I feel kinda bad about this, but not that bad. A neighbor mentioned that when she was looking for a house, she looked into 1316 8th St NW. But her handyman/contractor/friend said the foundation had a crack or some deal-killer like that. It could be someone's home if I gather that foundation thing got fixed or accommodated. The block is getting better, it is steps, literally steps away from the new Giant and a future Starbucks. When the Scripture Cathedral around the block finally pulls up and out and the developers put a cool new building where the church and the parking lot (partially shared with Immaculate Conception Roman catholic Church) sits, it will be even steps closer to cool stuff. But for now, it is a vacant house.I know it is vacant for it has no drapes or anything on the 1st floor. I have been looking through the front window with a clear view of the back for at least a year or two or three now. It isn't a problem property. The yard is minimally kept up.
Looking at the DC tax office website, this was bought in 2009 for $425,500 by Martin E Hardy of McLean, VA and as far as I can tell, he has been paying the normal tax rate. According to DCRA's PIV application the last permit issued is from 2012 for some repair and construction reading as "Removal of paint from existing brick masonry using gentle chemical cleaning; tuck pointing to match original mortar color; repair of existing metal wall coping; repair of damaged brick arches. Removal of existing vinyl windows to be replaced with new, wood, two-over-tow, double-glazed, double-hung ..." Next time I walk by I need to check out the windows, see if they are wood. As I mentioned in other posts, one way to get from being charged the higher vacant tax rate is to get permits for work. Sometime work is not done, and a permit is way cheaper than the higher rate.
Shame really because it is in a really great location. Steps from a grocery store, a good bar, a great restaurant, a pilates studio, the metro, a dry cleaner, the metro, bus routes, and you could walk to the Verizon Center. This location is wasted on being vacant.
4 comments:
As an architct, I have fund Martin Hardy to be less than honarable. His work is often of sub-par quality as he hires untrained workers and cuts corners in any way possible. I am afraid that I made the mistate of working with hinm on several projects and now my name is sullied due to his poor reputation.
I have worked with Hardy on two projects. He is not dependable and cuts cornsers by hiring inexperienced workers. My reputation has been sullied by his cost cutting I will not be working with him any longer.
If true, then he isn't unusual. A lot of flippers use cheap labor and cut corners. A lot of contractors use cheap labor. Cheap labor isn't always bad, bad labor is. Also owners don't always want to pay for more expensive labor.
Flippers get away with cutting corners because buyers are so desperate after loosing out (or fear of) in a bidding war that they don't pay attention to the little things that will cost them later. It is much better to stick to houses that were previously owner-occupied & not renovated, or handyman specials where the new owner renovates to his/her needs and he/she can decide what corners to cut.
@OwenArchitect--Do you have any contacts for Martin Hardy? an email or phone number I can reach him on regarding this property. Thanks, highly appreciated.
Post a Comment