Asymmetry in Wilson

This house is huge. I didn't get up too close to it, but to be honest it's not obvious if it was just once a twin. I can't figure out what's going on with the sided enclosure on the right side of the balcony; is it a bedroom? Why no window?

This is another example of poorly executed apartment conversions on grand old homes. The owners had no vision, at a time when it was just another 'old house'.

Anyway, it's ugly.

Missing Crowns

S 11th St, four singles in a row. These are real nice homes for the area, much wider than typical. Its interesting how different owners over the years have changed things, perhaps for fashion, perhaps out of necessity. The built in gutters require a lot of maintenance so the second one from the right removed theirs some time ago. Only the last one still has the ornate crown and window trim.

Bold

I appreciate what was done here, just a splash of color on an otherwise bland block. 

Washington st

This is a really nice single, older than the row homes around it. But I fear for how damaged it is, especially with the 3rd floor opened to the elements, to say nothing of vermin and bats! 

The vinyl siding is a major minus as well, but the potential is there, since lots of details remain.

Bats In My Belfry

(not a picture of my actual attic, but it may as well be...)

We've been dealing with bats in our home for as long as we've been here. Up until now, it has been limited to one or two strays in the summer that got down into our living space. But very lately, we've been hearing noises in the 3rd floor ceiling AND in the ceiling between the 2nd and 3rd floors!
Old tall Easton Heights homes are notorious for housing bat colonies. The buildup of guano is bad enough, but when they get into your living space, that's a major concern. Bats are at once a very helpful member of Earth's living creatures AND one of the scariest, fear inducing little mammal you're ever likely to encounter.
We have some professionals coming tomorrow to assess the situation. I need this to be fixed because I'm about ready to burn the place down or jump off the roof.

EASD to sell Cottingham School

In case you didn't see the article, here you go.
We here at UE reported on this eyesore back in March 2010! SO they finally got around to doing something about it, good.
Apartments would be great here, as long as they aren't of the HUD public housing Section 8 variety. This building has tall ceilings and big windows and classic architecture, would make an awesome place to live; they even have parking!
Here's a picture from better days...

Sobriety Field Testing Parking Enforcement

This was hilarious. The other day there must have been some sort of parking scofflaw crackdown in the WW, because there were at least two of the infamous white patrol cars lurking around, peeking, searching for someone, anyone, to issue a ticket to.
Well, they found one of their favorites; "parked too close to corner". Guy was parked maybe six feet from the corner.
So, I watch the 'parking enforcer' measure out the distance.
With a tape measure?
A stick maybe?
No, he proceeds to guesstimate the distance by walking it out heel to toe. Wow, THAT must be accurate.

Anyway, the parking gestapo must love the WW for ticket revenue. Most corners aren't marked yellow as 'no parking' areas, and most corners don't have signage either.
Most all our curb corners are rounded as well, leaving up for debate the issue of 'distance to corner'.

PA Code actually states no parking within 20' of a crosswalk at a corner. Easton takes this to mean 20' from ANY corner.

So, if you ever get a parking ticket, fight it. Ask them how they measured it. Ask to see the measuring device. If he shows you his foot, you can tell him where he could put it.

Clubhouse Holdings rents to drug dealers

This drug bust on N 7th St last week took place at a property I profiled back in June 2009 . Nothing has improved here in the last two years. There have been quite a number of drug dealers renting in this building over the years which leads me to believe that the landlord, Clubhouse Holdings HAS to be aware of it!
Lots of landlords buy dilapidated properties in the city with the intent of renting them out to Section 8 tenants. Problem is, more times than not, there are other people living in these places besides the ones listed on the lease. And these other people are drug dealers.
Drug dealers are EASY to spot; young men that seem to always be hanging around, apparently not holding a regular job. To make a sale, they leave to go walking down the street, on the phone or texting, but come back a few minutes later from ANOTHER direction than they left in. The deals are made on the move, or they get picked up and dropped off somewhere else.
The dirtbags that were just busted actually sold heroin right inside the front door!
Now, if casually observant neighbors can see what's going on, how can the landlord not know about it?
Slumlords like Clubhouse Holdings need to be held accountable and screen their tenants better, and do inspections of their properties.
Keep calling the police on these people! The paper said this bust was in response to neighbor complaints, so keep it up!

