Since our posting last month on residential destruction and renewal in Madison Park, at least three more houses have been demolished to make room for new structures. This 800 sq. ft. house at 42nd Avenue E. and E. Lee Street, which bit the dust this morning, is just the latest casualty. Originally constructed in 1919, it purportedly was built as a beach cabin for the president of Frederick & Nelson (a now-defunct department store). The house had apparently not benefited from any renovations since the early 1950's, so when the tall Portuguese Laurel hedge and large fir trees were recently removed from the property, it was a shock to many to discover that was an old house buried in there.
It took about four hours for the structure to be pulled down. Construction will soon begin on a high-end, energy efficient house, three times or more the size of the original structure. As one passerby commented upon seeing the destruction underway, "Well, the neighborhood pattern continues..."
Good, another dump gone. The neighborhood continues to improve.
ReplyDeleteGreat..a vulgar 2400 sq/ft house shoe-horned onto a 2100 sq/ft lot - not sure how this is an improvement. Although I'm sure the builder is going to make sure it is tastefully vulgar. From the looks of the looming neighboring homes it will be in good company. Madison Park is sadly becoming one of "those" communities.....
DeleteSterilize the countryside... make it safe for profits.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was an "original" but hardly a landmark structure. I too am revolted when developers cram bloated structures into tiny lots. But it is disingenuous to suggest that tearing down what was essentially a dilapidated shack is some sort of crime against architectural or historical heritage.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that it was implied in the article that the house had "architectural or historical heritage" - merely that it was built by the former head of F&N. To the first comment maker - it is really not up to you or anyone else to determine whether someone's house is a dump. If you want minimum maintenance/landscape standards move somewhere there are HOA covenants defining what is acceptable. Madison Park residents have very right to maintain their houses as they see fit - regardless of your opinion.
DeleteIt was NOT a dump! It became too much for my grandfather to handle. It saddens me to see it torn down but it became un livable. I cried to see these pictures, my grandmother had bought the house in 1942. So say whatever you want but to me this house held many memories. I tried to get my grandparents to remodel it many times.
ReplyDelete