2550 Great America Way, Suite 201
Santa Clara, CA 95054
650.685.5880
www.lifemoves.org
Board of Directors
Melissa Selcher
CHAIR
Lori Castillo Martinez
1st VICE CHAIR
Lauren Koenig
2nd VICE CHAIR
Greg Eckert
TREASURER
Pamela Weiss
SECRETARY
Sheriff Christina Corpus
Ahmed Khatib
May Topper
Danielle Fontaine
Laura Green
Ajwang Rading
Carrie O. Plietz
Tammy Crown
Leslie Little
Chair Emeritus Circle
Patrick Heron
Rod Ferguson
Marcia Pade
Christina Dickerson
William “Bill” Regan
Joe Stockwell
CEO
Aubrey Merriman
LifeMoves
2550 Great America Parkway, Suite 201
Santa Clara, CA 95054
December 18, 2024
Palo Alto City Council
250 Hamilton Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301
RE: Palo Alto Homekey Schedule Update
Dear City Council Members,
Progress has continued both onsite and offsite for the Palo Alto Homekey Project.
Since our last update, we have completed the following items:
ü Completed fabrication of the modular units in Berwick, PA ü Completed all site work that is feasible prior to setting modules ü Connected to Palo Alto Electric with permanent power anticipated any day ü Finished the exteriors for the community building and elevator shaft ü Delivered most modular units to a staging yard, with all units anticipated to be delivered by end of December
o Modules at staging yard: 45
o Modules in transit from PA: 21
o Modules in PA ready to ship: 1
This project has encountered and successfully navigated a series of unique challenges inherent to modular construction. O ur modular manufacturing supplier, VBC, made the strategic decision to shift production from their anticipated Tracy, California facility to their main factory in Berwick, Pennsylvania. While this move ultimately ensured the highest quality housing units by leveraging VBC's experienced workforce and established production lines, it did necessitate adjustments to our initial timeline.
Despite a slower-than-anticipated start, production steadily increased as the factory crews gained familiarity w it h the intricacies of our specific modules. We are pleased to report that production is now 100% complete. VBC has attributed the initial production delay to the integration of cast i r on plumbing, a unique requirement for our project not standard in East Coast construction, and the ongoing challenges of filling all vacant positions within their factory.
Currently, 21 modules are en route to staging yard, facing the potential delays of winter
weather conditions. We are closely monitoring their transit and projecting their arrival at the staging yard before the end of the year. Upcoming phases of construction, particularly siding, roofing, and the crucial setting of the modules, are weather
dependent. Significant rain or wind could impact the overall schedule in the coming months. However, once t he modules are set, interior finish wor k can 2550 Great America Way, Suite 201
Santa Clara, CA 95054
650.685.5880
www.lifemoves.org
Board of Directors
Melissa Selcher
CHAIR
Lori Castillo Martinez
1st VICE CHAIR
Lauren Koenig
2nd VICE CHAIR
Greg Eckert
TREASURER
Pamela Weiss
SECRETARY
Sheriff Christina Corpus
Ahmed Khatib
May Topper
Danielle Fontaine
Laura Green
Ajwang Rading
Carrie O. Plietz
Tammy Crown
Leslie Little
Chair Emeritus Circle
Patrick Heron
Rod Ferguson
Marcia Pade
Christina Dickerson
William “Bill” Regan
Joe Stockwell
CEO
Aubrey Merriman
proceed largely unaffected by winter weather. Proactively, we accelerated the paving of the site, which will help mitigate potential weather-related delays.
Our dedicated team, in close collaboration with our general contractor, DevCon, remains committed to maximizing site work progress in preparation for the modules' arrival. This involves a modified sequencing of site elements to ensure efficient integration with the modules once they are set.
Due to the factors outlined above, the projected completion date has been adjusted from January 2025 to June 2025, with initial occupancy expected to follow in July 2025. DevCon is diligently developing a comprehensive recovery schedule that explores all options to accelerate the project timeline. This schedule will be finalized and confirmed once the modules are successfully set.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering this project with the highest levels of quality and efficiency. We are confident that this development will be a source of pride for the community and will provide exceptional living spaces for our future clients.
Regards
Paul Simpson
Chief Financial Officer
Main Project Site
Staging Yard
Interior shots from production line in Berwick, PA