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Photo by King Schoenfeld.
Historical April–May 2018 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The French say “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” I hadn’t thought of applying this aphorism to our neighborhood but it may well fit.
We are experiencing more criminal acts than in previous years. At least eight car jackings have occurred in the past few months. Fortunately, the perpetrators are not from Skinker DeBaliviere. Rather, they are youths from across the river. Nonetheless, this is discombobulating. Kudos to Molly Mulcahy and Christina McGroarty for working on the reactivation of block units for greater communication and for neighborhood watch.
These block units helped us in earlier times and they can again.
I would caution everyone to be alert when coming home after dark. Increased MetroLink security can help as well and we can hope that the various movers and shakers can come together with more beneficial strategies.
It is a tragedy when any of our existing housing stock deteriorates beyond redemption.
It has occurred in previous decades and today certain problem properties remain. Multiple parties are at fault.
There is a recent example. Two brothers bought adjacent homes on 5700 DeGiverville. That was a decade ago.
The homes stayed unoccupied and were allowed to deteriorate.
The brothers did not cooperate with any potential buyers.
An owner-occupied home, adjacent to these houses faced a loss of insurance because of the threat posed by one of these vacant houses.
Finally, the alderman had the very unstable roof removed and it is likely that the property will be demolished.
A hundred year old house gone forever.
These brothers paid fines on their properties but did no rehab.
The housing corporation did not intervene, but the brothers declined to sell.
There are other houses like this in our neighborhood. Hopefully, the Council and Housing Corporation can perform some intervention before the need for demolition rears its head.
Original photograph caption
Vacant De Giverville housing pictured with Editor’s Notebook.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, April–May 2018.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2018_04.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
