S.O.S. Old Homes & Large Trees -- history going, going....gone?

[Timkin]

I have a better idea.. they need to live in another City or State.

[sheclown]

The push for demolition is relatively new. Until around 2005, the city was content to board them and leave them be. I have personally restored many homes that were boarded up for a decade or more before they were resuscitated.

This all changed with the push for Icare complaints against neglected properties.  While on the surface, it appears to be a good thing to push owners into restoring their properties, the unintended effect of this was to pile on files and pressure to the point where the homeowners abdicated total responsibility and lobbied the city to get it off their backs. 

The neighborhood hoped this effort would increase the likelihood of homes coming on the market at reasonable prices and, I'm sure, this happened.  However, if no buyer was to be found, then the owner is stuck with crazy fines and he lobbies the city to tear his house down.

This, coupled with the city's new policy of increasing the 'fast track to demolition' -- changing the required time for the house to be in the system from 36 months to 6 months, and then you have all of these houses getting destroyed.

And, here we are. 

An attack against any house in this neighborhood, is an attack against the neighborhood.

[sheclown]

Does anyone know how many houses have been torn down in Riverside in the last couple of years?

[ChriswUfGator]

Does anyone know how many houses have been torn down in Riverside in the last couple of years?

To my knowledge, 0.

There was about to be 1, which was Bronson Lamb's bungalow, but RAP put the kybosh on that.

[ChriswUfGator]

An attack against any house in this neighborhood, is an attack against the neighborhood.

Worst thing is that the complaints came from within the neighborhood. (SPAR)

[iloveionia]

Key word: Preservation
It should be the forefront of this neighborhood.  It was at one time, it is necessary again.
I too hear the same about Riverside.  That's because preservation is the only answer in their historic neighborhood.

[hanjin1]

The sewer lines were cut from this home today. 

The bulldozers will be next and I expect it will be demo'ed first part of the week.  From my licensed contractor eyes, this does not look to be a public safety concern.

I don't understand why it is being demolished.



You can see the straight lines on the siding.  No bulges or dips.  No swayback.

East 5th Street

I actually talked to the guy that owns this house about a year ago. i was buying some drywall from him and he told me why. i think i actually posted something about it as well. Anyways he told me that he was trying to demolish it because he says that the house was in bad shape. he said there was nothing historic left in the house and he thought that the land was more profitable than to renovate the house. i didn't go inside, so i can't confirm if it is true or not, but it did sound like he just wanted to tear it down so that he could sell the land

[sheclown]

And in an historic district, he doesn't have that right.  The house not only belongs to the owner, but it also belongs to the neighborhood.

BTW, the house is very sound.

[FinnegansWake]

My house belongs to me. Unless you all want to help out with the mortgage. Call me if you're interested.

[sheclown]

oh..yeah?  Try putting in any kind of windows you choose!  Or changing the roofing material!  You'll soon see how much you "own" your home.

You can drive a mile down the road and put a butt-ugly addition on to your cottage, or put adobe style roofing materials over your asphalt shingles and no one says "boo" to the style component of your decision (certainly building department will make sure that it is done safely to code).  As a homeowner in Springfield, you don't get that kind of authority over your dwelling.  It is one of the "costs" of buying in a Nationally Recognized Historic District.

[Timkin]

My house belongs to me. Unless you all want to help out with the mortgage. Call me if you're interested.

true.  You should try adding a 150 ft radio tower and a small convenience store in front of it, finnegan.

ROFLMAO @ Stephen. that was funny man

[Timkin]

oh..yeah?  Try putting in any kind of windows you choose!  Or changing the roofing material!  You'll soon see how much you "own" your home.

You can drive a mile down the road and put a butt-ugly addition on to your cottage, or put adobe style roofing materials over your asphalt shingles and no one says "boo" to the style component of your decision (certainly building department will make sure that it is done safely to code).  As a homeowner in Springfield, you don't get that kind of authority over your dwelling.  It is one of the "costs" of buying in a Nationally Recognized Historic District.

Code enforcement is stepping up in some areas.. And as I stated in a previous post, I ll bet the bank in the case of this house that is condemned, that lovely "Jax Bargain Plywood and Winders" enclosure done on the front of the house was N O T  done with a permit.  I could be wrong (have been many times before) but  do not think I am in this instance. 

I see both sides.  If you make the mortgage payments , and pay taxes , etc,  you "should" be able (within reason) do as you wish to your home.  NOT SO !  In fact , IMO one never outright "owns" a home.  go delinquent on your property taxes , which you will always pay, even if there is no mortgage.  Even more is Historically-protected or Deed-Restricted communities.  that patio addition would go over like a lead balloon and code enforcement would have a ticket-writing party.

  Too bad for this house... it definitely needs work..but it should not be torn down.

[iloveionia]

If you bought in this neighborhood, you bought knowing there are rules.  Nationally Recognized Historic Neighborhood.  You know, so we don't look like the suburbs or something else God awful ugly.
You can buy a house in a planned development community and still have rules. 
Shit, there are rules everywhere.  Is anything really ours? 

[CS Foltz]

Something I have allways wondered about is how "Code Enforcement" goes about their business? A phone call to them, I would think, would initiate something but don't they take it upon themselves to possibly do the job they are paid to do? Does it take a phone call or do they have some kind of idea of how to go about doing their job? Phone calls from the "SPAR Council" , from a select few who have the number on their speed dial, should only be one slice of the job pie........so does anyone know just how they go about doing Code Enforcement? By the way, there are "Covenents" that all residents have to abid by when buying a home in Linkside!

[sheclown]

Code enforcement investigation is complaint-driven.  I suppose it has to be due to limited resources.