With Keith Reitman's "blue twins" now demolished, I don't plan to wait for landscaping to be completed or for Jeff Skrenes to post demolition video. Time to move forward.
Time to announce my latest What Should Johnny's Next Obsessive Blogging Project Be? contest.
Let's review the glorious history of these "obsessive blogging project" contests, shall we?
1.) The "butt wall" at Merwin Liquors, fixed, click here.
2.) The ugly "butt glass" at Friedman's Shoe store, fixed, click here. (Some hotly dispute whether blogging about this made any difference. The trend speaks for itself)
3.) Keith Reitman's ugly "blue twins," demolished, click here.
Now I need a new obsessive blogging project...
Yes, the "crap hole" building at 3203 Logan (which has alternate addresses on Lowry) looks like a pretty good suspect. In fact, that building was named before as a candidate, but narrowly lost to Reitman's "blue twins" because of the prominent location of the twins and because Reitman's hairy-faced, unkempt little personality is so much fun to blog about and the "crap hole" building just, eh, lacks such a personality associated with it.
Or does it? I'd love some back story, here.
Another good reason to pick 3203 Logan as my next project: it's tottering toward the edge of demolition and a little more public attention will help grease the skids. Sooner or later it will be demolished, of course, if it doesn't simply fall over in a stiff breeze, but if I didn't believe in the power of public discourse I wouldn't do what I do.
But 3203 Logan is not a done deal. There might be a better project out there for a targeted campaign of blogging. And so I await word from readers, from fans, from critics to say where I should focus the attention of this blog as my next obsessive project.
Comment rejected which may have been submitted in a spirit of fun, but suggests an action which is not legal and, furthermore, dangerous to surrounding property.
ReplyDeleteSupposedly these buildings at 3203 Logan are already slated for demo.
ReplyDeleteBut - What's the holdup?
How about taking pictures of EVERY house with a tarp on their roof and posting them (including addresses) in a blog of shame?
ReplyDeleteI can help, if you want to divide the area up. I'm sure we can get more volunteers too.
I'm all for giving people a generous amount of time to fix their houses up after the tornado, but it's been 15 months. If you still have a tarp on your roof, seriously, I'm at a loss for words.
If it was worth fixing, they'd have done it by now. If it wasn't worth fixing, they need to tear it down instead of making mold and rodent dens in the middle of an area with high population density.
And shit.
If I can get pictures of EVERY house with a tarp on the roof, I can sure commit to publishing these photos. It's a good idea. It should be done.
ReplyDeleteOne reason I discuss the whole "what should my next obsessive blogging target be" idea is to hear things like that and go in those interesting directions. But for purposes of winning the "contest," a couple dozen houses seems too spread out.
But hell yes. Get me those pictures. If not all at once I can do it in part one, part two, etc.
I bought a house with a tarp on the roof in April 2012 and then put a new roof on a few weeks later. So I hope new owners are excluded from the wall of shame and give time to fix.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Johnny. Let's get this pile of crap cleaned up before the bridge reopens. I've complained about it several times with no answers. Go get 'em, John.
ReplyDeleteWe've got the Open Streets festival coming at the end of September. Let's get this embarrassment torn down before then.
ReplyDeletePlease do not blog about 3203 Logan there is a backstory I cannot reveal here. I can assure you it is on its way to coming down. We have some items in the works that cannot be discussed but if you are patient I think you will get what you want.
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect...People have been patient. Much more patient than with most residential housing situations. Even if it hasn't come down, What is the back story on the lack of boarding that is required by the City? It is pitiful that one hand of government hands out millions of dollars for civic improvement along Lowry while the other leaves this eyesore and hazard exposed to the public.
ReplyDeletelol
ReplyDelete"please do not blog".
And if the secret gets out???
I'll start taking pics of tarped up houses next week, I'll send them to you as I take them.
ReplyDeleteI think that the quantity of new owners *just* buying a tarped up house is pitifully low, so I think it's reasonable to let them comment on the blog. Were I in that situation, I'd simply say something like "yeah, the previous owner really let that go, but I just bought it and crews will be there next week! I'll send photos of the renovation progress if you're interested." No real harm done there, right?
I purchased my house that was an eyesore. If it were blogged about, I would have done the above. I would be proud to show what I've done to the place.
Regarding anonymous 3:54pm, I have to guess it has something to do with the sale of the property. With potential rezoning of the property and buyouts likely taking place, there may be some sort of legal reason that there's an advantage to having a physical building there, even if it's destroyed.
You're not allowed to let an eyesore like that sit around in order to line your pockets. Figure it out. Leave a couple 2x4s there and call that a structure, I don't care. Clean it up. Johnny, in my opinion, blog away!
Anyway, if the plans are in the works, what does it matter if there's a blog? If you're seriously that close to being done, then who cares?
It sounds like anonymous 3:54 is scared. I say, either fill us in with some VERY good reasons, or go ahead and blog.
Folwell Neighbor:
ReplyDeleteAmerican Family Insurance forced me through their arbitration process regarding my house - and the actual arbitration didn't happen until July of this year. They originally claimed I had less than $1,300.00 worth of damage to the roof of my house after two trees fell on it. After the arbitration they agreed there was a minimum of $15,000.00 worth of damage. And that's before you factor in Minneapolis required code compliance work, which AmFam is supposed to pay for, which they have not yet. Those code upgrades could force me through another arbitration, which based on the snail's pace of the first one, I will be lucky to have completed before I hit menopause. I finally was able to start repair work on my house about 3 weeks ago.
