i agree, though i would fault the generations of owners (or neglecters) who let such a cool house degrade that far to begin with. given its vintage, it was very likely a farmhouse that predated by about 20 years what became the "suburban" area we now call south hyde park. i think the current owners paid something like $50K for the house and the double-lot the house sits on - even in a down market, a 3,000-sq ft POS in a decent area should bring close to $100K. i am guessing the thing was a total wreck.beautyfromashes wrote: My point is that they lost all connection to the past with this house. It lost it's soul. And while I greatly appreciate this new creation, it still stings a little to see something lost.
some friends of ours just bought a brick victorian home in north hyde park that also received a to-the-studs renovation/rebuild, though the house retained a lot more original features than the 3918 Holmes house. the victorian was a wreck that the rehabbers bought for like $30K, dumped probably $75K and a lot of elbow grease into, then sold for a nice profit. it is this sort of thing that we need much more of in midtown. just about every block of midtown has a handful (or more) junky houses that need some serious TLC. one can hope for period-appropriate restoration, but where that is not realistic, i am fine with a total re-build - particularly in an attractive modernist style (i.e. not an olathe mcmansion style.).
plus, there are a lot of buyers who might like to live in the city, but may be attracted to a more suburban-style home interior. if we can attract or retain more young buyers like this, all the better - even at the expense of some nice woodwork.
