Running in place

Has anyone ever really thought about the intricacies of going for a variance? I mean, I'm reviewing the 24 page application packet when I realize by the 12th page that I had forgotten what was required to submit from the 1st page. Not to bore ya, but - for example - I have to have 4 to 5 different documents basically stating that there are no taxes owed or liens on this property. And then I have to have every person's name that owns a property within a 200ft radius of my property in case any of them choose to object to my changing this warehouse into a residence. Sheesh..

So.. to shake that off, we're at the stage where its us vs. the city of Garfield.

I'd like to take this moment and point out a couple thangs about this little town I chose to rock the boat in. Garfield is a small town in the county of Bergen, one of the wealthiest counties of NJ. It just happens to be on the non-wealthy end of it. Not that its run-down - not at all. Its just a simple, quiet town where there aren't many standout reasons to remember driving through it. The population is mostly Italian, Polish, then Hispanic, and African Americans - in that order. Needless to say, these people work hard in this town and rarely complain. In other words, no waves are made. Its rare (if at all) to find anyone making any large expression of individuality. Houses like the one pictured below are numerous. And quite eerie if you really think about inhabiting these places. As in almost every other NJ town, there is this language of normalcy that seems to have overridden any ideas of self-expression - leaving anyone in the creative realm either desperate to change, or desparate to get the hell out while ya still can.

I chose to change.

So we're going at it with Garfield to let me renovate these buildings. After the 4th revision to the warehouse plans, we've gotten to a resolution that maximizes the living space while offering a multi-use space for renting to family or close friends, or for business ventures in the future.

Its more than likely going to change, so don't pummel it yet.