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Auburn city councilors on Thursday passed a resolution supporting deconstruction and reuse. The city is the first New York municipality to approve deconstruction legislation. 

Although it's a nonbinding resolution, the purpose of the measure is to support initiatives that "preserve, protect, deconstruct and reuse rather than demolish," according to text. 

Auburn Mayor Jimmy Giannettino explained that the council was approached by Cayuga Climate Action about the deconstruction resolution in 2023. CR0WD, an Ithaca-based group that advocates for circularity, reuse and zero waste development, provided the template that was shared by Cayuga Climate Action. 

CR0WD touts the economic and environmental benefits of deconstruction, from creating jobs to reusing building materials. The group, citing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, notes that 600 million tons of waste is produced annually by the construction and demolition of structures. It's estimated that 80% of this waste could be reused. 

In Auburn, one example of deconstruction is what happened with the former Denny's on Grant Avenue. Dominic Gambaiani, a co-founder of Cayuga Climate Action, noticed there were several items left behind that could be reused instead of being sent to the landfill. He worked with the new owner, New Potato Creek Holdings, to distribute that equipment to other businesses and organizations. 

Among the beneficiaries is Auburn Bagel Co., which is owned by Tony Daddabbo. The new Genesee Street restaurant took bathroom mirrors, chairs, tables and a walk-in freezer. 

"That bagel shop could not have opened without deconstruction," Daddabbo told the council. 

Other speakers supported the deconstruction resolution before the council's vote. Andrew Roblee, who owns a historic preservation consulting firm and is a CR0WD founding partner, encouraged councilors to support the resolution.

Roblee acknowledged it's largely a symbolic measure, but that the resolution still has meaning. 

"There's a saying in preservation which is as New York goes, so goes the nation," he said. "I'm hoping that in this aspect, as Auburn goes, so will go the state of New York." 

The council voted 5-0 to pass the resolution. Councilor Ginny Kent is eager to see how it will be incorporated into the city's work. 

"I hope we'll all keep it front and center," she said. 

Cayuga Climate Action says the resolution includes similar deconstruction goals that are part of the . The plan contains language that would encourage municipalities to adopt deconstruction legislation.