Old House & Neighborhood Networking

Having moved to Beloit from out of state several years ago most of my existing old house and neighborhood connections are likewise out of state. More recently I’ve been trying to forge relationships with individuals in other Wisconsin historic communities for the purpose of sharing ideas and best practices given WI circumstances and resources.  Little bit by little bit its coming together, has already been informative and shown benefit.

If you’re visiting this site from another historic Wisconsin community welcome! We would like to get to know you and what’s going on in your community as well.  You can reach us at info (at) BeloitNPA.org

Next NPA meeting – This Monday 6/22, 6:30

Historic Home Owener’s Tax Credit

(Recap from this meeting here)

Have you heard about the “Historic Home Owner’s Tax Credit” program?

Interested to know what its about and how to take advantage of this significant benefit?

What if you could get a tax break on projects such as (but not limited to)…

• - Work on the exterior of your house, such as roof replacement and painting, but not including site work such as driveways and landscaping
• - Electrical wiring, not including electrical fixtures
• - Plumbing, not including plumbing fixtures
• - Mechanical systems, such as furnaces, air conditioning, and water heaters
• - Structural work, such as jacking up floors

Well, this month we’ be talking about tax benefits for those living within Beloit’s historic districts or individually landmarked homes. If you don’t live within the boundaries of the historic district you may be eligible to apply. If you’re not sure if you live within the gerrymandered borders of the districts we’ll help you find out if you are.

Joe DeRose from the Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Offices will be joining us to discuss what the tax advantages are, whats involved in taking advantage of these significant benefits as well as how to apply. Additionally, we hope to have some neighbors on hand who’ve actually taken advantage of this program.

We’re meeting this next Monday evening, June 22nd. 6:30 at bushel & pecks. (328 State St.)

Steam Paint Removal?

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From John Leeke’s website Historic Home Works.

This method has significant advantages over mechanical scraping and shaving, chemical stripping and the dry-heat of torch, hot-air gun and infra-red lamp methods:

• Significantly reduces the risk of starting a building fire compared to dry heat methods.
• Helps control the lead-health risk issue because it is an inherently damp process and eliminates the lead-fume risk.
• No fumes from heat decomposition of binders in the old paint as with dry heat methods.
• Relatively low setup cost compared to dry heat and shaver methods.
• Lower operating and supply costs than chemical paint removal.
• Lower residue disposal costs than chemical paint removal.

I’d not seen steam used for paint removal before. This looks like a great option. Looks somewhat slower but being able to do this without the fumes and lead risk… that’s a good trade-off IMO.

Perhaps another idea for a workshop / demonstration?  A trial of each of the wood stripping methods with discussion of trade-offs.

• Nasty but fast caustic chemical stripper
• Safer but slower chemical strippers
• Paint scrapers & power shavers
• Heat Guns / plates
• Infrared heat lamp
• Steam heat

Beating Wood Rot

Wood rot is a far bigger problem nowadays then it was in years past. That’s primarily because today’s fast-growth lumber is much less forgiving of sloppy construction or deferred maintenance then the hardy, old growth species our ancestors built their homes with. On the bright side, however, technology has improved as resources have declined. High-strength-epoxy wood repair systems used in combination with borate-based wood preservatives make it possible to not only repair rot damaged wood but practically guarantee that the rot won’t return.

You don’t have to rip out and replace with undersized and often inferior materials. This is homeowner do-able, could SAVE YOU A LOT OF MONEY and leave you with better results. The full how-to article here.

Don’t assume or be talked into the only solution being rip-n-replace. You can end up with a more expensive and inferior result that leaves a more difficult/costly or impossible to reverse degrading of a fine vintage home.

Regardless of whether you’re a weekend warrior home owner or contract out to professionals, the more you know, particularly around what your options are, the more satisfied you’ll be with the results. Inform yourself.

Perhaps NPA could hold a how-to demonstration or hands-on workshop for this very common old-house problem. Spring is coming up fast. What are the old house projects you could use some insight, coaching or courage building for? Let us know by submitting your idea below.

