These houses on Niles Street were the subject of someone’s complaint on SeeClickFix. The two properties appeared drab in the photos found on the assessor’s list, but have been since accented with attention-grabbing colors.
The complaint goes beyond the vibrant color scheme.
The roof, iron fence, and chimney were also questioned. The property owner was accused of not pulling permits. Yet, the issue was filed in June, while records show that the owner actually did file for a permit in April for the roofing work. Another permit was filed more recently for mechanical work on the house. There have been no recent housing code violations reported on 47 Niles Street.
Is it an actual issue when someone attempts to maintain and repair a property if the work done does not entirely meet another resident’s standards?
Margo Lynn
Also – Victorian-era homes were often (and are often today) painted in bright colours. Often the accent areas are something other than white. I wonder what the complainant was expecting the colours should be, and if there is nothing regulating paint colours in that area, they have no basis for a complaint, even if they don’t find the colours charming.
Kerri Provost
The previous colors looked…muddy.
Justin
I think Allison Arieff’s recent coverage of awful NIMBY neighbors suing their neighbors is somewhat relevant here: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/13/opinion/sunday/is-an-ugly-house-grounds-to-sue.html
Robin Z
I think the green is fabulous, more power to them and a Bronx cheer to the grouchy neighbor!
Mara
The one on the right is beautiful! Crazy anyone complained about that officially.
Luis
Wow! The fence has been there since at least ’08 and if the same owners are there it’s a mom and a daughter who live in each.
Richard
Wonderful colors. We were just in New London where many of the old homes are painted quite lively. One house was orange with pink trim. It worked and worked really well. The home across the street was bright yellow and two blocks away was a home that was blue and lavender. Homes like the two above and the ones in New London are beautiful highlights that should be encouraged. Thanks for the photo’s.
Kerri Provost
The person complaining would probably faint if she saw the color scheme inside my own house.
AmyBergquist
It’s my understanding that properties that are listed on the historic register don’t have paint color restrictions for the exterior. If there is a historic neighborhood designation, they potentially could have paint color restrictions because those are more restrictive. The renovation rules run with the historic designations approved. I’m just happy to see people maintaining their houses and yards. Pick whatever exterior house colors you want (unless you’re in the more restrictive district that limits such things), it keeps the neighborhood interesting.
Kerri Provost
Thanks, Amy! Always appreciate your realtor expertise on this stuff.