BUILDER The Tidewater - Tidewater Builders Association
Transcription
BUILDER The Tidewater - Tidewater Builders Association
The Tidewater The official publication of Tidewater Builders Association Volume 52, Number 6 Inside June 2005 BUILDER www.tbaonline.org © 2005 2005 Charity House is a gift from the heart The Affordable Zone Wermers speaks about inclusionary zoning ..................2 Gang Threats Virginia Beach Police detail gang problems during Breakfast Forum........................4 A lot of heart goes into the construction of the Tidewater Builders Association Charity House from the start, as demonstrated at the April 26 groundbreaking at Broad Creek. William Eggleston “Wes” Simpson II, who is the namesake for this year’s Charity House, The Gift of Wes, turns over the first shovelful, as (from left) his parents, Howard and Mary-Dolph Simpson; his uncle, Page Simpson; and Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim; Councilman Anthony L. Burfoot; Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority Chair W. Sheppard Miller III; Tidewater Builders Association President Jeffrey J. Wermers; and Children’s Health System President and CEO James E. Dahling enjoy the moment. Real Estate Pitfalls General Counsel discusses recent court decisions................5 Nice Shot TBA tees up for Building Trades Academy ........................6 Abundant Blessings Past scholarship recipient thanks TBA for help................15 The Main Event PRSRT STD U.S. Postage P A I D Norfolk, VA Permit No. 2135 What: TMHC Awards Banquet and Associates Showcase Where: The Norfolk Waterside Marriott When: Thursday, June 16, begins at 5 p.m. with showcase and dinner at 7 p.m. Starts: $45 for TMHC members and $55 for nonmembers Preview: This super-charged TMHC event will be a proud reflection of the energy within the Hampton Roads housing industry. (Turn to page 3 for details.) William Eggleston “Wes” Simpson II is a healthy 20-year-old thanks to the medical staff at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. To honor Wes and to thank the hospital that cared for him, Mary-Dolph, Howard and Page Simpson of Simpson Builders Inc. are building the 2005 Charity House at Homearama, Oct. 8-23 in the Norfolk community of Broad Creek. They are naming the home The Gift of Wes. “After having a child like Wes, and being faced with the unknown, the search for answers, and then conquering the problem, giving back to CHKD is my passion,” said Wes’mother, builder Mary- Dolph Simpson. “It’s something I enjoy doing. It’s a lot of hard work, but if it raises thousands of dollars, I’m going to do it.” That Wes was even born on Oct. 30, 1984 was a miracle. Mary-Dolph and her "We have the gift of Wes, but CHKD gave us the gift. Wes would not be here if not for CHKD." — Mary-Dolph Simpson husband, Howard, were told they could not conceive. Another miracle at CHKD saved the infant’s life. Wes was not quite a month old when Mary-Dolph became concerned about his unusually raspy breathing one night and called her pediatrician, the late Dr. William Murphy. Dr. Murphy listened to Wes’ labored breathing over the phone and instructed Mary-Dolph to rush him to CHKD. Upon arrival close to midnight, Dr. Murphy swept Wes up in his arms and raced him to the pediatric intensive care unit. The next time the Simpsons saw Dr. Murphy, there were tears in his eyes. As a family friend, he knew that Wes had been named for his uncle, Howard and Page’s brother, who died as a child. Now baby Wes faced the same fate. A toorapid heartbeat had caused cardiac failSee Charity House, page 9 Tidewater Builders Association 2117 Smith Avenue Chesapeake, Virginia 23320-2515 The Cornerstone Foundation The Cornerstone Foundation supports the home building industry in South Hampton Roads. DIAMOND Kempsville Building Materials PLATINUM Whoa, Baby! Pages 10-11 SunTrust Real Estate Finance Group/SunTrust Mortgage Inc. Virginia Natural Gas Dominion Virginia Power Wachovia Bank/Wachovia Mortgage The Virginian-Pilot Resource Bank/Resource Mortgage TowneBank/TowneBank Mortgage RBC Builder Finance/RBC Mortgage BB&T of Virginia Bank of America GOLD Ainslie-Widener Superior Equipment Sales Inc. Tidewater Home Funding Beach Ford Inc. Countrywide Home Loans Inc. Sykes, Bourdon, Ahern & Levy P.C. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Bank of Hampton Roads William E. Wood & Associates Williams Mullen Kotarides Builders L.L.C. Wermers Development Inc. Napolitano Homes Clark Whitehill Enterprises Inc. Enterprise Mortgage Corp. Area Builders of Tidewater Inc. Caruana Homes by Gary Caruana Inc. Terry•Peterson Cos. Hearndon Construction Corp. Ashdon Builders Inc. Sadler Building Corp. L.R. Hill Custom Home Builders Inc. Miller Custom Homes Joey Corp. Sasser Construction L.C. Greenbrier Lighting Associated Development Real Estate Information Network More regulations not the answer to affordable housing problem With the supply of homes lagging far behind demand, higher assessments and appraisals are making it difficult for middleincome families to buy a home near where they work. The problem is spreading across the country and “affordable housing” has become the new political buzzword – with “inclusionary zoning” not far behind. After years of “exclusionary zoning” by municipalities approving only housing that “paid for itself,” isn’t it ironic that “inclusionary zoning” might be seen as the politically expedient solution to affordable housing? Nationally, the number of cities with affordable housing mandates has grown rapidly and pressure is on locally for policymakers to act. Inclusionary zoning requires a certain percentage of units in every new marketrate development (usually 10-15 percent) to be affordable to low-income households. Density bonuses are usually pro- The Tidewater Builder The Tidewater Builder Owned and published by the members of Tidewater Builders Association. www.tbaonline.org The mission of Tidewater Builders Association is to improve the climate for affordable housing; promote the growth and development of the shelter industry; promote excellence and professionalism among members through educational and networking opportunities; and support and enhance the community through charitable projects. OFFICERS: Jeffrey J. Wermers, president, John E. Olivieri, vice president; Pamla H. Pekrun, associate vice president; John W. Ainslie Jr., treasurer; Edward R. Sadler, secretary; Pete A. Kotarides, appointee; William Halprin, appointee; John W. Iuliano III, immediate past president. President’s vided to help offset the cost of these units. The goal is an admirable one — to integrate affordable units throughout a community and prevent pockets of poverty. Unfortunately, mandatory inclusionary zoning comes with high costs and unintended consequences while diverting attention from issues central to the problem of affordable housing. The shelter industry has been fighting for affordable housing for years. Every time we go to Richmond to fight still more fees and regulations, we are saying “let us build for the market” and “stop adding to the cost of new homes with arbitrary design standards, costly proffers, more fees and more regulations.” With the scarcity of developable land, anti-growth policies, and a bias against density, we have quite a bit of work ahead