Portland deconstruction law attracts startups

The first batch of Portland houses to fall under the deconstruction law sponsored by former Portland, Ore. Mayor Charlie Hales came down in January.

The unique ordinance is expected to apply to only a handful of houses a month, so it’s doubtful that any of the nearly one dozen certified deconstruction firms could sustain itself on those projects alone. But city officials and supporters of deconstruction are now considering how to expand the law, which requires deconstruction (instead of demolition) for all houses and duplexes built in 1916 or earlier, as well as those designated historic.

What remains to be seen is how new Mayor Ted Wheeler feels about the issue.

Deconstruction is the conscientious disassembly of a structure with an eye toward minimizing environmental impact and maximizing material reuse. It’s a hot topic in sustainability, and Portland’s rule is one of the first and most far-reaching of its kind.

As of last week, nine permits had been approved by the city to deconstruct houses built in or before 1916. Those account for about one-third of the total of home demolition permits approved. The city’s construction waste specialist, Shawn Wood, was pleased with the figure, as it represents the intent of the ordinance to account for one-third of homes demolished.

Around 300 homes are demolished each year in Portland, and approximately 100 of them are more than 100 years old.

“Last I checked, we were right in line with where we want to be,” Wood said. “In terms of having the permitting process and in having enough contractors out in the field, we’re really happy with where things are at right now.”

Two grants have enabled the city to give $100,000 in deconstruction grants. Another $35,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality went toward workforce training, in the form of a grant to consultant Earth Advantage, which conducted training last year.

Portland’s law is one of several neighborhood preservation ordinances passed by Hales in his final months in office. He also drafted a rule requiring a 35-day delay to demolish old homes.

Wood said there’s been talk about adding or extending provisions of the law, including the hazardous materials section, the year the structures were built and the type of buildings that apply.

“There’s a lot of interest in expanding it, but I think for now, we need to wait and see how everything rolls out,” he said.

The barrier for entry to the field of deconstruction is considered low, with minimal equipment required and low insurance and bonding amounts. Deconstruction projects typically take 3-10 days.

Hales was hoping the law would spur a new sub-trade and new entrepreneurship. There’s now some evidence he was right. At least two businesses formed expressly because of the ordinance. One reported hiring six people, to work on a project-to-project basis.

Forest Endicott and his brother, Augest, started Northwest Deconstruction Specialists in response to the ordinance. Their father is Shane Endicott, founder of the ReBuilding Center – another of the 11 firms certified to perform deconstruction in Portland.

The brothers have been combing the Bureau of Development Services registry of demolition permits, and reaching out to the contractors. They had two projects scheduled this month: one for a 127-year-old house at 914 N.E. 72nd Ave., and one for a 105-year-old house at 2720 N. Farragut St. They contain salvageable wood flooring, stained glass windows and fixtures like a bathtub with feet. They also contain potentially toxic materials, which must be safely removed, according to the ordinance.

The law was drafted so that if certain materials aren’t able to be salvaged, contractors must explain why.

“What do we have to salvage? Everything that we possibly can,” Forest Endicott said.

The Endicotts have even secured a few contracts to deconstruct homes built later than 1916.

David Greenhill and his partner, Emily Christensen, also started their business, Good Wood Deconstruction and Salvage, in response to the ordinance.

Greenhill, 39, is a graphic designer, and Christensen, 43, a clothing designer. Neither has professional experience in the building trades.

“There’s a thrill to it,” Greenhill said. “First, it’s like a treasure hunt, finding what’s inside these great old houses. Plus there’s the camaraderie that comes from doing this all together on a tight schedule.”

Though Greenhill said Good Wood Deconstruction and Salvage will perform only deconstruction, many of the others perform other work, including homebuilding and demolition.

“We just kind of decided to go for it,” he said. “We’re interested in everything that the ordinance stands for, especially saving all the waste from the waste stream. We’re inspired by the whole process.”