Terry Penrod, Realtor, Real Living HER

10TV: Former Short North "Happy Greek" Owner Murdered

2012-02-16T16:42:00.000-05:00

The Franklin County Coroner said Wednesday that the man who was found dead in a gas station suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

A coworker found Mohamed Hassan shot to death inside the Sunoco gas station, located at 201 W. Bridge St., at about 6 a.m. Tuesday, 10TV’s Chuck Strickler reported.

Hassan, 46, died after he was shot multiple times in the back and chest, Franklin County Coroner Jan Gorniak said.

Hassan’s former attorney, Sam Weiner, said that he was shocked when he heard about Hassan’s death.

“I wouldn’t have thought he would take a job as a night clerk,” Weiner said. “He was a high-level functioning entrepreneur.”

Weiner said that Hassan was an Egyptian immigrant and a chef who received training in England, New York and Columbus.

Hassan and his wife, Gihan “Gigi” Zalat, owned an operated the Happy Greek Restaurant in the Short North. In 2006, the couple sold the restaurant and moved it to the Gateway District.

“He was just a good man and hardworking guy,” Weiner said. “He worked 10-14 hours a day. It didn’t make any difference to him, as long as the business was going.”

Two years later, Zalat was indicted and charged in a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme. She was sentenced to four years in prison and was released in 2010.

“They were talking about charging him, and I was fortunate enough to deal with very reasonable people up in Delaware, and they realized he wasn’t the issue,” Weiner said.

Weiner said that he last spoke with Hassan about a year ago when his wife was released from prison, Strickler reported.

“He was in a state of flux,” Weiner said. “He told me he wanted to go back to Egypt to get his head right, that kind of thing. I feel terrible. He really was one great guy, and it’s a real shame he had to meet this end.”

Investigators were reviewing surveillance video of the slaying, which was Dublin’s first in 12 years.

The circumstances surrounding Hassan’s shooting had not yet been determined.

Police said that anyone with information should call 614-410-4847.

Columbus Dispatch: Ohioans will get share of $25 billion foreclosure settlement

2012-02-10T15:48:00.001-05:00

The story is here

Ohioans will get share of $25 billion foreclosure settlement

Fund is enough to give each Ohio homeowner in trouble only $1,000

By Jim Weiker

The Columbus Dispatch Friday February 10, 2012 11:08 AM

Tens of thousands of struggling Ohioans stand to benefit from a landmark settlement reached yesterday with the nation’s largest lenders.

Ohio’s $335 million share of the $25 billion settlement will be used to help residents stay in their homes, demolish thousands of blighted properties and compensate some who lost their homes to foreclosure.

“Although this settlement is of historic proportion, we know it does not solve the mortgage crisis,” Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said. “It is a start. It is a first step.”

The deal is the biggest settlement involving a single industry since a 1998 multistate tobacco deal.

Under the agreement between 49 state attorneys general and the lenders — Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Ally Financial — will modify loans for almost 1 million households. They also will send checks to about 750,000 Americans who were foreclosed upon. The banks will have three years to fulfill the terms of the deal.

The five banks service about 55 percent of U.S. home loans. Federal and state officials are pursuing a similar settlement with nine other lenders, which could bring the value of the deal to more than $40 billion.

Ohio’s share of the settlement will be divided this way:

• $102 million will come in the form of loan modifications to homeowners who are delinquent or in the foreclosure process, possibly allowing them to remain in their homes.

• $90 million will allow homeowners who owe more than their home is worth — so-called “ underwater” mortgages — to refinance or reduce the loan balance.

• $44 million will compensate former homeowners who were foreclosed upon between Jan. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2011. The amount of the payment will depend on the numbers who apply, but it is expected to be between $1,500 and $2,000 per home. Exactly who will qualify for the money has yet to be determined.

• $97 million will come as a direct payment to the state, $75 million of which the attorney general’s office will use to demolish abandoned properties across the state. The money will be distributed in matching grants to communities, although details on disbursement still are being worked out.

“The time has come to shout, ‘Tear down these houses; tear down these buildings!’ ” DeWine said.

The settlement is the result of months of negotiations between the states and the lenders, after several states including Ohio threatened to sue lenders over shoddy foreclosure paperwork.

President Barack Obama and other politicians praised the settlement as an important step to fixing the nation’s housing industry, which is in a six-year slump.

The agreement, said Obama, “will speed relief to the hardest-hit homeowners, end some of the most-abusive practices of the mortgage industry and begin to turn the page on an era of recklessness that has left so much damage in its wake.”

Others were more cautious. They noted that the total value of the agreement addresses a fraction of housing’s problems and that banks already are modifying loans.

“I really don’t see this as being that big a deal,” said Richard Green, director of the University of Southern California’s Lusk Center for Real Estate. “In reality, the total number of dollars is still small compared to the value of the mortgages that are underwater. To some extent, the numbers reflect losses the lenders would have taken anyway.”

About 9 percent of Ohio’s 1.4 million home mortgages are delinquent, and more than 4 percent are in the foreclosure process, leaving almost 200,000 state homeowners in trouble. The $192 million reserved for troubled Ohio homeowners in the settlement amounts to less than $1,000 per homeowner.

“I think this will be beneficial for some, but we don’t see a lot of folks who are just $1,000 behind,” said Stephen Torsell, executive director of Homes on the Hill, which assists troubled West Side homeowners.

“Sometimes, that’s a large gap to fill, with a reduction in income or loss of a job, but any funds will be helpful,” Torsell said.

Just as important, said some, is that the agreement helps clarify mortgage rules moving forward.

The settlement addresses, for example, one of the biggest complaints from homeowners during housing’s meltdown: the difficulty in getting clear answers from the bank.

The deal requires banks to establish a single point of contact between the bank and homeowner.

The agreement also prohibits lenders from foreclosing on a homeowner who is being considered for a modification.

Banking representatives praised the settlement as an important step toward getting housing back on track.

“It’s good that the settlement is finally here, so we can move on,” said Bob Niemi, executive director of the Ohio Mortgage Bankers Association.

Columbus Dispatch: Council OKs directing Weinland Park property taxes to upgrades there

2012-02-10T15:21:00.001-05:00

The story is here

By Doug Caruso

The Columbus Dispatch Monday February 6, 2012 10:29 PM

Columbus will set aside new property taxes on developments in the Weinland Park neighborhood to pay for streets and other public improvements there.

The Columbus City Council approved two tax-increment-financing districts tonight in an agreement with Wagenbrenner Development, the company that is redeveloping the former Columbus Coated Fabrics site with homes and condominiums.

In the districts, taxes on the increased value of the property will go into a special fund. That fund will reimburse Wagenbrenner for upgrades it makes to public streets, curbs, street lights and other infrastructure.

Councilman Zach M. Klein, who leads the council’s development committee, praised the Weinland Park project. “It’s been a very successful project in the community,” he said.

The city will reimburse Columbus Public Schools for the schools' share of the property taxes set aside in the districts, City Council President Andrew J. Ginther said after the meeting.

“The policy of the city of Columbus is to make the schools whole,” said Ginther, a former school-board member.

Other agencies supported by property taxes, such as Children Services and the zoo, will not be reimbursed.

Wagenbrenner has been before the council regularly recently for its developments in Weinland Park and the Harrison West neighborhood just south of Ohio State University.

Last month, the council approved zoning changes necessary for the company to build 108 apartments in Harrison West. The council also has supported the company’s requests for millions in state grants to clean up the former industrial sites.

In another matter tonight, the council approved refinancing up to $253.5 million in city debt.

“With the interest rate levels we have today, I am absolutely convinced we can save millions of dollars,” said city Auditor Hugh J. Dorrian.

dcaruso@dispatch.com

Columbus Dispatch: Ibiza’s developers face state allegations

2012-02-08T15:48:00.000-05:00

The story is here

By Jim Weiker

The Columbus Dispatch Wednesday February 8, 2012 6:44 AM

The Ohio Division of Securities has accused the developers of a major Short North condominium project of lying to investors and improperly distributing funds to themselves.

An attorney for the developers denied the allegations and said he plans to dispute them.

The allegations are the latest twist in the six-year saga of Ibiza, a proposed 11-story, 135-unit condominium at Hubbard and High streets.

The securities division accuses developer Apex Realty Enterprises of lying to potential investors in 2006 by stating that 120 of the 135 condominium units had been sold for a total of $68 million.

In fact, says the division, none of the units had been sold at that time.

Apex’s attorney, Timothy Miller, said the figures came from an estimate of the project’s future earnings that was distributed to potential investors and was not a statement of actual sales.

The division also alleges that Apex’s four principals each took about $80,000 in investor money without disclosing it to outside investors. The principals are Raymond Brown, Michael Council, Wilbur Ischie and Rajesh Lahoti, all of Columbus.

In addition, Council improperly received an $80,000 loan from the investment fund, according to the securities charges.

Miller said the principals were entitled to all the money they withdrew and much more that they didn’t.

“They put in more money than that — hundreds of thousands of dollars that they lost on this deal,” said Miller, a lawyer with Isaac, Brant, Ledman & Teeter of Columbus. “They were also entitled to a million-dollar development fee they never took.”

Miller said he will seek a hearing with the securities commission by the end of the week to fight the allegations. “I feel very confident that we will prevail on the claim simply because our clients haven’t done anything wrong,” he said.

The commission said it will issue a cease-and-desist order against the developers if they do not appeal or if a hearing fails to change the allegations. The order is essentially a ruling that the developers violated Ohio securities law but is not a criminal charge.

Brian Laliberte, a Columbus lawyer who represents buyers who lost deposits on Ibiza condominiums, said the state’s allegations reinforce his belief that developers mishandled money.

“The division’s findings confirm everything we believe to be true about the project,” he said.

The allegations provide a further glimpse into the financial collapse of what was to be the biggest condominium development in the Short North, a luxury complex with prices ranging from $159,999 to $1.5 million for a penthouse unit.

Starting in 2008, Apex and its sister company, ARMS Properties, collected 5 percent deposits on 75 of the units for a total of $1.16 million, an average of about $15,000 each.

The project never broke ground, however, and Apex filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April. In a reorganization filing, Apex has proposed reimbursing condominium depositors an average of $2,600.

Other developers are eyeing the property for an apartment complex.

Business First: Sutherlands Lumber closing east Columbus store; promises to reopen in new location

2012-02-08T15:33:00.001-05:00

The story is here

Business First by Dan Eaton, Staff reporter

Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 12:06pm EST - Last Modified: Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 2:21pm EST

An east Columbus lumberyard and hardware store is closing.

Kansas City-based Sutherlands Lumber Co. is winding down business at its store at 575 N. Nelson Road, near Bexley. A spokeswoman would not confirm the last day of operation, but said the company plans to reopen at a new location in Central Ohio, though no location has been found yet.

Family-run Sutherlands has 57 stores in 13 states, primarily in Texas and surrounding states. Central Ohio is home to two additional stores at 2590 Clime Road in southwest Columbus and in Circleville, but otherwise the market is a geographic outlier for the chain, whose next closest store is in Hannibal, Mo.

The spokeswoman said there are no plans to close the other stores and leave Ohio.

Forbes: COSI is 5th Best Children's Museum

2012-02-05T23:37:00.001-05:00

The story is here

COSI: Center of Science and Industry, Columbus, OH

This huge children’s museum is one of the nation’s largest – and one of the few that can also keep adults fully engaged. It features more than 320,000 square feet of exhibit space, including “little kidspace®”, a 10,000 square foot area for kids not yet in first grade, designed by early education experts. The main part of the museum consists of 10 permanent exhibits exploring space, the oceans, our bodies, minds and spirits, gadgets and much more, all geared towards helping children learn while having fun. One unique highlight is the daily live shows, including rat basketball - real rats playing basketball! - and the hair-raising Electrostatic Generator show.

Reuters: Obama presses Congress to step up aid for homeowners

2012-02-05T23:29:00.002-05:00

President Obama holds up a piece of paper he demonstrated as what he would like to see used for future mortgage loans while he talks about the economy at the James Lee Community Center in Falls Church, Virginia, February 1, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Larry Downing

The story is here

By Margaret Chadbourn

WASHINGTON | Wed Feb 1, 2012 6:48pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday proposed a multi-billion-dollar package to help U.S. homeowners refinance and stave off foreclosure, part of an election-year push that is likely to face an uphill battle by the Republican opposition in Congress.

