I just want to note that 2 junk houses in my neighborhood were torn down today by their owners. The limited-time change in the dump fees is really helping out.
I'm still working on getting mine down, now I have to kick it in gear or my neighbor will be teasing me about it since his is gone... ;D
I can see that the old stucco house at the corner of Walnut and Adams is down. You wouldn't believe the difference it makes even before it is all cleaned up. Makes me wish I had an old house to demolish.
Fred and I used to own that house, Wilma, it wasn't too bad back then- it is sure went to rack and ruin after we sold it.
What a blessing to get some of these dilapidated structures taken care of! It will make a huge difference in the various neighborhoods, and help the image of the entire town.
There's been some positive activity in our part of town as well. Nothing demolished (yet! but we're hoping!) though the folks who bought the house at Penn & Monroe are doing some major gutting out. It doesn't look like the house is in horrible condition so maybe they're going to remodel. Also, a house on East Jefferson that sold also is going to be remodeled. This is all so positive, and such a big step forward for our community.
I hope everyone gives lots of encouragement and praise to those who are remodeling some of the neglected homes. We did that with a house several years ago, and it is usually a bigger project that was originally bargained for, but we were able to get it finished and turned into a decent rental house. There is a great need for rentals in Howard when new teachers arrive in town in the fall. Besides cosmetic upgrades, one of the biggest necessities for these homes is for them to be brought up to date with electrical wiring to accommodate computers, microwaves, etc. Not a cheap price tag, but a good investment. Good for the community, too.
Ahh, today from 1:00 PM till 5:30ish PM I sat at the "Old House" as we call it (the one Wilma is talking about) and we watched it be knocked down and pilled into rocks and dirt & dust! :) It's just amazing! My mom and father lived there when my eldest brother Kenny was born and I think for a little while when Billy was born if I'm not mistaken. I can't remember and then My Uncle Tom was going to re-model it, but if you know Tom... Haha! Lol BUT it looks great and I think Roland is going to be tearing down My Uncle Burt's old house that is in VERY bad condition! I reallyyyyyy can't wait to see what it look's like after it's knocked down!
PEACE
I'd say a LOT of people are really looking forward to seeing how it looks when your Uncle Burt's house is gone. Tell your mom that we are very grateful for what she's doing.
IF anyone finds a attic fan in one of these houses, I really need one!!!!!!
Also if anyone has any decent lumber in these houses that are being torn down i could use some. I need lumber to build my hives.
Indygal: She's soo thankful for Roland doing all this. I think he definetly needs a BIG hand. And all his help! My Uncle's daughters are going to be in a BIG shock!
Very noticeable.
Impressive.
Keep up the good work.
Heather, now that the house is gone, we're all in a bit of shock! It looks so different and so much better. Again, we thank your mom for her willingness to take this on. All over town people are tearing down or fixing up....lots of positive changes!
YES, a huge thank you to Roland, Christy and Don and anyone else involved in these demolitions. I keep intentionally driving by some of these properties just so I can smile again at how beautiful an empty lot can be! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!
Quote from: jprxmkt on July 08, 2009, 08:41:39 PM
YES, a huge thank you to Roland, Christy and Don and anyone else involved in these demolitions. I keep intentionally driving by some of these properties just so I can smile again at how beautiful an empty lot can be! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!
I second and third that statement.. What a breath of fresh air it is to see the clean lots.
Amen! And we are so grateful to all who took on these big projects and completed them so quickly, and to the city council for making it happen. The property across from us looks great, and even the trees were undisturbed during the process. It just makes a world of difference. It also seems to be contagious: I'm noticing a lot more people cleaning up, fixing up, etc. One thing is for sure: everyone in Howard benefits from it.
Quote from: indygal on July 09, 2009, 10:43:20 AM
Amen! And we are so grateful to all who took on these big projects and completed them so quickly, and to the city council for making it happen. The property across from us looks great, and even the trees were undisturbed during the process. It just makes a world of difference. It also seems to be contagious: I'm noticing a lot more people cleaning up, fixing up, etc. One thing is for sure: everyone in Howard benefits from it.
or its the fear of being fined. Someone should tear down the big falling down victorian houses on east randolph. how about the school too while we are at it
Quote from: PrehistoricRez on July 10, 2009, 02:00:21 PM
or its the fear of being fined.
