BYP Brings Some Love to City Demo Properties

Heart Bombs!

Please tell me this is a joke.

{deleted- flaming}

If you think BOMBING low income minority neighborhoods is the right word choice for hanging up signs that really are more of an eye sore than the vacant property. Let me ask you a question how would you feel if I went into your neighborhood and hung up signs insinuating your neighborhood is not good enough?

"Ever meet that perfect girl in a coffee shop and never say hello and regret it forever? We get the same feeling when we fail to recognize the potential of a beautiful building." This is so perfectly said!! Great article... thanks for allowing me to participate in the campaign!! It was so great that people in the community were supporting the efforts!

Free yourself from the chains of trolldom, Liberty!

"Time to let the light shine from within/Don't fight the feelin, baby, just give in/Doesn't matter who you are or where you're from/It's time to get together and drop the Honeybomb." - Bob Schneider

What a lovely way to milk Valentine's Day; we'll cover it tomorrow in The Good Hood.

The means and methods of raising awareness as a way to educate may change from generation to generation, Bernice, but the outcomes are typically the same. That generation fails to make much change, althoug having small successes here and there, they grow up, they get jobs, promotions, marriages and families and become otherwise disinteresting in fighting an immovable political structure and the invisible hand.

I'm all for awareness, but the issue is that most people truly don't want to be aware. That's brutally honest. The average person may have some passing interest in the plight of the poor; deteriorating neighborhoods; segregation; poor schools; etc. But the reality is, most, due to the aforementioned distractions of life and growing old, have no interest at all.

The question I'd like answered is: How many of these young, passionate BYPs and other urban hipsters walk the walk and live in these neighborhoods? How many buy and invest in them? How many would if they could? Not many because few have the guts and true belief in the value of these houses and neighborhoods. When rational decionmaking must be made with their own money, most preservations do like everyone else does. Take the safe route with little risk.

That's how life works.

Great enthusiasm, and I hope some houses get noticed because of this. I do think the counterargument is a valid point.

I say more power to BYP. Fact is, it is something....awareness-raising, fun, etc. I can't imagine why anyone would have a problem with this-the real problem should be with our fair leaders and their lack of vision.

Hey Buffalo Risers!

Just wanted to say that I have been inside 1214 Michigan and it is in near pristine condition for an abandoned house. It has a carriage house that I have not been in but seems decent as well. If I did not already have a house I would be in hot pursuit of that one.

It is on the East side which might be considered a negative but there are a number of people who have taken on similar projects in the neighborhood in the past five years. I like living on the East side. You can get a classic Buffalo house for very little money and still be within a mile or so of Elmwood, Allen, the train, etc.

I hope this comment encourages someone to look into taking on the house. Tell any friends on the market for a house about 1214 too.

keep it up, byp. you rock!

Fart Bombs!

Thanks for the stupid v-day cards. I live in that house.

-five fitty seventh dawg!

not a joke.

not a joke.

Maybe the mayor, Council, and demolition workers might think the hearts are thank-yous for their efforts of making the neighborhoods more safe.

Both of these houses pictured remind me of a couple of demo-threatened houses I wrote about a few years ago:

http://archives.buffalorising.com/story/dont_pick_on_the_little_guy

http://www.buffalorising.com/2009/02/dont-pick-on-the-little-guy-ii--can-you-save-the-first-wards-most-unique-cottage.html

Don't demo viable houses in viable neighborhoods -- especially not the cute little ones that folks will take so much delight in when they're fixed up!

Well, I guess it's probably an easy way to feel good for doing something without doing anything too risky or difficult. It's one thing to put up some cut out hearts with cheery messages on them, it's another thing to actually buy and refurbish a house in a troubled neighborhood like these. I can't imagine that there are a lot of people who aren't aware that a boarded up house with a condemned notice on it is in danger of being torn down. But I guess in all fairness it's worth a try.

If they actually went in that house they would have seen all my stuff in it. Just because it looks abandoned doesnt mean its someones home!

I like the idea, but am not sure how successful this will be.

If the targeted homes are in already struggling neighborhoods, neighbors might be able to pitch in to clean up the lawn, but they are probably having a tough time keeping up their own homes, much less purchase another one.

The folks who might be likely to buy and fix up the homes may drive through occasionally and see them, but the worse shape the neighborhood is in already the more likely they are to avoid the street altogether.

While this is a great start, it would be even more effective if there was some way to advertise these houses and their need for TLC to people outside the neighborhood. Maybe an adopt-a-property listing or something. The people who see these buildings every day already know that they can be saved. We need to get the word out to people who are actually in a position to save them.

Why isnt the fact that there are people living in these now being address?! What will happen to me when I get thrown out of my only home!?

What I like about these two houses is that they're small and managable for any novice carpenter to take on. That makes them better candidates for saving as they are appealing to a broader demographic that may have legitimate reservations to taking on one of the more typical behemoth 2 1/2 story homes all over the city.

Great little house with the Eastlake detailing and casket doors!

Totally neat house in the wrong location!

Becoming almost cliche on this website.

Hey, it's worth a shot. Not surprised at all the nattering nabobs of negativism saying why bother, it won't do any good, what's your plan when this fails. Even if this project only keeps the YPs spirits up so they continue to work on these issues, it was worth it.

Why not get the Buffalo churches more involved. I know that some of them are struggling but not all of them. They usually take two collections a mass. Usually the second collection is to support a specific group. Why not solicite all the churches in the area and see if they are willing to sponser a certain neighborhood that is struggling. Collect money and have it go to fixing up houses in poorer communities and then when the house is fixed up rent or sell it to a low income family. I used to attend church all the time but stopped going when I realized that they often don't practice what they preach. If I knew my money was going back into the community and not to fund a 2 week trip to the Vinyards of France then I would go to church more and give more money.