if we are to address the problem of how to create the housing products this market needs. But that doesn’t mean we need new regulations. For years, regulations have been driving up the cost of housing, so it’s a hard sell to try to convince us inclusionary zoning will bring it down. Ironically, some of the same communities that have adopted or are considering inclusionary zoning have also implemented growth control measures to prevent housing from coming on the market. Price controls fail to get to the root of the problem, which is the artificial restrictions on supply. Furthermore, many studies have found that it actually drives up the cost of the ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS: G. Robert Aston Jr., J. Gregory J. Dodd, Tom Dye, Scott M. Gandy, José M. Simon, Richard B. Thurmond, H. Mac Weaver II, Edward O. Yoder DIRECTORS EMERITI: Edward P. Brogan, William J. Fanney, Richard D. Guy, William L. Hendricks, Doyle E. Hull, Frederick J. Napolitano Sr., Richard E. Olivieri, John H. Peterson, Owen B. Pickett, Julian Rashkind, Howard M. Weisberg, Wendell A. White EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Channing A. Pfeiffer The Tidewater Builder is published monthly, January through December, by Tidewater Builders Association, located at 2117 Smith Ave., Chesapeake, VA 23320. Editorial deadline is 5 p.m. on the 1st of the month preceding publication. Advertising deadline for copy and insertion orders is 5 p.m. the 10th, and for camera-ready ads, 5 p.m. the 15th of the month preceding publication. All advertising published in The Tidewater Builder is subject to current rates, copies of which can be obtained from the Special Events, Membership and Marketing Division, 420-2434. The newspaper reserves the right to determine the suitability of any advertising or editorial copy, and all real estate advertised is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Managing editor .............................. Mary Prier, APR Editor..................................................Heidi E. Ketler Staff writer...........................................Katie Marcum Advertising sales ...................Sherry Acela, Ann Hall, David Moschetti, Anthony Tedesco Production coordinator ................Jeanettzy Gonzalez Advisor..............................................Sandra Amidon Copyright: 2005; all rights reserved. No permission to reprint unless expressly given by Tidewater Builders Association. The Tidewater Builder is published for all TBA member firms through the $15 subscription price, which is included in the annual membership fee. Opinions expressed by contributing columnists are not necessarily those of this publication. 2 June 2005 Sign Me Up! BUILDER DIRECTORS: S.L. Cohen, Curtis Cole, William Halprin, Pete A. Kotarides, Pete O. Kotarides, Branch P. Lawson, Charles J. Miller, Stephen Quick market-rate homes. A study by the Reason Public Policy Institute of 50 California jurisdictions with inclusionary zoning laws concluded that by restricting the supply of new homes and driving up the price of newly constructed market-rate homes and the existing stock of homes, inclusionary zoning actually makes housing for everyone else less affordable. With inclusionary zoning, “affordable” comes to mean subsidized, with the burden on the private sector and new home buyers, much like impact fees and other proffers. Of course, in order for these units to remain affordable, restrictions must be placed on the resale of the property. Some ordinances require ownership for a certain time period. Others require sharing proceeds with the municipality, in theory, to create more affordable units. What that means, in essence, is that these home buyers will not be able to build equity like other homeowners. The oldest, and some consider the most successful, inclusionary zoning ordinance is in Montgomery County, Maryland, where about 11,000 affordable units were brought to market since 1974, about 350 units a year. In most other communities, the number of affordable units brought to market is negligible compared to the need. With so little land available for development in Hampton Roads, it’s difficult to imagine that this approach will put a dent in the problem. The Brookings Institution Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy study of inclusionary zoning in the Washington Metropolitan Area indicates that as a community sees a decline in developable land, the production of affordable units declines. In fact, Montgomery County, Maryland, has seen its yearly production levels and the number of existing moderately priced units decline. As the oldest ordinance in the Your at-a-glance guide to TBA events and activities. Members can register for these events online at www.tbaonline.org and go to Sign Me Up, by fax at 424-5954, by phone at 420-2434 or by e-mail. Events are at TBA unless otherwise noted. Celebrate multifamily housing excellence at the 21st annual Associates’ Showcase, Awards Banquet and RAM Graduation Thursday, June 16 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott. The Associates’ Showcase will kick off festivities at 5 p.m. The dinner program, RAM graduation ceremony and awards presentations will follow at 7 p.m. The cost is $45 for TMHC members and $55 for non members. Make reservations online, or contact Christine Connell at ext. 255 or [email protected]. The deadline is June 10. See full story on page 3. country, it is the first to see a large number of units leave the program because the 10and 20-year price control periods have expired. As of 1999, only 3,805 units were still governed by mandatory affordability restrictions, according to the 2004 report. Perhaps our biggest problem with inclusionary zoning is that it doesn’t address the broader issues fueling the affordability crisis. What helps to drive up the cost of housing is lengthy and complex approval processes, outdated exclusionary zoning ordinances that limit the range of housing types permitted, plus growth controls, permit caps and proffers and the limited supply of developable land. For years, we have heard that it would take a $250,000 home to generate enough real estate taxes to cover the cost of municipal services to a household. This is the claim we have always disputed. (Never mind all of the other economic spin-offs a household creates.) Now that the median price of a new home in Hampton Roads exceeds $300,000, we haven’t heard about this concept in awhile. Not that many of us have the luxury of having land available for rezoning. We are eager to work with all our local municipalities to address the issue of creating affordable workforce housing and we might even suggest this is a good issue to examine as a region. Each of our cities has a task force on affordable housing – but without a regional approach, what can be accomplished is limited. And when we do work on this issue, we should keep in mind this wise recommendation from The Reason Institute: “Policymakers should work within the realities of how housing markets work and the economics of homeownership.” MARK YOUR CALENDAR June 2-5 Remodeling Show & Tour, Constant Convocation Center 13 TBA Executive Committee, 3:30 p.m., Steinhilber’s Thalia Acres Inn UPCOMING THIS MONTH TBA board of directors/Cornerstone Foundation reception, 5:30 p.m., Steinhilber’s Thalia Acres Inn Register today! 