LISTING OF THE WEEK
HOUSE PLAN
Backs to greenbelt
The Harlequin
The Listing of the Week backs to a greenbelt in Edmond’s Park Lane Estates addition. PAGE 6E
Craftsman detailing adds its charm to this compact single-level home with a surprisingly spacious gathering space. PAGE 8E
REAL ESTATE
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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012
Kenneth Harney
High-density housing issue is center stage in Norman
THE NATION’S HOUSING
‘PINBALL’ TACTIC Some realty agents, including even the listing agent, use an overpriced house as a negative example to sell other nearby homes with lower asking prices. PAGE 3E
PLANNING | CITY OFFICIALS, DEVELOPERS, RESIDENTS SPEAK OF NEEDS AS WELL AS CONCERNS
IN BRIEF
BY DYRINDA TYSON For The Oklahoman dyrinda@gmail.com
NORMAN — Homebuilders in the Norman area are closely watching a series of community meetings city officials called in response to increased demand for high-rise, high-density housing not now allowed by planning code. “We’ve talked about it, but it’s in too early a stage for us to make an accurate evaluation,” said David Caddell, president of the Builders Association of South Central Oklahoma, based in Norman. “We’re kind of in a wait-and-see mode ourselves. We really don’t know how it will affect the building industry here.” City officials launched the meetings this month with a crowd that nearly filled the Municipal Building’s council chambers. Planning and community development director Susan Connors offered a crash course in city planning and its terms as many in the audience listened intently and took notes. Connors explained that developers have been submitting applications for multifamily developments with as many as 100 dwelling units per acre, most of them around the University of Oklahoma campus and all well above Norman’s current limit of 26 units per acre. Norman’s 2025 Land Use and Transportation Plan doesn’t address the issue. “We’re not trying to change our ordinances or regulations regarding what we have now,” Connors said. “We’re trying to talk about how we can absorb these higher densities, if we can.” OU and its burgeoning student population drive a
FIRST LADY DESCRIBES GARDEN
Developers want to build more high-density housing in Norman similar to East Village, an apartment complex with retail at 1330 12th Ave. SE. The city is holding a series of community meetings in response. PHOTOS BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN
lot of the higher-density discussion, she said, and more housing around campus is being requested. OU saw about a 2.5 percent increase in enrollment in fall 2011, said Mike Buhl, of Norman-based Commercial Realty Resources Co., giving it the highest fall enrollment since 2004 and 2005. With more students living in Norman, Buhl calculates the vacancy rate for dorms and apartment complexes around campus has been pushed down to about 3.5 percent. “With only a 1 percent growth rate in the 2012 fall enrollment, the market will be at essentially full occupancy,” Buhl wrote. Still, some residents expressed caution or skepticism once the floor opened SEE NORMAN, PAGE 2E
Steve Shoemaker of Ideal Homes talks about housing demand in a model home at 900 Bear Mountain Drive in Green Leaf Trails addition, east of U.S. 77 on Tecumseh Road in Norman.
Trade-offs when trading places Despite exceedingly low mortgage rates and more affordable property prices, some families seeking to buy a first home must scale back their expectations. That’s because their household income has also declined due to lower salaries or reduced overtime at work. “Nearly all homebuyers must make tradeoffs. But this is especially true for folks who need to stay within a tight budget due to economic conditions,” said Merrill Ottwein, a real estate broker and former president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (www.naeba.org). He tells the true story of a cashtight couple he recently helped to find a home. They wanted to live near the university where the wife, who’d lost her higher-paid position at another college, had just been offered a job teaching English. The husband worked from home as an IT specialist. At the top of their original wish list, the couple cited their desire for a yard with at least ½ acre of land where the man could plant a large vegetable garden. Plus they
Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES hoped for a spacious kitchen with granite countertops and solid maple cabinetry. Early in their search, they fell in love with an English cottage with a dream kitchen that opened onto a screened porch. But the yard was only 1/8 acre. “They were really torn. For more than two weeks they debated whether to buy that cottage with the tiny yard. It took many conversations and visits back to the house before they decided to go for it,” Ottwein said. “At almost every phase of the property search you’re confronted with trade-offs. Very few people get everything they want in a house.” Here are a few pointers for homebuyers:
I Consider your feelings about your current living quarters. “First write down what you like and don’t like about your present home. Then list all the features you absolutely must have, would like to have, or are willing to forgo in the new house,” Ottwein said. “People with a strict cost ceiling should be doubly mindful about what’s critical for them versus what they’re willing to give up.” I Select features early when buying a brand-new home. Those buying in a new subdivision face lots of trade-offs before the sales contract is even written. “Most builders give you a lump sum allowance for all the basic options — everything from kitchen cabinets to lighting fixtures, appliances and landscaping choices. Usually anything else you select costs extra,” Ottwein said. It’s important to make as many selections as possible before you sign the builder’s contract. For instance, if you want a sunroom, bargain for that additional feature to be included in the original contract.
I Don’t trade off a fixed-rate mortgage to get more home for the money. Keith Gumbinger, a vice president at HSH Associates (www.hsh.com), which tracks mortgage markets throughout the country, said some homebuyers are still drawn to adjustable-rate mortgages. It’s true that at the front end the monthly payment on one of these loans is lower than on a traditional fixed-rate mortgage for the same amount. But Gumbinger said the savings you enjoy during the early years are likely to be more than wiped out over the term of the loan. Some purchasers, particularly those who think they will move again soon, are drawn to what’s known as a “hybrid ARM,” which is typically guaranteed to stay level for a minimum of the first five years before it’s subject to adjustments. Gumbinger considers such a move risky, given the vicissitudes of life To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com. UNIVERSAL UCLICK
First lady Michelle Obama takes readers on a virtual visit to the White House garden in her new book, “American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America.” The story of the garden is the central theme, but the book also offers gardening tips and recipes, profiles public food gardens around the country and promotes the first lady’s campaign to end childhood obesity. Essays and photos bring the garden to life, including plenty of portraits of the first dog, Bo. The book is published by Crown Publishing and is $30 in hardcover. All author proceeds will go to the National Park Foundation.
RAISED GARDEN BEDS Scotts Miracle-Gro has streamlined the construction of raised garden beds. The company has introduced the Miracle-Gro Ultimate Raised Garden Bed, a bed-in-a-box with everything needed to customize and build up to three small beds. Assembly involves snapping together modular pieces of composite lumber, made from recycled materials. No tools are required. The kit can be used to build three beds, each 2 feet square and 6 inches high. Two or more squares can be stacked to make a taller bed. The product is available from online retailers, including Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com and Sears.com. The suggested retail price is $79.98. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES
INDEX Stone Permits
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SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
LEFT: East Village, an apartment complex with retail at 1330 12th Ave. SE, is the kind of high-density housing more developers want to build in Norman. PHOTO BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN
Norman: High-density housing eyed FROM PAGE 1E
for questions during the inaugural meeting. “Where do we find out the truth of this type of thing?” one woman asked Bob Thomas of the Xenia Institute, a nonprofit group helping run the meetings. “Does the institute provide information to show us what this is really about?” Xenia’s role is to keep dialogue flowing, Thomas said. “It wouldn’t matter if we were talking about highdensity development” or the Oklahoma City Thunder, he said. One man wondered whether anyone knew what the City Council planned to do with the results of the meetings. “No,” said Connors, adding that the information would be compiled and taken to the council’s development and transportation committee for review. After several minutes of questions and answers, Chris Elsey stood and introduced himself. “I’m the applicant of one of the developments that basically kick-started this whole discussion of high density,” he said, then volunteered his phone number and email address for anyone with questions about what his company, Elsey Partners, based in Manhattan, Kan., has in mind. Both Elsey and Dallasbased B3 Development have high-density applications pending with the city of Norman.
LOFT401, at 401 E Boyd St., two blocks from Campus Corner, although a condominium complex, represents the kind of higher-density housing that is in increased demand in Norman. PHOTOS BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN
Learn from Stillwater Stillwater already has worked through the issues, Elsey said later. Elsey Partners has an apartment complex under way in Stillwater, where the rising student population prompted the city’s planning commission to create a high-rise district stretching south from the Oklahoma State University campus toward downtown. He said the Stillwater City Council approved the plan in May. In Norman, “They’re facing the same issue,” Elsey said. “They’ve got a growing student population, and they need to figure out what’s the best way of accommodating that
Master bedroom in Ideal Homes’ model in Green Leaf Trails addition, east of U.S. 77 on Tecumseh Road in Norman. PHOTO BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN
growing population.” Stillwater homebuilderdeveloper Roger Gose said the plan around OSU will pull the pressure for highdensity development back toward the campus, helping resolve traffic and parking problems in the process. It could also help homebuyers, especially those in the market for starter homes, who often have to compete against investors seeking out homes to rent to OSU students. Investors often snap up smaller
homes almost as soon as they’re built, a cycle that’s pushing up home prices, Gose said. “Only 25 or 30 percent of our workforce live in Stillwater because of the price of housing,” he said. That isn’t the case in Norman, where the home market is larger and even starter homes fall around $200,000, Caddell said. “Actually, we probably have a shortage of that lower-priced housing — marketable rental property kind of homes,” he said.
