Comments on: Urban renewal http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=urban-renewal one writer's daily download Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:47:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ricardo http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213874 Ricardo Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:28:03 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213874 My last job in Detroit before moving to the OC in 1974 was cleaning up HUD owned properties. I did this for several years as seasonal work. At that time HUD owned 17,000 abandoned homes in SE Michigan, mostly in Detroit. There was scandal after scandal covering attempts to rehab the properties, to demolition, to loan scandals. People were stealing copper and furnace sheet metal back then. This home looks very familiar to me even after 35 years. We were supposed to just clean up the weeds and debris outside, but often went inside to check out the new adds to our route. I saw homes with all the bricks stripped, entire hardware floors (and subfloors) systematically stripped, and pretty much anything else nailed or not removed. At one house, the kids had gone around to all the abandoned homes and gathered up all of the mattresses, piled them up in a back yard, climbed out the window onto the roof, and jumped off onto the mattresses. The scary part was that these houses were built on 30 foot lots with only a small sidewalk separating them. So when the arsonists came by to torch the homes, practicing their own urban renewal, the neighbors house(s) were at the mercy of a good fire department. Lots of these folks had lived in their homes for many years, and couldn't afford to move, there was no resale value. I was just back in Detroit in August and for the most part it still looked like 1974. My last job in Detroit before moving to the OC in 1974 was cleaning up HUD owned properties. I did this for several years as seasonal work. At that time HUD owned 17,000 abandoned homes in SE Michigan, mostly in Detroit. There was scandal after scandal covering attempts to rehab the properties, to demolition, to loan scandals. People were stealing copper and furnace sheet metal back then.

This home looks very familiar to me even after 35 years. We were supposed to just clean up the weeds and debris outside, but often went inside to check out the new adds to our route. I saw homes with all the bricks stripped, entire hardware floors (and subfloors) systematically stripped, and pretty much anything else nailed or not removed. At one house, the kids had gone around to all the abandoned homes and gathered up all of the mattresses, piled them up in a back yard, climbed out the window onto the roof, and jumped off onto the mattresses.

The scary part was that these houses were built on 30 foot lots with only a small sidewalk separating them. So when the arsonists came by to torch the homes, practicing their own urban renewal, the neighbors house(s) were at the mercy of a good fire department. Lots of these folks had lived in their homes for many years, and couldn’t afford to move, there was no resale value. I was just back in Detroit in August and for the most part it still looked like 1974.

]]> By: JGW http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213438 JGW Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:46:57 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213438 Well after the MAd ANts (WTF???) the tin caps sounds wonderful. I have to go with something like the Fort Wayne Summiteers, or the Summit CIty Slammers, anything but tin caps. Pass out those tin foil hats on VOte for Mark Sauder day. I have to question why the condo sales suck - a friend of mine said it's because people don't want fly balls beaking their windows or loud crowds, but he said the Wizards-Tin Foil Hats are not likely to hit anything, especially baseballs, and the crowds will be less than Memorial (nothing wrong with it) stadium. I'm waiting for Mayor Henry to rent his unit out to illegal Mexican migrant workers or 48 Burmese refugees. Trust me, it's Midtown Crossing II, with a stadium view. JGW Well after the MAd ANts (WTF???) the tin caps sounds wonderful. I have to go with something like the Fort Wayne Summiteers, or the Summit CIty Slammers, anything but tin caps. Pass out those tin foil hats on VOte for Mark Sauder day.

I have to question why the condo sales suck – a friend of mine said it’s because people don’t want fly balls beaking their windows or loud crowds, but he said the Wizards-Tin Foil Hats are not likely to hit anything, especially baseballs, and the crowds will be less than Memorial (nothing wrong with it) stadium.

I’m waiting for Mayor Henry to rent his unit out to illegal Mexican migrant workers or 48 Burmese refugees. Trust me, it’s Midtown Crossing II, with a stadium view.

JGW

]]> By: MichaelG http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213417 MichaelG Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:57:33 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213417 Been in L. A. the last three days. Just got home. Best minor league baseball name is the Las Vegas 51s. The Sacto River Cats are the Triple A champs for the second year in a row. http://www.rivercats.com/ Been in L. A. the last three days. Just got home. Best minor league baseball name is the Las Vegas 51s. The Sacto River Cats are the Triple A champs for the second year in a row. http://www.rivercats.com/

]]> By: Jolene http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213374 Jolene Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:09:26 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213374 For Biden, the trigger to take a drink could be "literally." Apparently, he says it in every third sentence. For Biden, the trigger to take a drink could be “literally.” Apparently, he says it in every third sentence.

]]> By: Gasman http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213363 Gasman Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:52:50 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213363 Joe, Do the math on who has been in charge recently and for the last three decades or so. At the very least, the Rs are responsible for well over half the blame. The "deregulation at all cost" attitude is largely to blame for the current financial debacle. Sensible regulation could have prevented this entire mess. As to Obama's tax plan, what you been smokin'? Did you notice that our economy was better AND we had a balanced budget the last time a Democrat was in office? Face it, like it or not, Democrats in the White House have been more fiscally responsible than Republicans for at least 28 years. Joe,
Do the math on who has been in charge recently and for the last three decades or so. At the very least, the Rs are responsible for well over half the blame. The “deregulation at all cost” attitude is largely to blame for the current financial debacle. Sensible regulation could have prevented this entire mess. As to Obama’s tax plan, what you been smokin’? Did you notice that our economy was better AND we had a balanced budget the last time a Democrat was in office? Face it, like it or not, Democrats in the White House have been more fiscally responsible than Republicans for at least 28 years.

]]> By: Calliope http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213337 Calliope Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:40:41 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213337 Joe, The democrats have had a very slender majority, (not enough to control the senate) since the beginning of 07 -- not quite 2 years. Ooops! So if you want to stamp your feet about why hasn't anything been done for the last 6 years, you might want to start looking at your own party. You also might want to check out just how many bills the Republicans have obstructed with filibusters in the last 2 years, before you bitch about the Democrats not getting anything done. Seriously, Joe, you might want to check out Obama's tax plans for yourself, instead of mindlessly repeating Rush's talking points. Joe,

The democrats have had a very slender majority, (not enough to control the senate) since the beginning of 07 — not quite 2 years.

Ooops!

So if you want to stamp your feet about why hasn’t anything been done for the last 6 years, you might want to start looking at your own party.

You also might want to check out just how many bills the Republicans have obstructed with filibusters in the last 2 years, before you bitch about the Democrats not getting anything done.

Seriously, Joe, you might want to check out Obama’s tax plans for yourself, instead of mindlessly repeating Rush’s talking points.

]]> By: brian stouder http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213334 brian stouder Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:03:25 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213334 If they wanted something offbeat and funny, and with a local angle, they could have called 'em the Bags (for Vera Bradley) or the Stop Lights or the Annuities or the Blacksnakes (for our ANG fighter wing).... oh well If they wanted something offbeat and funny, and with a local angle, they could have called ‘em the Bags (for Vera Bradley) or the Stop Lights or the Annuities or the Blacksnakes (for our ANG fighter wing)….

oh well

]]> By: Julie Robinson http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213330 Julie Robinson Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:43:03 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213330 Brian, I heard the Tin Caps rumor yesterday and I absolutely refused to believe it could have any basis in fact. Paranoid geeks exactly! But after the Mad Ants, nothing should surprise me. Can they at least make some cute silver baseball caps? There are better ways to honor Johnny Appleseed--even the Appleseeds would have been better. Brian, I heard the Tin Caps rumor yesterday and I absolutely refused to believe it could have any basis in fact. Paranoid geeks exactly! But after the Mad Ants, nothing should surprise me. Can they at least make some cute silver baseball caps? There are better ways to honor Johnny Appleseed–even the Appleseeds would have been better.

]]> By: LAMary http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213329 LAMary Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:36:20 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213329 Joe, the Democrats have been the majority since 06, and then just barely in the senate. Please show me where Obama's tax plan hurts the middle class? I've read it and I'm not seeing any increase for anyone making less than 250k. If you're hurting and making 250k, you're spending too much on something. I manage on a lot less than that in LA where even with falling home values, houses in my neighborhood are selling for 500k. Small houses. Joe, the Democrats have been the majority since 06, and then just barely in the senate. Please show me where Obama’s tax plan hurts the middle class? I’ve read it and I’m not seeing any increase for anyone making less than 250k. If you’re hurting and making 250k, you’re spending too much on something. I manage on a lot less than that in LA where even with falling home values, houses in my neighborhood are selling for 500k. Small houses.

]]> By: del http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213328 del Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:29:07 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/10/01/urban-renewal/#comment-213328 John, I'm down with the drinking game. John, I’m down with the drinking game.

]]>