16 TMHC Associates’ Showcase, Awards Banquet and RAM Graduation, 5 p.m., Norfolk Waterside Marriott 28 TBA Orientation, 9 a.m., TBA TMHC banquet June 16 Learn something new about TBA. Veteran, new and prospective members are invited to the upcoming member orientation TBA Orientation from 9-10 a.m., Tuesday, June 28. This free event is a great June 28 introduction for new members and refresher for veterans. TBA President Jeffrey J. Wermers will give an overview of the association. The program also includes valuable www.tbaonline.org networking information and light refreshments. Register online. Click Events/Sign Me Up! Register online, or contact Jeannettzy Gonzalez at ext. 242 or [email protected]. July 14 Trade Contractors’ Breakfast Forum, 7:30 a.m., TBA August 8 TBA Executive Committee meeting, 3:30 p.m., TBA TBA board of directors meeting, 5:30 p.m., TBA 25 Builders' Breakfast Forum, 7:30 a.m., TBA 30 TBA Orientation, 9 a.m., TBA The Tidewater Builder Headliners • Headliners • Headliners VB Contractors hits top 50 list “Lights, camera, action!” TMHC showcase and banquet will be award-winning event Celebrate excellence at the 21st annual Associates’ Showcase, Awards Banquet and RAM Graduation Thursday, June 16 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott. The Associates’ Showcase will kickoff festivities at 5 p.m. The dinner program, RAM graduation ceremony and awards presentations will follow at 7 p.m. TMHC Awards of Excellence will be presented to the year’s top properties. Merit Awards will include: Lifetime Achievement, Executive, Property Manager, Resident Manager, Leasing Consultant and Associate Member. The cost is $45 for TMHC members and $55 for nonmembers. The deadline to make reservations is June 10. Make your reservations online at www.tbaonline.org, or contact Christine Connell at 420-2434, ext. 255, or [email protected]. “Lots” of opportunity explored at Norfolk infill conference With the scarcity of land available for development, infill lots may well be the new horizon for many home builders. The city of Norfolk, in partnership with TBA, the Hampton Roads chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Urban Land Institute and Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, will host a regional one-day conference, “Profit by Design,” Thursday, July 21, for local builders, architects, realtors, mortgage bankers and others interested in infill development. The conference features nationally recognized designers and builders who will explore the market perspective, the cost perspective and the design perspective. Participants also will learn about the city of Norfolk’s housing initiatives and incentives. The event, which includes lunch, will be at the Constant Convocation Center. Pre-registration for TBA members is $50 each by July 19. The cost for nonmembers and those who register after that date is $75 each. For more information, contact Andrew Northcutt at the Norfolk Design and Resource Center at 664-6784 or visit www.norfolk.gov. VB Contractors employees give their workplace the thumb’s up. VB Contractors Inc. ranked 18th among 48 home builders and two architectural firms on Professional Builder magazine’s “2004 Top 50 Builders to Work for.” The Virginia Beach builder was the only one from Hampton Roads to make the list, which ran in the April edition. Nominated companies provided employee statistics, offerings, benefits and reasoning on why they provide a good place to work. Employees also had the chance to weigh in on a survey, rating their companies based on reward and recognition, professional development, leadership, communication, corporate culture and personal satisfaction. VB Contractors has 10 employees – 20 percent are female, 20 percent are minorities, 20 percent are less than 35 years old and 20 percent are more than 55 years old. The average employment spans eight years. The company touts profit sharing, a retirement program, flexible work hours and tuition reimbursement, and recognizes domestic partnerships. “We really are committed to profit sharing,” said Chris Ettel, president of VB Contractors. “We focus on meeting goals, so when we all meet these goals and we set a certain amount aside for company growth and for the owners, we share the rest.” Reed Research Group spent months examining the results on what made this year’s entries great places to work. “We continue to obtain feedback from our coworkers with regard to benefits that will help us retain our best employees and hire the best the industry has to offer,” said Ettel. “We are committed to providing the best possible workplace for our employees.” When it comes to neighborhood home loans, I really know my way around the block. LOCAL COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOAN EXPERT… AS YOUR …I not only have my own considerable experience to offer, I also have the technology, resources and innovative loan products from one of America’s leading lenders to make your next home buying experience fast, convenient and virtually hassle-free. No matter what your financial situation or home loan needs, call me today and let me open the door to your dream house. Sheree Pledger Branch Manager 3101 Virginia Beach Blvd. Suite 107 Virginia Beach,VA 23452 (757) 498-1997 Ext. 225 (757) 498-4353 Fax [email protected] Equal Housing Lender. © 2004 Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.Trade/service marks are the property of Countrywide Financial Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. For Virginia properties only. Some products may not be available in Virginia. Prices and guidelines are subject to change without notice. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. 40316 The Tidewater Builder June 2005 3 Issues • Actions • Issues • Actions • Issues• Actions • Issues • Actions • Issues The Big Picture Be on the lookout for the mark of gang members Hampton Roads builders are asked to be on the lookout for day laborers with prominent tattoos like the one photographed. According to Virginia Beach detective Sgt. Dave Squires at the Builder Breakfast Forum, the tattoo is worn by those in the Mara Salvatrucha (MS13) street gang, who travel with migrants, and gain their confidence and trust. Then, he said, they take advantage of their vulnerability by robbing, extorting money from and even killing them. Other gang activities include everything from auto thefts to narcotic sales to murder. Gang members range in age from 11 to 40 years old. Anyone who has information on MS13 or suspects a laborer of being a member is asked to call Squires at the Special Investigations Unit at 427-1749. Howard Rodman and Jay Dunbar of Superior Equipment Sales Inc., the sponsor of the Builders Breakfast, and Goodman Manufacturing Co. representative Rick Rydzeski discuss heating and air conditioning products with Robert Josephberg of National Housing Corp. TBA Builder Services Success Story PARTIES IMPACTED: Builders concerned with squash blocks and home inspections ADVOCATE: Sherry Albertson of William E. Wood & Associates ISSUE: Albertson was faced with a home inspection for one of her listed homes. The inspector raised questions regarding the foundation of the home and a lack of squash blocks. ACTION TAKEN: Albertson, concerned about