NEW ORLEANS -- They are saving New Orleans history, one piece at a time. 20 team members have spent 10 days taking apart three century-old buildings by hand, salvaging everything from old windows and doors to lumber, wiring and bricks -- things that would have gone into a landfill.
"I will save more than 60% of the volume of this building," said Louisiana Green Corps Foreman Willie White. "In other words, if they crush this building, and they produce ten truckloads of debris, we will divert six of those truckloads from going to the dump."
The Louisiana Green Corps' Old City Building Center is using a method called deconstruction.
"The deconstruction part of it allows for us to preserve our architectural history," said Old City Building Center Executive Director Dawn Loebig, "and make sure that the people who preservation and restoration have the right materials, such as glass from the 1800s."
The Louisiana Green Corps has used the program to train over 200 students in construction.
"We nailing the wood and stuff like that, just trying to get the city back to the way it was before Katrina," said student Lee Johnson.
"Many of them do get jobs immediately, as carpenters, as carpenter's assistants, " said Willie White.
The three buildings once were classrooms at St. Michael's Special School, but not for current students.
"In the last years we have found that many of them are not able to use the steps, stairwells, hallways, because they were not totally handicapped accessible," said St. Michael's principal Jane Silva.
They also discovered termite damage from before the school bought the buildings. But there is a new use planned for the property.
"We are thrilled when the buildings go down, we will be able to put some green space," said principal Silva. "At this point, we have no playground area on the St. Michael's campus."
They plan to use some of the wood they salvage from these buildings to build two park benches to be put into the playground that will replace these buildings. Now the problem is St. Michael's had enough money to get the buildings torn down and the playground created, but not enough money for any play equipment to put into the playground.
"We're hoping to get a sandbox in there, and maybe some swings."
Salvaged items are available for purchase at the Old City Building Center's store.
"Purchses that are made at the Old City Building Center help us sustain this workforce development program."
St. Michael's Special School can be reached at 524--7285. The Old City Building Center's store phome number is 382-5368, or visit their website at www.ocbcnola.org.
