1325 Laura -- demolition hearing at HPC

[sheclown]

Good idea Ralph.

[Timkin]

AWESOME!!!!

[avs]

Who would be responsible for taking the photos?  The new homeowner?

[Ralph W]

There is that technical term called "disclosure". I would make the seller responsible for the photos since he/she would be the one responsible  for whatever was done to the house. If the owner of a house is a bank, investor or holding company there should be no difference. You own the house, you take the photos.

As an afterthought, photos should also be required whenever a building permit is issued. All  permit documentation, including blueprints, is digitized so there would be little possibility of print photos being "misplaced".

[sheclown]

This is on the agenda for next Wednesday:

Condemned Properties
1. Request of Municipal Code Compliance Division to discuss 1325 North Laura Street

As you recall, code brought this to the HPC in February at which time HPC made some stipulations that code follow before allowing the house to be demo'd.  The next month, the house was brought to the commissioners by the owner -- March, April, May,  and in June the HPC denied this request.

It will be interesting to see what happens,

[iloveionia]

Clearly, a city department wants to flex their muscles.
I have my "speculations" of what is going to happen.

[sheclown]

This house was brought before hpc once again. This time code enforcement brought it to the commissioners. The hpc voted on behalf of saving the house once
Again

[avs]

That's great!

[iloveionia]

Finally!  HPC is protecting Springfield!
Thank you!

[sheclown]

As "unsafe" and "condemned" are defined by law, there needs to be a different term to describe a structure which is not habitable and yet not likely to fall down on a passerby.  Until we get this on the books, there will be useless battles over terms.

Code is always going to think "unsafe" is corrected by making it habitable or wiping it out.  They are currently directed to by law.  This needs to change.

[sheclown]

To be honest with you, had they approved demolition, I would have lost it right there.  After the loss of the Patterson Apts, then Market Street, the loss of this one so soon would have been too much.

[sheclown]

Mothball application in for this house!!

[sheclown]

Psos joined the historic planning department and the owner's agent for a pre-mothball inspection of this house. We also spoke to a neighbor about her concerns regarding safety and blight.

I think we have a plan.

Autumn Martinage, planner, is pictured above doing a thorough investigation of the condition of the house.

[sheclown]

Mothball application accepted by HPC!! Now it is time to roll up our sleeves and make it happen!!

[sheclown]

The mothballing process for this house will include the following:  the roof will be secure and leakproof.  Flapping panels will be attached.  Areas without roofing material will be covered.  Windows will be boarded a la mothball style with the painted sashes and the blacked out background.  All open areas of siding will be covered and the whole house will be primed with a fresh coat of primer white.  The interior temporary bracing will be inspected and repaired or altered to make sure the house is secure.  This temporary bracing will be inspected by the building department.  The interior will be cleaned to "broom swept" condition.  There will be security lights installed in the front and back.  The crawl space will be protected with framed in lattice.  And last, but not least, there will be some landscaping in the front to pretty it up.

This is a rough explanation. If you would like more information contact PSOS and we will fill you in on the process.

Hooray for MOTHBALLING!  And as always, when we think about these, we think of our friend, Bill Killingsworth.