Obama moved to counter Republican criticism that the proposal would use taxpayer money to bail out irresponsible borrowers by stressing that only homeowners current on their payments could benefit. The president had sketched out the plan in his State of the Union address last week.

Home values have dropped 33 percent from their 2006 peak and nearly 11 million Americans now owe more than their homes are worth. Millions more have lost their homes in states that are up for grab in November's presidential election.

The White House is seeking to contrast Obama's stance with that of Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney, who has said foreclosures should be allowed to run their course.

"The truth is, it will take more time than any of us would like for the housing market to recover from this crisis," Obama said at a community center in Falls Church, Virginia. "But there are actions we can take, right now, to provide some relief to folks who've been making their payments on time."

The $5 billion to $10 billion program, that would be funded by a tax on the nation's largest banks, would allow homeowners to refinance at record low borrowing costs through government-backed loans. A senior administration official said it could reach 3.5 million Americans whose loans are not government-guaranteed. An additional 11 million homeowners whose loans are backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could also be eligible, the official said.

The Federal Housing Administration would run the program -- another sticking point for Republicans, who are worried about the agency's solvency. The FHA has been hard hit by mortgage defaults, and Republican lawmakers have warned it could eventually need a taxpayer bailout.

Republicans also have rejected Obama's call to pay for the program with a bank tax that Congress has turned down twice before.

"Rather than increase the government's stranglehold on our nation's housing finance system, we need to dial it back," said Republican Representative Scott Garrett of New Jersey.

RAMPING UP HOUSING RELIEF EFFORTS

Obama's plan would allow borrowers to refinance even if they owe far more than their homes are worth. Many homeowners have not been able take advantage of current record-low mortgage rates because the value of their homes has fallen and lending standards have tightened.

The White House said the program could save borrowers an average of $3,000 a year. It would be open to homeowners who have been current on their payments for the last six months and who have not missed more than one payment in the prior six months.

Applicants would need to occupy their home and have a credit score of 580 or higher to be eligible for the program. Only loans that fall beneath the FHA lending cap, which reaches as high as $729,750 in some high-cost markets, would be eligible.

"Government certainly can't fix the entire problem on its own. But it is wrong for anyone to suggest that the only option for struggling, responsible homeowners is to sit and wait for the housing market to hit bottom," Obama said.

The administration also said it intends to ask Congress to broaden a separate refinance program that seeks to help underwater borrowers with loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac win new loan terms. It said the regulator that oversees the two government-controlled mortgage firms - the Federal Housing Finance Agency - had not done enough to make the program accessible.

Together, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the FHA own or guarantee nine out of 10 new U.S. home loans.

In addition, the administration called for a single set of federal standards for the mortgage servicing industry that would include simpler loan forms and greater efforts to assist borrowers facing foreclosure. An effort by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is already underway to streamline mortgage paperwork.

Obama also highlighted an effort the administration has undertaken with FHFA to convert foreclosed properties held by the two firms into rental units.

FHFA said on Wednesday that investors could now sign up to prequalify to bid on properties under the program, and said it would kick off a pilot phase soon.

Last week the administration called on FHFA to allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to reduce loan principal for struggling homeowners, an effort to widen the reach of its main foreclosure prevention program -- the Home Affordable Modification Program

When it launched the program in 2009, the administration said it would help as many as 4 million Americans. So far, only about 900,000 households have won permanent mortgage relief under the program.
"I'll be honest - it didn't work at the scale we'd hoped," said Obama.

(Additional reporting by Laura MacInnis and Alister Bull; Editing by Tim Ahmann; Andrea Evans; Diane Craft)

Columbus Dispatch: For buyers and sellers, a few good bets

2012-02-05T17:09:00.000-05:00

The story is here

On the House: For buyers and sellers, a few good bets

Jim Weiker

A colleague becomes irritated every time I write a story based on new real-estate statistics.

Perhaps he’s jealous. After all, the figures give me plenty of material for stories.

But, of course, it’s precisely the abundance of material that annoys him.

Real estate is the baseball of industries: awash in numbers that can be manipulated to demonstrate just about anything.

Want to show that home sales are up? Mention that year-over-year sales rose for five of the past six months in central Ohio.

Want to show they’re down? Note that annual home sales dropped in 2011 for the sixth straight year to the slowest year in more than a decade.

Want to show that foreclosures are up? Point out that central Ohio filings have risen for two straight months.

Want to show that they’re down? Point out that foreclosures have dropped now for two consecutive years in Ohio.

For those weary of keeping daily score, here is the big picture:

Let’s start with foreclosures. The rise in foreclosures is often linked with the housing crisis but predates it by a decade. Foreclosures started rising in Ohio in 1996 and rose steadily until 2010, when they began to taper off slightly.

As for home construction, a key measure of the housing industry, it peaked in central Ohio in 2003 before starting a precipitous five-year decline that has yet to show any signs of improvement.

If you’re a homebuilder or a worker who relies on that industry, you’re still in the dark without a flicker of light.

By two other indicators — home sales and average sale prices — the housing industry started its slide in central Ohio in early 2006 and plummeted sharply during the next three years.

But the past two years show a more complex picture: Since the end of 2009, housing sales and prices have largely leveled out; they haven’t improved but neither have they worsened significantly.

What does this mean if you’re a buyer or seller?

If you’re a buyer . . .

The chance that your dream home is going to drop a lot in price is slim.

Prices are still a moving target in some areas, such as certain inner-city neighborhoods that are full of foreclosures. But in most neighborhoods, prices have stabilized and aren’t likely to drop significantly.

Indeed, in some places, prices show signs of rising. The median sales prices of homes in Gahanna, Grandview Heights and Downtown Columbus were up substantially in December compared with a year earlier. (But those are one-month figures only and are based on relatively few sales.)

If you qualify for financing, are ready to buy and have found the right home, you should bite the bullet. Even if the price drops $10,000 on the home you’re eyeing, you’re gambling on three things: that someone else won’t buy the home, that interest rates will stay low and that borrowing won’t get more difficult.

The odds are in your favor on interest rates, which experts think will remain low at least through the year. But Washington is considering several changes that could make borrowing more difficult and perhaps more costly.

In addition, the number of homes for sale in central Ohio is sharply down from a year ago, meaning that there’s going to be more competition for that home you’re considering.

If you’re a seller . . .

Forget 2005. Your home probably isn’t worth that now. In fact, I happen to know exactly what it’s worth: No matter what you paid for it, no matter what you owe on it, no matter what it once appraised for, it’s worth precisely what someone will pay for it.

If your home has sat on the market for six months with only a handful of queries and no offers, you need to drop the price if you want to sell it.

If you can’t afford to drop the price, you had better have some cash to bring to the closing or plan to rent it, or start pleading with your bank.

So what does the future hold? Anyone who tells you they know for sure doesn’t know for sure.

But, in housing, there are many more reasons to think the worst is behind us than ahead of us.

Jim Weiker is the home and garden writer. Reach him at 614-461-5513 or by email.
jweiker@dispatch.com

Columbus Underground: New Bakery Cookie Cravings Open in Italian Village

2012-01-29T16:20:00.003-05:00

The Cookie Cravings Team: Joan, Lindsey and Matt Tewanger

The story is here

A new cookie shop has opened in Italian Village. Nestled at the southeast corner of Fourth Street and Third Ave, Cookie Cravings Bakery opened last month. Lindsey Tewanger and a close friend had been baking and decorating cookies for about a year for friends. When the orders kept coming, they became difficult to manage as they were both working full time. More here

Columbus Dispatch: King Ave. Methodist Church Growing With Gays

2012-01-29T16:20:00.001-05:00

The story and pictures are here

Tracy Hahn and Virginia Sheffield pick and choose where they hold hands.

The Upper Arlington couple has been to plenty of churches where they don’t dare show affection toward each other because they are lesbians. At their church, however, they interlace fingers without thinking.

The two joined King Avenue United Methodist about a year and a half ago. They’ve rarely missed a Sunday. Chloe, the foster child they are adopting, is in the children’s choir. The family joins other members for brunch after Sunday service.

Today, gay Christians have choices of where to worship because several Columbus churches bill themselves as welcoming. There were far fewer in the late 1990s, when King Avenue was deciding to be open.

The years since have revealed an unexpected effect of that decision: The once-struggling church is thriving.

The process wasn’t easy. The former pastor, the Rev. Grayson Atha, was threatened with removal, and about 50 members left.

Many more came.

“It really wasn’t done to grow, but that was the outcome of it,” said Atha, 75, who retired in 2006.

Before the church openly welcomed gays, attendance on Sundays had dipped below 250 people. Now, average Sunday attendance is 560 worshippers. The church has been financially strong enough to pay for nearly $2 million in renovations and repairs to its kitchen and organ and the altar area.

And the congregation has raised $200,000 in donations and pledges to start a ministry in the Short North.

New families join regularly. The congregation is about 35 percent gay, said the Rev. John Keeny, pastor.

Keeny credits Atha with leading the charge. Atha said gay parishioners were tired of hiding, and something had to be done.

“That group did us a huge favor by bringing that issue to the forefront. A church does best when they respond to the people of the neighborhood,” said Atha, who now serves as a pastor of Summit on 16th United Methodist Church in the University District.

King Avenue fits the profile of the type of church that often struggles today: It’s old, mainline-Protestant and in an urban area.

When Atha started working there in 1994, a small group of gay members told him they wanted to be able to talk about their relationships and families freely at church. The effort started with a Bible study for gays.

Then, Atha preached about how families could include two men or two women. At the time, a member told the pastor that he had committed “ministerial suicide.”

Atha and his wife hosted members on both sides of the issue at their home — more than 1,000 people over six years — to eat dinner and get to know one another better. A church committee studying the issue in 1998 recommended that the church be inclusive to all.

Even before the study, the church’s personnel committee asked then-Bishop Judy Craig to remove Atha. She declined.

The issue of sexuality is far from settled in the Methodist church, and in many other denominations. The Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (USA) all have experienced turmoil after adopting more-inclusive positions.

The Methodist church’s Book of Discipline still maintains that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching” and that people in same-sex relationships can’t be clergy members. Clergy members are prohibited from celebrating same-sex unions.

That language has been debated repeatedly in recent years and will be again when the denomination meets for its General Conference in late April and early May.

It upsets Keeny that he isn’t allowed to preside over same-sex unions for members of his church. Methodist pastors are circulating a statement that they intend to perform the ceremonies anyway. Keeny said he will sign it.

Last Sunday, he asked his members to pray for delegates, particularly those who probably would vote against inclusion. Don’t see them as “others,” he said, but as fellow Christians.

“We cannot afford to avoid God’s call. For it is the call to be fully human and to treat others as fully human.”

mheagney@dispatch.com

Columbus Dispatch: Harrison West and Clintonville lose development fights

2012-01-24T18:49:00.001-05:00

The story is here

Two city neighborhoods lose development fights

Harrison West apartments, Clintonville parking lot OK’d

By Doug Caruso

The Columbus Dispatch Monday January 23, 2012 11:31 PM

Columbus City Council members approved two construction projects tonight despite opposition from residents who urged them to uphold city-approved neighborhood plans.

About 100 people packed the council chambers, about half of them from the Harrison West neighborhood just south of Ohio State University and about half from Clintonville.

In the Harrison West case, the council unanimously approved allowing the Wagenbrenner Co. to build a 108-unit apartment building on a 1.9-acre parcel that was planned for no more than 75 units. In the second, council members voted 6-1 to allow the Wesley Glen Retirement Center to build a 120-space parking lot on residential land on Fenway Road to the north of its campus.

Councilwoman Priscilla R. Tyson cast the no vote.

Harrison West neighbors said that Wagenbrenner officials told them as recently as April that the site near their homes in the developer’s Harrison Park neighborhood would hold 42 condominiums. The plan for 108 apartments is too dense, and at four stories too tall, they said. They also said it will cause more traffic and attract single young adults instead of families.

