Following Up

Thankfully, the brackets from 2408 Palmyra were at the Habitat ReStore down in the Marigny this morning.  I didn't see any items from the red house at 321 S. Galvez, though.

Look Familiar? Where the Salvaged Items End Up

These items might seem vaguely familiar.  That's because many of them were salvaged from properties that have been demolished in the VA Footprint. 

Under the Programmatic Agreement for the hospitals project, Habitat for Humanity's ReStore down in the Marigny has received many of the salvaged architectural elements for re-sale.  Salvage has been a positive aspect of the process, but it still must be viewed within the larger context of the neighborhood being dismantled - it's better than destruction, but it's inadequate consolation in the grand scheme of things.

Several recognizable items, like a bracket from 317 S. Tonti and ornate yellow trim from 319 S. Tonti, are for sale.  So is the board full of ornate, decorative quoins from 319 S. Tonti.  The store also has plenty of doorframes, mantelpieces, etc. from the Footprint.

A Question with the Salvage Process

Recently, I encountered a local for-profit company stripping architectural elements off of a house at 226 S. Miro in the VA Footprint.

While the head of the crew that was removing quoins and doors, etc. and loading them onto a trailer was very nice, I was a bit concerned.  Under the Architectural Salvage Plan that governs salvage of the homes that are to be demolished or moved, a non-profit receiver, Habitat for Humanity, is supposed to pick up all of the historic architectural elements.  This arrangement falls under the umbrella "Programmatic Agreement" or PA that governs the entire site preparation process.

I've confirmed that Habitat did in fact receive some of the earlier architectural elements at the group's Restore down in the Marigny - stop in if you'd like to purchase a reminder or two from the Footprint.  Several distinctive pieces from the ornate house at 319 S. Tonti Street, since demolished, are on hand.

I just want to make sure that other parties aren't cutting in...in violation of the Programmatic Agreement.  I've contacted the proper parties to inform them, but please contact me if you happen to be in the Footprint and you see someone who doesn't appear to be from Jacobs, Durr, Builders of Hope, Tim Clark, or Orleans Shoring taking things off houses.