Keith, please forward this reply to Ms.LeVanier.
HERE IS Jamie LaVanier's E-mail to me the other day, unvarnished, with
permission to post:
Kieth please leave out the numbers.
My lawyer seemed pretty upset that I talked to a reporter, he said things may
come to bite me in the bum:)
Jamie, we might take your plight more seriously if you gave
us some financial data.
$XX,XXX.XX for improvements(35 new windows, 24 hour indoor and outdoor video
surveilance, 2x8 indestructable privacy fence and retaining wall, four
bathrooms remodelled, two units completely remodelled, one with dishwasher and
built-in microwave. two kitchens with new cabinets and countertops, new light
fixtures, new paint inside and out, and several new appliances.)
$XX,XXX.XX my labor (30 hrs a week X $XX. X 52 weeks)
$X,XXX.XX other labor help
$350 to board up building
$XXXX lost rents due to illegal buy-out
=$XXX,XXX total
my appraisal was for $XXX,XXX
Plus the coming treble permit fees for not pulling a permit.
I made a good proffit from gutting a delapitated house, and
restoring/remodelling in the past so I thought I'd up the
scale....what a mistake.
You are not the first person to be deluded into thinking they
would make a huge profit on distressed property. What attracted you
to this insane business plan- a late night infomercial or your
buddies BS?
I bought the delapitated building in March, 2004, I had planned on a full
scale remodel, but after tearing out two units, I found out through my tenants
that there were plans for the city to possibly buy it. I did no
further demo, as
I felt it was a waste if I was not going to own it.
But you then went on to redo at least four units.
Sure would have been nice
if the previous owner would have disclosed this as he get letters from the
city in the past. The city inspectors did insist on 35 new windows,
which I did.
seems a little stupid if there going to tear it down.
Ever heard of due diligence? I'm currently buying a small
town building for less than one tenth what you spent and I've looked
up the property's history, legal description, and planned projects in
the area, etc.
It was at this time that I found out how bad this neighborhood really was,
Again, due diligence in the form of just hanging around the
building for a while would have told you how bad the 'hood was before
you bought it.
and decided to put surveilance cameras up.
Because of the cameras I installed, I was able to record the theif that stole
my truck and all my tools inside it.
Unfortunately the police were too busy to look at it, and I was treated like
the criminal. It took three days and I don't know how many officers to finally
find one that would listen and report it, they would each say it was
reported, then I would call the next day or later in the day and
talk to someone new
and again it was not reported.
I did end up getting my truck back minus all the tools of course.
All my vehicles stay behind a tall fence if not in a locked garage.
They made use of the brand new, bolt cutters, never used until they cut my
battery cables to take the battery.
Im sure in their life of crime that heavy duty bolt cutter will come in
handy.
My cordless sawzall and drill are padlocked in their case and
locked to a heavy chain wrapped around a substantial building member.
After my truck was stolen, I had had enough, and put the building on the
market for $XXX,XXX, of course after I took it off the market I had
two verbal
offers each for $XXX,XXX but declined because I thought the city
would be fair.
What a mistake.
You paid way too much for the building.
While putting my indestrucable privacy fence, I would call the police becasue
the gang members would throw rocks at me and say there were going to tear it
down (because it blocked a primary escape rout that they used often). because
of the cameras and the fence, and Spartan Protection, the gang members
eventually moved out of my parking lot, for the most part, which use
to be a big
hang-out, but not before one female officer said to me after a call
what do you
expect in this neighborhood. I know the minneapolis police are very busy, and
understaffed, so I dismissed it, and I will never bother them again.
That officer was telling you the truth- you need deep pockets
to survive in this tough a 'hood.
The offer from the city did not even cover the purchase price.
It is not the city's responsibility to compensate you for you
business mistakes.
hanging on in Hawthorne,
Dyna Sluyter
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