Now, this is what we call hands-on restoration.
According to this story in the Mohave Daily News, artist and sculptor Dan Lutzick has been hired as project manager for the restoration of El Garces, a former Harvey House, in Needles, Calif. And he’s not just dropping by the site every week or so:
In April, Lutzick and his two dogs set up camp, literally, in a travel trailer on site, allowing the artist to remain close to his subject. Seeing himself as an upper manager wielding a sledge hammer, he intends to work personally with consultants, subcontractors and others on every aspect of development. He needs to get his hands dirty to do that, he said. This is more than a job to Lutzick; it’s a drive to preserve a work of art and make it functional once again.
Alan Affeldt, who oversaw the restoration of another Harvey House, La Posada in Winslow, Ariz., is also a main investor in the El Garces project.
The article says that they hope to open the old railroad depot, hotel and restaurant again by Dec. 22, 2008. But Lutzick is reportedly committed to staying until April 2010 to make sure the project is done.