Developer says Harrison West condos create new price point

MELANIE MCINTYRE

Daily Reporter Staff Writer

02/09/2006

Revitalization efforts in one of Columbus’ historic locales continue as the first 10 units of the Courtyard at Harrison West condominiums are now under roof.

Frame construction began last week.

“There are no other homes in this area at this price point,” said Joe Armeni, owner of Short North development firm The New Victorians Inc. and broker/owner at Re/Max City Center Realtors.

He said pricing is why he expects the 950-square-foot condos to be quite popular with buyers looking to relocate to the neighborhood.

While the average price of a new home in Harrison West is about $200,000, the one bedroom, 1.5 bath units at the Courtyard range from $159,900 to $165,900, he said.

The condos’ location, at 1112 Perry St., near West Third Avenue, also make them desirable as they are convenient to the downtown area, The Ohio State University and Lennox Town Center, Armeni added.

The new condo complex now occupies what formerly was a one-story, flat-roof apartment building with units “so small I don’t even know how people lived there,” said Julie Bullock, principal at Columbus-based architecture and construction firm Behal Sampson Dietz Inc., the project’s architect of record.

In an attempt to reference the “simplifed Italianate” style homes that populate most of Harrison West, a second story with a gable roof was added to the original structure, she explained.

Italianate style was favored between 1840 and 1880 and is characterized by, among other things, two-story buildings with a flat facade, a low-pitch hip or gable roof and entrance porches.

The latter was added to the condos via enclosed patios at the front of each unit that lead to private courtyards measuring about 200 square feet each.

The condos’ first floors have an open, loft-like kitchen and living area, as well as a half bath at the rear. The bedroom and master bathroom – complete with a whirlpool bathtub – are located on the second floor, which has an 18-foot vaulted ceiling.

All the kitchens feature tile flooring, custom cherry cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, a range-hood microwave oven, a self-cleaning range, and a built-in dishwasher.

In addition, all the units have exposed brick walls, recessed-can lighting, operable windows and all new plumbing, heating and electrical systems.

Every unit also has one parking space in a private lot located about 50 feet behind the complex.

Work on the first 10 condos of the 20-unit building will be finished by April or May, while the remaining condos are expected to be completed by year’s end.

Re/Max City Center Realtors will begin taking reservations for the first 10 units on Friday.

The New Victorians has assumed the roles of both project developer and general contractor. The company acquired the property in January 2005.

The total cost of the two-phase project will be nearly $4 million.

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