Mothballing: simple costs

[sheclown]

The cost of mothballing a house is vastly cheaper than demolishing one. 

Depending on the amount of volunteer labor and materials, it can cost as little as a couple of hundred dollars.

But, as a general rule, we anticipate the cost of mothballing to be at $3,000 to $4,000 if one had to pay full price.

Let's assume you have 12 first floor windows to paint, cut and board.  Nicole and I assume $35.00 in materials for each window.  If you added $20.00 in labor for each window, that puts your price at $660. for the first floor windows.  Let's assume you'd need to mothball one or two upper windows which need glass replacement, but could simply close the remaining windows (as allowed by the mothball ordinance).  That would put the window price at well under $1000.

Let's assume you have accumulated debris inside and under the house and need a dumpster.  You'd pay about $250 for your dumpster and maybe $100 for cleanup labor. Total for this $350.

You'd need to secure the front and back door.  Let's assume a cost of $75. including hinges and plywood.  That's $150.00 for materials and $100 for labor. We are at $250.00 for securing the entry ways.  Toss in another $30. for upstairs if needed and the total opening price is $280.

Each house will need security lights installed front and back.  We bought solar lights for $85 each.  They could be installed for $40.00.  Lighting then is at $125.00

Underpinning the house with lattice is going to be required.  We recommend using plastic lattice.  It is more durable than the wood and much easier to work with. Plus it is already "painted" white which saves on labor.  That will cost $20 a sheet and one should be able to split the sheets in half to have two 4 X 8 sections.  Average house would probably use 9 sheets or so.  Plus two by fours for framing say $150, nails and etc.  Labor would be no more than $350.  So you are looking at less than $700.

We are now at $2455.

Perhaps the front of the house needs to be primed or painted.  $100 for a five gallon container.  $300 in labor (doesn't need to be perfectly scraped and detailed - just cleaned up).  $500. should put some lipstick on the old girl.

Landscaping:  plant a few perennials, toss some grass seed, whack some weeds...$125

The cost to mothball a house (and not lift an unpaid finger) could be on an average of $3000

Need some temporary bracing, a hole patched in the roof?  Certainly by adding another $1000 these items could be easily accomplished.

It seems very possible to mothball a house for $3,000 to $4,000.  It costs between $7,000 to $10,000 to demolish a house (not including the "cost" to the earth in the terms of using up landfill and etc).

For every house which is demolished, two houses could be mothballed, made secure and attractive, AND monitored.

Makes economic sense.  Doesn't it?

[ben says]

Yes, it does. Demolishing is almost never the answer.

[sheclown]

The city has the authority to mothball using either the Chief of code enforcement or the Building codes Adjustment Board.

Sec. 518.304. - Abatement by city.

In the event the unsafe structure is not demolished or the repair or other work is not performed within the time and as required by the Chief or the Building Codes Adjustment Board, the Chief shall cause the demolition or repair or other work, including, but not limited to, boarding to be performed by independent contractors, city employees, or such other qualified means as available. The Chief may also initiate prosecution for violation of this Chapter. The Chief may temporarily defer demolition or repair work when it is in the best interest of the city to do so. Such deferral shall be documented in the property file explaining the reasons for the deferral. Furthermore, except in emergency situations, no structure either individually or as part of a district, locally designated or listed on the National Register of Historic Places, individually or as part of a district and which has been declared unsafe, shall be demolished by the city until the Chief has received approval of such proposed demolition from the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission (Commission), pursuant to Section 307.113, Ordinance Code

[sheclown]

Building Codes Adjustment Board

The Building Codes Adjustment Board is comprised of nine voting members appointed by Council for staggered three-year terms. Officers include the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary. This Board meets on the second Thursday of each month at 4 p.m. in Conference Room 101, Jake Godbold Building, 407 N. Laura St.  (Meeting times and locations are subject to change). Beginning in March 2012, meetings will be held at 128 West Forsyth Street in the Florida Theatre, 7th floor.

The Board hears and votes on variances from the Standard Building Code, the Standard Fire Code, the Standard Plumbing Code, the Standard Electrical Code, as well as appeals of citations by the Property Safety Division under Chapter 518 (Property Safety and Maintenance Code), of the city's Municipal Code. A quorum consists of five Board members. The Fire Marshall or his designee, the Chief of the Building and Zoning Inspection Division, as well as a representative(s) from the Property Safety Division are required to attend meetings, but do not vote.

