Preservation: What gets razed? What gets saved?

[fieldafm]

Does anyone know the story on why this one on 2nd Street has a tag?

[iloveionia]

A little ironic. Spend all day working to complete a board and secure project, only to get halted by a demolition of a historic home next door. 

I can not stress enough, had 1630 Ionia Street been boarded, secured, AND monitored, it would have been less likely to have caught on fire, not once, but. . .twice. 

[sheclown]

what color is the tag?

[movedsouth]

The house on 2nd Street is known as the "Jacobs Building". A couple years ago, the owner at the time applied to have it demolished, but the demolition was rejected. Shortly after, a board at the top floor became loose. Part of the reason mentioned for the demolition was that rehabbing the house would be too expensive (heck... an empty lot... average size for Springfield... how much is that worth???) . I think in part the owner was just upset at the city that they wanted him to add an elevator and special fire rated windows and attempted to use the demolition as leverage.

The house was sold earlier this year.

I haven't been inside, but heard from others that it is gutted on the inside. It is reasonably secured.

[sheclown]

1630 Ionia went down this afternoon.



Preservation SOS was there to watch.

After the bulldozer finished, Joe said "do you smell that?"  He said "you'd think it would be charcoal from the fire that you 'd smell, but you don't.  What you smell is resin, old tree sap -- after a hundred years and two fires, you smell old tree sap."

[nvrenuf]

Did they even allow any salvage before tearing her down?

[fieldafm]

The house on 2nd Street is known as the "Jacobs Building". A couple years ago, the owner at the time applied to have it demolished, but the demolition was rejected. Shortly after, a board at the top floor became loose. Part of the reason mentioned for the demolition was that rehabbing the house would be too expensive (heck... an empty lot... average size for Springfield... how much is that worth???) . I think in part the owner was just upset at the city that they wanted him to add an elevator and special fire rated windows and attempted to use the demolition as leverage.

The house was sold earlier this year.

I haven't been inside, but heard from others that it is gutted on the inside. It is reasonably secured.

It looks secure enough.  It has a condemened sticker and red tag currently on the door.  Do you know if the current owners have plans with the place?  Does anyone know what it needs to be brought up to compliance?
An elevator is required for a three story multi-unit residence?

[fieldafm]

After the bulldozer finished, Joe said "do you smell that?"  He said "you'd think it would be charcoal from the fire that you 'd smell, but you don't.  What you smell is resin, old tree sap -- after a hundred years and two fires, you smell old tree sap."

I drove by earlier... should've stopped to say hi.

[iloveionia]

Did they even allow any salvage before tearing her down?

This particular contractor would have.  Once released by MCCD it is "owned" by the contractor so to speak.  I only asked for the boards on the doors and windows.  But the house had already been looted as it sat vacant and unsecured for many months,sadly there wasn't anything to salvage.

After the bulldozer finished, Joe said "do you smell that?"  He said "you'd think it would be charcoal from the fire that you 'd smell, but you don't.  What you smell is resin, old tree sap -- after a hundred years and two fires, you smell old tree sap."

I drove by earlier... should've stopped to say hi.

Yes, you should have!!!!!  Next time. 

[fieldafm]

I'll be out in the 'hood tomorrow as well...

[iloveionia]

we'll be at 8th/Boulevard at 8 a.m.
Later in the afternoon on 10th/Walnut, stop by if you want handmade heart to show your support of SOS.
Or you can pick up a handmade heart from anyone of us SOSers to show your preservation support at another time. 

email preservationsos@yahoo.com and we'll hook you up.

[movedsouth]

and for the night owls if anybody is interested: We will do a walk through the hood at 9pm on Wednesday starting at the Klutho Park bandstand at Silver and 3rd.

[iloveionia]

Thanks.
Forgot.
I like the walks.

[sheclown]

Code enforcement will not allow salvaging for safety reasons although we did get the chain link gate at the front of the building with their permission. 

[iloveionia]

But the demo company can.