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Searching For The Best Place To Buy An Old House?

Believe it or not, Yes! There is such a market.

I’ve said before. If home buyers are looking for new construction they have lots of options. If they’ have an appreciation for quality vintage housing in a quality neighborhood with proximity to center-city amenities, services and life style their options are much more limited. Supply/demand. Many people moving into the region from larger urban centers know of and/or have experienced quality historic districts & neighborhoods. We’ve an underutilized resource here.

[stepping off soap box] 

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As part of the ongoing commitment to the preservation community, PreservationDirectory.com has once again teamed up with This Old House magazine to promote their search for “The Best Places to Buy an Old House”.  An upcoming issue of This Old House will feature the 2nd annual “The Best Places to Buy an Old House” article, which strives to identify affordable homes in historic neighborhoods and districts across the United States.

According to This Old House Associate Editor, Keith Pandolfi, “We want to spread the word about neighborhoods where the astonishing old houses are rivaled only by the community spirit. We especially want overlooked places with affordable houses appealing to old-house-loving buyers and are very interested in places where the momentum for preservation is just getting started thanks to pioneers who have begun moving in and rehabbing houses.”

In order to most effectively accomplish this search, This Old House and PreservationDirectory.com are seeking the help of dedicated preservationists, neighborhood boosters and heritage travelers!  To nominate your historic district, town or city, please submit the following information:
Read more

Downtown Beloit Association – “Historic Preservation and Sustainable Development:”

Have you seen the the Downtown Beloit Association’s “News on the Street” publication? I’d missed it until just days ago. It’s very well done. Very interesting with great content! I was reading the Fall 2008 edition which is still available and what jumped out at me was:

Historic Preservation and Sustainable Development:  What does it mean for Main Street?

by Joe Lawniczak, design specialist for the Wisconsin Main Street Program.

It addresses

• The relative value of new construction -vs- Existing structure rehab in terms of what in fact is “Green”.
• What sustainable development is… and is not
• How historic building are inherently green.
• Preservation as Smart Growth
• Simple ways to make your business, neighborhood (Hey! That’s us!) and community more “green”.

Read more

Historic Preservation on “Beloit Today” TV

Just got word that next week the “Beloit Today” television program(s) on the public access channel 98 will include a segment on Historic Preservation.

The air times:

• Monday, February 9 at 7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 10 at 1:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 11 at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, February 12 at 8:30 a.m.
• Friday, February 13 at 1:00 p.m.
• Sunday, February 15 at 10:00 a.m.

Cool!

Demolition Sales

Have you ever been to a demolition sale?

If in the final analysis the building has to go, there are often materials that are either not cost effective to produce any more, too hard to source or simply are no longer available at any price that are available for sale. That and you can often obtain these items very reasonably… that is if you’re willing to do the work to remove and transport. I’ve been to a bunch. They can be fun, they can be a great resource, it reduces what goes to the landfill and it’s very ‘green’. Often times in and around historic districts salvage rights are granted or obtained by the community to save what can be reused.

Just saw this. Cook County Demolition Sales is having one Jan 24th/25th in Chicago. Some interesting things. Thanks JoyB for the tip.

Watch this vido… please. :)

I just saw this video produced by the Rock Island IL newspaper about the Broadway Historic District there.

You’ll see some very interesting parallels with another old river manufacturing city and what they did. Also shown is what those living within a neighborhood are capable of accomplishing… with the assistance of the city and other agencies.

The City Getting It Right – Street Lamps

Yeah, it’s old news. We’ve all seen the ‘vintage’ street lamps that have been going up as streets in the older neighborhoods get new sewer, utilities and general reconstruction. You’ve surely seen them on Harrison, Bluff, Wisconsin and elsewhere. What I wasn’t aware of though was that Church street was likewise upgraded though sans the vintage lamp posts. I understand that Church street was among the first to receive the infrastructure upgrade and reconstruction. This was done though under prior administration.

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