"A home is the most important place in one's life. 
Our History
Custom Construction Company Reaches 50-Years
Then and Now
– Blair Custom Homes Incorporated :
When William B. Blair Sr. decided to build a house with friend Joe Gilmore back
in 1953, he had no idea it would turn into a second generation family business that builds high-end, energy efficient custom homes.But in 1999 Blair, who was C.E.O., handed over the keys of Blair Custom Homes Inc., Bethlehem, to is son, John J. Blair, president of the company.
The elder Blair, who is now 78, sold one of his first homes for $10,900 while his other houses back then ranged from $7,000 to $15,000. Now the company sells houses ranging from $250,000 to $2.5 million.The younger Blair has been working in his fathers business for more than a quarter-century. The company has managed to retain some of the employees who started Blair Homes when the office was opened.
Since establishing the new office, the Blair’s have worked on several projects,
including the 200 – acre Saddle Ridge development in Hellertown. The houses in this development
start at 3,000 square feet and range from $500,000 to $1 million. For their work,
Blair Homes has also received several awards from the Lehigh Valley Builders Association
for the Saddle Ridge development, including "Single Family Home 3,000 to 4,000 Square feet"
Saddle Ridge Lot 22 in 2002 and “One of a Kind Architecturally Designed Home”
– Saddle Ridge Lot 18 in 2000-2001.
Just recently Blair began a business relationship with a developer to create
Turnbridge Partnership and purchase 10 acres of land in Bethlehem.
Nine of these acres will be the site of the Historic Stever Mills Project development.
Blair Custom Homes will be the builder of this development.
"It’s a great opportunity", John Blair says. " We’re financially prepared and it lets the
team have more control." Once completed the site will hold 26 twin homes on 1 acre footprints.
Blair says that the houses will look like single homes and that the garages
will be on different sides of the houses.
Although Blair Custom Homes continues to expand Blair says he doesn’t see himself branchingout of the Lehigh Valley. “It’s not that easy to take a business and move,” he says,“We’re selling brand name recognition.”
While Blair is content to be around the Bethlehem area he is not sure if his son
11-year old Adam John, will want to take over Blair Homes.
"He’s growing up in a different lifestyle,” Blair say’s, “I have tried to keep it (work and home) separate." Blair and wife Susan E., also have a daughter, 7-year old Ashley Elizabeth.
For additional information, please refer to Blair’s Building Excellence Awards Page;
Lehigh Valley Builders Association, Pennsylvania Builders Association & National Builders Association, Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce & Better Business Bureau.
Copyright © 2003 Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal-Reprinted with
permission of the Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal.
(June30-July6, 2003 Edition)