Metropolitan Rural

Here are some pictures from my first weekend working on the fence. Taking down the old fence turned out to be the easy part. Getting the old concrete forms out was another issue altogether.

I started by just trying to pull one straight out, but no luck. Even though it was wiggling in the ground, it was still firmly planted below ground.

Next, I started digging a trench beside them to try and get deep enough I could tip it over and pull it out. The first one worked like a charm… but it looked terribly short. Ah!!! It was broken about a foot underground. No wonder the fence leaned so quickly. The wind must have pushed enough on that end that when the fence started leaning the concrete just snapped. Amazing power.

Anyway, I ended up renting a power auger and dug new holes directly beside the current supports. I then grabbed a sledge hammer and with a few hefty swings snapped the supports off below grade. This allwed me to put in new forms (in the new holes) and then cover up the old supports and leave them buried in the ground for future generations. Call a time capsule of “what were they tinking” when someone unearths them 20 years from now.

*EDITED 10/8/2007* Moved slideshow to the finished post.

So, tonight and tomorrow I’ll be starting work on re-doing my fence. I got my permit a couple weeks ago (though even the plan reviewer told me I would probably have been fine without one).

Tonight will be the start of the test. I’m hoping to take down the first section of fence and see how I do with budging the concrete footing. Depending on how that goes I will decide if I need to rent some equipment or just bring in some muscle to get that done.

I’ll do my best to get some pictures taken throughout the process and post a blog up here once it’s done so you can see my handy work.

Wish me luck!

I just ran across this website via Slashdot. It’s a wiki page set up by the government of New Zealand for help in drafting the next version of the National Police Act.

Granted, the government is working on this themselves and will “take into consideration” the wiki results, so it won’t necessarily be enacted, but the idea is really cool to get some citizen response.

So, what are the odds we could get Mayor Slay, the Aldermen, or our State Legislators to do something like this? (none you say?) Yeah… that’s what I figured too.

I wish I had the money to do this, but that’ not an option. I’m posting this to encourage some investment down in my neck of the woods. I’m in Southampton which is a pretty stable area with long term residents and strong home values. The one exception is the 49xx block of our streets right next to S. Kingshighway (particularly the area near Chippewa). The area has seen some poor choices of tenants over the years by landlords that aren’t as involved in the are as they should be. There are several 2-4 family units for sale on the 49xx-50xx blocks of Chippewa at present. There is also some Mixed Use properties available near by on Kingshighway as well.

If you stop by and have a look you will find some decent properties that keep their value well despite themselves. Should you decide to make the leap and invest, you would also get lots of moral support from the neighborhood association and it’s members as well as the Southtown Business District.

Anyway, here’s a list of some properties you might consider:

4975 Chippewa ($75,900). This 2 family was just dropped about $40k in price yesterday. It won’t last long. No other 2/4 family’s nearby are listed for less than about $170k.

4954 Chippewa ($379,900). This is a 12 unit apartment building that has been condemned and boarded up by the city. I don’t know much else of it’s story, but it sure doesn’t help the rest of the area.

4517-4525 S. Kingshighway ($599,000). This is a mixed use building just a couple blocks south of Chippewa and I believe just a couple blocks south of the infamous Avalon Theatre that is still standing. Check out the pictures on this one, it’s about the only building for several blocks that doesn’t have a payday loan place in it already! At least there is a Home Vestors Franchise (the Ug Buys Ugly Houses people) that you could kick out if you are so inclined. It’s 5 commercial spaces and 4 residential units. Seems like a bargain to me.

Total listing prices of these 3 properties… $1,054,800 (which is approximately the current asking price for the badly deteriorated Avalon Theatre). For that measly sum you could be an instant slum lord, or better yet, a neighborhood visionary! You would get 18 residential units and 5 commercial units. Of course, I’m sure there’s another few hundred thousand needed to spruce things up, but what’s a few hundred thou between friends… right!

Ever since I was a young boy of about 10, I dreamed of being an architect and designing houses. I would build them out of Lego’s and draw out plans on graph paper before I ever knew anything about drafting. In HS drafting class we designed our own houses. While most everyone in the class had these sprawling 3,000 square foot ranch houses for out on their farms, I had a small, 2-story, 3 Bed, 1.5 bath home of about 1,600 square feet. Even then, I was geared for urban living.

