To Be Demolished: The Formal Track to demolition

[sheclown]

Many of these houses have been torn down.  Many, however, are still holding on and are due for demolition.  It is going to take a lot of research to figure out which ones on the list are still standing.

[Timkin]

That is an awful lot of houses.  Sheesh

[sheclown]

Save Our Springfield

[Timkin]

Cool sign.  I hope it helps.. This seems a bit...no.. Im sorry ALOT ridiculous!

[sheclown]

I'm taking off the count right now.  I find contradicting information and then don't quite know what to make of it.  I'll do some more checking and then post.

There seems to have been spurts of demos, then calm, then spurts again. 

What is important is this:  How many "green tagged" homes are out there?  How many are currently on the "Formal Track".  We can assume that any house which is condemned is in the system and it is just a matter of time, if the corrections are not quickly made, that it will come down.

It is time for a political solution to this problem.  Policies must be changed.

It is also a time for an attitudinal change in the neighborhood.  If we ask the city to take care of homes in disrepair in our neighborhood, they will.  And it won't be pretty.

[CS Foltz]

In two years time................total of 107! Glad to see that the SPAR Council is staying on top of things! I mean no one would want to accuse them of not preserving  anything of historical significance! Gee whiz.....WTF!

[iloveionia]

Sheclown:
You have done a remarkable job at stating the facts about Historic Springfield structures and their demolition or impending demolition. 

I would like to clarify an additional fact about the process of "demolition." The following will be validated with posting of HPC meeting minutes and code enforcement reports which will be posted in the next days. 

When a case file is opened on a property that has to do with the health and safety of people living inside the structure, or people who could live in the structure, (basically everything but overgrown grass and an abandoned care on the property,) the owner of the property has 2 options with the one or more code violations:  "Repair or Demolish."  This is stated clearly on the report from Code Enforcement that is sent to the owner of the property. 

In the last year, several properties have been brought to HPC meetings from code enforcement with a request to put on a "Formal Track for Demolition," however the "for demolition" is often kept silent.  There are 2 kinds of tracks for demolition: Formal Track and Emergency Track.    A property put on the formal track for demolition typically takes 6-9 months before the demolition process begins.  This change in time (was 36 months, now is 6 months occurred in approximately 2007.) Any time something legal happens with a property, i.e. change of ownership, Code Enforcement begins the notification process again for the new owner and it's back on for another 6-9 months.  Again, the new owner must "repair or demolish." Now, Code Enforcement will work with property owners who are in good faith working on their properties and need more time, that fact can not be ignored, which allows an owner to "repair" code violations in a fair and reasonable time.

Filing an e-care request currently does NOT help to preserve a property.  HPC meeting minutes state (from Code Enforcement,) that there is not money to "board and secure."  The Code Enforcement Officer documents (exterior only by the way as they are not allowed inside a property without the owner's permission which they typically can NOT get in touch with despite dozens of attempted contacts which they document,) via photos and written comments about the condition of the exterior of the property.  One example for a justification of a "Formal Track" is because the accrued fines on the property exceed the value of the property.  One property had $131,500 in fines.  With this information in hand, Code Enforcement presents their written report to HPC and requests the "Formal Track for Demolition."  Past practices typically meant HPC went out and surveyed the property, but sometime around 2007, things changed and only Code Enforcement viewed the property and typically only from the outside. 

HPC is agreeing to the formal tracks requested by Code Enforcement and in many cases is supported and not disputed by folks attending the HPC meetings from Historic Springfield.

In the next days copies of meeting minutes that discuss specific addresses (of homes still standing,) and the request for "Formal Track of Demolition," will be posted.  Also posted in the next days will be copies of a few code enforcement reports that state property violations and the means to fix meaning: "Repair or Demolish."

We can not change the past, we can complain and be shocked about things, but the reality is in the here and now.  We must band together in the name of preservation and work towards a common goal together for Historic Springfield to preserve what is left of the properties, Code Enforcement needs to be left out of the equation.  Remember: Repair or Demolish.  Every home that is left standing and is in need of attention needs to be boarded and secured until a current owner or new owner can do the right thing.  We need to take charge, initiative and command as concerned residents, business people and neighborhood advocates.  It is truly up to US.  As the economy continues to slowly turn around and we crawl out of the foreclosure and short sale homes these homes in need of attention will be sold and brought to their former glory. 

Advocates, residents, concerned persons need to speak up by attending HPC meetings, writing emails about specific properties or preservation in general.  In the next days as well it is apparent I should write specifics about how and who to do this for/to. 

When we stay quiet, we lose the homes.  When we make noise, ruffle feathers, and nose around, we make music in a heartfelt song titled preservation.

[sheclown]

In two years time................total of 107! Glad to see that the SPAR Council is staying on top of things! I mean no one would want to accuse them of not preserving  anything of historical significance! Gee whiz.....WTF!

my mistake and I apologize.  The figures are not nearly as bad as I originally thought.  I need to double/triple check and cross check by street addresses and I'll correct as I can. 

That being said, it is still quite alarming.

[iloveionia]

Cool sign.  I hope it helps.. This seems a bit...no.. Im sorry ALOT ridiculous!

I think you are just jealous you did not think of this on your own. ;-)  

There are over 2 dozen hearts on stakes and fences that are gracing over 10 homes that need our help and support.  The hearts "Save Our Springfield," are meant to draw attention to the homes in a positive way, that are on the formal track for demolition and in particular, these specific homes are looking at a bulldozer in the next week or two.  Time is of the essence.  

I'm pretty damn proud of those hearts.  Someone/s care and is doing something proactive towards preservation.  A whole new outlook that shows someone/s is not staying quiet or accepting that the house should come down.  It is a positive piece to a much bigger response to demolition that continues to grow.  

[iloveionia]

Springfield is a Nationally Recognized Historic Neighborhood and as with homeowners who are required to file COAs and follow rules for restoration/renovations, the city should be required to follow a set of rules not the same for a NON Historic Neighborhood.  We are different.  We should be treated different.  Preservation in a Nationally Recognized Neighborhood should occur without hesitation.  How many more do we lose before we lose our designation?

[Timkin]

As you should be proud.  What I was saying was ridiculous, was that House is being demolished ..or it would appear.  IF the City is footing the bill to demo them..seems boarding them up for now would be cheaper, since we are in pretty dire straits , economy-wise... In other words, buy some time for ones like this..

But then there will be postings indicating the opposite. they are empty and run down to demo them.  Too well i know the drill.. I have been in a Preservation mission myself for several years.. so I get the battle

[iloveionia]

And your battle my friend is one I respect.  Love the school.  LOVE, LOVE, the school.  We all need to get into positions of political power to make change!!!

[sheclown]

iloveionia 4 mayor!

[Timkin]

Well .. asst to the Mayor maybe

[sheclown]

Sheclown:
You have done a remarkable job at stating the facts about Historic Springfield structures and their demolition or impending demolition.  

I would like to clarify an additional fact about the process of "demolition." The following will be validated with posting of HPC meeting minutes and code enforcement reports which will be posted in the next days.  

When a case file is opened on a property that has to do with the health and safety of people living inside the structure, or people who could live in the structure, (basically everything but overgrown grass and an abandoned care on the property,) the owner of the property has 2 options with the one or more code violations:  "Repair or Demolish."  This is stated clearly on the report from Code Enforcement that is sent to the owner of the property.  

In the last year, several properties have been brought to HPC meetings from code enforcement with a request to put on a "Formal Track for Demolition," however the "for demolition" is often kept silent.  There are 2 kinds of tracks for demolition: Formal Track and Emergency Track.    A property put on the formal track for demolition typically takes 6-9 months before the demolition process begins.  This change in time (was 36 months, now is 6 months occurred in approximately 2007.) Any time something legal happens with a property, i.e. change of ownership, Code Enforcement begins the notification process again for the new owner and it's back on for another 6-9 months.  Again, the new owner must "repair or demolish." Now, Code Enforcement will work with property owners who are in good faith working on their properties and need more time, that fact can not be ignored, which allows an owner to "repair" code violations in a fair and reasonable time.

Filing an e-care request currently does NOT help to preserve a property.  HPC meeting minutes state (from Code Enforcement,) that there is not money to "board and secure."  The Code Enforcement Officer documents (exterior only by the way as they are not allowed inside a property without the owner's permission which they typically can NOT get in touch with despite dozens of attempted contacts which they document,) via photos and written comments about the condition of the exterior of the property.  One example for a justification of a "Formal Track" is because the accrued fines on the property exceed the value of the property.  One property had $131,500 in fines.  With this information in hand, Code Enforcement presents their written report to HPC and requests the "Formal Track for Demolition."  Past practices typically meant HPC went out and surveyed the property, but sometime around 2007, things changed and only Code Enforcement viewed the property and typically only from the outside.  

HPC is agreeing to the formal tracks requested by Code Enforcement and in many cases is supported and not disputed by folks attending the HPC meetings from Historic Springfield.

In the next days copies of meeting minutes that discuss specific addresses (of homes still standing,) and the request for "Formal Track of Demolition," will be posted.  Also posted in the next days will be copies of a few code enforcement reports that state property violations and the means to fix meaning: "Repair or Demolish."

We can not change the past, we can complain and be shocked about things, but the reality is in the here and now.  We must band together in the name of preservation and work towards a common goal together for Historic Springfield to preserve what is left of the properties, Code Enforcement needs to be left out of the equation.  Remember: Repair or Demolish.  Every home that is left standing and is in need of attention needs to be boarded and secured until a current owner or new owner can do the right thing.  We need to take charge, initiative and command as concerned residents, business people and neighborhood advocates.  It is truly up to US.  As the economy continues to slowly turn around and we crawl out of the foreclosure and short sale homes these homes in need of attention will be sold and brought to their former glory.  

Advocates, residents, concerned persons need to speak up by attending HPC meetings, writing emails about specific properties or preservation in general.  In the next days as well it is apparent I should write specifics about how and who to do this for/to.  

When we stay quiet, we lose the homes.  When we make noise, ruffle feathers, and nose around, we make music in a heartfelt song titled preservation.

Ionia, you said it!!  Thanks for the explanation.

An understanding of FORMAL TRACK is essential!

The HPC doesn't rule to demolish homes, as such, they rule to place these houses on a "Formal Track." Perhaps if the word "demolition" were used instead of "formal track" fewer houses would be on the LIST.

Formal Track means that if the house isn't renovated by such and such a date (usually less than a year), it will come down. And if the owners don't have the resources to fix it up, or won't (for whatever reason -- the economy, the Ash issue, or just plain greed), it is gone.  

The Formal Track began in 2007, and it is not a good thing.