If The Economy Gives You Lemons...

Dayton Daily News:

That dilapidated, abandoned century-old house on the corner doesn’t look like much, but deep inside is hidden treasure.

Dense, old-growth lumber prized by architects and custom builders supports the roof, limestone blocks are at the foundation, and there are cabinets, solid doors, oak floorboards, beautiful fireplace mantles, even a spirit or two.

Salvaging and selling the bounty for the past two years has been the mission of Dayton Works Plus, a partnership of East End Community Services, PowerNet of Dayton and the Architectural Reuse Co.

The materials have wound up in new homes and garages, landscaping and as period architectural highlights at Jimmie’s Ladder 11, the new tavern restaurant at 936 Brown St. A container of framing timber made its way to wood-starved Japan, the buyer saying he would take any and all future product.

Earlier this month, the program won a national Building Community Innovation Award from food service company ARAMARK.

Using $1.5 million in federal funds awarded through both Dayton and Montgomery County, the partnership has trained 50 entry-level workers and ex-offenders in skills such as asbestos abatement, kept tons of debris out of the landfill, and prepared city lots for redevelopment.

I have to say, this is a very creative way to turn a major negative into some kind of a positive: "Let's recycle all the abandoned houses by using people who can't get work any other way to tear them down piece by piece, then sell what we get so people can make new things look old."  I never thought old houses would be an export from Dayton.  Heck, maybe we can even find some folks to redevelop some of these now available lots.  Anyway, the situation is still bad in the City of Dayton, but this is a positive step.