Project "Lipstick on a Pig"

From 1224 Delaware

At the end of almost two years of work, we were able to get financing for the new construction, but not for renovation of 1224 Delaware. While it's still in fair shape for a college rental (3 apartments), it has been looking a bit shabby, particularly in contrast to the new buildings around it. (Said shabbiness not helped by the microburst in 2006, which heavily damaged the west porch, requiring its removal, and damaging a chimney and the furnace vent.) So, to help the house fit in a bit better visually, until we can afford to renovate, the house exterior is being painted the light sage green used elsewhere in the project.

Repair of second sinkhole in parking lot starts

From Touchups and ...

One might have thought half a year of running trucks and the like over the east half of the project, plus the grading, should have kept the parking lot from developing immediate holes. Probably thanks to the heavy spring rains, however, that's not turned out to be true. The second sinkhole is not as deep as the first, but they started replacing it today, using a circular saw to cut the asphalt into moveable chunks. Hot work, given the temperature in the muggy 90s...

Farewell to 1208

From Moving In

Save for about a year (2002-2003), 1208 Delaware has been our meeting place, and effective office since 2000. That common space will revert back to family home, as we moved papers, dishes, and some furniture to the new Common House. Furniture not moved to the Common House, such as the pair of (very tall!) cabinets, will be sold at a yard sale or given away on the Freecycle e-list.

First out of towner moves!

Our cohousing group has actually had more out of town members (still committed to moving in) than in-town members for a while. Today saw the first move towards changing that balance, as the first moving truck from out of state arrived!

From Moving In

Squeezed Access to Upstairs

From Moving In

My appliances arrived today. However, a slight problem was discovered: at the base of the stairs leading up to my second floor flat, the trim on the posts creates a passageway that is barely 28" wide -- a measure that standard kitchen and laundry appliances may not squeeze by -- at least, not without some removal of doors, etc. The movers did get everything up, but the refrigerator, even with the doors off, was so tight a squeeze that the trim paint was scraped (well, better that, than scratches on the fridge!)

Lush grass in June

From Lush June

The bare ground, liberally strewn with gravel in spots, is disappearing under a carpet of green, thanks to more than adequate amounts of rain. Of course, the more the grass grows, the sooner the mower will have to come out...

From Lush June

Opening Up Beyond DSC: House Concert!

From Building Comm...

One thing that Delaware Street Commons is not is a "gated community." We have no interest in secreting ourselves from the rest of the world, of building tall, forbidding fences between us and our neighbors. We are a small community if and of ourselves, but we are also part of the larger community, from the local East Lawrence neighborhood, to the city of Lawrence itself, and beyond. As part of that being part of the larger community, we celebrated the inauguration of the Common House as social investment not only in DSC, but in the neighborhood, by holding the first of what (we hope) will be many house concerts.