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Wed
Jun 20
2012

Demolition on Woodstock Street Means???

A reader checked in, noting that two homes were demoed last week on the 1500 block of Woodstock St., in Point Breeze. South of Dickinson, between 20th and 21st Sts., this little block has some homes that have clearly been tastefully redone in recent years.

In the past

Recent shot

Public record, unfortunately, isn’t much help finding out what’s going on. No new deed has been recorded on 1524 or 1526 S. Woodstock St. in recent months, though 1524 went to tax collection sale earlier this year. Looking at images of these homes when they were still standing, they don’t look like they were in imminent danger of collapse, so we’re doubting that this demolition was the work of L&I.

Now two vacant lots

A neighbor on the block heard that new homes would be built at this site in the near future, but we can’t get any confirmation of that one way or the other. If it is indeed a private developer that’s intending to build here, we wonder if this could have been motivated, in part, by the new construction affordable housing that’s approaching the finish line around the corner at 20th and Dickinson Sts.

20th and Dickinson development

Has anyone out there heard anything about the two lots on Woodstock St.? Inquiring minds want to know…

8
COMMENTS
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Posted in Point Breeze | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments
  • Guest

    it’s obvious the city tore these down.

  • Fdonahue

    I will probably be a 3-story home with an ugly stucco bay — it’s a shame that these quaint 2-story block streets are being compromised.

  • http://twitter.com/F1rstCitizen First Citizen

    They were NSP funded demolition ordered by L&I.

  • http://twitter.com/F1rstCitizen First Citizen

    Props on the casement windows, but is that vinyl siding? Yikes.

  • AMAC

    You’re right. This is when a facade-ectomy would be appropriate for these quaint
    streets.

  • _dan

    Stinks that they cut down the tree, but guess it was needed for access.  I do hope they stucco/finish the sides of the houses to seal them off and to make them a little more aesthetically pleasing.

    And yes First Citizen its vinyl siding, that was my reaction as well.  They are great looking homes, but come on!  The home at the begining of Woodstock st. has a beautiful panel system as sidinig and would’ve looked great on these homes as well. 

  • http://twitter.com/F1rstCitizen First Citizen

    Yep they’ll stucco the sides of the houses.  It usually follows a couple of days after they finish clearing the site.

  • http://twitter.com/F1rstCitizen First Citizen

    I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiment on stucco bays, but there is no way to build a 2 story home on those parcels with modern building and zoning codes.  It’s impossible.  The lots are 14 feet wide (minus the few inches occupied by the still standing brick party walls) and 48 feet deep.  

    To build by right you would only be able to build your building about 33′ 7″ deep.  On your second floor subtract out the space needed for stairs, hallway, new framed exterior walls and hallway partition wall and you would only be able to fit two tiny bedrooms and a bath.  Nobody is going to pay enough for that house for the developer to make money on it.

    To be able to sell your house in this market you need a third bedroom and all of your bedrooms need to be decent sized.  The only way to do that is to add a third story.  So your choice really is either 3 story building or vacant lot, and that’s a fairly easy choice.

    The new zoning code requires the third story to be set back 8 feet in such a situation so the appearance of a 2 story block is maintained.  That has its own limitations but seems to be a reasonable middle ground for people who just can’t stand 3 story buildings.

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