Save This Historic Home!

[Timkin]

Agree. For ALL historic landmarks including historic homes.

[iloveionia]

I reviewed the case file on this house again. I'm ticked to no end.
I would be happy to email you the 11 page file if anyone wants to view it.

The first line on the report says:
04/09/2010 C Follow Up Call on Apr 9 2010 10:35AM: 1626 Ionia Street, this house is
abandoned and open. Vagrants are coming in and staying there. It is an
unsafe structure and fire hazard, it needs to be demolished.
Posted Condemned placards and changed case track. M.O`Loughlin.

It's all a crock of BS. The home was lived in in March 2009 when this case file was opened. Read the report for yourself and determine what the difference is between a "formal track for demolition" and a (non-existent) fast track for demolition.

Ugh.

[CS Foltz]

I'm somewhat confused as to the dates? 04/09/10 was the initial call..........who called? Followup on 04/09/10 at 10:35 and who is M.O. Laughlin? Back when I worked on aircraft for a living, there used to be an inspection procedure called "Pencil Whippin"! This was done by a select few...........but I never did! Too much at stake, plus I took  pride in what I did! It would seem to me that the City has no pride.............. whoever Loughlin is, appears to love pencil whippin!

[iloveionia]

The 11 page case file doesn't have specific information.  I mean there is information, but you know, not in depth.  It appears as though a case file was opened in March of 2009. 

Happy to email the case file if you are interested.  It is public record.

[sheclown]

M. Loughlin is a great guy.  Very reasonable.  

This is about policies that people are forced to follow -- policies that were enacted in 2007 which compelled code enforcement to deal with anything slightly resembling a safety issue.

We need to keep doing what we are doing and make political changes while taking care of the mothballing and monitoring ourselves and hoping for help from the city council.

[iluvolives]

I was driving to work this morning and noticed near the intersection of College St and Cherry St that there is an apartment building with boarded up windows- the boards over the windows were painted to look like real windows with curtains and flower pots. Is there any way to start doing that in springfield on all the boarded up houses? Maybe invite artist from the community or students from DA to focus on specifics houses. It would definitely improve the views and could become a cool reason for people to visit springfield and take a "window tour"

I'm not not sure how to insert pics into my post- but you can find some cool examples online...

[sheclown]

^ that is EXACTLY what we are talking about doing to the houses on Pearl Street (well, we haven't discussed flower pots, but that is a great idea).

We need to go by and look at what they've done.

Awesome.

[CS Foltz]

Anything would be better than open to the elements sheclown! iloveionia thanks for the thought, not an attorney but someone who has a soft spot for historical anything..........homes top the list! If ChrisUFGator gets into the real estate end, you guys and gals may have some legal firepower available.......since he has passed the Bar Exam, its a matter of specialization and I have no idea which way he plans on practicing! Most likely Criminal Law but I don't know for sure. He has options neither you nor I have at this time! Maybe there is a poster here that does get involved and I do know of one, but he is fairly expensive and charges something like $3,500 for each case! Next time I see him, will bloody well ask him!

[iloveionia]

I go back to again.  Homes are personal.  

We made positive progress with not only this house (1626 Ionia, but still have a long way to go, she's not done,) but 423 Walnut because we cared about the person and got to know the person behind the house.  For these 2 homes it certainly made a difference.  This I know won't be true for all homes (321 E. 5th Street for example,) but while the focus and crux of SOS is to save the houses, there are people behind these homes that need support and guidance.  

At this point, I'll do just about anything to save these houses, short of selling my soul, and yes Olives, just what you describe is a next experiment on the west side, Pearl Street as sheclown states, or at least that is the goal.  

I think great things and change are on the horizon for Springfield.  I am hopeful that the continued efforts of the great neighbors and friends of our little community will protect the homes and fabric of Springfield.  

[CS Foltz]

iloveionia................I agree homes are personal! I don't have much of one, but it is mine and is one of 83 where my world is! I help out some of the older womenfolk, simply because it is the right thing to do! No money involved....just watching out for my neighbor's! Springfield is the same thing, you have to give a squat in order to get anything out of the deal intangible or not! A simple booklet outlining what Code can do or not do might be help full plus some guidelines on how to approach both the City and Code Enforcement might give that world some guidance or at least some direction! A Council member watching out over you would be help full immensely, maybe one of the at-large members since Gaffney is a zero!

[iloveionia]

Yes.  A simple booklet.  Been thinking about that. 

[sheclown]

Sort of like one of those booklets you find in the doctor's office.

So...you have a condemned property....now what.

Problem is, we're still learning.

[CS Foltz]

sheclown...........Rome was not built in a day! You might have to accelerate your learning curve...........is there a realestate attorney to converse with regarding this issue? You guys n gals may need some professional Q & A to get some information to work with! I know a couple of lawyers, but don't think any of them are in real estate, but will ask...............has any one contacted the OCG for some input? We pay all 39 of those people....maybe it is time to get something for our dollars? I have Cindi Laquidara's E Mail address....will give it a shot and let you know what happens!

[sheclown]

I don't think we need a lawyer CS.  We just need to read through the old HPC minutes and figure out the system.  We are getting there.

We always like help with emails.  Right now, it's all about the moratorium.

[ricker]

sucks feeling so powerless to effect cause for change among those that need to realize that they do indeed have more pressing matters at hand than making room for Low Country Classics to build a knock-off.