The Windsor Transitional Home being prepped for tuckpointing.

Mosby Building Arts has always been dedicated to the art of home enhancement and the positive effects it has on people’s lives. So when we had the unique opportunity to partner with Rebuilding Together St. Louis and HGTV to help repair and transform the Windsor Transitional Home to make it a first-class facility for some of our war veterans, we were honored to volunteer our time, plus our design and constructive expertise to this worthy endeavor.

You may have read in our earlier blog post that HGTV will be in town on Friday, June 19^th to begin the project. Let’s take a closer look at the work that we have completed thus far with Rebuilding Together St. Louis and HGTV in preparation for the renovation of the Windsor Transitional Home owned by retired First Sergeant Hence Forland, Jr.

Rear of the home at 3837 Windsor Place, before the rebuild begins.

When Forland purchased the 109-year-old house at 3837 Windsor Place nearly two decades ago, little did he know the positive impact it would create. Inspired by the homeless veterans he met through the nearby John Cochran VA Medical Center, Forland was determined to provide a safe haven for these honorable servicemen. In 2007, he opened his doors to veterans and officially created the Windsor Transitional Home.

The back stoop is in bad shape. Mosby Building Arts has designed a new porch and patio for this area.

Forland invested his time, energy and money into the home to make the house safe and inhabitable, but it is an ongoing struggle. In early 2009, Rebuilding Together St. Louis entered Forland’s home into HGTV’s “Change the World. Start at Home” competition, and with the support of an overwhelming number of St. Louisans voting online, this veteran’s home was selected to receive $40,000 for repairs and updates.

The proposed design for the Windsor Transitional Home's new back porch, designed by Mosby Building Arts.

In April, Mosby Building Arts was proud to partner with Rebuilding Together and HGTV to inspect and evaluate the challenges facing the home, and to develop floorplan drawings. We are excited to have been asked to design a new back porch and patio for the facility and look forward to working with HGTV and Carter Oosterhouse on completing this project during filming on July 19^th through the 21^st.

Through his dedication, Forland installed a new roof and upgraded furnace to provide a warm and cozy atmosphere for the deserving veterans, but virtually everything else in the home needs to be repaired, updated and remodeled.

The front hallway and the stairs leading to the 2nd floor.

In preparation for the filming of the HGTV show beginning on June 19^th, volunteer crews have already initiated work on the house. As a starting point, lead paint in the home has been completely encapsulated.

Electricity for the home has recently been re-wired. Patching, prepping and painting the walls takes place the weekend of June 12th.

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local #562 has donated its time and supplies to update all of the plumbing, and IBEW Local #1 has completely rewired the electricity in the home, bringing light to rooms that have been dark since 1983.

The veteran's home kitchen before the remodel begins.

Area businesses have generously donated appliances to help update the kitchen, and these items will be installed during HGTV filming.

A 2nd floor bedroom before HGTV and the Rebuilding Together volunteers transform it on the weekend of June 19, 2009.

To ensure efficient climate control – and a beautiful view – new thermal windows for the entire house have been donated, and soon Bike & Build will help to replace the subfloors.

To help maintain a strong foundation, tuckpointing is being completed on the home’s brick exterior.

The basement will get new support columns.

During the weekend of June 12^th, volunteer crews will patch walls, install trim, and prepare all surfaces for painting.

A Mosby Building Arts planner with owner Hence Forland, Jr. (right) discussing some needed repairs.

Hence Forland, Jr. understands the basic human need for shelter, and has created safety and order for the veterans in his home. With this wonderful gift of repair and remodeling comes the opportunity to demonstrate how a sound, healthy and attractive home elevates the spirits and lifestyle of the people who live in it. This is the core belief of Scott Mosby and Mosby Building Arts, and we are honored to be a part of this effort.

Here’s your chance to contribute! Rebuilding Together is seeking skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled volunteers to assist with this project on June 12^th, 13^th, 19^th, 20^th and 21^st, 2009. As a volunteer, you must be able to work a full-day or half-day shift and you can indicate your availability. We encourage you to help make a positive difference now in your own city by contacting Rebuilding Together’s Jessie Connor at 314.918.9918, ext. 24, or by email at jconner@rebuildingtogether-stl.org.

Scott Mosby of Mosby Building Arts (left) and Lynn Rajani of Rebuilding Together St. Louis (center) going over design and construction plans on the front steps of the Windsor Transitional Home.

Please join Scott Mosby, Rebuilding Together and HGTV on June 19^th at 8:00 a.m. for the official project Kick-Off at 3837 Windsor Place in St. Louis City, 63113. Also, be sure to tune into KMOX 1120 AM on Saturday, June 20th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a live broadcast of The KMOX Home Improvement Show with Scott Mosby from the project site. Finally, you can read regular reports of events and progress on the home by following Scott Mosby on Twitter. Scott will “tweet” (provide online updates) regarding all phases of the project from its beginning through the finished project reveal on June 22^nd, plus provide details of when this project will be televised on HGTV. Follow Scott on Twitter now.

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People of St. Louis: You voted in record numbers and, thanks to you, you’re helping to “Change the World” by starting in your own city! St. Louis, through its representation by Rebuilding Together St. Louis was recently announced as a winning city in HGTV’s Change the World. Start at Home program. This nationwide effort, which awards $40,000 toward renovation expenses, encourages Americans to become engaged in community projects, and the 2009 campaign highlights historic veterans’ group homes.

On Friday, June 19^th HGTV is coming to town and with the assistance of Rebuilding Together volunteers will help to transform the Windsor Transitional House into the facility owner Hence J. Forland, Jr. – a retired Army First Sergeant – can use to make a positive change in the lives of fellow servicemen. You can learn more about the cause here. Mosby Building Arts is very proud to participate in this worthy effort by lending our time and home enhancement expertise and encouraging fellow St. Louis citizens to become involved, as well.

Schedule of Events

Project Kick-Off, Friday, June 19^th at 8:00 a.m.

You’re invited to join KMOX Home Improvement Show expert Scott Mosby, HGTV’s Carter Oosterhouse and Monica Pedersen, Will Witherspoon of the St. Louis Rams and others for a spirited kick-off as HGTV begins filming the demolition and transformation of the Windsor Transitional Home at 3837 Windsor Place in St. Louis City.

After this event, the project site will be closed to the public until “the reveal” on Monday, June 22^nd, so this is your chance to join in and encourage and thank the volunteers who are giving of their time to make a positive change in the St. Louis community.

KMOX Live Broadcast, June 20^th, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Our own Scott Mosby and “The Voice of St. Louis” will broadcast live from the project site, so be sure to tune in for the latest backstage information, interviews, and progress reports, along with call-in questions from area listeners.

Follow the Project on Twitter

Twitter is one of the newest and most respected forms of social media that is used to provide quick updates (140 characters or less) of important happenings in the world around us. Beginning the week of June 15^th until the end of the project, Scott Mosby, spokesperson for Rebuilding Together St. Louis, will “tweet” (provide online updates) about the latest details of the project. While the actual work site will be closed, Scott will give you unique online access to all the latest happenings and progress of this very special event. Follow Scott on Twitter.

Please Help Us by Volunteering!

Rebuilding Together is seeking skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled volunteers to assist with this project on June 12^th, 13^th, 19^th, 20^th and 21^st, 2009. As a volunteer, you must be able to work a full-day or half-day shift and you can indicate your availability. We encourage you to help make a positive difference now in your own city by contacting Jessie Connor at 314.918.9918, ext. 24, or by email at jconner@rebuildingtogether-stl.org.

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