END OF YEAR MONTROSE HOME CLEARANCE 
Looking for that last-minute, low-cost, blockbuster Christmas gift for a certain someone who has . . . a place to put anything? Over on Craigslist, someone is offering this well-worn, 2-bedroom, 2-bath 1925 bungalow in Hyde Park for the gotta-grab-it-now price of free. What’s the catch? Just explain it to the gift recipient as a New Year’s resolution: The home must be removed from its lot at 1225 Welch St. by January 15th. (Which will certainly end up costing a fair bit more than free.) Meanwhile, the same home is still listed for sale on MLSÂ — with its 5,000-sq.-ft. lot — for a somewhat higher price: $525,000. [Craigslist; HAR]
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Let me preface my comments: I build tract production homes in North Houston in the early ’80’s. Those houses were built well. Today’s NC is seriously lacking. And don’t be fooled by the sprawl of granite/ stainless appliances. It’s all a distraction from the behind the walls half assed sub par shoddy less than quality work. Some d-bag “developer/builder” will buy this lot and erect crappy new construction townhouses’s…99.9% of NC is crud and buyers need to be VERY careful which builder they buy from. The inspection ” standards” of today are appalling.The building/interim financing(usually banks) inspections / the City inspections / the buyers inspections are seriously flawed. Example: see all of the shoddily built townhouses anywhere in the Houston metro area.. They’re a joke.But all of the self appointed ,self defined ,holier than thou, FAUX wanna be “hipsters /cool people” are buying overpriced /under built new construction which is actually sad . I’ve seen more NC that is a mess. The ONLY way to make sure your NEW home is well built is to stop by EVERYDAY and KNOW what to look for. Take classes/educate yourself on proper construction techniques. And ALWAYS listen to your gut instinct/ 6th sense. After all, you’ll be signing mortgage papers for 15-30 years.
Lazy seller should just get off his (or her) ass and bulldoze the place already. This bungalow is such a dump.
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Can’t say I’d feel particularly bad for him if he gets jerked around by an inexperienced person past the deadline.
It’s sad to see such a cool old bungalow in that condition. I hope someone maybe scoops up the free opportunity to save and restore it before it just becomes a pile of rubble in the name of “progress”.
I feel watching This Old House for the past 20 years has given me a heads up on most building practices. I certainly know what to look for in the most important parts of a house: Foundation, Roof, Attic, plumbing, A/C. But not electrical. Or JB’s.
Sometimes I wonder what people on Swamplot are smoking and if I could have some. Not all bungalows (or in this case, duplex) are historical treasures or need to be saved from “evil townhouse consummation.” People here constantly whine about urban density but are inherently against it, desiring a suburban life inside the loop. Save your breath for something like 411 Lovett or 2704 Helena.
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I’m all for preserving things that should be preserved, but this crumbling duplex isn’t one of those battles. Eisele gothic revival cottage, Freedmen’s Town rowhouses, or even that home from the Heights that was plopped down on a corner in Brooke Smith – yes, but this? Nope.
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I swear, if a 1900s outhouse was torn down and posted on Swamplot, there’s no doubt that the comments would read, “Houston hates history and preservation!” Honestly, it seems like history and preservation only matter in area where gentrification (and post-gentrification) is alive and well — even then, I still find it suspect that many people actually give a damn about history and probably care more about their property values and buying into a certain lifestyle. And before anyone accuses me of being commonsense’s girlfriend, I live in a 1000 sq ft bungalow inside the loop.
Seems there are enough of these to create a decent neighborhood somewhere, if they are movable at a reasonable cost.
O ye of little faith & experience. This is fixable & could be cute as a button. Regretfully, we’re not in a move & fix up mode right now. Give me old floors, a porch, & shiplap anytime.
@vwgto, I’ve had the daydream about a developer buying a city block, saving the bungalows and moving add’l onto the property. Pretty high density. Then link them to a new, central common building housing laundry room, water heaters and meters. A bit communal – like garden apt complexes of the past. I think the project would have to be non-profit, and house-movers, house-levelers, and all the other trades could get tax credits for lower rates…
I imagine this block as very desirable to live next door to for its low scale and tree cover.
@movocelot. I am with you. Use of common areas would make the small floor plans more livable.
Movocelot: problem is COH and permits and tags and and…
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I own an empty lot in 3rd ward and wanted to move some nearby old vacant shotgun homes onto it. But the cost of doing so in terms of dealing with the city made it not worth it. People that think this is a good idea underestimate how much power the city has to squash and control how and what you’d do with this place. It’s not just the market and customers you need to please. If that was the case then interesting plans like you and others have mentioned would be done much more often.