Less bulldozer, more claw hammer

By NICK WERNER
nwerner@muncie.gannett.com

MUNCIE -- When most people look at the abundance of abandoned homes that dot Muncie's cityscape, they see decay and ruin -- depressing symbols of hard times.

Ted Reiff, on the other hand, sees opportunity.

In his vision, the homes are transformed into new handcrafted furniture, cabinets, hardwood floors and perhaps most importantly, jobs.

Reiff is president of The ReUse People of America, an Oakland, Calif., non-profit whose mission is to promote "deconstruction" as an alternative to traditional knock-it-down-and-haul-it-off demolition. Deconstruction involves taking a building apart piece-by-piece, keeping materials out of the landfill and saving as much as possible for future construction and carpentry projects.

"We can save up to 85 percent," he said.

The city of Muncie, working with Weed and Seed, Delaware County Community Corrections, WorkOne and Ivy Tech Community College, hired Reiff to visit Muncie for a three-week deconstruction training seminar.

In Muncie, Reiff met with local deconstruction veterans Brook Linton, a furniture maker and finish carpenter, and Tyler Kelsey, a graduate of Ball State University's master's architecture program.

Reiff, Linton and Kelsey supervised a small crew in a deconstruction project at 524 S. Windsor St., a long-vacant 100-year-old home on the southeast side of town.

The goal is that Linton and Kelsey will learn from Reiff how to educate others in the art of deconstruction, especially ex-offenders who have difficulty finding work in other industries.

With a qualified local workforce of deconstruction experts, the city could then rely less on traditional demolition and more on deconstruction, according to Gretchen Cheesman, director of the city's Unsafe Building Hearing Authority.

Deconstructing abandoned homes would cost the city more than demolition, Cheesman said. But deconstruction is better for the environment and could provide more jobs for people who need them badly.

"We really don't like sending all this stuff to a landfill if there's usable materials," she said.

Cory Reffitt is one of those people who hopes his new deconstruction skills might land him the job he needs.

Reffitt has been unemployed since a felony drunken driving conviction a year ago.

"The job market is a little dry for everyone," he said. "If you are an ex-offender, it is next to impossible."

Reffitt, who is one of two ex-offenders training at the Windsor Street house, likes the physicality of deconstruction and the opportunity to learn about architecture.

While guiding two reporters through the Windsor Street home, Reiff pointed out arrow-straight rafters, unblemished double-drop siding and a fancy oak stairway post.

"Now that we are going to save," he said.

Linton explained that some of the materials from the Windsor home will go to Habitat for Humanity and some will be sold. The market for reused building materials consists largely of restoration enthusiasts and environmentally conscious consumers.

But aside from being "green," the lumber also has a distinct advantage in that it is "old growth," meaning it is stronger that most lumber available now.

"It took 100 years to grow this wood," he said. "It's one of a kind."