Real Estate News

Exciting News!

Both Lowe's and Home Depot offer special discounts to Realtors and their clients that you can take advantage of today!

You can get a coupon from Lowe's worth 10% off any puchase up to $10,000, and you can also purchase a gift card at 5% off on the same amount.

You can get a coupon from Home Depot worth 10% off any purchase up to $2,000.

You can purchase an Entertainment Savings Book for 50% off.

Simply send an email to 'SignUpForSavings@MakeItGreatRealEstate.com' with the following information, and we will send a coupon to you:

• First and Last Name
• Mailing Address
• Phone Number
• Email
• Lowes, Home Depot or Entertainment Book
• How did you find out about Make It Great! Real Estate LLC?

 We will contact you to confirm your order and to collect payment for Lowe's Gift Cards or Entertainment Books.

Griswold Special Care, a national company, has been around for 25 years, and has just opened its first office providing at-home care to seniors and the disabled at 4443 N High Street in Clintonville.  Griswold Special Care offers non-medical care at home for those who require help to remain in their homes.  Their mission is to give affordable, quality care in the home to seniors and the disabled without compromise to the caregiver.  This helps elderly people stay in their homes as long as they want.

Services offered by Griswold include cooking, cleaning, transportation, shopping and general help with daily activities.  Hourly services are available, as well as around-the-clock care from live-in assisstants.  Such caregivers can become like part of the family.

Griswold was founded by a minister's wife in Philadelphia, and tries to keep its rates below average and offers assistance to those who can't afford their services through a foundation.  Charges are based on need.  Despite lower rates, Griswold focuses on providing well-qualified caregivers.  Caregivers are chosen with an emphasis on nursing home and hospital experience, and are paid more than average.  Griswold currently employs 30 caretakers in its new Clintonville location.

The office is trying to spread the word that assistance is available for local residents who need it.  People often don't realize they have options when faced with nursing homes or 24 hour care requirements.

A new group of officers was elected to the Clintonville Area Commission during its session on Thursday, July 10.  The meeting had been rescheduled due to the July 4th holiday.  D Searcy of District 9 was elected chairwoman and Brian Byrne of District 5 as Vice Chairman.  Mike McLaughlin, District 1, is secretary and Chris Gawronski, District 2, is treasurer.  It was requested that individual offices were voted for, rather than an entire slate, but that motion was not seconded and the slate was approved as a whole.

Mention was made of tough economic times and how they would affect the neighborhood.  Levies in November would be voted upon for a Columbus City Schools operating levy and a dn bond issue, which will add $275 per $100,000 to property taxes.  Another bond package worth $1.66 Billion will also be on the ballot for capital improvements.  Because the latter bond will add to the city's debt, it was emphasized that quality business development should be encouraged by city leaders to increase tax revenue.

The revitalized Graceland shopping center was mentioned as the first project in the Clintonville commercial corridor overlay.  The redevelopment brought in over 300 jobs and construction is still ongoing for the new fitness center, Urban Active Fitness.  It was noted that the primary anchor, Target, would not have come to the area if it had not been for major variances granted to the CCO.  The success of the development proves that quality improvements can happen if there is flexibility in the zoning requirements.  Other developments which had challenges with zoning requirements were Taco Bell, the Kemba Financial Credit Union and the BP station at Henderson Road.  

Harris noted that the refusal to grant variances to Kemba Financial Credit Union cost the business an additional $350,000 to $500,000 and claimed this was a disincentive to creating new development.  Debate on restrictions on development was strong and it was agreed that options for development proposals were in the best interests of everyone.

It was also agreed that an expansion of the COTA park and ride at 4943 N High Street should be recommended.  A neighborhood meeting on July 17 would be held regarding Kroger's request for a refueling station at their North Broadway location.  Lastly, an open house was scheduled on July 24 to discuss a proposal for a bike path on Milton Avenue.

Clintonville parents will be excited to know that their children will have a new playground to play on this fall at the Whetstone Community Center.  Installation is currently slated for September 18-19, 2008.  The new playground will be located directly behind the center's new addition, near the horseshoe pit.

The previous playground was was taken out to make room for a parking lot expansion.  The original playground equipment that is in compliance with safety codes was relocated to the soccer fields so that children would have a playground by the meadow and casting pond.  Unfortunately, some of the larger equipment did not meed the new safety codes and will be permanently removed.

The design of the new playground is an urban, vertical design, which includes climbing and slides.  Swings and sandboxes will not make an appearance because they take up too much space.  The new playground will be wheelchair and stroller accessible.  The ground will be covered with a rubberized surface for safety and can be easily cleaned by rain.  The playground will be on top of asphalt.  There will be a seating area with canopy for family members. 

About 50% of the new playground equipment was a donation from the manufacturer, and Clintonville residents will have the opportunity to improve the playground with their own hard work and sweat.  After installing the playground, there will be a grand-opening on the 19th, but the time has not yet been decided.  This will be a wondeful opportunity for the Clintonville community to get involved in their neighborhood.

Clintonville's new neighborhood plan is approximately 75% complete.  About 50 residents, community leaders and business owners attended a public workshop at Bishop Watterson High School on Wednesday, July 9.  This was the third workshop held.  This one revolved around plan development.  District 2 representative Chris Gawronski said that lots of ideas and input had come forward.

The fourth meeting is planned for September 24 and will be the finalization of the plan.  After that, the plan will be presented to the Clintonville Area Commission for approval, and after that to the Columbus Development Commission and finally the Columbus City Council.  

The feedback from residents and business owners stressed the importance of encouraging business development on North High Street and preserving parks and green spaces, as well as improving walkability and bicyclability.  Design guidelines should also be put in place for residential and commercial developers to minimize the impact of development on residential streets.  Streetscape improvements and improving the Indianola corridor were also highlighted as important issues.

Mixed-use concepts were supported at both the Westview and High intersection to the north and the North Broadway and High intersection in the middle of Clintonville. People would like to preserve the theather and/or its facade near the North Broadway intersection.  It was also felt that parking should be moved to the back in the Glen Echo ravine district, and shops moved closer to the street.

There were 5 stations set up in the cafeteria for the public to share their feedback - land use, transportation, housing, urban design and open space/environment.

Columbus Planning Administrator Vince Papsidero stated that the city was not in support of commercial development in the area across from Whetstone Park on High Street.  He indicated that public feedback supported preservation of the unique character of the area.  This includes features such as green front lawns and setbacks and a mix of commercial and residential properties.