1609 Angier Avenue

So much for the revitalization of Durham. I've never seen a city do so little with open space.

Terrible! Though, to be fair, most likely the house was covered in lead paint, which is quite toxic.

So much for the revitalization of Durham. I've never seen a city do so little with open space.

Terrible! Though, to be fair, most likely the house was covered in lead paint, which is quite toxic.

and did the lead paint just magically disappear when the house was demolished?

Is there a lead paint fairy blessing East Durham with demolitions to rid the scurge of lead paint?

@Anon: Are you telling us that you're "confident" that they carefully scraped off all the lead paint and then removed the chips for special disposal? I'd like to know why you're confident. I've seen lots of houses get bulldozed in Durham, and I've never s

Guys, I'm confident that appropriate lead abatement measures were followed during demolition (unlike when the house was abandoned and lead chips were most likely drifting all over the neighborhood).

I'd rather have lead paint professionally removed by a containment crew than thrown into a dump that can possibly drain to a water source.

I'm sure that a lot of that lead paint was pulverized into lead paint dust for the breathing enjoyment of all passers-by. Just another bad AIR day. PS: My word verification is "exylar" -- the new name for lead paint dust!

I'm sure that a lot of that lead paint was pulverized into lead paint dust for the breathing enjoyment of all passers-by. Just another bad AIR day.

PS: My word verification is "exylar" -- the new name for lead paint dust!

I'd rather have lead paint professionally removed by a containment crew than thrown into a dump that can possibly drain to a water source.

Guys, I'm confident that appropriate lead abatement measures were followed during demolition (unlike when the house was abandoned and lead chips were most likely drifting all over the neighborhood).

and did the lead paint just magically disappear when the house was demolished? Is there a lead paint fairy blessing East Durham with demolitions to rid the scurge of lead paint?

@Anon:

Are you telling us that you're "confident" that they carefully scraped off all the lead paint and then removed the chips for special disposal? I'd like to know why you're confident. I've seen lots of houses get bulldozed in Durham, and I've never seen anything like that happen. The bulldozers come in, knock down the house, throw the debris in the backs of trucks and haul it off to the landfill.

Environmentally sensitive, it ain't.

Yes; new lead hazard management rules were introduced in 2010 which require certified contractors to follow specific practices to prevent lead contamination.

@Anon There is nothing on the demolition permit that talks about lead or lead paint. RACM refers to asbestos.

Certified contractors following specific practises...

HA! This is the best laugh I've had in a little while.

Have you ever looked at the demolition permit or process required by the city?

That owner from the 50's sounds familiar. Frederick Stell? Fred Stell sounds like a guy in the real estate business around Durham back in the early 90's when I first got started. Not a common last name so it could be he or his family. Seth Roberts

@Anon

These houses were demolished before 2010 so no such requirements were in place.

As Natalie says, I wouldn't bet a lot on people following those rules after 2010. The EPA can make rules, but it's rather like DOT setting speed limits on highways: enforcement is an entirely different matter.

Durham City-County demolition permit requires NC HHCU permit for removal of RACM, including use of accredited workers, supervising air monitor, abatement designer, and transport of waste to an approved landfill.

Durham City-County demolition permit requires NC HHCU permit for removal of RACM, including use of accredited workers, supervising air monitor, abatement designer, and transport of waste to an approved landfill.

@Anon These houses were demolished before 2010 so no such requirements were in place. As Natalie says, I wouldn't bet a lot on people following those rules after 2010. The EPA can make rules, but it's rather like DOT setting speed limits on highways: enfo

That owner from the 50's sounds familiar. Frederick Stell? Fred Stell sounds like a guy in the real estate business around Durham back in the early 90's when I first got started.

Not a common last name so it could be he or his family.

Seth Roberts

Certified contractors following specific practises... HA! This is the best laugh I've had in a little while. Have you ever looked at the demolition permit or process required by the city?

@Anon

There is nothing on the demolition permit that talks about lead or lead paint. RACM refers to asbestos.

Yes; new lead hazard management rules were introduced in 2010 which require certified contractors to follow specific practices to prevent lead contamination.

Regardless of lead and asbestos, the house was a fire hazard and most likely structurally unsafe. Some may miss it, but the city can't allow something to exist that's going to be a danger.

Well, anonymous (& just who are you, hiding behind the "anonymous" tag), just why are you reading this blog??? It's about preservation!!! Take the old structually unsound fire hazard, and return it to its glory days of beauty. Happens all the time, even in Durham. That why Gary writes and shows this stuff. Ask John Martin about his home that was in such disrepair, torn in half, moved across town, and now is the model of beauty that outshines even its original existence. If you are ready to just accept demolition of Durham's homes, you need not be reading this blog! You are in the wrong place!

Well, anonymous (& just who are you, hiding behind the "anonymous" tag), just why are you reading this blog??? It's about preservation!!! Take the old structually unsound fire hazard, and return it to its glory days of beauty.

Happens all the time, even in Durham. That why Gary writes and shows this stuff. Ask John Martin about his home that was in such disrepair, torn in half, moved across town, and now is the model of beauty that outshines even its original existence.

If you are ready to just accept demolition of Durham's homes, you need not be reading this blog! You are in the wrong place!

Regardless of lead and asbestos, the house was a fire hazard and most likely structurally unsafe. Some may miss it, but the city can't allow something to exist that's going to be a danger.

This house has already been demolished, but even if it wasn't, why would I want to "take the old structurally unsound fire hazard, and return it to its glory days of beauty"? It was a pretty ordinary house to begin with, and I don't have time or interest for such a project (obviously no one else did either...)

The thing I can never fathom -- and it's truly a rhetoric comment since there is no one answer -- is how so MUCH of Durham gets in that decrepit condition to have to be torn or fall down. A lot of the places Gary has shown us over the years seem like victims of willful neglect. Oh, I don't believe for a minute that any one gave a second thought about lead paint or it's disposal when blading the place. Until municipalities start showing concern for the environment in their building practices, I honestly can't believe they are going to show any in their demolition practices regardless of what they put on paper.