They are taking shape!

This week was one of those weeks where we made some real progress. The second floor is framed on the first house. This is the view from the front.










Here is the view from the side. It's really nice to see something that was in my mind become reality. Thanks to Bryant's and Chris' creativity we were able to figure out how to get the stairs in and still have room for both a loft above the living room and room for the washer and dryer cabinet in the kitchen.










Wow - this actually looks like it's going to be a real house soon! Monday morning the electrician, plumber, and HVAC guys will be at the job site, starting work on this house. Bryant has been working overtime this weekend to get the floor system rebuilt and the new stairs in.








The other houses are moving along too. I'll post more soon!

Now this is more like it!

I got back from vacation today and rushed right over to Oakwood Ave to check on the progress of the cottages. Now we're getting somewhere. Bryant Chambers, my other trusty carpenter, has made some great progress. The foundations on two of the houses are rebuilt, and the other two are underway. The framing for the first floor of two of the houses is just about done. Bryant tells me that the first house will be framed in another week, so then we can get the electrician, plumber and HVAC guys to work. Yeah!

Here is the foundation for the rear section of the house - totally rebuilt.

Framing for the floor - rear section.










The walls framed for the new first floor bedroom and bath.

















Framing and foundation repairs under the original section of the houses.

Check back soon for more progress!

Permits for the first two houses!

On Thursday of last week, Chris (one of my trusty carpenters) took my permit applications to the City. After various corrections they wanted made, he was told they'd get them processed, maybe by Friday or at least by Monday and call him.

Well... as things go, they called me Monday with another question, then after I begged and pleaded (and paid $580) they issued permits for two of the six applications. The clerk in the office told me in no uncertain terms that despite what I've been told in the past and what the City website says, they have 5 days to issue permits and it will likely take all 5 days. Seems that doing them faster will interfere with the numerous personal conversations some of the staff there have going on that must be very, very important. Infinitely more important than interuppting them for a waiting permit application.

Do I sound bitter? I don't really mean to bash all the folks there, because some of them have been very helpful. It is just really frustrating to wait all this time, be told I could get permits in one day, then be made to wait 5 days. UGGH!

So, on the positive side, the foundation footer is dug on two of the four houses, and in process on the other two. We can get the inspection tomorrow and then begin pouring concrete!

Chris and Bryant tell me that it won't be long before I'll start seeing some framing! Yeah!

Keep watching for some more interesting pics as we get really moving.

Yes!!!

That's the word from the City of Raleigh Board of Adjustment. As long as I conform to the neighborhood overlay district - which means I can't let tenants park in the yard anymore (like that big 70' something Lincoln Continental that's been there for the last few months from my newly evicted tenant). It also means I have to use building materials similar to those in the neighborhood and include architectural features common to the neighborhood - such as porches. All of that was part of my plan anyway.

So, now we wait 10 more days until I get the building permit, then we pour new foundations for the back third. So, but the beginning of July we should see some framing!

Still waiting, but we're doing what we can...

It's still not time for the Zoning Hearing yet, but we've been busy doing what we can. Many of the overgrown trees have been either removed (only where necessary!) or trimmed back. It's now possible to see the fronts of all the houses and the tree limbs that were resting on the roofs are all now gone.

There's still some "unsavory" activity going on in the backyards - but clearing the underbrush should help, and soon we'll have some lighting. I guess old habits die hard.

The interiors of the four houses in Phase I are all gutted down to the studs. The old electrical wiring was removed for the copper courtesy of some nameless thief, but it will be sold and recycled! The flooring is all out as well - unfortunately the old wood was just to damaged to save.

Number 910 has had the old back addition torn off - it's amazing that thing was even still standing. We found that there had been a fire at one time, and the foundation appeared to be 2 layers of concrete block sitting on dirt with no mortar. Yikes!

Number 908 (one of the Phase II houses) has had the asphalt siding removed, and the original wood siding has been caulked, primed and painted blue. Just the trim needs to be done. I decided to paint 908 so it doesn't make the Phase I houses look so bad when we get towards the end of Phase I and it's time to occupy them.

Still anxious to get going....

More Delays

Well, more delays from my favorite governmental agency - the City of Raleigh. Apparently someone has decided they need a day off on the day my hearing has been scheduled for the zoning variance, so now it's been rescheduled for June 9. Then it will be 10 days more until they can issue permits.



So, I've notified my carpenters who now have to find more work for yet another month. How very frustrating.



In the mean time, we are doing all the demo work possible, and some pretty intensive clearing of the lots. There were a lot of very overgrown trees, saplings and shrubs hanging all over the houses. Not anymore! It looks so much better already, and much more work is still needed.



I guess patience is a virtue - and it's out of my control, so now I'm looking forward to June 19 - the first possible day I can get a permit.

What they look like now

This is the exterior - sided with Asphalt shingles. They look bad, but the good news is that they work. So, under these shingles is decent wood siding. I think I can reuse most of it! Yeah!

The whole row is pretty overgrown with trees/weeds. I'll be working on that until my Zoning Variance comes through.