the inspec- Brent Nielson, Chesapeake planning director, (right) chats with TBA Treasurer John Ainslie after the May 19 Builders Breakfast Forum. Nielson and Jaleh Pett, Chesapeake planning administrator, discussed the newly adopted Chesapeake 2026 Comprehensive Plan. Albertson tion, consulted with her broker and contacted Andrea Gardner, TBA’s Building Services specialist, to inquire about foundation requirements. OUTCOME: After contacting several building supply companies and building official offices, Gardner was able to find the builder of the home, which led her to the product manufacturer that supplied the structural beams. The manufacturer recommendations for that product did not include squash blocks. Albertson was able to resolve the issue, put the minds of the new buyers at rest and close on the home in May. COMMENT: “I was thrilled to get this problem resolved. Andrea went above and beyond, right to the source. She really went the extra mile for us. It’s nice to have a resource to call who you know will work on the problem. The home buyer then had the word of the builder, manufacturer and builders association behind them. What could have been a real problem wasn’t.” Special guest Virginia Del. Terry Suit and TBA President Jeff Wermers sample the buffet at the May TBA board of directors meeting. Suit spoke to board members about legislative issues facing the housing industry. Tap into the power of www.tbaonline.org Link up with new and existing customers through TBA’s Products and Services directory. It’s a snap. Call 420-2434, ext. 246. 4 June 2005 TBA President Jeff Wermers, Associate Vice president Pam Pekrun (second from right) and Builder Services Staff Vice President Claudia Cotton (right) visit Congresswoman Thelma Drake at her Washington, D.C., office to advocate the Hampton Roads building industry during the 2005 NAHB Spring Board Meeting and Legislative Conference. The Tidewater Builder Real estate court decisions from across country point to pitfalls By C. Grigsby Scifres Scifres, a partner in the Virginia Beach office of the law firm of Williams Mullen, is Tidewater Builders Association’s general counsel. This column features legal issues of interest to TBA members. Some recent decisions from courts in other states and federal courts have highlighted several pitfalls in real estate transactions. A federal court located in Massachusetts recently ruled that the federal Truth in Lending Act was violated when a mortgage company required a consumer to sign a post-dated waiver of the right to rescind the loan in connection with the closing of a second mortgage. At the closing, the consumer received both the standard Notice of Right to Cancel informing them of the right under federal law to cancel the loan within three business days and the standard Confirmation of Non-Exercise of Right to Cancel. The Confirmation Notice acknowledged that the consumer had waited three business days and had not, and did not want, to cancel the loan. The mortgage company postdated the Confirmation Notice and had the consumer sign the Confirmation Notice at closing. Two years later the consumer took steps to rescind the loan and filed suit against the mortgage company alleging violations of the Truth in Lending Act. The court determined that requiring a consumer to sign the Confirmation Notice at the same time as the Cancellation Notice and before the three-business-day coolingoff period had expired was a violation of the Truth in Lending Act. A Delaware court recently considered whether the typical “time is of the essence” concept applied to a real estate purchase transaction when the “time is of the essence” clause was not included in the contract. The court stated the general rule that time is of the essence only when specifically stated in the contract or, when the contract is silent, where the course of dealing between the parties clearly implies that time has become of the essence. Finding that the seller never notified the buyer that time was of the essence and that it was not reasonable to infer such a provision from the other terms of the contract, the court determined that a one-month delay of the closing date was reasonable under the circumstances. Bolstering the decision was a finding that the delay by You work hard to cover all the details... Counsel’s the buyer was not intentional and did not cause any harm to the sellers. Clearly, the moral of this story is that if you intend to have a party adhere to deadlines in a contract, then you must include a “time is of the essence” clause in the contract. In Texas, the Supreme Court recently considered for the first time whether an option agreement that recited nominal consideration of $10, which was not actually paid, could be enforced. It is a primary tenet of contract law that a promise is not binding unless some consideration is received by the promissor. However, another underlying principle is that even a false recital of nominal consideration is sufficient to make a promise binding, so long as the underlying exchange is fair and the offer is to be accepted within a reasonable time. In the Texas case, a buyer entered into an agreement that granted the seller an option to repurchase the property if the buyer failed to begin construction of a house within 18 months following closing. The option agreement recited that consideration of $10 had been paid by the buyer to the seller. Of course 18 months elapsed, the buyer did not begin construction and the seller exercised the option to repurchase the property. The buyer brought suit to terminate the option agreement on the basis that no consideration had actually been received by her. The trial court ruled in favor of the seller but the court of appeals reversed. The Texas Supreme Court concluded that the option agreement, being a preliminary step in the conclusion of a transaction, provides a sufficient basis for enforcement despite the failure to actually pay the consideration recited in the option agreement. The only remedy of the other party to the option agreement would be to bring suit for payment of the stated consideration. One should keep in mind, however, that only a few state supreme courts around the country have considered this issue and the position of the Texas court is in the minority. For more information, contact C. Grigsby Scifres at [email protected] or 473-5370. Building Trades instructor wanted ProSource makes it easy to cover all the floors. “Home DistinctionsTM,” a unique program for home builders! Once again, ProSource R, North America’s leading supplier of floorcovering exclusively to trade professionals, has taken a giant step forward in offering our Members unparralleled convenience. Our new Home Distinctions program is a no-nonsense approach designed specifically to meet the unique demands of builders and their clients. This program offers our Members a fantastic selection of all the best in name brand floorcoverings, the " I like doing lowest wholesale prices, and a business with Jerry world of options. Here are just a Gazzilli and his staff at ProSource. few of the many benefits: They are very knowledgeable about the flooring products on the market today. They have a great showroom, with the best of what’s available. And I can bring my clients in, and the staff protects