Sometimes you have to learn things the hard way.
That’s why two men from Niagara Falls joined efforts to carefully deconstruct a home in Buffalo last week so they could bring the environmentally friendly demolition techniques back home to their city.
Watching the pair cutting and separating parts of the roof as it lay in the backyard, it’s clear it would have been a lot easier to throw all the remnants of the single family home into a local landfill.
But, in the aftermath of Wednesday’s global Earth Day celebrations it appears more and more citizens believe in the old saying, waste not, want not.
That’s the point behind the efforts of Marcelo Lopez and Ian Tanner of Niagara Falls who are attempting to follow in the successful “green” footprints of a two-year-old non-profit on the East Side of Buffalo called Buffalo Re-Use.
“The plan is to finish getting the overall idea of how they work at Buffalo ReUse and implement that in Niagara Falls as well,” said Lopez.
Buffalo ReUse, which started as an all volunteer effort and now employs more than 10 people, has successfully dismantled over 25 structures in the city, diverted tons of material from landfills and resold thousands of building supplies back to the community at a low cost.
Lopez and Tanner, both with backgrounds in construction, are members of a newly formed and as yet unnamed men’s group in Niagara Falls that has been formed to help the youth in the city. As such, the pair also hope to learn about Buffalo ReUse attempts to train and employ out-of-school youths from the surrounding community.
“Employment, that’s my goal,” said Tanner. “Not just for myself but for other people.”
“It helps the community in the long run,” Lopez added.
Buffalo ReUse, along with PUSH Buffalo, recently obtained a federal grant of $645,000 to expand its efforts to enhance neighborhoods through the acquisition, rehab or demolition of blighted properties on Buffalo’s East and West sides.
The Buffalo nonprofit also runs a resale center called the ReSource at 298 Northampton St. on the city’s East Side, selling everything from doorknobs and window frames to old bricks and ceiling joists. All the products in the store have been donated or taken from deconstructed homes.
Consumers interested in learning more can see how products from the ReUse Center were used by landscape artist Joy Kuebler to create the garden of the Junior League Decorator’s Show House opening Saturday and running through May 17 in Amherst.
The ReUse Center is also holding an “Earth Warming Party and Open House,” from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
In the meantime, Tanner and Lopez will continue learning about “green demolition,” and both agree the knowledge and potential is worth the effort.
“It’s not so much that it’s harder (to deconstruct),” Lopez said. “You try to see ways of not destroying the material. It’s a different way of looking at the project.”
Local News
EARTH DAY: For demoliton team it's waste not, want not
Two Falls men learning from a Buffalo nonprofit to carefully deconstruct buildings for reuse
- Local News
-
-
BODY FOUND: Falls police ID missing woman
Falls Police say the body of a woman, found in dense brush in a field off of 102nd Street, is that of 67-year-old Judith Burr.
-
SLIDESHOW: Volunteers Search for Judith
Volunteers gathered on 102nd Street in Niagara Falls to search for the missing Judith Burr, 67. Shortly after the search began, the body of Judith was found in the dense brush just east of 102nd Street.
-
NCIDA declines One Niagara's request for tax help
It’s a no-go for a proposed tax break at One Niagara.
At least for now. -
Marijuana mystery on Michigan Avenue solved
The mystery surrounding a Michigan Avenue marijuana grow house has been solved.
And a Falls man has been charged with running the pot farm that was found there in July. -
Crack dealer taken down on Orleans Avenue
Falls Narcotics Division detectives took down an Orleans Avenue crack dealer, literally, on Tuesday.
-
Historic stone chimney move could be costly
City officials are dealing with some sticker shock after receiving an initial estimate for what it might cost to move an historic stone chimney to a new location.
-
One Niagara tax request up for vote
The owners of the One Niagara building may find out today if they qualify for a tax break through the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency.
NCIDA board Chairman Henry Sloma said One Niagara’s application for tax assistance will be discussed during today’s board meeting. -
Search planned for missing Falls woman
Loved ones are organizing a search party for 67-year-old Judith Burr who has been missing since Friday.
-
Bill would ban offenders on school buses
The New York State Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would ban certain criminal offenders from working on school buses.
-
No new vet for Niagara SPCA
It was one step forward and one step back for the SPCA of Niagara on Monday.
Just 72 hours after announcing the hiring of a new veterinarian for its troubled shelter, the SPCA board changed its mind and decided not to bring Lewiston vet Dr. Grant Hobika on board. - More Local News Headlines
-
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
