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'The right thing to do'
May 20, 2000 - Sarasota
Herald-Tribune
- Harold
Bubil
The housing industry is not ignorant when it comes to public relations.
It's common for developers, home builders, Realtors, mortgage lenders and
the like to donate hundreds or thousands of dollars to worthy causes. This
is done to "give back to the community," but any resulting
publicity is not shunned. But what builder John King and other members of
the Home Builders Association of Sarasota County are doing for the Glenn
and Gail Salter family goes beyond just "giving back."
King and the HBA are building a house for the Salters and their son
Paul, the 14-year-old who was paralyzed during a football practice
last fall.
It will not be just any house. Paul's injury is similar to that of
the actor Christopher Reeve, and because of that, it will have special
features that will escalate its cost far above what is normal for a
2,100-square-foot home.
At a time when builders are busier than ever and hard-pressed for labor,
King is undertaking this task, and donating his profit and overhead, for a
very good reason.
"We're not doing it for the publicity. We're doing it because it's
the right thing to do," said King, whose Rampart Homes is a leading
Sarasota remodeling firm. "Most of us have a son or daughter, and
doggone it, it's a terrible thing for this to happen."
King was approached by a neighbor, whose son also played football in Paul
's league, about remodeling the Salters' existing home to meet Paul's
needs. But King found it unsuitable for remodeling.
"When we saw that, we thought maybe we could build them a new
house," said King, a past president of the HBA. "What I wanted
was to build them a free house. But until we get into the thick of it,
there's no guarantee we will be able to get all that is needed" in
donated labor and materials.
But King is making progress. He said Jim Marqua of Environmental
Engineering just completed the septic engineering, and David Hunihan at
Lee Wetherington Homes donated the custom plans. Abbott's Backhoe Service
will donate the demolition, and Paragon Electric is donating the
electricals, including a generator that will keep Paul's respirator
working in case of a power failure. D&D Air Conditioning is donating
the medically necessary two- zone AC system, and Bob Black of Access of
Sarasota, whose firm specializes in universal design, is donating his
expertise.
The HBA will place the home in a trust in Paul's name so he will
have a lifelong residence to accommodate his condition. As such, it will
have to be durable.
"We want to build a house that is maintenance-free," said King.
It will be accessible, with special cabinets and kitchen layout, wider
hallways and doors, automatic door openers, a wheelchair path and ramp, an
additional laundry facility and shower area, and a bathroom for nurses,
who must attend to Paul 20 hours a day.
And he wants to do this without touching the trust set up for the family
by the United Way.
"That's for medical bills. If need be, I will go back to the
community. SunTrust has already ponied up to the table big-time to waive
some fees.
"There's nothing in this for me other than giving something back. I
just have to work it into the schedule." Contractors,
tradesmen, suppliers or others who would like to donate to the project may
call King at (941) 925-4835.
All
content © 2000 Herald-Tribune Corp. and may not be republished without
permission.
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