my price advantage. You can’t beat it.” Bill Brice WATAB Construction Corp. • Higher profit opportunities • Footage program of all styles • Price protection on carpets in the program • Never miss a close upgrade guarantee • The best in name brand flooring “Just ask our clients” Charlie Anderson Charlie Anderson Builder, Inc. Chris Barbour Barbour Contracting, Inc. Jerry Pattenaude Leo F. Johns Contractor, Inc. Ken Cohen Cohen Homes, LLC Jimmy Jackson Jackson Construction Robert Tyler Tyler & Associates, LTD Dennis Graf Graf Construction Lee Baynor Lee Baynor Inc. Jerry Collier Beachtowne Realty Corp. Ramon Breeden The Breeden Co. Inc. David Smith Better Built Restoration Andy Broyles Broyles Construction Phil Caruana Caruana Construction, Inc. Jerry Harris Case Handyman Services David Collier First Atlantic Restoration Wilson Goode Goode Construction, Inc. Judy Boone Judy Boone Realty Jeff Francis Quality Building Puddy Sturtevant Wel-Vant The Building Trades Academy is seeking an instructor with supervisory experience on the worksite. The position will involve in-class and in-thefield training. For more information, call Keith Curtis at 420-2566. The Tidewater Builder June 2005 5 Good golf! Charity golf tourney raises record $25,000 for building trades students From left, Bill Davenport, Brandon Ramsey, Ben Davenport and Bud Frenck of McQ Builders L.L.C. are all smiles, having won the afternoon round. The Tidewater Builders Association’s Charity Golf Tournament drew a field of more than 196 players, raising $25,000 for the TBA Building Trades Academy. According to tournament Chair Krys Reid of Tower Benefits, the money is used for financial emergencies that may keep the economically disadvantaged students from completing their training in building trades basics. “The money is a much-needed financial safety net,” said Reid. “Things like car trouble, which for many of us are inconveniences, can have a devastating impact on a student’s ability to complete the training,” said Keith Curtis, Apprenticeship and Training Division staff vice president. Charity Golf Tournament funds also go to such necessities as payment of back rent, utilities, work clothing and tools. Building Trades Academy students learn the fundamentals of the building trades and advance to trade-specific training. The education gives students hands-on experience and the opportunity to be gainfully employed. It also produces a valuable labor source for industry employers. First- and second-place tournament winners in both the morning and afternoon rounds received prizes. Their names also will be placed on a plaque that is displayed year-round at the TBA office. WINNERS’ CIRCLE Morning Round: 1st Place – Scott Runger of United Health Care/ MAMSI, Kent Fortner, Cecil Jenkins and Darrell Williams From left, Home Builders Association of Virginia President Jeff Ainslie of AinslieWidener, Trent Dudley of Wachovia, Scott Kale of Norfolk Wire and Mike Gianascoli of Gee’s Group enjoy a moment of sunshine during the afternoon. 2nd Place – Dan Osborne and John Connolly of Titan America, Rick Brown of B&H Concrete and Chuck Wood of C&G Concrete 1st Flight, 2nd Place – Mike Gibbs of Contractor Yard, Robert Clark of Universal Forrest Products, Justin Moss, of Moss Properties and Ronnie Olson of Andersen Windows 2nd Flight, 1st Place – Tom Dillon, Steve Sager, Bill Lane and Ryan Cool of Resource Bank/Resource Mortgage Closest to Pin – Scott Runger and Ivan Wexler of Miller Custom Homes 2nd Flight, 2nd Place – Joe Dreps of BB&T and team Longest Drive – Darrell Williams, Jim Andrews of Andrews Building Inc. and Claudia Cotton of TBA Builder Services Division Closest to Pin – Kevin O’Sullivan of Executive Home Corp. of Virginia and Les Flora of Virginia Natural Gas Afternoon Round: Longest Drive – Brandon Ramsey (two holes) and Chris Seward of Virginia Enterprises 1st Flight, 1st Place – Henry Frenck, Bill Davenport, Ben Davenport and Brandon Ramsey of McQ Builders A ROUND OF APPLAUSE! Special thanks to Custom Stone Co. for the plaques. Ready for action, (from left) Mike Gibbs and Justin Moss of The Contractor Yard, and Ronnie Olson and Robert Clark of Andersen Windows pose for a picture before heading out to the course. Betty Ridgeway and Kevin O’Sullivan of Executive Homes Corp. of Virginia are ready to hit the links. TBA past President John Napolitano of Napolitano Homes takes a swing for a good cause. From left, George Moore, Patrick Cecchini and Bill West of Enterprise Mortgage team up with Dennis Graf of GTC Homes to play 18 holes for charity. 6 June 2005 EXCLUSIVE HOLE First Horizon Home Loans First Settlement Title & Escrow Permanent Coating Solutions L.L.C. Superior Equipment Sales Inc. HOLE SPONSORS Atlantic Bay Mortgage Ayers Insulation Bill West/ Enterprise Mortgage Caruana Homes Inc. Eastern Window & Door Co. General Electric Appliances GTC Homes HW10 James Hardie Siding Products Kotarides Builders Norfolk Wire & Electronics Spivey Rentals Staples Tub Services Tidewater Stone & Brick Wachovia Mortgage Wachovia Real Estate Financial Services Jim Ferber of Monarch Bank congratulates Chris Seward of Virginia Enterprises (left), winner of the longest drive on Hole 8. BEVERAGE CART SPONSORS Capital Financial Home Equity Monarch Bank Permanent Coating Solutions L.L.C. Prestige Title Insurance Agency Resource Bank/ Resource Mortgage Virginia Natural Gas LUNCH SPONSORS Bank of America Shaffer Title & Escrow Inc. PLAQUE SPONSORS Smith & Keene Tower Benefit Consultants SCOREBOARD SPONSOR Stock Building Supply AUTO HOLE-IN-ONE Greenbrier VW/Chrysler/Jeep (Southern Hospitality Auto Group) CLOSEST TO PIN/LONG DRIVE SPONSORS Area Builders of Tidewater Charles Britt/Guardian Life Insurance East Beach Optima Health The Contractor Yard United Health Care/MAMSI PRIZE SPONSORS Coastal Hardware Wayne Able’s Heating & Cooling Promos Principal Financial Wachovia GOODIE BAG SPONSORS AIG American General Anthem Bank of America Optima Health Paul Thatcher Tidewater Builders Association Turn Key Marketing ADDITIONAL SPONSORS Coca-Cola Costco Wholesale Custom Stone Co. Mr. Rogers Windows Nextel Generations of TBA leadership prepare for a round of afternoon golf. They are (from left) TBA Vice President John Olivieri of Associated Development, Richard Olivieri of Pembroke Enterprises, Michael Olivieri of Associated Development and Fred Napolitano Sr. of Pembroke Enterprises. The Tidewater Builder The Tidewater Builder June 2005 7 Meet A Member Meet a Member is designed to introduce members to each other. The feature is awarded to the winner of a drawing conducted at the bimonthly Tidewater Builders Association Orientations. The next orientation will be at 9 a.m., Tuesday, June 28 at TBA. Both new and prospective members are invited to attend and enter the drawing. COMPANY: Equity Title Co. BUSINESS CONTACT: Michael B. Steier, 486-2919 LOCATION: 200 Golden Oak Court, Suite 120, Virginia Beach, VA 23452 JOINED TBA: March 3, 2005 The Equity Title team stands ready to service all of its clients' settlement and title needs. TBA INVOLVEMENT: “As a new member of the TBA, we are just scratching the surface of what we hope will be a long and fruitful relationship,” said Mike Steier, the director of marketing for Equity Title. “We look forward to the relationship-building opportunities, becoming more politically involved at the local level, taking advantage of opportunities to give back to the community, and simply having a good time at regular TBA events.” 