Saving grace

By Candace Doyle

It's not enough to merely own a home.

You've got to keep it in repair.

But if you're a central city resident, the cost of doing so can be prohibitive.

George Bogdanovich understands that, and that's why he and about four other Milwaukee area business people started the Community Warehouse about three years ago.

"For three years, what we've been doing is building the infrastructure of this organization," said Bogdanovich, executive director of the nonprofit. "The framework of the organization is done."

The "mini Home Depot," as he calls it, is not fully operational yet. But when it is, it will collect surplus building materials that remodelors, manufacturers and contractors would otherwise toss out.

And then the Community Warehouse will recycle those materials in a unique way. Mate-rials brought in will be sold to those within the redevelopment zone — bounded by Lincoln Avenue on the south, Silver Spring Drive on the north, 43rd Street on the west and First Street on the east — at between 20 percent and 25 percent of the regular retail cost.

"Our clients are going to be nonprofits, central city residents," he said. "Builders will not be able to buy, but the little guy — he can buy material from us.

"We're a conduit from people who have to people who don't have."

And those who have have been generously backing the project; 20,000 square feet of space in a building at Ninth and Bruce streets in Milwaukee has been donated for the Community Warehouse's retail operations. Supporters include the Bradley Foundation, Bank One, M&I Bank and the members of the Metropolitan Builders Association, who have donated time to get the nonprofit up and running.

Additionally, Bogdanovich estimates that the warehouse has about $100,000 worth of do-nated material, which he said can be a good write-off for a contractor.

"When they throw something out, they can write off a certain percent," he said. "But if they donate it, they can write off up to two times what they paid for it."

Despite that generosity, he said the Community Warehouse is always in need of a "door or dollar," especially with Bogdanovich's ambitious plans for the future.

"Our goal is to have four of these up in Milwaukee in the next five or six years," he said.

Those interested in making a contribution can contact Bogdanovich at 414-276-6689.

© 2004 Daily Reporter Publishing Co., All Rights Reserved.