2022 Short North Tour of Homes & Gardens Program

Welcome to the Short North Civic Association’s 47th Annual Home & Garden Tour!

After the challenges that we faced as a community over the last few years, I am so excited that we are able to welcome guests back this year to a full scale tour featuring both homes and gardens! While last year we brought you our first ever gardens-only tour centered around our beloved Goodale Park, this year we have expanded out to showcase the uniqueness that the different neighborhood pockets of the Short North have to offer.

This weekend involves the contributions of so many to be successful. I’m going to do my best to show some gratitude to all these wonderful groups!

First, thank you to our wonderful homeowners for agreeing to be a part of this year’s full return and working so hard to finish out those final projects. Your homes are beautiful and thank you for sharing them with all of us.

Thank you to our sponsors who showed up this year to support the tour in so many ways. Many of them are highlighted throughout the ads on the pages of this program. Please keep them in mind when you are in need of their services.

Thank you to the volunteers who help year after year for a variety of critical roles before, during, and after this weekend. In this busy world, time is valuable and I am so grateful that you have chosen to donate some of your hours to supporting this event.

Thank you to our guests – to those of you that support us year after year, make this day a special outing with friends, come from near and far, and already have next year’s tour on your calendar (the third Sunday in September – always). Welcome to those of you that are new this year who maybe recently moved to the area, found out about the tour through one of our media ads, a billboard, or word of mouth from friends. We hope this is your first tour of many!

Finally, I want to thank our small, but mighty tour committee. There is no doubt that without your hard work and dedication, this weekend would not be possible. Honestly there isn’t enough space on the pages of this program to highlight your contributions to this event.

If the last two years has taught us anything it’s how important home and community are to the fabric of our day to day. We are beyond excited to welcome you into these special homes and gardens – and perhaps a few more home offices than in the past! We hope you enjoy this year’s tour and that it leaves you inspired and marking your calendar for next year.

Enjoy the day and all this special neighborhood has to offer!

Caroline Stinziano Chair, 2022 Tour of Homes & Gardens

Goodale Park Caretaker’s Cottage and Shelter House

Start your tour here at the historic Goodale Park Caretaker’s Cottage & Shelterhouse surrounded by numerous plantings managed by Friends of Goodale Park, a volunteer group that works to maintain and improve the park.

Goodale Park is a 32-acre park surrounded by Victorian Village, a neighborhood of homes with charming, historic architectural features. It is the oldest park in Columbus and among the oldest in the United States.

Work by Friends of Goodale Park includes conducting a tree inventory. The park boasts an impressive tree collection, in terms of numbers, 650+ trees, and species represented, 169, not including various cultivars. The park also includes an expansive playground, tennis courts, charming gazebo, twin elephant fountain in the middle of Goodale pond that gives a whimsical nod to the area’s rich history related to the Sell’s Circus.

When the land for Goodale Park was donated to the City in 1851, at that time it was on the outskirts of town. Because of that, parts of the park’s soil had never been disturbed by development. This soil made it ideal for growing trees. The City took advantage of this rich soil by experimenting with new species – they knew the trees had the best chance of success in the park and consequently, Goodale Park boasts tree species not found anywhere else in Columbus. HERE

858 Park St ~ Greg Ghirardi

Greg purchased the 1924 Craftsman-style home in 2016 from the Mahoney family who owned the home for over 60 years.

The home features a large front porch spanning the front of the house, common areas on the first floor, three bedrooms on the second floor, and a finished attic that is used as a family room. The property also has a large backyard and a 3-car garage in the alley.

The second floor bathroom was renovated in 2017 to create two full baths, one on the owner’s suite and one for guests off of the hallway.

The kitchen was renovated in 2018 to create a more functional and modern layout while maintaining the home’s original character. A small addition was added with a mud room, half bath, and covered porch featuring French doors in the dining room to flood the home with natural light and connect the indoor and outdoor spaces in keeping with Craftsman architectural philosophy.

A favorite use of the home and backyard area is hosting friends and neighbors for movies and Buckeye football games in the fall.

The home is only one block west of the most popular restaurants, bars, and shops on High Street yet Greg notes the home is surprisingly quiet. The large backyard serves as a buffer along with the early 20th century quality building materials and techniques.