Ideal Homes’ Steve Shoemaker said he didn’t see any problems stemming from any zoning changes the city of Norman might implement down the road. “The high-density stuff doesn’t impact us a great deal other than we sell a lot of homes to people who are coming from multifamily, from apartments, from duplexes, rental homes. That’s a big part of our demographic that buys their first home from us in Norman,” he said.
Ideal Homes built this home in the Red Canyon Ranch addition off Tecumseh Road near 12th Avenue NE in Norman. PHOTO BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012
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‘Pinball’ houses help market other homes WASHINGTON — In the real estate brokerage field they’re known as “setups” or “pinball” homes, and this spring’s improving conditions in some markets could be stimulating more of them. A setup or pinball property is a house listed with an unrealistically high asking price that pulls in lots of visits by agents and shoppers, but no offers. The problem is this: Real estate agents, including even the listing agent, are using the overpriced house as a negative example to sell other, similar homes nearby that carry lower asking prices. “It’s like a pinball machine,” said Debbie Cook, an agent with Long & Foster Real Estate in Silver Spring, Md. The “setup” is the foil — the house that agents show clients in order to make other more realistically priced listings look better. Maybe the sellers — encouraged by reports of rising sales and low mortgage rates — insisted on the aggressive asking price and wouldn’t list for anything less. Or maybe the sellers’ agent didn’t fully brief them about what the house could command in today’s conditions rather than lose the listing.
Kenneth Harney THE NATION’S HOUSING
Whatever the specifics, pinball houses tend to see heavy traffic but go nowhere until the sellers drop the asking price, usually by significant amounts. Before then, however, they may be used without the sellers’ knowledge to market other houses. Since no one seriously expects them to sell at their original asking price, agents are happy to exploit the overpricing to facilitate other sales. “We’re definitely seeing it,” said Sandy Nichols Acevedo, an agent at Prudential California Realty in Oxnard, Calif. ”Some people think they can go higher now because the market seems to be doing better.” Joe Manausa, ownerbroker at Century 21 First Realty in Tallahassee, Fla., who wrote about the phenomenon on Active Rain, a Seattle-based industry blog with more than 220,000 members, offers this hypothetical example: “If two very similar homes are near each other, with
one priced at $250,000, and the other at $280,000, the higher-priced home is often shown first. Then the real estate agent says, ‘If you like this home at $280,000, you are going to love the home down the street at $250,000!’ ” Bill Gillhespy, an agent in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., has a real-life example: He has a listing on the 14th floor of a luxury condominium project overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The asking price is $450,000. There’s a unit on the same floor with similar views, similar square footage and layout, but with a more updated decor, that is listed for nearly $150,000 more. When Gillhespy is asked by another agent or a prospective buyer to see his unit, he often says, “Let me first show you a unit just down the hall. It’s one of the nicest in the entire building.” The higherpriced model shows well, but shoppers immediately remark on the $150,000 difference “and they can’t see how it’s justified.” Perrin Cornell, a broker at Century 21 Exclusively in Wenatchee, Wash., said some sellers in the mid- to upper-price brackets in his area “are exuberant that we’re finally out of it (the recession) now,” and are
First-time homebuyers in county may qualify for credit FROM STAFF REPORTS
Qualified first-time homebuyers in Oklahoma County can now lower their federal tax liability with a Mortgage Credit Certificate from the Oklahoma County Home Finance Authority. The program allows a direct credit for a portion of mortgage interest up to
Kim Campbell
Prudential adds Campbell EDMOND — Prudential Alliance, 3434 S Boulevard, has added Kim Campbell as a residential real estate sales associate. She is returning to the company after working in corporate sales in southeastern Oklahoma. She previously worked for Prudential Alliance as director of career development. She is a graduate of Putnam City High School and holds a degree from Texas Tech University.
Sally Kimble
Kimble joins Prudential Prudential Alliance Realty, 4101NW 122, has added Sally Kimble as a residential real estate sales associate. She previously worked for Prudential California Realty in La Jolla, Calif., since 2004. She recently moved to Oklahoma City from La Jolla via London.
$2,000 per year for the life of the mortgage. “The program is an important resource offered by Oklahoma County that make quality housing available to homebuyers,” said District 1 Commissioner Willa Johnson. “By using this credit, Oklahoma County residents can reduce their tax burden and keep more of their hard-earned money.” The program provides for a credit of 40 percent of the annual mortgage interest paid, not to exceed $2,000. “In five years,” said District 2 Commissioner Brian Maughan, “homebuyers would be able to save up to $10,000 on their federal income taxes. That savings continues each year for the life of the mortgage.” Eligibility requirements include being approved for a mortgage and income limits of $60,660 for a family of up to two and $69,690 for a family of three or more. The maximum single-family home price is $215,000. Other
restrictions include limited prior homeownership interest, and purchasing the home as a primary residence. “The Oklahoma County economy continues to grow, particularly through investment in homeownership,” said District 3 Commissioner Ray Vaughn. “By qualifying for (a Mortgage Credit Certificate), more first-time homebuyers will be able to receive a mortgage and move into their first home.” MCCs are available on a first-come, first-served basis through participating lenders and are not transferable. Participating lenders include Cornerstone Mortgage, WEOKIE Credit Union, Citywide Mortgage, Bank of America, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, SpiritBank and First Mortgage. For more information, contact a participating lender or the Oklahoma County Home Finance Authority at 270-1388 or emcgee@ochfa.org.
tempted to disregard agents’ more sobering recommendations on pricing. What happens to such listings? “Unless we’re using it for a setup,” Cornell said in an interview, “we stop showing it” until the seller agrees to re-price to a sensible number. But as a matter of principle and ethics, should realty agents accept listings from homeowners who refuse to listen to reason? Manausa is adamant that they should not. “If you list a property at a price you know will not sell,” he said, “you are misleading
the seller. Effectively you are saying, ‘I don’t think it will sell, but I’ll put my name on anything hoping to get paid.’ ” Acevedo agrees that agents have a fiduciary duty to educate even the most headstrong owners about sobering market realities, but has a compromise solution: Take the listing but require the seller to sign a contractual agreement requiring an automatic price reduction to a specified level if the house doesn’t sell in the first two to three weeks. Bottom line here for
owners thinking about selling in modestly improving markets: Get as much accurate information as you can about closed sale prices of comparable houses in your immediate area. Talk to multiple realty agents before listing. Sure, you can try pushing a little on price, but if you go overboard, you seriously risk becoming the unwitting setup, the pinball, the out-oftouch competition everybody else loves to visit. Ken Harney’s email address is kenharney@earthlink.net. WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP
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SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Clever decorating can hide problems DIY | DESIGNERS OFFER TIPS FOR TACKLING TROUBLE SPOTS Too-high ceilings
BY MARY BETH BRECKENRIDGE Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal
AKRON, Ohio — Just about every home has an eyesore. Maybe it’s a wonky window or flooring that’s seen better days. It grates on your nerves, but fixing or replacing it is too expensive, too impractical or too far down the priority list. That doesn’t mean you have to look the other way. We’ve gathered a few solutions for disguising some common decorating problems, so put on your cando attitude and get ready to tackle that trouble spot.
Weird windows Windows that are oddly shaped or just plain unattractive can get a greatly improved view with clever window treatments. Bath Township, Ohio, interior designer Alan Garren offers this trick for hiding those too-short, too-high, too-plain windows that are common in ranch homes from the 1960s: Extend the window frame all the way to the floor, then install a twopart shutter. One part covers the window; the other covers the wall below it. Keep the bottom part closed, and no one will know there isn’t a window behind it. Or cover the window with an attractive shade that extends below the window, suggested Christine Haught, who operates Christine Haught Ltd. Interior Design in Bath. Adding drapery panels on either side would give the windows more visual weight, she said. Haught took a similar tack on an ’80s-style round-top window for which a client had lost the love. She mounted a woven wood shade to cover the half-round window and the window below it, and flanked the shade with silk panels that extended ceiling to floor. The shade didn’t entirely obscure the window when the sun shone through, but it made it less apparent.
Uneven walls A plain coat of paint won’t do much to hide an uneven wall surface, but an eye-fooling paint finish can make the flaws seem to disappear. In the book “The Decorator’s Problem Solver: 100 Creative Answers to Your Most Common Decorating Dilemmas,” author Sacha Cohen recommends creating a mottled paint finish with a masonry roller and matte latex paint in two colors that look well together. The more uneven the walls, the stronger the contrast between the paint colors should be, she says. Pour a pint of each color into opposite sides of a roller tray, so they sit next to each other without mixing too much. Working in sections about 3 feet square, roll the roller once through the paint tray, and then roll the paint onto the wall in single, long, spaced-apart strokes. Once most of the paint has been transferred from the roller to the surface, roll over the first strokes to gently blend the colors. Roll at different angles to create a subtle, dappled effect.