“This proposal violates the entire spirit of the Harrison West plan,” Adam Deutsch, president of the Harrison Park Homeowners Association, told the council. “You’re setting a precedent that says to developers, ‘It’s open season on Harrison West.’”

Developer Mark Wagenbrenner defended the proposal, saying the entire Harrison Park development on former industrial land near the Olentangy River was planned for 345 units. This project won’t change that overall density, he said.

The project changed to apartments from condominiums, he said, because that’s where the market is. Eventually, he said, the company plans to sell the one- and two-bedroom units, but nobody wants to buy condominiums now.

Councilman A. Troy Miller, the council’s zoning chairman, said he was persuaded to vote yes because the 345-unit limit on the whole development won’t be exceeded, and by Wagenbrenner’s past record.

“His work has been very good,” Miller said. “We’re not talking about a question of an unknown developer making these changes.”

In the other case, both the Clintonville Area Commission and the city’s zoning office opposed the parking lot because it encroaches on a residential area designated in the neighborhood’s plan.

Apologetic officials from the retirement home said they got into a parking crunch when they built a new activity center for their residents on a former parking area. Despite several attempts to come up with a plan that would appease neighbors, they were unable to do so, said Michael Shannon, the attorney for the retirement home.

D Searcy, a member of the area commission, said the retirement home has other options, including a lot across N. High Street that’s already zoned for commercial use. She said the center’s operators should have known when they built the activity center that parking would be a problem.

But two other members of the area commission, Jennifer Kangas and John DeFourney, told the council that the plan to place the parking on Fenway near High Street is the best option for solving Wesley Glen’s problems. DeFourney, the area commission president, signed up to speak against the zoning change, then asked council members to approve it.

Miller said a zoning change was necessary to help the center’s employees: “We’re trying to take care of those who are taking care of elderly individuals.”

dcaruso@dispatch.com

Columbus Dispatch: The Clarmont restaurant [in German Village] closes after 65 years

2012-01-23T15:37:00.001-05:00

The story is here

The Clarmont, 884. S. High St., closed today after 65 years in business.

"It's been a tough couple of years, and I didn't want it to come to this, but there just comes a point where if you can't be successful you can't be in the business," said owner Thom Coffman, who has owned the landmark steakhouse since 1996. "I just want to thank all of the residents of Columbus who have supported us through the years. They were like family to us."

Coffman said the decision to close the restaurant was "one of the toughest decisions he's ever had to make," and that although nothing is set in stone, the restaurant will likely be offered for sale.

Columbus Dispatch: Vice President Biden samples local fare at North Market

2012-01-12T17:51:00.001-05:00

The story is here

By Joe Vardon

The Columbus Dispatch Thursday January 12, 2012 4:57 PM

Vice President Joe Biden was in central Ohio today to speak to a crowd at Gahanna Lincoln High School. After the event, Biden was transported to the North Market, a warehouse near the Arena District of food and other vendors featuring different culinary tastes.

Biden was greeted at the market's A Touch of Earth coffee vendor counter by Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman. Coleman, who bought two 16-oz. coffees and led Biden on a tour the market, shaking hands with vendors' employees and patrons.

Perhaps the highlight of the vice president’s tour was a stop at Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, where he ordered and munched on a waffle cone stuffed with dark chocolate and Ugandan Vanilla Bean. He shared a hug with a woman who identified herself as a former employee of Southwest Airlines, and was given a fruit basket by a woman identified as Ingrid Loesch.

Biden went behind the counter of Flavors of India and spoke with owner Raj Brar, apparently about the economy. "I said to him how everything has been having a tough time but we're all getting through it," Brar said. "He himself said it's a tough time, but that things were getting better."

Biden also visited Pam's Market Popcorn, where the owner there said she was hopeful Obama would visit.

"He'll be here," Biden said.

By the time Biden made it to Taste of Belgium, where he sampled a waffle, he said: "I would weigh 300 pounds if I were here on a regular basis."

jvardon@dispatch.com

Columbus Dispatch & CNN: Ohio panel sticks to 'White Only' pool sign ruling

2012-01-12T11:30:00.000-05:00

Ohio panel sticks to 'White Only' pool sign ruling

The story is here

A state civil rights commission won’t reconsider its decision that a Cincinnati landlord discriminated against a black girl by posting a “White Only” sign at a swimming pool.

The Ohio Civil Rights Commission voted 4-0 today to uphold original finding. There was no discussion.

The panel found on Sept. 29 that Jamie Hein violated the Ohio Civil Rights Act by posting the sign at a pool at the duplex where the teenage girl was visiting her parents.

Hein, who is white, has repeatedly declined to comment and didn’t attend the hearing. She earlier told the commission’s housing enforcement director that she was trying to protect her assets.

The girl’s father said in brief comments today that seeing the sign left him with feelings of “shock, disgust and outrage.”

The CNN Story is here

CNN) -- A landlord wants the Ohio Civil Rights Commission on Thursday to reconsider its finding that she violated the law by posting a "white only" sign at her swimming pool.

Jamie Hein has asked the commission to reverse its initial ruling that found she violated the Ohio Civil Rights Act by putting up a sign that read "Public Swimming Pool, White Only" at her Cincinnati duplex.

The commission, meeting this week in Columbus, concluded last year that the sign "restricts the social contact between Caucasians and African Americans as well as reinforcing discrimination actions that are aimed at oppressing all 'people of color.'"

The case was brought by Michael Gunn, a white man who said had unrestricted access to the pool area for himself and his guests during the nearly two years he lived in the duplex, he said in a December interview.

Gunn, a software engineer, said he and his girlfriend, who is also white, lived upstairs; their 31-year-old landlord lived downstairs. However, he said their relationship soured in May 2011 when he invited his 10-year-old biracial daughter to visit and swim in the pool.

"Complainant states that the owner, Jamie Hein, accused his daughter of making the pool 'cloudy' because she used chemicals in her hair," the commission said in its summary. "Days later, the owner posted a sign on the gate to the pool which read, 'Public Swimming Pool, White Only.'"

Hein said she received the sign from a friend and posted it in early May, the summary says. Several people interviewed by the commission staff confirmed that they had seen the sign, it added.

Hein did not respond to a request for comment at the time. But she told ABC News in December that she collects antiques. She said the sign, which was dated 1931 and from Alabama, was a gift from a friend.

"I don't have any problem with race at all. It's a historical sign," she told ABC.

Gunn said he was outraged by the sign and made arrangements to find another place to live as soon as he could.

"We were extremely upset and moved out on June 21, 2011, in order to not expose my daughter to the sign and the humiliation of the message," Gunn wrote in his complaint.

He said he never confronted Hein about the matter, but has no doubt that the sign was intended for his daughter.

Columbus Dispatch: Housing prices forecast to fall again

2012-01-09T15:28:00.001-05:00

The story is here

Report predicts 2% slip in central Ohio; local agents more optimistic

By Jim Weiker

The Columbus Dispatch Monday January 9, 2012 5:33 AM

Afteranother mediocre year of central Ohio housing news, a report issued this morning says it will onlyget worse.

The report, by the California real-estate service Clear Capital, predicts that Columbus-areahome prices will drop by 2 percent this year, the 28th largest drop among 50 cities studied.

The company based its forecast on 20 economic factors such as income, unemployment, mortgagerates and new construction permits.

Other observers agree that home prices in central Ohio and elsewhere won’t rise until employmentpicks up and foreclosures decline.

“Housing prices could continue to slip down in 2012,” said Teri Felix, executive vice presidentof Home Value Insurance Co., which last year began selling a policy in Ohio designed to protecthomeowners against a decline in property value. “There’s still too much uncertainty in the economy,and foreclosures need to be worked through the system.”

Home prices dropped dramatically in the Columbus area and throughout the nation between 2006 and2009, and have muddled along since. Clear Capital found that central Ohio home prices dropped anadditional 3.5 percent in 2011, which is roughly consistent with Columbus Board of Realtorsfigures.

“The average selling price has steadily decreased since the end of 2005, but I believe we’ll seea flattening of prices in 2012,” said Milt Lustnauer, a RE/MAX Premier Choice agent in UpperArlington and this year’s treasurer of the Columbus Board of Realtors.

Lustnauer and Chris Pedon, the board’s president-elect, say a decline in homes for sale willhelp balance supply and demand and, they hope, lead to a rise in prices.

“I’m hoping, now that the inventory’s starting to shrink, that we’ll see some of that pricing goback up,” said Pedon, a Bexley Real Living HER agent.

Central Ohio agents are also encouraged by the volume of Columbus-area home sales in 2011, whichcould show the first year-over-year gain since 2005 when final figures are released in a fewweeks.

The Columbus Board of Realtors and other area organizations will present their own real-estateforecast Tuesday.

One big drag on prices continues to be foreclosures. Clear Capital estimates that 34 percent ofhomes sold in central Ohio are bank repossessions, which pull down prices of nearby homes.

Nationwide, Clear Capital forecasts a stabilizing of home prices in 2012, but estimates varywidely by community.

The company predicts Orlando, Fla., will show the biggest price gain, 11.7 percent. At thebottom is Atlanta, where Clear Capital predicts prices will slide 14.4 percent.

The firm estimates that Cincinnati prices will drop 2.2 percent while Cleveland prices rise 4.2percent and Dayton prices gain 1.4 percent.

jweiker@dispatch.com

Columbus Dispatch: Near East Side starts renewal with $10 million from OSU

2012-01-09T15:06:00.001-05:00

Mayor Michael B. Coleman, center, and Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee laugh during the Partners Achieving Community Transformation community celebration at East High School. Ohio State is committing $10 million to rejuvenate the area around University Hospital East.

The story is here

By Meredith Heagney

The Columbus Dispatch Monday January 9, 2012 7:55 AM

East High School hosted a pep rally yesterday, but instead of boosting an athletic team, thegood wishes for things to come were for the neighborhood.

The event launched a revitalization effort on the Near East Side that is funded by a $10 millioninvestment from Ohio State University, which hopes to fix up the depressed area surroundingUniversity Hospital East.

While details are few, the coalition behind the project will choose a development firm by nextmonth to craft the blueprint, said Dawn Tyler Lee, executive director of Partners AchievingCommunity Transformation, or PACT.

Along with Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee, Lee promised anenthusiastic crowd that improving the neighborhood’s housing will make it a safer and healthierplace to live.
She also said that the project should begin in 2014 and eventually will need more funding.

Ohio State, the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority and the city form the coalition behindPACT. Dozens of representatives from neighborhood groups, churches and advocacy organizations serveon an advisory committee.

Of Ohio State’s $10 million commitment, $9 million will go to housing and $1 million tohealth-care initiatives.

The goal is to improve the quality of housing, eliminate vacant properties and diversify thetype of housing. Low-income and market-rate housing both will have a place, said Bryan Brown,senior vice president of the housing authority.

The first two targets are the Taylor Avenue corridor and Poindexter Village, which consists ofmore than two dozen acres of public housing that is being emptied now before demolition nextyear.

“What people can expect is a mixed-income, diverse community that is sustainable over time,”Brown said, because concentrations of poverty have not made for successful neighborhoods.

Some residents are anxious about the plans.

Marceia Robinson, 46, who lives on 17th Street, said she needs more answers.

“Will I be relocated?” she asked. “They relocated all the blacks in Poindexter Village.”

PACT leaders say there are no plans to relocate anyone on the Near East Side beyond thePoindexter site, which they say is no longer safe to inhabit. Ohio State leaders said they don’thave their eyes on buying the Poindexter property.

Beverly McCaskill, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 60 years, is supportive. Shesaid she hears gunshots almost nightly from her home, which is north of the hospital and close toPoindexter Village.
“Whatever they put in place of Poindexter Village would be an improvement,” she said.

Coleman acknowledged concerns about gentrification in his speech. “Change and transformationdoes not mean we lose our identity,” he said.

The event at East High School was heavy on pride, with homegrown success stories such as OhioSupreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown talking about their personal history in the neighborhood.A senior at the high school, Ronny Chhun, spoke about his work with robotics and engineering groupsand his expectation of graduating with honors in June.

