Ramon Martinez, Site Supervisor
This former apprentice now leads hands-on restorations of abandoned and neglected homes.
In today’s world, when it’s the norm to demolish older, run-down homes to build new, Ramon Martinez is bucking the trend. As the site supervisor for Northside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance (NINA) in Hartford, Conn., Ramon manages the rehab and restoration of blighted homes to their former glory.
NINA seeks out abandoned or neglected homes to buy, and then does heavy restoration work on the houses with the goal of selling them below cost to encourage homeownership in the neighborhood. Ramon first encountered NINA while doing a 10-month pre-apprenticeship program with YouthBuild, an international program promoting education and work experience for at-risk youth.
He worked on NINA projects as part of his hands-on training. When Ramon started his own construction company, NINA was his first client. In a full-circle moment, Ramon was hired as the full-time site supervisor for NINA in 2022, and he put his own company on the back burner.
While much of Ramon’s job revolves around scheduling, hiring, and managing subcontractors and volunteers, he also makes time for the hands-on carpentry work he loves. On his last couple of projects, he worked alongside volunteers—some of whom trained him years ago. And he gave his most recent project, the majestic Linus Plimpton House, his full attention: “I didn’t want anyone else touching that job,” he says. “I wanted to do it myself and I wanted it to look a certain way.”
Older homes come with challenges. “When you’re dealing with older houses,” Ramon laments, “square and level are more like suggestions.” To compensate, he focuses on what’s appealing to the eye, instead of trying to go back and make everything perfect. He also does his best to salvage any original work he can, though that can be difficult. Original woodwork is often painted over. Years of neglect typically means water damage. But that doesn’t deter Ramon.
“To be quite honest, the worse they looked at the beginning, the better it feels to see them come out as good as they do at the end,” he confesses. “I take pride in that. And joy.”
— Jennifer Morris; Fine Homebuilding Editorial Assistant
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