Taking Shape
by Conor Harrison
The Kerrville Daily Times, Published March 31, 2009

The downtown pavilion project took another step toward completion Monday when a crane lowered the base and roof of the pavilion onto its support columns near the northern bank of the Guadalupe River.

The crane raised the 52,000-pound steel base just after lunch, followed shortly by the 17,000-pound roof structure.

This completes another step of the $840,000 project started last November.

When finished, the 1,600-square-foot pavilion will overlook the Guadalupe River, and the promenade will extend between the Bank of America Building and the Schreiner One Plaza on the river’s north side. Along the promenade will be two viewing platforms.

Another $200,000 in donations or other funds are needed to finish the project.

“The vast majority of the expense of the project has been incurred and paid for,” said Andy Phillips, CEO of Integrity Group Texas, the general contractor for the project. “The roofing, decking, handrails and walkway are yet to be constructed. Just less than $200,000 is needed to finish the project, which is more than $250,000 less than originally projected.”

The pavilion project represents one of the first pieces to the revitalization of downtown Kerrville.

“Let’s finish this,” said Dave Tritenbach, president emeritus for the Central Kerrville Development Corporation. “It is important to finish this project seamlessly because some of the donors gave major gifts for the pavilion, and it is so close to being completed.”

“Once the steel is in place, we will have the visual impact of the major enhancement needing only the balance of the contractual price to complete the Pavilion and have it gifted to the citizens of Kerrville,” Phillips said.

“We are in hopes that the city will consider helping the CKDC complete this wonderful project so that it can be put to productive use enhancing not only the river in general, but downtown Kerrville in particular.”

In August 2007, the city council considered giving the group $300,000 in sales tax revenues for the project but declined to approve the funding.

“The next goal of the project is to get the handrails and decking on so it will be viable for people to go out on,” said project manager Travis Roberson. “We just need a few folks to step up and help us finish it.”

Tritenbach said memorial elements are available with large donations and several people have already done that.

“As this new downtown takes shape — we believe it is important, for historical, aesthetic, and practical reasons — to re-establish the link between a vibrant downtown and the river from which Kerrville grew,” Tritenbach said in a statement on the CKDC Web site.

“We finally are recognizing the beauty and attraction of the Guadalupe River to Kerrville, its citizens and its visitors who enjoy our magnificent Hill Country,” Phillips said.

For information on how to donate, contact Sue Tiemann at 792-5775.

Art Lenard Earns Certified Green Professional Designation.

November 14, 2008

Integrity Group Texas is proud to announce that Art Lenard, President of Integrity Homes, has earned the Certified Green Professional designation from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). "This is quite an honor and provides an additional level of professionalism and service to our clients that we are very excited about," remarked Mr. Lenard after receiving his designation. "With as conscious as everyone is these days regarding energy efficiency and their environmental impact, I am glad to learn that we have been on the leading edge of these practices for some time now."

"The National Association of Home Builders’ Certified Green Professional™ designation recognizes builders, remodelers and other industry professionals who incorporate green building principles into homes— without driving up the cost of construction. Classwork leading to the designation provides a solid background in green building methods, as well as the tools to reach consumers," describes the NAHB's website.

"Building green means incorporating environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the home building and land development process to minimize environmental impact. That means that during the design, construction, and operation of a home, the home's overall impact on the environment is taken into account." More information on the NAHB Green Building Program and Certified Green Professional designation can be found at: www.nahbgreen.org.

Integrity Group Texas Proudly Supports The Boardwalk Project.

October 25, 2008

Members of the Integrity Group Texas team attended the ribbon cutting for The Boardwalk Pavilion, a $1 million first phase of what will be a $2.3 million project. "Integrity Group has the absolute honor of being able to not only construct the Pavilion for the citizens of Kerrville, but also donate all of our profits back to the project," said Andy Phillips, CEO of Integrity Group.

The Pavilion, at 1600 square feet, is the signature focal point of the project and center for community events. It will leave an indelible foot print on the future of Kerrville. More information can be found at the Central Kerrville Development Corporation's website.