I would love to live in the city again. Actually, I live in the city now, as my home is well within the city limits. But it’s not real city, as I live in a suburban-style subdivision. I miss living on a grid of streets with sidewalks, and being able to walk to the store.

I had some expired Tri-X in my Nikon F2AS a couple weeks ago when I had business in South Broad Ripple, a neighborhood whose homes were built mostly during the first three decades of the 20th century. It was a great day for a stroll, and stroll I did. The homes in “SoBro,” as it’s called, are a mixed bag of architectural styles and of levels of care. A real showplace home can stand right next to one that needs a complete rehab. I shot a handful of homes that were well kept and that appealed to me. Like this one.

SoBro homes

This Spanish-influenced house was built in 1925. (I looked it up.) I’m guessing it looked more conventional when it was new. It’s for sale and can be yours for $185,000. Homes in this neighborhood seem to sell as low as $50,000 and as high as $300,000. The median price seems to hover around the $150,000 mark.

SoBro homes

I’m not crazy about this style of roof. But this is still a striking home, and it’s much larger than average for this neighborhood.

SoBro homes

This home is more typically sized. I’ll bet it’s about 1,000 square feet on the first level. That peaked stone facade and arched front door shows up on a few other homes in this area.

SoBro homes

This little house is on the small side even for this neighborhood. But early in the last century we had very different ideas about how much space a family needed in their home. Most homes here probably fall between 900 and 1,400 square feet, not counting basements.

SoBro homes

I’ve lived in 900 square feet and I’m not sure I’d want to live in such tight quarters while I’m still raising teenagers. Maybe after my nest is empty! But to live in this neighborhood and stroll its streets after supper, and maybe stop in at a pub for a nip on the way home – that would be heavenly.


Comments

15 responses to “SoBro homes”

  1. traveller858 Avatar

    That is good B&W shots.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Thank you sir!

  2. hmunro Avatar
    hmunro

    Wonderful photos — and an equally wonderful insight into a neighborhood I’d otherwise never get to see (let alone “explore”). Thank you for broadening my horizons a bit, Jim!

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Thanks Heather! This is a typical Indiana city neighborhood. I lived in one like it when I lived in Terre Haute. I enjoyed it.

  3. davidvanilla Avatar

    An interesting neighborhood. The California bungalow has long been one of my favorite styles. The one you shot is a very nice example, but I am not crazy about the garage attachment thingie.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      I have to think that garage came much later than the house. The porch seems …weird for the genre. Those pillars are odd.

  4. bodegabayf2 Avatar

    Nice monochromes Jim! I’d hate to tell you what those same kinds of houses would sell for here in California!

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      We have some of the most affordable housing in the nation here in Indiana. If I told you what my 1,400 sf brick ranch in suburbia cost, you’d cry.

  5. bodegabayf2 Avatar

    I am certain I would!

  6. pesoto74 Avatar

    That is my kind of neighborhood. Your Nikon and Tri-x go well together. I didn’t know that house prices were so affordable in Indy.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Yeah, I’ve got to shoot more bw in the Nikon. I just bought some expired but cold stored Plus X and am eager to shoot it. And as for affordable housing, Indy is the most expensive city in the state!

  7. Christopher Smith Avatar
    Christopher Smith

    Nice photos Jim. I wish house prices were that cheap here in the UK you barely get a one bedroom house/flat where I live in the UK for them sort of prices for the same sort of sized house’s it would be 2 to 3 time as much.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Thanks Christopher. I know we’re very fortunate here in Indiana with our low home prices. You can really get a lot of home for your money here. People in my line of work who move here from the coasts usually flip their lids when they find out how much home they can buy with the money they got from selling their old home.

  8. Bernie Kasper Avatar

    Very nice Jim love the images and the subjects as well !!

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Thanks Bernie – the F2 surely loved that Tri-X.

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