We have stairs! Well, the beginning of stairs. Now we don’t have to use a ladder to get from floor to floor — much easier.

Building the LEED Platinum home of YIKES, Inc.
We have stairs! Well, the beginning of stairs. Now we don’t have to use a ladder to get from floor to floor — much easier.
Much of the rough framing has been completed. It is amazing to walk through doorways and see exactly where each room will be.
After Thanksgiving there will be major milestones like new windows and doors and a completed roof.
Soon, for the first time in who knows how many years, 204 and 206 East Girard Ave will be dry inside after it rains.
More framing pics: Continue reading “And we have a roof”
The framers are out in full force, building back up ripped out walls and floors with lightning-fast speed. I swear, this morning I was visiting the buildings, wandered away for a few minutes from a floor-less section and then came back to see it half framed out. Amazing!
Here are some more pics Continue reading “Framing”
I stopped by the buildings today to find real sub-floors being built.
I have to admit it made me feel, oddly, emotional. These buildings have been neglected for so many years. I recently learned they were drug houses in 2004 where you could rent a room for $25/week. It had to take decades of abuse and neglect to get the buildings to the state they were in when we bought them. And now, with floors starting to be framed out, we are changing their trajectory from decay to repair.
I know I have completely anthropomorphized these buildings, but I feel like they needed someone to recognize their potential, love them and bring them back to life. I am just amazed being able to walk on solid floor where there used to be giant holes from water damage.
Here are some more before/after photos Continue reading “Real Floors”