The first to arrive at the topping off ceremony of the final truss for the new home being built by Westfield Technical Academy students on 12 St. James Ave. was a truck from Westfield Gas & Electric. They were there to complete the hook-up of electricity to the service box outside. Joseph Tremblay, president of the WTA Foundation, said the house now has full power.
The house is a 1,477-square-foot, one-story ranch-style home on a lot just under 8,000 square feet. It will have three bedrooms and two full bathrooms with an open kitchen, dining and living room. The basement has oversized windows that will allow for it to be finished in the future to add up to two more bedrooms and additional living space, should the buyer wish to expand, according to WTA Construction Technology head instructor Matthew Gomes.
Gomes said now that the framework has been completed, the student crew will install the walls and roof in order to continue to work on the interior of the home through the winter.
Proceeds from the last build paid for the land purchase, and a second 0% loan from Polish National Credit Union will pay for materials for the St. James house. “Last time, it worked out well,” Tremblay said.
Gomes and Tremblay both said they obtained the lot when the owner of the land saw an article in The Westfield News last fall about the school’s previous home build on Mill St. that stated they were looking for land for their next project and called the school.
“We do not as of yet have a lot for our next build and are open to anyone that may have available land,” Gomes said.
Gomes said the project would not have been possible without the support of the Polish National Credit Union for financing it at 0% interest. He said the sponsors of the project are also responsible for thousands of dollars in donated materials and other financial support.
He also thanked WPS Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski for his unwavering support and assistance, and the administrative team and colleagues at WTA “that step up to help each other each and every day for the betterment of our students,” including Construction Tech instructors Wayne Bush, Brian Roy and David McIver, all of whom were present at the ceremony.