Bob's caboose build

[bobhenry]

God love ya Stacie :

That picture brought a great big smile to my face. I copied it to my album for later use with the bureaucrats if needed.

[Ned B]

shades of 'Herbie Rides again'

[GerryS]

I was thinking UP!

[bobhenry]

Well today was the deadline to file the appeal on the zoning decision. I went to the circuit court as directed and was dismissed with " Get a lawyer and let him handle it"
I persisted and was sent to the court clerks office for the forms. Well the clerks office didn't have a clue and sent me to area planning. Having already been there I gave up and went looking for self help legal advice. I had previously contacted a lawyer and I didn't have the $1200.00 the lawyer wanted.

SO.....

I just found a Pro Bono website and begged for legal help. It is a shame you have to purchase justice even when you can't afford it.

Bob "the homeless man with a house"

[VijayGupta]

Might find this interesting http://wfpl.org/post/why-some-louisvill ... U.facebook

[bobhenry]

Thanks VG. I went so far as to contact Nancy to see if she has any ideas to resolve my zoning problems.
Thanks for the link.

[Madmike8]

If they want your land... tell them to trade you a piece of land with zoning permissions to place your caboose and call it good...

[bobhenry]

The County and I have discussed an equity trade or possibly a buy out. The problem is I have an existing septic and well on this property and they can not seem to find similar property with these improvements existing. A 1/4 acre building lot is about 30K and add a cased well and septic field there is another 8k - 10k I am guessing. So my 1100.00 lot all but stolen from the state is a once in a life time deal. I will fight on and see just how far they want to push. I am in hopes they will drag me into court so I can play the trump card ,Indiana code 36-7-8-3D. This statute says if you own the property and build the house to the best of your ability you are exempt from building and zoning codes. It is lovingly called the log cabin ruling.

[rowerwet]

Here's hoping they offer you a good price

Then again, good is relative. LOL

"Elderly woman, Edith Macefield turned down $1M offered to her for the house she lived in for 50 years. A mall was built around it."

Source: https://www.facebook.com/sobadsogood/photos/a.185929708153444.48193.142358482510567/704370506309359/?type=1&theater

Nobody thought of the children's book, the little house? One of my favorite as a kid. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DFM6COS?btkr=1

[GerryS]

I'm with bob on staying put. Supposedly we live in a country with rights, and freedoms. Too many people have been willing to negotiate with government....I fear it's too late. The fight should have started long ago....make the leviathan could have been beaten back. I'm not so sure now.

The code Bob refers to was enforced with extreme prejudice a decade or so ago, let's hope judges still rule with juris prudence...

[deleted]

Saw this and thought of you Bob. http://www.fastcodesign.com/3032535/sli ... 3101titles

The main point of the article is that Tiny Houses are being built in the wrong places, out in the middle of open land where space isn't an issue. While the ideal (according to the person they interviewed) is to fit them into cities where it's too hard for people to afford a typical home. They should be used to bring in a new option of affordable housing. The Granny Flats link at the end of the article in Portland is interesting. Am thinking if you had the desire and could find a person who wants to build a regular house on your land to live in you could then have your caboose there as a "Granny Flat" if your local zoning laws permit them. The other person could bear the expense of building the allowed house. Of course who and how to share a piece of land with someone else wouldn't be an easy thing to do but thought it might give you another option/perspective to consider.

[bobhenry]

Well it was 5 months ago today that the caboose was placed on the lot. Happy anniversary to me.

The zoning folk have been stone silent since I mentioned Indiana Code 36-7-8-3-d. I have a small windfall of cash coming my way in December I am seriously considering getting a lawyer to put my dilemma in front of a judge for a ruling. I would like to get rolling next spring with a big garden and the off grid improvements.
I have all the solar panels the inverter and 4 deep cycle 6 volt batteries. I was reluctant to place them on site when I am not coming and going to monitor the property. I do stop by as it is within blocks of my work. I just check and assure myself it is still secure and has not been tampered with.

[Shar]

Best of luck with that, and your recovery. Tiny living is an idea whose time has come.

[WhitneyK]

The zoning folk have been stone silent since I mentioned Indiana Code 36-7-8-3-d.

Nice sucker punch Bob!

[bobhenry]

Well the guys interested in buying the property missed out on a hell of a deal. I got the appraisal yesterday in the mail for the caboose property. Property appraised at $80,650.














Guess who immediately went to the court house. The house and 3 car garage that was bulldozed to make way for the state highway road bed was still on the appraisal.
I explained that fact and a portion of the ground they had evaluated was in the road right of way and I even only got a portion of the property.

I got a call today with regard to the revised appraisal it's now $700.00. With a tax base at .85% that's $5.95 a year

You would think the recorder and the appraiser would compare notes ! After all I only paid $1100.00 for the ground the closing costs almost were more than the price paid.

OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK