Detroit community group to open tool library

DETROIT (FOX 2) - Have you ever borrowed something from a neighbor or checked something out at the library?

One Detroit neighborhood is combining both, helping others save money and help create a sense of community.

No offense to Vaughn Arrington intended, but right now his dream house looks more like a nightmare.

"I'm going to need some stuff to pull this off that I don't have," he said. "I bought a house over here, I want to live in Detriot and i want to be able to do this affordably and i don't see that happening without something like the tool library."

Yes, you heard that right -  a tool library.

"It's just like a book library, you get a membership, an annual membership with us, and throughout the year you can come and check in and out tools as needed," said Joshua Arntson. 

And just, pray tell, might a handy fellow find at a tool library?

"Shovels, rakes, cultivators, trowels, push mowers, generators, air compressors, drills, saws, hand tools and pliers, wrenches," said Arntson.

In other words, just what a handy young guy might need to set up a sweet crib without investing a fortune in handware.

"I know how to do all this stuff, but do i have the thousands upon thousands of dollars of tools to get this stuff done? No, but I have the knowledge on how to do it - and that's where the tool library to me comes in," Arrington said.

The idea of a tool library isn't new. Joshua Arntson of The Motor City Grounds Crew says they've been around for about a decade.
 
The estimates are that there are 200 around the country, but the one he's helping establish on the east side would be the first in Detroit.

Tools have been hard to come by since hammer time hardware on east warren avenue closed down a couple years ago.

East siders like Joe Rashid hope to open the tool library by April. In the meantime, they are looking for donations -- and they'll take cash or tools or, preferably, both. 

Arrington says it will be a tremendous asset to help Detroiters rebuild Detroit 

"It's just an incredible feature to have in the neighborhood.I would probably want to move over here just because of that," he said.

And, of course, he likes the price.

"It's free-99! what price is better than that," he said. "I don't have to pay for all this stuff? they've got it? i mean you've got to be kidding me man.

"It's a no-brainer, I think this is great. i think this is something we should do all over the city."

To find out more about the tool library project: CLICK HERE.