Inside 416 31st Ave. N., The Site Of So Much Misery In The Eco Village

Photo By Jeff Skrenes

Everything that can go wrong with 416 31st. Ave. N. in recent years has, indeed, gone wrong. You name it; everything from crack cocaine to poison ivy.

In a recent post, click here, I wrote about how the MLS even had the WRONG PICTURE when this house was finally listed...

Today I tagged along with some friends--serious buyers--and checked the place out. For one thing, I wanted to see how a $150,000 house just magically materialized in the Eco Village amid all the houses which go for, like, $17,500 to $18,500. Were SPACE ALIENS involved? Was the house brought there from Future North Minneapolis?

We were surprised to find 416 31st Ave. N. was relatively clean inside, and there was no evidence of squatters. We expected to find a much different situation. What we discovered was a bit encouraging, because we could tell neighbors like "Patty Cake" and "the Polish Lady" not to worry.

As always, I learned something about real estate. I learned some crap called "indoor/outdoor carpet" costs very little and most renters don't know the difference, so that's what slumlords like to use. I learned it's possible to convert a big dining room into another bedroom by sheet rocking the entry arch. Oh, sure, the result looks stupid...but who cares if you can add another bedroom and get more money from Section 8?

But here's a little mystery in the house. Check out these words in the photo taken by Jeff Skrenes. Look closely. The words are in raised white letters. We weren't sure how it was done, but I'm speculating it was written in nail polish...then painted over.

These eerie ghost letters in the wall say: "Lady Magic a.k.a. Magic Feet"

See, kids, this is what happens when you do drugs.

A few hours after seeing this house, while visiting "Patty Cake," she told me horrifying stories about the pit bulls once raised at the house, a situation which dragged on for years until the police raided the house for drugs and shot a bunch of the pit bulls. This was about five years ago, she said.

"Did you see any pools of blood in the basement?" she asked me.

I had to admit...I wasn't really looking.

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JOHNNY NORTHSIDE EXCLUSIVE: New "Minneapolis Advantage" Grants To Be Announced TOMORROW

Flickr.com Photo

Word comes from a source about what will be announced at tomorrow's Mayoral press conference. You read it here FIRST on Johnny Northside Dot Com...

Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 7, at 10:45 A.M., at Mayor Rybak's office there will be an announcement regarding Minneapolis Advantage Grants, round two.

Brian Reichow, who I have blogged about before as a "model citizen" advantage grant recipient, click here, plans to be at the press conference.

Here's the big scoop: Rumor has it there will be 150 grants this time instead of the mere 50 grants handed out during the pilot program. No word on changes in eligibility requirements or the amount of the grants.

The most extensive television coverage will likely take place on CHANNEL 5, since Channel 5 has apparently arranged an in-person interview of one of the recipients. MPR is also likely to have coverage in the next few days.

This is wonderful news. North Minneapolis is being revitalized in leaps and bounds. Now is the time to buy, buy, buy.

Well...OK, before you buy, buy, buy it might be good to apply for one of those Minneapolis Advantage Grants!

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Annshalike Hamilton Murder Mystery: More On The Mysterious "Snoop"

Photo From Annshalike Hamilton's
Photo Bucket Account

First of all, this is nothing but unsubstantiated rumor...

...which came through on a comment thread. But the folks who are taking the time to comment on the Annshalike Hamilton matter--whoever they are--have a pretty good track record of airing useful facts. Even "Secrets of the City" said the comments on this blog broke the story of Annshalike Hamilton's murder.

So here's what one commenter contributed today:

"we met with the detective today and i finally saw a pic of the real snoop he is neither one of the photos posted and the detective would not release his name what i will say is he has braids and looks to be late 20s to 30 and has a tattoo just below the neck on the front of the collor (sic) bone that says snoop."

Please, anybody who has more info...air it here. Anybody who has photos, send these photos to hoffx106@umn.edu.

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Taking A Tour Of An Incredible "Stephanie Gruver House" At 4250 Fremont Ave. N.

Photo By John Hoff

The Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation has been trying to revitalize (some might even say "save") North Minneapolis by renovation and demolition. One amazing example of their work is the house at 4250 Fremont Ave. N.

When I say "their" work, I really should give credit to the person responsible: Stephanie Gruver, who was recently the subject of a Star Tribune article.

Yesterday, I was able to tag along on a tour of this house with a couple friends who are serious buyers with serious money. Me, I'm just a guy with a digital camera and a blog...but whose firsthand account are you reading? That's right, moi.

