Foundation Work Continues

During the past week, work crews have been busy working on the the elevator pit. The Green House Residences will be the second urban Green House project, with a total of four floors and a lower level. Each floor will be a self-contained residence for 12 elders and their own team of Shahbazim (specially training universal care workers who are responsible for personal care and managing the household).

Yesterday, construction crews continued to pour concrete for the foundation and started pouring the base of the elevator shaft.

Pouring the Foundation

The construction for the Green House Residences is making good progress. We had the first pour of concrete this week to meet the Maryland Health Care Commission deadline. Please find enclosed pictures of the construction progress.

The Veterans Administration is building a Green House project in Danville, Illinois, and they just poured their foundation as well. http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/TheGreenHouseProject

Seeding the Fundarising Campaign

The Leadership Committee, led by Karenthia Barber, is organizing the public phase of GEDCO's fundraising campaign for the Green House Residences at Stadium Place. We have raised $9.2 million of our $13.2 million goal, to complete construction of the building, retire the long-term debt, and build a benevolence fund and capital reserve.

The committee met last night to plan their outreach to different communities. Each person on the committee will lead the effort for a different community, such as universities, building professionals, lawyers, etc. We want to share the Green House story with as many different groups as possible. Please let us know how you will help to spread the word about the first Green House project in Maryland.

Digging the Hole

Neither rain nor sleet nor snow can slow our construction progress (we hope). Despite the icy weather the past week, excavation work has continued at Stadium Place. Since there were two stadia on this site (Memorial Stadium and a previous stadium built in 1922), we are finding debris, concrete and water pipes, as well as bottles from the Baltimore Brewing Company.

During this Super Bowl weekend, we remember the many Baltimore Colts who played in Memorial Stadium, and look forward to providing a new model of long-term care for those players who need skilled nursing care.

Surveying and Excavating

I am still pinching myself, every time I walk by the construction site. The activity is increasing each day. The sediment control is in place, as well as a larger construction fence. In addition, the site has been surveyed and excavation is proceeding. Enjoy the pictures of the construction site.

In addition, here are two gentlemen responsible for helping GEDCO with the Groundbreaking, Perry Savoy and Jack Neill. Thanks to Perry for serving on our board as Vice President of External Relations. Thanks to Jack for painting the construction logo on the Memorial Stadium Bricks.

Groundbreaking Ceremony - Green House Residences

The Groundbreaking Ceremony for THE GREEN HOUSE(R) Residences at Stadium Place was held on Friday, January 7, with the Mayor of Baltimore and other elected officials, Dr. Bill Thomas, the Father of the Green House movement, donors, lenders, Catholic Charities, Plano-Coudon, and many others. We were thrilled to be joined by original Baltimore Colts players Tom Matte and Lenny Moore. Representatives of GEDCO's member organizations laid bricks from the original Memorial Stadium to form the logo for our fundraising drive.

Thanks to everyone for all of your support.

Watch the video of Mitch Posner and Dr. Bill Thomas.

http://changingaging.org/2011/01/10/stadium-place-marylands-first-green-house-project/

Closing the Loans and Starting Construction

The financing for the Green House Residences has been finalized! We have signed all of the paperwork and the loans with Susquehanna Bank and NCB Capital Impact have been recorded. We received the inital draw from the Susquehanna Bank bridge loan yesterday.

Plano-Coudon has received the building permit and surveyed the site with the fencing supplier.