Dan Gilbert and Brandon Stryker are embarking on their own home renovation adventures on Lander. According to a recent article in the THR the long-time friends are going to rehab 40 Lander, which suffered a damaging fire in the basement. The damage is so severe they even had an architect refuse the job. Judging by the photos on their website, this is a very serious job. So far they have gotten certified as asbestos and lead removal contractors.
They say there were interested this property because of the Land Bank’s work on Lander that they feel will help turn the block around. Thankfully, this will be one less property to be torn down.
Now that the owners of 1 Edward have gotten a new contractor, things are really moving along. Last time we looked the troublesome wall was finally replaced. Now, the new roof is in place and framing has begun for the staircase that will eventually go to the roof. A new door has also been added to the exterior. It’s not even my own personal renovation, but I am so pleased to see how the work is coming along! Scroll below for more photos and links to their entire project.
Just in case you forgot, here’s one more look at what the top floor used to look like with the caved in roof in March 2014.
Follow the progress at 1 Edward below or the tag 1 Edward:
Last time we looked at 1 Edward the owners were in the process of removing the ever troublesome north wall and switching contractors. Since then, progress seems to be moving quite quickly! The new wall is up and 2×4’s are already being installed for insulation and beams have been hoisted to support the new roof. They are hoping to be able to move in sometime in the spring or summer. It is a very complicated process because the building is historic and they might have to split up construction in phases.
Not too many would take on such a project with such monumental issues. Newburgh really is fortunate to find such a family willing to stick it out through the end. Keep going Lan!
Follow the progress at 1 Edward below or the tag 1 Edward:
This is a great story from the Harsh Family that decided to move back to Newburgh from Florida. They chose a house that needed a lot of work. Some rooms are still a work in progress, but the results show a beautiful warm home for this young family that will surely create many new memories to come. Read about their story and see more photos below.
“My husband and I purchased a foreclosed home on South St in August of 2014. The home had been abandoned and was in pretty rough shape (all the copper had been stolen), but the price was great. We are still working on the kitchen, but moved into the home in October and have continued to work on it while living here with our two young children.
I actually lived on South St, in a different house, when I was young and my husband is from New Windsor. We just moved back after living in South Florida for almost 10 years so that our kids could grow up close to family. Moving to Newburgh was logical for us because we needed a location that was both close to family and convenient for my husband to commute to Manhattan for work.
As for Newburgh itself, my neighbors have all been very welcoming and there is a great feel of community in Newburgh, something we didn’t feel in South Florida. We were able to buy our home for less than it would have costed us for a couple of years rent in some of the places we looked, and with two children under the age of 5 and I being in grad school, was important. I love the feel of our home, you can feel the age of it when you walk in, but in a good way. I felt that way about a lot of the houses we looked at in the city of Newburgh. There are so many little details of these homes that divulge a history that I believe is hard to find elsewhere.
-Lindsay
P.S My husband wants to note that it was very important he live near Pete’s Hotdogs”
This is the outside of their home before and after it was purchased. You can see that it had been neglected, and that the staircase was crumbling. It is still a work in progress but looks a million times better and in no longer an eyesore for the community.
Here is Hudson’s room before and after. A great new room!
Baby Clark’s room looks amazing. The bicycle theme is too cute.
The master bedroom went from being cold and barren to warm and just right for this family.
Now on to more drastic changes in the home. This bathroom received a nice upgrade as well as a nice coat of blue paint. The cat seems to agree!
One of the most drastic changes is one you might not necessarily see, the basement. All the dirty white tile is gone and years of grime removed.
The living room before. Lindsay, the home owner, notes that the entire ceiling was peeling off. The repair is the first photo of this blog post.
The living room after. A beautiful inviting place to raise a family.
The Harsch’s also refinished the living room floors giving the room final finishing touches.
Old homes always have surprises. Lindsay says, “We also found something kind of cool that had fallen behind some of the molding in the house. I am not sure if Walter Felton was local to Newburgh or not, but we framed it, and kept it in the house.”
Thanks so much to the Harsch Family for sharing the updates of your lovely home. You are an inspiration for others wanting to buy and fix up their own home in Newburgh. Have your own home renovation adventures in the City of Newburgh that you would like to share? Your own before and after? Email me!
Lan has been so great keeping updated with the progress of their new home. It has been an honest look at the good, bad, and the ugly of buying structures that have been abandoned and unattended. Last time we saw an update was in August 2014 when the new wall built by the general contractor began to tilt. Since then Lan has hired a new general contractor who had to remove the old wall and start from scratch to build a new one.
It’s been a rough journey, especially when they planned on moving in last year. Lan has always remained positive. Even so, she has learned some serious lessons along the way when choosing a general contractor.
“There was a condition on purchasing 1 Edward, owner financing was one. And the owner work on the renovation after he sells is the second one. We spoke for a long time with the owner and decided to take the risk. And the property came with that risk precisely. We waited as long as we could and patience and let him go, so there is no legal issue unless we take him to court.
In fact, I saw another property with the same condition of owner wanting to do the renovation. I just wanted to mention this, so other buyers are aware of the risks they are taking. Or, make a proper contract to get out of the condition faster. Just thought about to give you this info, in case of anybody else is thinking about the same purchase condition.”
Just as a reminder, here’s a look at the wall that had to be taken down:
Follow the progress at 1 Edward below or the tag 1 Edward:
Frank has shared with us more progress on his 1st Street home that was love at first site. Of the work he has been doing on his hardwood floors he says, “Just finished the living room, restored the original 1920 hardwood red oak floors. It’s slowly coming along.” The floors look great, your home looks super cozy. Thanks for sharing!
Have your own home renovation adventures in the City of Newburgh that you would like to share? Your own before and after? Email me!
