REALTOR® Care Day

Skip Weiler

I am writing this article to encourage your participation in our second Annual REALTOR ® Care Day scheduled for Thursday, June 22, 2006 from 9:00a.m. - 4:00p.m. This day has been organized in collaboration with the Columbus Housing Partnership and some of our local Area Realty Associations. The objective of this event is to put our collective efforts together to make a difference in our communities and the lives of those who call Central Ohio their home.

The Columbus Housing Partnership has been committed to meeting the needs of our community for affordable housing and home ownership opportunities for over 15 years, by adding more than 3,200 affordable homes to the Columbus market.

This year, the REALTOR® Care Day project will focus on CHP's North of Broad community - referred to as NoBo - located in the King Lincoln District, specifically N. 21st Street between E. Long Street. and Mt. Vernon Ave. CHP own 20 homes and four rentals in this area. We'll be cleaning up and landscaping a total of 28 homes on this block.

In anticipation of this event, CHP is working with local universities to develop a landscape plan and the City of Columbus will be assisting also. Volunteers will be cleaning up exterior areas, planting and putting down mulch and landscaping.

In addition, four area realty associations will also be spearheading service projects in their communities. See the sidebar on the right for descriptions and contact information.

Want to help us on N. 21st St? Register right now for the
      Morning shift (9:00 a.m. - Noon) or the
      Afternoon shift (1:00 - 4:00 p.m.)
Click here to view a MAP of the area we'll be working on.

If you would like to help any of the Area Realty Associations, please contact them directly at the phone numbers provided.

We look forward to seeing you at REALTOR® Care Day!

King-Lincoln District

The King-Lincoln Bronzeville Neighborhood includes the area from Atcheson Street to East Broad and I-71 to 20th Street. City of Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman plans to revitalize the area concentrating on the District's core area between Hamilton and Monroe Avenues and Mt. Vernon Avenue and Long Street.

The King Lincoln area was the place to live back in the 1940's when it was a major economic sector, supporting 68,000 residents and boasting some of the greatest jazz clubs and restaurants in town.

Affluent residents at that time were able to build from the `ground-up' many of the residential and commercial structures from the 1890s -- 1940s. Many of these structures were named after the wives of the owners, so as to honor them for their support in these bold adventures. These structures were conceived, financed, designed, built, owned and managed by African-Americans until the on-set of the new interstate highway system in the 1950s.

When I-71 was built, King-Lincoln was isolated from the downtown. Eventually businesses relocated and residents followed. Today, the area is a predominately African-American neighborhood with only 16,000 residents.

Other Area Realty Associations participating in REALTOR® Care Day

Dublin
The Greater Dublin Realty Association will be assisting the individual needs of a homeowner on Brand Road. They will be painting the exterior of the home.
Volunteers can contact: Sonya Heffner (614) 554-2301.

Midtown (downtown)
The Midtown Area Realty Association is working with Community Development for All People to landscape three affordable owner occupied homes and do renovation work at a commercial building on Parsons Ave.
Volunteers can contact: Buzz Thomas (614) 324-8070

Northeast/Westerville
The Northeast/Westerville Area Realty Association will be helping a family in Forest Park West clean up their yard and take care of some deferred maintenance. This family has experienced difficult times due to the husband's serious health problems.
Volunteers can contact: Tom Nippert (614) 402-9384

Southern Delaware County 
The Southern Delaware County Realty Association will be working with the Delaware County Habitat for Humanity on three projects in Delaware County (not including the Blitz scheduled to build a house in one week.) We need at least 25 volunteers to participate either morning, afternoon or all day on painting, construction, landscaping and finishing. Our help will truly make a difference in the area we work. We depend on the community to help us earn a living; this is our opportunity to GIVE BACK to them.
Volunteers can contact: Rita Brumley (614) 839-6858, Bob Colosimo (614) 526-5619, or Pete Weissman (614) 402-7460