Contract Activity Bleak; Habitat Receives $100-Million Gift

According to McGraw-Hill Construction, all three construction sectors declined signifi cantly during the month of April.

All Sectors Drop Sharply as April Contract Value Falls 57%

The overall value of new Georgia contracts signed in April for future construction fell 57% compared to the same period of a year ago, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Southeast Construction. The total value of new contracts for the month was nearly $690.7 million, compared to last April’s total of $1.6 billion.

During the month, all three markets measured by McGraw-Hill Construction showed significant declines. The residential category fell the most, dropping 62% compared to last year, for a total of about $259.6 million. That compares to last year’s total of $684.9 million for residential.

The nonresidential category dropped 57% to total $329.1 million for the month. Last April, nonresidential contracts totaled approximately $772.7 million.

The nonbuilding sector, which includes infrastructure projects, declined 30% to total nearly $102 million. A year ago, the nonbuilding category totaled nearly $144.8 million.

For the year to date, Georgia activity is now 49% behind the first four months of 2008, with approximately $3.1 billion in new contracts so far, compared to the nearly $6.2 billion at the same time last year. The nonresidential sector is 48% behind the 2008 pace, with about $1.5 billion in new contracts so far. Residential is 59% behind last year’s pace, with $949 million in new contracts. The nonbuilding market is 24% behind last year, with a $653.7-million total.

Trammell Crow Residential Chairman Makes $100-Million Commitment to Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity International of Atlanta announced that J. Ronald Terwilliger, chairman and former CEO with Trammell Crow Residential, has made a $100-million legacy-gift commitment to the organization. The nine-figure legacy gift represents the largest donation from an individual in Habitat for Humanity’s history.

“We are humbled by and grateful for the unprecedented commitment Ron is making to Habitat for Humanity. It’s a solid demonstration of the passion he has for our mission and for decent, affordable housing throughout the world,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, in a press statement. “Thanks to his generous spirit, tens of thousands of families will enjoy greater access to simple, decent, affordable shelter worldwide.”

The organization estimates that this single legacy gift will help 60,000 families with access to improved housing conditions.

“In my professional life, I’ve seen housing strengthen health, education, families, communities and economies,” Terwilliger stated. “With this legacy gift to Habitat for Humanity, I want to help ensure a leveraged, sustained impact beyond my lifetime and inspire others to make the commitment to support affordable housing. There are more than 1.6 billion people around the world who live in poverty housing and they need our help.”

Within five years of the funds being transferred by Terwilliger’s estate, 70% of the legacy commitment will be used by Habitat for housing micro-financing so that families in countries around the world can improve their living conditions. The remaining 30% will be used for the J. Ronald Terwilliger Leveraged Impact Fund. This endowment will make annual distributions to help support affordable-housing efforts.

Terwilliger joined Habitat for Humanity’s international board of directors in 2000, where he currently serves as chair. During this time, he has given more than $3 million to Habitat for Humanity.

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a Baker Scholar at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Business, Terwilliger went on to become the driving force behind the nation’s largest multi-family housing developer, Trammell Crow Residential. He retired as CEO in 2008, but remains the company’s chairman.

Terwilliger has served on the governing boards of the Urban Land Institute, which established the J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Workforce Housing, that is dedicated to ensuring that workforce housing is available to future generations.

Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that has built more than 300,000 houses worldwide since its founding in 1976.

Batson-Cook Finishes Cessna Expansion

Batson-Cook Co. of West Point, Ga., has completed an expansion to the Cessna Aircraft Co. facility in Columbus. This 101,800-sq-ft design-build project provides a home for the manufacturing of parts for approximately six lines of airplanes.

The facility includes 90,000 sq ft of manufacturing space and 11,000 sq ft of office space.

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