Afterward, attendees were invited to offer written suggestions to the coalition, which isplanning a second round of “community conversations” with residents in March.

mheagney@dispatch.com

USA Today: Know when you can do home repairs yourself

2012-01-03T15:49:00.001-05:00

The story is here

In times of economic hardship, "do-it-yourself" is a tempting mantra for many homeowners with dripping faucets, running toilets, leaky windows or sticky locks.

The savings can add up when you don't have to call a repairman, especially for things like painting, plumbing and appliance repair, said Ken Collier, editor-in-chief of The Family Handyman. "Parts are a small part of the cost. Labor is huge," he said.

And if things go wrong? With a small job, Collier said, "Worst case, you have to hire a pro and eat some crow."

There are some home repairs, of course, that an unskilled homeowner should avoid, among them "situations where having heavy equipment makes the job go much better, especially outdoors," Collier said.

Avoid jobs where you could injure yourself or damage property.

Chris Long, a member of the Home Depot do-it-yourself team, recommends calling an expert to replace a tub or shower valve, or do more involved electrical work. And while "any reasonably careful person can hang drywall," Collier said, taping it to cover the seams and joints is "very much an art where a practiced hand makes a huge difference."

But many other household repairs and projects can be tackled by a do-it-yourselfer who takes the time to learn what's required.

David Frank of Libertyville, Ill., does just about all his own home repairs and remodeling — "from electric to plumbing to concrete. Any of it can be done." He started working on his first house, a fixer-upper he bought in college, to save money. "I had to learn to do it, or it wasn't going to get done," he said. Over the years, he has taught himself by reading books, watching home-improvement TV shows and talking to experts.

Besides the money saved, there's "definitely a sense of accomplishment" in doing the work himself, he said.

His advice to beginners: Use common sense, take your time and read as much as you can. "The Internet is unbelievable," he said.

When taking on a project, begin by finding out where in your home you turn off the water and gas, and how the circuit breakers work. If you need a professional to show you, hire one.

You'll also need a good set of tools. Collier recommends such things as a 20-ounce straight claw hammer, a utility knife, linesman's pliers, a flexible putty knife, a four-in-one screwdriver, a cordless drill-screwdriver, a 25-foot measuring tape and an adjustable crescent wrench. Add to that a plunger, groove-joint pliers and duct tape.

If you're going to do any electrical work, be sure to have a voltage sniffer. "Electricity is scary stuff, and a voltage sniffer is a really safe way to know everything is off," Collier says.

There's a wealth of material online, including videos for the do-it-yourselfer.

Even unskilled homeowners should be able to do some basic appliance repairs, Collier said, such as changing a dryer belt.

And as winter approaches, homeowners can do a lot of weatherizing themselves, including adding insulation, and applying adhesive-backed, foam weather stripping to prevent cold air from seeping in around doors and windows.

Other jobs that a do-it-yourselfer can learn include repairing drywall, replacing a deadbolt, or installing a new light fixture or ceiling fan.

Here's where that voltage sniffer comes in. "If you know how to confidently turn that breaker off and you can test it to verify it, you can change that fixture," said Danny Lipford, who hosts nationally syndicated TV and radio shows and is a contributing design editor for Better Homes and Gardens.

Plumbing repairs also can be accessible even to the novice.

"A toilet is really a very simple mechanism and the parts are readily available to change out," Lipford said.

First, the cause of the problem has to be diagnosed. Find information online, in books, or talk to a worker at your hardware store.

If the toilet is running, for example, one way to figure out what's going on is to add a little food dye to the water in the tank, said Long, of Home Depot. If the water in the bowl turns the same color, the flapper valve is likely the problem. The flapper seals the tank, then lifts to allow water to flow into the bowl when the toilet is flushed. If the seal isn't tight, water will leak into the bowl.

It could be that the chain connecting the flapper to the handle is too long or too short. Adjusting that could fix the problem. Or, it could be the flapper itself. In most cases, the flapper snaps out and you can easily replace it with a new one. But first remember to turn off the water to the toilet. It's also a good idea to bring the old part to your hardware store to make sure you're purchasing a compatible new one.

Columbus Dispatch: AIDS group plans to build pharmacy, thrift store on N. High [near the Short North]

2011-12-28T12:26:00.000-05:00

This image was taken from their press release

The story is here

Their press release is here

A Los Angeles-based AIDS organization plans to bring its unique mix of advocacy, health care and nonprofit business operations to a long-vacant lot on the southern border of the University District.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which bills itself as the largest global AIDS organization, said construction will begin soon on a building that is to house an Out of the Closet Thrift Store, AHF Pharmacy and HIV-testing site at the northeast corner of N. High Street and E. 5th Avenue.

The group also plans an AHF Healthcare Center in a medical office near Mount Carmel West hospital that could accommodate an initial caseload of 600 patients, said Adam Ouderkirk, regional director for the foundation.

“We take HIV patients regardless of ability to pay, whether you have a Cadillac (health-insurance) plan or no plan,” he said.

Both the thrift store and the pharmacy will be nonprofit ventures that generate money for the mission.
“It’s a model that’s worked in different parts of the country, and we think it will be successful in Columbus,” said Michael Weinstein, president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

Ouderkirk said the foundation just closed on the property at 1230 N. High St. He declined to discuss the price, but according to the Franklin County auditor’s website, the land sold for $1.6 million on Dec. 22.

Local advocates were mixed in their reactions. While additional community resources are welcome, they all said, one group said the AIDS Healthcare Foundation has done little to collaborate.

“We knew nothing about the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s intent until three weeks ago,” said Bill Hardy, president and CEO of the AIDS Resource Center Ohio. “To me, there was not adequate groundwork.”
Hardy said the resource center, which merged earlier this year with the Columbus AIDS Task Force, also has been discussing plans for a health-care center and pharmacy.

“Part of the consolidation was to expand services,” he said.

Hardy and the resource center are among many statewide AIDS advocates who disagreed with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s recent successful fight to stop Ohio from changing some of the rules governing the Ohio HIV Drug Assistance Program, which is the state’s version of the federal Ryan White Act.

State officials and local AIDS organizations say the changes would have kicked in only in the event of a waiting list — there isn’t one now — allowing for the use of a priority system so that the sickest people would be served first.

A Franklin County judge, however, agreed with three patients who filed a lawsuit saying the new rules could affect access to treatment. The foundation backed the patients.

A preliminary injunction blocking the new rules was issued this month, and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation hailed it as a victory. Weinstein said Ohio has no business planning for a “Sophie’s choice” in HIV treatment.
He also said there is plenty of room for new services in Columbus.
“Unfortunately, there is no shortage of patients to go around,” Weinstein said. “We are bringing our own resources to bear.”

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that only 28 percent of Americans living with HIV have the virus under control with proper medication and treatment, he said.

The foundation’s presence likely will make a big difference in the city, said Karla Rothan, executive director of Stonewall Columbus. Stonewall’s community center and offices are at 1160 N. High St., near the site that the foundation will develop.

The thrift store and pharmacy are “an innovative way of doing nonprofit work,” Rothan said. “I’m glad they chose to be our neighbor. I think it’s going to enhance services.”

rprice@dispatch.com

Home sales remain elevated in Central Ohio

2011-12-21T15:41:00.001-05:00

(Dec. 21, 2011)November marks the fifth consecutive month of increased home sales in

central Ohio thisyear after the first half of the year struggled to keep up with increased sales

from 2010 due to thehome buyer tax credits. According to the Columbus Board of

REALTORS®, 1,406homes sold in November which is seven percent more than the previous

year.

Additionally, thenumber of residential homes scheduled to close was up over 37 percent,

from 1,341 last yearto 1,843 last month (November 2011).

“We’re finding thatsellers recognize the challenges of today’s market and are realistically

pricing their homesto sell,” says Rick Benjamin, 2011 President of the Columbus Board of

REALTORS®. “Buyersare responding well to the pricing and, of course, the record low

interest rates. It’sstill a great time to buy a home.”

Homes in centralOhio this year have sold for an average of $157,032, down 2.5 percent from

the average saleprice in 2010, but up over five percent from the average sale price in thefirst

quarter of 2011. Theaverage price of a home sold in November was $153,673, up 3.1 percent

from the previousmonth ($149,082).

The number of homeslisted for sale last month (1,949) is 20 percent less than listings added

to the market inNovember 2010 (2,439). The total inventory of homes available for sale in

central Ohio was12,675 at the end of November, which is down 27.5 percent from one year

ago.

As a result, themonth’s supply, a measure of inventory that estimates how many months it

would take to sellthe entire home inventory, fell 28.5 percent to 7.4, down from 10.3 last

year.

“A healthy monthssupply for our market would be around 6.5. So the decrease in inventory

is a positive signof market recovery,” adds Benjamin. “Plus, based on the concept of supply

and demand, when wehave too many homes on the market, homes are more likely to sell for

less.”

Clickhere to view the November sortable housing market report by area.
Clickhere to view the entire central Ohio Local Market Update.

The Columbus Boardof REALTORS® Multiple Listing Service (MLS) serves all of Franklin,

Delaware, Fayette,Licking, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway and Union Counties and parts of

Athens, Champaign,Clark, Clinton, Fairfield, Hocking, Knox, Logan, Marion, Muskingum,

Perry and RossCounties.

For more informationabout the central Ohio housing market, visit

ColumbusRealtors.com/stats
To view commercial properties for sale or lease in central Ohio, visit COCIE.org.
To view residential properties for sale, visit www.terrypenrod.com.

Italian Village IN, Victorian Village OUT of new "Columbus" Congressional District

2011-12-19T17:44:00.001-05:00

Click on the map to see other areas of Central Ohio and the State.

Italian Village and the Dennison Place "Circles" will be in the new District 3

Victorian Village will be in District 15

(Currently held by Congressman Steve Stiver)

Columbus Underground: The Hubbard Apartments to Rise Over The Short North

2011-12-14T15:42:00.001-05:00

The story is here

The northeast corner of Hubbard Avenue and High Street has been one of the most widely discussed plots of land here on Columbus Underground over the past five years. Originally proposed in 2006 as the home of the failed Ibiza condo development, the site is going through a change of ownership where local development firms Elford and Wagenbrenner are jointly working on a revised plan for the neighborhood. The Hubbard will be a five-story mixed-use apartment building with ground-floor retail and a public parking garage located in the back.

For more details on the project, we spoke recently with Mark Wagenbrenner, President of Wagenbrenner Development, and Mike Fitzpatrick, President of Elford Development, Ltd. Click here for more

Business First: Two Columbus suburbs among Midwest's best quality of life areas

2011-12-08T16:19:00.001-05:00

The story is here along with a searchable database

Business First by G. Scott Thomas
Date: Thursday, December 8, 2011, 2:23pm EST -
Last Modified: Thursday, December 8, 2011, 2:25pm EST

Chicago is not only the economic hub of the Midwest, but it also sets the regional standard for quality of life.

On Numbers analyzed 955 Midwestern communities, searching for the places offering the most favorable living conditions. Four Chicago suburbs have taken the top four slots.

Two Columbus suburbs – No. 5 Powell and No. 9 Dublin – also made the top 10 list. Powell's median household income of $126,510 and $331,900 median house value helped it to its high ranking. In Dublin, the median household income is $114,560, and its median house value is $327,200.

Topping the ranking is Winnetka, an affluent village on Lake Michigan's North Shore. Winnetka's $201,650 median household income is the highest in the Midwest, as is the 87.4 percent of adults who hold bachelor's degrees in the area.

On Numbers used a 20-part formula to find Midwestern communities that enjoy healthy economies, light traffic, moderate costs of living, impressive housing stocks and strong educational systems. (Click here for the complete methodology.)

The full quality-of-life rankings for the Midwest are available in the following database. Use the tab to find a single state, or click Search to view the whole list.

On Numbers has already released quality-of-life rankings for the East, South and West. Top-to-bottom national standings will be released Friday.

