I mentioned the three amigos at the city and how well prepared they were. That is no lie. Not even an embellishment. And that kind of support and transparency is really appreciated when you’re ready to put your life’s savings in to a preservation project at 50 (ha) something.
First thought was this was a perfect home and location for a Bed and Breakfast. I was even ready to revive the Mary Mary logo and to dive in to a business plan. SCREECH… brakes on that. The City passed an ordinance a few years ago limiting BnBs. Clearly streets are very narrow (think horses and buggies, not Escalades and F150s towing a trailer of side by sides) and those large, older homes that could sleep 8-12 were suddenly becoming BnBs. Too many people crashing/renting a house. Too many vehicles on the residential neighborhood streets. BUT WAIT! Charles is not in a similar residential neighborhood. Our “street” is a main highway in and out of town. Local business uses the street for a business parking lot. THIS WAS DIFFERENT. Well… maybe so, but between the discussion, the process to comply and frankly anticipated drama (this girl doesn’t do drama), the BnB idea went out the window. And, the reflection of my retirement job being that of cooking and cleaning for someone else was kind of a show-stopper. Honestly, every time I was in the house, I wanted us to live there. So in the end, I’m good with it.
In that pow-wow with the city guys, I learned of grant programs. I learned of low interest loans, property tax moratorium incentives and what was and wasn’t an opportunity. The “money follows the house” not the owner, so an investigation of what had been paid for and what was an option began. In the end, Charles qualified for the vacant home grant, a paint grant and a revolving loan for residential restoration. We’re waiting on announcement from the Governor that she’s lifted moratorium on the windows/doors and foundation grants. That will help us to finish the needed 6 windows, new doors and storm/screen doors and the foundation. These are all possible if “owner occupied”, and we’re looking forward to the day that we can actually occupy her. You never know… I might just qualify for the elderly resident grant by then… but we’ll keep plugging away.
Shout out to our friends in the Historic Preservation office and the Commissioners who genuinely care about their jobs! More info here https://www.cityofdeadwood.com/historic-preservation
Saving Charles 