Letters to the Editor - July 2010 Lets recycle buildings - Let’s recycle buildings

    We are all encouraged to reduce-reuse-recycle. In a throw away society, useful ideas and useful structures are too often thrown into the "landfill." Hennepin County encourages residents to reuse items and reduce the volume of waste produced, a virtuous endeavor. Recasting and reusing old buildings in new green roles is the ultimate in recycling. The adaptive reuse of old buildings results in significant energy savings. Energy that is spent manufacturing and transporting materials can be saved. Raw materials that would be drawn from the earth can be saved. And reuse of old buildings eliminates the need to toss the existing structure into a landfill.

    Adaptive reuse is an environmentally and economically sound idea that should be fully explored for the site at 4414 Humboldt Avenue North. The expansive square footage of the site allows ample room for new mechanical systems such as geothermal wells, ground water heat pumps, solar panels and even mini wind turbines. With reinforcement, the roof could be transformed into a songbird habitat. The current parking lot could have a future as an elegantly designed rain garden/park/parking lot.

    It is appropriate and desirable to have the 15,000-sq. ft. building on 44th and Humboldt reused, redeveloped and recast as a beautiful library. Could Hennepin County lead by example and repurpose this former grocery store into a public library for Camden?

Kevin Holler

Webber-Camden