Italian Village Saveway Mart on Summit Might Lose Liquor License

2011-12-06T11:15:00.001-05:00

View Larger Map

Last night the Columbus City Council objected to the liquor license renewal for the Saveway Mart at Summit and Third in Italian Village.

From Ch 4: "While council can object to the permits, it doesn't have the final say.
In fact, that's up to the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, which will hold hearings early next year.

According to the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, out of the 13 hearings held last year for Columbus businesses, just two objections were overruled."

Saveway Liquor Permit Objection

Columbus Dispatch: Ibiza bankruptcy to repay some of money owed

2011-12-04T21:47:00.001-05:00

The story is here

The developers of the proposed Ibiza condominium project in the Short North have filed a plan in bankruptcy court to repay investors.

Under the plan, the main creditor, Columbus-based Finance Fund, would receive $3.6 million of the $5.3 million it is owed, assuming the property at High Street and Hubbard Avenue is sold.

In addition, 52 individuals who placed deposits on condominiums in the building would receive up to $2,600 each. They would receive additional payments if the building is sold.

According to the filing, 75 of the 135 units planned in the complex were pre-sold, with deposits totaling $1.16 million, before developers announced that the complex would not be built. The filing does not address why only 52 buyers are provided for in the reorganization. Apex’s attorney did not return a call seeking comment.

Business First: Wagenbrenner raises $4.5M from investors for Jeffrey Place bid, eschewing banks

2011-12-01T20:56:00.001-05:00

The story is here

Business First by Brian R. Ball, Staff reporter

Date: Thursday, December 1, 2011, 2:24pm EST

The Wagenbrenner Development Inc. affiliate that has started taking over the stalled Jeffrey Place project in Italian Village has secured investors backing the first phase.

Jeffrey New Day LLC in early November revealed its interest in the property when it closed on nearly 6 acres along East First Avenue. At the same time, it filed a foreclosure lawsuit against the owner of an adjacent 23 acres after buying a mortgage that had financed the land’s acquisition in late 2000.

Wagenbrenner President Mark Wagenbrenner said he expects to file a plan for a multifamily project on the 6 acres in December or January.

The developer has taken a cautious financial strategy with that initial foray into the Jeffrey Place redevelopment. Jeffrey New Day revealed in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing this month that it had raised $4.5 million from undisclosed investors.

“What it really comes down to is the availability of capital,” Wagenbrenner said, noting that raising the money from investors means he didn’t have to put a mortgage on the property.

“It’s money to get us through expenses,” Wagenbrenner said of the investment’s purpose. “Finally, we are in a position to move the site forward.”

Terry Penrod, Real Living HER Realtor, Reaches Charitable Giving Milestone

2011-11-30T09:27:00.001-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Jim Stevenson
Real Living HER
JimStevenson@RealLiving.com
(614) 273-6076

Real Living HER Realtor Terry Penrod Reaches Charitable Giving Milestone

COLUMBUS, Ohio (November 30, 2011) — Real Living HER is proud to congratulate Real Living Mortgage and Realtor Terry Penrod for generating $10,000 in donations to local charities.

Through the Sharing Advantage Program from Real Living Mortgage and Wells Fargo, Terry’s clients were able to support local 501(c) (3) organizations at no cost to them. A select few of the charities have been: Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society, Victorian Village Society, St. John’s High School, Stonewall Columbus, Equality Ohio Education Fund and various local churches. Simply by Terry communicating the program and his clients designating the charity, Real Living Mortgage was able to make a $300 donation at the time of a closing.

“I always look forward to helping people understand the home buying process. There is so much to know and I love helping people find their dream home,” said Terry Penrod. “I have really enjoyed letting people know they can also do good in the community through Sharing Advantage.”

“This is an innovative program that is offered nationwide, but Terry has really embraced it and his clients’ charities have greatly benefited,” said June Zepp, Home Mortgage Consultant, Real Living Mortgage.

If anyone is interested in getting involved with the Sharing Advantage Program please contact Terry Penrod at 614-273-8548, terry.penrod@RealLiving.com or www.terrypenrod.com

About HER Real Living Inc.

Real Living HER, based in Columbus, Ohio, is a full-service real estate company with more than 700 agents and 45 offices throughout Central Ohio. HER Realtors was established in 1956 and has been the dominant full service brokerage throughout the area since 1964. Real Living HER offers its consumers services that include residential & commercial real estate sales, property management and rental services, mortgage, title, warranty, and other home-related, lifestyle services. HER Realtors is a member of the Real Living franchise system, owned by Brookfield Real Estate, a leading provider of real estate services nationally & internationally, including one of the world’s leading global relocation companies. Real Living was named one of the best new franchises by Entrepreneur magazine, winner of the Inman Innovator Award, and most promising new national brand by the Swanepoel TRENDS Report. www.HERRealtors.com. All first mortgage products are provided by Real Living Mortgage, LLC. Real Living Mortgage, LLC may not be available in your area. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ©2011 Real Living Mortgage, LLC. All Rights Reserved. NMLSR ID 484734

USA Today: Home prices drop in September, reversing months of gains

2011-11-29T16:25:00.000-05:00

The story is here

Home prices drop in September, reversing months of gains

By DEREK KRAVITZ, Associated Press

WASHINGTON – U.S. home prices are falling again in most major cities after posting small gains in the summer and spring. The report suggests the troubled housing market remains weak and won't recover any time soon.

The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index released Tuesday showed prices dropped in September from August in 17 of 20 cities tracked. That was the first decline after five straight months where at least half the cities in the survey showed monthly gains.

A separate index for the July-September quarter shows prices were mostly unchanged from the previous quarter.

Many Americans are reluctant to buy a home more than two years after the recession officially ended. High unemployment, weak job growth and falling home prices have deterred many would-be buyers. Even the lowest mortgage rates in history haven't been enough to lift sales.

David M. Blitzer, chairman of S&P's index committee, said that while the steep price declines seen between 2007 and 2009 appear to be over, home prices are down from the same time last year and do not show signs of easing.

"Any chance for a sustained recovery will probably need a stronger economy," Blitzer said.

The largest monthly price declines were in Atlanta, San Francisco and Tampa. And prices in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Phoenix fell to their lowest points since the housing crisis began four years ago. Blitzer called the new lows reached in those three cities a "bit disturbing."

New York, Portland, Ore., and Washington were the only cities to show monthly price increases in September.

A majority of the cities tracked by the survey posted modest price increases from April through August, the peak buying months. The monthly changes are not adjusted for seasonal factors.

Even with the gains, home prices were down in all but two major cities in September from the same month one year ago.

Sales of previously occupied home sales are on pace to match last year's dismal figures — the worst in 13 years. Sales of new homes are shaping up to be the worst since the government began keeping records a half century ago.

Some people can't qualify for loans or meet higher down payment requirements. Many with good credit and stable jobs are holding off because they fear that home prices will keep falling.

"Despite record high affordability of real estate, the psychology of home buyers is still being weighed down by economic uncertainty, keeping them on the fence when it comes to buying homes," said Stan Humphries, chief economist at Zillow.com, which measures home values.

Atlanta has been especially hard hit in the past year. Prices there dropped nearly 6% in September and have fallen nearly 10% over the past 12 months.

Since the fall of 2008, one out of every four sales in Atlanta has been a foreclosure, an auction or a bank sale.

Many homes there were built during the housing boom. The city has also been confronted by high unemployment. In September, the unemployment rate was 10.3%— more than a point higher than the national average.

The Case Shiller index covers half of all U.S. homes. It measures prices compared with those in January 2000 and creates a three-month moving average. The September data is the latest available.

Prices are certain to fall again once banks resume millions of foreclosures that have been delayed because of a yearlong government investigation into mortgage lending practices.

Home prices had stabilized in coastal cities the past six months, helped by a rush of spring buyers and investors. But this year, home prices in many cities, including Cleveland, Detroit, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Tampa, have reached their lowest points since the housing bust more than four years ago.

Foreclosures and short sales — when a lender accepts less for a home than what is owed on a mortgage — are selling at an average discount of 20%.

Home prices

Metro area	Index Sept. 2011	Chg. from Aug.	Chg. from Sept. 2010

Atlanta	95.99	-5.9%	-9.8%

Boston	154.39	-0.8%	-1.2%

Charlotte	112.43	-0.9%	-2.6%

Chicago	118.49	-0.8%	-5.0%

Cleveland	100.58	-1.2%	-3.1%

Dallas	116.54	-0.6%	-0.8%

Denver	125.44	-0.8%	-1.5%

Detroit	73.17	-0.5%	3.7%

Las Vegas	93.8	-1.4%	-7.3%

L.A.	168	-0.8%	-4.2%

Miami	139.83	-0.7%	-4.0%

Minneapolis	114.65	-0.9%	-7.4%

New York	169.92	0.1%	-2.6%

Phoenix	100.22	-0.2%	-6.5%

Portland	136.1	0.1%	-5.7%

San Diego	153.72	-0.8%	-5.4%

San Fran.	133.22	-1.5%	-5.9%

Seattle	135.59	-1.1%	-6.5%

Tampa	127.37	-1.5%	-6.7%

Washington	188.07	1.2%	1.0%


The indexes have a base value of 100 in January 2000; so an index value of 150 translates to a 50% appreciation since then for a typical home in the market. Source:S&P Indices and Fiserv

Columbus Underground: Waffle House Coming to OSU Campus Area

2011-11-22T16:52:00.001-05:00

Good news for breakfast enthusiasts that live near The Ohio State University campus! According to an article in today’s Business First (subscription only), Waffle House is planning on opening a shop at 1712 North High Street, next door to the Newport Music Hall.

More here

New York Times Video: How to carve the Thanksgiving turkey

2011-11-21T23:17:00.001-05:00

Central Ohio home sales were up again in central Ohio

2011-11-21T15:07:00.001-05:00

Home sales in central Ohio homehave exceeded 2010 for the last four months according to the Columbus Board of REALTORS®. The1,543 homes sold in October marks an 8.6 percent increase over the 1,421 homes sold in Octoberof 2010. Home sales in September were up 16.6 percent compared to the year before.

Year-to-date, home sales(January through October 2011) are only 2.1 percent behind 2010 and closing the gap.

Homes put in contract last month(1,379) were up 46 percent from a year ago making October the sixth straight month of increasedcontracts.

“The number of homes put intocontract have been up for the last several months,” said Rick Benjamin, 2011 President of the ColumbusBoard of REALTORS®. “However, contract failures – cancellations caused largely by declinedmortgage applications or failures in loan underwriting from appraised values coming in below the negotiatedprice continue to be a problem for central Ohio buyers.”

Total housing inventory at theend of October fell 23.3 percent to 13,827 existing homes available for sale, which represents an8.1-month supply at the current sales pace, up from an 8.7-month supply in September.

The average sale price forsingle family homes and condominiums year to date is $157,327, down 2.4 percent from homes sold Januarythrough October 2010.

“Affordability conditions thisyear have been the most favorable on record since 1970,” said Benjamin. “As mortgage interest ratescontinue to remain low, more first time home buyers, investors and move up buyers are being drawn into thehousing market.”

Clickhere to view the October sortable housing market report by area.
Clickhere to view the entire central Ohio Local Market Update.

The Columbus Board of REALTORS®Multiple Listing Service (MLS) serves all of Franklin, Delaware, Fayette, Licking, Madison,Morrow, Pickaway and Union Counties and parts of Athens, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Fairfield,Hocking, Knox, Logan, Marion, Muskingum, Perry and Ross Counties.

For information about thecentral Ohio housing market, visit ColumbusRealtors.com/stats
To view commercial properties for sale or lease in central Ohio, visit COCIE.org.
To view residential properties for sale, visit www.terrypenrod.com.

The Columbus Dispatch story is here

On Veteran's Day: A Memory Of Vietnam

2011-11-10T22:26:00.001-05:00

A great story from my hometown paper, the Toledo Blade

Why is this significant to me?

As a 2 year old in Toledo, Ohio, my earliest memory is being held by my father at a place where everyone was crying. I learned later that it was the funeral of Vito Bruno. Vito was the son of our next door neighbors, Mr. and Mr's Bruno. With Veteran's Day on my thoughts, I decided to search the internet and found this story from 2009 in the Toledo Blade. It brought tears to my eyes.

