Still under construction

Published 1:57 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

SNOQUALMIE – Although a drive by the Habitat for Humanity of East King County site on Snoqualmie Ridge may lead one to believe everything is ready for new inhabitants, some things remain unfinished.

Of the 21 houses built during last month’s “blitz build,” only three are ready for families, and Habitat volunteers worry about what will happen to the rest during the colder months that are loom ahead.

“By all standards, it (the blitz build) was a success,” said Jean Ann French, manager of resource development for Habitat for Humanity of East King County. “But we are still out there working.”

Some houses won’t be done for a while. Jill Mortenson, whose house was built during the blitz build, was at the site last Wednesday and helped clean up the inside of another house that had no drywall up or floors laid.

“I want to move in real bad,” Mortenson said. “But I don’t want to move in until all my neighbors can, as well.”

Neither do Habitat officials, who said they would like to see all the houses completed before anyone starts to move in.

The most pressing need is roofs. All the houses were designed to have metal roofing, and less than a quarter of the roofs have been finished. Although the material is at the site and ready to be installed, skilled labor is lacking. The roofs are all the more imperative when the skies turn gray.

“We are thinking of Oct. 1 as the start of the rainy season,” said AmeriCorps volunteer and Habitat organizer Erin Friesen. “Metal roofers are in high demand.”

Most of the houses have electricity and carpeting installed – work that can be ruined if water starts to seep in.

“I’d hate to see all the work done on the houses go to waste,” Mortenson said.

A walk around the site also reveals how much cleanup is needed before any semblance of a neighborhood can be established. Empty paint cans, scrap-wood piles and garbage litter the area that was once crawling with volunteers.

During the blitz build, the sounds of construction were constant and reverberated off the houses being erected. Now, only a few whacks of a hammer echo throughout the development. Friesen said at times, only one volunteer is on site.

Judy Southstone of Woodinville was one of the few volunteers helping install cabinets in a house last week. Habitat organizers said a lot of finish work is needed at the houses, and while it’s not comprised of large projects, it’s still very time-consuming.

“I know the frustration a homeowner has when they are getting to the end of the road and they can see the light,” Southstone said. “There is a lot of patience needed.”

In light of last week’s terrorist attacks and the tremendous success of the blitz build, Habitat organizers are worried that awareness of the incomplete project has waned. The appearance of the houses is deceiving, too. Once the blitz build ended and passers-by saw the finished exteriors of the houses, the prevailing thought was they were almost ready to be occupied.

Although the need for skilled labor is acute, Habitat organizers stressed that they can use any help they can get. From painting interiors to helping clean up, there is still plenty of work to do in Snoqualmie’s newest neighborhood.

“Anyone with tools can help,” Friesen said.

Of the 21 houses built during last month’s “blitz build,” only three are ready for families, and Habitat volunteers worry about what will happen to the rest during the colder months that are loom ahead.

“By all standards, it (the blitz build) was a success,” said Jean Ann French, manager of resource development for Habitat for Humanity of East King County. “But we are still out there working.”

Some houses won’t be done for a while. Jill Mortenson, whose house was built during the blitz build, was at the site last Wednesday and helped clean up the inside of another house that had no drywall up or floors laid.

“I want to move in real bad,” Mortenson said. “But I don’t want to move in until all my neighbors can, as well.”

Neither do Habitat officials, who said they would like to see all the houses completed before anyone starts to move in.

The most pressing need is roofs. All the houses were designed to have metal roofing, and less than a quarter of the roofs have been finished. Although the material is at the site and ready to be installed, skilled labor is lacking. The roofs are all the more imperative when the skies turn gray.

“We are thinking of Oct. 1 as the start of the rainy season,” said AmeriCorps volunteer and Habitat organizer Erin Friesen. “Metal roofers are in high demand.”

Most of the houses have electricity and carpeting installed – work that can be ruined if water starts to seep in.

“I’d hate to see all the work done on the houses go to waste,” Mortenson said.

A walk around the site also reveals how much cleanup is needed before any semblance of a neighborhood can be established. Empty paint cans, scrap-wood piles and garbage litter the area that was once crawling with volunteers.

During the blitz build, the sounds of construction were constant and reverberated off the houses being erected. Now, only a few whacks of a hammer echo throughout the development. Friesen said at times, only one volunteer is on site.

Judy Southstone of Woodinville was one of the few volunteers helping install cabinets in a house last week. Habitat organizers said a lot of finish work is needed at the houses, and while it’s not comprised of large projects, it’s still very time-consuming.

“I know the frustration a homeowner has when they are getting to the end of the road and they can see the light,” Southstone said. “There is a lot of patience needed.”

In light of last week’s terrorist attacks and the tremendous success of the blitz build, Habitat organizers are worried that awareness of the incomplete project has waned. The appearance of the houses is deceiving, too. Once the blitz build ended and passers-by saw the finished exteriors of the houses, the prevailing thought was they were almost ready to be occupied.

Although the need for skilled labor is acute, Habitat organizers stressed that they can use any help they can get. From painting interiors to helping clean up, there is still plenty of work to do in Snoqualmie’s newest neighborhood.

“Anyone with tools can help,” Friesen said.