TCAT construction students renovate dilapidated Kingsport home

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – The Home Builders Association of Greater Kingsport (HBA) has partnered with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Elizabethton for a home renovation project.

Tuesday marked the first day of TCAT construction students starting on the project on Ashwood Avenue in Kingsport. Crews arrived at the empty home to begin demolition work.

“This is step one of remodeling and putting together this house that was a dilapidated house,” HBA president James Phillips said. “Now, we are trying to bring this house up to its once great beauty and then sell this house and get it back on the tax rolls.”

Phillips, who is also a general contractor himself, said one of the HBA’s main objectives is to educate both its own members and the next generation of builders. In addition to the HBA and TCAT students, TCAT construction instructor Mike Briere and site coordinator Steve Sweet were also at the home to celebrate the start of the project.

Students will also have the chance to shadow plumbers, electricians and other tradespeople who come to work on the house during the renovation.

“As you see with everything, there are a lot of shortages, not just in the building industry, but everywhere,” Phillips said. “So we want to try and do something that’s going to help fill those voids of those shortages.”

Phillips said the partnership with TCAT Elizabethton gives students a chance to get out of the classroom and acquire hands-on experience. According to Phillips, the situation is a win-win since new contractors and builders will enter the workforce in the area, students receive training and the City of Kingsport will have fewer dilapidated houses.

The house on Ashwood Avenue was donated to the HBA, who will sell the house back after the renovations are complete. The HBA plans to have the house back on the market before the end of the year.

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