Throughout last summer TAPRAQ Rock trucks rolled into Stebbins with loads of gravel while our skilled local operators in excavators, bulldozers and compactors built new roads and house pads. Laborers worked ahead of the operators, surveying and marking the roads and pads and spreading geofabric over the tundra.

Meanwhile, far to the south, construction materials were being sourced and consolidated in a rush to make the last barge sailing before ice closed the sea.

Soon connex loads of materials were being unloaded at the beach and moved up the hill to the new house pads. Despite time and effort spent by all TAPRAQ Rock employees on emergency work and support for the community through both flood and fire disasters, crews began work on the first of the new homes.

TAPRAQ Rock chose to build stick frame homes from the ground up, instead of purchasing and transporting prefab homes. This allows the residents to get homes that are built for their preference and the environment, avoid possible damage in shipping, and most importantly, only the costs of the raw materials are spent outside the community. Wages related to the construction of the homes are earned by residents of Stebbins and benefit the entire community.

This winter three new homes are being built. Our carpenters have framed, roofed and closed in the homes and have begun interior work. Plumbing and electrical work is being completed quickly. These homes are efficient and well designed with a floor plan that maximizes usable space.

In addition, TAPRAQ Rock split an existing derelict building into two buildings and moved them up to a new pad last summer. They are now being remodeled into two duplex buildings, which will provide four additional housing units

The three new homes and two remodeled duplexes are only the first phase of a multiphase Stebbins IRA home construction plan which will provide desperately needed housing for the City of Stebbins.

Update: Homes and duplexes were completed quickly and are now occupied.