Charm City is undergoing a transformation, with new and improved dining rooms, transportation centers, and entertainment centers popping up all over. Thanks to Project C. O. R.
E. From Maryland, which works on McKean Avenue in the city's Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood, Details, a non-profit organization, is using funds to deconstruct dilapidated terraced houses. Deconstruction is different from demolition in that houses are taken apart by hand, piece by piece. Each workplace involves the employment of 10 or more workers, much more than at a regular demolition site. McKean's homes are part of a project of 300 buildings across the city that will be deconstructed under projects C. E.
The homes were selected by the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development, in consultation with the community and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Materials recovered from houses deconstructed using Details Deconstruction are sold to the public at the Brick+ Board store in N.Deconstructing homes has some unique advantages, according to Carroll. Instead of destroying brick and wood from houses through demolition, usable materials are saved and recovered from sites. They are then classified off-site and resold across the country and even internationally.
Of the houses currently being worked on, Carroll said that more than half of the materials were in good condition. They expect to recover between 8,000 and 9,000 feet of wood from this project, along with more than 56,000 bricks. Empty homes awaiting deconstruction occupy the western side of the 1500 block of McKean Avenue. Job creation is also a vital part of their work; in fact, Carroll described it as “the main objective”. Between 75 and 80 percent of its employees have spent time in prison and are now re-entering their communities and the workforce.
Often, for people with criminal records, obtaining employment seems like an impossible obstacle. Damon Toogood is a lifelong Baltimorean who is now a foreman at Details and oversees projects in the Park Heights area of northwestern Baltimore. He began working with Details shortly after he was released from prison four years ago and has since worked hard to own his own house and take pride in his life's direction. The State of Maryland is committed to providing voters, businesses, customers, and stakeholders with friendly and courteous services that are timely and responsive, accurate and consistent, accessible and convenient, and truthful and transparent. Innovation Works Baltimore is an innovative resource network that connects neighborhoods, entrepreneurs, social innovation assets, and investors to create sustainable neighborhood economies in Baltimore. These exciting new projects will bring thousands of jobs and unique experiences to Baltimore by connecting neighborhoods, entrepreneurs, social innovation assets, and investors in creative ways. Results for America recognized two projects in Baltimore among the 110 most outstanding projects in the entire country that can serve as models for other government leaders. New projects are constantly under way here so you're sure to find something new every time you return to Baltimore.