Beth'lem Plays Musical Chairs

The Morning Call (How did they name this paper anyway? Who likes getting a call in the morning?) 's cover article today details how Bethlehem removed spot saving devices recently.
I have to say, this is bold. Necessary, but bold. As people are quoted saying, many feel this is a 'way of life' and 'everybody does it'.
As for the way of life; I'd imagine in a real well established neighrborhood of owner occupied homes, this wouldn't really be necessary. why? because people who know each other, are 'good neighbors', would know who cleaned out what spot, who parkes where, etc. for instance, my neighbor with a driveway, I know when she is home or not, and she doesn't mind if I park in her driveway from time to time.
Factors contributing to the problem/need of saving spaces:
1. people who don't clean out their vehicles. I've seen people that clean out just enough to remove their car, but don't necessarily park there when they get home, because they can choose a better spot later.
2. Too many cars. This is a problem all year 'round, compounded by the next problem;
3. No place to put the snow. Some of have yards to throw the snow, but most people don't. The Cities require us to clear the sidewalks, so the snow gets piles where a car could park.
4. Cars that aren't moved for DAYS. I don't understand this; if you can afford to be without your car for perhaps WEEKS, then why do you have it at all?

I think if people would just get together to clean the street after a storm we could all have a place to park.

What about Easton and collecting all the chairs and barrels? They say they aren't doing it, causes too many problems. I would suggest that they at least ticket the cars that aren't moved in 3 days, just like they do in the warmer weather. AND, ticket the cars that are parked too far from the curb!

*sigh* Spring is almost here...

The Peace Candle is Coming Down

As noted in today's Express Times, the 'Peace' Candle is coming down to once again reveal the 'War' Monument.
I note this myself here at UE because of what they do with it now; the article notes they 'put it in storage', which we all realize means 'pile up behind the City maintenance building'.
I'll get a picture of that when I can.

Township Bans Spot Saving

It's that time of year again folks, when the snow falls, the shovels come out, as well as the pylons, garbage cans and dining room chairs.
yes, I am talking about saving parking spots. I know, it's a treasured component of living in PA, but we all know it causes problems. At least one township is doing something about it . Darby Township is bold enough to tackle this issue head on with fines!
The most we ever get from Easton is 'maybe' a warning. A Police Officer 'might' tell someone 'hey, you can't do that', but people continue to save spots, as well as throw snow in the street when they clean out their car.
But what do you expect from a town where double parking is considered a God Ordained Right?
I would love to see neighborhoods get together to tackle this issue. When it snows, everyone agrees to move their cars and everyone pitches in to clean the street! Put all the snow in one place and everyone has a place to park!
If everyone took a little personal responsibility we could all have a place to park and and everything would be just a little more peaceful.
UPDATE: one of my favorite LV blogs, Lehigh Valley Transplant, posted a similar write up this morning, go check it out!

Still Here, Still Ugly

When I 'discovered' blogs, I noticed that very few ever had any real readership; they are really a tool of the narcissistic it seems, not really providing anything in the way of real information or interest.
I never wanted to be 'that' guy.
I'm happy to say that I have 14 followers and I am grateful for each and every one. To you 14, I apologize for not keeping up with the ugly the last few months.
I would also like to say I am grateful to Lehigh Valley Ramblings , from whom I've received most of my traffic! It is one of those very useful blogs (to those residents of the LV at least) and I appreciate that they have me listed in their blogroll.
I might also mention Neighbors Of Easton , who, although Ms. Noel Jones would NEVER link to this blog, provides a nice counterpoint to Ugly Easton. The group of Liberal Zealots over there is of the mind they can change the world; or at least the idea that if everyone would just vote, all of our problems would be solved.
Any reader of UE knows that this is a politically-neutral blog; we're not out to change the world (Easton) but to just make some observations of the town in which we live, hoping to motivate people to be the best they can be.
I have some more pictures in my blackberry I've been meaning to get up here, and plenty more still to be shot, so please hang around, there will be more to see soon!
Thanks!

Ugly From Across The River Came

Any resident of Easton knows there is plenty of ugly over in our sister city, Phillipsburg, NJ (although we all know it's also easier to admit the shortcomings of them moreso than us, it's human nature).
But, not only is PBurg FULL of ugly, they actually had a CONTEST for ugliest home!

Maybe I'm not so crazy after all.

here's an idea; maybe after I've been doing this for a bit longer, we can have our OWN contest! I've gotten suggestions before and am always open to them, so if you have an homes of ill repute you'd like to nominate, perhaps we can get more participation here and get some notice! how about it?