Mishi, an active two year old Shiba Inu, also resides at 858 Park Street »

See our work on the tour at 105 Warren St. in Italian Village! Landscape Design & Construction

101 Warren St ~ Ken Stoffer & Cookie Hoffmeyer 105 Warren St ~ Libby & John Koetz

John and Libby met Ken and Cookie when they moved from Bexley to Warren Street and instantly became good friends. They allow their side by side outdoor living spaces to come together to create one large secret garden oasis in the middle of bustling Italian Village.

The two addresses share a rusticated block garage spanning the width of both back yards, originally built for horse and buggy. The garage serves as the southern wall of the gardens and fencing hems in the sides for privacy.

101 Warren Street garden is filled with whimsical sculptures throughout creating an eccentric, casual atmosphere along with an outdoor bar, seating areas, umbrellas for shade and a ceramic kiva for chilly nights. A natural Ohio stone feature provides a visual separation between the two yards. The garden is designed around three large trees and the two mature oriental maples. Ken & Cookie’s home was built in 1887 by Italian masons, like many other homes in the area.

Next door, at 105 Warren Street, Libby and John purchased their property in 2013 with a goal to make the backyard an outdoor living area where they could entertain family and friends. They repurposed existing stone steps, rocks and bricks and installed new concrete “floating” walkways on an incline to make it easier to navigate. There are three multi-level gathering areas that include a bar area, gas fire pit and custom-designed water feature strategically placed to mask traffic noise. Libby installed native Ohio plants including hosta, clematis, hibiscus, grasses, irises and day lilies. The yard was designed and built out by Foreground Studios. John and Libby’s home was built in 1894 also by Italian masons.

Libby & John’s granddog, Lola, is a big fan of the secret gardens »

158 E. 2nd Ave ~ Lee & David Paragas

Built c. 1900, the Queen Anne style brick home sits on a double lot between 2nd Ave. and Punta Alley. Lee and David used 2020 to take on a renovation that was completed early in 2021. Sullivan Brothers managed the project that added an owner’s suite as well as a family room, additional kitchen space, and upper balcony. Stephanie Lafferty managed the design work, EasyLiving Pools installed the backyard pool, and Hidden Creek finished the landscape. The cabinets are crafted by Cooley Custom Cabinetry, and the iron gates and fence are by Fortin.

With the help of Dean Berlon and Steve Hurtt, urbanorder architecture, the couple created a comfortable, modern living environment while honoring the home’s original beauty and integrity. The exterior was improved with paint and new landscape. The front door and porch, entrance tile, and expansive front window are original to the house and provide extensive southern light. All the walkway bricks were repurposed for the back driveway area. To modernize the garage, they painted and installed a man-door canopy plus new lighting.

The interior features a minimalist style to contrast the Victorian exterior. The bright light and modern space shows off their extensive art collection that features local artists and sculptures. The rear addition borrows from the Queen Anne asymmetrical massing but is pulled apart into more defined elements and given a modern interpretation through materials and larger glass openings. It maximizes the use of the backyard space available and provides the owners with a family room and first floor owner’s bedroom suite, both looking out to a pool and outdoor entertaining space.

The home is a beautiful retreat in Italian Village and the family enjoys hosting neighbors and friends on summer weekends.

The couple chose the house because it had great bones and character - their goal was to preserve the origins of the home as much as possible and update it for their family of four and labradoodle, Ziggy »

164 E. 2nd Ave ~ Amy & Colin Adams

This home’s eclectic character showcases the way people live modern lives in historic homes by respecting the age of the house while allowing for whimsy and a true love of art and collectibles to be beautifully displayed. The home includes an extensive collection of local artists’ work many tour attendees may recognize.

The couple purchased their home in 1992 after they came across Bruce Dooley’s ad in neighborhood publication, ‘The Other Paper’. They have been there ever since.

The home, built c. 1895, was described as a “wood-frame, shotgun, built for the working class” and has been extensively renovated. The first job was to remove the drop ceiling in the kitchen, fluorescent lighting and blue carpeting upstairs hiding beautiful hardwood floors.

The second floor bathroom was overhauled to add a clawfoot tub (gifted from a nearby apartment building rehab) and a standup shower. The bathroom floor was created from a previous neighbor’s leftover patio slate tiles. When the pandemic hit, Colin converted an odd storage room into his office where he is surrounded by his favorite art and cubby of collectibles.

The backyard has gone through several rehabs. The first was a DIY effort where every brick on the patio was loaded into Colin’s Honda Civic when the city repaired First Avenue. The second was done professionally and involved reworking a number of pre-existing elements in new and unique ways. Amy and Colin consider their backyard an oasis for two that has also seen its fair share of visitors and legendary neighborhood shindigs including a block party they say has created lifelong friendships for them.

