Local business donates buildings to increase men’s housing
Posted by The Skyliner on October 28th, 2009
Left to Right: Joe Hayes, executive director for development; Larry Mathis, assistant director of university properties; Andy Ward, Angie Carr, and Robert Buchanan from Hanson Aggregates; Tony Spang, maintenance/construction; Billy Watson, director of student services; Vlad Sabou, retention officer/assistant male coordinator. (NGU Photo / The Skyliner)
Rachel Ham
Staff Writer
With this year’s record enrollment of students at North Greenville University, the need for additional housing for resident students has also grown.
Recently NGU celebrated the opening of two new buildings that are a part of men’s housing.
In the summer of 2008, Joe Hayes Jr., executive director of development, received a phone call from Fred Najim with National House Movers. Najim had been contacted by Andy Ward, the plant manager at Hanson Aggregates Southeast Inc., to let him know that the company was willing to donate two buildings to NGU. Hanson Aggregates had decided to expand their Sandy Flat quarry, and Ward offered to donate two houses that were standing in the way of the expansion.
Since Hanson Aggregates donated the buildings, NGU only had to pay for the cost of moving the houses from Taylors.
Before moving one of the houses, Hayes had to go through the process of getting Greenville County to allow it to be placed in the desired location. NGU had given the county a road easement during the 1970s, and the road had to be given back before anything could be put there. After all the legalities were taken care of, the houses were moved to West Crain.
Since the buildings had previously been used as office spaces by Hanson Aggregates, a few changes had to be made before students could move in.
The houses were in good shape structurally, but renovations were necessary to transform them into suitable living spaces. Walls were added to form additional bedrooms and hallways. The houses needed rewiring and vinyl siding. Tile floors and extra bathrooms were also added to each house.
Most of the needed renovations were done by the NGU maintenance staff. They worked primarily on landscaping, replacing windows and installing siding.
Baptist Builders, a volunteer organization that assists churches with construction needs, provided resources for the larger renovations. Word got out about the need for volunteers, and about 35 workers came as a part of the Baptist Builders and participated in the renovations for two Saturdays. They completed all of the plumbing for one house and tore both of the roofs off, all on the first Saturday.
The team from Baptist Builders was assembled by Andy Ellis of Little River Baptist Church in Honea Path, S.C., and Dale Whiten of Brookwood Church located in Simpsonville, S.C.
Later, NGU brought in a roofing crew to finish putting new roofs on the houses.
The houses, named appropriately Hanson 1 and 2, now provide housing for 16 male resident students.
NGU is grateful for companies like Hanson Aggregates who, even during these tough economic times, still find ways to give back.
Tags: Fall 2009, Vol. 109 - Issue 7