Exciting Changes Coming to Johnson City with New Rental Units!
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Big things are happening in Johnson City that you’re going to want to hear about! The Burlington Park complex is undergoing a transformation as developers roll up their sleeves to convert the property into nearly 800 rental units. That’s right, folks! This means more housing options and potentially more neighbors in our lovely city. But wait, there’s more! As they got started on the deconstruction, the team realized that they had stumbled upon a treasure trove of perfectly good building materials!
Saving Materials from the Landfill
Yuri Miller, the President and CEO of Excimia, the group managing the project, shared his thoughts on the situation. He said, “We figured it would be a pity to see it all go to a landfill.” And we couldn’t agree more! In a world where recycling and sustainability are becoming more and more important, it’s heartwarming to see developers looking for ways to give back. So, what did Miller do? He set out to find a local organization that could put these materials to good use.
Teaming Up with Habitat for Humanity
Through his search, Miller connected with Holston Habitat for Humanity, and they jumped at the chance to salvage the materials. Lara Kelly, the Executive Director of Holston Habitat, couldn’t be happier. She explained that they have been able to save a variety of building materials, including lumber, tile, flooring, windows, and even doors! “Holston Habitat has been removing perfectly good building materials,” Kelly mentioned enthusiastically.
What’s even cooler is that some of these salvaged materials are being put to immediate use while others are being sold to help fund new homes for families in need. Talk about a win-win situation! Kelly mentioned that some of the funds raised from these materials are fitting nicely into their efforts following Hurricane Helene.
A Helping Hand for the Community
With their recent expansion into Unicoi County to aid with recovery efforts, Kelly stated, “We anticipate hitting almost $75,000 in funds raised from the materials in this building.” And that’s not just money on paper—it’s direct support to help our community recover and thrive. Every bit counts, folks!
Kelly further explained the importance of having these materials available. “When we have materials on hand, it means we can get started on our projects even faster,” she said. This makes a huge difference for local families waiting for a safe place to call home. With the bundles of two-by-fours and two-by-sixes they’ve been salvaging, they can really pick up the pace with their projects in places like Bristol.
Impressed By the Team Effort
Miller was also quite impressed by Habitat’s efforts during this deconstruction phase. “I was most impressed by how Habitat was able to dismantle and salvage a majority of almost 40 townhome units,” he noted. It’s clear to see that teamwork really does make the dream work, and this collaboration shows how community-focused development can truly benefit everyone involved.
Looking Ahead
Both Miller and Kelly are excited to see just how much good will come from these reused materials. Miller expressed, “The best thing about starting a project like this for us and my partners is the ability to give back to the community.” It’s encouraging to see that when new developments come to town, they can bring positive changes instead of just the hustle and bustle of construction.
As Miller continues with the project, he hopes to have the building cleared out in the next few weeks and fully demolished by January. Exciting times are ahead for Johnson City as we watch this transformation take place!