We must never forget.

The link to the story is here

A silver seashell magnet secures a yellow note card to the side of Mary Worden's refrigerator.

Years ago she scrawled on the card detailed directions to the grave site of a young soldier who died Dec. 11, 1966, in Vietnam.

His name is Vito Vincent Bruno.

Today, as the United States of America, land of the free and home of the brave, observes Memorial Day, flags will fly in Calvary Cemetery in Toledo, the final resting place for Mr. Bruno and scores of other service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The flag on Mr. Bruno's grave was posted this holiday, as in years past, because Mrs. Worden of Toledo cares deeply and passionately about her country and its veterans.

A chance meeting with Mr. Bruno's mother more than a decade ago in the cemetery prompted Mrs. Worden to make a promise: Never, ever would Mr. Bruno's grave go undecorated on Memorial Day.

"I was taking a flag to my mother and father's grave in Calvary, and an elderly woman told me her son was killed in Vietnam and he had no flag on his grave. She wondered where I got my flag," Mrs. Worden, 70, recalled. The two mothers talked briefly.

"Then I turned to walk away, and I knew my mother would want the woman to have the flag. I turned back, and said, 'Here, take this flag.' After she put the flag on her son's grave and left, I walked down and looked at her son's grave. He was only in his 20s. He was killed in Vietnam. Every year since, I give him a flag."

And attached to the flag, always, always, a hand-written note: "We will never forget you."

Every year, she and her husband, William, took not only a flag but also garden shears to Mr. Bruno's grave.

"We'd sweep off the dirt and we'd trim the grass around the flat marker," said Mr. Worden, 74. "We would do that as a remembrance to him. When we saw that his mother had died, we started to do the same for her."

Mrs. Worden, who has devoted her life to helping others, has been faithful to her promise, to her vow to never forget Vito Bruno. It was an anonymous gesture of respect and honor.

A few days ago, however, she reached out, seeking help to continue the tradition this Memorial Day and Memorial Days to come.

Her life has reached a turning point."You always think you can keep your promise, but when you cannot " Her words trail off as tears trickle down her cheek.

Mrs. Worden, who never learned to drive, stays close to home these days, by the side of her husband, who is in hospice care there. On May 9 they celebrated their 50th anniversary (they call each other "Honey").

"Mary gets her caring way from her mother. Her mother lived on Prouty and the bums back then knew where they could get a meal. The bums would come and sit on her porch and she would fix them an egg or a sandwich of something," Mr. Worden said.

When Mrs. Worden realized she couldn't get to the cemetery this year, she said, "I was so upset and was kind of crying and I was telling about the flag."

Listening was Nathalie Wilson of Toledo who provides hospice care to Mr. Worden. She offered to deliver the flag and Mrs. Worden's handwritten note.

For years, Mrs. Worden took under her wing dozens of military personnel who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. She wrote them letters and sent care packages. "I started out when Ann Landers said to write to any serviceman. That was in 1990," she recalled.

A scrapbook bulges with photographs of soldiers touched by Mrs. Worden. One of her military pen pals was John Tellez of Missouri, who calls her each Mother's Day.

After Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin of Batavia, Ohio, was captured near Baghdad in 2004, Mrs. Worden passed out color copies of his photograph - embossed with "Love Never Loses Its Way Home" - to her friends, asking for their prayers for the Maupin family.

The sergeant's remains were found last year, and thousands of people participated in his memorial. Mrs. Worden's son Dave, who lived in Batavia, rode his motorcycle as an honor guard during the memorial procession.

Mrs. Worden also wrote to Brian Wagoner, a 1994 Maumee High School graduate. He was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2005. She went to his memorial service. She wrapped letters she received from Brian in black ribbon and presented them to his father, she said.

"It is our duty to remember veterans and make sure they are recognized for what they do for our country," Mrs. Worden said. "My belief is honor above all."

Dedicated volunteers throughout Lucas County place flags on thousands of veterans' graves just ahead of Memorial Day each year, but sometimes some get missed.Cemetery lists are incomplete, said John Hunt of Toledo. As he and his wife Margaret crisscross sections of Calvary Cemetery, they update their lists of deceased veterans.

Volunteers do their best, but records need updating, and that takes time and people, Mrs. Hunt said. The Hunts placed hundreds of flags on veterans' graves in sections of the cemetery near where Mr. Bruno is buried.

Dominic M. Bruno of Sylvania, who said he was unaware of Mrs. Worden's annual trek to Vito's grave, recalled his cousin as a "very gentle person" who went to war after being drafted. Vito Bruno was a conscientious objector, a true one, but did not declare himself as a conscientious objector, his cousin said. "I think he felt it was his duty even though he wouldn't carry a gun."

Vito, who was an Army medic, and other Central Catholic High School graduates who died in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam are honored on a memorial plaque on display in the school's first-floor hallway.

Names of those killed in Korea were added only recently to the plaque, which was donated by the Class of 1947, and a rededication ceremony will be held, according to Mary McCarty Pierce of Toledo.

A 1965 Central graduate, she said that this summer she would like to have the plaque reorganized, listed by war and in alphabetical order. She'd like to have the plaque polished and a light installed over it.

Mrs. Worden, who also is a Central Catholic graduate, last week contacted the school, asking if students would keep alive the promise to never forget Vito Bruno.

She's awaiting a reply.

Often, she thinks about the fallen soldier and his family.

"I never saw his mother again," said Mrs. Worden.

"And I do not know how many years later we saw the mother had died and I said, 'I think she died of a broken heart.'•"

Contact Janet Romaker at:jromaker@theblade.com or 419-724-6006.

Dine Originals Restaurant Week Starts Today

2011-11-07T14:59:00.001-05:00

More info is here

Please join us November 7 -13 for a week of original menus offered at favorable prices. We’re celebrating an amazing food scene and thanking a supportive community that brings a sense of fun to the adventure of eating out!

Below is a list of menus currently available for Dine Originals Week. Check often as menus will be added daily!

Alana’s Food & Wine
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Barcelona Restaurant and Bar
View Dine Originals Week Lunch Menu || View Dine Originals Week Dinner Menu
Make a Reservation

Barrio Tapas
View Dine Originals Week Lunch Menu || View Dine Originals Week Dinner Menu
Make a Reservation

Basi Italia
View Dine Originals Week Menu || Make a Reservation

Basil Thai
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Black Creek Bistro
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Black Olive
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Bodega Cafe & Carryout
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Chile Verde Cafe
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Columbus Brewing Company
View Dine Originals Week Menu

DeepWood Restaurant
View Dine Originals Week Lunch Menu
View Dine Originals Week $20 Dinner Menu
View Dine Originals Week $30 Dinner Menu

Due Amici
View Dine Originals Week Menu || Make a Reservation

Elevator Brewery; Draught Haus
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Figlio Wood Fired Pizza
View Dine Originals Week Menu

G. Michael’s Bistro
View Dine Originals Week Menu || Make a Reservation

Katalina’s Cafe Corner
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Katzinger’s Delicatessen
View Dine Originals Week Menu

LaScala Restaurant
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Local Roots
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Luce
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Mezzo Italian Kitchen and Wine
View Dine Originals Week Menu || Make a Reservation

Milo’s Deli and Cafe
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Mozart’s Bakery & Piano Café
View Dine Originals Week Afternoon Tea Menu || View Dine Originals Week Dinner Menu

Old Mohawk Restaurant
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Pistacia Vera
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Rigsby’s Kitchen
View Dine Originals Week || Make a Reservation

Shaw’s Restaurant and Inn
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Shoku Restaurant
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Skillet, Rustic. Urban. Food
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Spinelli’s Deli Victorian Village / Spinelli’s Deli Downtown
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Surly Girl Saloon
View Dine Originals Week “East Meets West” East Features Dinner Menu
View Dine Originals Week “East Meets West” West Features Dinner Menu

Tasi Cafe
View Dine Originals Week Menu

The Clarmont Restaurant
View Dine Originals Week Lunch Menu || View Dine Originals Week Dinner Menu

The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls
View Dine Originals Week Menu

The Oak Room at The Granville Inn
View Dine Originals Week Lunch Menu || View Dine Originals Week Dinner Menu
Make a Reservation

The Refectory Restaurant; Bistro
View Dine Originals Week Menu || Make a Reservation

Tip Top Kitchen and Cocktails
View Dine Originals Week Menu

The Top Steakhouse
View Dine Originals Week || Make a Reservation

Tony’s Italian Ristorante
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Trattoria Roma
View Dine Originals Week Lunch Menu || View Dine Originals Week Dinner Menu
Make a Reservation

Vienna Ice Cafe
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Vino Vino Restaurant and Wine Bar
View Dine Originals Week Menu

The Worthington Inn
View Dine Originals Week Menu

Z Cucina Ristorante & Bar
Dine Originals Week Available || Make a Reservation

Dine Originals Columbus celebrates supports and promotes the culinary diversity that locally owned member restaurants contribute to the identity and culture of our city. We are committed to strengthening the local economy and enriching our community through education and charitable partnerships.

Our recipes are original. Within each of our member restaurants lies a scratch kitchen serving up the best goodness Columbus has to offer.

Our owners are original. It takes a certain streak of tenacity to open a restaurant. Our businesses aren’t just our jobs; they’re our passion. We celebrate the inventive and creative endeavors that are our restaurants and proudly share our passion with you!

Our original commitment to Columbus has been unwavering for nine years. We get behind local philanthropy. We champion the work of the Jazz Arts Group, The Columbus Metropolitan Library, The Wexner Center, The Columbus Arts Festival, The Small Business Beanstalk, and The Buckeye Ranch. Our partner for Dine Originals Week has long been Local Matters. We will have contributed $20,000 to Food Matters , their holistic foods education program that promotes health and wellness for Pre-K through second graders when the week is over.

And our patrons are original. An organization like ours could only thrive with forward-thinking people who love good food. You know your tastes, act on your values, and come to the table with a sense of discovery. Your interests overlap with ours … local brews, seasonal fare, inspired wine pairings, and global flavors. You can be, for lack of a better word, gob smacked by an artisan cheese or a perfectly poached egg.

Watershed Distillery, a partner of Dine Originals Week - Beverage Feature
Available at many of our Dine Originals Columbus member restaurants.

Watershed Cucumber Crush
2 slices cucumber
1.5 oz Gin from Watershed Distillery
.5 oz Luxardo
.5 oz St Germain
.5 oz lime juice
club soda
Muddle cucumber and lime juice together.
Add gin and liqueurs, fill glass with ice and top with soda. Garnish with lime wedge.

Strawberry Basil Lemonade
2 ounces Vodka from Watershed Distillery
1/4 cup strawberries
4 leaves basil
2 lime wedges
3-4 oz lemonade
splash simple syrup
Muddle strawberries, basil, syrup, and one lime wedge in bottom of pint glass.
Add gin, then fill glass with ice. Top with lemonade and garnish with lime wedge.

Remember, Daylight Savings Time Ends: Time to Fall Back [ABC News]

2011-11-05T18:37:00.001-04:00

video platform video management video solutions video player

The story is here

By NED POTTER (@NedPotterABC) and COLLEEN CURRY

Nov. 5, 2011

It's time to "fall back" again this weekend and to set your clocks back one hour when you go to bed tonight.

Daylight saving time ends for most of the country, as standard time officially begins at 2 a.m. Sunday morning.

The seven-month period of daylight saving time is mandated by governments, which began implementing the time switch during World Wars I and II to save energy and resources for the war effort.

From World War II until recently, daylight saving in the U.S. ran from April until mid-October.

At the time, they pointed to the fact that longer daylight in the evening hours reduced people's need to turn on lights in their homes at night.

Critics of the policy questioned the government's decision, wondering whether people would simply turn on as many lights in the morning hours instead.

In response, the Department of Energy studied the energy savings in 2008. They found that during daylight saving time, U.S. electricity use decreased by 0.5 percent per day, which added up to 1.3 billion kilowatt-hours, enough to power about 122,000 average U.S. homes for a year.

