So, back after a few years off. I've been a lucky landlord, the building has been rented continuously of the last few years. I've had long term tenants in both units, and I'm always struck as how embedded they have become in turning these spaces into homes.
There was really only one rough patch... the winter of the mice. The first floor apartment folks knew they had a few mice they saw occasionally, and never really thought much about it. Until the realized that they were seeing more. And more. Initially, they insisted on catch and release traps, until the problem got even worse, spread to the second floor, at which point I had to insist on traps and poison. It got ugly for awhile.
The garden unit, known to many as "The Clubhouse," had become an open work and office space, an art studio, as well as an often used drop point for Lollapalooza, Riot Fest, Grant Park Music Fest... as well as naps, food, and hanging out in the city. One of the building tenants remarked on how much of a man cave it had become over the years, collecting lots of umm, junk. If you look at the pics of the "Clubhouse years" you'll see some of the creative foolishness that took place there. The Star Wars office came about during the re-emergence of the Star Wars movies in 2016. The poster wall came from concert and other memorabilia supplied by many. Mostly, it was just important to not spend any money on this place. Mission accomplished :-). For me, it was a welcome spot to hang for awhile instead of braving the traffic of North Avenue during peak periods to get back out to Oak Park, and I have fond memories of this place.
Lots of things have happened in the last several years. The building has been tuck-pointed, has a fully new roof, and has now been in generally good repair for the last few years. I've been trying to take care of as many exterior, big ticket items without displacing my tenants as I can.
It has taken a full year to now to plan the next step: the conversion to a single home. Plans are complete and submitted to the City, a contractor selected, budget prepared. Now if I could only sell my house in Oak Park, everything would fall into place - but the housing market so far says no.
There was really only one rough patch... the winter of the mice. The first floor apartment folks knew they had a few mice they saw occasionally, and never really thought much about it. Until the realized that they were seeing more. And more. Initially, they insisted on catch and release traps, until the problem got even worse, spread to the second floor, at which point I had to insist on traps and poison. It got ugly for awhile.
The garden unit, known to many as "The Clubhouse," had become an open work and office space, an art studio, as well as an often used drop point for Lollapalooza, Riot Fest, Grant Park Music Fest... as well as naps, food, and hanging out in the city. One of the building tenants remarked on how much of a man cave it had become over the years, collecting lots of umm, junk. If you look at the pics of the "Clubhouse years" you'll see some of the creative foolishness that took place there. The Star Wars office came about during the re-emergence of the Star Wars movies in 2016. The poster wall came from concert and other memorabilia supplied by many. Mostly, it was just important to not spend any money on this place. Mission accomplished :-). For me, it was a welcome spot to hang for awhile instead of braving the traffic of North Avenue during peak periods to get back out to Oak Park, and I have fond memories of this place.
Lots of things have happened in the last several years. The building has been tuck-pointed, has a fully new roof, and has now been in generally good repair for the last few years. I've been trying to take care of as many exterior, big ticket items without displacing my tenants as I can.
It has taken a full year to now to plan the next step: the conversion to a single home. Plans are complete and submitted to the City, a contractor selected, budget prepared. Now if I could only sell my house in Oak Park, everything would fall into place - but the housing market so far says no.
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