Thursday, May 03, 2007

Help save a historic home - 1746 Ekin Avenue, Friday, May 4.


Lloyd brings the issue to the plate at View from the Highway: Batter Up---Play Ball!

One of the homes on the city's demolition list (one which, by the way, the city invested something to the tune of $6K to put a roof on last year) has been acquired by Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana for the purpose of not only saving it but selling it as a single family residence (as opposed to it becoming another slumlord cash cow).

Here’s the rest of the story, as e-mailed two days ago by NAC’s own Bluegill:

As most of you are aware, the city has started demolishing some of the less than desirable homes in the downtown neighborhoods. Not all of them, though, are ready for the wrecking ball.

The Charles V. Housel home at 1746 Ekin Avenue is one that's very much worth saving. The Historic Preservation Commission and Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana have successfully negotiated a brief reprieve for the home to find an appropriate buyer for rehabilitation and single-family occupancy but the city only allowed a month to market it.

The first thing that needs to happen as part of that marketing effort is a thorough clean up of the property, as it's full of stuff from its previous tenant. The Commission and Foundation are seeking volunteers to help clean out the house on Friday, May 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They're working to secure truck(s) and/or a dumpster. Volunteers are needed to help carry large and small items out of the house.

The house is currently listed at
HistoricNewAlbany.com in the residential, under $80K category. It's a neat little bungalow with tremendous potential. I was in it today and can vouch for its easily salvageable condition.

Anything you could do to help clean up, even for a short time, would be much appreciated.

Photo credit: HistoricNewAlbany.com

1 comment:

TedF said...

This is an important project for our city. The strategy is simple – troubled homeowner allows home to deteriorate, 3rd party (HLFI in this case) offers homeowner assistance, plan is made to get the home out of the homeowner’s hands and in the possession of a preservation minded buyer. Home gets repaired. One less blighted home in our city. Everyone wins.

It’s a process that can be repeated by other non-profits or even individuals. Marketing a home on HistoricNewAlbany.com is free. Getting a realtor involved is not that difficult. Contact HLFI or the HPC for more information. Or come by 1746 Ekin today and see the strategy in practice.

Ted Fulmore
Chair, New Albany Historic Preservation Commission