The familiar sounds of progress echo from Habitat for Humanity’s local office: the clang of metal striking metal, the monotonous beep of earth-moving machines and the low rumble of diesel engines. But this cacophony of construction isn’t one of the nonprofit’s typical projects to provide quality, affordable housing to some of Chattanooga’s neediest families. Instead, Habitat is embarking on a renovation unlike any other in the country.
Thanks to a two-year capital campaign, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga will open the doors this July to the nation’s first LEED-certified ReStore, a retail outlet offering building materials and home goods at 50 to 70 percent off retail price. The premise is simple: local contractors, businesses and homeowners donate unwanted items, which are then sold to the general public.
Since opening in 2004, approximately 500 tons of building materials have been diverted from the landfill. What’s more, all proceeds from the store cycle back into Habitat’s operations, accounting for approximately 15 percent of its annual budget.
The facelift of the formerly squat cinderblock building was sorely needed, according to ReStore director Tina Shaw Cox. “I’d come home picking insulation out of my hair,” she says of the former chicken-wire ceiling. It was dirty, dark, and summer and winter were nearly unbearable without any heat or air conditioning. But what ultimately precipitated the renovation was the need for expansion. With approximately $20,000 in gross sales each month, ReStore had outgrown its space. Once complete, the new structure will add 3,000 square feet of retail space and storage and at least three more employees. Cox hopes to double monthly sales.
So far, the Strauss Company has taken the structure down to its cement foundation and steel beam frame.