OmahaHome January/February 2019 by Omaha Magazine

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 A LWAY S L O C A L , A LWAY S B E AU T I F U L

A DA P T I V E R EUSE IGN I T E S U R BA N E VOLU T ION

S C AT T E R J OY A C R ES ' A N I M A L R ES C U E

O M A H A L A N D B A N K S U C C ES S S T O R I ES

QUA I L H O L L O W A N N E X E D BY O M A H A

OmahaMagazine.com

OmahaHome

E N T R Y WAY

CON TEN TS 1

OmahaHome Entr y way

DIY

RESOLUTIONS FOR A CLEANER NEW YEAR

Spaces FIREPL ACE AND CHILL WITH THE POWELL S

Neighborhoods QUAIL HOLLOW ANNE XED BY OMAHA

A rchitecture ADAPTIVE REUSE ON CUMING S TREE T

Feature OM AHA L AND BANK SUCCESS S TORIES

At Home S C AT T E R J O Y A C R E S ’ A N I M A L R E S C U E

Landscape T R E E -T R I M M I N G T I M E : W I N T E R O R S P R I N G ?

Transformations

“New Year—a new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? Ultimately we write it. The choice is ours!”

—Alex Morritt

t’s time to take the Christmas lights down and put the house back in order. Time to freshen things up and plan for jobs to tackle. It’s 2019—and timing is everything.

Another year is upon us and as I sit here writing this letter, I’m flabbergasted to be saying “Happy New Year!” so soon. Once again, it’s all about making life simpler and less stressful. After doing some DIY research, I found clever ways to do so.

This issue covers the old and the new. The Powells’ fireplace featured in “Spaces” not only complements their custom home at 90th and Farnam streets, but adds new luxury for these cold months. Patrick McGee’s article in “Landscape” will challenge your thoughts on winter tree-trimming and help you take better care of your trees when pruning. “At Home” may be just what the doctor ordered for those wintery blues. Scatter Joy Acres shows you how volunteering does many good things for mind and body. It may be hard to leave the comfort of your own home, but get out and into the community to enjoy the season. From OmahaHome to your home, have a happy and fabulous new year!

F R O M B A S E M E N T T O E N T E R TA I N M E N T Z O N E

ON THE COVER

Steve and Julie Burgess were admiring adapted Old Market warehouses when they decided to tackle their own urban makeover. Photo by William Hess. Story on page 14.

Sandy Matson Contributing Editor

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Happy January! Resolutions for a cleaner new year that will help make your house sparkle!

OmahaMagazine.com

DIY story by Sandy Matson

photography PROVIDED

tart the year fresh with these quick, helpful cleaning hacks. Hacks in general exploded in popularity when websites such as BuzzFeed and Pinterest started pitching them at us. This made f inding housekeeping hacks incredibly easy, even for us not-so-sav v y web users. The following hacks can reduce the number of cleaning products in your home by using products you already have.

Lemons: These citrus fruits are one of the most useful and benef icial items to keep around. The acid in lemons is antibacterial and antiseptic, as well as a natural bleach. Uses: • De-stink your garbage disposal with lemon rinds. Run a few through and follow with cold water to dispel odors. • Clean your microwave with one lemon. You will need a microwave-safe bowl. Fill with four cups of water. Cut your lemon in half. Microwave on high for three minutes and let it set for another f ive minutes. Remove bowl and turntable. Wipe surface with clean towel.

design by Mady Besch

• Remove stubborn water stains from chrome kitchen and bathroom f ixtures (it even works on copper). Cut a lemon in half and scrub the surface with the halves. This will also remove any rust stains left from bobby pins or razor blades.

Vinegar: Though not registered as a disinfectant with the EPA, this powerful liquid will kill both salmonella and E. coli, two bacteria you def initely want to avoid. Uses: • Unclog your drain. Pour half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar down the drain. Let it sit for 10 minutes and rinse with hot water. • Remove mineral spots from a showerhead. Fill a plastic bag halfway with vinegar and tie around the showerhead. Let the bag sit overnight and rinse in the morning. • Shutter and blinds need cleaning? Get out a soft sock and slip it onto your hand. Make an even mixture of water and vinegar. Spray this onto the sock and get into every nook and cranny that collects dust. We all have a mismatched sock or two we can use for this.

Baking soda:

Soap:

This does more than f ight refrigerator odors. It’s non-toxic and, unlike vinegar, does not have a strong smell. Because of its abrasiveness, it can f ight tough stains as well.

