Inside-out house to be auctioned? (15 S Putnam)

[kernwatch]

Early this year there were several articles on BuffaloRising.com about a controversial housing renovation project on westside S Putnam.

You can see the novel house at the link below, massively altered by UB Architecture students & literally turned on its side.

But now 15 South Putnam (west of Richmond, north of West Ferry) looks abandoned & is listed for sale on the City Tax auction to be held October 22-24 in the Convention Center.

Anybody interested in buying perhaps the most unconvential house in Bflo?

SEE:

http://buffalorising.com/story/insid...ng_hope_in_a_h

The quite literal opening of UB Architecture’s design project yesterday on South Putnam enlivened the entire neighborhood. Friends, neighbors, and passersby joined the students and their professors on the beautiful spring day in celebration of the revitalized home.

In a matter of months, the group transformed the ailing, forgotten structure into a unique display of design and vision that may just flip our community’s perceptions of worth on its side.

Much more than an architectural experiment, the redesigned house at 15 S. Putnam stands as a challenge to our community to take another look at the structures, and the neighborhoods, we’ve let deteriorate.

“I think everyone just wanted to engage the community, we wanted people to stop and look at these buildings more carefully,” said Professor Frank Fantauzzi. “I think that’s exactly what’s happened. People are starting to realize these houses have tremendous potential; and that’s really our goal.”

The crowd at the opening speaks to just how captivated the community has become with the project. Many hung around the festivities all day, exploring the space and watching as the façade slowly turned 90 degrees onto its side.

The little girls from next door explored the house for hours, marveling at how they’d never seen a place like this, though it’s the same structure that has stood next to their own home for years. Cozying up to its ultimate goal, perhaps this project showed these youth the possibilities that exist within their own world, even on their own block. [/RIGHT

[kernwatch]

It is important that more folks see this incredible house, now apparently for sale at the Oct 22-24 city tax auction along with about 3700 other city properties.

Here is the "before" photo of the non-descript derelict 15 S Putnam house . .

SEE: http://buffalorising.com/story/insid...on_pu#comments

And the "after" photo, now perhaps the most unique house in Bflo.

SEE: http://buffalorising.com/story/insid...ng_hope_in_a_h

What is it worth?

[seattletobuffalo]

I think we should fine UB for destroying the house and than abandoning it. It is so cool that no one wants it. I saw that house the other day from the outside, and it is interesting, but it really just looks like someone made a big mistake and than left instead of cleaning it up.

Why if this is so cool up for a tax auction? Where are the people that made it this way? What do you do with a house like that?

This is a prime example of how we can destroy a house and leave it to be sold at auction for $100.

[raoul duke]

i don't think UB owns the house. so the tax problems were not their doing.

[Linda_D]

Wouldn't whatever time and money UB spent on this house have been better spent on making the house marketable? Sorry, but I think avante-garde isn't going to find many buyers among people looking to buy a house on the West Side since people looking to buy in that area would be looking for a Victorian or maybe a traditional "bungalow style", but that would have undoubtedly been too pedestrian for the design gurus at UB.

I bet this house doesn't sell even at tax sale prices.

[seattletobuffalo]

I just think it is funny. Have a bunch of UB students destroy a house call it really cool, how it is going to change Buffalo, and than let it go to an auction. I bet whomever buys it, will get fined by code enforcement and end up going to jail for not being able to fix the building.

It would be nice if some UB students would buy the place and finish what they started, that would show that Buffalo has a chance of making it.

It will be interesting to see who bids on it at the auction site unseen and than ends up having a heart attack when they find out what they now have to deal with.

[seattletobuffalo]

If anyone wants to help me fix it up for sale or rental let me know. I will buy it, if anyone wants to fix the place up and make it marketable.

[raoul duke]

I just think it is funny. Have a bunch of UB students destroy a house call it really cool, how it is going to change Buffalo, and than let it go to an auction.

again, the house is not and was never owned by UB and the reason it is up for auction is not their doing. its owned by an apparent absentee landlord who let the house fall into tax problems.

[seattletobuffalo]

again, the house is not and was never owned by UB and the reason it is up for auction is not their doing. its owned by an apparent absentee landlord who let the house fall into tax problems.

I understand that UB never owned it. I never thought they did own it. Just another house in Buffalo ready to be bought up for pennies on the dollar and turned into a great house.

[Linda_D]

again, the house is not and was never owned by UB and the reason it is up for auction is not their doing. its owned by an apparent absentee landlord who let the house fall into tax problems.

However, UB invested time and money in this project that's turned out to be a dud. Since it couldn't have worked on the house without permission, it seems to me that the UB profs supervising this project never considered the consequences of their students' design on the future of the house.

I'm not surprised. I've seen many "great designs" that lacked functionality. This seems to be just one of many.

[kernwatch]

The house was just sold for $1 between relatives in January. New owner Diana Stikkel early expressed reservations whether she as a suburban single mother would move into the house.

Can you blame her? But why did she buy it?

COPY: http://ecclerk.erie.gov:9080/prod_pu...oc_id=17904519

ERIE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE
OFFICIAL RECORDS PUBLIC SEARCH
Search Results Logout


DOCUMENT DETAIL: (LAND)

Doc Type: D1BU
Doc Group: DEED
CFN: 2007019254
Date/Time: 01/26/2007 16:31
Book Type: D
Book/Page: 11124/7153
Pages: 4
Consideration: $1.00
Status: V
TT ID#:
Tax ID#: TT200613716
Legal 1: 4PCTY S PUTNAM



Parties
D STIKKEL DIANA B
R STIKKEL DENNETTA J

Long Legal 1 Town Map/Hostel/Parcel Zip Prop Type
BUFFALO 15 SOUTH PUTNAM ST 14213

[raoul duke]

the new owner is dennetta, right?

[kernwatch]

Raoul:

My error, you are correct!

[raoul duke]

i was looking at the real estate records today. if i was in the position i would seriously consider buying it. its a shame they let it go to auction. . .

[kernwatch]

Raoul:

You may want to call the Tax Office in City Hall (851-5733) to learn how much in taxes & penalties is owed.

Possibly you could buy the house from the current owner for $1 plus the amounts owed, relieving her of a burden in the process?

Then negotiate with those UB folks to help you finish the job they left undone!