When Harvey Garrett first asked me if BRO viewers would be interested in a free house on the Niagara Street, I said, “Of course.” Had anyone else asked I would have been highly skeptical. I still wanted to know what the catch was, and he said, “There are two catches. The first is that the home needs work, but you probably assumed that. The other catch is that the home must go to a homeowner. The person that the house is given to must live there.” I then asked Harvey to send me a photo of the house… almost expecting to see a photo of a total wreck (c’mon, it’s free). Instead I saw a house that was loaded with character and potential. By the way, the reason that it is free is that the current owner is out-of-state and is having a tough time in housing court. So Harvey and the owner have hatched a plan to get the home into caring hands.
So what does the house need? There is some fire damage, and it’s boarded up. So it will need new mechanicals and plumbing… and windows. Because it’s free, the ultimate investment will still be reasonable. If done right, the end result would be fantastic. The new owner can convert it back into a single or a double (it’s currently a multiple). The house is on Niagara Street facing the new Riverkeeper headquarters. The future owner must be able to show that he or she has the funds to rehab the house. Harvey tells me that people will be looking at whoever buys it… they must know that the owner will live there. There are no fines or violations attached to the house. The outside has gingerbread details, bay windows, colonial rooflines… it has so much potential. And the side of the house is supposed to be even cooler than the front.
Anyone who is interested in the 1273 Niagara property can send an email to Harvey, or he will be following this thread to answer any general questions. Join in on the Niagara Street renaissance. And meet neighbors who are already investing on the street.
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