Want a clever way to keep your f ingernails clean when doing a dirty job? Pack soap under them by rubbing them across a bar a few times. When the dirty work is done, simply scrub it out with a nail brush.

Uses: • Remove tough burnedon food from pots and pans. Sprinkle on burned areas and add just enough hot water to cover. Let it sit overnight, and scrub it off in the morning. • Polish silver f latware. Make a paste with 3-parts baking soda and 1-part water. Rub onto silver with clean cloth and rinse. • Deodorize rugs and upholstered furniture. Sprinkle on the rug and furniture, let sit for 15 minutes, and vacuum. Below are a few quirky tips that I had not heard of and will try soon.

Aspirin: Got fresh f lowers without a green thumb? Keep them around longer by placing crushed aspirin into the water. The salicylic acid in the aspirin will help keep the water clean and free of the f lowerdamaging bacteria.

Rubber gloves: While we love our furry, four-legged family members, we could all do without the fur they leave behind. Pick up some rubber gloves at the dollar store and sweep the worst areas with the glove. Hair will ball and pick up easy.

Plywood and bricks: Lastly, living in Nebraska, protecting your air conditioner is important. Cover it with ply wood weighted down with bricks to protect the compressor in the winter. This also encourages rodents to move on. And if you want to protect the metal and keep it looking good, coat it with car wax before the snow f lies. At the end of the day, a hack should offer a clever and unique way to repurpose an object or solve a problem. It should also be realistic— for those of us lacking an engineering degree or carpentry apprenticeship— to implement. And most importantly, it should help your home look great without requiring a lot of extra work. So go forth and spruce!

At the Powell Residence

OmahaMagazine.com

S PAC E S story by Dylan Longwell

photography by BIll Sitzmann

s the sun slowly sets beyond the horizon, the circadian rhythms of Dean and Robyn Powell signal their descent into the basement of their home. Lambent f lames from the f ireplace deliver a comforting invite to linger in its warmth on chilly nights. A street view of the Powells’ home could certainly fool the naked eye into believing it has existed for a century or longer. External stone walls and dark wooden beams give the illusion of a classical house rooted within Omaha’s history, yet it was erected less than a decade ago. During summer 2015, the Powells excitedly began renovating their new home near 90th and Farnam streets. Without uprooting the original creation by the initial owners and builders, the Powells set out to personalize their living space. Together, they remodeled the interior structure in a way that harmonizes their lifestyle and aesthetical preferences while respecting the existing architecture. The main f loor comes to life during the daytime hours. Natural light peeping through the massive windows accentuates the classically designed wood f loors, vaulted ceilings, and white furnishings. The remodeled house called for a new seasonal routine after completion of the magnif icent basement f ireplace. When darkness falls upon the Powell home, the main f loor retires its duties to the basement, and the f ireplace becomes the focal point of household activities. Similar to the home itself, the f ireplace is a result of multiple forces cooperating to create a fresh design. After sketching the project for the new basement addition, the Powells

design by Mady Besch

contacted Claxton Fireplace Center and Flair Custom Cabinets in February 2018 to implement their vision. The Powells were accustomed to media rooms; indeed, a media room was their original plan for the basement. While they ultimately decided against this idea, the urge to incorporate an immense television for entertainment

Prior to the f ireplace, the Powells seldom used their basement. Once the project was complete, that all changed. “The f ireplace creates an ambiance that gives the feeling of a multipurpose space where we can relax by the f ire and read a book, watch a movie, write, or even entertain family and friends,” Robyn says.

It is this indulgent glow of flames coming from the basement that contributes to the living quality of the Powells’ home. remained. The classical integrity of the architecture played a pivotal role in their planning, and they wanted to match stone from the home’s exterior. Finally, they desired the basement to offer a comforting, evening oasis with warm, earthy tones. The challenge became how to incorporate a big-screen television without sacrif icing their other needs. “Let’s put a f ireplace in. That way we get the best of both worlds,” Robyn recalls saying. For Dan Claxton, president of Claxton Fireplace Center, the puzzle was how to prevent damage to the television caused by the f ireplace. Claxton and his team designed a venting system to guide the heat behind the television cabinet instead of directly through the vertical face of the f ireplace. After months of laborious collaboration, the heart and soul of the Powells’ basement was f inished. An 86-inch television f ills the wall, framed with towering Birchwood cabinets. But onlookers’ eyes are drawn below to the 6-foot-wide natural stone veneer f ireplace. It is an incredible display of symbiosis between old and new technology.