Switch Back Can Be Healthy

Many doctors say the return to standard time -- and the extra hour of sleep you get in the morning -- can be healthy.

"Generally, it is always easier to stay up an hour later than to go to sleep an hour earlier, so most people have relatively little problem setting the clocks back in the fall," said Dr. Steven Feinsilver, director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, in an email. "This is because our basic circadian rhythm (the 'body clock') actually seems to be programmed for a longer than 24 hour day. It runs a little slow."

"The circadian clock does not change to the social change," said chronobiology researcher Till Roenneberg of Ludwig Maximilans University in Munich, Germany. "During the winter, there is a beautiful tracking of dawn in human sleep behavior, which is completely and immediately interrupted when daylight saving time is introduced in March."

Roenneberg, lead researcher for a study of the effects of time shifts, said that humans' biological clocks are stronger than the clocks set by Congress.

"When you change clocks to daylight saving time, you don't change anything related to sun time," Roenneberg said. "This is one of those human arrogances, that we can do whatever we want as long as we are disciplined. We forget that there is a biological clock that is as old as living organisms, a clock that cannot be fooled. The pure social change of time cannot fool the clock."

Though individuals may see their biological clocks reset, and will get an "extra hour" of sleep or rest over the weekend, researchers say that the stress caused by time changes can be bad for the body.

Researchers in Sweden published a report in 2008 in the New England Journal of Medicine reporting that the number of heart attacks jumps during the period immediately following time changes, and that those vulnerable to sleep deprivation should be extra careful.

"More than 1.5 billion men and women are exposed to the transitions involved in daylight saving time: turning clocks forward by an hour in the spring and backward by an hour in the autumn," wrote Imre Janszky and Rickard Ljung, health and welfare researchers in Sweden. "These transitions can disrupt chronobiologic rhythms and influence the duration and quality of sleep, and the effect lasts for several days after the shifts."
Janszky and Ljung said that sleep deprivation can affect the cardiovascular system, leading the vulnerable to have heart problems in the days following Daylight Saving time changes.

Top 10 Reasons To Come To Tonight's Gallery Hop

2011-11-05T17:39:00.001-04:00

Top 10 Reasons to come to Gallery Hop this Saturday, November 5th...

Reason #1

Ray's Living Room - 17 Brickel St

Stoll down Brickel Street to enjoy the works of Mimi McCann. This new show "Reversing to a destination" will be open from Oct 14th-Nov. 27th.

Mimi McCann's series of work for this show ruminates on the process that is used in order to create her pieces both large and small, on paper and on canvas.

Instinctively selecting photographs mainly from tabloid as well as other popular magazines, the photos are then translated through the drawing process which uses a chance driven method of composition to reinstate the imagery into a new space. No longer existing to either glorify perfection or vilify the hedonism of celebrities, the combined images exist rather to represent the humanity that even the seemingly perfect or despicable among us have to navigate.

Reason #2

Dane's Dessert Cafe Grand Opening

14 E. Poplar Ave.

Be sure to stop in the sweetest new addition to the Short North, Dane's Dessert Cafe! Bring your family, friends and your appetite for delicious desserts, live music, and a chance to win a brand new iPad with each meal purchase! Dine and indulge on a large selection of desserts. Choose from Crepes, Belgian Waffles, Sundaes, Cakes and many more!

Reason #3

T. David Collection - 772 N. High St.

Home decor shopping is one of the most fun things to do during Gallery Hop. This Saturday be sure to stop into T. David Collection, not only for your home furnishings, but to see local jewelry artist Teresa Morbitzer of "VintageVamp."

Morbitzer's beautifully crafted designs and makes wonderful jewelry pieces by repurposing vintage jewelry elements. They are one of a kind pieces and very affordable

Reason #4

Tigertree - 787 N. High St.

Tigertree has these brilliant sequin cordones TOMS in stock now! A plethora of dazzling sequins to light up the night and spread some shimmer anywhere you go. With classic TOMS comfort, you'll float around on twinkling lights this season in Pewter Sequins Cordones.

Reason #5

GrandView Mercantile - 873 N. High St.

This 8,000 square foot antique marketplace is a must on your Gallery Hop. The amazing store offering a huge selection of distinctive pieces from around the world, such as this item of the week featured above: a set of 12 Andy Warhol "Cars" Prints, professionally framed, C. 1986-1987. (The first set sold immediately so don't miss out!) Showcasing 80 of Ohio's premier antique dealers, GrandView Mercantile offers an ever changing selection of antique and vintage furniture, fine art, vintage jewelry, and more. No matter what your style, GrandView Mercantile has something for everyone; you're sure to find a treasured piece that is as unique as you!

Reason #6

Voodoo Denim - 780 N. High St.

For the best in all things denim, be sure to take your Gallery Hop shopping into Voodoo Denim Lounge. This trendy retailer does more than just offer the latest in casual wear, they have excellent customer service for those seeking that great, fits-like-a-glove pair of jeans. With a great atmosphere and reasonable prices, stop in this Saturday and check out the newest in stock like Red Engine featured here.

Reason #7

MoJoe Lounge / Cup O Joe - 600 N. High St.

With the amazing forecast be sure to make a stop to enjoy the MoJoe Lounge patio one more time this year. CD101 will be set up to entertain while you sip on a B52 CAFE cocktail made of Grand Marnier, Bailey's, Kahlua, coffee & whipped cream. Simply delectable.

Reason #8

Brandt-Roberts Galleries - 642 N. High St.

Brandt-Roberts Galleries specializes in fine paintings and sculpture of the 20th and 21st centuries, offering both historic mid-century modern works and those of selected contemporary artists. Additional services offered include custom framing, portraiture, and art restoration. Luminous oils and glass works await you this Saturday as Brandt-Roberts opens the exhibit for new works by artists Jeff Morrow and Terri Albanese. Stop in and find that new great piece of art for your home or perhaps something to gift this holiday season!

Reason #9

Go Figure Consignment - 988 N. High St.

Go Figure is well known for its fashion forward looks for sizes 12 and up. The average shopper may not know that Go Figure carries a beautiful array of jewelry and accessories to please any fashionista. Specializing in upscale, full-figured women's clothing, Go Figure has great finds for any Gallery Hopper. Stop in and check out the newest items such as these eye-catching masks. Don't fall into the misconception that you have to be a certain size to shop in the Short North, stop into Go Figure Consignment this Saturday and you won't go home empty handed!

Reason #10

La Fogata - 790 N. High St.

This weekend, relax at La Fogata, even on the patio as we enjoy the last of the beautiful weather; not to mention take in some great people-watching. Although Gallery Hop officially ends at 10pm, be sure to stick around and enjoy the official La Fogata Dance Party which includes $3 Pinnacle Vodka drinks: a great way to cap off another great Gallery Hop!

Real Living Named “Best Residential Real Estate Brokerage” by Columbus C.E.O. Magazine for the Third Year in a Row

2011-11-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE

Real LivingNamed “Best Residential Real Estate Brokerage” by Columbus C.E.O. Magazine for the Third Year in a Row

Columbus,Ohio(October 20, 2011) – Real Living HER has been named central Ohio’s “BestResidential Real Estate Brokerage” in the November issue of Columbus C.E.O. magazine’s “Best ofBusiness 2011” section. Winners were determined by nominations from Columbus C.E.O. readers.

“Weare so excited to receive such incredible recognition from a publication like Columbus C.E.O.,” said Chris Derrow,president of Real Living HER. “We work hard to maintain our leadership positionin central Ohio and we’re happy our customers recognize our efforts.”

RealLiving HER has won this award three years in a row.

Currently,Real Living HER’s market share is about 18%, or roughly one of every five realestate transactions in central Ohio is completed by a Real Living HER agent.

About Real LivingHER

RealLiving HER, based in Columbus, Ohio, is a full-service real estate company withmore than 700 agents and 45 offices throughout Central Ohio. HER Realtors was established in 1956 and hasbeen the dominant full service brokerage throughout the area since 1964. RealLiving HER offers its consumers services that include residential &commercial real estate sales, property management and rental services,mortgage, title, warranty, and other home-related, lifestyle services. HER Realtors is a member of the Real Livingfranchise system, owned by Brookfield Real Estate, a leading provider of realestate services nationally & internationally, including one of the world’sleading global relocation companies. Real Living was named one of the best new franchises by Entrepreneur magazine, winner of theInman Innovator Award, and most promising new national brand by the SwanepoelTRENDS Report. Formore information, visit www.HERRealtors.com].

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Columbus Dispatch: Schumacher Place residents enjoy German Village lifestyle

2011-11-01T16:07:00.001-04:00

Neighborhood has similar look, nightlife while offering lower-priced homes, fewer restrictions

The story is here

By Mark Ferenchik

The Columbus Dispatch Monday October 31, 2011 10:06 AM

As you drive through a neighborhood south of Downtown on your way to a trendy restaurant or familiar nightspot, its brick streets and century-old homes might lead you to believe that you’re in German Village.

Then again, you might be in Schumacher Place.

Schumacher Place might resemble the village to the west, but there are differences. For example, houses cost less, and there are no tough restrictions on what color you paint them or what kind of windows you can put in.

Also hidden away in the neighborhood is an auto museum, where collectors Steve Wagner and Mark Hagans store their classic cars, not to mention vintage gas pumps, service-station signs, scores of old license plates and other neatly arranged auto memorabilia.

The two had been showing their cars, including Packards, Ford Edsels and Chryslers, by appointment in the nondescript E. Kossuth Street building. But they decided this summer to open it to the public from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sundays through Dec. 18.

“Steve just thought it would be nice, something constant,” Hagans said.

Wagner thought it would attract other car enthusiasts. But they found it draws out-of-towners who stumble upon it after visiting Schmidt’s or the Thurman Cafe or other nearby attractions, Wagner said.

“They drive by and go, ‘What’s this?’ ” Wagner said.

The same might be said for Schumacher Place.

Neither Hagans, an auto dealer who lives in Clintonville, nor Wagner, a mortgage-loan officer from the nearby Merion Village neighborhood, was specifically looking for real estate in that neighborhood.

But when they came across the low-key, 4,200-square-foot building, they liked what they saw.

“This seemed to be a lot more residential and kind of undiscovered,” Hagans said. “We want to fit in and be something that adds to the neighborhood, not detract from it.”

According to the civic association, the name of the neighborhood comes from the Schumacher family, who owned and operated a dairy business there in the 1800s. Their cows grazed in the neighborhood’s southeast section, between Sycamore and Whittier streets.

It was home to a slaughter yard for cattle, pigs and horses, creating a stench that made the surrounding area unsuitable for houses. Several tanneries supplied Columbus’ buggy industry.

The Columbus Generals professional baseball team played in a field on Whittier Street where the Giant Eagle store is now. Children also played there, their games occasionally interrupted by a pig that got loose on its way to the slaughter yard.

Today, the neighborhood is a comfortable array of two-story wood-frame and brick houses. In the fall, breezes rustle through the many trees that line the streets, where houses are fronted by picket and wrought-iron fences and tidy flower beds.

The neighborhood attracted Gary Stroud, a Texas native who moved to Columbus in 2006.

Stroud is the program chairman of human-resources management at nearby Franklin University. He can walk to work.

“Schumacher Place is one of those lost jewels. People don’t know about it,” said Stroud, 61, who leads the neighborhood’s civic association.

“We have restaurants, bars — everything in walking distance. I will get home on Friday and not get in the car all weekend.”

That’s what Kevin Caskey was hoping for when he opened his Skillet restaurant at 410 E. Whittier St. two years ago.

Neighborhood residents often walk to sample Caskey’s “rustic urban” food that includes an “urban egg sandwich” and macaroni and pulled pork.

Caskey, 48, moved from Lancaster to Schumacher Place, which he calls a “city pocket neighborhood” with a small-town feel.

That also appealed to Steve Sonderman, who grew up near Westerville but tired of suburban life. Sonderman, a 24-year-old substitute teacher, rents from a roommate who owns a house on E. Kossuth Street.

“I feel like I’m basically in German Village,” he said.