I'm torn

Twin homes always interest me. Probably in the way they are the same, but over the years they grow apart but still share so much. Like these two (or one?) The left one has a pretty good look, well maintained w/ a nicely designed stoop overhang.
The right side, though, something happened and it wasn't good. I really wish I had a picture of it from some years ago before it was renovated (NOTE: 'renovated' is a bad word. It denotes being overhauled in a quick and dirty way w/o any regard for historical significance or value). It sat unrestored for a number of years, looking to be uninhabited.
But the reno was of the 'gut to the studs' variety. But the worst part (from the outside at least) was the installation of the horribly undersized out of scale windows. They look awkward, tiny, out of place, making the house look large and unwieldy.
It didn't have to be this way. Windows come in all shapes and sizes. There is no pratical need or advantage to doing this but to save a buck. Unfortunately, the West Ward is not a historical district so this stuff flies.
Anyway, it's on Jackson if you want to check it out.

Crown Jewel of the West Ward

This is really a magnificent building. Well, not in the shape its in obviously. This is the (former) EASD Administration Building on Northampton St in the West Ward. Pretty, isn't it? If you click on it, you can see there is a 'For Sale' sign out front; I guess the Admin didn't want to represent in the WW anymore so they built a new Castle out on Bushkill Drive. Just let this one rot, who cares? It's only right in everyone's BACKYARD.

I really hope someone that cares about the neighborhood more than the EASD buys this building and makes condos or something out of it; really, it has great style, and lots of parking, LOTS of potential.

But right now, and for a LONG TIME ALREADY, it's UGLY, so it gets posted here.

No Street Sweeping for You!

You may be aware that, to much fanfare, it was announced in January (and probably earlier) that the street sweeping program would be expanded to include the West Ward. To quote the Director of Public Works David Hopkins:
''We're expanding it in all wards of the city''

I guess I took that to mean the whole West Ward (silly me).

Now take a look at the recently released route map.

You'll notice, that if you live north of Wood Ave on 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th St, or on Jackson, Bushkill, or Spring Garden (and all related alleyways), well, No street sweeping for you!

I of course, in my naive ignorance, thought there was an oversight. No, there isn't. Again, to quote Hopkins, from an email I sent:

"we spent a significant amount of time selecting proposed routes for each neighborhood and just cannot fit any more road miles into the current proposal. We are going from 8.8 miles to 35.9 miles of sweeping which is extremely aggressive. Therefore, unfortunately your section of the west ward will not be included at this time, however we can look at including your area for future expansions".

The good news for us is that we won't have to be concerned with any alternate side of the street parking restrictions or the related parking tickets. Of course, the city loses out on the ticket revenue, but I'm sure they'll make up for it with some other frivolity.

One is the loneliest number

Easton sure has lots of ugly utility poles. This one is not even one of the worst; future posts may explore the best of the worst leaning, cracked, overloaded poles in the city.
But for now, take a gander at this one. If all goes as planned, it will soon be festooned with a proper cobrahead streetlamp! This pole sits at the confluence of the humble thoroughfare known as Sassafrass St. and N7th St. Being as it's an intersection, the powers-that-be have finally agreed that there IS in fact, suppoosed to be a streetlamp there.
I would like to give a grateful shout out to Mayor Panto, Councilwoman Elinore Warner, and Public Works dude Dave Hopkins for making this happen.
I hope to update this post soon with the AFTER photo. It's all up to Met-Ed now.

Warren and Church

Being on an alleyway, this home has a few strikes against it already. This one is actually at the corner of two alleys. It's a shame, really, because the house itself is a good size and has lots of potential.

Warren St, although a park-one-side-only street, has a number of nice homes (this isn't one of them). the west side of the street has a few that have recently been painted, and one home in the middle of the block even has a spacious side yard. My feeling is that is the best way to improve a neighborhood: lead by example, and (hopefully) the rest will (eventually) follow.

big white box on Spring Garden

This is an example of a contractor working as he goes, no plan at all. This 'house' has at least 4 apartments in it, judging from the electrical meters. It's hard to tell how it might have originally looked, but the rear addition and pop up at the rear is obviously a latecomer to the party.

Ugly.

Big Brown

OK, to start this off, check THIS out. This house is HUGE. Huge and ugly. Click on the picture to get a blown up view, you can see the details in all their offensive glory. It has everything: old aluminum siding, '70's era brown and tan paint, busted and rotted railings and porch posts and most all vintage detailing either lost or damaged. But amazingly, it still has its original doors. The left entranceway still has the transom over the door, but on the right? Who knows, it might be under the siding.
notice the plain unadorned windows; in times past, you can imagine Victorian flourishes, large sills and carved trim. the mind reels imagining this homes' glory in times past.
The 3rd floor dormers give a clue of what is missing. They are not wood, but pressed tin. Very cool, but unadorned as they are, they are lost in the mess.
I've seen the inside of one of the apartments in this building. the parque oak floors were recently refinished, there are intact pocket doors even. But the new owners have so far neglected to refurbish the exterior. I guess the lure of easy rental money is too hard to resist.