This Old House

Roxbury; Project with Purpose Begins

E17    Jan 30, 2010    TV-G
For the second project of This Old House's 30th Anniversary Season, the crew takes on an issue that's top of mind in the country: foreclosures. Partnering with the City of Boston and local non-profit Nuestra Comunidad, they will take a foreclosed and abandoned two-family house from the 1870s, and turn it into two units of affordable housing in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Local general contractor David Lopes shows host Kevin O'Connor just how extensive the damage to the old house is, and they quickly get to work demolishing the parts that can't be saved, including a three-story rear extension, which has rotted through from roof to floor. Joining the project will be apprentices from YouthBuild Boston looking to earn jobs in the building trades. In order to recruit two young carpenters from the program to work with the crew, master carpenter Norm Abram visits YouthBuild's annual carpentry challenge.
Watch from these locations
Cast of Roxbury; Project with Purpose Begins
  • Kevin O'ConnorHost
  • Tom SilvaGeneral Contractor
  • Richard TretheweyPlumbing and Heating Expert
  • Roger CookLandscape Contractor
  • Norm AbramMaster Carpenter

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