Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 7, 1993 TAG: 9311050345
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: F-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By MAG POFF STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Lewis Jamison of Roanoke ends his term Friday as president of the Home Builders Association of Virginia. He is the first Roanoker elected to the position in 22 years.
Succeeding him will be Bruce Cunningham of Blacksburg, the association's first president from the New River Valley.
It is the first time that Western Virginia builders have led the organization for two consecutive years.
Population has "seemed to dictate where the leadership would come from" in the past, Jamison said. The industry generally is dominated by the larger and more active housing development in Northern Virginia and Tidewater.
The resurgence of Western Virginia in the organization also reflects new interest in state affairs in the region, he said.
The Virginia association has 4,500 member firms in 18 local organizations. About 10 percent of them, 431 firms, are members of the Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association.
Besides builders and developers, association members include mortgage lenders, home supply retailers, insurance agencies and other businesses affiliated with the housing industry.
Bob Flynn of Royal Construction Co. in Moneta will be installed as vice president at the ceremony in Richmond.
The trade organization works for the vitality of the industry by monitoring legislative, executive and regulatory agencies. Jamison said the Virginia home builders took stands on 200 bills at the last legislative session.
The most important issue before the 1993 General Assembly, Jamison said, was an amendment to the law on mechanics' liens that made it easier for a small builder to get title insurance. That legislation was adopted.
The state association, he said, also encourages education through scholarship funds and apprentice programs.
In his term, Cunningham's major concern will be housing affordability. That includes pushing for legislation that might help make housing available for more people through changes in construction and land use.
The price of housing also is tied to land costs and comprehensive planning and growth issues. That's the reason for Cunningham's interest in the studies by the General Assembly Committee on Population Growth and Development.
Cunningham will encourage members to become more involved in their communities through civic groups and chambers of commerce.
He said he will try to network with other organizations such as the Virginia Association of Realtors and the Virginia Manufacturers Association on economic and community issues such as population growth, economic development and housing affordability, especially in Western Virginia.
He'd like the organization to help educate the public about the complicated factors behind housing affordability. One, for instance, is the timber shortage created by environmental concerns in Pacific forests.
Finally, Cunningham said, he will encourage home builders to work with local governments, planning districts and economic development groups such as the New Century Council, the New River Valley Alliance and the Roanoke Valley Economic Development Partnership.
Cunningham said the housing industry is a major employer with 100,000 jobs nationwide and a supporter of affiliated industries. He pointed out that related activities, from lending to retail sales, all take place within local communities.
Bruce Cunningham
He owns Old Dominion Insurance Agency in Christiansburg. It is an independent agency that deals in property, casualty and employment benefits programs.
In the mid-1980s, he began Cunningham Enterprises, a home builder. One of his major projects is Mallard Point in Pulaski County, the only development of townhouses on Claytor Lake.
He joined the New River Valley of Home Builders in 1980 and served as its president in 1985. He has been on the executive committee of the Home Builders Association of Virginia for six years and this week becomes its president. He also serves on the board of the National Association of Home Builders.
Lewis Jamison
He owns Heritage Builders Ltd., a development company, and Jamison\ Properties, a rental and management company for apartment and commercial\ properties. Both are headquartered on Garst Mill Road in Roanoke County.
His major project is Ridgewood Farm, a planned-unit development in Salem.\ Currently he is building 40 single-family homes at The Northwoods of Ridgewood\ Farm.
He has been active in the Home Builders Association of Virginia since the\ late 1970s and this week completes a year as its president.
by CNB