Economy
Tearing Down Homes, Building a Workforce
After Portland banned demolition of its oldest homes, it forged a path for women and people of color to find higher-paying work in the trades.
When Portland officials debated banning demolition for old homes in 2016, opponents shared one concern: There might not be enough people trained in deconstruction to keep up with demand.
Compared to demolition, deconstruction is tough, hands-on, time-consuming work. But the city opted to require it for homes built before 1916, citing it as a more sustainable alternative that would allow for quality building materials to be salvaged and reused. Now, the city sees another benefit to its decision: job opportunities.