>torn down - just a total waste!
By rough count, you re-habbed 230 properties between 1974-1996. How many of those properties did you purchse fromeither the County or MCDA?
> >Let me give you a quick example. I bought a duplex on the North side for >$5.000 that needed a code compliance (total rehab and bring up to new >building code) in 1998. The City said no, they wanted it torn down. At the >249 hearing, I presented a 9 page detailed bid on the total cost to rehab >the duplex for $49,000 (I have my own crew). The City rep presented an >estimate that was written on 2 napkins (I am not kidding) for $140,000 with >no breakdown at all, just some general estimates. The City committee >(chaired by Mr. teardown himself - Joe Biernat) voted for demo. Their >reason was that in their opinion there was no way I could do it that cheap. >It did not matter that I had done over 250 total rehabs in my career in>Mpls.
Had you actually purchsed the property, or submited a bid on it? It seems rather odd to me, as the fair market value (in Jordan on a 1-bedroom duplex (in 1998)) was roughly $175,000. If you could purchase and rehab it for 1/3 value, what was the city's specific objection? If it was simply a matter of code compliance and the city decided to tear it down, it was in fact a error of the city's part. Were there other circumstances?
> >I decided to fight the City in Court. After over $70,000 in attorney fees >and an appellate court ruling against me, I decided not to fight any more. >The City attorney privately agreed to help stop the wholesale destruction of >perfectly good buildings, and the City's rate of teardowns dropped by over >80%. So all in all, I had accomplished alot! The new City Council has also >basically stopped the 249 process (ie teardown) so this stupidity will not >happen again, at least in the forseeable future. >>Steve Meldahl
>Jordan (work)
An honest question - where do you live? The reason I ask - I am a licensed general contractor and the majority of my work is in fact for ward 3 residents (I live there).
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