Judy Lane Rehab Project—Brooklyn Center

The house that sits on Judy Lane stands as a shell of its old self. Years of wear and tear, compounded by memories of financial despair age this 1950s home. Twin Cities Habitat acquired this foreclosed house from the city and it needs a lot of work. As Judy Lane site supervisor Dave Madzo puts it, rehabs are about “search, discover and accommodate.” From the lack of insulation and need for completely new mechanical systems, to the inadequate siding and water damage, this home has provided our crew with many hiccups early on in the build process.

Although some rehab projects can be minor, many projects like Judy Lane can be extremely involved. We are dedicated to helping our neighborhoods recover from foreclosure and will take on the challenge of tackling rehabs. With the help from volunteers and donations, this Judy Lane home will be restored to its original charm.

Update—Wednesday, November 18, 2009

In the middle of its rehab, the siding of our Judy Lane home has been removed, there are no interior walls, and the flooring is barren. Stripped down to its essence, this home has shed the tough times and is ready to be rebuilt. New framing inside stands strong, providing good bones to support a prosperous future for the new homeowners. New plumbing has also been added along with updated electrical and heating. The original windows on the home are being reused, but they have been taken out and reinstalled with a better insulating border. In the upcoming weeks, siding and drywall will go up, the floors will be buffed and polished, and rooms will come together.

Update—Monday, November 30, 2009

As you walk up the freshly paved blacktop driveway at Judy Lane, you can see new siding going up. The original siding on the home wasn’t attached correctly and could be easily lifted away from the home. The new siding is sound and secure and will provide much improved protection from the winter elements. Drywall is now up, and insulation has been installed on all the exterior walls of the home. Prior to this installation, the walls surprisingly had no insulation to keep out the cold. Adding insulation will keep the heat in during the winter and will save on the home’s financial and environmental impact. Looking forward, the inside of the home will receive more attention. There are walls to be finished, cabinets to be installed, and trim to be completed.

Update—Wednesday, December 9, 2009

The scaffolding that once circled the house has been removed, revealing the refreshed exterior of this home on Judy Lane. The final siding and painting were completed just before the cold weather hit, thanks to the hard work and coordination of AmeriCorps member Collette King. The sidewalk leading up to the home is newly added and has already been broken in by a few Minnesota snow showers. Moving to the inside, painting has been mostly finished throughout the home – the fresh paint plays well as a fresh backdrop for the interior work going on in the house. Volunteers are working on cabinet setup and installation in the kitchen. This once out-dated room is on its way to a full renovation and will have new cabinets, counters and appliances when the project is finished. In the upcoming week, volunteers will continue with installing cabinets in the kitchen and will also work on trim, the ceilings and light fixtures throughout the home.

 

Update—Friday, December 18, 2009

One difference during today’s visit is the temperature of the home – in this subzero weather, the home at Judy Lane is noticeably warm. With its secure insulation layer and now installed furnace, the home is standing on its own against the chilly air. A good portion of the home’s interior is on its way to the finishing stages. A visit to the three bedrooms reveals newly installed light fixtures, closet doors and refinished ceilings. The floors throughout have also been refinished, but are hidden under a paper layer, protected from all the buzzing traffic in the home. A major project for the day is hanging trim all over the house, from the living room to the basement. Bud’s Bunch, a weekly regular crew, is working together systematically to cut and hammer the trim to frame doorways and rooms.