Cruddy carpet Renters, in particular, are often stuck with carpet that doesn’t suit their taste. You can cover part of it with a rug, but it’s pretty hard to blanket an entire room without spending just as much as you would to replace the carpet. That’s when a little distraction is called for. Interior designer and home stager Lynn Koerner of Interiors by Lynn in Streetsboro, Ohio, recommends starting by anchoring a seating area with an area rug. Choose a solid-
In the book “The Decorator’s Problem Solver: 100 Creative Answers to Your Most Common Decorating Dilemmas,” author Sacha Cohen, for disguising uneven walls, recommends creating a mottled paint finish with a masonry roller and matte latex paint in two colors that look well together. The more uneven the walls, the stronger the contrast between the paint colors should be. color rug if the carpeting is busy, or a patterned rug on solid-color carpeting. A budget-friendly approach is to buy a carpet remnant and have the carpet store bind the edges to create a rug, Haught said. Then perform a little sleight of hand, Koerner said. Create interest higher in the room to draw attention up and away from the floor. She did that in one client’s living room by covering a fireplace wall in a subtle patterned wallpaper and creating an eyecatching arrangement of artwork and accessories on the mantel.
Ugly wall tile The durability of ceramic tile is a blessing and a bane. It lasts and lasts and lasts, even decades after your tastes have changed. Painting it is possible, but it’s important to do so carefully so the paint job doesn’t look obvious. Before you paint, clean the tile thoroughly with trisodium phosphate, a heavy-duty cleaner sold at paint stores. Then prime both tile and grout with a good primer. Author Cohen recommends using a paintbrush to cover the tile edges and grout with the primer, and a roller on the tiles to create a smooth finish. Then paint only the tiles with satin paint and a gloss roller, applying in thin layers and avoiding the grout lines, she said. When all the layers are dry, roll over the tiles with a high-gloss clear enamel, again avoiding the grout lines. This isn’t the best approach for surfaces such as shower walls that are subjected to a lot of moisture, however. In that case, you can use a marine-grade coating such as a polyurethane oil-based enamel on tile and grout. If you want contrasting grout lines, you’ll need to paint them in by hand. It might just be easier to hide unsightly tub or shower tile by hanging a pretty shower curtain, Haught said. That’s also a good way to hide an unattractive shower door, she said.
Cathedral ceilings look great in photographs, but sometimes they can make a room feel too cavernous for comfort. Haught recommends making the ceiling less obvious by painting it the same color as the walls but in a lighter tint. Ask the paint store to mix the ceiling paint in a half formula of what’s used on the walls. And choose flat paint for ceilings, so it doesn’t draw attention by reflecting light. You also can create the perception that the ceiling is lower by hanging a large-scale lighting fixture that brings the eye down, she said. Drapery panels that extend only partway up the tall walls also will help bring the living space down to human scale.
Overbearing fireplaces Brick fireplaces that cover most or all of a wall were the rage a few decades ago. Now that look can seem dated and the dark brick oppressive. Neither Koerner nor Haught has any qualms about painting the brick. Usually a neutral color is best, Koerner said, so the fireplace becomes less dominant in the room. If you like a more contemporary appearance, consider removing or changing the mantel or other moldings, Haught said. She once filled in the flutings in an oak fireplace surround and painted it to create a more updated appearance.
Open layouts Rooms that are open to one another create a great flow, but they can make varying the wall colors difficult. Where does one color start and the next begin? In cases like that, it’s better to choose a single wall color for all the adjoining spaces and then add color to surfaces that aren’t walls, Haught said. In an adjoining kitchen and great room, for example, you might be able to add a pop of color in the cabinets or the backsplash. Or perhaps choose one accent wall to paint in a color that’s different from the other walls, she said. Don’t worry about the single wall color being too boring. Haught said the continuity creates a more relaxing backdrop than one that’s chopped up by a variety of colors. MCT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Bob Boddy, left, and Al Ladine tinker on projects at Atria Woodbridge, an assistedliving facility in Irvine, Calif. The senior facility has carved out a room for residents to tinker with inventions which some call the Man Cave. MCT PHOTO
Retirees return to hobbies of their youth in ‘man cave’ BY RICK ROJAS Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — The ladies are everywhere at the Atria Woodbridge senior living community in Irvine, Calif. It is the ladies who fill the dining hall, the ladies who while away the afternoon chatting and doing crossword puzzles in the sitting room, and the ladies whose photos are on display next to the needlepoint and paintings in the resident art gallery. Such is life in a place where women outnumber men at least three to one. But in a room on the second floor — where model airplanes dangle from the ceiling, work tables line the walls and a sign reading “Boys Will Be Boys” hangs outside the door — Al Ladine has created one spot where the guys run the show. Welcome to the Man Cave. “There are too many people sitting around and doing nothing,” Ladine said. “We’re trying to get them a little more active, give them a little bit to look forward to each day.” The 83-year-old engineering physicist, who once designed missile defense systems, fills his days with something much simpler, but just as fulfilling. With the help of the community’s staff, he has built a laboratory for senior citizens to put their minds and hands to work. It’s a crew that has its fair share of limitations: Some are hard of hearing, or lack the dexterity for precision work. Ladine, who has macular degeneration, is among those whose eyesight has faded. But in the Man Cave, there are no deadlines and every project is a team effort. “When they’re working and busy, they forget about
their problems, and I think that’s healthy,” Ladine said. “We take one step forward and three steps back, but we still keep moving forward.” The ladies are welcomed into the Man Cave, of course, but it is much more a gathering place for the men. Jessica Houck, an activities director at Atria, said that because the men are so greatly outnumbered, they have a harder time making friends and keeping up a social life. The facility has 124 residents, who range in age from 64 to 105, though the average age is about 83. Most are widowed. “It’s hard to meet the ladies,” said 92-year-old Robert Boddy, a cave regular who retired from owning a wholesale nursery four months ago. “They have a world of their own.” One project the Man Cave regulars have undertaken is an intricate model railroad based on 1870s Virginia City, an idea Boddy got from “Roughing It” by Mark Twain. Bernard Kaplowitz, a retired dentist, is making a model dental office for the town. Ruth Suttner, one of the ladies who help the men paint their projects, just finished the detail work on a bridge. “Ruth is the No. 1 artist assigned on the project,” Boddy said. Suttner, 92, laughed
coyly. “Well, I enjoy doing it,” she said. Some days, she’s the only woman among a halfdozen men. “The women feel, I think, that this is the Man Cave, so there’s no place for them,” she said. “We do have skills we can bring to this, and Al’s smart enough to realize this.” Atria Woodbridge, built 12 years ago, sits at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac. The two-story structure looks like an overgrown suburban home — the lawn is dotted with trees, the flower beds are manicured and there are tables and umbrellas in a tidy outdoor patio. Inside, it’s full of plush chairs and earth tones and, now, plenty of creations from the Man Cave. They have mounted clocks they built in the main entrance and in the dining hall (they went through something of a clock phase), and a horseracing game devised by Ladine is in the sitting room. The crew in the cave returned to hobbies they haven’t indulged since childhood: besides the model airplanes, boats and trains are among the favorites. The men are also handy at fixing eyeglasses and electric wheelchairs. MCT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
REAL ESTATE
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012
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Engineer can solve beam problem
A building sits in ruins, destroyed by last year’s tornado, as another is under construction in Joplin, Mo. PHOTO BY JAMES GIBBARD/TULSA WORLD
Joplin issues permits valued beyond $635M BY WALLY KENNEDY The Joplin Globe
JOPLIN, Mo. — More than $635 million in building permits — for both residential and commercial construction — has been issued by the city of Joplin in the year since the May 22, 2011, tornado, said Steve Cope, city building and code supervisor. That total includes a $269.4 million permit issued last month to Sisters of Mercy Health System for construction of a new hospital at 50th Street and Hearnes Boulevard. It is the single largest building permit in Joplin’s history. That $635 million does not include $185 million in estimated reconstruction and new building costs for the Joplin school district. In the one-year period after the April 27, 2011, tornado at Tuscaloosa, Ala., that city issued $279.9 million in building permits for all commercial and residential projects. But comparing the recovery of the two cities is difficult. Tuscaloosa did not lose a nine-story medical center as Joplin did. Work on the new Mercy Hospital Joplin began in January. The 825,000square-foot hospital,
which won’t be completed until mid-2015, has a total construction budget of $335 million, according to the contractor, McCarthy Building Cos. of St. Louis. There are other differences (and similarities) between the two cities. The tornado in Tuscaloosa, an EF4 with wind speeds of 190 mph, cut a 5.9-mile swath across the city. The tornado at times was more than a mile wide. It damaged or destroyed 5,362 buildings and 356 businesses, causing more than $2 billion in estimated damages. It killed 52 people and injured more than 1,200. The tornado in Joplin, an EF5 with wind speeds of 200 mph, cut a 6-mile path across the city. The tornado was a mile wide at times. It damaged or destroyed 7,500 buildings and 553 businesses, causing more than $2 billion in estimated damages. It killed 161 people and injured more than 1,150. Tuscaloosa is spread out over 60 square miles. Joplin covers 31.4 square miles. Tuscaloosa had a population of about 90,000 in 2010. Joplin had a population of about 50,000 in 2010. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES
Mastermind of mortgage fraud scheme sentenced THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAS VEGAS — A former Las Vegas businessman has been sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison for masterminding a mortgage fraud scheme that cost financial institutions more than $24 million. The Las Vegas ReviewJournal reported that Senior U.S. District Judge Roger Hunt also ordered Brett Depue, of Gilbert, Ariz., to pay $1.6 million in restitution. Depue was accused of
conspiring to recruit straw buyers with good credit to buy about 100 homes with mortgage applications containing false information, then renting the properties before selling them at a profit. Prosecutors said he acknowledged making as much as $13 million off the scheme through investment companies he operated from 2005 to 2007. Depue, 38, was found guilty by a jury in March of multiple conspiracy and wire fraud charges.
