Left to right: before and after views of exterior paint, a snowy day in 2034, and Jason & Lauren Baker (photo by Enos Park Photographer, Keisha Barbee, Nox Nichelle Studios
Names of family members: Jason & Lauren Baker, plus our three good dogs
Occupation(s): We both work for HCSC and were deployed to work from home in March 2020. Our work from home situation was a major player in our moving to Enos Park.
When did you move to Enos Park? October of 2020
What drew you to the neighborhood? We knew we wanted an older home, big trees, and a great location. We didn’t set out to move to Enos Park, but the first time we walked through the home we were hooked. We met a few neighbors on that first day and they were incredibly welcoming. We fell in love with the entire look and feel of Enos Park, the overwhelming sense of community, and the wonderful central location. We’re able to ride our bikes or walk to downtown breweries, restaurants, and visit the Farmer’s Market every Saturday. We can walk and grab donuts on a weekend morning, walk to MJ’s for dinner, and wander home through the gardens and parks.
What kind of activities have you gotten involved in around the neighborhood? We have picked up mowing a couple of neighborhood lots that are near our home, and love spending time in the Community Garden. We enjoy the neighborhood meetings, walking our dogs, and connecting with our community.
Was your house move in ready? Yes, thankfully! We have nothing but admiration for the folks who are able to rehab a home and make it shine again, but we were able to just move in! It is incredibly fulfilling to take over stewardship of such a piece of history. We are one chapter in this home’s book. About 10 years earlier it had been in danger of demolition but was saved and restored by Old Neighborhood Rehab.
What projects have you completed since moving in, or have planned for the near future? In our four years here we have made several improvements. In 2024 we remodeled the kitchen which included DIY demo of the old flooring and painting of the existing cabinets. Additionally, we contracted to have plumbing, electrical, framing, drywall, and new flooring installed. We worked with several local contractors to complete the project. We also had the first floor repainted, and bookshelves built for a room that we consider the library. On the second floor we DIY’d removal of carpet and contracted to have the original floors refinished where possible, and new hardwood floor installed in the home office in addition to several rooms receiving new paint. The last indoor project was finishing the third floor attic from semi-finished storage space to a fully finished game room/guest suite.
We love our outdoor spaces as well. We expanded the patio space to accommodate outdoor dining, as well as contracted to have a large, covered space built. Work continues on our cottage-style garden in the back yard, as well as our raised fruit and vegetable beds. Out front we continue to expand the street side shade garden.
Did you do any of the work yourself? Yes, the unskilled demo labor in the kitchen and the attic was completed by us, in addition to painting the attic floor and ceiling. Outdoors we have done all of the planting and landscaping, but contracted concrete and structure work.
Any advice for someone contemplating a move to the neighborhood and/or a renovation project? Enos Park has something for everyone! Single, two, and even three-story residences line every street and you can find single or multifamily homes to accommodate any need that you may have. Know where you excel and surround yourself with professionals in areas that you are less good at.
What’s your favorite thing about living in Enos Park? The list is so long! If we had to pick one favorite it would be the people! It was important for us to be in a diverse area. We have met so many lovely people that have so much to share. We love being able to support super local businesses and walk or bike to so many destinations. The sense of history and community is beyond compare.