By Dave Matlow
The 1840s barn at the former Geiger’s Garden Center, 1135 Post Road East, is coming down piece-by-piece, much of it to be preserved in a process called deconstruction.

Joe DeRisi, owner of Hamden-based Urban Miners, works on the Geiger’s barn, 1135 Post Road East. (CLICK TO ENLARGE)
Dave Matlow for WestportNow.comA landmark, family-owned business at the 2.5-acre property since 1953, Geiger’s has been sold to make way for redevelopment to include 12 housing units, including two affordable, as well as a bank in the front. It was WestportNow’s Teardown of the Day on Oct. 31, 2013.
Joe DeRisi, owner of Hamden-based Urban Miners, a deconstruction, salvage and reclaimed goods business, is performing the work.
“We expect the entire barn will be deconstructed and removed by May 5,” he said, adding, “We’re saving historic materials such as roof sheeting, rafters, timber frames and siding that would usually be destroyed in a demolition.”