When HS was nearing an end in the early 90’s, the housing market was hitting rock bottom and I was afraid to go into architecture and never end up with a job. Instead, I chose to get a degree in Engineering. After years of working for manufacturing companies as a business process expert in areas of production planning, purchasing and finance, I have found myself as an IT geek supporting those areas and dreaming again of a life spent with houses.

While my dream has changed some, the core motivation really hasn’t. I’m a house nut to the core. I love walking into a house and just standing there to look around. My mind instantly races to the possibilities of room layout, furniture placement, colors and remodeling. I walk into a kitchen or bath and instantly have ideas on better layouts of the cabinets, appliances and fixtures.

I love it.

That desire is what is keeping me at work at this point. I am diligently getting my finances in order to start work on our first investment home. Oh, it will probably be another couple of years before I finally get started, but I’m already there in spirit. I see new foreclosure listings in my neighborhood and I can do the math in my head on returns. How much the kitchens, bathrooms and other changes would cost at most and what the probable sale price or rents would be afterwards. What are the current interest rates and how much would the financing cost during the project. It’s all intuitive for me.

I look forward to that first house, but my dream doesn’t stop there. Long term I want to have a a one-stop shop of sorts. I envision some commercial space in my neighborhood with large windows. A place where I have several companies that do the whole deal (investment properties, rental management, general contracting, architects, Realtors and even a mortgage broker.) Putting together such a business isn’t easy and won’t happen overnight, but I don’t want a huge several hundred employee place. I’m just thinking one or two people to manage and work each area. We’d work together on projects with the investment properties and then also get our own work outside the company as well.

I love being around smart, creative people who have the same love for houses as myself. This would be the ultimate for me. Alas, it remains a dream for now. I will instead see visions in my head to keep the dream alive. All I want is to make a living for myself and enjoy my work and who I work with. I don’t care about being rich, just knowing I can help make a better neighborhood, better city and a nice place for someone to live while putting food on my table.

Anyone care to join me?

After reading a post today over at Urban Review - STL, I came to realize that yesterday was my 1 year anniversary of using public transportation to and from work. I started commuting full-time by bus on 9/25/2006. So, what has happened to me in the past year of riding the bus? Here’s a few things I recall:

• Number of times caught in the rain without an umbrella (1)
• Number of times my bus never showed up (0)
• Number of times the bus was more than 10 minutes late (maybe 6)
• Number of strangers I’ve gotten to know by riding the bus with them (about 12)
• Number of times I was forced to stand on a crowded bus (0)
• Number of times there were fewer than 5 people on the bus (I would guess at least 20, it happens more often in the winter)
• Number of people who didn’t realize they got on an express bus until it passes their stop(at least 100, I’m sure it happens at least twice a week).
• Number of new coats I bought for standing out in the cold (2)

Now, how about the financial aspect:

• Amount of paid in bus passes ($720)
• Amount NOT paid at the parking garage ($1,416, it went up to $95 in January)
• Amount NOT paid in car insurance ($540)
• Amount NOT paid in oil changes ($60)
• Amount NOT paid in gas ($780, estimate at $2.50 /gallon and 12 gallons every other week).
• Amount NOT paid in other needed maintenance on the car ($1,500, it needed a water pump, tires, hoses etc.)
• Amount received when selling the car ($4,800)
• Net Amount for all items ($8,376)
• Monthly savings, not including the last 2 items ($173)

All in all, I think it’s been a pretty good year. I have no plans on getting a car and commuting again in the near future. We’ve only had 2 thoughts on purchasing a vehicle recently:

1. Replacing our 5 year old minivan with a more fuel efficient vehicle
2. Adding a scooter to use for short trips to avoid using the van as much

Despite the fact that our brand new A/C system had the compressor go out on Thursday this last week (the entire thing was installed in May), I still had a wonderful weekend.

Friday night was hanging out with friends at Bailey’s Chocolate Bar. The only problem here having to pick just one thing to have. Just a block or so off Lafayette Square on Park. A very enjoyable evening.

