20,900 GRM House Challenge?

So I was listening to the cradle of socialist propoganda the other day (NPR) and they did a story on a bunch of artists that have been buying up property in Detroit between $1,000 and $10,000 per parcel. They basically have bought the majority of a block and were rebuilding it as an artist colony / gallery / hippie commune.

I think it would be an excellent idea to do the same except do it as an automotive based neighborhood with a couple of the central houses knocked down in place of a community garage.

eVilacres?

Hong Province?

Clown Laborer Acres?

I don't know..... but if i can relocate to within 45 minutes of where this would take place, i'm in like flint.

I am thinking Atlanta. That way when they shut off the electricity from all the nut job vagrants living there we wouldn't be cold.

I can get a job in Columbus, GA, so that might work. Bit farther than i wanted to commute, but i'll get over it.

When do we start and how do we organize this?

Midway between road atlanta and sebring would be nice, then you have Daytona close by as well.......

John Brown wrote: I am thinking Atlanta. That way when they shut off the electricity from all the nut job vagrants living there we wouldn't be cold.

What's wrong with Detroit? There are some great track of industrial land that can be secured quite easily. Especially since nobody lives near it...

Eric

I am not allowed to leave Michigan, so Detroit or Jackson is what I am really thinking for eVilacres. Since Mrs. Brown won't let me leave I will make her live in autotopia!

John Brown wrote: I am not allowed to leave Michigan, so Detroit or Jackson is what I am really thinking for eVilacres.

Must be a good story there....

Edited for clarification that Mrs.Brown is too tied to the state of Michigan.

I've thought of this;

large rectangle shaped gated community

3 sides with maybe 20-30 houses

1 side with community garage/clubhouse

garages at the rear of homes

If you look out your front door, it's all greenspace with place for your children to play, with playground,picnic tables, gazebo, maybe a tennis/basketball court etc.

Sort of a residential version of a mullet...

With all the industry going south, why not buy a large (giant) warehouse on the cheap. The ground floor could be a garage space larger than Leno's with condo housing above, along with a pool hall, bar, Autozone ect.

The only hard part would be keeping the place from burning to the ground.

GhiaMonster wrote: With all the industry going south, why not buy a large (giant) warehouse on the cheap. The ground floor could be a garage space larger than Leno's with condo housing above, along with a pool hall, bar, Autozone ect. The only hard part would be keeping the place from burning to the ground.

Not as hard as you think.

There's an old factory facilty just north of I94 off I75 in Detroit. I originally found it by looking up glass blowing studios in this area. Visited- found 3 different studios set up. The place is 100% steel and concrete. nothing else. And when I visited, that's all I saw, too- just a few studios that had been there for 15 years.

I was just there again, this past Sunday, and they had an open house. Little did I know that in another part of the structure, there were 2 dozen OTHER ARTISTS. And they've been there for decades, too.

And now there's a Bazzar, what I would call an open market- anyone can rent space to sell stuff- a lot cheaper than a real store front- reminds me of some of the open markets I've seen in other countries.

Anyway, the point is that it takes looking, and some investment in time and money to put something like this together. In the right area, and from the RIGHT INDUSTRY (and that's very key), you can have a pretty cool set up.

You have to be careful of old use, and know the laws of the state. WRT pollution, mainly.

There are some pretty cool areas near downtown Detroit. And downtown is a LOT safer than 99% of the general public thinks.

For sure, not bad thinking.

E-

Wow, a hippie commune-style gear head house. I could spend some time there.

Joel and I are thinking of buying up his block as well...

I need a better paying job.

make it in california and i'm in

JFX001 wrote: Sort of a residential version of a mullet...

That is the single greatest thing ever said. I'd move there.

There a website that advertises old churches and schools for sale in Detroit. There are beautiful, turn of the century churches with incredible architecture and huge homes/rectories included going for anywhere from $150,000 to $450,000. I'd love to buy one, turn the basement of the church into a huge garage, and turn the church into a house.

Here's an example of one of the more expensive ones: http://www.churchrealestatesales.com/5818_dubois_detroit.htm

It's $450,000, but has a huge house (although it looks very beat up on google street view) attached to it.

There's also a retired fire-house for sale, but I can't find the link right now. I'm sure the garage there is probably set up pretty well already.

Bob

JFX001 wrote: I've thought of this; large rectangle shaped gated community 3 sides with maybe 20-30 houses 1 side with community garage/clubhouse garages at the rear of homes If you look out your front door, it's all greenspace with place for your children to play, with playground,picnic tables, gazebo, maybe a tennis/basketball court etc. Sort of a residential version of a mullet...

And behind the garages and club houses is the greatest motorsports park in the universe.

I always dreamed of owning operating a place like that you could see from space

Ya'll out east must have a different definition of what a hippie commune would be. Out here in Oregon they are mostly out in the middle of nowhere, while this may not be ideal for some forms of racing it would be excellent for rally cars....

Also good for militia activities lol

Make it some place warm and I'm in. And if it is in GA, well my fiance would be close to the base where her brother was stationed and she could easily visit the "Warriors Walk" and her family is looking at beach houses in GA. So she could still be somewhat close to family.

Then I would need a new job

I always though an old fire station would be a cool place to live. Plenty of garage space inside the house!!!

John Brown wrote: Edited for clarification that Mrs.Brown is too tied to the state of Michigan.

A boat anchor maintains the metaphor, but without the crappy winters.

JFX001 wrote: I've thought of this; large rectangle shaped gated community 3 sides with maybe 20-30 houses 1 side with community garage/clubhouse garages at the rear of homes If you look out your front door, it's all greenspace with place for your children to play, with playground,picnic tables, gazebo, maybe a tennis/basketball court etc. Sort of a residential version of a mullet...

My son dated a girl for a while whose family owned a building in Sicily. It was square, took up the whole block, green space and courtyward in the center. All the apartments were owned by family. He didn't mention garages.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Homes/Timber-Frame-Homes.aspx

Do that and you've got $10,900 left over.

I'll take on ANY of you chaps in this one!

Oh, that might be a little unfair- I've built over 200 houses with Habitat for Humanity in 5 different countries- many for under $1200.