It is this indulgent glow of f lames coming from the basement that contributes to the living quality of the Powells’ home. When the sun ceases to bless the main f loor with life, the softly lit basement offers comfort and a place to unwind. The Powells see endless opportunities hidden within the glimmering f ireplace. It represents an area to celebrate the holidays surrounded by the warmth of family. Soft f lames dancing beneath the television allow them to watch a movie or enjoy their favorite sporting events in a relaxed environment. The f ireplace acts as a centerpiece to work around in their continued creative effort to blend classic and modern styles into a harmonious living environment. Most importantly, it is a vital part to the rhythmic balance of the home that will be a ref lection of the Powells for years to come. Visit claxtonfireplace.com for more information.

Quail Hollow:

OmahaMagazine.com

NEIGHBOR HOODS story by Tamsen Butler

photography by BIll Sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

“We have a good mixture of young and old here. Everyone participates as a neighborhood— anything to bring the neighbors out.”

—LaVerne Benck

OmahaMagazine.com

NEIGHBOR HOODS

ocated not far from Lake Zorinsky, Quail Hollow has streets lined with tidy homes occupied by retirees and young families. Quail Hollow residents not only know their neighbors, they also like to spend time with them. Neighborhood picnics, potlucks, parades, and block parties are par for the course for this neighborhood that is frequently described as “safe” and “friendly” by residents. They are not simply speaking of human residents. Quail Hollow abuts two-to-three acres of a wetlands preserve, which is popular with many residents. The protected wetlands draw many varieties of birds, including eagles, owls, hawks, ducks, and cardinals. The natural setting also provides habitat for raccoons, squirrels, and other animals. Quail Hollow residents were so fond of this natural feature that they enthusiastically added retaining walls, bridges, and walking trails when the neighborhood was still a sanitary improvement district.

“It’s a great place to live,” says LaVerne Benck, current homeowner association president and longtime resident. “It’s quiet.” Benck moved to Quail Hollow around 15 years ago, three years after the subdivision opened. “We lived in Stonybrook for 31 years, but we wanted a ranchstyle home. Quail Hollow was around 40 percent full when we moved in.” The subdivision currently consists of 222 homes. There are a total of 229 lots. Benck and the other HOA board members are responsible for ensuring everything goes according to the neighborhood covenants. “We work together and keep the neighborhood in shape,” he says. For the residents, this means not having above-ground pools, sheds, or junk cars sitting in driveways, and using only approved colors for roofs and fences. Perhaps most noticeable when driving through the neighborhood is the no-trashcans-in-front rule that Benck and his fellow board members promote and enforce.

“We can’t let people slide,” he says, explaining that anyone violating the covenants receives a letter. “It’s up to the board to enforce the covenants.” If a resident wants to challenge one of the covenants, they must compel 75 percent of the Quail Hollow homeowners to side with them, otherwise the HOA can take legal action. That hardly ever happens, though, according to Benck, who says most homeowners have no trouble following the rules. The HOA isn’t lenient because, as Benck explains, allowing one person to break a covenant is like “opening Pandora’s box.” So what happens when a passionately led HOA is coupled with a geographically attractive neighborhood? Resident Victoria Boldt says, “I would say Quail Hollow is special because neighbors really look out for each other and we have a strong sense of community. It’s an excellent place to raise a family.”

NEIGHBOR HOODS

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Quail Hollow resident Mike Reed agrees. “It’s a pretty quiet and safe neighborhood.” Residents are considerate, Reed adds. “We love living in Quail Hollow because neighbors watch out for each other. During the winter, neighbors help each other clear their driveways.”

“We love living in Quail Hollow because neighbors watch out for each other.”

—M ike Reed

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GROWN

INSTALLED

UNMATCHED

“Over the years we’ve lived here, the summer picnic and the Neighborhood Night Out have been the highlights for me,” Reed says. Benck adds that last year’s Night Out included clowns, face painters, and hot dogs, and that people of all ages had a great time. A group of resident volunteers man the Citizen’s Patrol Group, who “patrol to make sure everything’s peaceful and quiet,” Benck says, adding, “No reports of crime out here.” Reed agrees, “I watch posts on the NextDoor website and see a lot of negative stuff [car break-ins, intruders, etc.] happening in other neighborhoods, but I hardly ever hear anything bad happening in Quail Hollow.”

