Saying he has already had a zoning hearing and expects to hear from them in a month, he wanted to introduce himself and his plans to the community, and he will return with specific drawings and seeks input from the community on materials and designs for the homes, according to sopghreporter..
Journeymen carpenters train the former inmates to build the modular homes at Work Pittsburgh, a workforce development program factory. The workers earn prevailing wages and receive benefits as trainees. Mr. Bull said, “We’re not just building houses. We’re using those houses to build futures.” He is not paid, he is a partner in a construction firm that supplies Six Zero Eight with tools, contacts and insurance. Bull has what amounts to a cooperative of businesses who contribute to the worker payroll. A third of the trainees are originally Allentown residents, formerly incarcerated.
“Arlington Avenue is our flagship project for this entire workforce development initiative,” he said. “It’s going to happen here, with your permission and with your help and we want you to be part of the design, the technology we put in to this and the price point we should be aiming for so we’re not putting (up) million dollar condos. We want to be right.”
When asked about cost of modular versus stick-built, he replied there is a 15-20 percent savings. In addition, the men can work year round because the modular homes are built inside. ##
(Photo credit:tribtotalmedia/Jasmine Goldband–Pittsburgh modular home)
