East Austin bunker under home

[TexasGal]

Ok, from the pictures it is clear the house may really have caved into the hole at some point. I can see the city having problem with that. I don't see how he kept rain out either. Man, that guy has to be pretty buff. The strength and stamina it took to dig out that much dirt is impressive. He must really believe it was that important to make a bunker for himself. Heck, if he is retired, then just watching a lot of news can make you think there are several possibilities that could cause one to be handy. Maybe he just needs to move out of the city, get some land, and dig to his heart's content. With some guidance from a coal miner, the next one could be much better. I hope they give him back his stuff and he isn't made homeless by the time it's all over.

[Liberty]

It Just goes to prove that we really never can own our own property and homes,

[Purplehood]

It Just goes to prove that we really never can own our own property and homes,

The problem with exercising absolute rights and liberties are when they infringe on someone else's. Drawing the line is where conflict arises.

[SQLGeek]

Crazy enough to dig unsafe hole under house, but sane enough to own guns?

I'm lost help me to understand.

The media is choosing to focus on the fact he is crazy and has guns...not that he's crazy and dug half-way to China. Of course it's much more sensational to point out he was a "crazy gun owner".

[Keith B]

Crazy enough to dig unsafe hole under house, but sane enough to own guns?

I'm lost help me to understand.

So, are you suggesting that you should be required to have a psychological exam before you buy your next gun? He may have been stupid, eccentric, and misguided, but maybe he is not insane or emotionally unbalanced.

[Grog]

Man digs giant hole under house.
Houses collapses.
Man in house.
Emergency response team arrives at seen.
Emergency response team and general public lives put at risk because of lame brain idea electrical fire/gas leaks/building collapse.

I see the where the city is coming from.

I see that the house didn't collapse and that you could use spellcheck next time around

[Keith B]

Man digs giant hole under house.
Houses collapses.
Man in house.
Emergency response team arrives at seen.
Emergency response team and general public lives put at risk because of lame brain idea electrical fire/gas leaks/building collapse.

I see the where the city is coming from.

I see that the house didn't collapse and that you could use spellcheck next time around

Spell check would not help in this case. Those are spelled correctly.

[RPB]

Crazy enough to dig unsafe hole under house, but sane enough to own guns?

I'm lost help me to understand.

So, are you suggesting that you should be required to have a psychological exam before you buy your next gun? He may have been stupid, eccentric, and misguided, but maybe he is not insane or emotionally unbalanced.

I think he meant psycological exams should be required of anyone adding onto their house?
Probably cheaper to get 3 stories by doing downwards instead of upwards, which might require additional studs in the walls etc. and possibly generate complaints from neighbors about blocking sunlight to their gardens or lawsuits from homeowners associations etc....

Gotta admire the guy for all the work he put into it. Looks like a neat place, Batcave and all.
I hope they are able to use steel or concrete or whatever and shore it up if it needs more support, instead of trying to fill it in and devalue/destroy his multi-level home.

Personally, I'd install a sump pump in case of floods to keep my Batmobile dry. I'd keep the caverns/basement/shelter/celler ... Houses with those are harder to find down here than they are up North.
I guess his Property taxes will go up now that he has more square footage and the Tax Assessor/Collector probably knows about it now.

Half-dugout homes were normal during hard times in the past. Underground housing is normal in some areas.
Basements are typically expected up North. Doing it yourself with no soil analysis nor engineering study probably isn't wise ... but many retirees can only do what their income allows. I don't think my 83 year old neighbor had any study on his carport he welded up yesterday ... it might be unsafe in high winds and decapitate everyone in the neighborhood .... guess I'll call the city inspector (NOT)

[MechAg94]

Does Austin or that area require permits to make major changes to houses and such?

Looks to me like the hole wasn't that big yet. Didn't it say he had only been at it 2 weeks?

[Rex B]

Building that close to the lot line?
Obvious code violations.

No reason to take his guns.

I've always been fascinated with underground and other unconventional homes.
The house I live in is a bit unconventional.
But this one is problematic in a densely populated urban setting.

People that want this sort of project need to get a couple acres outside the city, and go for it.

[O6nop]

He may have been stupid, eccentric, and misguided, but maybe he is not insane or emotionally unbalanced.

I have a similar view,
and to address another statement...

People that want this sort of project need to get a couple acres outside the city, and go for it.

the guy lives in East Austin, I doubt he can afford a few acres outside of town. He is working with what he has, he may have started it as a small project and it kept on getting bigger. I've contemplated how to do it on my property, too.
Also, the guy served in Viet Nam, who knows, maybe he was one of those tunnel rats and felt at home with this project

[OverEasy]

There is a new article about this guy sueing the city, but I can't do a link to it and it's looong to copy and paste.

Here is the best quote from the article:
"Mr. Del Rio wasn't a madman with no experience — he was a state employee for years."

I need to get a job with the state, that will prove my sanity, ya think?

Regards OE

[Grog]

There is a new article about this guy sueing the city, but I can't do a link to it and it's looong to copy and paste.

bit.ly can be used to shorten URLs...

I googled that quote and got this page.
http://bit.ly/cyeFDu" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The URL is pointing to
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/man ... tArticle=y" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[OverEasy]

Thanks Grog.
I'll bet you are under 55 and know how to use a computer. , OE

[dicion]

Man.. this is exactly what I want to do under my foundation!

I figure a room or two would be nice for Z-Day. Store lots of nonn-perishable food down there. Sump pump for when I have power, hand pump for when I don't.
I think I'd definitely brace the walls a little better than he had, though.

Figure I'd saw cut an entry hatch from one my closet floors down into it... cover it with a rug. Would be perfect!