Staff photo by Lori Yount -- Once construction is completed at the Riverbend Festival, the home will be moved to a cluster of Habitat for Humanity houses on Scruggs Street.

Festival-goers will have a chance to do something constructive at this year’s Riverbend.

For the second year, Habitat for Humanity is building a home at the music festival and walk-up volunteers are welcome from 4 to 8 p.m. each day of Riverbend.

Habitat volunteers began building in the sweltering heat Friday, and said they hope to be done in a week, or by the end of the festival. The home will then be moved from the site underneath the Walnut Street Bridge to a spot next to other Habitat-built homes near Scruggs Street.

Volunteers from Smith Trucking and Construction were working on the foundation Thursday afternoon, just a few houses down from last year’s Riverbend home and a home under construction as part of this year’s “Women’s Build” with Habitat for Humanity. But this year’s Riverbend home is keeping up with the times with a trendy twist.

Staff photo by Lori Yount -- Habitat for Humanity volunteers began construction Friday on a home at the Riverbend Festival and will be working to finish it this week.

“Besides being a simple starter home, this house will be an EarthCraft Home,” said John Atherton, executive director for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga. “EarthCraft is a green building program that encourages the construction of healthy, comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment.”

Chattanooga native Alexia Taylor will buy the home with the help of no-interest loans and putting in plenty of “sweat equity” — help building other Habitat homes in addition to her own.

Ms. Taylor was out of town for training related to her job as a general manager for Krispy Kreme when construction began Friday, but Habitat officials they expect her and her family to help throughout the week.

She and her three children live in public housing and were looking for a safer place to live, according to Habitat officials.

Also new this year to the Habitat for Humanity build at Riverbend is the “Make a Difference Village,” where festival attendees can learn about different volunteer opportunities in the area — and cool off with some water and air conditioning.

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