The first thing I noticed about the location of 4250 Fremont Ave. was its proximity to a bus stop...

Even with snow on the ground, I noticed "transit litter" blowing around.

Riding On The Metro

I'm totally in favor of tax dollars being used to revitalize North Minneapolis, and not inclined to be critical. So, believe me, I'm not saying anything the average buyer wouldn't quickly figure out about the location of 4250 Fremont Ave. N.

Also, there's an apartment complex next door. It looks quiet now but I was there, what? Half an hour. Not long enough to judge.

While I was parking my vehicle, and locking up the steering wheel with my new security device, a guy waiting at the bus stop decided to casually cross social boundaries of decency and yell at me, "Nobody is going to steal your raggedy-ass van."

I took some degree of pleasure informing him the van had, in fact, been stolen only last week. He--apparently not skilled in the art of rhetoric, but clearly in possession of a strong opinion--simply repeated his statement, word-for-word. I didn't want to continue the lame discussion by pointing out how cold it was, and the fact he was waiting, endlessly, for a metro bus and amusing himself by taunting complete strangers who happened to at least possess some kind of running vehicle, which he utterly lacked.

The friend who was with me pointed out, "You haven't been here more than a few minutes, and you're already in an altercation."

So, like I was saying...the house is right at a metro bus stop. And next to an apartment.

Therefore, (apparently) to balance these obvious negatives, renovation was lavished on the house. Now some buyer is going to come along and absolutely fall in love with this place, DESPITE its proximity to an apartment complex and a bus stop where--as surely as God made little green apples--one day somebody will get robbed, raped or stabbed while waiting for a bus, and that person will come stumbling to the nearest house, (which might be 4250 Fremont) bloodied and begging to use a phone to call 911 or, possibly, asking for some kind of field dressing.

Your shirt will do. REALLY, ANYTHING TO STOP THE BLEEDING!!!!

Frankly, if I loved that house and had the money, I'd be willing to deal with performing dramatic first aid once every couple years. Because that's a great house. I have no complaints about how my tax dollars are being spent. A house like that can get a whole block rolling in a positive direction.

The House Was Better Than The Brochure

Normally, you can depend on real estate brochures to hotly hype a house but, in this case, the house was BETTER than the brochure.

"Start your day in this cozy Breakfast Nook," the brochure began. (Since when is "breakfast nook" capitalized?) "Completely remodeled kitchen with maple cabinets and high end appliances."

Yeah, those maple cabinets looked good.

I could pour 'em on pancakes and eat 'em. That good.

Now clearly appealing to Sloth, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, the cunning brochure promised, "You can just move in to this home and enjoy, nothing to update, it has all been done for you, new boiler, water heater, new security system, and new roof."

(HA!!!! Well, for your information, GMHC, some of us LIKE hunting houses in the wild with nothing but a Bowie knife and field-dressing our trophies on a snowy day!!!!)

"Huge Living Room (sic) with wood burning fireplace and sparkling hardwood floors," the brochure continued.

Well, there's something a personality like mine could get into: burning hardwood floors to stay warm in the dead of winter.

The brochure also describes this house as a "Gorgeous Camden Icon." I guess that makes me curious. How is it an "icon?" Who, exactly, worships this house? What will the next owner of 4250 Fremont Ave. N. be expected to do when mysterious hooded house-worshipers show up at the door, silently holding candles and swaying in unison?

But seriously, did somebody well-known live there? Does this "icon" of a house have some kind of cool history? My old house at 3016 6th St. N. was once owned by a Level 3 Sex Offender named Alveto Rivera. TOP THAT!!!!!!

Oh, But There's So Much More

My two friends kept gasping and pointing out features of the house, excitedly talking in real-estate lingo or flipper-ese or whatever secret language they were speaking. I mostly notice stuff like "the wine bottle in the kitchen is FRIGGING EMPTY." So I needed some help to understand the details of this GMHC renovation. One of these friends kindly followed up with a detailed email, as follows, along with my snarky remarks:

1.) On the exterior, a monogrammed address sign. I said, "Geez, that's cool, where do you order something like that?" Well, click here for a link. And, by the way, though I'll plug certain goods and services for free, one time...those companies who want me to shill extensively should, I don't know, send a check or a case of wine or something.

No, seriously. I'm a virtual harlot. And cheap.

2.) In the kitchen, the counter tops are a laminate which used to always be known as Formica but now there are several competitors. It has a beveled wood edge. The wood is about a quarter of an inch and sets at an angle at the front and top of the counter.

The appliances are stainless steel.