Q: We have a beam that is sagging in our family room. Our family room is located right above the basement but below the main level and the bedrooms. I have contacted numerous builders, but none will take on this job, claiming their insurance won’t cover it. I think my husband and I have heard every excuse in the book. We are worried that the situation will get worse. Can you please give us some advice? A: There are only a couple of reasons that a structural beam will sag. It could be that the beam was undersized for the span or the load when it was installed, or it could be that the beam is defective. It’s also possible that something was added that increased the load on the beam, or something was removed — for example, an intermediate post or wall — that increased the length of the area that the beam is spanning.
Paul Bianchina HANDY @ HOME
The engineer can measure the size of the beam, the span and the load that’s on it, and do the necessary calculations to determine where the problem lies. With any of these circumstances, the likelihood is that the sag will worsen over time, which could cause additional structural problems for the home or, in the worst case, create a
potentially hazardous situation for the occupants. With that in mind, I would suggest that you hire a licensed structural engineer to examine the house. The engineer can measure the size of the beam, the span and the load that’s on it, and do the necessary calculations to determine where the problem lies and what the best solution is. You can talk with your homeowners insurance agent, the building department, or your local builders association to get some recommendations for engineers in your area. The engineer should also be able to recommend a competent licensed contractor to do the repairs. With an engineer involved to specify the repair, much of the liability shifts from the contractor to the engineer, so contractors will be much more comfortable taking on the job. Q: I have a friend who wants to clean up and restore her deck, which is
treated 2-by-6. It is not in bad shape, but just needs to be cleaned up, restained and freshened up. I did some of this in the past and some products were very expensive, others less so. What do you recommend for a product that will clean the wood and a product to put a new finish on it? A: For cleaning the deck I really like Wolman’s DeckBrite. It’s safe and easy to use, and does a great job of cleaning up old decks, including pressuretreated lumber. Wolman’s DuraStain is a good semitransparent stain that should work fine for putting a little color back into the wood. The Wolman website has application tips and other information, as well as other types of stains and color charts: www.wolman.com. Remodeling and repair questions? Email Paul at paulbianchina@inman.com. All product reviews are based on the author’s actual testing of free review samples provided by the manufacturers. INMAN NEWS
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SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Right at home: twists on wood furnishings BY KIM COOK For The Associated Press
Industrial designer Robert Hendrick was on a tech career track out of college until two things happened that changed his trajectory. First, he bought a company that maintains and rebuilds railroad tracks. Then he started spending Saturdays building stuff with his father, Jim. “I’d always been fascinated by trains and loved the history of how they were so instrumental in the industrialization of America,” said Hendrick, who lives in Nashville. “Dad was a construction exec, and the carpentry shop was a weekend diversion. He was always salvaging some interesting artifact from a building that was being torn down. When I saw some of the scrap rails, I realized there might be some beautiful things we could make with them.” The two launched Rail Yard Studios in 2010. Using century-old railroad steel and hardwood timber, they make one-of-akind chairs, desks, tables, beds. Some of the rails date back as far as 1898. Each
This wall art by R&R Designworks shows how Sarah Reiss uses reclaimed wood to make custom wall art. She used gymnasium flooring, bowling alleys, barn wood and shiplap to craft her wall art and smaller scaled tables. This Halcyon vanity by Native Trails was made of Forest Stewardship Council certified Caramel Bamboo. AP PHOTOS
piece is numbered using a salvaged date nail that’s been scavenged from the tracks themselves. Many wood furniture artisans are interested, as the Hendricks are, in honoring the provenance of their material, whether it’s repurposed, recycled or just reimagined as something that can be used in the home.
That creative respect makes for some beautiful and intriguing pieces. Naomi Neilson Howard, founder of the company Native Trails in San Luis Obispo, Calif., uses staves and barrels from nearby wineries to make bathroom vanities for her Vintner’s Collection. Her Cabernet model has a deep, warm patina, the re-
sult of the oak soaking in red wine for several years. The pieces have an Old World, weathered quality. This spring, Howard added the Renewal series to her line, a departure from the more rustic pieces. She molds tightly grained, compressed bamboo into contemporary vanities such as the Halcyon, a curvy, wallmounted piece fashioned from two proprietary varietals, Caramel Bamboo and the darker Woven
Strand Bamboo. Fred Strawser and David Smith have an eponymous Brooklyn shop selling refurbished and repurposed furnishings with components that started life back in Rust Belt factories. With its mix of heartland craftsmanship and modern high style, the shop has attracted the attention of design enthusiasts as far away as Japan. For examples, a medical cart from late 19th-century Toledo, Ohio, gets a
walnut top that used to be a leather worker’s work surface, and is ready for action as a hip new desk or console. Industrial-chic side tables are made of thick, lustrously finished slabs of reclaimed wood with wrought-iron, hanging machinist’s baskets instead of shelves. Sarah Reiss is a Dallasbased artist, furniture designer and writer who found her inner craftsman when buying a fixer-upper. She invested in a jigsaw and some other equipment and built a wall out of interesting reclaimed lengths of wood. The striking result — a colorful, textural geometric piece of art — caught the attention of design bloggers, and her business took off. “Piecing a wall together is like a long-form improvisation with a permanent outcome. I think that’s pretty cool,” she said. Reiss will custom design a wall for you using locally sourced woods such as flooring from old bowling alleys or gymnasiums; shiplap; and barn siding. If you want something smaller, she makes chevron-patterned tables.
LISTING OF THE WEEK
House next to greenbelt has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths The Listing of the Week backs to a greenbelt in Edmond’s Park Lane Estates addition. The 1,910-square-foot home at 1712 Park Lane Drive has three bedrooms, two baths, two living areas, one dining room and an attached two-car garage. The main living room has a vaulted ceiling, fireplace
and ceiling fan. The second living room is a loft with a bay window and ceiling fan. The kitchen has a breakfast bar, granite counters, eating space and pantry. The master bedroom has a ceiling fan, hisand-her walk-in closets and bath with whirlpool tub. Secondary bedrooms have ceiling fans. The
home has a covered patio and security system. The home, built in 1992, is listed for $165,000 with Exit Bob Linn Real Estate. For more information, call 650-3548 or 722-3344. Nominations for Listing of the Week are welcome. Send information on single-family homes to The Oklahoman, Richard Mize, P.O. Box 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125. Nominations may be faxed to 475-3996.
The Listing of the Week is at 1712 Park Lane Drive in Edmond.
