Most cities don't have such rich historic housing stock as Detroit -- and most Detroit neighborhoods can't match the character and intricacy that Boston Edison homes have in spades. With home vacancies on the rise pretty much everywhere, the neighborhood association has built a web site to show off homes available there.
"There's really only one solution to a vacant house: someone buys it," says
Historic Boston Edison Association president James Hamilton. "We decided to present the neighborhood as as interesting, desirable place to live ... and there are some great bargains here."
There are bargains like 1666 W. Boston, listed at $27,5000. Or 2071 Chicago, just $14,000. Yes, the housing crisis has hit Boston Edison hard, but Hamilton says getting the info out about what's available there is working. He estimates that 100 vacant properties have been occupied since they started their aggressive campaign, which has included other advertising in addition to the web site.
Another tool in their arsenal is the city's Buildings and Safety Engineering Department, with whom they partner to pressure absentee owners to keep up their properties. In this way, at least some vacant properties are kept in better condition for potential buyers.
Hamilton can rattle off a litany of success stories. One home recently found new owners after sitting vacant for two years, and another is newly occupied after three. "Our main goal in all of this is to try to attract people to neighborhood," he says.
Source: James Hamilton, Historic Boston Edison Association
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.