From Ordinary to Extraordinary. Este artículo no está disponible.From Ordinary to Extraordinary

Why not? The answer to Torruella Gaines’ Why not? was “Why not reinvent myself as a real estate developer and start with my own city of Baltimore?” From Ordinary to Extraordinary is a marvelous story of triumph over blight and the achievement of immeasurable personal growth. It is the true story of the marvelous transformation of an area characterized by blight, abandonment and illicit activities into a completely revitalized inner city block. Drawing from her eye-opening experiences, Torruella Gaines discusses techniques for the successful rehabilitation of vacant, dilapidated, and uninhabitable structures. You will also learn through text, stories, and dialogue inserts about the improbable friendship that developed as a result of the redevelopment effort. This pivotal relationship between developer and general contractor was paramount to the success of the endeavor. The spectacular images of Gaines’ passionate journey will amaze you. Simply stated, From Ordinary to Extraordinary exemplifies how it is possible to positively reinvent yourself, generate a profit, and make an everlasting difference. This inspiring journey will leave you asking yourself, “Why not?”

Diana Torruella Gaines was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where she attended Academia San Jose. She came to Baltimore in 1985 after graduating from Duke University. After approximately a decade in commercial lending and an additional 12 years as a homemaker raising three sons, she reinvented herself as a real estate developer using Baltimore City's Vacants to Value Program as a platform and targeting vacant properties in grave need of rehabilitation. The first Hispanic woman developer in the city, Torruella Gaines' goals are to fight blight, provide an "affordable, luxury living" option to Baltimore City homebuyers, and establish herself as a trustworthy and reliable inner city developer.