8 June 2005 The Tidewater Builder WELCOME ABOARD Charity House Continued from page 1 Please welcome these new members into Tidewater Builders Association with a call or a personal introduction. B.F. Saul Mortgage Co. Banks/savings and loans/ mortgage companies 192 Ballard Court Greenwich Centre, suite 201 Virginia Beach, VA 23462 JD Ritenburg . . . . . . . 535-5112 Coastal Water Systems of Hampton Roads Water and sewer system supplies/well drilling 2963 S. Military Highway Chesapeake, VA 23323 Todd Puopolo. . . . . . . 406-2809 HBD Build Inc. Builders/developers 2024 Pungo Ridge Court Virginia Beach, VA 23457 Karen and Herb Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 426-0592 Kittrells Floor Service Inc. Flooring/tile 3118 Victory Blvd. Portsmouth, VA 23702 George Kittrell . . . . . . 487-3821 M. M. Rollins & Co. Builders/developers 1521 Mill Landing Road Virginia Beach, VA 23457 Marvin M. Rollins . . . 426-6459 The Tidewater Builder McGeein Inc. Framing/cornice 2272 Souverain Lane Virginia Beach, VA 23454 Kerry McGeein . . . . . 641-3923 Superior Structures Inc. Builders/developers 1308 Woodhurst Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23454 Damian Lyle . . . . . . . 481-6450 Senior Source Magazine Advertising/public relations 909 Glenfield Court Virginia Beach, VA 23454 Lisa Lane . . . . . . . . . . 749-7749 TCI Inc. Framing/cornice P.O. Box 62521 Virginia Beach, VA 23466 Michael Thompson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 435-7573 Siegan Construction L.P. Framing/cornice 3008 Bunch Walnuts Road Chesapeake, VA 23322 Thomas Siegler Jr. . . . 421-3084 Southside Building Services Inc. Builders/developers 4400 Ballahack Road Chesapeake, VA 23322 Joyce Hartman . . . . . . 432-9095 Space Savers Shelving/closets 972 Old Cutler Road Virginia Beach, VA 23454 Carl Tarantino . . . . . . 575-9674 Sunset Stamping & Spray Decking Inc. Concrete 2592 Piney Bark Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23456 Bill Watson. . . . . . . . . 430-1614 Triangle Construction L.L.C. Builders/developers 168 Business Park Drive Suite 200 Virginia Beach, VA 23462 Todd Copeland. . . . . . 473-3706 Triton Tree & Landscaping, William & Christen Landscaping/nurseries/sodding 975 S. Clubhouse Road Virginia Beach, VA 23452 Christen Hickey . . . . . 468-5051 Wolcott Rivers Gates Attorneys 999 Waterside Drive Dominion Tower, suite 1515 Norfolk, VA 23510 Marshall A. Winslow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 640-1500 Music instructor Carrie Green leads the fifth-grade chorus from Dreamkeepers Academy at J.J. Roberts Elementary School in singing the National Anthem at the recent Charity House groundbreaking ceremony at Broad Creek. ure, and Wes was not expected to survive. But at about 6 a.m., the ICU doctor had great news. “You’re not going to believe this,” he said, “Wes is getting better.” From there, it was touch and go for a couple of days,” said Mary-Dolph. “It was a miracle that he survived, but we really wouldn’t know what damage (the lack of oxygen) caused him until he was 5 or 6 years old.” Thus began the family’s odyssey of emergency rooms, research centers, doctor’s offices and hospital stays to diagnose and treat a host of developmental and medical issues. In particular, Wes had problems swallowing and eating, which affected his growth and vitality. By 1995, when he was 10 years old, medical technology had advanced. A stateof-the-art endoscopy allowed physicians at CHKD to actually look inside Wes' body at his upper gastrointestinal tract. There they saw ulcers caused by a faulty valve between Wes’ esophagus and stomach. Surgery to correct the problem soon followed. “After surgery, he actually could eat hamburgers. He loves candy bars,” said Mary-Dolph. From that point on, Wes “just blossomed. He grew for the very first time.” Despite some remnant physical and developmental challenges, Mary-Dolph said her son has a socially outgoing nature, and a keen appreciation for life’s basic joys. “He knows how to smell a flower,” she said. Since Wes’ successful recovery, Simpson Builders has built three fund-raising homes for medical advancement. “I’m inspired by what CHKD did for my family and Wes. We’ve been in the shoes of being in all the different hospitals and meeting the families. I’ve seen where the funds and research go,” said Mary-Dolph. “We have the gift of Wes, but CHKD gave us the gift. Wes would not be here if not for CHKD.” June 2005 9 Postponing the Tidewater Builders Association member picnic – TBA’s annual rite of spring – by one day turned out to be a good call. A blustery and rainy Friday turned into a gloriously mild and sunny Saturday, and a perfect day for a picnic. Ready to eat, drink and be merry, members and guests had an all-out good time at the annual picnic May 7 at Camp Pendleton. They hulahooped, jitterbugged and triked to the music of the Calypso Nuts. Some picnic-goers also tossed the football, drove nails and ran the inflatible obstacle course. As always, vendors offered much to satisfy every taste for food and drink, including the legendary fish fry, sponsored by the Remodelers Council, and the SunTrust oyster stand. William Fulford (left) and Mark Lemin compete head-to-head in a preliminary round of the annual nail-driving competition, sponsored by Stock Building Supply. “It’s no wonder this event has become one of TBA’s most popular events, rain or shine,” said Picnic Committee Chair Pam Pekrun of Dominion Virginia Power. She and Vice Chair Bill Halprin of S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. deemed the event another unmitigated success. Special thanks Thank you to these Picnic Committee members who went above and beyond to make this year’s membership event a success: Chair Pam Pekrun, Vice Chair Bill Halprin, and members Tom Dye, Jeanell Willis, Ed Brogan, Jim Jackson, Diane Tyler, Jim Meade, Berkley Gibbs, Jamie Barnes, Jeannie Ragland, Jan Boyd, Chantel Vietz, Patty BroganEdgerton and Elton Lee. TBA Vice Preside nt John Olivieri and his wife, Ju the 84 Lumber lia, stop by booth to grab a drink and chec Corvette. k out the AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS by nie Midgett, saw to it content. Their boss, Ron rts’ of hea de ir mo the s to thi to nic es lies when it com dgett Inc. enjoy the pic re the merrier” truly app Employees of R.L. Mi mo e “Th ge ada e Th the occasion. e. renting a bus just for 1 having a good-old tim tt is also seen on page dge Mi n. atio ort nsp tra Cornerstone Foundation members (See front of The Tidewater Builder for complete list.) Picnickers soak up the warm weather and cool off at the Greenwich Supply/Dominion Pools’ ice cream booth. sents the Las .H Trice & Co. (left) pre Emcee Jim Meade of W.H y Carr (second Gar , ner win ky luc the Vegas trip package to gratulated by e Graphics. Carr is con from left) of Progressiv mittee Chair Com nic Pic and ers rm TBA President Jeff We Pam Pekrun. U.S. Rep. Thelma Dra ke (left) and her husba nd, Ted Drake, join TBA President Jeff We rmers (second from right) and Allison Wermers at this year’s picnic. Resource Bank helps turn the picnic into an island party by