For information about the Building Codes Adjustment Board, call (904) 255-7000.

For BCAB membership list, click here.

     Committee Name:    BCAB-Building Codes Adjustment Board
     Legislative Authority:    Chapter 56, Ordinance Code
     Total Members:    9
     Committee Duties:    Study building codes and recommend to Council needed amendments thereto as may be found necessary or desirable. Hear and decide building code enforcement appeals. Authorize building code variances where authorized by law.
          
     Meeting Date:    2nd Thursday at 4:00 p.m., Florida Theatre, 128 W. Forysth St, 7th Floor (Meeting times and locations are subject to change.)
          Click for More Information:


Committee Members:
     Name    Category         
     Frisco, Joseph R.            
     Harrison, Sammy V.            
     Hodgins, Joseph L.            
     Kuhn, Christian W.            
     Milligan, Neal J.            
     Paryani, Nandlal B.            
     Register, Brian J.            
     Rubens, Robert A.            
     Soderholm, Karl-Gustav Marten            

Contact Staff:
     Name    Position    Phone    Email
     Maryland, April P.    Administrative Aide    (904) 255-7013    AprilM@coj.net

[sheclown]

hummm....looks like there is a vacancy on the Building Codes Adjustment Board.

Current Appointment Opportunities:
Building Codes Adjustment Board

Category: General Public (1 Vacancy) - No member shall hold any other public position or office in the Consolidated Government.
Term begins: Immediately
Length of Term: Term ending September 30, 2013
Description: Study building codes and recommend to Council needed amendments thereto as may be found necessary or desirable. Hear and decide building code enforcement appeals. Authorize building code variances where authorized by law.
Web Link: General Board Information
Appointment Application.pdf (202k PDF Form)

http://www.coj.net/city-council/city-council-appointments.aspx

[Timkin]

Yes, it does. Demolishing is almost never the answer.

It really is not.  The environmental impact long term , alone , out weighs the benefit ,if there is any at all, to demolition.

Just out of curiosity I wonder what a proper mothballing would cost on the old School?

[sheclown]

Let's meet out there and check it out.

[Timkin]

On a weekend preferably.. Clean out of that place would be extensive and probably the most labor-intensive part.

[ben says]

Please give me a heads up when you guys go.

[Kay]

Timkin:  Wouldn't it need a new roof over the auditorium portion?  That's expensive unless you can tarp it or something.

[ChriswUfGator]

PS4 is a landmark, with major upside for the community (think if the fuller-warren ROW were grassed over and the park extended, you could make the building a museum, etc.) if it needs a roof we should give it a roof.

[iloveionia]

Mothballing the school would be a huge undertaking.  But one WELL WORTH it.  And it would provide an sensible owner the necessary time to rehab the school.  A city that cares is a city that does the RIGHT thing.  And protecting and saving the school is the right thing in my opinion.  Shoot, I'd even consider taking a year of sabitical to volunteer to mothball the school if it meant saving it. 

[Timkin]

PS4 is a landmark, with major upside for the community (think if the fuller-warren ROW were grassed over and the park extended, you could make the building a museum, etc.) if it needs a roof we should give it a roof.

The Auditorium is missing the roof completely now.  Most of it collapsed in from neglect in 2000 , and over the years since.  A fire set in the final remaining part of it over the stage , brought the remainder of it down.  The Actual School itself has a  poured concrete sub roof and a built-over roof over it.  I was up on it a few years ago to paint over graffiti on the brick at the front side of the Auditorium and a lot of it was soft then.  So the Entire building needs the roof over re-done and the Auditorium needs everything ..Rafters , Rafter ties , sheeting, Hurricane Straps ,  Roof Surface, Etc. Most likely this time done in Bitumen or  Metal.  Bitumen would last , without  much in the way of maintenance at least 50 plus years and is extremely durable.   Would have no idea of actual cost but is safe to say , at least 3/4 of a million , if not more to re-roof the entire structure.

A clean out of the building , alone would be costly.  Would take lots of people and dumpsters situated in various places around the building.

[Timkin]

There is a proposed dog park planned for the area in front of the School on the ROW ,now.  Hopefully that , as well will come to pass. 

[Timkin]

Timkin:  Wouldn't it need a new roof over the auditorium portion?  That's expensive unless you can tarp it or something.

Hi Kay! .. yes . complete roof system over the Auditorium .  Roof-over redone on Main School building as well.