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It’s a tight-knit community, which is by design. Benck explains that the many community activities within the neighborhood are designed to

“draw people together to meet their neighbors. We have a good mixture of young and old here. Everyone participates as a neighborhood— anything to bring the neighbors out.” Quail Hollow was annexed into the City of Omaha in September 2018. Benck says the annexation happened “without protest” since most homeowners were eager to enjoy the drop in property taxes the annexation would bring. He also says being an off icial part of Omaha allows Quail Hollow to qualify for funding for their citizen’s patrol. Before the city took control of the neighborhood, the HOA oversaw a number of beautif ication projects including adding a walkway to the wetlands area located within the boundaries of the neighborhood. In the warmer months, residents can be found walking their dogs along the many walkways in Quail Hollow. “During the summer, as I’m walking my dogs through the neighborhood, I see families out talking to each other and their kids playing together,” Reed says. When the weather turns chilly, everyone in the neighborhood gears up for the holiday lighting contest sponsored by the HOA. The top three winners receive gift cards, but as Benck explains, the competition stays friendly. “They have a good time doing it,” he says. The HOA also pays a service to decorate the front entrance during the holidays. When asked what he tells people who ask about his neighborhood, Benck simply says, “You’re missing out.” Quail Hollow continues to impress as a friendly, safe place to live in any stage of life—just be sure to keep those garbage bins out of sight. Visit myquailhollow.com for more information.

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U R B A N

E V O L U T I O N

Adaptive reuse results in ideal living space for Burgess family.

OmahaMagazine.com

A RCHITEC T UR E story by Sarah wengert

photography by william hess photography

design by Mady Besch

teve and Julie Burgess were enjoying a glass of wine at La Buvette when the idea hit Julie like a ton of old bricks. While admiring the Old Market’s lovely brick buildings, redesigned from warehouses into homes, and imagining the minimalist ease of urban living, it occurred to Julie that she and Steve had access to a beautiful, old, downtown building that they could renovate into their own modern living space. Automatic Printing Co. has been in Julie’s family for generations, housed in three adjacent buildings at 17th and Cuming streets. In early 2017, Julie, who works at Automatic, and Steve, who does commercial architecture for DLR Group, began the process of redesigning the easternmost building into what is now their happy home. “I’m grateful because I just knew it was possible, but I couldn’t see what it would look like,” Julie says. “Steve has that knack; he works with spaces and can see it without it being there.” Serendipitously, Automatic Printing Co. was looking to downsize its space just as the Burgesses were. The Burgesses, along with Julie’s sister Jana, had lived together in a sprawling Dundee home for 16 years. Despite their substantial investment of time and money in renovating that home, the 6,000-square-foot house situated on three-quarters of an acre ultimately took too much effort to care for and was not ideal for Jana, a traumatic brain injury survivor with mobility issues. In April 2017, the family moved from their house on Happy Hollow Boulevard to the Tip Top Apartments, where they would remain during a 15-month detour between homes before moving into their new space on Cuming Street in July 2018.

“TO ME, THIS P R OJ E C T WA S L A R G E LY A B O U T JUST REVEALING THE EXISTING BUILDING, BUT THEN ALSO THE INSERTION OF THE NEW STRUCTURAL STEEL FRAME.” — EM I LY A N D ER S O N 16

ANDERSON S AY S T H E PROJECT IS AN EXAMPLE OF ADAPTIVE REUSE— ADAPTING AN EXISTING BUILDING TO A NEW USE— WHICH IS KEY T O C R E AT I N G INTRIGUING URBAN LANDSCAPES.

OmahaMagazine.com

A RCHITEC T UR E

The Burgesses partnered with Geoff DeOld and Emily Andersen of DeOld Andersen Architecture to create the new home of their dreams in the old family building. Julie says they were blessed to f ind DeOld and Andersen due to their experience working with older buildings and willingness to design for the Burgesses’ lifestyle and logistical needs. “Emily and Geoff visited us at our old house to see how we lived,” Julie says. “They really listened and observed how Jana moved around, how we used our space, and the things that mattered to us.” Steve came to the conversation with his architectural mindset and relevant examples for reference. “I combed through images of many historic building renovation projects and collected a handful of pictures to show them the direction we wanted to go,” Steve says. For DeOld and Andersen, working with Steve and Julie was a dream. “Steve and Julie were really great to work with—seriously the best clients we’ve ever had,” Andersen says. “There’s a certain language we [and Steve] share as architects and Julie is extremely open-minded. It made the project better and smoother.” Andersen says they started by using components they knew to be most important to the family—bringing natural light into a space with scant existing windows, accessibility for Jana and the Burgesses as they age, outdoor spaces, and a proper kitchen for Steve, who loves to cook—as anchors for the design plan.