Amy and Colin are permitted to reside at 164 E. 2nd Avenue by their cat GoGo » (for now at least).

974 Hamlet St ~ Dru & Jeannie Simmons

Built c. 1900, the singular house occupies 1,116 sq. ft. It had been split into two units and was eventually abandoned and boarded up by the late 1990s. Kevin Brubaker later restored the property to a single unit in the early 2000s adding several features to maximize space, including a 3-story vaulted ceiling, extensive use of panel doors (one set hides a very small home office) and a drop-down ladder to access the third level loft.

Dru and Jeannie used the pandemic to change all the interior and exterior light fixtures with new and vintage Danish fixtures. The center, 1960s Danish pendant is mounted to a pulley salvaged from Jeffrey Mining and can be raised and lowered as needed. They added gallery lighting along the second floor catwalk and replaced the ceiling fans for their ability to uplight the peaked open beam ceilings. They also updated the window treatments and added a raised daybed to hide storage in the third level loft space.

The couple are avid art collectors, and the home features many local artists including Laura Alexander, Adam Brouillette, Michael Bush, Dan Gerdeman, Adam Hernandez, Joey Monsoon, Ashley Pierce, Stephanie Rond and Rainer Ziehm, as well as many items from the Lindsay Gallery. You can also find international pieces from Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Ghana, Greece, Kenya, Mexico and South Africa, to name a few places.

The pair view their role as caretakers to a property that was already one of the best kept architectural secrets in Italian Village.

Their cat, Juno, was found at 8 weeks old in the Italian Village Community Garden and has made 974 Hamlet St. her home ever since. She prefers her privacy »

322 W. 7th Ave ~ Kelsey & Bradley Poock

In 2018 Kelsey and Bradley purchased the home previously owned by former Governor Richard Celeste from 1991-1995. This four-square is 3,129 sq. ft. and was built in 1900. The home infuses modern decor with traditional and gives a respectful nod to the Victorian era origins. Beautiful woodwork and detailed ornamentation has been retained. The entryway showcases commissioned watercolors of each house Kelsey & Bradley have owned.

Diamond Building and Remodeling in 2021 completed the most recent renovation in the kitchen/ dining room. During renovations they discovered a ‘secret’ staircase hidden inside the wall. The rear staircase was likely built for house staff as was customary at the turn of the 20th century when large homes required staff who were expected to stay out of sight coming and going.

In addition, during the renovation, original oak floors were uncovered and refurbished. A new kitchen includes large center island for food prep and entertaining. The geometric pattern tile backsplash provides a beautiful functional design element. The homeowners decided to leave areas of the brickwall exposed to showcase the history of the house while adding texture.

The rear yard circular pattern pavers are surrounded by circular shaped hedges. The carriage house style garage features a small porch facing the house where Kelsey & Bradley can sit, relax and watch the kids play in the yard.

The owners’ favorite parts of the home include the kitchen, front porch and front living room. They love The Circles neighbors as well as the aesthetics of the historical neighborhood and the circular parks in each roundabout.

Charlie, Ninja and Oliver all have their own favorite areas of the house »

Goodale Park Cottage

858 Park St 101, 105 Warren St 158 E. 2nd Ave 164 E. 2nd Ave 974 Hamlet St 322 W 7th Ave 391 W 6th Ave 1058 Neil Ave 610 Neil Ave

391 W. 6th Ave ~ Jason Boland & Rick Welch

Jason and Rick estimate their house was built c. 1896. The home was owned by the Bell family from 1952 through 2017. Paul Bell owned the home from 1952, transferring ownership to Karen Bell in 2013. The home is 3,696 sq. ft. including a finished third floor.

In 2017, a developer purchased the home and began renovations. It was then sold in April 2019 to another developer who completed previously started renovations. The renovation was extensive, and included removing walls to open the space, repairing damaged exterior walls, and installing an I-beam in the ceiling that runs the length of the house on the first floor.

After purchasing the house in 2020, Rick and Jason made additional touches, including landscaping stones, natural gas, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, kitchen and bar cabinet lighting, smart dimmer switches in most every room and exterior power on the front and back of the house.

The new kitchen features a large center island and breakfast bar that opens up to the living and dining areas. Just off the dining area is the wet bar including wine fridge and separate eating area complete with chandelier and upholstered dining chairs around the glass and chrome table - this is a room with a view to be sure.

