Joe Peffer
Real Estate Broker
Re/Max Town Center
Delicious Real Estate Group
614-940-9100

Posted via email from Sights and Sounds of Columbus, Ohio Real Estate

Joe Peffer
Real Estate Broker
Re/Max Town Center
Delicious Real Estate Group
614-940-9100

Posted via email from Sights and Sounds of Columbus, Ohio Real Estate

Coming South from Clintonville on my way home, I can turn left from High or simply wait out the light–no problems. I love the housing stock on E North Broadway. Even my 11-year-old likes it, adding the street to her list of ’streets I’d like to live on’ that she keeps in the car just a few days ago.  While I would have hated to see those big old trees torn down and would have felt bad for the homeowners and their adjusted home values had the street been widened due to a turn lane or traffic circle, I didn’t think it’d ever happen and I’m glad to see that the Mayor let a neighborhood commission make that kind of decision.

View Larger Map

From today’s Dispatch…”Columbus transportation planners say placing a left-turn lane from E. North Broadway to N. High Street in Clintonville would reduce congestion.

Mayor Michael B. Coleman says the turn lane would improve the quality of life in the surrounding neighborhoods by curbing the number of motorists who cut through narrow side streets to head south on High.

But in the end, Coleman punted the issue, deciding to leave it to the Clintonville Area Commission.

In 2009, the commission voted for the turn lane. But in 2010, a commission with new members voted 5-4 against the turn lane.

Opponents of the project, many of whom live on E. North Broadway, feared the turn lane would lead to a widening of the street between High and Indianola Avenue.

So in September 2011, Coleman promised that he would decide the matter.

Yet he wrote in a memo this week: “While I disagree with its position, the (area commission) has chosen on behalf of its residents to live with these traffic conditions. As this is not a health, safety or welfare concern, I will respect its decision.”

D Searcy, a Clintonville Area commissioner who supports the turn lane, said she was surprised that Coleman deferred to the neighborhood group.

“City Council overrides commissions all the time (on zoning issues),” she said. “I’m really disappointed.”
read the rest here.

Columbus Dispatch story by mferenchik@dispatch.com

See the full gallery on Posterous

Posted via email from Sights and Sounds of Columbus, Ohio Real Estate

Joe Peffer
Real Estate Broker
Re/Max Town Center
Delicious Real Estate Group
614-940-9100

Posted via email from Sights and Sounds of Columbus, Ohio Real Estate

This 4 bed, 3 bath Clintonville home at 33 Aldrich sold in January for $292,000 after 18 days on the market.

(Feb 22, 2012) Not only were central Ohio housing sales up in January, but they showed the highest

activity for that month since 2008. The 1,125 sales showed a 6.0 percent increase over January of

2011 according to the Columbus Board of REALTORS®.

In addition, 1,845 residential homes and condos were placed in contract – up over 40 percent from the

same time one year ago.

“Sales last month were at the same level as we experienced just prior to the housing boom,” said Jim

Coridan, 2012 President of the Columbus Board of REALTORS®. “It’s a direct result of the increased

activity during the last few weeks of 2011 – and a great way to begin 2012.”

Click here to read the full report.

This short north brick Italianate on West First has 3 bed, 1.5 baths, and 2670 sf. It sold $282,000 last month after 154 days on the market and a price drop of $47K from the original list price

13 more are in contract.  Only 30 of those 108 properties, however, are single family homes. Take out the top 2 and bottom 2 of those active homes for sale in the Short North and you’ll find a median price for single a single family home at about $152.50/square foot and an average of around $355,400 for an average 2422 square foot house that has been on the market for an average 124 days.

A couple of my favorites are 25 E 1st for price/size/location (Yes, it only has 1 full bath) and 106 E Lincoln 3,154 sf 3 bed, 2.5 bath with character all over the place.

The six listings in contract, as usual, had an average days on market closer to 30 and as little as 6 days for the 3 bed, 1 bath, needs work 200 West Fourth Street – a 1616 sq ft foreclosure on the market at $174,900 that had multiple offers.