A singular front patio gate inspired by Lebanese design and strategic skylights brought in light; an elevator and secondf loor laundry facilities gave Jana the gift of independence; a rooftop patio ably mimics their old Dundee terrace, and the kitchen is spacious and wellappointed enough to satisfy any chef.

of uses,” Andersen says. “There are constraints with that but also the ability to be very creative and develop way more interesting environments— where you have a collection of different types and styles of structures, which ultimately leads to a way more interesting neighborhood and city.”

There were also happy discoveries along the way that ultimately informed aesthetics. For example, the Burgesses intended to put in new f looring until a gorgeous Douglas f ir wood f loor was found under layers of history and alternate f looring.

While their home is on such hallowed, familiar family ground, neither Steve nor Julie had ever lived in new construction until now.

“The wood f loor informed a lot of the other decisions—the paneling on the wall, the bookshelves, the butcher’s block in the kitchen—all the wood touches started to come out after that,” Steve says. “The texture and history of this place is wonderful.” “To me, this project was largely about just revealing the existing building, but then also the insertion of the new structural steel frame. It was actually very simple in some regards but complex to execute,” Andersen says, noting that the project’s success depended heavily on a robust team of partners, including contractor Dicon; structural and civil engineers with The Wells Resource; and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineers from Alvine Engineering. Andersen says the project is an example of adaptive reuse—adapting an existing building to a new use— which she notes is key to creating intriguing urban landscapes. “These can become really cool projects because there’s this existing building with its own history and this overlap

“It’s interesting. In a 100-yearold building, we’re living in new construction,” Julie says with a laugh. “It’s really a joy to live in a space that you helped design,” Steve says. “You have the opportunity to think through the layout, the circulation, the proximity and adjacencies of spaces…It’s a nice feeling and there’s a real sense of satisfaction in how well it turned out.” After investing more than $1 million in their new home and f inding it the perfect f it, Steve and Julie were disheartened to see that the Builder’s District plan—approved by the City Council in October 2018—shows their home and family business wiped off the map through the power of eminent domain. Andersen says that result would be a shame. In addition to representing what she calls “a very old model of working within a city” that ignores the need for community engagement and transparency, Andersen believes the demolition of old buildings like this is not ideal for Omaha’s architectural landscape nor its ability to retain talent and combat “ brain drain.”

“We need to be thinking creatively about our existing buildings instead of just demolishing them,” she says. “Having urban neighborhoods with a collection of different conditions or types of buildings lends itself to a richer experience than areas that are completely monoculture of the similar scale and generic design. To me, they should be thinking about how they can integrate Automatic Printing and some of the other perfectly OK structures in the area into the current plan, because it would result in a more interesting development.” In the meantime, as the Burgesses hope to be able to keep their new home in the old family building, they’re enjoying the neighborhood and basking in the memories of years spent in their special space. “Not only is it beautiful and functional, but I sit in the living room at night and just mar vel because I can see the shadows of what used to be here,” Julie says. “I look around and know that, about where Jana’s chair is, that’s where our dad ’s desk sat for all those years. I think my dad might say we were crazy to do it, but he would also get it and think it was a pretty neat progression.” Learn more about the Burgess residence at d-aarch.com/ cuming-street-residence.

A RCHITEC T UR E

OmahaMagazine.com

January/February 2019

F E AT U R E story by Leo Adam Biga

photography by Midland Pictures & Omaha Land bank

design by Mady Besch

Omaha Land Bank M A K I N G

N E I G H B O R H O O D S THE HOPE IS THAT REVITALIZATION ENCOURAGES NEIGHBORS TO IMPROVE THEIR OWN PLACES.

S T R O N G E R

ities around the United States experience problems with blighted neighborhoods, in which certain houses and lots go from assets to def icits. Such sites often become magnets for vandals and vagrants. Locally, some of these problems found an answer with the creation of the Omaha Municipal Land Bank in 2014. The nonprof it is funded in part by donations. “The Land Bank was created for the City of Omaha by the Nebraska Legislature to be a catalyst for community development,” says OMLB Executive Director Marty Barnhart. “Our role is to address these distressed properties. Folks can donate properties to the Land Bank they no longer want to care for, or are no longer able to take care of.” OMLB matches properties with buyers who demonstrate the vision and means to redevelop sites. Buyers get nine months to renovate a home, or two years to build on a vacant lot. The hope is that revitalization encourages neighbors to improve their own places.