(Well, good...I hate stains on my appliances)

Although they aren't top-of-the-line, the appliance still look sleek and the fridge has a built-in water and ice dispenser. The kitchen has maple cabinets and the hinges are hidden for that additional sleek appearance. The cabinet knobs are brushed nickel, to match the appliances and the new breakfast nook chandelier.

(Finally, somebody who knows better than to capitalize "breakfast nook.")

3.) The living room has new 6 x 6 slate tiles surrounding the fireplace, black wrought iron staircase railing, gleaming refinished hardwood flooring. It has "Pottery Barn-style window treatments" with flowing drapery and wrought-iron draper rods.

4.) The dining room has a new oiled rubbed bronze chandelier and side lights surrounding the window.

5.) The upper level bath has new double vanities consisting of porcelain sinks and rich wood cabinetry. It has new light fixtures, towel bars and bath fixtures, new trim and bead board on the lower half of the bathroom.

6.) The basement bath is an all-new bathroom, including a new fiberglass shower, sink and vanity, and black-n-white mosaic tiles. (If they aren't real, we didn't detect it) on the floor.

It really is a beautiful home. And it's only $239,900.

Oh, heck. I have no pride when it comes to pumping the North Side: the real estate agent for the house is Tom Svendsen, 612-759-8393. You like what you're seeing, you call Tom, OK?

Also, word on the street is the "welcome wagon" packages for new home buyers include two metro passes good for a free bus ride.

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IMAGES: Taking A Tour Of An Incredible "Stephanie Gruver House" At 4250 Fremont Ave. N.

Photos By John Hoff

These are images from 4250 Fremont Avenue, a house which has been extensively remodeled by Stephanie Gruver with the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation. (GMHC, or "Gimmick")

Gruver's renovation efforts were recently the subject of a Star Tribune story, which catapulted Gruver's work to a greater degree of public consciousness and, possibly, political debate.

Normally I'd link to a media story after mentioning it, but--as I've griped about incessantly on this blog--I won't use Star Tribune links because they're scheduled to go dead. (The fact that newspaper's owners, Avista Capital Partners, is THE DEVIL is actually besides the point, but I thought I'd mention it)

Back to the house at 4250 Fremont Ave. N.

I'll tell you more about this house in my next post, but for now, from top to bottom, here's what you're seeing...

1.) Top photo: the main room of the house is breathtaking. I actually found myself sucking in breath and forgetting to let it out.

2.) 3.) Second two photos: Wow, check out all these little freebies placed in the kitchen to give the house charm. Whoever buys this place is going to make out like a BANDIT!

4.) 5.) Next two photos: Details from the upstairs bathroom, including his and hers (or hers/hers and his/his) bathroom sinks, and some cute tile in the bathroom. I haven't included the basement bathroom. I was amazed such attention was lavished on a BASEMENT bathroom, but the result was great.

6.) A cedar closet! You know, some slumlords would rip out the shelves, put a humidifier in there and call it a "sauna." (I'm kidding, but readers get my point about those disreputable North Minneapolis slumlords like, oh gee, Mahmood Khan)

7.) Look at all that copper! Good thing this North Minneapolis home has an alarm system.

8.) Some painted hand prints were left in the basement, some kind of remnant of the folks who once lived there, apparently. It was cool to leave that. Good call.

9.) I couldn't help but notice the use of low-energy, long-lasting bulbs. I use these myself and I've been phasing out energy-hog incandescent light bulbs.

10.) The only lame thing in the whole house: an EMPTY wine bottle in the kitchen. Here's a suggestion: use a bottle of sparkling cider. It looks just like a booze bottle, it's less lame, and nobody will steal it just like they won't steal the REAL PASTA in the pasta jars.

Wow, what a house!

In my next post, I'll discuss why it actually makes sense to layer such expensive renovations on this GMHC house as part of neighborhood revitalization. There's a method to this particular madness, and it became obvious when I looked at the house and its location in the neighborhood.

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The Slumlord Empire Of Mahmood Khan, Owner Of 2222 4th St. N., Where Annshalike Hamilton's Body Was Found In A Garage

Photo By John Hoff

A helpful person provided me info about what appear to be all the properties of Mahmood K. Khan, who owns the crappy, run-down duplex where the body of Annshalike Hamilton was found in the garage...

Without further ado, here is Khan's slumlord empire, such as it is:

2222 4th St. N., where Annshalike Hamilton's body was found in the detached garage, which is actually an old "carriage house." This property was purchased June 25, 2008, for $21,000. It was condemned in 2007. There is a "director's order" on it. And yet it stands, dragging down the neighborhood. 

