Comments on: Vacant Homes Find New Life

By: KM

KM — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:51:58 +0000

My husband and I are purchasing an old historic house, and let me tell you, it has been pulling teeth to find a contractor who not only has expertise in restoring old houses, but loves the challenge and excitement of bringing life into a historic property that once was beautiful. We’ve been watching Connell and Schmidt’s work over the past few years, and have been very impressed at their creativity and obvious enjoyment of helping be a part of reviving and restoring the Capitol Hill area. What often happens in these older neighborhoods is a big complex goes up, changes the entire neighborhood, and pushes out the people that are living there.
Thank-you Connell and Schmidt for breathing fresh air into the Capitol Hill area!

By: Kyra Deblaker-Gebhard

Kyra Deblaker-Gebhard — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:18:43 +0000

JH-

It’s my understanding that the city charges a vacant home tax rate for such homes, however, there appear to be loop holes that owners of vacant properties can use to avoid paying taxes.

Homeowners near the homes on 11th Street were able to get the vacant home tax rate applied to the two homes, which eventually forced the sale of the homes.

By: JH

JH — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:59:26 +0000

I moved into the 900 block of C Street, NE in 1985 and at that time that huge house on the NE corner of 10th and C was only partially occupied. Within two years it became the boarded up, neglected eyesore it remains today. What can’t the city force owners to improve or lose.

By: R

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:10:56 +0000

As a homeowner adjacent to a property that Connell and Schmidt recently refurbished, I can not emphasis how good they are at minimizing the impact of their activities, communicating with neighbors and generally be really good guys with a good team.

I just want the neighbors adjacent to these houses and on the block know that they are lucky to have JD and Jesse taking on these projects.