PHOTO PROVIDED
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012
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‘Desperate, angry’ homebuyer slips up DEAR BARRY: We bought our home when it was brand new. There had been another buyer before us, but he backed out of the deal because of a foundation problem. The builder disclosed that the problem had been repaired. We were desperate and angry, so we purchased the property. Now we are selling it, and the buyer’s home inspector says the foundation was not properly repaired. It seems that we’ve gotten ourselves into a real mess. What could we have done to prevent this? Marion DEAR MARION: You made three critical mistakes when you bought the property. The first was to buy it when you were
Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE
“desperate and angry.” Regardless of why you were feeling that way, a home purchase should never be based on negative emotions. Property is expensive, and that kind of expenditure should only be made with clear thinking and sober rationale. The second mistake was to accept the condition of the foundation without written proof of the repair work. Adequate proof would have been an engi-
neering report on the foundation problem and a contractor’s receipt for the corrective work. The final error was purchasing the property without hiring a qualified home inspector. Buyers often assume that a new home does not need a home inspection, and many homeowners have come to regret that unfortunate assumption. Had you hired a home inspector, you might have learned that the foundation was defective. Then you could have had it repaired by the builder, or you could have backed out on the deal. The question now is whether the home is still covered by the builders’ warranty. You should check with an attorney or with the appropriate state
A home purchase should never be based on negative emotions. Property is expensive, and that kind of expenditure should only be made with clear thinking and sober rationale. agency to see where you stand in that regard. DEAR BARRY: Our buyers hired a home in-
spector and he has made an expensive mess. While testing the dishwasher, he left the room to inspect other parts of the house. We hadn’t used the dishwasher in years and the door seals had become dry and cracked. By the time the inspector returned to the kitchen, the floor was flooded, and the hardwood flooring is now warped. Are we stuck with the cost of this repair, or is the home inspector liable? Ralph DEAR RALPH: The home inspector has just learned an expensive lesson: Don’t leave the room when testing an old dishwasher. Had he remained in the room while the fixture was running, the leaking would have been
noticed when it started, and the unit could have been turned off before the flooding occurred. A good practice for home inspectors is to start the dishwasher first when inspecting a kitchen. That way, the unit can be running while the inspector is evaluating the cooktop, oven, vent hood, sink plumbing, cabinets, countertops, and so on. By the time these other items have been inspected, there will have been time for dishwasher leakage to become apparent. You should discuss the issue of liability with the inspector, and be sure to ask if he has insurance for this kind of accident. To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com/ ACTION COAST PUBLISHING
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SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012
REAL ESTATE
HOUSE PLAN
Detailing adds charm to home Craftsman detailing adds its charm to the Harlequin, a compact singlelevel home with a surprisingly spacious gathering space. Craftsman features include the characteristic gridded window uppers and the front-facing gables with decorative corbels at their apexes. The plan’s 42-foot width allows the home to fit neatly onto a city lot, but the footprint is larger than it appears, stretching quite a ways back from the street. Family living areas fill the entire left side, while bedrooms and bathrooms are on the right. Entering, you step into a living room with windows on the front and sides. This space flows into the dining room, which is open to the kitchen on the right. Wide sliding glass doors at the rear access a partially covered patio that could easily be screened. A flush eating bar rims the peninsular counter that separates the dining room and kitchen. Counters, cabinetry and built-in appliances wrap around the other three sides of the kitchen. Standing at the kitchen sink, you can converse with folks in the dining room, keep your eye on the patio, and enjoy watching seasonal changes in the landscape beyond. Natural light from a skylight illuminates a front bathroom that is convenient to the family living area and the secondary bedrooms. It’s next to the Harlequin’s pass-through utility room, which links the house and garage. Storage closets line the hallway that runs from the
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Foundation sells Hemingway’s Chicago home THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
family plans to make their new OAK PARK, Ill. — home available The suburban Chito visits by cago house where scholars and Ernest Hemingway other Hemingis believed to have way fans. written some of his “We don’t earliest works will want anyone to be converted back feel like we’re into a single-famgoing to shutter ily home, but fans Ernest it up or miniof the novelist are Hemingway mize the historwelcome to visit, ical signifithe new owners said. cance,” he said. “We apThe Ernest Hemingway preciate curiosity in the Foundation put the Oak home. We just need to balPark property on the mar- ance the reality that it’s ket in February, and Kurt going to be our family and Mary Jane Neumann home.” closed a $525,000 deal on Hemingway’s mother, the home last week. Grace, helped design the The foundation bought slate-blue, three-story the house in 2001 in hopes stucco home, which they of turning it into a cultural moved into in 1906. Ernest center but couldn’t make Hemingway lived there the finances work, accord- until he graduated from ing to John Berry, the high school and left for a group’s chairman. The reporting job at the Kansas home has been divided in- City Star. He is believed to to three apartments since have written some of his the 1930s. earliest works in his thirdKurt Neumann said his floor bedroom.
bedrooms, past the utility room, to the living room. The owners’ suite has its own private bathroom. Amenities include a dual vanity, oversized shower
and walk-in closet. The toilet and shower can be closed off for steam containment and privacy. A review plan of the Harlequin 30-759,
including floor plans, elevations, section and artist’s conception, can be purchased for $25 by phone, mail or online. Add $5 for shipping and handling. Associated Designs, 1100 Jacobs Drive, Eugene, OR, 97402. www.associateddesigns.com. (800) 634-0123.
The boyhood home of novelist Ernest Hemingway in Oak Park, Ill., has been sold to a couple for a family home, but they plan to make it available to visits by Hemingway enthusiasts. AP PHOTO
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Building permits Oklahoma City MA+ Architecture, 6800 S Blackwelder Ave., school, remodel, $6,101,282. Smith & Pickel, 515 Central Park Drive, office, remodel, $1,500,000. Clyde Riggs Construction-Brent Crandall, 2001 NW 178, church, add-on, $1,300,000. Sooner Traditions LLC, 14205 Broadway Extension, storage, erect, $723,000. D&R Development, 113 NE 138, office-warehouse, erect, $450,000. Grace Contracting, 2713 SW 29, shell building, erect, $450,000. Bronco Steel, 3415 S Interstate 35 Service Road, warehouse, erect, $400,000. Smith & Pickel, 3501 NW 63, office, remodel, $400,000. John Ryks, 5021 SE 154 Court, residence, erect, $350,000. Clark Construction, 614 W Interstate 240 Service Road, automotive repairwash, erect, $350,000. Structural Systems of OKC, 2909 S Ann Arbor Ave., office-warehouse, erect, $350,000. Greg Butler, 14900 SE 119, residence, erect, $300,000. Jason Powers Homes, 12016 SW 56, residence, erect, $300,000. Thornbrooke Homes LLC, 504 NW 151, residence, erect, $300,000. Erwin Omar and Jeanette Flores, 5604 Creekmore Drive, residence, erect, $290,000. Eric Cheatham Construction Co., 12509 Lapis Lane, residence, erect, $275,000. No name provided, 4700 SE 84, residence, erect, $275,000. Heartland Homes LLC, 2425 NW 175, residence, erect, $266,051. Renaissance Custom Homes LLC, 14801 SE 75, residence, erect, $265,000. Heartland Homes LLC, 2425 NW 174, residence, erect, $260,480. J.W. Mashburn Development Inc., 5604 NW 120 Circle, residence, erect, $260,000. Jason Powers Homes, 8904 NW 110, residence, erect, $260,000. Grace Contracting, 7000 NW 122, shell building, erect, $250,000. JHBR, 16060 N May
