Hey, don’t scoff at the picture. That was a $360,000 house in 2005.
Three suggested foreclosures here since 1998. Most recent in 2007. And there’ might be another one still waiting to hit the books.
The tips to check out Hanover street, specifically the houses making up four corners of suck at 215, 217, 214 and 218 came in from Forgotten Providence’s cycling survey pal, Phil. After spending an hour on Hanover snapping photos, and another several looking back at paper-trail*, future historians—if they exist, will boldly proclaim the rise and collapse of the American housing market from 2004-2008 (and counting) as nothing short of criminal.
The damage is staggering. The theft is staggering. This photographer, just short of a hundred houses in, is staggered. I don’t know how much longer I can keep looking at the evidence.
The scrappers running in to bust down these houses after neighborhood kids bust ‘em open; I gotta side with ‘em. As a neighbor, if my only choices are white collar pillaging vs. precious metals pillaging, call me comradé and the guys pushing stolen shopping carts Robin Hood(s).
Heavens to Murgatroyd, people. The faux-inflation of our home prices in the last half of this decade was pure, adulterated, insanity. I could care less if the scrappers or hoppers tearing these houses apart are using them to get high. The mortgage brokers, lenders, property assessors, appraisers, title companies, bank managers, and real estate agents still driving Lexuses are the chaps needing to get locked up.
It will take someone far stronger than I to tackle that order. And I haven’t even yet gotten to my Waverly photos…
*e-paper trail, which in Providence doesn’t mean much
Nearby Houses:
None yet photographed. Please take a picture if you see one.