Saturday, November 15, 2008

"Random Bits Roundup" (Demolition Versus Preservation)

Photo On Some Real Estate Listing, Used As Fair Comment And Criticism

Connie Nompelis can find something to love in almost any building, and is involved in historical restoration efforts. She sent me a...

...(as she called it) "random bits roundup" about situations with various houses that have caught her interest.

2650 Colfax Ave. N. (pictured above) is reportedly going "under the backhoe" soon. I still found a real estate listing for $10,500. I guess it's a case of "buyer beware."

No Copper Left, What Gives? Right behind Jeff's new place, the blockhouse we call "Bowser's Castle," Connie says there is a "wonderful little baby Victorian" which "appears to have some sad story going on." Until recently, the house was being restored "unlike its pitiful doppelganger to the north which is condemned and has been vacant '4evs' and was looking great until" Connie spied it two days ago "with boards and signs stating NO COPPER LEFT."

Bargain To Be Had: 2106 Dupont! Connie says this house is in an "admittedly dicey location" right behind the laundromat off Broadway, but it's a great house with incredible vintage details and not just a few wonderful neighbors nearby, starting with Susan Breedlove at the Baker-Emerson house up the street. SPREAD THE WORD, Connie says, it can only help Hawthorne if some great person gets this property.

The Swath Of Dirt Formerly Known As 2123 6th St. N. Connie says she went there expecting to feel bad, of course, but what she felt was BUBBLING RAGE because when she turns her head east from that location what does she spy? The "BURNED-OUT (CAPITALIZED EXPLETIVE) HOLE across the street" which has been slated for demolition for LONGER is STILL THERE.

Connie (whose blogger name is, appropriately, "Ranty") says, "What on Earth could be the reasoning for this backward order of thigns? Why don't we begin with the obvious trash and work up--when and if necessary--from there? Why do we demolish the best homes first? It's really soul-crushing to watch."

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

My wife and I lived at 2650 Colfax in the late 70's, and early 80's. We had our wedding reception in the back yard in a tent. We insulated it, restored all the plasterwork, remodeled the kitchen completely, and restored all the hardwood floors. Really sad to see it finally go away.

Jon ...