The RTD’s New venture can help with restoration profiles the Old House Authority, a new venture of Jennie Dotts, Walter Dotts, and Dixon Kerr that offers services and information on restoration experts and old-house renovation, and “sells products such as invisible storm windows that are historically accurate, aesthetically pleasing and energy efficient”. The Old House Authority also offers assistance to artisans and craftsmen.
8 comments
Great article and this business is a really good resource.
Does anyone know where Jennie’s sister’s house is on Grove (the one featured in the article)? Way cool!
I would like to thank the person or persons who posted this information. I guess you would like for your fellow neighbors to live like you and do care. I hope this was posted because of the comment that I had made on another blog. If not, the information provided is benefical to people less fortunate in Union Hill. And if you do care, Thanks!!
You’re welcome! I try to post stories that are relevant or interesting to the community.
One wonders what will become of ACORN. Clearly the city needs a strong set of urban advocacy non-profits to promote the wonders of urbanity (whether it be preservation, culture, diversity, sustainability, quality of life, economic development, housing, etc.), while dealing with the myriad of issues the city faces from its problems relating to poverty and its social ravages; or it methodically driven suburban neighbors; or its wealth of governance and administrative failures. Too much of the urban lives and livelihood advocacy in Richmond is non-sustainable, as it seems to derive from random University faculty or newspaper columnists who have little power and even (at times) less insight into solutions. I guess it could continue to be left up to Richmond’s favorite sons…but most available evidence suggests that Messrs. Wilder, Trani and Ukrop don’t have all the answers.
ACORN and the Historic Richmond Foundation have begun a partnership of sorts. I don’t know how that affects their board structures or fundraising abilities, but it is bound to strengthen each organization and help to ensure that they are around for a while.
It was APVA (Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities) and HRF that combined. I am a member and they joined forces last year.
Yes, I’m aware of that, and am also a member, but I also know through Mary Jane and David that there is some collaboration between ACORN and HRF that wasn’t there in the past.
this partnership of hrf and acorn is long overdue and something i hope to learn more about – keep us informed, laura, bill, etc.
i had high hopes for a partnership of low-income and affordable housing advocates and ACORN preservationists for revitalizing and rebuilding neighborhoods like church hill. think about it – we have thousands of vacant buildings and homes and a great need for affordable housing options for families, singles, the elderly and others that are making less than it takes to cover a monthly mortgage payment and just enough to pay rent.
lower income families and residents are not responsible for bringing crime to the neighborhood. just because you are poor does not make you more likely to committ crimes. a neighborhood thrives when residents have a common interest in a safe, clean, affordable, friendly community to share and protect. it would be a win-win for everyone – a diverse, mixed, interesting and vibrant neighborhood where the houses and buildings are restored and occupied. the alternative is more vacant, crumbling, blighted buildings that offer safe haven for more criminal activity. does church hill want to become like the fan or the far west end? i thought i found a neighborhood that wasn’t for people looking for homogenous living that is found in the burbs. what happened? guess i’m a dreamer. however, this sort of partnership has worked in many communities across the u.s. according to case studies i’ve read. there is funding available for projects like this. it might work here if everyone was able to see similarities instead of differences related only to income, education, race, etc.