Comments on: The Two Shall Live as One (For Now) in Southmore

By: awp

awp — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 01:12:16 +0000

“JD-Maybe I’m missing something, but why don’t we see more of these duplex-turned-single-family homes inside the loop?”

Because as the city grows land prices go up

By: Amanda

Amanda — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 23:40:16 +0000

I just realized that my landlord needs to convert the duplex I live in to a single family residence and let us live in the whole thing for the same price :-)

By: jeff

jeff — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:31:11 +0000

JD-Maybe I’m missing something, but why don’t we see more of these duplex-turned-single-family homes inside the loop?

I agree, but there out there, I know of four off the top of my head, the middle of 1700blk of Harold, middle of 1700 blk of W. Main, and one on the corner of Kipling & Mulberry & another on the corner of Kipling & Dunlavy. I live in a duplex, it has one front door, it looks like a single family resident, but it’s still a duplex. All I would have to do , is remove the wall along the stair case, to convert it to one unit.

By: MH005

MH005 — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 20:11:34 +0000

JD-

I’ve got one which we are in the process of making into a onsie.

It all depends on the bones. Ours is an easy conversion, flip one set of stairs, veto another and turn a kitchen into a bath. But some of our neighbors who have a different floor plan have a less easy remodel.

From a design perspective the easy way is not always the best way for long term use. So you fall on the harder method (flipping stairs or totally moving them) vs leaving them in a front corner, or just feet in front of the door (seriously the door swings open to nearly touch the first step).

Also to consider is that most of the duplex’s I’ve seen are getting up there in years. While the construction methods of 1930-1950 may be superior to today, they have often been treated poorly in their 50-80 years. Ours had all kind of strange stuff done to it over the years.

Lastly the real estate folks will remind you of highest and best use. we said piss off to that, but lots of folks don’t. Converting a duplex takes more effort than the standard flip job you see on HAR.

By: Cody

Cody — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:35:24 +0000

I don’t see any fisheye. Seems just to be a regular wide angle lens, no?

By: JD

JD — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:26:37 +0000

Maybe I’m missing something, but why don’t we see more of these duplex-turned-single-family homes inside the loop? They are typically sized for modern families (2500+ sq ft), and they seem easy enough to convert, with plumbing all over for adding baths. Is it because they were rentals for so long that they are falling down? Otherwise it seems like the perfect combination of old and new.

By: PaulP

PaulP — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:59:07 +0000

I have to applaud the realtor for a restrained use of the fish-eye lense effect. While still present, it isn’t nearly as distorted as so many are these days. Thank you.

By: MH005

MH005 — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:55:43 +0000

They made some improvements for sure. While I never went to see it originally I did consider it multiple times on HAR.

It is so easy to cap off a second kitchen. I’ve never understood why so many conversions leave it.