Framing Complete on Idaho Springs Home  

Siding and Roofing Next on Current Build Up Highway 103     

Brinsmead family home awaits siding and roofing in early July.

  Less than two months after breaking ground, Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity construction staff and volunteers have completed framing of a one-story, three-bedroom, ranch-style home in Idaho Springs. Construction supervisor Bill Smith said they'll start siding and the roof this week, and plumber, electrician and HVAC contractors have been scheduled.

  It is the affiliate's first home built "west of the tunnels," on a parcel located just past Loaves & Fishes, up Highway 103. Andrea Brinsmead and her two children have been selected as the partner family for the project. The new home will substantially shorten her working commute to Golden - she currently lives in Bailey.

  Smith says he's got a great group of eight volunteers on the site every Thursday, and 8-10 others have been showing up Saturdays.

  What can you do to help? "We need money for our tool reserve, particularly for scaffolding," said Smith. To donate to the GoFundMe campaign for tools, click here.

  Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity recently purchased two properties for future family homes.

  At the end of April, the affiliate closed on a one-acre lot in Echo Hills for a single-family home. The Ann Byorick family has been selected for the home, and construction may begin this fall. A special thank you to the Circle M Foundation and Estate of Virginia Powers for funding the purchase.

  In June the affiliate also purchased a parcel in Kittredge for a single-family home using Jefferson County Community Development Funds. Family selection will take place this fall, and construction will begin next year.

  Former Jeffco Workforce Volunteer Lisa Dudgeon has joined Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity as the manager for the Evergreen location Restore. She replaces Ambria Loeser, who left in April to pursue a home refurbishing business.

  In other ReStore news, the summer is off to a successful start.  

  "Sales are steady and donations are up significantly," said ReStore General Manager Brian Hutchison. "There's a lot of movement in the housing market, so people are donating things they don't need, and buying furnishings for their new homes." 

  Our Board of Directors invites you to share your comments regarding Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity at its next Board Listening Session, set for Tuesday, July 14, at 6 p.m. (half an hour prior to the regular board meeting).

  "We just want to be available and want to be responsive to any input our stakeholders would like to give us," said Board President Pam Thomas. The quarterly listening sessions were started last year to provide an additional opportunity for people to come and talk to the board. "Of course, you can call us any time, too."

  Thomas said the board does not respond to comments at the session, but discusses them at the following meeting, and responds later if appropriate.

  To sign up to speak at the session, email