Architect and Engineer say property is sound

I have been speaking with historic preservation regarding the "demo spree" in our neighborhood and received this response regarding the brick shotgun featured on yesterdays blog post and I received the following info from Margo Warminski at CPA

BTW, an architect and an engineer on our Advocacy Committee looked at the cute brick shotgun and both said there was nothing wrong with it. And now it's been declared a nuisance.

So it appears that city building inspections can just "look" at a building and say "yep needs demo"? Far too often it would appear these demos are more because the city "thinks' it is not economically viable to fix and nobody would put that kind of money into "that' neighborhood.

As someone who bought a property that was on the city VBML list in this neighborhood I can tell them they are wrong! As someone who has personally saved at least six properties in the last 20 years that were scheduled for demo and advocated for others to save properties in countless cities,I can tell you that MOST houses can be saved, you have to know what you are doing and be willing to make the financial investment. There is over a million dollars of private investment going on in our neighborhood right now. Given some time every one of those houses can be saved and we can have a vibrant neighborhood.

Take a look at what you can do with a condemned property.This was headed for the bulldozer and today is the showplace on the block which is now restored as well. But without "vision" this would be in a landfill right now and a landmark 1885 Italiante with a one of a kind 'floating" staircase would have been lost forever! It has been cointributing a major amounta of proerty taxes since it was restored vs. virtually NONE had it been buldozed and a vacant lot in its place

Same with this wonderful house. Carved into 4 apartments everyone thought it should come down, it was a "nuisance". No one looking at it today would EVER suggest tearing it down. It is a great house that is occupied by a family, paying taxes, contributing to the betterment of the neighborhood. A vacant lot doesnt do that and that is something 'lost' on this mayor and this city council.

And that is my point! Just because the city doesn't have the vision, it doesn't mean the neighborhood doesn't have it. I FIRMLY believe there is a better fate for the brick shotgun that what the city would plan for it a bunch of brick in a landfill. We need to stop these planned demolitions NOW, step back and try to find solutions that will get these homes restored and back connntributing to city taxroles. We ALL win when that happens but we all lose when there is another vacant lot!

The response from the city council or the mayor has been one of TOTAL SILENCE on yesterday's blog.

Mayor Mallory, just why are you bulldozing my neighborhood?

I would like to know what the "agenda" of the Mayor and city council has concerning my neighborhood. There is no logical reason why this house should have been bulldozed. I've seen this house, I've looked at it, I was familiar with it and there was nothing that would preclude its restoration. In fact previous owners had started restoration and simply ran out of money. Aside from the architectural interest it had amazing original woodwork and plaster.

How does taking a bulldozer to this house "help" my neighborhood and more importantly how does it help the city? This house restored would have been assessed at about 200K, people would have lived in it, spent money in the local economy. The vacant lot that remains will likely sit that way for decades, not contributing to the taxbase.

The city has been systematically bulldozing the lower end of Knox street and Waverly for some time. What is the hidden agenda? What is the plan? Do we the residents get a voice?

Some houses are too far gone to save, but not this house. What the city called 'blight' , we call opportunity. Opportunity to restore a historic home, make it a place where people want to live.

So Mr. Mayor lets talk about your plans. Although I am sure you won't respond probably delegating that authority to one of your 'staff puppets' or maybe Ed Cunningham, a decent guy who often gets 'stuck' with running interference for your policies.

These houses area all "view' lots. You have these on the demo hearing list on lower Knox. Note the intact cornice work, a pristine example of Cincinnati tinwork and part of a row of houses. Take the siding off and redo the facades and you have two nice homes. You could even add a second story on the back for master suites and have a rooftop deck.The VIEW is incedible from the front with the city in the distance. The city just bulldozed a restorable Second Empire a few doors done. So what is the deal? Some developer looking for land to build luxury condos or are we just keeping our friends in the demo business busy?

This is one of the impending demo houses. Will likely be gone in a few weeks. I will admit it doesn't look like much to you. I see a rare form of second empire cottage with a front gable . There is a very nice one being restored over on Dayton Street. You apparently want this one down so bad you are willing to tear down a historic retaining wall to knock this one down. So this one restored wouldn't be worth more than a vacant lot? Perhaps you'd like to go down the street to see my Second Empire cottage which I am sure the assessor will assess at over 250 K when we are done with it.

How about this one? A Brick shotgun cottage from about 1900? Notice the patterned brick and the elaborate chimney work, the arched door? Architecturally its one of a kind. Its certainly not going to fall down. Would not the city efforts be better spent to get he owner to repair it OR maybe the city could acquire it and resell it to someone who would like to restore it?

This "may be" the most tragic potential loss of all. This circa 1898 commercial storefront building at the corner of Fairmount and Thompson. The ONLY commercial building in our entire neighborhood. A rapidly disappearing architectural form not just in Cincinnati, but the entire nation. American "corner store' architecture. Wouldn't this make a nice community center for our neighborhood? Our neighborhood organization would be happy to have it.I know two people who would love to own this and restore it. Why the city would even consider destroying what could be a key anchor to the community is amazing to me. What is next? The church down the street?

So what is the hidden agenda Mr Mayor? I'd really like to know why you are bulldozing my neighborhood. We don't want it bulldozed, we want to restore it. You can not have a neighborhood if there is no place to live? I would be more than happy to print WORD for WORD any thing coming directly from you and I welcome the comments of any city council member, just hit the comment button!