I currently own and operate Sarasota Architectural Salvage, a retail store selling salvaged, recycled, and antique building materials and home decor. We are a mission driven operation, which creates some challenges for a for-profit store. For example, some of the most environmentally rewarding salvage is not very profitable. Our store tries to blend the most profitable with the most sustainable.
Sarasota Architectural Salvage, http://www.sarasotasalvage.com, is the region's final opportunity for preservation of historic building elements. While I personally would like to see buildings of architectural significance preserved, the reality of our real estate market has created a huge number of demolitions throughout the region. If a structure cannot be saved or moved, then salvage is the next best opportunity to preserve its elements for future generations. Landfills don't offer much future salvage potential for materials in their original state.
In keeping with this theme, you will find remnants from Sarasota's historic buildings in our shop. Some famous - such as heat return grates from the John Ringling Towers. Some not so famous - such as siding from a cute bungalow previously located in the hospital district.
My personal and professional resume has been based on the concept of sustainability. In the late 1980's I started a recycling program at New College. Primarily focused on saving aluminum cans and bottles from weekend parties, I grew the program to include paper and other commodities. Not satisfied with just keeping this material out of the landfill, I reinvested the profits from the program (at the time, even glass bottles had cash value), I purchased recycled paper which I then sold on campus at a discount to raise awareness about the recycling loop.Â
After college, I worked as a landscaper for the City of Sarasota. With the support of my supervisors, I initiated a program to reduce the use of toxic pesticides, educate all personnel about proper use and disposal of fertilizers and pesticides, dispose of banned and regulated pesticides that had the potential to be used inappropriately. As a result, the City adopted best management practices to achieve maximum horticultural result, with minimum environmental and human health impact.
My graduate work at Antioch University culminated in exploring landfill reclamation as a potential property reuse strategy for siting a composting facility. Later, I worked as a consultant setting up recycling programs throughout New England and Florida.
As owner of a small environmental consulting firm, I have completed several sustainability projects in and around Sarasota. Under contract to Sarasota County Government, I developed and now continue to manage a website, http://www.compostinfo.com/ which teaches residential composting techniques to help keep waste out of landfills and valuable compost in the garden.
In addition, my firm performed numerous waste reduction studies including evaluation of recycling post consumer roofing shingles, deconstruction and building materials reuse, commercial food waste recycling, and community based electronics reuse and recycling.
Sarasota Architectural Salvage
1093 Central Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
941-362-0803