Forgotten Providence

 
Unsecured, def. a safety hazard. Not even boarded!

This street’s got it rough.

Multiple foreclosures since sale at $340K in 2005. Once in 2006, and again in 2008 to some other poor sap. Deutsche Bank owns the house next door too.

Formerly a corner store. 2008 Foreclosure, listed now for $145K

Hey, look at that. It’s a Deutsche Bank property. At least they’ve seemingly taken ownership of this one.

10 to 1 the inside is trashed.

Looks like yours for $21K. Foreclosure in late 2007.

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}

Bank owned and vacant for about a year now. Asking $70K. Two more foreclosures within 150ft either way, plus the adjacent Mt. Vernon‘s and Prairie Ave‘s. Among others.

Foreclosure & Vacancy:
April 2008

Bank Sale:
listed in September 2008 at $86K

Windows Busted—House Rotting:
April 2009

Update 04/15/09

Less than a week later. Not satisfied with their original smashing work, vandals/kids have been by again to inflict more damage. The swiftness of the decay is stunning. With more foreclosures just hitting the courts, evidence like this suggests it’s going to be a rough summer. These vacants won’t last more that a day without being trashed.

images and info from toad

Was occupied in 2005-06. In 07 it went on the market for 90k, and dropped to 36k in 08 after the windows started being broken and the back door was kicked in. For sale sign went down after that. After about 8 months of open access, the windows and doors were boarded up in December of 08. Driveway is used by neighbors. Has pretty amazing details which despite the neglect are still relatively intact.

This was the house Stump mentioned in reference to nearby 42 Gilmore St.