Ave., parking, install, $250,000. Jason Powers Homes, 8912 NW 109, residence, erect, $240,000. Heartland Homes LLC, 2429 NW 174, residence, erect, $227,010. J. Hill Homes Inc., 4005 Wayfield Ave., rehabilitation center, erect, $210,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 17332 Hardwood Place, residence, erect, $200,000. Rick Russell Homes Inc., 2530 NW Grand Blvd., residence, remodel, $200,000. Vesta Homes Inc., 9016 Lolly Lane, residence, erect, $195,000. J. Hill Homes Inc., 3909 Wayfield Ave., residence, erect, $190,000. Larry Toombs, 19824 Crest Ridge Drive, residence, erect, $187,500. J. Hill Homes Inc., 4001 Wayfield Ave., residence, erect, $185,000. J. Justice Cos., 7209 SW 105, residence, erect, $185,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 17312 Ridgewood Drive, residence, erect, $180,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 15304 Homecoming Drive, residence, erect, $180,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 17308 Ridgewood Drive, residence, erect, $180,000. The Hodges Group, 2431 SW 89, school, remodel, $175,000. Authentic Custom Homes LLC, 2221 NW 195, residence, erect, $162,324. Heartland Homes LLC, 17536 Red Tailed Hawk Way, residence, erect, $157,500. Authentic Custom Homes LLC, 2244 NW 194, residence, erect, $155,000. Sun Properties LLC, 11732 SW 24 Terrace, residence, erect, $150,000. Sun Properties LLC, 2300 Wayne Cutt Ave., residence, erect, $150,000. Permits Direct, 13710 N Pennsylvania Ave., medical clinic-office, remodel, $150,000. C&C Builders Inc., 21216 SE 101 Place, residence, erect, $145,000. C&C Construction Services Inc., 10200 Dove Crossing Road, residence, erect, $145,000. Steele Custom Homes Inc., 5352 Starling Way, residence, erect, $135,000. D.R. Horton, 11700
Farms, Ranches For Sale, Okla. 308 The Perfect 80 acres 790241 S3400 RD Tryon OK Beautiful rolling 80, 5 ponds, Large horse barn 5bed, 2ba, 2600 2001 $329,900 Carl C21 Premier 405-258-6096
Farms, Ranches For Sale Out-of-State 309
Acreage For Sale
302
A "Must See" 4 to 14 Beautiful acres Guthrie/Coyle area Price Reduced Owner Financing 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com Now Accepting Major Credit Cards 1N to 10A, E. of OKC, pay out dn. before 1st pmt. starts, many are M/H ready over 400 choices, lg trees, some with ponds, TERMS Milburn o/a 275-1695 paulmilburnacreages.com OWNER FINANCING 1-10 Acres Many Locations Call for maps 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com Unfinished home & 5A NE of Shawnee, potential 3bd, 2ba, blacktop rd TERMS Milburn o/a 275-1695 paulmilburnacreages.com Call for Maps! See why we sell more acreages than anyone in Okla. E of OKC. o/a 275-1695 Guthrie 1.5 acres, partially fence cleared $12,500 cash. 301-6495
Mini Horse Farm Mount Morris, PA In-law suite w/own entrance, 3 stall barn, 80x130 sand ring 2bed, 2ba, 2.5 Car Garage, 5.5 ac., $299,000 724-324-5499
311
HOME FOR SALE 5609 NW 59th St 5709545 109K 3bed, 2ba, 2600 Tropicana 3bd, 2ba Like new. Near Lake $129,500 • 650-7667 BY OWNER 3BR near Lake Best area $123.9K 603-4775
Choctaw
314
Stonebriar The Elms New 924 195th Place A gated community, HOA includes pool, recreation, pond, walking trails and lawn care. Open living/ kitchen, Split Bedroom plan, Study, Separate Laundry, Pantry,Large Front Porch and covered Back patio 3bed, 2.5ba, 3 Car Garage, 1888 Custom Home, $217,450 Charlotte Brackett Red Oak Real Estate 405-740-9771 604 Fox Hunt Ln 1950 sq ft. 165,000 ex cond. open floor 405-562-7003 3bed, 2ba,
Moore
318
Bank Owned 3/2.5/2 blt 85 brick, wood floors $79,900 Realty Experts 414-8753
RE for sale Bethany/ Warr Acres
Edmond
312
Eastwood Addition OPEN HOUSE Sunday! 4 bed - 4 Sale by Owner 1882 sq ft w/bonus room. $159,900 (405)570-1491
OKC Northwest
324
Arbors townhouse w/creek view wooded backyd 3bd 2ba $124,900 Marian 850-7654 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494 Updated Brick 3/1 extra parking, newer roof & ch/a, wood floors $80,000 Realty Experts 414-8753
OKC Southeast
325
OWNER FINANCING $1000 down No Credit Ck 544 SE 71 3/1 $1K down ¡596-4599 ‘ 410-8840¡ 904 SE 71st St 3/1.5/2 24,500 cash 650-7667
Spacious 1780sf 4b 2b 3b blt in '06 $185K 259-9560 13161austrianpinedr.com
OKC Southwest
Del City
5824 S. Shartel Avenue, Very Nice 2 bed, 1 bath, 1 car $39,500 ¡ 550-2145
313
40 ACRES HUNTING LAND HUGHES CO. $17,000. 405-886-1643
OWNER FINANCING $2000 down No Credit Ck 4010 Pearl Way 3/1 $54K ¡596-4599 ‘ 410-8840¡
2 ACRES + 2200sf double wide. Harrah/McLoud $31,900 cash 301-6495
Bank Owned 3/2/2 2073sf 2 liv/din, .45 acre $79,900 Realty Experts 414-8753
Piedmont
326
327
2.6 Ac 1103 Meadowlark 4bd 3ba horse ready w/stg barn $195,000 518 Van Buren 4bd 1.5ba lrg corner lt & stg $109,900 522 Windmill new hm 4.5bd 4ba + bonus rm $299,000 616 Windmill 4-5bd 3.5ba + bonus rm $313,000 Marian 850-7654 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494
Gwendolyn Lane, residence, erect, $132,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 301 Durkee Road, residence, erect, $127,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18428 Las Meninas Drive, residence, erect, $126,000. Home Creations, 12012 NW 138, residence, erect, $124,700. D.R. Horton, 3700 Millers Creek Lane, residence, erect, $118,600. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11433 SW 24, residence, erect, $109,000. Foster Signature Homes LLC, 16316 Iron Fire Court, residence, erect, $105,000. Home Creations, 15901 Sonador Drive, residence, erect, $104,600. Home Creations, 16009 Sonador Drive, residence, erect, $104,300. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18408 Abierto Drive, residence, erect, $103,000. Home Creations, 15821 Carriage House Road, residence, erect, $102,800. Home Creations, 15805 Sonya Way, residence, erect, $102,300. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 2629 NW 186, residence, erect, $101,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 8521 SW 44 Court, residence, erect, $100,000. Two Structures LLC, 9033 NW 93 Circle, residence, erect, $100,000. Sooner Traditions LLC, 14205 Broadway Extension, storage, erect, $94,054. Nation Wide Permit, 13900 N Lincoln Blvd., manufacturing, remodel, $93,000. Aluminum Specialists Inc., 10000 NW 2, canopy-carport, erect, $90,000. Home Creations, 2425 NW 197 Terrace, residence, erect, $78,200. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 9512 SW 27, residence, erect, $75,000. Radius Design & Construction LLC, 2429 N Classen Blvd., retail sales, remodel, $75,000. Lester Adams, 429 SE 52, residence, erect, $70,000. HSE Architects, 13321 N Meridian Ave., medical clinic-office, remodel, $50,000. JHBR Architects, 18101 N Western Ave., school, move-on, $50,000. JHBR Architects, 18101 N Western Ave., school, move-on, $50,000. Jenco Construction Co., 805 SW 52, residence, fire restoration, $48,708.
Lots For Sale 337 Residential, vacant corner lot, 3920 S Harvey Ave, 631-4240/209-2901.
Mobile Homes, Manufactured Houses 339 Special Gov't Program! Own Land/Family land ZERO DOWN! New and Repo homes avail. E-Z qualify by phone. Top dollar for your TRADE in. $2,000 furn allowance with purchase. WAC 405-631-7600 405-834-8814 Cash 4 Clunkers! Guaranteed $5,000 for any trade towards down pymt of new home. WAC 405-631-7600 405-834-8814
MUST SELL!
2008 1880 in perfect condition, $15,000 Cash 405-570-4291 Abandoned D/W Repo set up on 5 Acres!! Ready to move in. Free phone application 405-631-7600 NEW 3bd/2bth $1500 down, 7.5% $281mo. 405-324-8010 Double Wide REPO Like New $395mo. wac 405-577-2884 REPO REPO REPO 4bd/3bth $648MO. wac 405-324-8000 Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777
Real Estate Auctions
342
LAND AUCTION McDonald County, MO 928 Acres± . 2 Tracts Pristine beauty w/unlimited development potential Improvements include 7 bdrm home, cabins, conference/reception hall, pool, barn, tennis & basketball courts. Located approx. 20 mi. N of Bentonville, AR or approx. 50 mi. S of Joplin, MO Tues., June 26. 10 AM Open House: Sat., June 23 • 1-3 pm sullivanauctioneers.com 217-847-2160
Real Estate Auctions
342
LAND AUCTION FRI, JUNE 29th 10AM 2,378± ACRES McCURTAIN COUNTY IDABEL, OK 2 Miles of River Frontage Excellent Hunting Rustic Hunting Lodge Caretakers Home Offered in 11 Tracts LandAuction-Idabel.com 866-874-7100 405-542-7306
Real Estate Notices
345
Owner carry with down. Nice homes & fixers. 417-2176 www.homesofokcinc.com I BUY HOUSES Any condition. No cost to U 410-5700
Real Estate Wanted
346
I BUY & SELL HOUSES 27 YRS EXP 650-7667 HOMESOFOKCINC.COM
Vacation Property For Sale 347
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012
Laura Towler, 9641 NW 12 Place, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $41,000. Grace Contracting, 7000 NW 122, business, remodel, $40,000. Graham Construction, 4505 NW 10, retail sales, remodel, $39,600. Graham Construction, 4507 NW 10, retail sales, remodel, $39,600. Graham Construction, 4509 NW 10, retail sales, remodel, $39,600. Graham Construction, 4511 NW 10, retail sales, remodel, $36,900. Callahan Steel Buildings (Curt), 2800 Fontaine Place, accessory, erect, $35,000. Kenneth Beausoleil, 5112 SE 85, residence, add-on, $30,000. Structural Systems of Oklahoma, 2908 S Ann Arbor Ave., office-warehouse, remodel, $30,000. Claims Management Resources, 726 W Sheridan Ave., restaurant, remodel, $30,000. Caston Construction, 5701 N Portland Ave., medical clinic-office, remodel, $25,000. Meyer Architects, 6800 S Blackwelder Ave., school, move-on, $22,730. Meyer Architects, 6800 S Blackwelder Ave., school, move-on, $22,730. Meyer Architects, 6800 S Blackwelder Ave., school, move-on, $22,730. Meyer Architects, 6800 S Blackwelder Ave., school, move-on, $22,730. Meyer Architects, 6800 S Blackwelder Ave., school, move-on, $22,730. Meyer Architects, 6800 S Blackwelder Ave., school, move-on, $22,730. Four Seasons Sunrooms, 2912 Redmond Court, residence, add-on, $22,694. Southwest Builders, 3309 Chesterfield Place, residence, add-on, $19,000. Van Hoose Construction Co., 321 NW 36, school, modular, $17,000. Van Hoose Construction Co., 321 NW 36, modular, modular, $17,000. Van Hoose Construction Co., 321 NW 36, modular, modular, $17,000. Graham Construction, 1101 N Meridian Ave., shell building, remodel, $16,500. Bedlam Construction, 10501 Joseph Way, residence, remodel, $16,000. Gober Building, 13616 Tanglewood Drive, accessory, erect, $14,000. Westwind Enterprises, 9009 NW 10, accessory, erect, $12,000.
