Historic Building Renovation

Jeff Simon works extensively with the proper agencies to explain the renovation or remodel. This might include testifying before committees and the public. He uses the correct materials to ensure that the building is entirely complaint with local historic society requirements.

705 Lyon Street Albany Oregon

In 2009 I was approached by a local business man wanting to move his office to a historic house downtown. The building, at the time, was a vacant house that had been a shelter and was ready to be condemned by the City of Albany unless it was purchased and subsequently renovated. This potential business owner was hesitant by the size of the job and the amount of work it required.

Some of the work that needed to be done was:

• repair to the extensive damage to the rafter tails and soffits from years of roof leaks
• the attic was infested with pigeons
• there was significant burn damage in the kitchen
• plumbing work was needed as there were buckets under the sink for water drainage
• the basement windows has been boarded shut as the glass had been broken
• the front porch flooring had extensive water damage and was covered with plywood
• much of the trim was either missing, or rotten and needed to be replaced with matching, period correct trim
• the majority of the windows were either nailed shut, or did not work properly due to missing lead weights

I assured him that this scope of work was something I was familiar with and that the job could be done, and done well, despite the significance of the repairs. After months of meetings with the Central Albany Revitalization Area Committee and the City of Albany Landmark's Advisory (Historic) Commission, we were given the green light to start the project. Nine months later, the renovation was complete and the business was settling in.

I recall many people driving by and stopping their car to approach me at the project with kind words and praises on the progress and the new look of the building. It was quite rewarding and gratifying to hear this from total strangers. It turned out to be a very high profile job for my business and one of the most rewarding jobs I've done.

A building that was once considered an eyesore is now one of the nicest historic homes in the city.