The OLD Project

As promised, I wanted to take you through the first house before getting involved in the next one.

A little background first: I am an architect by degree. I have always believed since my time in college that getting hands on experience is a key to being a good architect. It becomes absolutely imperative that the designer be able to conceptualize how to actually build what is on paper. Therein lies at least one reason behind my passion to build.

I can now relate to all kinds of trades when thinking about the design of a building or quality of an installation. At this point, and as you will surely see, I have had plenty of hands on experience with masonry, concrete, welding, framing, trim work, tile setting, drywall hanging and finishing, painting, flooring, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, and so on. Can't say that I'm an expert at any one thing (may never be...) but surely I can probably do just about anything well enough to get by. Which brings me to another reason behind my passion to build: Sweat Equity.

Without further ado, here is the first house. It is a duplex, presently inhabited by my wife, Sheri, and I in the North unit and family renters in the South unit. Unfortunately, it will be a while before I can get to the real old photographs of the house during demolition and prior. Those are quite scary. I only have photos from about 2 years ago when the North unit was still under construction. I guess inevitably it will look a lot like the 1342 house, for which this blog was created. So stay tuned and you'll get your fill.

So there she is: 1334 - 36 Linden Street. Stolen from the market in May of 2001 for a mere $20,000. It now appraises for $150,000. We had to add new water service, which was quite fun to watch. For $3,000 I had a family-friend-owned excavator dig a new meter pit with a 3/4" black PVC water line driven under the house and through the basement wall. It was very cool, and it resulted in a brand new 3/4" main for the whole house. I guess that might be a draw-back for a duplex. Only one water meter. But water around here is still cheap -- our bill averages in the $30 - $40 a month range for both residences.

Anyway, the retaining wall was installed by yours truly with some Versalock retaining wall blocks that were mis-produced (read "much cheaper than market rate"). We topped it all of with a shaded garden planting that includes primarily hostas and impatients. It works.

I guess it would be a good idea to save space on these posts, so I'll continue next time with a few more posts highlighting the interior, including the custom designed stair rail and new slate tile wall. And some decent before / after shots.

The Beginning Of An Era

Welcome to the beginning of an era.

This blog will follow the renovation of a 1920's house in Fountain Square, one of the oldest still-intact neighborhoods in Indianapolis, Indiana. I finally convinced my wife to buy this heap of house in the face of expecting a child...maybe I'm a little crazy. Alas, this will in fact be the second such renovation that I have started, the first one ongoing although approximately 99% complete. I wish blogs had been as popular when I started that project 5 years ago so I would have a complete, timely record of the progress and a narrative account of the project. At this point it is all only recorded on 35mm negatives and in what space is left in my brain.

I'll begin in a few days (after the Thanksgiving Holiday) by posting a little background on my current residence and first major renovation project, 1334 - 36 Linden Street. That way I can preserve the important points of what I've learned along the way, and you'll get a good picture what is capable of being done with determination, a little financial creativity and a strong dose of throwing caution into the wind.

Until then . . . have a wonderful holiday.