"Emergency Demolition"

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

...and there you have it.

Have what?  We all agree, well most, that this guy used the rules in his favor, but how can you prevent it?  Do you put a dollar amount on the amount that would be required to sustain the home i.l.o. demolition?  Should that $ be added to the sale price of the home or just understood after the fact?

You guys have a situation, while horrible for you, is s.o.p. in most other parts of the world.  He's using the rules in his favor. 

If you know you're dying from old age, but your life insurance will only pay for death by cancer, then you find enough second opinions until one of them agrees that you're dying because of cancer, no matter that it's just a bit of melanoma on your forearm and you spend 9 hours a day out in the sun - it's still cancer and you're dying - show my family the money.

[ChriswUfGator]

yep, and I totally agree, but the only defense it to a.) pay out of the ass for health insurance or b.) don't have insurance and don't pay the bill.

Yeah, you're right, really seems like the system encourages people to not have insurance.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Yeah, you're right, really seems like the system encourages people to not have insurance.

The deep, dark side of me contributes all of this to the basis of your kind - the attorney. 

Before you and I go completely off thread, I think everything was probably trucking along just fine until someone who knew how to twist the law and had a gift of speech to point out that even though 'x' did what he though was right for 'y', it wasn't right, so 'x' should have to pay 'z' for his service and also 'y' for his disservice.

I haven't drank enough tonight to take this argument on, but you see where I'm going with it.

[ChriswUfGator]

Sure thing, Stephen, my apologies on that, you're right this doesn't have anything to do with historic preservation.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Well from the sound of it, youve had more than enough to drink to sound completely bizarre and partisan.

Lets keep this on topic gentlemen.

I typically am pretty bizarre and quite often find myself being partisan, so the alcohol doesn't really contribute to that (see all posts prior to 6 pm on fridays )

But I agree, I was getting off topic.

[Timkin]

That guy is full of crap...

His story makes absolutely no freaking sense from the very first sentence; "When I purchased the property, I did so with the belief that it was in such a poor and unsafe condition that it should be demolished."

He then goes on to say (lie) about having the true intent to rehab the property, when he already acknowledged from the very first sentence that he wanted to knock it when he bought it. He also assiduously avoids disclosing his real motivation behind buying it in the first place, which a search of the tax rolls shows is that he lives in the house directly next door and is increasing the size of his yard.

True. Could he had a change of heart though?? Not likely, but still its possible.

Can he show proof that he did indeed sink as much as he said he did into the rehab before he discovered the fatal "flaws"??

I don't know about you...but if I had sunk so much money into a house, I wouldn't have been so willing to accept the demo without so much as a whimper!!

My 2 cents ( no retail value)

Maybe the case I am about to talk about cannot or does not compare to this particular Springfield home , but I personally can attest to the home I am speaking of ( 4442 Angelo Place , Jacksonville )  A now very beautiful 2 Story Stucco with Clay Tile roof home in Ortega.. in fact this home was listed in MJ's showcase of Ortega Homes , last year.

My Grandparents, Rev.Christian and Mrs. Margaret Eck purchased this home around 1941.  He passed on in 1961 and she in 1999, My Mother, and siblings then sold the home in 2000.  At that time, the home was not formally condemned, but I can assure you had a building inspector even approached the home there would have been no question.. The home had extensive deterioration structurally...Floor Joists of the first story just riddled with termite damage.. West and South Walls of the house buckling inward and outward on the first story.. In order to clear the house without fear of collapsing ,we installed housejacks....and that was the way the building was sold.

I do not have exact figures of renovation costs of this property, but for all rights and purposes, the home was essentially rebuilt.... very little of what is there today of the inner structure is original ... there is no way it could be because the termite and water damage was so extensive. And no way a "patch job" could have been done on the house.. it was so close to collapsing I have often wondered just how exactly they did accomplish the work without it coming down. Nonetheless.....

My point to this.. where there is a will there is a way. This is a case where a home was bought of the same exact scenario as the Springfield home just demolished.. The Springfield home was NO WHERE CLOSE TO as extensively deteriorated as the Angelo Place property I am speaking of.  This man can say what he wants.  There may be some truths to his statements, but in my heart, from what I read...the first part of his story is what sticks out in the entire statement.. In the case of Angelo place , that home was truly and honestly falling apart and was in need of a bulldozer. The reason(s) it was saved was because I personally located the individual who bought it from my Mom and her siblings who worked quickly and I know must have put great expense into saving this home. Had it been demolished , given its relatively small lot size, there is no way a home of similar size would have replaced it...not then anyway.  

Today it stands ....it is a stunning home, and My Grandmother would be thrilled to know it was spared.  She really wanted to see it restored..I regret this was never to be ,in her lifetime, but it was restored .

[sheclown]

Thanks Timkin for sharing your story.

This is why the proposed mothball legislation is so important.  It takes time for a project to find its owner.

[Timkin]

Agree.. And I hope and pray more of these homes see a new chapter, rather than being bulldozed.

[buckethead]

I missed this thread during my hiatus.

This demo get's a big OMGWTF!

I doubt the lot is worth what it was with the house on it. I don't generally wish for bad upon people, but a significant financial loss would seem appropriate in this case.

Dood already lost whatever he paid out for the property, "remodeling" labor (+materials), and the demolition itself.

I'm guessing the investment is now in the red, and deservedly so.

[buckethead]

Another question: When these demolitions do get approved, then move forward, is there any means for salvagers to recover historic elements such as doors, mantles, cornice, hardware etc.. other than direct permission from the property owner?

I suppose not...

[mtraininjax]

Another question: When these demolitions do get approved, then move forward, is there any means for salvagers to recover historic elements such as doors, mantles, cornice, hardware etc.. other than direct permission from the property owner?

I suppose not...

If Burkhalter's is still in business on US 23, I suggest you visit them to see what they reclaim from old properties. Visit them at 2500 Kings Road.

They have a website as well.

[mtraininjax]

My point to this.. where there is a will there is a way.

Until SPAR has the same clout in the city that RAP does, if a home is in Springfield, they are considered an endangered species. If this home was in SPAR district, why are there not people rushing to save it, as there would be in RAP's district? What is the perception of homes in SPAR versus RAP?

[buckethead]

I'm a dumpster diver... The whole point is to take something headed to the landfill and allow it to retain it's value. A door is a perfect example. Salvage stores would be an option for those unwilling to do the diving themselves (salvaging prior to demo), or to complete a project where you simply didn't have enough to begin with.

[mtraininjax]

The whole point is to take something headed to the landfill and allow it to retain it's value. A door is a perfect example.

Sadly we have way too many lawyers, insert lawyer joke here, who would like nothing more that to sue someone for negligence. This is why most of the people you see who do the removal of doors are business people with insurance. Yeah it will cost a bit more from Burkhalters, but they did remove the item with their own risk, own people and own insurance. When you step on a property, if you step on a nail and infect your foot, who protects the property owner for your negligence? That is when you see a letter from Chuck and Eddie (Farah)and you don't want that!

[buckethead]

Fair enough... As it happens, I do have ins. I do demolition quite often but in terms of remodeling. I understand the legal implications of allowing joe blow on your property which is about to be demo'd (or not, for that matter).

Most homeowners would be reluctant to allow me to come in with or without ins. "Why bother?" would be the mindset. Hell... they didn't care enough about the structure/landfill issue enough to preserve a sound structure to begin with.