Recycling on a massive scale (via Bellaire Examiner):
Friday was a green day for Houston. It was the day a developer announced it would let volunteers salvage what they could from a major teardown rather than just raze it, thereby diverting tons of ruined building materials from a landfill.
As student volunteers from Mount Ida College carried out armloads of wood flooring, high-end office furniture, plumbing fixtures, ceiling tiles and doors from the 1960s era office building at 7703 San Felipe, Lee Schnell, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Harris County, was admiring the planks of tongue-and-groove redwood siding that sheath the 100,000-square-foot low-rise complex.
Habitat NWHC has about two months to salvage what it can, inside and out, for its ReStore before Cherry Demolition comes in to salvage the buildings’ steel framing and concrete parking areas for two more months. After that, Azorim, a Boymelgreen Holdings development company, begins construction of its LEED-certified condominium project.
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Habitat for Humanity NWHC has deconstructed homes in Houston and one other commercial project at a local retirement community, but nothing on this scale. This deconstruction project is Houston’s largest, the partners said.
Schnell said the goal is to recycle 75 percent of building materials from the interior and exterior. Habitat has rented storage space to handle the volume of material it will funnel through its ReStore, which is located on state Highway 249 near the intersection of Bammel North. The store is a first stop for many homebuilders and remodelers because its sells building materials at a discount. Many of the items being salvaged, such as cabinets and wood moldings, will be sold almost as soon as they are unloaded from the truck, he said.
BLOGVERSATION: San Felipe Condominiums: Two New Towers in Memorial (Swamplot)
