This place matters also: 436 Walnut Court

[sheclown]

Recently donated to PSOS:



This house, after being wonderfully renovated, suffered a fire last fall.  What a heartache for the owners and for the neighborhood.

And what a beauty this house was, and will be again, thanks to the generous donation by Alannah and her family.  Not only did they donate the house, but gave us the money to mothball it.

This one will be a challenge to mothball, but we have a stellar architect on our side, along with volunteers, Joe's planning and Nicole's organizing.

This will happen.  This house will be saved.

[sheclown]

Nicole has the plywood prepped and ready to install here.



 Our plan is as follows:

!.) board windows and doors on the first floor

2.) clean out the interior

3.) meet and contract with architect to develop a plan for stabilization

4.) complete stabilization work

5.) complete remaining mothball work

6.) get our mothball COA.

We are requesting six months instead of the usual three months to mothball this house given the extent of the damage.  Our target completion date is by the end of the year.

[sheclown]

Armed with architectural drawings, Joe pulled the temporary bracing permit.  This type of repair is meant to stabilize a structure.  And this is exactly what Sam, Ken and Joe are doing.





Once the structure is safe and sound, we will begin the actual mothball process.

Wish PSOS luck!!!  (and by the way, the house will be looking for a family to adopt).

[iloveionia]

And after our mothball process is complete we look to place our fostered and well-protected home into the hands of a forever family. 
Another housed saved (and second time) for the hood.
Hoo Rah.

[sheclown]

Still work to do, but it is dry now when it rains.

[sheclown]

This house will end up costing about 1/2 the price to mothball it as it would to demolish it.

And now we have saved an important piece of Springfield's historic fabric.

And this house needed serious bracing.

However, if PSOS can save this house, (with much help from the former owners, thank you) there is no reason why the doctor cannot save 1325 Laura Street, IMHO.

Or any house for that matter.

Save the houses.  Even the tough ones.

[iloveionia]

Mothballing.
Smile.
It almost feels "criminal" in Jax to actually do the right thing.
Do something that actually makes sense. 
A simple practice, backed by love.
Yup.
Save the houses.
Every last one of them. 

[sheclown]

Ready for the next phase.

[sheclown]

Joe met Joel McEachin and Autumn Martinage at Walnut Court today to do the pre-mothball inspection. 

[BIG CHEESE 723]

Hooray!  It is always good to see restorations being accomplished!  Even though this is a reno on a reno, more or less.
Question:  I noticed the heart sign/this place matters.  I have ben noticing many houss in Springfield which have been tagged with a heart.  Is this also some part of a movement or just more mindless graffiti?

[iloveionia]

Question:  I noticed the heart sign/this place matters.  I have ben noticing many houss in Springfield which have been tagged with a heart.  Is this also some part of a movement or just more mindless graffiti?

Giggle. 

You made me smile. 

With great love and viligance we have been doing our best to stand guard and protect our most at-risk homes.  Even houses we don't own.  These houses are plastered with love and down one path or another are being watched and protected from demolition.  You can apply the Broken Window Theory to some of the homes with hearts (the more graffiti style hearts.) This triage protection keeps vandals out of the homes which not only keeps the house safe and in its original state, but also next door neighbors to the vacant home are kept safe. 
 
Some folks display hearts on their home as a sign of "This Place Matters" and their support of preservation in Springfield. We gave out quite a few at one point.  Need a heart?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/conversations/million-hoodie-march-vesta-asteroid-amelia-earhart-evidence-and-more-in-the-day-in-photos/2012/03/22/gIQAMq8lTS_gallery.html#photo=17

[BIG CHEESE 723]

   I am so glad to know this.  From now on when i see the hearts I will have a big smile in my heart.  I will now realize there is no harm, but only good intended.  You make me proud!

[BIG CHEESE 723]

Thanks for the link!  I am so proud of your efforts.

[sheclown]

One idea behind the hearts was a hope that we'd get our plywood back when it is no longer needed on the house This has happened on several occasions. 

The other is this.  Those in the neighborhood who may be tempted to break into a house understand that PSOS is watching this house and cares about it.  We have gained a certain amount of street respect for our projects around, not the least of which, our Make It Happen projects.  These hearts say "stay away" and to my knowledge, no one has broken into a house with hearts on it, with the exception of the castle house.

thank you big cheese for the kind words.  See you this summer for our 2013 "Make It Happen" ?  Can you toss in some blood, sweat and tears with us?  We'd love to have you join us.

[BIG CHEESE 723]

This is so encouraging.  I kept seeing the hearts, first on the castle, and I think, School #4.  Then I started seing them around Sprinfield.  As I have already mentioned, I was dismayed.  But then I did notice the houses with hearts seemed to be more or less undamaged.  That led me to wonder if it was a good sign.  Now I know it is.  I would love to help out in a limited way.  Due to my age etc., I may be more of a hindrance than a help.  I can try, though. (Fmale, 66 years old, but with a passion for restoration.)