passing out colorful leis to picnic goers. Rum Runner Sponsors 84 Lumber Bank of America Beach Ford Bennett Paint Manufacturing Carter Machinery Contractor Yard Dominion Virginia Power Ferguson Enterprises Inc. First Horizon Home Loans Greenwich Supply Corp. Kempsville Building Materials Priority Chevrolet & Toyoto Resource Bank/Resource Mortgage Real Estate Finance Agency/SeaBreeze Travel R L Midgette Inc. Sherwin-Williams Floor Coverings & Paint Southern Hospitality Auto Group Spivey Rentals Stock Building Supply Suntrust Real Estate Finance/SunTrust Mortgage Superior Equipment Sales Waste Industries Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Mai Tai Sponsors Affordable Tents Ashdon Builders BB & T & Niple of Burgess ney Martin tt ri B d an . ic guests ino (left) eese for picn Christy Triv wine and ch e m so p u serve 10 June 2005 No party would be complete without fun music. Here, the Calypso Nuts pose for a brief moment in between tunes. Got a good arm? The C ontractor Ya the test wit rd puts picn h the footba ic attendees ll toss. to The Tidewater Builder a busy day serving grilled Picnic sponsor First Horizon has chicken to hungry guests. The Tidewater Builder Burgess & Niple Carter & Payton Construction Deer Park Spring Water Dominion Pools Engineering Services Inc. Exhibits Inc. Greenbrier Lighting Heritage Lighting James Hardie Siding Products Nextel Communications Noland Plumbing Showroom Quality Building Products Special Events Entertainment Tidewater Landscaping Creations United Turf Virginia Metro Protective Services Virginia Natural Gas Wil Mik Hawaiian Punch Sponsors Associated Development Carrier Mid-Atlantic Dailey Homes For-C Development Futura Group General Electric Co. Gibson Homes Horton & Dodd JF Schoch Building Corp. JTM Development Corp. Majestic Homes Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders PAPCO Oil Reese Smith Construction L.L.C. Sadler Building Corp. Stephen Alexander Homes Terry/Peterson Residential Cos. Remodelers Council/Fish Booth Addition Associates Area Access Inc. Benson Builder Coastal Lighting & Supply Great Atlantic Spas Inner Space Systems Leo F. Johns Contractor Inc. Ocean Construction & Development Pollards Catering R. W. Tyler & Associates VB Contractors Wel-Vant Construction Tidewater Multifamily Housing Council/Band and Stage Master Tek International Breeden Co. Bay Disposal AIMCO Property Management Automatic Leasing Service Kotarides Companies Ripley Heatwole Co. Inc. Waverton Associates Clark Whitehill Enterprises Coinmach Corp. Crown Point Apartments Drucker & Falk L.L.C. Evans Inc. Frye Properties George G. Lee Co. Inc. Great Atlantic Real Estate Harbour Group Management HOF Laundry Service Lawson Realty Nusbaum Insurance Agency S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. Taylor Management Inc. The Apartment Book WHH Trice & Co. United Property Associates Young’s Flooring Co. Inc. Good food is always abundant at the picnic, including hamburgers grilled up by sponsor Bank of America. TBA past Preside nt Bob Widener of Ainslie-Widene rounded by Hula r is surHoop competitor s while judging contest. the annual ual picnic s herself into the ann Renee Richards throw ber. Lum 84 by red nso spo and onto a Velcro wall, How low can you g o? With a Robinson crowd loo with Terr king on, y/Peterso than the re Jeff n Residen st and win tial goes s the limb lower o contest. June 2005 11 Did you know? According to the Intuit Inc. annual construction industry survey, one out of every two contractors reported they commonly omit general conditions costs such as supervision, phone calls and temporary power from their job estimates, depriving themselves of deserved revenue and gross profit. When asked to name the most frustrating aspect of managing a contracting business, 50 percent of respondents cited scheduling labor and managing work crew productivity. At the same time, 65 percent said hiring quality employees was the greatest challenge in the labor force. The Intuit study also uncovered several notable demographics: • New construction vs. remodeling: Some 64 percent of respondents run new construction businesses rather than remodeling. • Years on the job: Residential contractors average nearly 15 years in the business while subcontractors average nearly 18 years. • Retirement planning: A total of 67 percent of respondents have no exit strategy in place, although 60 percent of contractors in business for more than 10 years do. • Successors: Of those respondents with exit strategies, 38 percent would sell or give their company to family members. 12 June 2005 The Tidewater Builder Ferguson will lead you through a world of ideas. At a Ferguson Bath and Kitchen Gallery, you can trust our professional consultants to guide you through a whole world of interior home design ideas. With faucets, appliances, fireplaces and more, we put the most innovative products from the world’s premier manufacturers right at your fingertips. A Fixture In The Plumbing Business.® © 2005 MarketFocus Communications, Inc. Ferguson/Huskey Appliance Showroom Virginia Beach, 113A South Witchduck Road, (757) 490-4885 Ferguson Plumbing and Fireplace Showrooms Virginia Beach, 4712 Baxter Road, (757) 490-2381 Norfolk, 2201 Colonial Avenue, (757) 622-6531 Ferguson Fireplace (Service/Installations) Chesapeake, 2220 Paramont Avenue, Suite 104, (757) 420-5906 www.ferguson.com The Tidewater Builder June 2005 13 14 June 2005 The Tidewater Builder Possible Dream TBA UVA grad rises above obstacles, counts TBA among his blessings By Mary Hearring The first words Nathaniel “Nate” Smith uttered at the onset of this interview were those of great appreciation for the Tidewater Builders Association scholarship he received in 2001, and how much it saved him in both time and money while in college. Nate graduated cum laude from the University of Virginia last month, with a degree in religious studies and foreign affairs. He plans to work for a year or two to pay off his student loan and then go to law school. He said he wishes more organizations like TBA would give four-year scholarships rather than one-time gifts. Though Nate was forced to work a full-time job at points during school to pay off expenses, without the help of this scholarship, he said, staying in school might have been impossible altogether. Nate’s circumstances had captured the hearts of those on the Scholarship Selection Committee. At age 16, his grandfather, to whom he was very close, was diagnosed with cancer. Having spent time living to his grandparents as a child, Nate chose to move back in with them to help out. All the while, Nate excelled in his many advanced placement classes and graduated with a 4.36 grade point average from Granby High School. A gifted musician, he played the cello, the guitar, the Smith bass, the bass guitar and even the harp. In addition, Nate was an active community volunteer at the local soup kitchen and a retirement home, at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters and with Operation Smile. He also was an Eagle Scout and involved in his church. Excellence, perseverance and stewardship followed Nate at UVA. He lost an Air Force ROTC Scholarship after developing seasonal asthma, which forced him to work up to 40 hours per week. He also volunteered as a tutor for other students