  Jjw Member Username: Jjw Post Number: 30 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 68.33.56.156 |
You know, back in the 60s, the city of Baltimore was desparate and decided to sell beat up homes for a buck and a signed agreement that the new owner will rehab the place within a certain time allotment. Holy Sheeet! What a great idea that was! That small little idea spawned rehab throughout the city that is unbelievable. Entire neighborhoods have been restored and the city has enjoyed surpluses in revenue along with restored city life and business that followed. Why can't that happen in Detroit??? lack of imagination? to much red-tape? someone help me here! What is most wonderful about it is that the building boom is not new lofts or condos but 100 year old homes, old factories, etc. As I drove down Grand Blvd. over the holidays---this was my thought--and as usual--I was frustrated. Any ideas???? | ||
Ohudson Member Username: Ohudson Post Number: 111 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 70.233.5.38 |
That program was in Detroit, too. My aunt bought her house in the Harper/Dickerson area for $1. She had to get a loan to fix the necessary things in her house and that was the only condition. This was about 20 years ago. | ||
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto Post Number: 1651 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.2.148.237 |
I missed out on the dollar houses, but in 1991 I got one for 500.00 Of course, this was at the end of the Coleman years, and the city was so incredibly disfunctional that I had to go to them, tell them that they owned it and offer them money. It was a miracle that the records had even been updated to show city ownership. But I got two houses on one lot for 500 bucks. And because I had an active community group, I got some grant money, combined it with a low interest loan and 4 years of hard work. It was worth it. I got hooked on the process and am now working on my third rehab. Something like this would have been enormously helpful ten, fifteen, twenty years ago. The city still owns a lot of property, so it couldn't hurt even now. | ||
Jasoncw Member Username: Jasoncw Post Number: 98 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 148.61.248.29 |
It reminds me of the Simpsons where Bart buys a big abandoned factory at a city auction for a dollar. I think it's a good idea, but the city would have to enforce any rules about slumlording it all, and it seems like the city is having a hard problem with that already. But I still think it's a good idea. I think that I read somewhere here that a house costs 10-20 thousand dollars to fix, and that's a good price for buyers and a good plus for the community. That's really cool Barnesfoto, keep up the good work. Do you have any before and after pictures you could post? | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 932 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.246.13.131 |
Detroit has been very progressive, rather then having Dollar Houses, we now have Dollar Stores.  sorry | ||
623kraw Member Username: 623kraw Post Number: 752 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.224.200 |
I bought a house in 1994 for $500.00. I put $15,000 into it. It was 60% repaired. I came there the next day and it had been plowed-down. Another great, heroic tale of the city of Detroit and it's total lack of any coherance and total mis-management. Another job well done... OOPS, burnt another one... | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 141 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42 |
1994, eh? According to Lowell, Detroit must have bottomed out after they plowed down your house. You're the one! | ||
Kurwo Member Username: Kurwo Post Number: 822 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.100.112.29 |
I'm working on my third rehab too. Damn you, meth amphetemines, everytime I try to get out, you pull me right back in! | ||
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto Post Number: 1655 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.2.148.27 |
Kraw, was your house on Vermont St? There's a well known case that is an often repeated bit of Corktown history.... | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 790 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 198.208.159.18 |
I thought there were dollar houses under archer? |
