Project #1: Cook St House DEMO

We have already made some significant changes. Here are several photos of just a smidgen of the work thats been done at the Cook St house.

This is the entry to the living room from the hallway coming from the front door. It had been closed off with drywall and a small doorway.

















This is the same entry way looking into the hallway from the living room. We removed the closed off entryway as well as open up some windows that previously had stained-glass in them. In the background you can see Ed working on opening the other entry into the den. By doing so, we have created such an open feeling that previously left the space feeling super-segmented.






This will be the new wine cellar. It was just a storage area before.


















This is an original fireplace in the basement. We are going to cover it with stone to give it an updated look, cover the walls with drywall (obviously), and replace those windows. This may become the exercise room but could also be used for an additional bedroom, sitting room, or rec room.

Project #1: Cook St House

We began demo on our new project on February 16th. We are very excited about this house because it has a lot of potential to go from dysfunctional to functional and sytlish. It is a large home with about 3000 sq. ft including the basement. There are lots of bedrooms but some are being converted to bathroom/closet space. In the end, we expect to create a 3 bedroom, 4 bathroom house.

Our plans for the house include:

• Energy Star windows


• Refinish original hardwood flooring


• Bamboo flooring in other areas without original hardwoods


• Create a master suite with a jacuzzi tub, fancy shower, and a large closet


• Add bathroom to top floor deemed the "atrium bathroom"


• Low flush toilets throughout


• Energy star lighting and fans


• Open up entries to main floor rooms


• A stunning kitchen with cinnamon colored Cherry cabinetry, Stainless steel Energy Star appliances including a hood over the oven, and installed trash/recycling center.


• Updated bathrooms


• Industrial-style wet bar in basement


• Theatre-ready room in basement


• Work-out room in basement


• Wine cellar


• Energy Star washer and dryer


• New 95% efficient furnace, air conditioner, and water heater


• Landscaped yard - front and back


• New roof on detached garage and motion sensored lighting.

We've got lots to do but the transformation will be amazing. We expect to complete this project in roughly 3 months. Keep checking back for updates and pictures. If you know anyone looking for a house in Denver...send them a link to this blog so they can check it out.

What to Expect in a Green Housing Project

Minimally, one can expect to find zero-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paint (and stain if applicable), energy star appliances when available (dryers and ovens are not available in energy star models), a water efficient washing machine, a dryer, and a refrigerator (most houses do not come with any of these appliances). If flooring is in good shape, whether hardwoods, tile, or linoleum, it will not be replaced in order to avoid unnecessary waste. If new floors are necessary, we will use bamboo or cork in main areas, as these can be grown sustainably, non-toxic carpet in bedrooms, and tile in bathrooms and kitchens, giving priority to recycled tiles, and using less toxic or non-toxic adhesives when available. Fully functioning furnaces and water heaters will most likely not be replaced with new energy star models, unless the budget allows for these additional costs, in which case the functioning models will be donated to Habitat for Humanity or another non-profit. We will also use a grey water recycling unit when we can in order to reduce household water usage by as much as 30%. We will always use energy efficient windows to insure low heating costs. In the case of a scrap or new build we will use green kits and do our best to implement passive solar heating and solar power as well. As for greenery, we will not unnecessarily destroy any greenery, and hope to promote clean air by planting trees at houses renewed during the planting season.

Strategy

Green Housing will realize its mission through purchasing distressed properties and remodeling them with sustainable, recycled, non-toxic materials, while using energy efficient and water efficient appliances. Renewed properties will be sold to private owners, giving preference to families, women, and ethnic minorities, at a price below the appraised market value in order to provide a high quality, healthy, and efficient home to families that may not be able to otherwise afford them. Thus we hope to reduce energy, water and other natural resource usage, as well construction waste, and to give families more freedom by loosening banks’ grip over people’s lives.

Mission Statement and Philosophy

Green Housing LLC is a Christian-based company created in order to provide ecologically sound and affordable housing to Denver residents. This stems from the two biblical principles of compassion and stewardship. We believe that God created us to bless the created order and especially to love other humans within that order. By creating homes that use fewer resources to create, use less resources in the process of being lived in, cost less to the buyer, and are aesthetically pleasing, we believe that we will be contributing to God’s desire for goodness in the world.