33rd Annual Victorian Village Tour of Homes & Gardens Retruns to the Short North on September 16th

From High Victorian to High Rise, an intimate look into the diverse and exciting living options in Victorian Village and the Short North Neighborhoods.

(Columbus) – The 33rd Annual Victorian Village Tour of Homes and Gardens, presented by Dooley & Company Realtors, will open its doors and garden gates on Sunday, September 16, from 10:00AM to 6:00PM.

“This years Tour of Homes and Gardens will be one of our most exciting to date”, said Joe Spinelli, tour chair. “ The homes on this year’s tour will showcase the exciting and wonderful changes occurring in our neighborhood.” Anchored by beautiful turn-of-the-century architecture and parks, Victorian Village and the Short North neighborhoods are developing into “the” place to be. “With so many choices now available, you can find a style of living that’s best for you,” said Joe. In addition to Victorian Village, homes in the adjacent neighborhoods of Italian Village and Harrison West will be showcased.

Highlights of this year’s tour include a beautiful town home condominium with a furnished rooftop terrace and an incredible view of Goodale Park and the city skyline; an old machine shop that has been converted into ultra modern living space with a glass wall that disappears into the ceiling making the living room one with the open courtyard; a penthouse in The Dakota with 2700 square feet of indoor living space and another 1000 square feet of outdoor living space -- perfect for viewing fireworks all over the city.

Of course, no Victorian Village tour would be complete without our grand, century-old homes.  “ We are thrilled to showcase five wonderful home renovations in various Victorian-era styles,” said Pat Lewis, head of this year’s home selection committee. “Each caretaker has taken seriously the task of restoration while, at the same time, taking advantage of modern conveniences so the home is, to a great extent, historically accurate but also comfortable and livable.” said Pat. “We are truly privileged that these homeowners have allowed us to take a peek into their amazing homes. And there are pleasant surprises… two of the homes have beautifully-landscaped saltwater swimming pools in their courtyards. Who said you had to make sacrifices to live in the city!”

In total there are 12 unique homes on this year’s tour --  a wonderful snapshot into our exciting “century-old new neighborhood.”  In addition to the Sunday tour, there is a Preview Tour with Dinner  -- this year’s dinner theme being ‘A Taste of Broadway’.

Tickets may be purchased in advance for the discounted price of $15.00 on line (no service charge) at www.victorianvillage.org.  Tickets can also be purchased at the Urban Gardner, 940 North High Street or Spinelli’s Deli, 767 Neil Avenue beginning the week of September 1. Advanced purchase price at these two locations is also $15.00. Tickets can be purchased for $20.00 the day of the tour in front of Spinelli’s Deli. Tickets for the Preview Tour and Dinner event on Saturday can be purchased for $100.00. You can also call the Victorian Village Society at 614-228-2912 or via the Internet at www.victorianvillage.org for more information or advanced ticket purchases.   

"Parking garage anchoring $40M development plan" Business First of Columbus

Link: Parking garage anchoring $40M development plan
Brian R. Ball
Business First of Columbus
April 13h, 2007

The developer who converted the Victorian Gate apartments in Columbus' Short North into condos has tentative plans for a $40 million residential and parking complex overlooking Goodale Park.

Pat Grabill said the proposal is driven not by housing but by his plan to build a 350-slot parking garage that could be used by visitors to the south end of the busy commercial corridor along North High Street. His plan includes developing as many as 20 loft residences in the historic limestone section of the United Commercial Travelers of America headquarters at 632 N. Park St. and 28 other condos nearby...

"Unsightly curbs mar Victorian Village’s charm, resident says" The Columbus Dispatch

I'm not sure what it is about this story that strikes me as being odd. Anyway you look at it though, I do wonder if this is an issue that the Victorian Village Society has on their agenda or not.

One of the secrets to getting things done city-wise is to seek out the established organizations and groups that band together to deal with these types of neighborhood issues and follow up on them until they are resolved. Neighborhood Associations get a lot of things done when they get residents to join together:

Link: Unsightly curbs mar Victorian Village’s charm, resident says
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Kirk D . Richards
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

..."This is supposed to be special, groovy Victorian Village," Knepp said. "It looks like a dump."

The crumbling curbs are mostly on the east side of Harrison Avenue between W. 1 st and Wilber avenues...

Plaza Properties introduces The Valerian in Victorian Village

Columbus, Ohio – Plaza Properties is embarking on its most diverse residential development to date in Central Ohio.  The Valerian in Victorian Village located at Starr and Third Avenues has been approved by the Victorian Village Commission and now is in a development fast track for completion by late 2007.

