WACKY PHOTO GALLERY: March 2015

I love my job.  Where else would I get to see such interesting things?  Here is today's gallery of oddball house scenes taken as I have been out shopping with clients.

Every spare tire needs a blue tiger themed closet to call its own.

 
It is a little known fact that vinyl billboard prints can also substitute for roofing.

That moment you realize you forgot to put spacers between your tiles before cementing them to the floor.

The love affair with yellow foam continues.  You can never have too much of a good thing.

Introducing (and quickly laying to rest) the innovative but poorly conceived outdoor sticky tile trend.

Storage of last resort.

Hmmm...something just doesn't seem right here.

Glass broken?  Plexiglass not available?  Plywood to expensive? We have a gray tarp and cardboard for you.

"Hey Sweetheart, do you smell something moldy in our room?"


I hope you enjoyed these photos.  With so many homes to look at, there are always surprises waiting to be found.
 

URBAN RENEWAL: Ogden's $20,000 Historic Home Grant Program

Have you ever seen some of the classic historic homes in Ogden and thought that it would be a great experience to buy and restore one of these properties?  Have you been discouraged by the fact many of the homes have been subdivided into endless small rental units?  Has the high price of purchasing an "income property" just so it can be turned back into a home been just too much to stomach?

If so, then there is good news for you.  Ogden City has recently been approved to receive special funds from the State in order to promote unit reduction and the restoration of Ogden's beautiful older homes.

The program will provide $20,000 for every rental unit that is eliminated in a property that was built originally as a single family residence.  For example, if the home is a 4-plex, $60,000 would be available to the buyer to renovate the property.  If the home is a duplex, $20,000 would be available to pay for the conversion.

Here is how the program works:

1. You need to be an owner occupant, meaning that you intend to live in the home when work on the home is complete.  
2. You need to make an offer on a multi-unit home that is located between 20th Street and 27th Street and Washington Blvd. and Monroe Blvd.
3. You need to fill out the city application and worksheet to make sure there are sufficient resources to complete the project.     
4. Close on the purchase of your property and begin work!  

There are plenty of properties in the target area for sale to choose from.

If you would like to learn more about this exciting opportunity to restore a historic home, CONTACT ME, and I can get you all the city forms and details on the program.

OGDEN RISING: Tearing Down and Building Up

Ogden continues to be a city with momentum for change.  Here are some recent developments which you may find interesting.

Downtown Marriott Courtyard

The Hotel located on 24th Street between Grant Ave. and Lincoln Ave. has been through some significant changes over the past several years.  Operating as a Marriott Hotel until around 2013, the hotel fell out of compliance with the franchise standards. The REIT that had possession of the property at that time wanted to keep it in their portfolio due to its profitability.  They rebranded it the Summit Hotel and continued operations.  Finally, over the past year, the property has been completely remodeled on the interior.  It has recently been rebranded as a Marriott Courtyard.  Part of that rebranding means the property will actually need a courtyard. So, demolition began recently to remove the west wing of the hotel to make space for a courtyard and additional parking.  As can be attested by area business owners, downtown is flourishing and parking is at a premium right now.  This will be a great change for the Historic 25th Street area.

The River Project

The latest in the River Project area is a large luxury apartment complex that is being constructed between Grant Ave. and Childs Ave.  at 20th Street.  I was present for a Planning Commission meeting over a year ago when the developers made their pitch for this project.  It looks like they were able to get the approval they needed.

The finished project should look great.   That large nearly finished structure you see in the background there is a new juvenile court building.

There are other projects going on in the city as well.  I will have more to write about those in the near future.


  

FOR SALE: Commercial/Residential Classic Craftsman Home

I just listed this fantastic property located at 750 Washington Blvd. in Ogden, UT.

The home is a giant 3248 SQFT with 4 bedrooms and 1.75 bath.  The basement is partly finished with a mother-in-law kitchenette and could be configured into additional bedrooms and/or living space.  The area is zoned C-2 and the building could make an excellent office or place to house your business.

The home has original oak hardwood floors.  Though much of the home is carpeted, the hardwood floors are intact beneath.  Parking is along the side driveway of the home, or there is access via an easement off 7th Street to park in the back of the home.

Here is an extensive video montage of the home and exterior:

The home as so many vintage original features from 1913 including the clawfoot tub and radiant heat.  A little restoration work would make this property sing.  

  

If you are interested in this property, CONTACT ME, and we can set up a private showing.

NEW LAW: Basement Window Egress Equality

The 2015 General Session recently wrapped up and I am happy to report my bill to create window egress equality for older homes was passed by both the House and the Senate.

I wrote about the need for the bill in January prior to the Session beginning.

In a nutshell, if you own an older property that has basement bedroom windows that were in accordance with code at the time the basement bedroom was constructed, a city or county cannot force you to alter your window size to bring it into compliance with current building codes.  The idea being that if the window was good enough back then, its good enough today.  We don't need government forcing owners to retrofit properties at their expense to accommodate an ever changing and ever more rigorous building code.  

PHOTO: Driver Bounces Car Off Brick Home

The Standard Examiner reported this interesting story this week:

"Ogden Police Lt. Will Cragun said the accident happened about at 1 p.m., as a 26-year-old woman was heading north in the 2300 block of Charlesworth Court, driving a 2001 Plymouth Neon.

“She accidentally hit the gas pedal instead of the brake, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and striking a speed sign post located on the west side of the road,” he said. “The speed sign was knocked down. The driver then over-corrected and ran into the corner of the apartment complex located at 556 23rd Street, where the vehicle came to a stop.

There was minimal damage to the apartment complex."

Courtesy the Standard Examiner

Unfortunately, given this particular apartment complex's reputation, this story is not a surprise.