The opportunity to reclaim the story of historic materials…
Vacant rowhouses are a significant challenge for many of Baltimore’s historic neighborhoods. After decades of abandonment and neglect, demolition at some point looks like the only option. However, demolition doesn’t have to mean a bulldozer. Deconstruction can take a house apart, floorboard by floorboard, joist by joist, and brick by brick. Instead of sending tons of debris to a landfill, deconstruction recycles these materials by providing them brick and lumber to contractors, building supply firms and even homeowners. With hundreds of distressed rowhouses demolished each year in Baltimore, deconstruction offers the opportunity to reclaim historic materials that are all too often wasted and forgotten…