The one thing I don't buy about his story is the reason he didn't have insurance. He says it was because it was zoned residential. But there are all kinds of home based businesses in residential-zoned neighborhoods, and most homeowners policies can have business coverage added. My guess is that either it was uninsurable because of its poor condition or that he was unwilling to spend the money to upgrade the building or to pay extra for the insurance.
Still, if people want to fund his rebuilding, or help fund it, that's fine.