Here’s info about our pending construction process

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Altair is looking forward to plan for construction of our homes and the infrastructure of our community, perhaps as soon as the fall. So we figured it would be of interest to members, supporters, and interested others to hear about the issues involved.

There are different methodologies for bringing residential construction projects to fruition:
a. Developer-driven with a Cohousing Project Manager interface
b. Members hire a General Contractor and a Project Manager who oversees and coordinates the work of consultants
c. An in-house Project Manager runs the bidding and the construction
d. An in-house Project Manager oversees and coordinates work designated to the cohousing membership along with selected consultants; the membership and investors contract with a Construction Management firm at the point of construction.

Option “d.” applies to Altair. We’re able to proceed in that way because we have the benefit of an active and dedicated in-house Project Manager, Joel Bartlett.

Typically, a Construction Manager will be responsile for all of the following:

  • Preliminary construction consulting

  • Value engineering (expenses optimization), means and methods

  • Project Management software – accounting and timeline

  • Seeking subcontractor bids and recommending awards

  • On-site daily construction management from trailer, job meetings, safety checks

  • Reporting and logging all activities

  • Assuring on-site material and performance tests

  • Code Official inspections

  • Material suppliers and sub-contractor payment requisitions

  • Job reports, project management updates, and client interaction

  • Change orders, if required

  • Punch lists in conjunction with Owner’s consultants

  • Final close-outs, occupancy permits

  • Turn over Maintenance and Warranty contracts to the Homeowners Association at the end.

Altair is fortunate to be able to employ the services of a local construction management firm, C. Raymond Davis & Sons (CRD ... https://www.craymonddavis.com). Their offices are located just down the street from our site on Kimberton Road! From there they’ll be able to keep a close eye as construction estimating proceeds later this year or early next year, but when construction starts, they’ll have a trailer on site.

Our relationship with CRD goes back 15 years. They offered to help with our land purchase ten years ago, and they’ve been active with the Kimberton Village Business Association.

Good news for us is that they are guaranteeing the construction costs. If there turn out to be savings on bids compared with the guaranteed construction costs, a percentage of the savings will accrue to Altair and another percent to C. R. Davis. This provides a strong incentive for folks to purchase homes knowing the price won’t go up and the Reserve Fund for the HOA will get a starting boost to reduce the monthly fee.