In the last six months, 24 homes have sold in the Short North area which, for recap purposes here, includes Victorian Village, Italian Village, Harrison West and the Circles.  Those sold homes in the Short North averaged about $$273,000 or $137/sq ft. after an average 4 months on the market. Important to note–the average and median sales price/list price was 94%.

Of note, 7 of those homes, more than 1/4 of all the homes, were 2 bedroom homes averaging $147/sf. Remember, the smaller the home, the more it costs/sq ft.  The average 3 bedroom home in the Short North sold for about $150/sf or $282,145 for around 2000 sq ft.

Next up, an update on Short North Condos for sale and sold.

NELSONVILLE

<< Music Festival
Each May, some of the biggest names in music head to theNelsonville Music Festival for one of the summer festival season’s most unique weekends. With past performers including Willie Nelson, the Flaming Lips, Loretta Lynn, Neko Case, George Jones, Wanda Jackson and more, Nelsonville’s event (this year May 18–20) is one of Ohio’s most eclectic. The fest takes place on the campus of Hocking College at Robbins Crossing and is hosted by Stuart’s Opera House. 3301 Hocking Pkwy., Nelsonville 45764, 740/753-1924. nelsonvillefest.org

Degree Program for the Outdoorsy
Hocking College’s Wildlife Resources Management programcouldn’t be taught in a better location than southeast Ohio’s Wayne National Forest near Nelsonville. Students gain strong ecology, conservation and botany knowledge. Data collection, population sampling and map reading also give graduates an edge in the wildlife-management job hunt. hocking.edu

View of Autumn’s Colors
A Hocking Valley Scenic Railway Foliage Train ride takes passengers on a 22-mile journey through the reds, oranges and yellows of autumn, while providing a narrative about Hocking Valley history as the train glides past historic landmarks such as canal locks and former industrial sites. The 1920s train cars travel just over two hours roundtrip to Logan or Haydenville and stop at Robbins Crossing, the living-history village at Hocking College, providing a leisurely weekend activity each October. 33 W. Canal St., Nelsonville 45764, 740/753-9531. hvsry.org

Historic Sandwich Shop
Nestled in a corner of the 1830 Dew House hotel, the one-room FullBrooks Café’s small size doesn’t match its big sandwich appeal. Freshly made bread-and-meat creations offer a variety of toppings such as hummus and pesto. With a street view of historic shops lining Nelsonville’s square, the lunch stop offers more than a quick bite. 6 Public Square, Nelsonville 45764, 740/753-3391. athensohio.com

Visitor Center
An ideal spot for hiking, Wayne National Forest has 300 miles of trails to explore. The Wayne National Forest Welcome Center ensures visitors get the most out of the 834,000-acre lands sprawling across 12 counties. Places not to miss in Athens County include the Shawnee Tower Lookout, the only remaining 1930s lookout point in Ohio, and the rock shelter of Tinkers Cave. Day trips can be spent hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing and observing wildlife. 13700 U.S. Rte. 33, Nelsonville 45764, 740/753-0101. fs.usda.gov

---

HILLIARD

<< Restaurant to Taste Ripe Plantains
Long before roasting Chiquita bananas over a campfire became a popular pastime, plantains were steamed, broiled and fried. Nobody does it better than Starliner Diner. The popular squat little banana is your first clue this is not a typical ’50s diner with a jukebox. With a menu that includes Pizza Cubana, Yucatan Marinated Chicken Breast and Mexican Chorizo, the restaurant’s fare leans toward Hispanic and anything south of the border. But there are American folk art murals on the wall and an atmosphere where the 1960s hippie scene meets the local Chamber of Commerce. Locals love it, and we would fill our sombreros with the cilantro lime dressing if we could take it home.5240 Cemetery Rd., Hilliard 43206, 614/529-1198.starlinerdiner.com

