Deena Winter: Let the porch couch torching begin
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So far, the city hasn’t been swamped with complaints about couches on porches.
By the time Lincoln’s ban on porch couches went into effect Tuesday, the city had received 11 complaints, said Building & Safety Director Mike Merwick.
The ordinance is enforced on a complaint-based system, so as long as nobody reports your couch to the Building & Safety Department, you can relax in that Barcalounger.
Related Media
Reflecting Hispanic heritage
NeighborWorks unveiled a new mural Tuesday that reflects some of the different Hispanic cultures represented in Lincoln. (Hilary Kindschuh/JournalStar...
But violations that are ignored would likely result in three warning letters — with time to fix the violation — before being considered for prosecution.
Only about 1 percent of housing code violations are prosecuted, but convictions bring a minimum fine of $200 for the first offense, $250 for the second and $300 for the third, with a maximum penalty of $500 and six months’ in jail.
The ordinance bans upholstered chairs or couches or mattresses from being used or left on porches, balconies, decks, patios, roofs, yards, driveways or walkways. The ban doesn’t apply to porches completely covered by a roof, attached to a building and completely enclosed by glass or screens.
Want to report that ratty, plaid sofa on your neighbor’s lawn? Call 441-7521.
Trade for plastic
NeighborWorks is still offering free plastic chairs to people who have couches outside but can’t afford new outdoor furniture.
So far, NeighborWorks community organizer Shawn Ryba said about 20 people have signed up for the 50-some beige chairs he’ll start giving away Friday. But to get the free chair, people must dispose of upholstered furniture they had outside.
He said some people have called him with the mistaken impression he’s just giving away chairs. But it’s “for those who do need a little help if they can’t afford to replace their sweet upholstered furniture on their porch,” he said.
Interested? Call Ryba at 434-5490.
Up-and-coming trade
The Journal Star recently wrote about up-and-coming real estate developers Will and Robert Scott, who are shaking up the downtown development scene.
The former head of the Downtown Lincoln Association, Polly McMullen, sang their praises in the story, saying they were the best thing to happen to Lincoln in a long time.
Astute reader of local real estate transfers may have noticed McMullen sold her downtown condo to the Scotts’ family foundation, the Anne and William Porter Foundation, this summer.
McMullen sold a 1,388-square-foot University Towers condo on the 11th floor to the foundation for $395,000, according to county records, which indicate McMullen bought the condo for nearly $274,000 in 2006.
Robert, Will and their mother are officers in the nonprofit foundation founded by their grandparents, Anne and William Porter. The foundation reported $3.3 million in assets last year. Will Scott said the foundation was looking for a larger condo to operate out of; the foundation already owns a smaller condo in the same building.
“We’re trying to grow that (the foundation) and needed some more space,” he said.
Mike Green, secretary of the Porter Foundation, said the foundation paid fair market value for the condo and there was “nothing funny” about the purchase. It was purchased as an investment and as a larger headquarters, he said. The smaller condo is listed for sale, he said.
He noted that the foundation operates separately from the Scotts’ business, WRK, and the two have no connection, aside from the fact the Scotts are on the board and the foundation has a small interest in WRK.
Green said the foundation was started in 1968 and is focused on benefitting downtown and Lincoln and has supported 56 local charities in the past three years alone, including the Lincoln Children’s Museum, Bright Lights and the Madonna Foundation. The foundation supports some medical causes in memory of the Porters’ granddaughter (and the Scotts’ sister), Kit, who died from undiagnosed asthma.
Sharon Kirk — marketing specialist for Guidestar, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that tracks 1.7 million nonprofits to encourage transparency and encourage charitable giving — said it’s not unusual or illegal for a private nonprofit foundation to purchase real estate as an investment, or to invest in a real estate company owned by the foundation’s officers.
Private foundations typically invest their principal funds and distribute the income to charitable organizations.
Everett mural unveiled
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, a mural on 13th between E and F streets was officially unveiled on Tuesday.
The mural is on the side of La Ilucion, 916 S. 13th St., and has a Latin/South American theme to celebrate the growing Latin culture in Lincoln.
The mural is centered around the sugar skull, a traditional symbol honoring ancestry and Latin roots.
NeighborWorks sponsored the mural, the city helped fund it and three area artists, Leora Platte, Gail Erickson, and Troy Hettenbaugh designed and painted the mural.
This is the third in a series of murals planned in the Clinton, Hartley and Malone neighborhoods. The first was painted on the side of a store on 27th Street, and the second “VOTE” mural was painted on the side of Knickerbocker’s downtown.
The murals are designed to encourage art, brighten commercial corridors, eliminate graffiti, bring the community together and celebrate different cultures.
He said it
“In the spirit of keeping balance in the universe, we’re gonna open a bridge.” — Public Works Director Greg MacLean, on the reopening of the Harris Overpass, three weeks after the city shut down an unsafe bridge at 18th and Holdrege streets.
Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.
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answer for yup wrote on October 8, 2008 7:49 am:
Central Nebraskan wrote on October 8, 2008 7:58 am:
Mary wrote on October 8, 2008 8:29 am:
couches wrote on October 8, 2008 8:51 am:
Not very smart in central nebraska wrote on October 8, 2008 8:59 am:
I heard wrote on October 8, 2008 9:01 am:
Fight the couch ban wrote on October 8, 2008 9:03 am:
n wrote on October 8, 2008 10:00 am:
happygael wrote on October 8, 2008 10:06 am:
SNB wrote on October 8, 2008 10:11 am:
me wrote on October 8, 2008 11:16 am:
Stupid porch laws wrote on October 8, 2008 12:21 pm:
D wrote on October 8, 2008 12:46 pm:
Also, about the mural, celebrating different cultures can bring a community together if everyone isn't afraid to join in the celebration. The idea is that we are a mesh of all the cultures of everyone around us. After all, about 5% of Lincoln residents are Hispanic, and the national Hispanic population is supposed to more than double in the next 2 generations, so why not enjoy the wonderful cultural contributions we have been given? "
FIGHT THE LAW wrote on October 8, 2008 1:59 pm:
By the way, the mural is neat, but could some not say it to could lower property values? "
Just wondering... wrote on October 8, 2008 2:39 pm:
Hey ME.... wrote on October 8, 2008 4:13 pm:
Woodpiles wrote on October 8, 2008 5:03 pm:
I called in 12 complaints today, only becasue I am against the law. I like the idea of noteing every violation, simply becasue Building and safety cannot handle them, reprot everyone until the law is changed. "
nobancouch wrote on October 8, 2008 5:29 pm:
South Lincolnite wrote on October 8, 2008 8:03 pm:
to South Lincoln wrote on October 9, 2008 7:51 am:
Dave wrote on October 9, 2008 9:20 am:
Luckily I only have one neighbor that can see it and they do not seem to be idiots so I should be fine. "
Shane wrote on October 9, 2008 3:35 pm: