Meet your neighbors: Nick

Name: Nick J.
Age: 34
Neighborhood and City: Logan Square, Chicago

NP: What project did you do?
NJ: My project was the sustainable rehab of an old 3 flat. One of my objectives was to expand green building practices beyond material choices and use community friendly design that encourage neighborly behavior by my tenants, my neighbors, and me.

NP: Why did you start your project?
NJ: I had lived in Logan Square and knew that I wanted to stay for while. I also really wanted to make something, and this was a great excuse to buy lots of power tools. Location was really important and this was place was perfect: a across the street from a store and down the block from an el station.

NP: How long did it take you?
NJ: It took about 3 years to renovate all three units. I did about ¾ of the work myself. There is still work to be done and the job of landlord never ends: changing light bulbs, shoveling snow, fixing leaking roof.



NP: What were the major challenges you encountered during your project?
NJ: I really had no idea what I was getting into. I was lucky to have friends to rely on for technical assistance and muscle. Getting all the stuff for the project was a challenge, as I don’t have a car or drivers license for that matter. An eight-foot long bike trailer made all the difference. The ability to move lumber, drywall, furniture and garden supplies by bike significantly reduced the environmental impact of the project. (For the record, the project did involve having friends drive me to Ikea about 5 times) I also tried to use recycled materials wherever possible.



NP: What did you enjoy most about your project?
NJ: One of the highlights was the day the 6’ high fence in front of the house came down. Some guy actually paid to come cut it down and take it away for his garden. Before the fence came down, the house felt like it was saying “keep out,” now it feels like the house is welcoming and more a part of the street. I really enjoy working in the front garden, saying hi to neighbors, picking up trash along the parkway, putting air in bikes for the kids next door, or just sitting on the stoop.



NP: What would you have done differently if you could do it all over again?
NJ: I would have planned the whole project a lot better. I ended up at critical junctures stuck with design dilemmas that I pondered over for weeks. I found myself trying to balance my aesthetic whims, budget, and hopes for great returns on investment. I probably would have been a little more traditional with the design. In terms of green building practices, there seems to have been an explosion in recent years of resources that would have helped me



NP: What's your next project?
NJ: I am thinking of getting an electric snow blower to plow all the sidewalks around me keep the curb ramps and crosswalks clear. While I a strongly support the responsibility the property owner to shovel their own sidewalk, some can't for health reasons and some just don’t. Snow might be a problem.

NP: What would you like to see Neighbors Project accomplish?
NJ: I realize that rehabbing is not for everyone so I am interested in the potential of condo associations as a place for neighborhood building activities. At the new condos on my street, people drive down the alley, park in the back and never use the street or the front of their house.