and with the campus’ sexual assault victims advocacy organization. Even Nate’s college peers recognized his exceptional qualities. They elected him to serve as class president during his sophomore and junior years. In his senior year, See UVA grad, page 16 These four judges in the Young Designers’ Competition had to sort through 60 CAD and 21 hand-drawn entries. They are (from left) Patrick Reynolds of Ashby Development, Todd Savage of Folck West & Savage, Young Designers’ Committee Chair Chris Ettel of VB Contractors and Ken Cohen of Cohen Homes L.L.C. The committee ultimately selected three winners from each category, awarding a total of $6,000 of scholarships to students and $4,000 to the two local high schools that submitted the most entries. /URGENERALLIABILITYANDWORKERSCOMPENSATION COVERAGEWILLHELPYOUSLEEPATNIGHT COVERKUVR TOKEEPFROMHARM ORINJURYBYSHIELDING 7EVEGOTYOUCOVERED No easy task, the scholarship selection committee had to shuffle through 217 entries to narrow the field down to 10. They are (from left) Scholarship Foundation Chair Michael Newsome of Clark Whitehill Enterprises Inc., Fred Napolitano II of Napolitano Homes, Joe Widoff of WHRO, Sheryl Hearring Reynolds, John Ainslie of Ainsle-Widener, Scholarship Selection Committee Chair Pete A. Kotarides of Kotarides Builders and Bill Halprin of S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. Not seen is Mac Weaver of SunTrust Real Estate Finance Group. Also on the committee was Sam Cohen of Joey Corp., one of the 2005 Scholarship House builders. Each winning student will receive $5,000 to be disbursed over four years of school. Be sure to look in next month’s issue for photos and information about this year’s scholarship winners. The Tidewater Builder !S A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING OF 4IDEWATER "UILDERS !SSOCIATION YOU CAN LET US COVER YOUR GENERAL LIABILITY AND WORKERS COMPENSATION RISKS ATOURCOMPETITIVERATES/URPRODUCTSWEREDEVELOPEDESPECIALLYBYAND FORRESIDENTIALHOMEBUILDERSANDREMODELERSIN6IRGINIA9OUOWEITTO YOURSELFTOASKYOURINSURANCEAGENTTOCHECKINTOOURPRODUCTSBEFOREYOU RENEWYOURPOLICIES)TCOULDMAKEABIGDIFFERENCETOYOURBOTTOMLINE &ORMOREINFORMATIONORFORAQUOTECALL")!AT W W W VA BUILDE R S IN S UR A N C E C OM June 2005 15 Did you know? According to the latest survey data from the National Association of Home Builders, when new home buyers were asked to choose between a bigger house with fewer amenities or a smaller house with high-quality products and amenities, 63 percent opted for the latter. To pay for those quality features, 57 percent said they preferred for them to be included in the base price of the home; while 43 wanted them to be offered as options at extra costs. Top features desired for the kitchen are a walk-in pantry, island work area and built-in microwave. The most preferred bathroom features are a linen closet, exhaust fan and separate shower enclosure. Predicted popular trends for the next five years include low-maintenance, natural building materials, synthetic stucco, energy efficiency and security for the outside of the home. UVA grad they chose him to live on “The Lawn.” Only 48 out of hundreds of applicants are selected for this prestigious honor, which is based on ideals of honor and scholarship. When asked who inspired and motivated him in his life, Nate said his grandfather and mother did. His grandfather taught him to play football, took him camping and picked him up from school every day, from 16 June 2005 Continued from page 15 the time he was three years old until he got his driver’s license. His mother, a teacher, instilled in him his work ethic and a compassion for others. As an example of her selflessness, he said, she has opened her house to a high school student struggling with his parents, even with a husband who has Parkinson’s disease. Nate counts TBA among his blessings. The Tidewater Builder The Tidewater Builder June 2005 17 News BriefsC NAHB teams up to give shelter to tsunami survivors The National Housing EndowmentTsunami Shelter Fund is collecting desperately needed funds in response to an overwhelming need for permanent shelter. The fund was established by the Home Builders Care/National Association of Home Builders and the National Housing Endowment. With an initial donation of $250,000, designated by the NAHB board of directors during the International Builders’ Show, the fund will be directed to rebuilding efforts that provide temporary and permanent shelter. All funds raised will be granted to one or more U.S. charitable relief organizations working to establish shelter for survivors. Tax-deductible donations should be made payable to the National Housing Endowment, with “Shelter Fund” noted in the memo section, and sent to: National Housing Endowment, 1201 15th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005. Contact Kym Kilbourne at (800) 3685242, ext. 8447, or [email protected] for details. Web site is resource for green building © 2005 James Hardie Building Products, Inc. Home builders can benefit from a new Web site providing up-to-date information Builders urge Congress to reform OSHA The nation’s home builders recently petitioned Congress to reform the regulatory procedures of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, noting that enhanced worker safety would improve housing affordability. NAHB called on lawmakers to require OSHA to deliver prompt written notification at the conclusion of site inspections, modifying the current sixmonth period for citation assessments. NAHB also is calling for a correction to the imbalance that allows OSHA to assess penalties for up to half a year, while currently builders have only 15 days to respond or lose the right to appeal. At the May board of directors meeting, TBA President Jeff Wermers (center) thanks Chuck Miller of Miller Custom Homes (left) and Sam Cohen of Joey Corp. (right) for their contributions toward helping the Building Trades Academy expedite the completion of the most recent student-built home. Missing from the photo is Jack Schoch of J.F. Schoch Building Corp. The project involved demolishing a dilapidated home and building a new one for a Chesapeake senior citizen. BEFORE THE CABINETS, BEFORE THE FIXTURES, BEFORE THE TILE, THEY SEE THE SIDING. • Charm and character of wood • Won't warp or bend • Solid, thick and strong • Resists damage from hail • 50-year limited product warranty • Available prefinished in a • Non-combustible 18 on environmentally-friendly construction technologies and building practices. The Web site www.HGTVPro.com contains a series of educational videos and articles, including a video featuring the first home built to NAHB’s new Model Green Home Building Guidelines. HDTVPro’s new green building resources expand on NAHB’s efforts to promote green building. The Web site’s contents cater to builders, remodelers and contractors by including professionallevel best practices, new product information and an insider’s perspective on industry trends. June 2005 variety of designer colors Builder MarketplaceC Office Space available - Furnished 2,300-square-foot office building available immediately. Space is ideal for office and small studio apartment. Utilities are included!! Interested??? Please call 724-8900. The Tidewater Builder The Tidewater Builder June 2005 19