“What inspires me about this project is its careful architectural integration with the neighborhood and the incredible diversity of options available,” said Larry Ruben, Plaza Properties President and CEO. “We have a commitment to the urban core and are proud to be able to develop this unique project in an already outstanding community.”

The Valerian in Victorian Village will be a unique collection of 86 condominium residences designed to mirror the diverse and eclectic nature of the Village itself. In true Village style, the Valerian will feature a variety of housing options, ranging from 850 and 1,600 square-foot flats, to 1,500 square-foot, three-story, duplexes. The Valerian will accommodate a variety of lifestyles, making it its own authentic village destination within the heart of Victorian Village.

The Valerian is divided into four distinct segments: Homes, Crescent ,Carriage Houses and Flats.

Homes at The Valerian in Victorian Village  (10 residences)

The Homes at The Valerian will consist of five, three story, two family duplexes.  These ten residences will each be 1,500 square feet and equipped with a two car garage with private entrances per residence.

Crescent at The Valerian in Victorian Village (30 residences)

The Crescent at The Valerian will front Starr and Third Avenues and present the most dramatic architectural element of The Valerian.  The thirty residences of the Crescent will encompass:

• Street entry flats: six units at 1,200 square feet each
• Crescent flats: 14 units at 1,075 to 1,600 square feet each
• Top level flats: ten units at 1,075 to 1,600 square feet each.   

The street entry flats and crescent flats each are equipped with one parking space, while the top level flats each have two spaces. 

Flats at The Valerian in Victorian Village (30 residences)

The Flats at the Valerian will encompass 30 common hall units from 825-1,120 square feet each, be equipped with elevator service and one parking space per unit.   

Carriage Houses at The Valerian in Victorian Village (16 residences)

The Carriage Houses will be located behind the Homes and consist of eight townhouses at 1200 square feet each and an additional eight flats at 900 square feet each.  Each of these residences will be equipped with one car private entrance garages.

Construction drawings are being completed so that final construction costs and subsequent final pricing can be determined. Residence pricing range is expected to be from $179,000 to $395,000.

"Spirit of 30-plus years continues" The Columbus Dispatch

COMFEST kicks off tonight in Goodale Park:

Link: Spirit of 30-plus years continues
Sense of community drives gathering, event organizers say
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Dana Moran
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

...This weekend, more than 200 performing acts and 1,500 volunteers will convene in Goodale Park, but the spirit of ComFest remains what it was 34 years ago. Dogs (as long as they’re cleaned up after) and children of all ages are welcome. And the festival is still free; just take an open mind...

• View COMFEST map
• View Stage Schedule

Plaza Properties names proposed Victorian Village condo project

Plaza Properties names their most recently proposed condo project:

Link: Brick - a - brac
(bottom of "One-stop shop for high-end market")
Monday, May 15, 2006
Mike Pramik
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH 

Plaza Properties has named its proposed condominium project in Victorian Village. The Vallerian will offer 88 units in a three-story building at 116 W. Starr Ave....

Neil Avenue Virtual Tour

Neil Avenue is definitely one of my favorite streets in the city. While it is well-trafficked, it is one of those streets that is lined with historic homes that have been restored and actually brings you back in time a bit as you stroll down it. It serves as the main corridor for Victorian Village and when the foliage kicks into gear in the spring, it makes for a great place to take a casual walk or jog.

View: Neil Avenue Virtual Tour

"More condos set for Short North" Business First of Columbus

This "new" project has actually replaced one that had been on the books for sometime now under the Lakota Investment Co., formerly called Fusion Lofts, which was slated to be developed as 18 condos in the empty space between Columbus Eyeworks and Skully's on N. High street.

The project has a new name, Jackson on High, a new developer, JBH Holdings LLC, and a very different design by the Berardi Partners design firm that includes 37 townhomes and flats and 80 parking spaces with ground floor retail.

High density, mixed-use development with 80 parking spaces at a time when the Short North continues to work on the parking issue...no arguments from me. It's also a great development for the northern half of the Short North and continues to move revitalization efforts further north:

Link: More condos set for Short North
Business First of Columbus
April 21, 2006
Brian R. Ball

A new development team has stepped forward to build condominiums and parking on the site of a shelved condo project in the Short North.

JBH Holdings LLC has tentative plans to build 37 condos at North High Street and West 4th Avenue, next to Skully's bar and diner. JBH's Jackson on High project, now before the Victorian Village Commission for approval, is contingent on the expected April 19 acquisition of a vacant building at 1127 N. High St. and an adjacent parking lot for $1.6 million...

Goodale Park Virtual Tour Stop

Ahhh…one of the first days of spring as soaked up in Goodale Park in Victorian Village.

