Innovative reuse of housing in Quapaw, Okla.

Oct 21, 2008

Ottawa County, Oklahoma doesn’t have enough affordable housing, and an innovative plan to move and reuse housing from another location may help ease that problem. Approximately 150 homes are being moved from an area evacuated because of mining activity there into a 180-acre area south of Quapaw—to create a new neighborhood called Bluestem Park. Only 27 homes have been moved so far; the first of them should be available early next year.

The plan is an exciting recycling of resources. Entire homes are being moved, and in addition, portions of homes (like decks and porches, windows and doors and some outbuildings) are being salvaged from homes that are scheduled for demolition. The developers say that moving and reusing the homes is saving money as well as reducing waste.

For all the benefits of reusing old construction, there is a significant complication. All of the homes must be inspected for dangerous materials, primarily asbestos and lead. Asbestos and lead has been removed from the homes in preparation for the move to Bluestem Park.

For the full story, go to the Joplin Globe.

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