Lakeview Terrace Mobile Home Park, 1402 N Lakeview Drive, manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $12,000. Robert Coleman, 5104 N Hudson Ave., accessory, erect, $11,000. Leslie Lares, 1417 Windsurf Way, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $10,900. Joe Quinlin, 617 S Shartel Ave., residence, remodel, $10,000. Scott Hatcher, 3001 N Classen Blvd., business, remodel, $10,000. Design Partnership Inc., 6525 N Meridian Ave., office, remodel, $10,000. John A. Henry & Co., 13801 N Pennsylvania Ave., retail sales, remodel, $10,000. Lester Adams, 429 SE 52, accessory, erect, $7,000. Aaron Rosales, 2520 NW 109, cabana-gazebo, erect, $4,902. Robert Middleton, 12509 Stickney Place, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $4,500. No name provided, 13341 Ambleside Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,150. Donald Chaffin, 13001 Anduin Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,100. Joe Edwards, 5809 Columbine Way, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,100. Flat Safe, 4416 St. Thomas Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,050. Angie and Robert Huckleberry, 6204 Braniger Way, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000. Kandi Connor, 7709 Harold Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000. Sandra Hoch, 10301 E Apple Valley Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000. Sylvan Swain, 6122 S Western Ave., business, move-on, $4,000. Donnie Watts, 2726 W Sheridan Ave., storm shelter, install, $4,000. Pauline Caporal, 309 NW 148 Terrace, residence, remodel, $3,500. No name provided, 3008 Brookhollow Road, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,450. Ronald Brownell, 7413 Edenborough Drive, residence, remodel, $3,400. Rudy Ramirez, 1513 Sunnybrook Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,395. Jaun Vega, 8224 NW 114,
Established Business For Sale
424
Fully equipped new restaurant for sale. Perfect for buffet-type! Great location. 830-0285 Feed & Tack Store @ Remington Park in OKC. Exc. Bus. ¡ 405-630-9437
Investment Property For Rent 362 For Rent/For Sale Appx 3000 sq ft. Concrete block building, lots of parking, zoned E3, 2000 S. McKinley 405-627-4281 and/or 580-564-4467
Office Space For Rent
363
7608 N Western Ave Retail/Office space, 1200sf avail, 370-1077 GREAT Office Space Various NW locations 300-6000sf 946-2516
Warehouse Space For Rent 363.5 K Office, K Warehouse for lease. Various sizes. 221 W Wilshire 842-7300
Cookson Bend Marina Lake Tenkiller, New 3bd 2ba, ch&a, woodburning FP, lrg screened deck, furnished BEST LOT AT COOKSON RESORT! $79,900 ¡ 479-414-1202 Walk to Your Boat!
MWC
Free Month Rent! 1&2bd QUIET! Covered Parking Great Schools! 732-1122
OKC Northwest
431
$200 off
1st Mo Rent Selected Units LARGE TOWNHOMES & APARTMENTS • Washer, Dryers, pools • PC Schools, fireplaces
WILLIAMSBURG 7301 NW 23rd
787-1620 $200 Off
1st Mo Rent Selected units 2 & 3 bed Townhouses Washer/Dryers, Fireplaces, P.C. Schools
PARKLANE
8100 N. MacArthur Blvd.
721-5455
$99 Special
1 & 2 BD & Townhouses •City bus route/Shopping •Washer/Dryer hookups
Valencia Apts 2221 N. Meridian
946-6548
Florence 429 NW 11th Midtown Studio, Wood Floors, Exposed Brick walls, Free Laundry ch/a $675 mo $400 deposit; 409-7989 No section 8
1 Month FREE!
Commercial Property For Sale
Established Business For Sale Salon For Sale $28,500 Equipped for hair, nails & spray tanning. Annie's Salon at 930 24th Ave SW in Norman, OK. Shown by appointment only. Call 405-973-8899 for more info.
432
Newly Remodeled 1&2bd No deposit for VA, seniors & Disability. 4708 SE 44th 677-2200 704 SE 31st 1bed 1 bath $425mo 408-5836
OKC Southwest
$99 SPECIAL Lg 1bdr, stove, refrig., clean, walk to shops. $345 mo. 632-9849 Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077 SAN-TEE APTS SMALL EFFICIENCY $275MO + $135DEP + elec 408-5836 $99 Move In Special!!! Lg 1 and 2 Bdr, $345 to $420 mo. 632-9849
RE for rent Del City
446
465.5
¡ 3108 Neighbors Ln.¡ 3bd, 1.5ba, 1car, ch&a, nice, fncd, Sec 8 ok ¡ $655 ¡ 476-5011 4412 SE 42 Ter 3/1.5/2 $775 Free List 681-7272
469
Nice, ready now, 4/3/2, ch/a, 1800 sf, $1300mo. $1000 dep WAC No pets. 1221 NE 24th 410-9751 220 S Norman Ave 3bed 1 bath, garage. $695mo 408-5836 3bd 2ba 2car fireplace 1230sf $875mo+dep WAC Home&RanchRlty 794-7777
Mustang
470
416 W. Forest Dr, 3BR, 1.5BA, $750/mo. Need references. 405-946-3164
OKC Northeast
Duplexes MWC
SEE PERMITS, PAGE 10E
Moore 433
474
4618 NE 67th 3bd, 2ba, 2car on cul-de-sac, 1ac 3yrs old, 405-610-7088.
2 bedroom, $300 + $300 dep. No Pets. 703 SE 20th. 405-412-6881
OKC Northwest
OKC Northeast
KAT Properties-Apt & Homes for rent. Scan this with your phone app
452
2bd $575 Casady751-8088 The Plaza 1740 NW 17th 1bd 1ba, 800sf, ch/a, wood flrs, $585mo, $250 dep 409-7989 no sec 8
Apartments Del City
421.5
2 BR. 1 BA furn. gar. apt. no pets. refer. req. $135/wk. 405-672-0877
Edmond
422
TOP LOCATION! Pd. wtr/garb. Near malls. Try Plaza East 341-4813
525 SW 26th 3bed 2bath 1 car garage, 1545 sf, ch/a, $700 mo, $400 dep, no sec 8 409-7989
OKC Northwest
453
FOXRUN 1/2mi N of NW 122 at McArthur By ownr 1865' mol, very clean 3bd 2ba 2car, fp, wetbar, Cfans dbl oven, patio, fenced, smoke free, no pets 1yr lease $995 + $995 dep. come see!! 405-823-4784
475
OKC Southeast
2728 NW 14th 4bd 2ba, den, 2car det. gar. basement $825mo $500dep $250 per pet 464-3656 »» SECTION 8 OK»» 336 NW 85th, 3bd $695 per mo. 942-3552
OKC Southeast
476
Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077
906 N Gardner 3bd 1O ba corner fp, w/d hk ups wat/ garb pd $550mo 408-5836
MAYFAIR Great location! 1/2 bd W/D hdwd flr quiet secure ngbrhood ¡947-5665
Hotels/Motels 462
9 SE 28th, 2bd 1ba, fenced, dbl lot $450/mo sell or rent. 610-7088
•ABC• Affordable, Bug free, Clean » 787-7212»
Furnished/Unfurnished Weekly/Monthly 370-1077
Valley Brook Cute 3bed w/stove, refrig, carport, $525 mo 596-8410
476
1 bed furn $375; 2bed trailer unfurn $395; refs req'd, $150dep, 321-4773
OKC Southwest
477
3 bed 1.5 bath 2 liv areas RENT TO OWN, down pymt negotiable $750 mo, 606-6655. 3br 2c ch&a $750+$750 dep, no pets/Sec 8, 7916 S McKinley 691-4528 3600 SW 22nd Cute 2bd clean, fenced $425 Fidelity692-1661, 410-4200 2 bed, w/d hookup, fncd yard, 1 car gar, $525 mo, $250 dep, 631-8039 3 bed, 1O bath, 2 car gar. Moore Schools, SW 104th & Penn. ‘ 405-301-7913 2504 SW 32nd 3bd 1.75 bath $575 mo 408-5836 Nice 3 bd, 1 ba, 2747 SW 64th, ch&a, appls, fncd yard, $795 mo, 721-3757 1132 SW Binkley3/1/1 $525 Free List 681-7272
