Council: Poppers & Scrapers – Set for Life

Some members on Council that support the “pops & scrapes” regulations have done some interesting things to their properties, yet they seek to stop others from making even modest improvements.

Here’s what we’ve found:

Matt Applebaum purchased 200 Pawnee Drive on 10/30/86 for $145K. In 2006, he subdivided the property to create two lots and sold the smaller one for $305K, keeping the larger of the two lots with the house on it for himself. It appears that he remodeled in 88/89 and then he scraped the old home and garage and developed a larger, new 3,750 sq. ft. home with a 676 sq. ft. garage in 2005.

Macon Cowles purchase 1680 Wilson Court on 2/2/1988 for $288K. The house size is 4,281 sq. ft., plus a 550 Sq. Ft. garage and an in-ground swimming pool. When the house was originally purchased, it was listed as only 3,291 sq. ft. Apparently, he expanded it, because it is now listed as being almost 1,000 sq. ft. larger.

Susan Osborne purchased 525 College Ave. on 5/9/90 for $155.5K. In October of that year, she scraped the existing house in order to develop a much-larger new home that is 3,455 sq. ft. plus a 520 sq. ft garage.

So, they got theirs – and now they’re poised to get yours as well.

My 1,925 sq. ft. home, plus 525 sq. ft. garage is much smaller than these homes – and my home will be non-conforming with the new regulations – right out of the gate.  Sure, my lot and home are smaller, which illustrates how the proposed regulations will disproportionately impact smaller homes, smaller lots – typically owned by folks without the financial resources to do what Applebaum, Osbourne and Cowles have done.

Here’s the detailed report:

City Council Research