Love Comes to Spfld's Dancy Terrace

[iloveionia]

There are 24 bungalows in Dancy Terrace's enclave. 
All comdemned.
All separate properties.
All owned by about 13 owners (not-connected.)
One of the owners has followed PSOS' journey for the last year and a half of saving the houses.
This owner admires our dedication and work to make things happen.
He admires the spirit of the community.
This owner has welcomed PSOS to mothball his home.
"Whatever it takes."  The owner said. 
Yeah, you read that right. 
We are going to mothball a Dancy Terrace home.
This home will be the catalyst for the other owners to follow suit, I know it, I feel it. 
Whoo Hoo!  Let's get this started!!!!

Pictures to follow.

[sheclown]

[sheclown]

[sheclown]

It begins with one....

[sheclown]

Two Springfield residents (who have already donated plywood for one vacant home) have offered to purchase the plywood necessary to mothball a second Dancy Terrace bungalow. 

Now, Nicole just needs to find that willing owner!!

No one hunts for homeowners like our Nicole!

[Springfield Chicken]

Nicole, you may want to reach out to the owner who has several of them listed through the agent.  In spite of their optimism, they really can't be sold since this is a PUD and restrictions make them nearly impossible to do anything with.

[iloveionia]

Met with HPC today and we will go on the agenda for January to mothball one of the Dancy Terrace bungalows.  We may be deferred until February if the COA application can not be complied on time, which simply means we'll be priority on February's agenda. 

What a great house.  Honest.  They are much bigger on the inside than it seems.  There was a time when code actually mothballed the windows: that means cut the plywood to fit inside the frame and through-bolted to the inside in 2 x 4s.  All but 2 of the 24 bungalows are properly "mothball boarded."  I believe this has saved the homes.  I do not know if code or previous owners boarded properly the windows, but they are done none-the-less and from a safety, preservation, and cost to mothball perspective it helps, so kudos. 



   

[hooplady]

They may be small, but the floorplans are efficient.  They're just big enough for someone who wants their own space without the hassle of outdoor upkeep, and perfect for those who use public transportation.  They'd be such great little dwellings for a huge variety of folks - artists, students, senior citizens.  And unlike many homes in Spf'ld, because of the central walkway and side entrances I think several could even be made wheelchair-accessible.  That's a huge bonus for the disabled - especially since they are so close to a main bus line.  I'll bet the JTA Connexion could probably pickup/drop off from the side alleys.

[AKIRA]

I have been inside nearly all of them.  For as abused as they have been by the elements and vagrants, they aren't in too bad of shape.  The original construction was pretty sound.  I would love to see them occupied again in some fashion, either as residences or businesses or both.  There is parking space next to the laundry mat or on the Takee-Outee lot that the Terrance could use.

[sheclown]

[sheclown]

The interior of this bungalow has been altered somewhat.  More than likely there was a wall/door combo between these two rooms.  That being said, the trim is still intact which is a great bonus and it would not take much to return this to its former charm.

These are set up as 3/1 with a utility room.  Looks are deceiving from the outside. 

[acme54321]

Is that popcorn ceiling?  These seem like they could be great little rental units for someone that wants a little more privacy than an apartment would afford but doesn't want all the upkeep of a traditional home.

[sheclown]

Great little rental units.

[iluvolives]

It would make a great little art park- a smaller version of tallahassee's railroad square: http://railroadsquare.com/map.html

[fieldafm]

Great example of what could be Jacksonville's version of a 'pocket neighborhood', which is a small neighborhood within a neighborhood that shares common spaces.














http://pocket-neighborhoods.net/

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kbenfield/katrina_cottages_find_post-kat.html

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kbenfield/downsizing_the_footprint_with.html

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kbenfield/using_backyard_cottages_to_abs.html

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kbenfield/amazing_community_art_developm.html

http://www.tauntonstore.com/pocket-neighborhoods-ross-chapin-071275.html




Exactly how far away is this from downtown, and what bus lines serve this pocket of homes?

Could be a great workforce housing initiative/demonstration(sustainable common community garden, transit-based workforce transportation, etc).