One person?s junk is another?s treasure.
At least that?s the belief at Second Chance Inc., a South Baltimorenonprofit organization specializing in the removal and resale of unique architectural elements from older homes and buildings that are entering the demolition stage.
Initially incorporated in 2000, the organization opened its retail outlet in 2003, after spending three years collecting materials. At that point, the organization had about 15,000 square feet of space and employed five people. It has since grown to 120,000 square feet in five warehouses with 35 employees.
Throughout its main retail venue is a mix of everything from leaded glass windows, mahogany doors and chandeliers, to glass doorknobs, hand-carved trim molding and claw- foot bathtubs. Items sell for up to 60 percent less than what could be found at a typical retailer ? that is, if it?s still in existence.
But the organization is not just about giving historic items a chance to be used again. All workers who extract the materials from the old structures are low-income residents who have been displaced from other jobs. Second Chance works with the city to find the right candidates and then trains them in a variety of skill sets from carpentry to craftsmanship.
“The best part about what we do is that we can change the lives of people who need a second chance, as well as give the materials that those same people are learning to extract a second chance,” said Mark Foster, Second Chance?s executive director. “It?s a great combination, I think, of a people business and historic materials business.”
Second Chance also benefits developers by extracting and collecting donated materials from their locations, which can then be used to receive tax benefits since the organization is a nonprofit.
According to Foster, the organization?s growth during the past three years is primarily attributed to the resurgence of people moving back to the city who want their homes to feature a bit of history or people who have applied for historic tax credits who must then ensure their renovations are historically accurate.
Contact Second Chance
» 1645 Warner St.
» Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
» 410-385-1101