Reason to Appreciate Modern Voting Booths
The voting wagon displayed at Historical Village at Weaver Park in Hilliard is typical of the mobile polls that were pulled by horse or tractor from 1880 to 1940. Old wagons were often retired to back yards. Many homeowners thought they just had an old tin shed on their property until they discovered four wheels, sunk long ago into the ground. franklincountyohiohistory.org

Place to See TV Dinosaurs
The years 1928 to 1955 may not all be the Golden Age of Television, but it was certainly a time of important broadcast innovations. Visitors to the Early Television Museum see sets primarily from those years, including mechanical televisions (those without picture tubes), itty bitty screens and the first color offerings. Hundreds of televisions are on display, including do-it-yourself kit TVs that were housed in homemade cabinets. The TVs come from across the globe and, according to museum attendant Larry McIntyre, many still work. 5396 Franklin St., Hilliard 43206, 614/771-0510. earlytelevision.org

Religious Outreach
Only about 30 percent of the activities at the Noor Islamic Cultural Center are strictly or officially “religious.” Completed in 2006, the center also serves as a community gathering place, educational facility, art gallery, sanctuary and a beautiful setting for weddings. Under the guidance of Khaled A. Farag, the director of outreach programs and one of the center’s founders, activities reflect more than 40 different cultures in the region. Wishing for transparency in both the physical and political senses, the center’s huge windows encourage sunlight and observations from the local community. 5001 Wilcox Rd., Hilliard 43016, 614/527-7777.

Community That Loves Its Police Dogs
When the City of Hilliard’s Division of Police recently retired Brix, its beloved police dog, with full honors, the city was without a K-9 unit. The division went to residents and businesses to raise the $11,000 it needed for a trained police dog and equipment. According to Chief of Police J. Douglas Francis, about $34,000 was collected in less than eight weeks. That generosity allowed for the purchase of three Belgian Malinois shepherd dogs named Erko, Eros and Oz, along with maybe a few dog bones.

Long overdue Demolition of a Vacant Columbus Home on Long Street in Jan. 2012

The fact of the matter is that no one know what to do with our city’s vacant structures, Columbus has torn down 139 of them so far but you can’t demolish your way out of this problem.

The other day Columbus City Council met with area residents to discuss the issue and while it’s my opinion we need more action and less talk, solutions need to be brainstormed before they can be implemented.

One interesting idea came from City Attorney Richard Pfeiffer who suggested a ‘restoration partnership’ outlined in the Columbus Dispatch article from yesterday and excerpted here:

Vacant houses swamping city

Official suggests neighborhood leaders help find new owners
By Mark Ferenchik
The Columbus Dispatch

Friday January 6, 2012 7:38 AM

The message that Columbus officials gave last night on the crisis of vacant and abandoned homes plaguing city neighborhoods was clear: We don’t have enough money to solve this mess ourselves.

So they’re asking neighborhoods for help.

During the Columbus City Council hearing on how to deal with the spreading problem, City Attorney Richard C. Pfeiffer Jr. made a suggestion.

Area commissions and civic groups could help identify residents who would be interested in buying and fixing up tax-delinquent properties. The city then would acquire those homes through foreclosures and deed the properties to those people for the cost of the foreclosure process.

If those people didn’t follow through, the city would take back the property.

He called it a “restoration partnership.” The city alone can’t bring back neighborhoods, Pfeiffer said.

The city has been using about $50 million in federal neighborhood-stabilization money to deal with the foreclosure crisis in its hardest-hit neighborhoods: Franklinton, the Near East Side, the Hilltop, Linden and the South Side.

It has acquired homes with that money — it now has 900 properties in its land bank — and partnered with nonprofits to redevelop homes.

The city is using more than $3 million of that federal money to demolish homes. So far, it has torn down 139.

“When that money dries up, what are we going to do?” Pfeiffer asked.

There are now more than….click here to go to the Columbus Dispatch story and read the rest.

Posted via email from Sights and Sounds of Columbus, Ohio Real Estate