This tidy little house on S. Mason Ave., in Urbandale has had a busy year.
First, it was remodeled as part of the NSP program, receiving an all-new interior, appliances, the works. I toured the house in early July while shooting for a preview article for the Shopper News about the Rebuild the Dream Tour that welcomed the community, escorted by Karen of Neighborhoods Inc.
The house was one of the more popular homes on the tour, and proudly showed its best face to prospective homeowners and curious members of the community.
After the tour, the house underwent the sales process, and in November, there was to be a closing. The house had found a dream owner, Cindy Spyker.
Two days before the closing, the dream became a nightmare. Someone broke in…
…and closed the drains and turned on the taps, flooding the house and destroying all the work that had been done.
The house’s troubles were made public and everyone saw the damage done to it.
Neighborhoods put prospective owner Cindy up in another house, adjacent to Piper Park, and got to work on the cleanup and re-remodeling of the vandalized house.
Today, at 4:00 pm, Cindy closed on her new house. Mission Accomplished.
Three hours later, Cindy accepted a Beautiful Battle Creek Award from the City Commission for the house on S. Mason. Mayor Baldwin shared the story of the house when she presented the award.
(L-R: Mayor Susan Baldwin, Ward 1 City Commissioner Mary Lou Ramon, Cindy Spyker, Neighborhoods Inc. CEO and President Bill Phillips)
Congratulations to the house and the owner.
