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East End Houston Startup Experiences Fast Growth from Hurricane Harvey
The Story of Reclaiming Reusable Building Materials
T
he devastation of Hurricane Harvey on Houston residential and commercial buildings is estimated to be in the billions. The skilled labor and equipment needed for demolition far exceeded the Houston supply. It was against this backdrop that the building materials recycling company RePurpose Depot (RPD) located in East End Houston became an overnight success. The seeds for RPD were planted in 2011 when environmental activist, Caroline Kostak, became fascinated with recycling building materials. At that time, she was a NASA Flight Controller looking for her next adventure as the Space Shuttle program came to an end. Her interest peaked when she was introduced to the fast-growing concept of Green Building, a process that, among other things, uses new and used building materials that normally go into landfills. In addition to becoming a LEED Accredited Professional and serving on the board of the US Green Building Council, she sought out the required training to become the local representative of ReUse People of America (TRP), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping reusable building materials out of the landfill. The startup phase of her deconstruction work presented many challenges due to costs, shortage of skilled labor, warehousing and logistics. Not one to give up, Kostak pivoted and started RePurpose Depot (RPD), an organization that would become a retail partner of TRP. Her experience with TRP helped her to innovate a working model for demolition and sourcing materials.
When Hurricane Harvey hit, Kostak was in the right place and time and RePurpose Depot became an instant success due to the flood of requests to deconstruct and
demolish damaged structures. This perfect storm aligned conditions to hire the right deconstruction team and create a suitable warehouse to merchandise their inventory to homeowners with limited resources and building contractors. RePurpose Depot's mission became "Repurposing People Places and Things." Caroline and her partner, Russell Klein, an expert in solid waste management, are committed to providing a better model for the handling of construction and demolition waste to Houstonians. In addition to keeping materials out of the landfill, RPD provides work and a second purpose for graduates of area substance abuse recovery programs, believing that participating in purposeful work helps people stay committed to their recovery goals. The benefits to homeowners for deconstructing are significant, as a tax benefit can be realized for donating materials to The ReUse People, RPD’s partner non-profit that often offsets the cost of deconstruction and demolition. So, the benefits to the community are three- fold: employment for those who otherwise may have trouble finding it, tax benefits to homeowners tearing down houses, and lower-priced materials available to the general public.The existing and future demand for reclaimed building materials is projected to outpace the supply and RPD in the East End is poised to continue to experience double digit growth year to year. With improved processes and new technology, Kostak and her partner Klein are innovating the industry and they are quickly becoming a leader in this field. According to Kostak, "We are excited about a very bright future for our company by helping people who need a second chance and giving building materials a second life."
Visit Repurpose Depot on Facebook
www.facebook.com/RePurposeDepot
This project is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.
Neighborhoods
The East End represents a number of the city’s most historic and culturally significant neighborhoods. Many area residents can trace their ancestors back to some of the area’s early settlers and some of Houston’s original recorded deeds are in the East End.
The homes built in Eastwood were custom homes reflecting the early 20th century fondness for Craftsman, Arts & Crafts, Foursquare and Mission architecture. Today, Eastwood has one of Houston’s largest intact collections of these architectural styles.
Please take a look at the East End's premier neighborhoods:
Houston Country Club Place
Eastwood
East Lawndale
Fullerton Place
Harrisburg Civic Association
Idlywood
Greater Magnolia Park Pine View
Middle Street Lofts on the BayouTwenty-two new residential communities have become a part of the East End landscape bringing new and old together in a fashionable way. In town Homes the newest development in east downtown offers a variety of townhomes and lofts sure to suit your style!