Schumacher Place businesses try to capitalize on that perception.

The “German Village” Giant Eagle is actually in Schumacher Place, Stroud said.

Even the Yellow Pages ad for the venerable Plank’s Cafe and Pizzeria says it’s “on Parsons in German Village.”

It’s in a neighborhood still kind of undiscovered, but maybe not for long.

mferenchik@dispatch.com

Business First: Volcanos, waterfalls, tiki torches – Lessner’s latest downtown eatery boasts Polynesian flair

2011-10-31T15:58:00.000-04:00

Elizabeth Lessner's restaurant group is ready to launch its sixth venture downtown.

The story is here

Elizabeth Lessner hopes her newest restaurant venture is a blast. The co-founder of the five-restaurant Columbus Food League is adding a sixth eatery to the portfolio.

The Grass Skirt seeks to revive the fire-and-tiki kitsch of tiki bars of yore with Polynesian fare and flair at 105 N. Grant Street in spring 2012. “We’re working on a volcano,” Lessner said. “We can’t promise it yet because it may not work.”

Also part of the South Pacific plans — steaming drinks, a waterfall, Spam, pineapples and maraschino cherries. “We all grew up loving the Kahiki,” she said of the once-popular Columbus restaurant that lives on as a frozen food brand. “We try to find niches. Our restaurant group goes for a fun vibe.” The venture includes the rest of the Columbus Food League team — Carmen Owens, Amy Brennick, Tim Lessner and Harold LaRue. One appeal of the old MadLab Theater and Gallery space was that it was a high-ceiling and open space — giving the business brain trust the freedom to be more creative, including not just the Polynesian decor but the ability to build the kitchen from scratch.

Menu details still are in the works, but pricing will be affordable, Lessner said.

The Grant Street location, which will be next door to the new downtown Hills Market, also hopes to be a lunch and dinner draw for students at nearby Columbus State Community College and the Columbus College of Art & Design.

Dan Eaton covers retail, restaurants, manufacturing, automotive and the advertising/PR industry for Business First.

View The Downtown Restraurant and Grocery Store in a larger map

Find Your New Pad with Your iPad.....or an Web Enabled Phone

2011-10-30T11:00:00.000-04:00

For Immediate Release:

Contact

Terry Penrod

614-273-8548

terry.penrod@realliving.com

Find Your New Pad with Your iPad

Terry Penrod speeds up the house-hunting process in CentralOhio with a real estate search for virtually any web-enabled phone

October 25, 2011, (Columbus, Ohio) - Terry Penrod with RealLiving HER is one of central Ohio’s top real estate agents, and he is now providingclients with a mobile real estate search created by Smarter Agent that makes itpossible to search all local property listings from their web-enabled mobiledevice. His mobile real estate search isthe only house-hunting tool that works on 95% of cell phones across allcarriers and will search every listing in market, regardless of brokerage.

Interested home buyers can be in any neighborhood and viewdetailed property information at the touch of a button. The GPS technology inthe mobile device, when available, locates users and pulls up addresses andinformation on listings in their immediate area. Sales price, square footage,tax information, beds/baths, interior and exterior features, pictures and morebecome available instantly in the palm of their hand.

Consumers can also search by address, community name, cityor zip code when GPS is not available, or if they want to search for realestate in an area other than their current location.

The “Call to See” feature within the mobile application willconnect users to Terry Penrod if they have questions or want to schedule a tourof the property.

"It's the next generation of shopping for a home. Whatthe Internet did for real estate, the mobile application will do for thesearch. It puts data into the buyers' hands where they want it when they wantit," said Terry.

Consumers can get Terry Penrod’s mobile real estate searchon their cell phone by visiting www.mobile.terrypenrod.comfor easy instructions or by texting agent1 to 87778 to receive a text messagewith a link to download the mobile real estate application.

This is available as a fully downloadable application onhundreds of devices across Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. Apremium mobile web version is also available on 95% of cell phones. The fullydownloadable application is free to download on Sprint devices, BlackBerrydevices, the iPhone, and Google's Android. The premium mobile web version isfree to access.

# # #

About Terry Penrod

Since 1988, Terry has been a realestate investor and in 2004, I became a licensed real estate agent. Sincethen I helped my clients purchase and sell over $30 million in real estate. In 2010 he became a founding partner of RealLiving HER LLC. He grew up in Toledo,Ohio and attended St. John’s Jesuit High School. He attended The OhioState University and graduated with a BA in Communications. Terry hasheld various sales and management positions in Central Ohio over the 28 yearshe has lived here.

About Real Living HER

Real Living HER, based in Columbus, Ohio, is a full-servicereal estate company with more than 700 agents and 45 offices throughout CentralOhio. HER Realtors was established in1956 and has been the dominant full-service brokerage throughout the area since1964. Real Living HER offers its consumers services that include residential& commercial real estate sales, property management and rental services, mortgage,title, warranty, and other home-related, lifestyle services. Real Living HER was recently named “Best RealEstate Brokerage” by the readers of Columbus CEO magazine for the third year ina row in the “Best of Business” awards. HER is a member of the Real Living franchise system, owned by BrookfieldReal Estate, a leading provider of real estate services nationally &internationally, including one of the world’s leading global relocationcompanies. Real Living was named one ofthe best new franchises by Entrepreneurmagazine, winner of the Inman Innovator Award, and most promising new nationalbrand by the Swanepoel TRENDS Report. Mostrecently, Real Living was recognized by Real Trends as the fastest growing realestate franchise in the country. Formore information, visit www.HERRealtors.com.

iPhone and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.Android is a trademark of Google, Inc. Blackberry is owned by Research In Motion Limited Other trademarks or registeredtrademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Business First: Galaxy Cafe vets open Explorers Club in Merion Village

2011-10-28T15:56:00.001-04:00

The story is here

Their Facebook Page is here

The Explorers Club is more than a new restaurant — it’s a reunion for two one-time restaurant partners.

Tracy Studer and Ricky Barnes once teamed up for three restaurants in the 1990s and early 2000s, most notably the Galaxy Cafe in Powell and two offshoots in Grandview Heights and the Short North.

“We split in 2002, went our separate ways,” Studer said. “We lost touch with each other.”

Studer had been at the Golf Club of Dublin when he decided he wanted to get back to running a place of his own. A Merion Village resident, he saw that the long-time Crater’s Restaurant & Bar space at 1586 S. High St. was vacant.

“I wanted to do something in the neighborhood so I began working on a deal,” he said.
Then he got a text message. It was Barnes, catching up. The conversation moved to Studer’s Merion Village plans and the one-time business partners decided to revive that relationship. The Explorers Club opened Friday.

“I refer to it as the Galaxy all grown up,” Studer said.

He described the ingredients as “international peasant food” using fresh ingredients, Ohio-sourced as much as possible, with simple preparations.

“The whole idea behind the name is about exploring cuisine, exploring life,” Studer said.
Dishes span the globe, including chile rellenos, banh mi, beef brisket, linguini with shrimp, to name a few, among other sandwich, salad, pasta and entree choices. Nothing on the menu tops $11.75. Studer declined to share sales projections. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday; brunch and dinner Saturday; and just brunch on Sunday.

Dan Eaton covers retail, restaurants, manufacturing, automotive and the advertising/PR industry for Business First.

Franklin County Early Voting Hours This Weekend

2011-10-27T19:49:00.001-04:00

EarlyVote THIS Weekend at the Franklin County Board of Elections:
280 E Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215

Weekend Voting Extended Hours

Friday, Oct 28th: 8:00am-9:00pm

Saturday, Oct 29th: 8:00am-12:00pm

Sunday, Oct. 30th: 1:00pm-5:00pm

You must provide ONE of the following items to show proof ofyour identification:

Your Ohio driver's license number; or

The last four digitsof your Social Security number; or

A copy of your currentand valid photo identification, military identification, OR a current (withinthe last 12 months) utility bill (including cell phone bill), bank statement,government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your nameand current address (including from a public college or university).

Tocontact the Franklin County Board of Elections call 614.525.3100 or visit theirwebsite: http://vote.franklincountyohio.gov

Columbus Dispatch: Jump in area home sales fuels optimism

2011-10-25T16:51:00.001-04:00

By Jim Weiker
The Columbus Dispatch - Saturday, October 22, 2011

The link is here

Central Ohio home sales are poised to post the first annual increase in six years.

Figures released yesterday show that 1,719 central Ohio homes sold in September, up almost 17 percent from a year earlier.

Columbus-area home sales remain down 3.7 percent this year, but a 58 percent jump in the number of homes in contract in September could erase that deficit by the end of the year.

“Hopefully, those contracts will manifest themselves in closings,” said Rick Benjamin, president of the Columbus Board of Realtors. “I’m cautiously optimistic that we’re seeing traction in the marketplace.”

Central Ohio home sales have dropped each year since peaking at 27,493 in 2005. Last year, 19,676 homes changed hands in the Columbus area.

Benjamin and others don’t expect the housing market to fully recover until employment rises, but ending the year with more 2011 sales than a year ago would be a symbolic boost for an industry bludgeoned by the recession.

“I’d like to think we hit rock bottom,” said Ron Cadieux, a partner in the Raines Group real-estate firm in New Albany. “This is going to be our best year ever. ... The homes that are well-priced and in good condition are absolutely selling.”

Another reason real-estate experts are optimistic: a sharp decline in the number of people selling their homes.

The number of central Ohio homes on the market dipped below 15,000 in September, compared with almost 19,000 a year ago.

Fewer homes for sale typically results in greater competition for the homes, and therefore, higher sales prices.

“At the very least, this will lead to price stability, based on the laws of supply and demand,” said Mike Carruthers, a Coldwell Banker King Thompson agent in Bexley, where 91 homes are for sale, down from 157 a year ago. (Last year’s figures were inflated by an unusual number of condominium listings.)

Other communities that have seen a precipitous drop in the number of homes for sale include Dublin (519 a year ago, 378 today), Worthington (147 to 92) and Obetz (31 to 17).

Agents say some homeowners have stopped trying to sell, while others are waiting for prices to climb.

“I don’t think prices are where they should be yet,” said Cindy Calender, a Coldwell Banker King Thompson agent in Polaris. “If people are upside down in their homes” — owing more than the homes are worth — “they have a hard time getting what they need, so some are still waiting.”

Home sales in Ohio also were up in September but remain down 3.4 percent in 2011.

“In all corners of Ohio, we’ve experienced a significant uptick in activity in recent months, a hopeful sign of an improving and stable marketplace,” said Meg Hudson, president of the Ohio Association of Realtors.

jweiker@dispatch.com

Columbus Dispatch: Central Ohio home sales rose in September

2011-10-21T12:42:00.001-04:00

The story is here

By Jim Weiker

The Columbus Dispatch Friday October 21, 2011 10:28 AM

Central Ohio home sales continue to climb compared to last year’s dismal performance.

In September, 1,719 homes changed hands in the Columbus area, up nearly 17 percent from the same month last year. September’s sales were down 12 percent from August, the last month of the summer sales season.

The figures offer more evidence that the market is normalizing, following a roller-coaster 2010. Sales boomed during the first half of the year, driven by a federal tax incentive, but collapsed during the second half, when the incentive ended.

For the year through September, central Ohio home sales totals are still slightly behind last year’s sales, but are expected to catch up in the next few months. The number of homes placed in contract during September – but have yet to close – rose 58 percent over last September, suggesting robust sales during the next month or two.

“As home sales for the last three months have surpassed 2010, the year-to-date sales statistics continue to narrow the gap between this year and last year when the home-buyer tax credits were in effect,” said Rick Benjamin, president of the Columbus Board of Realtors. “Although many agents are reporting increased activity, time will tell whether that activity translates into actual home sales.”

Across Ohio, home sales rose more than 14 percent over last September, led by big jumps in some smaller cities such as Athens, Lancaster and Mansfield.

Statewide sales are down 3.4 percent so far for the year.

“In all corners of Ohio, we’ve experienced a significant uptick in activity in recent months, a hopeful sign of an improving and stable marketplace,” said Meg Hudson, president of the Ohio Association of Realtors.
jweiker@dispatch.com