, as he has created a lofty goal for the company: No. 1 in the Southeast by 2031.
For 2008, Witt said he expects to build 20-30 homes and do them all with high quality and service.
“We try to set the ‘wow’ factor with our work,” said Witt.