2002 Country Club Ave. Before (top) & after (bottom)

January/February 2019

F E AT U R E

“WE COULDN’T FIND THE OWNER. IT WAS CONDEMNED. THERE WERE HOLES IN THE ROOF. ANIMALS WERE IN THERE. IT NEVER QUITE MADE THE LIST, THOUGH, TO BE DEMOLISHED.” — Pete Festersen The f irst step is to acquire the properties, and that project takes time and money, especially when it comes to clearing a title on properties whose owners can’t be reached. As a subdivision of local government, OMLB has the power to cancel taxes and municipal liens levied against properties. It can bypass red tape to make purchasing and redevelopment go much quicker. It can also sell properties at lower prices, thus reducing the burden on purchasers to establish equity, borrow money, or make improvements. “If you think about the city and the county, they could do the kind of things we do, but it would take ordinances, public meetings, and a lot of things to put through their boards,” Barnhart says. “It would take a whole lot longer than the Land Bank with our statuary authority.” OMLB began selling property in early 2017. The available inventory is listed on its website. The 50-plus properties sold through last October went to “a variety of different individuals and partners,” Barnhart says. “We’ve seen singlefamily houses transformed and reoccupied.” He acknowledges the sample size is too small yet to show ripple effects in neighborhoods. But there’s no doubt a long-abandoned house at 2002 Country Club Ave. that was an unsafe eyesore got saved from the rubble heap, redone, and reoccupied. “It was one of the f irst big success stories of the Land Bank,” says Omaha City Councilman Pete Festersen, who serves District 1 where the

house is located. “That had been a problem for that street for 20 years. We couldn’t f ind the owner. It was condemned. There were holes in the roof. Animals were in there. It never quite made the list, though, to be demolished. Eventually we did get it onto the list, not wanting to demolish it if we didn’t have to because it was otherwise a very nice property. But it was headed towards demolition until the Land Bank stepped in and f inally got a response from the property owner, who was very grateful to sell. “The Land Bank listed it for a fair, reasonable price and a young couple was able to buy it and rehab it. It’s in great shape today.” Other transformations are in progress. An OMLB presentation at their church convinced Carol Windrum and Tim Fickenscher to take on a single-family house redevelopment at 3155 Meredith Ave. Motivated to reverse blight, they used the Land Bank as a social entrepreneurship tool. They purchased the century-old property in January 2018 for $12,500. OMLB shepherded them through the makeover process—the couple’s f irst time renovating. That included helping f ind a contractor, who, at the couple’s behest, used as many recycled and reclaimed materials as possible. The house listed for $77,500 last fall, and Family Housing Advisory Services and mortgage lender Omaha 100 are helping identify prospective low-income candidates to get it sold.

2002 Country Club Ave. Before (left) & after (right)

2911 Woolworth Ave.

OmahaMagazine.com

F E AT U R E

In the Park Avenue area, Brenda and Kurt Robinson seized a chance to prevent another “hole” in the neighborhood when, courtesy of OMLB, they rescued a two-story, 130-year-old house at 2911 Woolworth Ave. for $25,000.

Omaha City Councilman Ben Gray (District 2), who serves on the Land Bank ’s board, says OMLB is ideally suited to be a player in the reservoir’s remaking because the nonprof it’s rules prevent a developer from letting it sit idle.

If not for their action, this house might have faced the same fate as others torn down in the area.

Barnhart feels OMLB could give a developer a deal that doesn’t require tax increment f inancing. By assembling and holding properties for developers with the right plans, he says, OMLB protects against speculators.

“It’s a great structure—super sound. There’s very little we had to do except extra bracing here and there. It’s got a lot of cool exterior features—corbels and fascia we’re working hard to keep. Previous owners maintained all the original woodwork, including cased openings. They were pretty sensitive to the original architecture—thank goodness,” says Brenda, who likes having OMLB as a partner. “The Land Bank has a mission I can get behind, keeping sturdy old houses alive as really cool places of history as well as homes for the future,” she says. For greater impact, OMLB targets areas by assembling multiple properties and lots for development. That’s what the organization is doing in the area around 40th and Hamilton streets. This once-picturesque neighborhood struggled with crime, litter, debris, high turnover, and ill-kept rentals. Since a slumlord relinquished problem properties there and new businesses went in, things have stabilized, says Walnut Hill Neighborhood Association President Murray Hayes. But vacant lots are still an issue. Walnut Hill is also a focal point due to the Walnut Hill Reservoir, a 16-acre parcel owned by Metropolitan Utilities District. The Land Bank is asking MUD to donate the inactive site for redevelopment. MUD’s weighing what to do.

