Reuse Center Renovations Will Help BBR Serve More People
/To meet an increasing need for affordable home-improvement materials, Boston Building Resources has launched a campaign to renovate the Reuse Center building. Correcting inefficiencies and adding capacity will make it possible to receive and sell more used and surplus building materials and to provide more local residents with affordable products to maintain, repair, and improve their homes.
This drawing depicts the Reuse Center building as it would look from Terrace Street after proposed renovations.
The Campaign for the Next Generation Reuse Center will fund renovations that include a larger, more efficient receiving area to process more donated materials; an addition to the front of the building facing the parking lot; increased insulation for energy efficiency; an HVAC system for customer comfort; improvements to the checkout, displays, and lighting; better traffic flow by moving all incoming donations to the rear of the building; and a solar array to generate electricity.
“These renovations will allow the Reuse Center at Boston Building Resources to continue to grow,” said Matthew St. Onge, BBR president and executive director. “We have a great location here in Mission Hill, but the size of our land is limited, so the best way to increase our impact is to become more efficient so we can accomplish more within the space we have.”
The funding goal for construction is $835,350, with a stretch goal of $1,125,350 to include the solar array as well as an endowment to fund building maintenance. To date, approximately $650,000 has been raised from grants, gifts, and pledges, or roughly 78% of the construction goal.
Decent, safe, and affordable housing continues to be a critical need in Greater Boston, and providing affordable materials for home maintenance and repair is one way to help existing homeowners afford to remain in the city. “A gift of any size will help us reach our goal,” St. Onge said.