QuoteCleveland Turning Vacant Homes Into Masterpieces
CLEVELAND â€" Christopher Toepfer could be considered an artist, but his canvas is a little different than most painters.
Toepfer turns vacant homes into works of art, ONN's Cristin Severance reported on Wednesday.
"I've been doing this for 15 years," he said.
Toepfer is with the Chicago-based Neighborhood Foundation, a company that is hired to use artistic boards on vacant homes.
Some are painted with flowers, others with window panes. The company also does clean up on the outside of the homes.
"It looks a lot more attractive. Generally, this type of board up is a lot more secure," Toepfer said.
Toepfer was hired to board up 15 Cleveland-area homes by Housing Court Judge Raymond Pianka.
All of the properties are currently going through foreclosure proceedings, so Pianka has jurisdiction to put them in the program.
A $20,000 grant is covering the cost, Severance reported.
"It's just an interim measure. It's not going to solve the housing crisis, but it's one thing that can be done," Pianka said. "Nor should all the houses that are condemned be torn down, because they add value to a community if they are rehabilitated."
The program is gaining popularity as cities seek ways to beautify homes as they sit vacant.
"It's a lot more cost effective," Toepfer said. "For every one property you tear down, we can do 10 to 15 of these."
http://www.onntv.com/live/content/onnnews/stories/2010/08/25/story-vacant-homes-cleveland.html?sid=102
Nice find. I love that last quote. I think we tend to overlook the fact that demolishing structures cost money too.
It was actually on the local news tonight.
We could do that here in Springfield. Each house could have a "theme" -- darkened windows, some having parties, some with painted curtains, the options are endless.
"People" peeking out at passers by. Kids, old people. Dogs.
This is a great idea & something that needs to happen here. I think the area should focus on an attractive interim solution like this instead of boarding up or trying to get these houses rehabilitated right now. Cause lets face it, no one has any money to throw at these big projects right now & this economic mess/housing crisis isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
All indications are that its actually gonna get much worse because the banks have been keeping tons of foreclosures off the books (like well over a years worth if nothing but foreclosures were sold). Just Google "Shadow Inventory" or "Shadow Foreclosures" & you'll see. Its not good.
And with the neighborhood losing infill at a staggering rate, at least something like this would put a halt to that. Baby steps, folks.
Oh, pee...you said it all.
Now is the time to get a plan in the works. If, right now, life is throwing us some obstacles, we need to come up with creative ways to play this harsh hand we've all been dealt.
The benefit (if there could possibly be any) of going through this --is the vision for a more self-reliant future where we all pitch in and Make It Happen!
There is no help for us if we do not help ourselves.
It is more cost effective to board homes then for the city to pay for the demolition of them (which is ultimately what happens if vacant and left to the elements). The demolition of a building will at a minimum is around $8,000 dollars (which the city usually pays) While boarding and securing can cost up to $1500 over the life of the building, money the city can get back once said building is sold. Two additional thoughts, the tax base of an improved property is much higher than vacant land, and the physical/mental impact of an overgrown vacant lot is not healthy for a neighborhood (not to mention the cities on-going cost of mowing said lot). In partnership with a willing neighborhood, the city could save tons of money, keep a viable tax base, and maintain a vibrant neighborhood with rich history in tact for the next generation. See More
...and, currently, no one is building on vacant lots -- condemned houses are being restored (albeit at a lesser pace than years ago.)
This would make a great neighborhood project in the fall. Pick a "deserving" house and make it a "faux home".