As discussed during a Community Conversation on 06/01/2023, Lawrence University is planning to demolish the university owned house at 128 N Union Street. One of the concerns brought up by residents during that meeting was the poor condition of some of the other Lawrence-owned houses near City Park. Lawrence President Laurie Carter did indicate that Lawrence would be painting some of those houses in the future.
I thought it would be worthwhile to walk through the neighborhood and take a look at the houses as they currently stand.
First off is the property at 128 N Union Street which is slated to be razed in July. It is clearly is poor condition with peeling paint, multiple holes in the exterior, and bird nests in the walls.
The house at 209 N Union Street looked like it had vinyl siding which seemed in generally good condition. The wooden accents of the house, however, were in need of paint and the wooden garage also needed some work.
The university house next door to it at 217 N Union Street, looked like it was entirely covered in vinyl siding with no wooden accents visible, and its exterior appeared to be well-maintained.
The houses along N Park Avenue were predominantly wood-sided houses and they were generally in poor condition.
228 N Park Avenue
224 N Park Avenue
216 N Park Avenue looked like it had been re-sided, but, the visible wood had issues.
210 N Park Avenue
422 E Washington Street (on the corner of N Park Avenue) was stucco, not wood, but it had wooden trim, accents, and doors, all of which had severely peeling paint. The stucco portion of the house also looked like it would benefit from a fresh coat of paint.
The main exception on N Park Avenue was the Lawrence owned house at 229 N Park Avenue which seemed to be in immaculate condition and has clearly been well-maintained for many years.
Nice work.