Personally, I think it would be a jolly good idea for NoMi neighbors hit by the tornado to start talking about their experiences with their insurance companies in an open forum. The homes in NoMi are older, usually with "original construction" and "deferred maintenance" and some insurance companies have sought to avoid paying out on claims on these houses because, I suspect, on a claim by claim basis they are more expensive than claims on the same number of similarly damaged 6 year old suburban tract homes.
But, how come the city can purchase & demolish in record time the Hansen Bros. fence company on Lowry & Vincent? It looked nothing like 3203 Lowry. Why didn't the city buy the old SA that looks like crap & draws more "artists" & tear that one down? Just curious.
ReplyDeletePlease do not speak of what you do not know. We are working on a solution that is compassionate and a win win for everyone. The building will be down soon as as we complete the process. Please let the professionals take care of this in a way that works for all parties.
ReplyDeleteMy mother, Donna Rudebusch, owns the house at 3203 Logan Av. N. and she had a signed agreement with Habitat for Humanity to tear down the damaged commercial structure and this was slated to be done this spring. However, they pulled out of the deal and instead the city decided that the entire structure should come down. So, my mother is now looking for a new home within her very modest budget. The city just doesn't want to be left with a bill for tearing the place down so my mother is now once again trying to find someone to tear it down with no cost to her. So, she has not created all these delays in getting the structure repaired, the city has with its ever changing desires with repsect to the property.
ReplyDeleteSo, has the City been such a roadblock that no repairs, ever, could be completed on the commercial structure?
ReplyDeleteI think it is in the best interest of all the NOMI people to spend the city resources and tear this down. Especially with a high profile event coming up very soon. I think this is one case where the city should save the property owner the money and perform the demolition asap. If only we could get condemnation orders for the blue tarp homes. Its been way too long for those as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the explanation.
ReplyDeleteThe residents have a right to know who is responsible for this unsightly blight.
Perhaps the "City" wants to leave the Northside looking like a pit so that it can make excuses why things will never change and continue to justify warehousing poverty here?
ReplyDeleteYes, the city has said that no repairs whatsoever could be done on the tornado damaged commercial section. But someone just tried to burn it down and the fire department is out there on it right now. I wouldn't be surprised if the person who did it has posted on this page. Hopefully the police will investigate.
ReplyDeleteO.K., I have turned the fire department's arson investigator onto this page because I'm 99% sure that someone who posted or at least visited this page tried to burn my 66 year old mother out of her home last night.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with that. If I had the technical capacity to let authorities know who was visiting my blog or posting on my blog, I'd be letting the authorities know the ISP address of the person who posted info about the Terrell Mayes shooting on two random threads.
ReplyDeleteBe sure to "investigate" the North Talk Facebook page while you are at it, where there were, I believe, a couple HUNDRED comments about this crappy building.
Oh my, that's terrible. First of all, SOMEONE STILL LIVES THERE?
ReplyDeleteSecond of all, SOMEONE THOUGHT THAT STARTING A FIRE WOULD HELP?
Third of all, sadly, it doesn't surprise me too much that the city isn't allowing repairs. They've done nothing but create roadblocks the whole time. Okay, that's not quite true, but they've created many roadblocks. Personally, I would have made the repairs myself and told the city they can just deal with it. Then again, I'm not 66 years old (though on some days I do feel like it).
I'm sorry to hear of all the troubles you're having, it really sounds like a nightmare.
Hopefully they'll find the arsonist, since that clearly isn't the correct answer here. Hopefully insurance will finally come through with some cash, so she can find another place, it's still a great time to buy!
Anyway, best wishes, good luck, and let's get this thing dealt with quickly. I have no idea how bad the fire was, but since you've already said the house is coming down, I guess it doesn't actually matter. Grab the belongings and vacate, then one swift kick is probably all you need to demolish that place. No, I'm just kidding, don't do that, we don't need anyone getting hurt.
An interesting discussion about this property is happening more or less right now over on the North Talk Facebook page.
ReplyDeleteDo you mean the fact that Tom is a neo-Nazi? 'Duh!
ReplyDeleteI think both Hoff and David should be banned from North Talk for their bahavior, but this David character is a bigger nut case:
ReplyDeletehttp://ideashatched.blogspot.com/2004/07/sad-fate-of-swedish-skinheads.html
I wonder if Tom David would like to explain why it is he claims on Facebook the the "arson" occurred at EXACTLY 3am, but was posting about it here at 2:51am and then found time to post again at 3:18am? Sounds like this guys' cover story is falling apart...
ReplyDeletePut a tampon in Anony. 12:23 AM.
ReplyDeleteYour next targets should be all convenience stores that use "We Accept E.B.T." as their main advertising point while the thugs sell their drugs and the latest movies(that are not even in the theaters yet) right outside their front door. This problem does not seem to be going away too quickly. Let me grab a phillie blunt to throw on my card too,"Okay". Penn- Wood Market-August 28, 2012 8:33 p.m.
ReplyDeleteI believe this is regarding this property, posted from the Minneapolis police report that gets emailed out every week:
ReplyDeleteArson
19XX Lowry Ave N Tuesday 8/28/12 0235hrs 12-271624
MFD responded to a structural fire at this location. The building is vacant office space & it was a small fire involving plywood boards used to cover up windows. The structure is old & run down. Fire did not gain entry to the interior of the building. MFD determined the cause was Arson & that it was not accidental. Estimated property damage is $100. No suspects. No injuries.