Bedrooms on the second floor include ensuite bathrooms. The primary’s bathroom features a soaking tub located in the home’s turret and positioned under a dramatic hanging light fixture. A full finished third floor features an entertainment space, home office, fitness area, bedroom alcove and full bath.

Rick and Jason love the neighborhood – especially during their favorite season, Autumn. They appreciate the large, beautiful trees and their changing colors. The couple also say their two cats, Pebbles and BamBam, love their life in The Circles »

1058 Neil Ave ~Jen Wooster & Colin McBride

This home is unique for Neil Avenue, the original structure being a farmhouse. The exact date built is unknown, but it is believed to be pre-1860 based on the type of saw used to cut the joists of the original part of the house – giving it the distinction of being one of the oldest homes on Neil Avenue. In the late 1880s the farm was subdivided by John Joyce and T Ewing Miller. In 1890 a large addition was added, and the home was retrofitted to have a similar look with the surrounding new homes.

The house was converted into apartments in the mid-20th century and back to a single-family home in the early 2000s. The current owners purchased it in 2006 and renovated room-by-room from 2007 to

The2016.house

features all original windows, three fireplaces, and original wood clapboard siding. A wall was removed during renovation to make a larger kitchen and reconfigure the main bathroom to include a grand shower. Access to the basement was hidden underneath the deck to increase the usable space in the backyard. The homeowners removed every piece of trim and every window during their renovation. Each item was hand stripped, repaired, and reinstalled. Each room averages 120+ pieces of individual woodwork.

The home interior mixes together a blend of historic and contemporary with artwork throughout including a collection of paintings hung gallery style in the second floor hallway.

The pair says the best part of living on Neil Ave is when the big trees get their leaves in May and when they turn in the fall.

Mr. Winky and Fritz are the two resident dogs »

610 Neil Ave ~ The Sanctuary

Construction on this Victorian-style building began in 1885. It was the home of the Neil Avenue Methodist Episcopal church. A second phase was added at the end of the century. The church has changed hands over the years. The current owners bought the building in the fall of 2020 with the intent of using it for a venue space and ballroom dance studio.

Under the direction of Jennifer Carney, OHM Advisors met with the owners in October 2020 to get an idea of how the historic building could be saved and brought up to code while maintaining its historic charm. Shaffer Construction came on board, with Greg Callaghan providing the expertise needed to fully renovate the space. The pandemic halted progress, and the owners waited months for lights, fixtures and new windows.

Between pigeons in the attic and a city water supply that couldn’t handle the fire suppression system (old clay/lead pipe), the owners were not sure when they could open. Retrofitting an old building is a challenge on its own!

Take a look around and you will find rooms set up for the bride and groom with beautiful antique furniture. You’ll find a “haint” blue ceiling soaring high above the hand-planked wooden floors. This was in the original and supposedly kept away bad spirits.

You’ll find another ballroom set up for the best party with club lighting as well as antique mirrors meant to reflect the beauty of your day.

The owners love this building despite all the unique challenges they faced bringing it to life again. The rotunda with its original floor and windows remains one of their favorite areas.

As

CASTO

ITALIANATE SPONSORS

Kaufman urbanorderDevelopmentarchitectureBasiItaliaEquitasHealth

ACES – Aaron Carmack Electronic Services Foreground

BreezelineStudio

Michael Stinziano, Franklin County Auditor W.E. Davis Insurance Agency AmeriTitleBorrorDowntown

IN KIND SPONSORS

Seventh Son Brewing Co.

Lush Scapes

Orchard Lane Flowers

RDesign & Printing Market Blooms

SILENT AUCTION SPONSORS

Art of Movement Columbus Food Adventures Wine on ColumbusHighCrew

Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph Studio 964

SNCA BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Tour Chair – Caroline Stinziano

SNCA President – Bobby Thaxton

Libby Koetz

John Koetz

Jeff

TOURAndrewJessicaSmithSeckelJohnsonSharonRoneyGinaCronleyKrisHarrisonCOMMITTEE

President – Bobby Thaxton

Vice President – Kathy Rhineart

Treasurer – Jim Farmer

Secretary – Caroline Stinziano

Director – Chet Ridenour

Director – Bob Stern

Director – Marc Conte

Homeowner’s brunch hosted by Haley Boehning

Please support the neighborhood by becoming a member of the Short North Civic Association. Your contribution supports our community work year round. Become a member today at ShortNorthCivic.org