We've owned the house about six months now and what do we have to show for it
1. Amazing ideas from Sara at 4 Over 1 Design. She helped us figure out the nooks we couldn't wrap our heads around. We worked with Heather Wagner on the tax credits for Oakwood (fantastic by the way) and were happy to have the opportunity to work with Durham's other Preservation Leading Lady.
2. Tax Credit application is very close to finished. We need to give it another once over (Harris), finalize descriptions (Natalie), fit the pictures to the rooms (Natalie), complete drawings of the proposed exterior (Harris), complete the existing cad (Natalie), complete interior proposed cad (Natalie), and then copy everything from the federal application and paste it into the state (Natalie)
3. Lot of Lizzy, Lizzy 2, yard etc is coming right along. We hope to finish the trash pick up at Lizzy 2 this weekend. We will then go to the scrap yard and use the money we make to create the Bottle Count Prize! We've also gotten great estimates for tree care from Cormac and Erica at Aerial Innovations. This is the same company that takes care of our trees at Oakwood and we've got a lot of faith in their honesty and ability. They also don't use spikes or take other short cuts that damage the trees and just love climbing and playing in the trees. It's their playful professionalism that is just so cool. We've got to work out with the property owner next door about the tree situation as the ones that need to come down stradle the property lines.
4. Estimates- We're still waiting for estimates...
This is sort of frustrating but not really frustrating. Since Harris is on the Dole it's not like we'd qualify for any loan (short version, I'm at 50% debt/income ratio because I am responsible for all of our mortgages and student loans, none of Harris's income counts, and the income from Q St rental doesn't count. I look very bad on paper right now even with my high credit score and money in the bank.) We are also being very cautious so that we can claim the federal tax credits. I can totally understand why estimates would be slow coming when the contractors know we won't start work until the tax credit plan is approved and we have the cash to pay them.
Lucky for us it's light at night again and we can start spending dates playing in our little non-electrified shell.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Gone
Bamboo is gone for $19.50 thanks to either the carelessness of the solid waste dept. or the indignant responses from council members.
While Harris was talking to Solid Waste about the problem on Friday, the caller suggested that Harris take it up with City Council if he had a problem with it. After I got back from lunch on Friday, that's exactly what I did and it seems city council was not amused.
By 3:30 Friday afternoon Harris had an apology from the director of solid waste who had pulled the tape of the call and listened to it and confirmation that they would pick up all of the bamboo for no additional charge by the end of the day.
It's all gone.
We also anticipate having our first estimate for the shell rennovation delivered to us this week. This would entail a licensed general contractor fixing the foundation and rebuilding the roofline. Additioanlly, they would put in the new replacement windows where the current broken replacement windows are, rebuild the porch, and replace rotten exterior wood.
We're thinking colors along the lines of ... HEX: #F70586RGB:
While Harris was talking to Solid Waste about the problem on Friday, the caller suggested that Harris take it up with City Council if he had a problem with it. After I got back from lunch on Friday, that's exactly what I did and it seems city council was not amused.
By 3:30 Friday afternoon Harris had an apology from the director of solid waste who had pulled the tape of the call and listened to it and confirmation that they would pick up all of the bamboo for no additional charge by the end of the day.
It's all gone.
We also anticipate having our first estimate for the shell rennovation delivered to us this week. This would entail a licensed general contractor fixing the foundation and rebuilding the roofline. Additioanlly, they would put in the new replacement windows where the current broken replacement windows are, rebuild the porch, and replace rotten exterior wood.
We're thinking colors along the lines of ... HEX: #F70586RGB:
Friday, April 8, 2011
This is going to be fun
Harris was told today, while on the phone with Solid Waste, "if you've got a problem with it* call City Council".
Email sent to council and city manager at 1:10pm
Two responses from council members by 1:27.
This should be fun.
*the definition of a bulky brush pick up being two grabs with the automated arm on the truck not two visits to a site.
Email sent to council and city manager at 1:10pm
Two responses from council members by 1:27.
This should be fun.
*the definition of a bulky brush pick up being two grabs with the automated arm on the truck not two visits to a site.
Bamboo removal
Harris signed up for yard waste service for the remainder of the year. The cart rental plus service agreement set us back $19.50. This also entitles us to two free bulky brush pick ups. We have requested one for the bamboo that the city tells us will be complete by Saturday. We'll see on that one.
It also enables us to fill 10 lawn and leaf bags a week with bamboo leaves to be picked up for free at the curb by the city.
You might wonder why there are so many posts about bamboo and so few about...you know...the house.
First, the bamboo is something we can actively work on and make progress, ergo it is satisfying to do this work. Additionally, it is realtively inexpensive to go and hack/haul/curse the bamboo.
Second, the bamboo lot had previously obsured the sidewalk, making it impossible to see the connections between this section of Elizabeth St and the hill. Now that we've cleared it, from the sidewalk you can see straight on to Dowd St. It is also less likely that the lot will be cited by NIS for code enforcement.
Third, the overgrown and trash filled lot makes the place feel abandoned and un loved. We want to instead make it seem a little loved.
