Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley is relocating the home that was built in conjunction with Botetourt Technical Education Center (BTEC), Botetourt County Public Schools Education Foundation (BEF), and Bank of Botetourt this week.
The house traveled from BTEC on Poor Farm Road in Fincastle to its permanent location on 4th Street in Buchanan, which was secured by Habitat this past March.
The initial construction began in the fall of 2014 and was facilitated by the Botetourt County Public Schools Education Foundation.
Students at BTEC, with guidance from Building Trades Instructor Phillip Simmons, completed the three-bedroom, two-bath home.
Simmons reflected on the positive aspects of the enterprise. “When approaching Habitat for Humanity about possibly purchasing the student-constructed home, I was extremely pleased that they were interested in putting the home in the Botetourt area as it is opening up opportunities for families in the county to have affordable housing.
“The students were also made aware that it would be in Botetourt and they would be able to see the finished product in their county and possibly volunteer to help do some of the finish work,” Simmons said. “It is a great experience for the students to construct projects like this one. In the past our students have constructed several 1,200-1,350-square-feet modular homes as well as one on site home.”
The Habitat’s partnership with BTEC signals an expansion in its service area and the beginning of its first-ever house in Botetourt.
BTEC Principal Mike Ketron expressed his gratitude “for the learning opportunities our students get from the partnership with Habitat for Humanity. It has been a great experience.”
Through Habitat’s regular application process, Daniel and Ashley Albright were approved to become the new homeowners.
Both longtime Botetourt County residents, they are pleased to be able to remain in the Town of Buchanan. “We are all so excited to think we will have a new home!” exclaimed Ashley Albright.
Daniel Albright is employed by SanMarCo, laying dividing lines on highways and Ashley Albright stays home to care for their children, Anthony, 12, and Hayden, 7, who are both students at Buchanan Elementary School.
The project was successful in part due to the collaboration of Bank of Botetourt and the BEF.
Bank President and CEO G. Lyn Hayth III affirmed the bank’s commitment to community involvement and acknowledged the positive impact it can have in the area stating.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this multi-year project and for the Albright family who will now be able to live in a safe and spacious environment in the Buchanan community,” Hayth said.
BEF Board President Bob Patterson expressed his satisfaction with the project as well as his appreciation to everyone involved.
“We are very proud that the Botetourt Education Foundation, by participating in this venture, is able to be a part of the learning experience in building trades available to Botetourt County students and are happy this has an added bonus that a Botetourt County family will make it their new home,” Patterson said. “We are grateful to the students and instructor in the building trades class at BTEC and to Habitat for Humanity for making this possible, and to Bank of Botetourt for funding the home relocation.”
A kickoff celebration is planned for Friday, June 2 at 9 a.m. at 242 4th Street, Buchanan.
Chartered in 1899, Bank of Botetourt operates 12 retail offices in Botetourt, Rockbridge, Roanoke and Franklin Counties and in the City of Salem, along with the mortgage company Virginia Mountain Mortgage. The Bank maintains 13 ATMs around the area, seven of which accept deposits, and offers fee-free ATM access at any Sheetz location in the country.