Gray adds that OMLB is well-poised to address Omaha’s affordable housing shortage in areas of need like this. “We know we can get nonprof its to do affordable housing, but we’re trying to assemble enough property to entice private developers,” he says. “We’re working on creating solutions to help meet the f inancing burden developers might face trying to do affordable housing. If we leave it with nonprof its, we’re only going to get so many houses. If we can include the private development community, it increases our ability to get that done at scale.”

“THE LAND BANK HAS A MISSION I CAN GET BEHIND, KEEPING STURDY OLD HOUSES ALIVE AS REALLY COOL PLACES OF HISTORY AS WELL AS HOMES FOR THE FUTURE.” — Brenda Robinson

Festersen says a proposed city ordinance would create a new relationship whereby the city law department will foreclose on those liens. That will allow the Land Bank to get it back into productive reuse, and on the tax rolls, by purchasing the property. That, and the measures the Land Bank have already taken, are the reasons Gray says, “I think you’re going to see some major developments through the Land Bank in the next two to three years.” Visit omahalandbank.org for more information.

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January/February 2019

AT HOM E story by Kamrin Baker

photography by Bill Sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

OmahaMagazine.com

AT HOME WITH JOY BARTLING OF SCATTER JOY ACRES: A Place of Rescue, a Journey to Peace

o the very north of Sorenson Parkway, still in city limits but almost completely hidden in a tangle of back roads, sits 26 acres of heaven—or at least, as close as Joy Bartling will come in her lifetime.

Scatter Joy Acres, located at 4966 Newport Ave., is a lot of things: a petting zoo, an animalassisted therapy off ice, a f ield trip destination, a birthday party venue, a woman’s ministry come to life—and a home to anyone who can make it through the dirt roads. “Our slogan is ‘a place of rescue, a journey to peace,’” Bartling says. “And besides hearing the occasional f ire engine, the peace of living in nature is very prominent.”

January/February 2019

While many individuals might have a welcome mat or upbeat doorbell jingle adorning their front porch, Bartling has two off icial (and enormous) greeters, Paladin and Diesel, both toasted marshmallow-white Great Pyrenees. Along with an array of colorful hand-painted signs that say things like ‘let’s go on an adventure,’ and ‘adopted is my favorite breed,’ a sniff on the palm and a wag of the f luffy, albeit dusty, tail is how you know you’ve arrived. “I’ve opened my home to so many people,” Bartling says. “I always say all of this isn’t mine; it’s God’s. Giving someone the opportunity to get a foot underneath them changes my life and theirs.” Bartling rattles off the people she has helped through her organization as slow sips of morning coffee spark her memory: the drug-addicted woman who tended to a garden every day, the homeless couple who now has a baby, and the young girl whose dying wish was to ride a horse. While her kitchen is sprinkled with tangible objects like tortoise feed, a collection of coffee mugs with corny sayings, and a large Husky chewing a pillow, the underlying interior design is in the creatures who have dwelled here— those who have tended to the f lowers, petted the puppies, and shed their shortcomings. It is the lingering soul of its mission that gives Scatter Joy Acres the look and feel of a true home. Moving further into the ranch, more animals come into the foreground. Although there are a few main attractions (such as the camels Zebediah and Nyles, Shaka Oscar the ostrich, and Willis the wallaby), all the animals represent the mission of Scatter Joy Acres: unconditional love.

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I’ve opened my home to so many people. I always say all of this isn’t mine; it’s God’s. Giving someone the opportunity to get a foot underneath them changes my life and theirs.” — Joy Bartling Bartling knows a thing or two about the healing powers of her animal kin. Growing up on a dairy farm, she was the oldest of her siblings and felt most of her affection from animals. “Animals are non-judgemental,” Bartling says. “If a dog has an accident on the f loor, the minute after he’s scolded or after he gets out of timeout, he comes right back and loves you. Even when we have our hurts and pains, we deserve love, and animals are very smart in picking people who are like them—or people who need them.”

January/February 2019

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Although there are a few main attractions, all the animals represent the mission of Scatter Joy Acres:

unconditional love.

