Lake Road Homeowners Vow to Rebuild
By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: January 4, 2013
Neighbors in Webster who lost their homes in the Lake Road inferno are getting some help. Seven homes were destroyed leaving homeowners to sift through the rubble.
It was the day after Christmas when John Kohut saw what was left of his home. Like his neighbors on Lake Road, Kohut combed through the rubble; his home destroyed by fire.
"It's a tragedy. I'm just shocked by it. I watched it burn. I felt helpless. There's nothing you can do. People ask why. You can't really explain it. It hasn't sunk in yet," said Kohut.
Kohut has vowed to rebuild. The Rochester Home Builders' Association is helping people like John. Their more than 300 members include architects, carpenters and engineers.
"Whether it's goods or services. Whether it's free or reduced costs and then bring a list to the people who have been affected by this terrible tragedy and somehow get those folks to interact with members of the Rochester Home Builders' Association," said Rick Herman, CEO of Rochester Home Builders' Association.
Town leaders in Webster are also helping. Last night, they voted to waive fees for the properties. Those fees include demolition and planning and zoning application fees, but Herman says there are still obstacles the homeowners will face.
"The building codes today are much different than those homes that were built in the early 1900s so there is going to be some learning curve here that the homeowners are going to have to understand and go through and it's not going to always be pleasant," said Herman.
The goal is to rebuild as quickly as possible, but Herman says realistically it will take time.
It was the day after Christmas when John Kohut saw what was left of his home. Like his neighbors on Lake Road, Kohut combed through the rubble; his home destroyed by fire.
"It's a tragedy. I'm just shocked by it. I watched it burn. I felt helpless. There's nothing you can do. People ask why. You can't really explain it. It hasn't sunk in yet," said Kohut.
Kohut has vowed to rebuild. The Rochester Home Builders' Association is helping people like John. Their more than 300 members include architects, carpenters and engineers.
"Whether it's goods or services. Whether it's free or reduced costs and then bring a list to the people who have been affected by this terrible tragedy and somehow get those folks to interact with members of the Rochester Home Builders' Association," said Rick Herman, CEO of Rochester Home Builders' Association.
Town leaders in Webster are also helping. Last night, they voted to waive fees for the properties. Those fees include demolition and planning and zoning application fees, but Herman says there are still obstacles the homeowners will face.
"The building codes today are much different than those homes that were built in the early 1900s so there is going to be some learning curve here that the homeowners are going to have to understand and go through and it's not going to always be pleasant," said Herman.
The goal is to rebuild as quickly as possible, but Herman says realistically it will take time.
