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December 3, 2006
a walk around the neighborhood
In what has become a yearly tradition, we walked around the area over Thanksgiving weekend with a eye for what has & has not changed in the neighborhood.
This is the 4th year that we've done this, having made the walk in 2003, 2004, and 2005. We missed being able to do this on Thanksgiving Day because of the weather, but it was close.
This is where we left off outside at the end of summer.
The biggest change over the past year has been a wave of new construction within blocks of our house. From our back yard we can see 6 houses that did not exist 12 months ago, and there are a few others in place, too. All of the development is being done by Better Housing Coalition and most if not all are being sold at below-market cost to 1st-time home owners. And the houses look pretty good - the windows are the right size, there isn't any vinyl, they have decent looking porches...
New houses at 22nd and R Streets. Last year a long-vacant house covered in ghetto brick sat on this lot.
New houses on Short Q Street. A borded-up cinderblock apartment bulding used to be on this lot.
This newly renovated house is across Q Street from the new houses above. (before)
Another new house where an abandoned and shingled house had been forever.
The even side of the 1200 block of North 24th St..
The next block up.
The house on the left was vinyled this past year and it made a surpising improvement. See the new house being built in the background (on 25th Street)? A picture across the same lot from a year ago shows a corner of the house still covered in shingles and different new house being raised.
A year ago this house was scheduled to be demolished.
One day someone will buy this and make it wonderful.
One day someone will buy this and make it wonderful. (2)
I was pretty sure that this house was going to come down and then someone starting putting a new roof on.
This would make a great house or an even better ice-cream shop. The inside is a little messed up.
Last year they had just begun renovation on this.
We'd never noticed these houses before!
Concentrated renovation has rebuilt most of an entire block of Venable Street that was almost completely vacant before.
We've seen this house change dramatically over the past year.
Last year this house and neighbor were in bad shape.
That this continues to sit empty amazes me.
Posted by john m at December 3, 2006 8:00 AM
Comments
Very nice. That last one is massive. Was that a house originally? It kooks more like a small school.
Posted by: Greg at December 3, 2006 7:08 PM
It is vacant now but was a school of some kind -- it has a swing set and basketball courts behind it.
Posted by: john m at December 3, 2006 9:42 PM
John, Nice photos. Esp. the one that has changed dramatically. I have never seen a before and after like that! JS
Posted by: joya at December 4, 2006 8:53 PM
wow, that's so great to see. good shots!
Posted by: mc at December 6, 2006 2:48 PM
The last used to be called "House of Happiness", a kindergarten run by a christian missionary group. In the summer they offered vacation bible school, lasted most of the summer, no cost. I attended for several years, fond memories.
Posted by: Carolyn at December 6, 2006 9:01 PM
There's a sign out front that says "Citadel of Hope." When I hit the lottery, that's going to be a really cool community hangout, along with the vacant lot behind it. I think I'll keep the name.
Posted by: throwingutah at December 23, 2006 9:24 PM
I work for the church that owns the Citadel--we lost some grant monies that was used to help us mainatain the property--It used to house all of our social services and outreach for the community. WE have served the homeless, operated after-school and summer programs for the problem kids in the community, fed thousands and given clothing to the needy, the list goes on and on...we are desperate for volunteers to help us renovate, looking for grants to help the vision of the owner to come alive--if you are out there and want to help-- email me or call the church one block away 804 780-0841 Marguerite Foster
Posted by: Marguerite Foster at January 6, 2007 9:23 AM
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