Sustainable Design
When one purchases an older seasonal camp for the purpose of tearing it down to build a year-round cottage in St. Lawrence or Franklin County on one of the many bodies of water, it is hoped that one seriously considers subscribing to sustainable design principles. To do so, the landowner could invite and encourage interested individuals and/or contractors to come in and salvage any possible materials from such a tear-down or the owner could even incorporate these building materials into their new construction. In doing so, one is saving the landfills from filling up with additional waste and at the same time avoiding the expense of disposing of such as well as preserving the character of construction that is evident in those camps built long ago that somehow cannot be duplicated in modern-day construction. Even the simplest design possesses a uniqueness that cannot be easily replicated.
This can also be accomplished in the various towns and villages in St. Lawrence and Franklin County. For example, old fraternity houses associated with such colleges as SUNY Potsdam, Clarkson University, and SUNY Canton are an excellent source of sustainable design. If a house has to be demolished, let us not destroy each and every piece of its historic past with it. Houses obtained by area hospitals through eminent domain should also be considered as valuable sources of sustainable design. Time needs to be allotted for those who could salvage and recycle these building materials. Sustainable design is environmentally necessary and greatly lends itself to being a preserver of historic architecture.