Well, if you’re Rick Destito it turns out you can get one dream house—with plenty of hard work thrown in.  Rick purchased Home HeadQuarters’ first “Create Your Space - $1 Property” almost 18 months ago with just $1 dollar, a full rehab plan, proof that he could finance the renovation and a promise to live in the property for a minimum of three years.  The $1 properties are part of the overall near Westside neighborhood housing plan that includes new construction, full and partial rehabs, removal of seriously blighted and unsound properties and transitional housing for potential homeowners.  For Rick, the $1 properties provided a perfect entry into homeownership, “…how often does an opportunity like this come along?  No mortgage to worry about and the house is me, parts of my life, all of it is me.”

When it came to purchasing this $1 home in need of major repair over a fully renovated or newly constructed home, there were a number of factors that aided in Rick’s decision.  As a creative type, Rick saw the potential of creating the space that he and his family would live in, “being able to do the work yourself lets you go nuts. Everything is custom and unique and you have an opportunity to make everything interesting.  It’s not like you have a blue print, you are going through the creative process the whole time.” He also wanted the opportunity to dispel the “what a shame mentality” that many had when seeing his home pre-renovation, he wanted to prove that if you work toward what something can be instead of what it was, you are left with potential and possibility.

BEFORE	AFTER

During his renovation, it has been important for Rick to save and recycle as much as possible. He loved being able to reuse materials, wanting to show people that it doesn’t need to cost $100,000 to renovate your home, one just needs to be creative.  Rick used old door jams for moldings and reused at least 40% of the sheetrock that was existing.  He figures bottom line, that he will have spent about $25/square foot, not too bad considering most rehab and construction work runs about $100/square foot.

It doesn’t hurt either, that his new home is right around the corner from work. Rick owns the Gear Factory, a building with work & rehearsal rental space for artists of any medium. He is also a huge supporter of the Near Westside neighborhood and wanted to get in on the ground floor to be part of the innovation.

“ I’ve seen this happen in other places in the Country. That this is working should not be a surprise to anyone. All the right ingredients are here.  Every month more and more people move in,” says Rick.   “Nowhere else in the city can you have a historic home with a lot of original woodwork and detail, next door to a modern green home.”

Rick is planning an open house art event once the renovation is complete to showcase his personal “art project” as he calls his $1 property. He will show pictures of what the house looked like when he purchased it, and what is possible with a little imagination and a whole lot of sweat and elbow grease.

So when will he be completely done rehabbing his home? Typical contractor, you guessed it, “two weeks.”

Look for Rick in next month's Scotsman Press magazine Max, to learn more about his home renovations and the Near Westside Initiative.