[Durham INC] instead of plywood on windows...

[Ken Gasch]

Boarded up windows scream: "Hello squatter, please consider prying a board
loose on my back side and coming on in. As you can see by my boarded up
windows, I am empty and nobody will bother you for weeks at a time."
 Artwork will do the same thing.

Boarding up homes is a bad policy.

Homes should be lived in.

I have had to keep squatters out of houses scores of times.

For starters, go in a few times and throw all their belongings out. That
usually keeps them from coming back.

Empower the neighbors to watch the house for you. I have one project where a
neighbor ran off some would-be looters/squatters with a 12-gage, double
barrel shotgun.

Get temporary power on and play music and keep a light on or two. Put lights
on timers.

Sign a trespass agreement with the police and post "no trespassing" signs.
My sign is not big and neon orange. My sign is very small. It does not
scream: "empty house."  It is in 12-point type and says: "No Trespassing.
Durham Police Department, Pursuant to NC General Statute 14-153.13 (1),
I hereby authorize any officer of the Durham Police Department to arrest and
remove any intruder found upon these premises.  I will testify in court as
to my power to delegate this authority.  Please do not hesitate to phone me
at any time of day or night.  Thank you, Ken Gasch 919.475.8866."

Do not board up houses!!!

Ken Gasch
REALTOR®/Broker
Seagroves Realty
www.KenGasch.com
C: 919.475.8866
F: 866.229.4267



On Thu, Mar 3, 2011 at 10:24 PM, Barry Ragin <bragin at nc.rr.com> wrote:

> You know, for a city that's on everyone's list of the top ten places to
> live in the US, we sure seem to have a lot of vacant and abandoned houses in
> this town.
>
> I can't for the life of me understand why that should be.
>
> Barry Ragin
>
> On 3/3/11 4:30 PM, Melissa's yahoo wrote:
>
>> Maybe Durham would consider hosting a contest where artists paint a board
>> to be permanently displayed in windows that are broken/in disrepair. Durham
>> could give a small cash prize and/or display the winning board at City Hall
>> or something like that. It would be great publicity for the many artists in
>> Durham and the Triangle. If this doesn't float, maybe we can make it a
>> contest for schools or school aged children and give the winner a $200
>> savings bond - this is what they did for the Durham America Recycles Day
>> contest this year. Or the winner's school could get a raingarden
>> installation or something like that, which we want to see done anyway...
>>
>> Melissa
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>> On Mar 2, 2011, at 7:13 PM, "RW Pickle"<randy at 27beverly.com>  wrote:
>>
>>  Since this is a current topic of a new committee, those involved (as well
>>> as anyone else interested) should view the recent window treatment
>>> (instead of plywood or other materials) used by NIS on a house located on
>>> Holloway Street. The house is located on the right in the first block
>>> (going out Holloway from downtown past the Public Library) just past the
>>> Dillard Street intersection. The house is white and I believe it's the
>>> 3rd
>>> or 4th on the right as you head out Holloway that way. This is a window
>>> treatment that offers security, yet looks like a window. The house also
>>> has fresh straw in the yard from reseeding (just to help you locate it).
>>> It has much better curb appeal than plywood and just casually looking, it
>>> looks like windows are in place.
>>>
>>> Randy Pickle
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Durham INC Mailing List
>>> list at durham-inc.org
>>> http://www.durham-inc.org/list.html
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Durham INC Mailing List
>> list at durham-inc.org
>> http://www.durham-inc.org/list.html
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
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