Habitat’s Builder Blitz finishes 13 homes in a week

One week may not seem like enough time to complete construction on one brand-new house — let alone a baker’s dozen.

But during the annual Birmingham Habitat Home Builders Blitz, companies and volunteers built 13 homes in East Lake. From Aug. 25 to Sept. 1, 12 construction companies, together with about 1,500 volunteers, worked to create a community on 19 acres on the site of what used to be Cascade Plunge.

At the end of the week, applicants approved by Habitat for Humanity were handed the keys to their new homes. 

The applicants, who completed homeowner-education workshops and devoted 300 volunteer hours to Habitat, were able to purchase their homes with no interest. 

“These builders and the event supporters have planned for weeks and months to make their participation in the Home Builders Blitz possible because they believe it will make a lasting impact for the families and the greater East Lake neighborhood,” said Charles Moore, president and CEO of the Habitat for Humanity Greater Birmingham. 

With each home costing about $81,000, this one-week project alone is an investment of more than $1 million in hard costs in the East Lake neighborhood in addition to thousands of volunteer hours. 

In the next three to five years, if the neighborhood is outfitted with up to 40 homes, Cascade Park will be a $6 million investment in the East Lake area. 

To help with future projects, go to habitatbirmingham.org/volunteer.