Saturday, April 23, 2011

2700 Morgan Ave. N. Is Finally A Flat, Peaceful Vacant Lot Instead Of A Whorehouse...

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

How many stages, how many steps, how many small struggles and battles did it take to reach this point? Now the amazing, colorful life cycle of a North Minneapolis whorehouse reaches a new stage which may last years, even decades: a vacant lot, minus the piles of cement rubble.

At one time, crack addicted prostitutes plied their trade more-or-less openly from the porch of 2700 Morgan Ave. N.

Eventually, the house was boarded up...the boards were ripped off and the former residents went back inside the house...this happened a few times. It was a struggle to make sure the house was secured while vacant and awaiting demolition, a struggle to make sure the lawn was mowed. At one point, lots of possessions including mattresses hit the dumper. I found a cool...

...thimble inside a dresser drawer in the dumpster, which I gave to a relative of mine, and she says it's her favorite thimble. Ever.

The actual demolition of 2700 Morgan Ave. N. was celebrated with champagne in the street, the video posted online. Thankfully, all that was useful in the house was saved: about half a dozen fridge magnets. A hole was left in the street where utilities were dug out, and getting that hole filled was another small struggle.

Unsightly rubble from the demolition stayed around for a long time, but in the last couple days a backhoe appeared. All the rubble has been hauled away. Now all we need is GRASS SEED.

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