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

Fri Mar 4 16:42:53 EST 2011

Thanks for the name compliment. I'm an EMT in Durham, I've been in plenty of
these houses, responding to things like squatters getting shot after being
robbed in them. I'm certainly not advocating celebrating the emptiness of
these houses. What I would like is for these houses to receive attention,
ideally from owner-occupiers, but short of that from people walking by to
see cool art that has been installed on them. Doesn't even have to been on
boards that are covering windows. I think we're all on the same page as far
as end use. I just think something else could be done to improve the
aesthetics of these houses and the general perception of their neighborhoods
in the meantime.

Adrian Fletcher

On Fri, Mar 4, 2011 at 4:27 PM, Ken Gasch <kenneth.gasch at gmail.com> wrote:

> Fletch,
>
> I love your name.
>
> I have worked with scores of buyers looking to become owner-occupants in
> lots of disadvantaged areas in Durham. Boards on windows is, in my opinion,
> a bad idea. Celebrating this emptiness with art in the windows, where real
> people should be living, is a bad idea.
>
> Please, for one minute, consider it through the eyes of a prospective
> buyer. Sure, there will be folks who will take the plunge, but you are
> limiting the size of your prospective buyer pool.
>
> I am happy to give you a walking tour of the area I work in anytime. Bring
> a flashlight and I will take you into a home I am contracted to buy. It has
> boarded up windows. Squatters sleep there every night. Their bedding smells
> of urine. The tubs and toilet are filled with feces. There are the tell-tale
> signs of drug addition all over the home. The address is 701 Holloway.
>
> I will wear my work clothes to the closing. After signing the papers, I
> will go straight to one job site, pick up some of my guys and go to the
> house and the boards will come down that day.
>
> I can take you inside countless others. My cell is 475-8866.
>
> Ken Gasch
>
>
> -- Sent from my Palm Pre
>
> ------------------------------
> On Mar 4, 2011 10:15 AM, Fletch <fletch.groups at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Ken, not every boarded up house has a neighbor that can keep an eye on it.
> There are entire blocks of streets that are made up entirely of boarded up
> houses. Turning these buildings into art may increase traffic and visibility
> around them, helping decrease squatters and general crime in the
> neighborhoods they are in. Detroit has had some success with this<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg_Project>
> .
>
> On Thu, Mar 3, 2011 at 10:34 PM, Ken Gasch <Ken at kengasch.com> wrote:
>
>> 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>
>> 919.475.8866."
>>
>> Do not board up houses!!!
>>
>> Ken Gasch
>> REALTOR®/Broker
>> Seagroves Realty
>> www.KenGasch.com
>> C: <919.475.8866>919.475.8866
>> F: <866.229.4267>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
>>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
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>>
>>
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>>
>
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