Saturday started with a CYC soccer game for the little one down at River Des Peres park (swinging into Eddie’s Southtown Donuts on the way of course). After that was a trip up to the St. Louis Zoo for my corporate party and a walk through some of our favorite animals. Like me, most of the big cats enjoy sleeping on weekend afternoons we discovered! The kid and I ended up at the Cardinal’s game that night hanging out in the bleachers. Got to see a fun game and still get home at a decent time thanks to the 6pm start. We also lucked out by crossing the street and catching the correct Metrolink within a minute of getting to the platform.

Sunday was a little more relaxed. While the wife was off volunteering at the Zoo, the kid and I got the yard mowed, trimmed and a flower bed turned up. Then some lunch and then to cleaning inside. It took us a couple hours but we got everything except the bedrooms looking good for when Mom got home. After working so hard (and without A/C), we decided to reward ourselves to a walk up the street for some ice cream. Luckily, the in-laws were nice enough to invite us over for dinner and cold air for the evening. We sat around after dinner and watched the new Ken Burns documentary on WWII.

I look back on all the stuff we did this weekend and I’m so glad I live here in the city. The Zoo and the Cardinal’s would have been special weekend trips growing up, not something you just go do because you feel like it last minute. It is so cool to be able to walk or grab a bus someplace like that and not have to plan for weeks in advance to go someplace like we had to growing up.

Well, if you haven’t been to my neck of the woods lately, you are missing an up and coming area. The Southampton Neighborhood has been a relatively stable community for a number of years, but the area along Macklind Avenue was a little less than stellar.

We have been in our home near there for a little over a year now, and it is amazing the changes we have seen. The area has opened a number of new businesses, seen a face lift, and has been aggressively marketing itself. So, come check it out, here are some things the Macklind Business District has to offer:

Home Eco - Store chocked full of eco friendly home products, including a local expert on solar energy.

The Mack - I haven’t wandered into this bar, but the crowds always seem to be a good size, the place looks clean and there is rarely any trouble around.

Manzo’s - Italian store. I hear from reliable sources they have great sausages!

Murdoch Perc - Our own little neighborhood coffee house with excellent food and wifi access.

Macklind Avenue Deli - Formerly Kreklers Supermarket, this place has a great selection of beer and wine, including my favorite Boddingtons cold in the cooler!

Harry’s - Middle Eastern cuisine server gyro’s and the like. They are in the process of changing ownership, so expect some changes soon.

Francesca’s - Opened just recently and has a great looking selection of antiques and cool home decor stuff. Haven’t managed to stop by yet while they are open, but lots of cool things for window shopping.

Tom Bess Automotive - Nearing the end of the strip, but who can complain about a trustworthy auto shop within walking distance of the house? Especially with $13.99 oil changes!

About half of these stores have been around not more than a couple of years and Francesca’s, Murdoch Perc and Macklind Avenue Deli have all opened in the last year. The businesses have been putting their best foot forward and are sprucing up the street scape with new trash containers and soon to come iron signs to hang from the light poles (none of that wimpy canvas stuff for us).

So, come check out our little SoHa. We’d love to have you visit. If you love it as much as we do, then maybe you could help support the business district through their Trivia Night coming up on the 13th of October. You can register online for $25 per person which includes drinks (yes, that means alcohol) and food. The wife and I are putting together our team, so lets see if you can beat us for the prize!

Oh, and as if you need another excuse to come visit, there is a Progressive Yard Sale on Saturday the 29th of September. Maps will be $2 and sold right outside Macklind Avenue Deli. See you then!

Just a quick note, I decided to update the name of my other blog last week. If you are looking for it and lost, here it is:

Real World Finances

I got off the bus yesterday and started my walk the last 4 blocks to home. I hadn’t gotten more than 2 when a car came tearing around the corner behind me and fishtailing so badly they nearly hit the opposite curb and flipped. They then tore off down to the next street past me and went around a car to turn right in front of them.

I was shocked. What do I do? I didn’t think to get a plate, but they were driving like they were trying to get away from something. About that time, the second car through that intersection pulled up beside me and asked if I had a cell phone. “The guy in that car up there just hit a kid and took off.” They had followed him a couple blocks to get the license plate and then stopped me and we called 911 to give all the information we could.

Of course, the 911 line rang several times, and then I got a recording that all operators were busy. But, it was picked up just a few seconds later. We gave all the information we could and I left my name and cell phone number for contact later. I even thought to write down the plates of the car who stopped and asked me to call, just in case I would need that.

I haven’t heard anything about the incident since, either from the police or in the press.