3414 Emerson Ave. N., purchased July 15, 2008 for $21,000. This place has an open/provisional rental license. It also has a list of "Truth In Housing" repairs as long as my forearm, none of which is listed as resolved. As many folks know, "Truth In Housing" comes into play more so when a property owner tries to resell a property...however, many of the things on this list make the property sound less-than-livable as a rental.

1714 Oliver Ave. N., purchased May 28, 2008 for $30,000. The situation with this property is exactly the same as 3414 Emerson Ave. N., above, except the list is somewhat shorter...not by very much, though.

2007 Russell Ave. N., purchased October 17, 2008, for $14,000. SAME EXACT DEAL AS ABOVE. Open/Provisional rental license and a list of repairs as long as my forearm.

Can you say "modus operandi," kids?

Oh, thanks. I knew you could.

1621 22nd Ave. N, purchased July 16, 2008 for $15,750. As usual, an "open/provisional" rental license, and long list of repairs. One of the items on the list? "Exposed wiring."

2008 21st Ave. N, purchased October 10, 2008 for $17,000. "Open/provisional" rental license. List of unresolved repairs as long as my arm, including damaged gas piping.

2714 Emerson Ave. N., purchased August 12, 2008, for $21,000. This one does not have an open/provisional rental license. This one is actually condemned.

315 Buchanan St. NE. Unknown what Khan paid for this property. It has an open/provisional rental license. Khan has also been associated with this property for a number of years, according to the rental license history.

818 44th Ave. N. This was purchased September 24, 2008 for $26,000. It has an "open/provisional" rental license and long list of "Truth In Housing" repairs, none resolved, including "inoperable smoke detectors."

321 24th Ave. N. This was purchased June 16, 2008 for $23,625. (Ooooh, somebody was dickering) Despite unresolved "cut electrical lines" and "cut gas lines" on a "Truth In Housing" report, this structure has an "open/provisional" rental license.

2135 4th St. N. This was purchased June 10, 2008 for $28,000. It has an "open/provisional" rental license and a short but worrisome list of "Truth In Housing" repairs, including "excessive rust" and "deferred maintenance" on the heater.

2223 Emerson Ave. N. It has extensive lists of missing water pipes, documented as "not resolved." It also has an "open/provisional" rental license.

2123 Oliver Ave. N. This was purchased August 12, 2008 for $23,000. It has an "open/provisional" rental license and the usual long list of unresolved "Truth In Housing" repairs. These include missing/inoperable smoke detectors and exposed wires.

1001 Logan Ave. N. This was purchased October 10, 2008 for a mere $15,000. This property is condemned.

1800 Lasalle Ave. #104. This property proves not everything owned by Khan is cheap and run down. This property is apparently a condo, as evidenced by the property description which includes "1800 Lasalle Condo." This property was purchased July 18, 2006 for $120,000.

Khan's overall pattern is pretty clear: he bought a bunch of properties in 2008. Most have extensive "Truth in Housing" repairs listed, but he has obtained provisional rental licenses on all these properties. Not a single "Truth In Housing" item--not even one item--has been listed as resolved as of today's date. And, yes, Khan is indeed renting these properties or at least currently ATTEMPTING to rent these properties. Click here to read about his ads on Craigs List seeking renters.

Khan also owns a couple properties that are condemned, and these DO NOT have "Truth In Housing" lists, because a stricter standard of "Code Compliance" is required with condemned properties.

You really have to wonder what life is like living in one of Mahmood Khan's houses. By and by, I'll probably get around to standing on the sidewalks and taking a few pictures. Of course...readers can feel free to send images.

I'd like to close with this: without great folks who make information available to this blog...sometimes with a degree of personal risk...this blog would not be possible.

You know who you are. Thank you, and keep it up!

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Annshalike Hamilton Murder Mystery: Another Person Who Reportedly Associated With Annshalike

Photo Forwarded By An Anonymous

Johnny Northside Reader

Well, yet another reader has sent me yet another image, and I'm being told apparently THIS is somebody Annshalike was associated with. What a charming young man! He looks like somebody Mommy and Daddy would invite over for Thanksgiving. He could make himself useful by...checking the internal temperature of the turkey. 

Anyway, I'm posting this photo, too. I don't know if this info is true or not, but a murder mystery is worth turning over some rocks.  

If anybody has information, use the comment threads of this blog and/or keep the info coming to hoffx106@umn.edu. 

(Do not click "Read More") 

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