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Pulse Articles July 2002, Pulse Article (reprinted with permission of Downtown Danville Inc. With the initial Renaissance renovation project complete and waiting for the first, very lucky, family to purchase and move in, sights are honing in on acquiring the next project house. Actually, several houses have been identified and are in the middle of consideration for purchase. Several is almost an understatement. No less than seven properties are being seriously considered right now. That may sound like a lot to some people. They would be right, that is a lot, but some times a lot is what has to be done. Not only are there the standard immediate neighborhood properties that surround the Clipson house to look at. But several other noteworthy opportunities have also made themselves available at this time. My personal opinion is that we must take advantage of opportunities when they become obtainable. The typical life cycle of property in this area started with the construction of once regal single-family homes with many large rooms. Homes that made their owners very proud containing all the amenities of the era. This was an area of town where the prosperous chose to build their homes and raise their families. They were close to the downtown and to the business center of the community. Apartment buildings were also built to house families close to the downtown. These owners too, often lived in their, purpose built multi-family structures of the period. As Danville expanded out from the central city the west downtown neighborhoods held their own. Fast forward to a later era. Expenses rise and the ease of transportation allows families to move out further from the hub of Danville's commercial activities. Dwelling owners look for a way to cut expenses in their larger single-family homes and maintain profits with their apartments and multi family buildings. The stately single-family homes are divided to help offset the costs of maintenance and operation. The apartments and multi-family buildings are divided in to more units in an effort to increase revenues. Time passes. Owner occupants die or sell. Buildings change hands. The trends to off premise ownership and property managers, differed maintenance, and a "grab the money and run mentality" sees these once fine properties crumble into struggling economically spent derelicts. Many of them have since found their date with the wrecking ball and today collect fines as the not to be found owners neglect even the mowing of the weeds. Now even I am depressed... Back to the opportunities I spoke of earlier. The good news is several of those remaining specimens are becoming available. We will be there. Digging deep in to our bag of tricks working to renovate and return these fine home to deserving and caring families. Trying to bring pride and dignity back to the west downtown neighborhoods again. So don?t be surprised if you see the Renaissance Danville Under Renovation sign on several Renaissance District properties coming in the near months. We will probably not be able to renovate them all at once, but we will be working as fast as we can. And don?t forget to tell every one you know about the Clipson House at 424 Oak Street as it is still looking for that first very lucky family. If you have any comments or questions about Renaissance Danville, Inc. or the West Downtown Renaissance District, please contact me. Return to Articles |
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