Spring 2016 Preservation In Progress Awards
/John Charlton - 1624 Indiana Street
1624 Indiana Street (Courtesy of Lawrence Modern)
Owner John Charlton, with assistance from members of Lawrence Modern, recently added his mid-century modern home to the City of Lawrence's list of local landmarks. He also had the property added to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. More information is available on our news and events page
Prairie Realty LLC - 1015 Alabama Street
1015 Alabama Street
This longtime home of Albert Bloch, the only American artist affiliated with the Blue Rider (Blaue Reiter), a network of German expressionist painters from 1911-1914, received a top to bottom makeover late last year.
In 1923, Bloch accepted a position as professor at the University of Kansas, where he taught art and art history until his retirement in 1947. In 1924, he bought this house where he lived and painted for many years. Located in the heart of Oread, 1015 Alabama now sparkles once again and is in use as a rental.
Lynnette and Nathan Littlejohn - 321 Indiana Street
321 Indiana Street
Lynnette and Nathan Littlejohn have found a great way to move into a designated historic district and make new friends: buy one of the most dilapidated houses on the block and steadily rehab it until it stands right there among the best! The structure at 321 Indiana, a contributing to the state and nationally-listed Pinckney #2 Residential Historic District, had suffered from years of exposure to water infiltration and the usual combination of neglect and cover-up fixes. Cosmetic damage had worsened to the point of structural concerns.
The couple replaced one foundation wall and added steel I-Beams tied into new exterior concrete anchors to support another. Vertical supports were added in the basement. Cracked and sagging joists in the ceilings and floors were sistered rather than replaced. An inappropriate roof structure and five layers of shingles were removed to uncover the original roofline, and wood double-hung windows were restored.
Inside, paneling and fiber ceiling tiles were removed to expose the rotting plaster underneath. The house was rewired and plumbed, and new sheetrock installed. Oak and pine floors were refinished and painting commenced inside and out. The lot was regraded to create positive drainage around the house. The couple did as much of this work themselves as they could.
The finished product is a great home for Lynnette and Nathan, some very happy new friends and neighbors, and a much-deserved PIP Award from LPA in their front yard…well done, Lynnette and Nathan!