Learn about building reuse grants April 29-30 on MSP Home Tour

Ryan Hanson of the Linden Hills-based Sustainable 9 Design Build sees deconstruction – and when applicable, use of a Hennepin County grant that helps with the cost – as part of their sustainable business model. Their featured home at 3900 Ewing Ave. S. will be on the MSP Home Tour April 29-30; it’s part of a large lot that once held a 1950s rambler that Better Futures disassembled. Other properties Sustainable 9 deconstructed with Better Futures include a 1940s home where “Linden Row,” a sustainably built three-unit rowhome overlooking Linden Hills Park, was constructed. It was featured on the tour last year.
“There is both a moral and financial case for including deconstruction on all projects requiring an existing home to be torn down,” said Hanson. “Not only does the deconstruction process divert usable material from the landfill, but when these materials are reused and given a second life it also prevents new materials from having to be produced, which saves resources and energy. Charitable deductions and grant programs like Hennepin County’s also help alleviate much of the financial burden of doing the right thing from homeowners and developers. By extracting and repurposing the components of an existing home, it creates a sustainable business model that benefits both the environment and the client’s bottom line.”
Olivia Cashman, who administers the Hennepin County Building Reuse Grants program, said four other projects in the southwest area, three by homeowners and one by KJH Ventures currently underway at 6101 Nicollet Ave., received deconstruction grants recently.
Cashman will give a talk at noon Saturday, April 29 at 3900 Ewing Ave. S., Minneapolis during the Home Tour, that runs Saturday and Sunday, April 29-30 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (msphometour.com) “Over 70% of building materials from demolitions, rehabs, and remodels end up in the landfill,” she said. “Learn how to reduce waste on your next project and find out about grants and other resources available. Discover local used building material retailers to visit during Hennepin County’s upcoming Salvage Crawl taking place May 1-31, 2023.”