LET'S BECOME FOUNDATION BUILDERS

These are challenging economic times in our industry, but as the incoming president of the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver, I also feel it is a time of great opportunity.

While our organization works to help members who are trying to survive this difficult time, we can also begin to take a longer term perspective and help our association grow stronger.

I have coined a term that encapsulates this general sentiment: “foundation builders.’’ We can do a lot to build our base and anticipate the issues of the future while home building activity is slow.

One way is through building stronger relationships with other organizations. To begin, we can build a stronger bond with the Colorado Association of Home Builders and other Colorado HBAs so our industry speaks with a stronger, more unified voice at the legislature.

We can also use this slowdown in building permit and subdivision plat applications as an opportunity to build better relationships with the staffs of cities along the Front Range. I know from my background as a public sector planner that city staffs appreciate insight into the building community’s plans down the road.

This is also a good year to start more conversations about broader issues in addition to specific projects. We can offer our thoughts about future codes and regulations, and share ways our industry can help build communities. The Metro Housing Coalition, the Government Affairs Committee, builder members and staff could all be part of this effort to build a deeper level of trust with local officials. Whether we are addressing Denver-centered issues, stemming from Blueprint Denver and Greenprint Denver, or issues in other communities, such as “visitability” ordinances and low-income housing, we are more likely to succeed in having our voice heard if we build better relationships with local decision-makers and share our thoughts with them.

We must recognize that local governments are dealing with tough times, too, as they face lower revenues with a slowing economy – and typically, builder fee increases is one strategy cities use to help make up revenue shortfalls. Perhaps if we build stronger relationships, we can work together to help find solutions and other alternatives.

Another key to foundation building is to find ways to provide more value to our membership. Smaller builders especially are struggling with the surging costs of materials. One idea I would like to explore with your help is having the HBA put together a kind of co-op to allow smaller builders to pool their resources and buy materials at a discounted rate as larger builders do.

Thinking “inside the box’’ of current resources in our industry but in new ways about how the HBA can serve
its members will take all of our efforts. We are fortunate to have one of the best staffs around, a committed and dedicated team that puts great energy and effort into its work. It’s going to be important for me and the association to work closely with staff to examine ways we can emerge from this difficult period … with a stronger foundation. I look forward to embarking on this journey with you. Together we will do great things.