Fourth, Natalie is tragically afraid of snakes. As it gets warmer, there is less of a chance that she will go anywhere that she cannot see the ground...so we better get it clean before the critters emerge.
Fifth, we're still planning the interior of the house. This isn't our full time job by any means. Since we don't have the loans lined up yet to do the work or the tax credit application submitted, there's not much we can do inside of Lizzy other than clean.
We've set up a meeting with Sara of 4 over 1 to chat about the house next week and are excited to hear her thoughts!
It also enables us to fill 10 lawn and leaf bags a week with bamboo leaves to be picked up for free at the curb by the city.
You might wonder why there are so many posts about bamboo and so few about...you know...the house.
First, the bamboo is something we can actively work on and make progress, ergo it is satisfying to do this work. Additionally, it is realtively inexpensive to go and hack/haul/curse the bamboo.
Second, the bamboo lot had previously obsured the sidewalk, making it impossible to see the connections between this section of Elizabeth St and the hill. Now that we've cleared it, from the sidewalk you can see straight on to Dowd St. It is also less likely that the lot will be cited by NIS for code enforcement.
Third, the overgrown and trash filled lot makes the place feel abandoned and un loved. We want to instead make it seem a little loved.
Fourth, Natalie is tragically afraid of snakes. As it gets warmer, there is less of a chance that she will go anywhere that she cannot see the ground...so we better get it clean before the critters emerge.
Fifth, we're still planning the interior of the house. This isn't our full time job by any means. Since we don't have the loans lined up yet to do the work or the tax credit application submitted, there's not much we can do inside of Lizzy other than clean.
We've set up a meeting with Sara of 4 over 1 to chat about the house next week and are excited to hear her thoughts!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Bamboo v.5
Today was much majesty.
I decided, you know, bamboo is just grass. How hard could it be to move it to the street?
I found out four hours later (with the help of Bill) that it is that damn hard to move bamboo after it's dry and there are thousands of shafts.
Paid Bill $80 for the 4 hours of work today. The lot is nasty, there are stakes everywhere, and he's great company. We got to gossip and at least one person stopped by after hearing Bill from the street. Harris and Madeline brought us pizza and real soda and Madeline got to look for bugs with her PopPop.
While we were moving bamboo to pile at the street, we also started moving bottles. First count coming soon!
I decided, you know, bamboo is just grass. How hard could it be to move it to the street?
I found out four hours later (with the help of Bill) that it is that damn hard to move bamboo after it's dry and there are thousands of shafts.
Paid Bill $80 for the 4 hours of work today. The lot is nasty, there are stakes everywhere, and he's great company. We got to gossip and at least one person stopped by after hearing Bill from the street. Harris and Madeline brought us pizza and real soda and Madeline got to look for bugs with her PopPop.
While we were moving bamboo to pile at the street, we also started moving bottles. First count coming soon!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Lizzy Proposed
Harris and I were brainstorming this past weekend about what Lizzy was missing and what we have not decided on.
We have a really tall crawl space. We're currently investigating whether or not we can pour concrete and finish part of this space for a laundry room and climate controlled storage. This would also enable us to put the water heater here if we decide to go with system with a tank and let us keep the panel box there. We have to investigate code for these decisions.
We're going to ask the preservation office if we can remove the fireplace that has collapsed. This has been a plan for awhile now, but we had been thinking that if we are able to remove the fireplace we would then place a half bathroom in that space. Now we are thinking that if they let us remove the fireplace, we'll put a staircase to the basement nee' crawl space in that location.
We still have not resolved where we will put closets. The house has been...altered...in such a way that there are really no straight lines or consistent walls. Once we remove the existing closet and full bath off of the bedroom, we'll have a better idea as to the dimensions of the hallway. However, we will also then have a house with no closets.
Then there is the question about access between the bedrooms. Do we want all access through the hallway or to retain the access between the two bedrooms? This access point was originally the rear door, so I think we have a lot of options.
So before we submit the proposal to the preservation office for comment we have some details to work out on our end. Thoughts and opinions appreciated...
I give you Lizzy Proposed!
We have a really tall crawl space. We're currently investigating whether or not we can pour concrete and finish part of this space for a laundry room and climate controlled storage. This would also enable us to put the water heater here if we decide to go with system with a tank and let us keep the panel box there. We have to investigate code for these decisions.
We're going to ask the preservation office if we can remove the fireplace that has collapsed. This has been a plan for awhile now, but we had been thinking that if we are able to remove the fireplace we would then place a half bathroom in that space. Now we are thinking that if they let us remove the fireplace, we'll put a staircase to the basement nee' crawl space in that location.
We still have not resolved where we will put closets. The house has been...altered...in such a way that there are really no straight lines or consistent walls. Once we remove the existing closet and full bath off of the bedroom, we'll have a better idea as to the dimensions of the hallway. However, we will also then have a house with no closets.
Then there is the question about access between the bedrooms. Do we want all access through the hallway or to retain the access between the two bedrooms? This access point was originally the rear door, so I think we have a lot of options.
So before we submit the proposal to the preservation office for comment we have some details to work out on our end. Thoughts and opinions appreciated...
I give you Lizzy Proposed!
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