Grand Opening May 16 & 17
Please join Buffalo ReUse for the Grand Opening of the ReSource. The ReSource is our permanent home and “reuse retail destination” for community, ecological sustainability, and education. Friday, May 16 and Saturday May 17.
Mark Your Calendar!
Buffalo ReUse and the Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA) are sponsoring the first Great Lakes Deconstruction Conference in Buffalo on November 16, 17 & 18, 2008.
Please join us for this informative get-together. We’ll explore the use of deconstruction, building materials reuse, vacant lot management and other creative solutions to address issues unique to abandoned housing and vacant lots in Great Lakes urban centers. Click here for detailed information.
Funds Needed for ReSOURCE!
We’re currently raising funds via private donations to purchase The ReSource—the building at 298 Northampton Street we currently rent. Click here if you’d like to help us!
Join us for ReTree 2008
Naturally, we need help digging and planting and even babysitting these trees this first year. We will pick up the trees and kits on Friday, May 2nd and sort them based on their pre-approved destination. We will also dig the holes—mostly using an auger attachment. Saturday, May 3rd we will meet at 298 Northampton at 9am. Then we will pack everyone, their trees and kits into street teams to plant the trees all at once across the neighborhood. Hopefully, with a lot of helpers, we’ll be done by 3:30pm and we can all regroup back at 298 Northampton to wash up for a potluck picnic and group shoulder rubs!
No matter how old or young or cranky you are—there is a way you can assist this grand scheme. If you have any tools, please bring a shovel, iron rake, picks, hand pruners, gloves, your craziest garden hat, a picnic blanket, a dozen of your Aunt Tibbie’s garlic-cheese puffs, a stack of bologna or a jar of sour dills! (You could even bring a meat mallet to tenderize sore muscles). If you can help in any way please contact us at 716.885.4131 or volunteer@buffaloreuse.org or just show up ready to work on May 3rd.
Just imagine how special the streets will be because you came out and spent the day with us.If you’d like to assist with digging & planting, please contact us at or call 716–882–2800
Neighborhood Peace Murals
Thirty classes and youth organizations around the city have volunteered to paint images onto 4′x8′ plywood panels which will secure a vacant house in the neighborhood of their schools. We’re still in need of buckets of 6″ screws and ADULTS with ladders, power drills, trucks and muscle to help secure these panels beginning March 15th. Please contact us at or call 716–885–4131
Extended Store Hours!
We’re now open Tuesday through Saturday 7:30am to 5pm at 298 Northampton Street, between Masten and Jefferson. Northampton is off Main St just across from the Delta Sonic Car Wash and the new ARTSPACE! There’s a Post Office at the corner.
Volunteers Needed!
Volunteers will always be a critical component of our organization and we’ve brainstormed a list of exciting projects. Please review the list of projects at the linked page and send an email to to get involved. We’re eager to bring new ideas and energy into the organization.
Join our E-Mail list!
To keep our supporters informed about Buffalo ReUse’s latest activities and initiatives, we have an e-mail list you can join. Just click here to join the list.
Donations Accepted and Projects Requested!
Buffalo ReUse accepts donations of used building materials and can offer a tax deduction for your donation. Also, we’re looking to identify deconstruction projects (buildings up to three stories, with or without a foundation) and salvage projects (residential or commercial). If you’d like to schedule a pick-up or a free estimate, call 885–4131 or send an email to .
Our Vision for Job Training and Community Development
Beyond just taking down buildings to salvage reusable materials, Buffalo ReUse has big plans. However, you have to start the engine before you can drive the car. Building deconstruction will be the vehicle that enables other aspects of our social mission. Our role as a “deconstruction” contractor gets us into the community and working within the neighborhood to create positive change. In addition, the sales of salvaged materials provide revenues allowing us to advance our work, collaborating with block clubs and community associations to develop new neighborhood assets.
In many cities in America, residential structures represent tremendous assets in communities. Unfortunately, with so many abandoned and vacant houses, here in Buffalo they’re viewed as a liability. It’s true, more often than not, when that house is removed the community is improved, but what’s the next step? What’s the future vision for our neighborhoods? What will the urban landscape look like when 10,000 to 20,000 houses are removed?
Buffalo ReUse is asking these questions now so that as a community we can work towards productive solutions and use of our urban spaces. We’d like to encourage dialogue, working with existing community organizations, city agencies and block clubs to create a positive direction for affected neighborhoods. Vacant lots can also be problematic, but if we can plant fruit trees, turn the soil into productive agricultural land, and create green space for recreation, we’ll improve the overall livability of our communities. We can investigate ways to bring together neighborhoods that are currently being torn apart. We are interested in expanding on conversations with the Office of Strategic Planning at City Hall, to determine a long-term plan for demolition and future land use.
Buffalo ReUse believes deconstruction can serve as a vehicle for job training and leadership development for young men and women, 18 to 24 years old. Youth can begin their training in the field learning the basics of hand and power tool operation. In addition, they will work as a team to get the job done and develop a strong work ethic. As their skills develop and their interests evolve, they can move into other areas of the organization and learn about sales, marketing, and community relations while working in the retail store. They may also lead a community service project to clean up a street or plant trees in the neighborhood. They could learn how to use salvaged materials to build new products or furniture. They might even start their own small business. We’d love to see lots that once were occupied by houses transformed into new productive small-scale businesses.
Imagine an entire block of greenhouses, propagating plants for community gardens; growing lilies to sell at the Broadway Market at Easter; or harvesting Tilapia to sell to Wegman’s for local consumption. This is just one idea, but Buffalo ReUse is focused on turning ideas into reality. We invite you to join us!
