Renovating a Crack House for a double garage.

September 2008 I decided to purchase this crack house. The property is three blocks away from our current home and gallery. The reason for purchasing this property was driven by getting more space for my painting / art work. When you have approximately 1000 paintings to store. Sometimes it is nessecary to take one step back so that you can take two steps forward. It made more sense to purchase an investment property with a double garage that could be a studio away from home. Rather than increase our mortgage, have our property be re-assessed (increased property taxes), larger monthly outgoings, use up our garden green space... It made more sense to purchase another property. Renovate it, have tenants pay the mortgage, get an income, and a free studio away from home (but close enough that I could be home in seconds). It took four months to convert this crack house into a beautiful place to live. It was a hell of a project. I would like to thank the neighbors for their support and encouragement. Thank you Patrick

This is a photograph of apt #1 living room.

 

This is a photograph of the main living room of apt #1... there were 600 - 800 needles in this room alone.

I used a snow shovel and contractor bags to remove waste.

 

Bedroom on top floor.

 

People were breaking in and living in the building while it was boarded up.

 

This is how the space was left. Needles, garage, empties...

 

This was the top floor kitchen... how it was left.

 

Old bathroom (main floor) water was dripping from the top floor to the basement.

 

Bedroom on main floor

 

This wall must go...

 

Taking out walls and new ceilings

Bob, Robert, and Peter (The Boyz) - I took the photograph

 

Peter Ross (Mr. Super Dude) putting in a new door.

 

New main floor living room

New kitchen on main floor. I purchased 13 new appliance for the building.

I do not wish to be a slum lord.

 

New bathroom on main floor

 

The entire plumbing was completely removed to the street.

All the copper pipes were replaced.

 

The entire plumbing system was completely removed and replaced straight to the street.

 

All the cast iron and steel were removed. New toilet and shower plumbing.

 

Rebuilding the basement bathroom with walk - in shower stall

Robert and Bod working on building a custom walk in shower stall for the basement apartment

 

The walls in the basement were removed and all new insulation and walls replaced

 

(new gas fire place... not electric nor baseboard heater)

 

basement room (hardwood floor - not laminate)

 

New bedroom on main floor

 

main floor

Top floor new kitchen.

Top floor. I had a new electrical panel installed so that a washer and dryer could be added. Nobody likes going to the laundry matt.

 

A felt it was important to purchase designer ceiling fans.

The natural gas heater was fully serviced (it had three dead birds in it)

 

I tried to keep the old charm of the property - the floors were refinished