January/February 2019

An archway of trees embellishes the main walkway as goats, alpacas, peacocks, and one lone turkey relax in their respective pastures. The animals munching on their breakfasts sounds reminiscent of feet on crunchy fall leaves. Other animal friends live in temperaturecontrolled barns: horses, chickens, potbelly pigs, rabbits, tortoises, and more. Reaching a hand into the personal bubbles of these animals will lead to two responses: one, a hope for more food, and two, the quick realization that it’s self ie time. They are keen on human interaction. In fact, Zebediah was a groomsman in a “hump day” wedding in fall 2017. He even wore a bow tie. “My children are grown now,” Bartling says. “I have grandkids, too. When they come to visit, they run to hug the animals before me.” The key to this ranch is its joy, but also its scattered, messy truth. Bartling says living on a farm is a 24/7 job, and that

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work shows. No one coming here expects it to be spotless—for throw pillows to be aligned at a 90-degree angle with the couch cushions, or for rabbit turds to be kept in a neat and orderly row. It smells. The moisture in the air is half natural humidity, half camel spit. Your shoes will turn 50 shades of brown. A goat or sheep might try to eat your winter beanie right off your head. Yet people keep coming back. “I love seeing a change in people,” Bartling says. “You can tell when the light bulb comes on, when someone keeps returning, or even beginning to volunteer. Even if I have a crappy day or start feeling lonely during the winter months, if someone says ‘thank you for sharing,’ that’s enough.” Visit scatterjoyacres.org for more information.

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January/February 2019

LANDSCAPE

T R I M M I NG

the

TREES Take Down the Decorations, Not the Dead Branches, in January

SCOTT EVANS SAYS THAT SCIENCE ONCE RECOMMENDED TRIMMING TREES IN THE WINTER, BUT NOW RECOMMENDS SPRING AS THE OPTIMAL TIME FOR TREE MAINTENANCE.

January/February 2019

LANDSCAPE story by Patrick McGee

photography by Bill Sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

point for bacteria and decay to harm a tree. Likewise, rubbing creates an entry way for decay-causing organisms.

rees require maintenance or they can depreciate a property. Knowing when and how to trim them is critical. (It is important to note that this article discusses landscaping trees, whether deciduous or coniferous. Fruit trees require special pruning methods.)

First, tree owners should recognize that trimming or pruning trees harms them. A tree is a living, breathing organism. “Every time we prune, we are wounding a tree,” says Scott Evans, an arborist with the Nebraska Extension in Douglas and Sarpy counties. “Every cut needs to have a purpose.” Evans says that science once recommended trimming trees in the winter, but now recommends spring as the optimal time for tree maintenance. “One of the f irst publications which talked about changing the time was 2004,” he says. “It was published in European Forestry Resources. It was kind of slow to catch on over here. I f irst heard about these pruning practices in 2015.” Evans says the new best practice is to avoid trimming most trees in the winter, when the cold affects a tree’s

growth. New science says the active spring growth helps the tree recover from the damage caused by cutting. “We want to have those cells actively growing so they can start sealing as soon as possible,” he says.

There are, however, a couple of reasons to trim trees in the winter. Evans notes that a major ice or snow event can damage branches, and those damaged branches should be managed as soon as possible, as further weather events could cause more signif icant problems. Evans says safety concerns, such as limbs hanging over houses and driveways, should also be immediately addressed in the winter. There are two varieties of trees that still should be trimmed in the winter: oak, which is susceptible to oak wilt; and elm, which is susceptible to Dutch elm disease. Both diseases are transmitted to the trees via different types of beetles, which are attracted to fresh cuts on these trees. “Trim while the beetles are not actively out and about,” Evans says of oak and elm trees.

“IF YOU HAVE TO LIFT A CHAINSAW OVER YOUR HEAD—CALL AN ARBORIST.” The method of cutting is also important. “A good clean cut really allows the tree to respond quicker to the healing process,” Evans says. Evans recommends pruning only for reasons of safety or a tree’s health. Dead or damaged branches should be managed so they don’t fall off the tree. Falling branches can hurt people, property, and the tree itself by ripping off the bark. When bark falls off, it cannot grow back. The water-conducting tissue that lies directly below the bark could then be damaged when a limb falls off, meaning the portion above the damage may not get the water it needs. Branches that are crossed or rubbing should also be managed, Evans says, as they will eventually grow into each other, which can create a

And homeowners trying to trim their own trees should keep their personal safety in mind at all times. “If you have to lift a chainsaw over your head—call an arborist,” he says, noting that tree trimmers can do serious damage to a tree—or themselves. Additionally, having clean tools prevents transmission of disease. Evans recommends sanitizing cutting tools with a solution of 9-parts water to 1-part bleach. Visit extension.unl.edu for more information.