Spencer
479
8007 N. John St., 2 bed, 2ba 2liv, 5 ac, fenced $800/mo, 610-7088.
Tuttle/ Newcastle
Near TAFB 3bd.2ba, One owner home, 410-6383 $1100.00mo
Bills Paid
9E
storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,200. Karen Kreger, 6212 Westlane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,100. Liz Wilkes, 1412 NW 148, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,100. No name provided, 12428 NW 3 Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,100. April Burnett, 2821 NW 184 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Daniel and Pauline Byars, 6209 Sudbury Drive, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. David Brown, 9209 Sutton Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Dianna Lovelady, 19609 Chestermere Circle, residence, add-on, $3,000. Dustin and Autumn Homesley, 2808 NW 183, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Felicia Stiger, 6513 Rock Creek Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Gretchen J. Bybee, 8848 NW 121 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Jeanne Foster, 4728 NW 70, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Lance Scogin, 4616 SW 122, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Marshall Strobel, 8801 Scirocco Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Michael Hogan, 2309 NW 180, residence, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Patricia Gibson, 16504 Moorgate Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Paul Brum, 2917 SW 111, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Ray Heaney, 10300 Walnut Hollow Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Robert Williams, 221 SW 147, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Steven and Holly Clausen, 508 NW 193, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Valerie Hull, 10115 Shadowview Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. No name provided, 1909 NW 7, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. No name provided, 617 SW 156 Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000.
2 bed, water paid, $450, off NE Kelley, sec 8 or non sec 8 welcome, 427-7566
Commercial RE
Grand Lake Monkey Island 440ft water front with house, docks, restaurant (Ozzie's). Best reasonable offer buys at the end of summer. Serious Buyers Only! 918-257-5726
OKC Southeast
.
481
NEW IN THE RIDGE!! 3695 MERLIN CT. 3bd + study 2ba 3car 2067sf. $1700mo $1700dep. no pet/sec 8 Maria 618-0563
Mobile Home Rentals 483 Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777
Storage Units
489.7
Boat Storage 4131 NW 23rd OKC Enclosed, Secure $40/mo $50/mo & $60/mo units avail 365-3889
10E
.
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012
Permits FROM PAGE 9E
No name provided, 2009 Wheatfield Ave., storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Adam Edwards, 820 NW 194 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,999. No name provided, 16604 Moorgate Lane, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,999. Adam Mewhorter, 17209 Aragon Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Alan Peters, 7908 John Robert Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Angela Harkey, 10301 Joseph Way, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Arthur and Tiffany Kyle, 5112 NW 163, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Buck Held, 4616 NW 161, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,995. Denver Green, 17717 Ptarmigan Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Jon Fredericksen, 4801 Old Lantern Way, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Kimberli Weston, 2915 NW 160, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Koby and Mendy Scoville, 16212 Panther Way, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,995. Phuoe Nguyen, 12321 Long Lake Blvd., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. No name provided, 6704 Greenway Drive, install-storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Amanda Warren, 11120 SW 42, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900. Chris Haworth, 16041 Teesdale Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900. Nathan Raubenolt, 8608 Canyon Trail Drive, storm shelter, instalstorm shelter, $2,900. No name provided, 6500 N Grand Blvd., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900. Ryan Carissa, 3116 Oak Hollow Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter,
$2,900. Wayne C. Jacox, 2708 NW 152 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900. Sherrie Clark, 6501Bentley Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,895. Garrett Hutchings, 4900 SE 79, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Janice Kemper, 2101Sycamore Creek Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Lola Hall, 12025 Briarlake Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Ashley Diveley, 6213 SE 79, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,795. James Kowalik, 201 SW 146, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,700. Vickie Hayes, 1248 SE 22, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,700. William Hughes, 13525 Stone Creek Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,570. Cindy Joiner, 2618 SE 40, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,550. David Affentranger, 2409 SW 137, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500. Blue Note, 2408 N Robinson Ave., club-tavern, add-on, $2,500. Jim Grayson, 1037 SW 129, residence, add-on, $2,100. Michael and Christina Rowland, 12424 SE 137, storm shelter, install, $2,100. Moises Ceballos, 1505 SW 23, canopy-carport, add-on, $2,000. Roy Lee Hair, 8904 Kim Marie Lane, canopy-carport, add-on, $1,600. Willie and Rubye Brown, 3716 NW 58, canopy-carport, add-on, $1,130. Michael and Christina Rowland, 12424 SE 137, canopy-carport, erect, $1,100. Gabiro Avila, 1320 SW 62, canopy-carport, addon, $1,000.
Demolitions Midwest Wrecking, 1406 S Youngs Blvd., residence. Midwest Wrecking, 1272 SE 24, residence. K&M Wrecking LLC, 3113 Thorn Ridge Road, single-family residence. Step By Stepps, 2404 E Madison, detached garage.
THE OKLAHOMAN
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Boarder Collie Tipp rounds up the herd at Spicy Lamb Farm in Peninsula, Ohio. The Llama is there to protect the herd from predators. Farmers have formed an organization called Urban Shepherds to rent out their sheep to cut grass. MCT PHOTOS
Sheep can be mowing alternative BY MARY BETH BRECKENRIDGE Akron Beacon Journal
PENINSULA, Ohio — Laura DeYoung doesn’t need a lawn mower to keep her grass cut. She has about 80 living grass-cutting machines roaming around behind her house. DeYoung raises sheep as the owner of Spicy Lamb Farm in Peninsula. She’s also a partner in Urban Shepherds, a coalition of sheep farmers promoting the use of sheep to cut grass by grazing instead of using humans and machines. The group is in discussion with its first client, St. Clair Superior Development Corp. in Cleveland, Ohio. If all goes as planned, Urban Shepherds will have sheep grazing on green space near the lakefront east of downtown Cleveland. The seed for Urban Shepherds was planted by Michael Fleming, the development corporation’s executive director. When he was working in his previous job with MidTown Cleveland Inc., he approached DeYoung with a simple question: Can sheep be used to mow vacant land in Cleveland? The question intrigued DeYoung, who besides raising sheep is an environmental planning consultant focusing on green economic development. She researched the subject and concluded that leasing sheep to graze grass is cheaper, better for the environment and in some cases more effective than mowing. Sheep grazing isn’t appropriate in every situation, and it’s not practical for many residential yards, DeYoung is quick to point out. But for vacant industrial sites, school grounds, land under power lines and other big stretches of grass that can be fenced, “I just think it’s a great win-win thing,” she said. In addition to DeYoung, the Urban Shepherds are Ohioans Aaron Lee Smith of Newark and Wayne Miller
Spicy Lamb Farm owner Laura DeYound tends to one of her young lambs in Peninsula, Ohio.
of Fredericksburg. They plan to lease — or in some cases, sell — flocks of sheep to clients, teach them how to care for the animals and provide fencing, supplies and education. For larger clients, Urban Shepherds would send a representative to the property weekly to provide services such as checking on the sheep and helping to move them to a new grazing area, DeYoung said. Urban Shepherds won’t turn away residential clients, but its targets are landowners such as businesses or institutions that have at least 5 or 10 acres, she said. The number of sheep will depend on the size of the parcel, but DeYoung said a typical client with a large lot might lease 12 sheep. Groups of homeowners could band together to lease sheep to graze their yards, but they’d need to realize that sheep will eat their flowers as well as their grass, she said. DeYoung said small lots aren’t good for grazing, because they can’t grow enough grass to support the minimum of three sheep. Sheep are social animals, she and Smith explained, so they’re unhappy alone or in just a pair. “This is not for somebody who
wants to put them on a ½ acre in their backyard,” she said. Urban Shepherds’ lease program is seasonal, so clients won’t have to worry about housing, feeding and caring for the sheep over winter. The farmers will bring the sheep to the site at the beginning of the grassgrowing season in March or April and remove them in September or October. During the season, grass is all the food the sheep will need, DeYoung said. Their human caregivers will need to provide them with water and minerals; watch for signs of disease, predators or other problems; and perhaps move them periodically to a new grazing spot. Urban Shepherds’ clients will need to check on the sheep daily, but the partners expect oversight to be minimal. Sheep are surprisingly self-sufficient, Smith said. And as grass cutters, they’re fairly problem-free. “I’ve never had a tire go flat on one of my sheep, and I’ve never had one in the maintenance shop,” he said. Urban Shepherds envisions the day-to-day care being provided by volunteer shepherds, whom the sheep farmers will train. They based the idea on the sheep “lookerers” used in Brighton, England, to look after sheep that graze on municipal land. Clients wouldn’t be able to treat their grass with chemicals, but Miller isn’t concerned about the sheep grazing on grass that’s been treated in the past. Within a few weeks’ time, treated grass should be safe for grazing, he said. For some herds, Urban Shepherds may provide a guard llama to fend off coyotes or unleashed dogs. Sheep don’t need shelters, DeYoung said, although sheds may be erected in some areas to fend off criticism from people who don’t understand that. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES