Ramblin' roses: Cities are sprucing up midcentury homes

The generation that fueled the post-World War II explosion of ramblers across the suburban Twin Cities landscape is moving on, often dying off. Now, what to do with those houses?

In Coon Rapids, the answer is to give them new life.

A 1955 rambler is getting a very public spiffing-up, on the city's dime. Fearful of losing residents or being unable to attract them to small, 50-year-old houses, this is the city's novel attempt to attract and keep the grandchildren of the World War II generation.

The city has held two open houses during the rambler's four-month remodeling project. This weekend, visitors can see the finished product.

Metro suburbs, many staring down their 50th anniversaries, are taking a hard look at their aging housing stock. Cities such as Bloomington, Richfield and Roseville are looking at strategies to not only maintain but better market existing houses.

The end result may be that the humble rambler -- whose signature simple, boxy shape makes it a perfect blank slate for additions (out or up), renovations and simple facade makeovers -- will get another life as cities plan for the future.

"The rambler is such a simple house form," said Jeremiah Battles, a principal at Acacia Architects who works to help folks revise their ramblers, split levels and Cape Cods all over the metro. "It is the easiest house to remodel and to add on to, and in terms of bang for your buck, you can get the most from it."

In Coon Rapids, the goal is twofold: To inspire current homeowners to do what they can to freshen tired exteriors and modernize outdated facades, and to spark the imaginations of potential homeowners who might have overlooked existing homes during the current generation's new housing boom.

But even folks who don't live in ramblers or see themselves moving into one soon should care about their cities' housing, said Coon Rapids City Manager Matt Fulton.

"The stability of a neighborhood has a big impact on how people perceive not only the neighborhood but the community," he said. "If you're part of a community that has a deteriorating neighborhood base, I think you're going to suffer the consequences."

Home for Generations

In January, as part of Coon Rapids' Home for Generations Project, the city bought a foreclosed house at 11610 Juniper St. NW for $92,500. The city hired Lennox Builders to transform the 800-square-foot home on a $60,000 budget from the city's Housing and Redevelopment Authority. The city hopes to recoup its investment when the house goes up for sale next month.

In February, before work began, the house felt cramped, out-of-date and dingy. It was a victim of an unfortunate faux painting project, tile that concealed original oak flooring, chopped-up rooms and ugly light fixtures.

After an exterior facelift and a 200-square-foot kitchen addition, along with renovations to refurbish two bathrooms and remove three walls, a new great room dominates the floor plan, bathed in natural light that floods through new windows and reflects off gleaming refinished floors. Contractor Sean Lennox said he came in at budget partly by using liquidated and repurposed materials.

Other cities buy and rehab -- or demolish -- blighted homes, and offer loan programs to encourage remodeling. City officials say the educational and inspirational components -- helping people to re-imagine the possibilities of a home -- set the Coon Rapids project apart.

"We really want to teach people how they can transform these homes and do it on a budget," said Coon Rapids Neighborhood Coordinator Kristin DeGrande. "The private market for the most part is not interested in educating the public."

More strategies

Other cities are taking a less hands-on approach to improving and marketing neighborhoods anchored by ramblers and their aging cousins, the Cape Cod and split-level. They're thinking in terms of remodeling, of course, but also are promoting simple maintenance and marketing strategies.

In Richfield, Housing and Redevelopment Manager Karen Barton said there's a need for "move-up" housing for folks who have outgrown their starter homes.

To address that problem, Richfield has a remodeling adviser on staff who makes home visits and even will sketch out plans based on the household's needs. The service is free.

In recent years, Bloomington has beefed up its inspections department and has just completed its annual Curbside Cleanup days. Larry Lee, Bloomington's community development director, estimated that residents this spring purged as much as 2,000 tons of junk which otherwise might have cluttered yards, garages and basements, creating unsightly properties and junky-feeling homes. Poor conditions can be contagious, he said: "Most people's code book is what they see in their neighbors' yards."

The city newsletter also has a contract with Atomic Ranch magazine to republish Atomic's articles about modernizing "vintage" midcentury homes.

Roseville Community Development Director Patrick Trudgeon said the city hopes to win over 70-plus real estate agents at a June 11 expo in conjunction with the St. Paul Area Realtors' Association. His plan is to talk up not just the city's housing stock, but its jobs, convenient location, mature trees and transit access.

For his part, contractor Lennox said he'd love to use the same approach that worked in Coon Rapids' Juniper house project to spread the word about renovations -- if he can persuade his private clients to open their homes-in-progress to neighbors.

"I think an educated customer is a powerful customer," he said.

Maria Elena Baca • 612-673-4409