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May 1, 2004

NiB Walking Tour

We walk around looking at other peoples' houses.

Click any picture below to view larger.

Short Q St.


26th St (near M St?)


27th St near P St?


27th St near R St?


26th St near P St?


26th St near Q St?

From the city web site: "NiB is an innovative program that supports the restoration of Richmond's historic neighborhoods. It promotes housing renovation, restoration, construction, and sales in six select neighborhoods." Whatever the name of our neighborhood, part of it is included in the 'Church Hill Central' area of the NiB program.

Saturday before last, there was an official self-guided walking tour of the Church Hill Central area. There was info available at the library on R St and at the East District Initiative Center on 25th St. The info packet included a map of the area marking the status of different properties -- in the process of being rehabbed, finished rehab, new construction, etc.

The refurb of the area is in part by individuals like us buying and fixing properties, and also by groups like Interfaith Housing Corporation and Better Housing Coalition. The info map for the tour marked the location of 4 open houses that had been fixed up by the groups and that are now for sale.

Two of the open houses were by Interfaith and the other two were by Better Housing Coalition (BHC). It was informative to get to compare the efforts of the two groups. It seems that BHC is inclined to keep as much of the original interior details intact as possible -- the restored house on 22nd that was shown had the pleasant feel of an updated older house. The interior of the Interfaith projects, though, feel much like any low-budget apartment complex that I've ever been in -- cheap and shallow cabinetry, wall-to-wall carpets, bottom end appliances, no original detail left.

Posted by john m at May 1, 2004 9:46 AM

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