The Barn House: Confessions of an Urban Rehabber

by Ed Zotti

A harrowing, hilarious memoir about fixing up an old house in the city and pursuing the urban version of the American Dream. From the longtime editor of the “Straight Dope.”

In 1993, after more people had fled Chicago for the suburbs than in any other city in America, Ed Zotti and his wife, Mary, chose not only to stay but to gamble their future fixing up a dilapidated Victorian home in a dicey neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side.

Two doors up from a murder/arson scene and across the alley from a former drive- up drug mart, the Barn House (as the Zottis’ unimpressed daughter dubbed it) was a rehabber’s nightmare. Ed and his family had to contend not just with collapsed ceilings and shorted-out wiring but burglars, gunshots, and the trumpet-playing homeless guy in the basement.

But THE BARN HOUSE is more than just the story of a home-renovation project from hell. Ultimately it's a celebration of cities, chronicling not just a house but a decaying town come back to life. Along the way Ed offers some shrewd observations about gentrification, urban decline and revival, and what it means to be a city guy. His book is timely and a great read and will appeal to anyone with a soft spot for old houses or old towns.

Genres: Nonfiction

384 pages, Hardcover

First published September 2, 2008

Reviews

[Angela Forfia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ed Zotti seems like the kind of person you would like to be stuck next to on a long ride on the el. He has a wonderful sense of humor, a great love for Chicago, and a wide-ranging curiosity about people, old houses, and city life. This book tells the story of the nearly decade-long process of buying a down-on-its-luck house on the northside and rehabbing it with an odd cast of characters that somehow seem to capture the spirit of Chicago. There are truly harrowing anecdotes of the challenges of rehabbing a city home--the unexpected expenses, the bank bureaucracy, the strain on your marriage, thieves, random possums, etc. But there are also fascinating stories of the history of the home, his luck in finding contractors who were part of the "Brotherhood of the Right Way," and, of course, the happy ending of a finished home and a family life in the city. As someone who has lived in the city for 11 years and is raising a 3 year old here, it was nice to see the author find a space for an urban, middle class existence with 3 kids. It gives me hope that I can do the same someday...with fewer kids in a more modest house!

[Keiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

For over 18 years I have been rehabbing my house, also in Chicago. Taking it from a (almost) three apartment building back to a single family Queen Anne. Ed Zotti has 'nailed' the whole experience of this wonderful pastime. I laughed, I cried, I went back to work on my crown molding.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Renovation story: 3 stars, a diverting tale of woe with enough construction details to satisfy an earnest rehab daydreamer.

Upper middle class white guy's paean to gentrification: Half a star if you are interested in local Chicago urban development history, zero stars otherwise. He states outright that he has done no research and has no particular expertise, but he nevertheless believes he "might have a clue". Then he tells us that people in low-income neighborhoods don't feel strong local community ties. Thankfully this section can be easily skipped.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and learned quite a bit about rehabbing and the city of Chicago. However, the author really annoyed me with his excessive use of footnotes--some of them taking up 2/3 of a page and part of the next!
He also overused the "more to come" or "I'll get back to this topic" tactic when he mentioned an idea or fact that he didn't really have time to elaborate on in that paragraph. Sometimes he did that twice on the same page about 2 different subjects.

[Gwen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book. I wanted a warm, funny and educational tale about the trials and tribulations of fixing up a historic home in Chicago and all I was getting was the author's opinion on what costitutes a "city guy" (make no mistake the author is one and is far superior to the suburbanite types) and how he belongs to the "school of the right way". Get over yourself.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zotti has some very funny passages about the restoration of his old house, plus some good tips for those who are considering doing the same. Would have loved to see an after photo to compare to the cover.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the rehab of a Chicago home. Probably more interesting if you live in Chicago and are interested in fixing up houses.

[AL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Chicagoan should read this book! Zotti accurately captures the landscape in which we reside, with entertaining narrative on renovation thrown in. A great read.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I nearly died laughing when reading the account of Mayor Janes's New Year's fireworks show.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ed Zotti makes rehabbing a house in an urban environment sound like fun!

[Brian Beahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good! - http://readgoodstuff.wordpress.com/

[Rhode PVD · Rating 4 out of 5]

The footnotes alone are well worth the price of admission