Either way, progress is good. It's too bad people can't take enough pride in their homes and town that there HAS to be a threat of being fined, though. Maybe, like someone mentioned, that the pride-bug is catching and everyone will do their part to clean up.
While we are talking about pride in appearances, I want to mention a yard that is as eye-catching as a picture in a flower magazine. I don't know whose it is or the exact address, but it is on the SE corner of an intersection with E. Jefferson. I think it is about two blocks east of Wabash. We came by there the other day and it was just beautiful. I would nominate it for yard of the summer if we were having a contest.
Hey, I thought Elk Konnected WAS doing a contest?? We need to get on that PEPPY guy; wasn't he talking about it last fall?
Besides Walnut and Adams, can someone identify where the other houses were torn down?
Three of the houses were in the 400 block of south Wabash street. One at the corner of Monroe and Wabash (southwest side, belonged to Bert Watts), and two on the same side at the corner (not sure who they belonged to). Another one was at the corner of Jefferson and Cedar. Not sure about any others. I do know it's a night-and-day difference.
Thanks,
My mother asked where they were and I could only give her the one location.
There is an abandoned home at about Chestnut and Jefferson (I think) that has a 60 foot, or so, unoccupied mobile home sitting on the lot next to the house and close to the street.
My first recollection of when that mobile home was moved in was that it looked decent. However, it has since deteriorated to a point of the siding falling off and the insulation coming out, roof sagging, etc. The doors were coming off also.
The owner apparently does not live in Howard.
Was there any effort by these folks to get rid of that eyesore?
Another one bites the dust. ;D
Should finish tomorrow if we don't get too much rain tonight.
Waldo, the house you might be thinking of was the Watts' house at Monroe and Wabash, on the southwest corner. The other two that have been demolished were at Wabash and Elk, also on the southwest side. I drove past Chestnut and Jefferson, and it looks like there had been a house on the southeast corner at one time, but quite some time ago. When you said the house had a deteriorated trailer with the insulation falling out of it, that sure describes the Watts' property. His niece, Christy Tyler, bought it and has had the lot cleaned up.
Joanna, I still haven't been by to see your "new view." I may try to get over there tomorrow evening ... depends on how much I get finished at work tomorrow. Getting ready for the parade, a booth and demonstration at the fair, an ice cream sundae fest, a mobile health screening event and an annual meeting sure can tire a body out!
Thanks,
I was in the ballpark, so to speak. The one I was thinking about was, indeed, on the southwest corner, so that is probably it.
What an eyesore, but no more.
I have heard that the Nazarene Church at Perry and Adams has been torn down.
I haven't seen it, but Daughter says it is gone.
That's why you haven't seen it. It's gone! ;D ;D ;D ( sorry, it just slipped out)
Is this going on in Grenola? I've seen so many old abandoned and run down homes all over the place. It's really saddenning actually. When i was out here a few years ago the town seemed healthier
Unfortunately Anmar, when Jim Sweet passed away the upkeep in Grenola seems to have come to a halt. He spent many many unpaid hours trying to restore the town. Also when the old bank building burned, I think that kind of took the heart from the place. When a town no longer has a grocery, school, restraunt, gas station, or bank it is pretty much kaput.
I will admit things are looking better in Howard with some of the falling down houses gone. The Nazarene Church at Perry and Adams is down and I guess they were taking some of the nails out of the boards this week. The only problem is it shows just how many people no longer live in Howard. That is sad. :'(
Jane
Yes, Jane, it does show how many people no longer live in Howard... but it's also making room for more/new people to appreciate the cleanliness of the town and entice them to live here! I imagine that few people want to buy a lot with an old abandonded house that they'll have to tear down before they can build, but it looks better if they can buy a clean, empty lot where they can build what suits them!
STAY WITH US AS WE GROW!