View: Goodale Park Virtual Tour Stop

"More U.S. homeowners seek historic designation" The Wall Street Journal

Did you know...
That there are a total of 19 historic districts in Columbus? There are only 4 historical districts in the city of Columbus that are officially recognized by the City Council: Victorian Village, Italian Village, German Village and the Brewery District.

Owning a home in a historic neighborhood has pluses and minuses, some of which you should familiarize yourself with before you start house hunting. If you have big dreams of renovating a home in a historic of buying a lot and building a new home, there are explicit guidelines to which you must adhere to and get approval from the architectural review commissions for the specific neighborhood you are dealing with:

Link: More U.S. homeowners seek historic designation
Thursday, March 16, 2006
By Sara Schaefer Munoz
The Wall Street Journal
taken from www.post-gazette.com

...Experts say designation can affect home value because it leads to neighborhood pride and better upkeep of homes and yards. Most designations encourage repairs to be made with high-quality material, such as wood, rather than vinyl, and prevent a hodge-podge of styles by blocking any new construction that doesn't fit in. Historic designation can also bring financial incentives such as tax credits and matching grant programs for home maintenance. For example, homeowners in many California cities can save between 40 percent to 60 percent a year on property taxes with an historic-district designation. A matching-grants program in Scottsdale, Ariz., will reimburse homeowners in historic districts for 50 percent of the total cost of an improvement, up to $10,000.

But there are downsides to historic designation for many homeowners. Strict regulations on construction and home modification can make repairs costly and burdensome. The potential headaches are leading some homeowners to resist being included in a historic district. In Rockford, Ill., one resident recently led an unsuccessful charge to roll back part of a historic district after the town barred her from installing vinyl siding...

For more information on the 4 officially recognized districts, visit the Historic Districts page of the City of Columbus Planning Division's INFObase website.

To learn more about all of the historic neighborhoods in Columbus, visit the Council of Historic Neighborhoods website. There are only 18 historical neighborhoods shown on this website and the city's INFObase page says there are 19 so I'm not sure which one is missing.

If you are curious about how specific the guidelines get or how the commission's function check out the City of Columbus Department of Development's Historic Preservation section of the city's website on Architectural Review Commissions.

Plaza Properties Proposes Potential Project...in Victorian Village

The best stuff is always tucked away in unrelated articles. This time it's about a proposed 100 unit condo project in Victorian Village:

Link: Dublin Methodist Hospital rooms designed to meet patients’ medical, emotional needs
(content in Bric-a-brac)
Monday, January 09, 2006
Mike Pramik
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Plaza Properties wants to convert a parking lot at 116 W. Starr Ave. into a 100-unit condominium building. Plans call for three stories of one- and twobedroom condos, 1,000 and 1,150 square feet in size. They’ll have firstfloor walkouts and underground parking. The project must be approved by the Victorian Village Commission.

Victorian Quarters - Columbus' Distinctive Luxury Condominiums

The latest entry into the urban renovation realm for Victorian Village makes its debut with 9 units on the corner of Neil and Tappan:

Link: Victorian Quarters - Columbus' Distinctive Luxury Condominiums.

Victorian Quarters is situated along the beautiful tree lined Neil Avenue, the gateway to Victorian Village. Victorian Quarters are 9 luxury town home condominiums, which retain the original detailed period architecture, combined with the historic charm of Victorian Village. They are extensively renovated and rejuvenated for people with an urban edge...

Goodale Park Condos

The row houses in Victorian Village that served as the aesthetic inspiration for Victorian Gate are getting a facelift. The condo conversion project consists of renovating several apartment units into 13 condos. Only 2/3 of the row house is presently being converted, the remainder is Section 8 that will be converted once an existing contract expires. This project will provide a great remedy to the corner of Buttles and Park of what has become an eyesore in the past few years.

Link: GOODALE PARK CONDOS
Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Goodale Park Condos

... A fully-renovated historic property featuring one bedroom flats and two bedroom town homes. Goodale Park Condominiums are located in the heart of the Columbus' Short North Arts District... Downtown lifestyle with unique park-side access...

Goodale Park Condos Website

Goodale Park Place Condominiums

Now I hate to post partial information but I haven't been able to find any more information on a project I drove by in Victorian Village on the north side of Goodale Park called Goodale Park Place. It's pretty far along in construction. The most I could find was a listing in the MLS:

Goodale Park Place MLS Listing

**** POSTING UPDATE 12/27/2004 ****
A link to the Goodale Park Place website was supplied to me by Ken Wightman and has been added to the DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS link page of this site under VICTORIAN VILLAGE.

Victorian Village Boundaries

Here is the official boundary map for Victorian Village in Columbus, Ohio:

Columbus Planning Division INFObase