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    At Home: Living in a former masonic temple

    It’s an amazing feeling when you find the home that’s meant for you. Even when you are not even looking. That happened to Craig Boardman in March of last year. He was accompanying a friend who was going to take a look at a condo in the York Building. He happened to take a look at another condo that was for sale and ended up putting a bid in that day.

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    “I didn’t look at any other condos,” says Boardman. “I just really like the way if feels in here.”

    He enjoys the wow factor the place has with the large stained glass windows. They are original to the building. His 1890 square foot condo was originally the dining hall and the study for the Masonic Temple. It was a bedroom and a bathroom on the first floor with a small lofted space he uses for storage. The second bedroom can be closed off completely to create a guest suite.

    HomeportA spiral staircase anchors the middle of the space and leads to the second open air bedroom and an enclosed bathroom with a large closet. The loft was added to the space but in a way, feels like it has always been there.

    To furnish his space, he frequently pops into Grandview Mercantile, where he has found about six bookshelves from The Ohio State University. They are particularly nice because they stack and create full sized bookcased, or just look good on their own.

    He has a few Heywood-Wakefield pieces that were left to him by his grandparents. The leather chairs in his living room were a favorite of his growing up and his father gave them to him when Boardman moved in.

    Although it is only decorative, the space has the original fireplace. It also has an original sink in the guest bath. There’s also a secret wood panel that can be removed just in case you need a place to stash a special something.

    Boardman is very happy living here. “I love to entertain my home,” he says. “The space is great.”

    One of his favorite parties centered around tamales made by Los Potosinos.

    Columbus was a pleasant surprise for him. Originally from Texas, Boardman grew up in Dallas and also spent time living in Austin. He studied to be a professor and lived in other cities throughout the United States. A job at the Glenn School of Public Affairs brought him to Columbus.

    “Columbus is the perfect combination between college town and big city,” he says. “This is the longest I’ve lived in any city.”

    Boardman and his dog Sancho. The painting (inset) was done by his friend Chris Vance. Boardman loves it because it reminds him of himself with Sancho.

    The central location of the York Building was a huge plus for him. It allows him to ride his bicycle to work. He also can easily walk to buy groceries and entertainment is also only a few steps away.

    “I really enjoy stopping in Brothers Drake or Barrel 44 for happy hour,” he says. Walking over to Till Dynamic Fare is something he does often, and he loves the energy the area receives from Gallery Hops.

    “People in Columbus seem really excited about Columbus,” he says. It makes it a fun place to live.

    To find out more about the history of The York Building, visit theyorkonhigh.com. Painting of man and his dog by artist Chris Vance.

    At Home is a monthly column on Columbus Underground focused on urban home remodeling and style as well as older home renovations and unique homes in Columbus. If you would like to have your home featured in the At Home series, please send me an email at [email protected].

    Homeport Home Ownership
    NoBo on Long Condominiums

    [At Home is sponsored by Homeport Home Ownership’s NoBo on Long Condominiums. Inspired by the historical architecture of the King Lincoln District, NoBo on Long embraces today’s contemporary lifestyle and is ideally located just minutes from Downtown, Franklin Park, and Port Columbus. Units 143 – 149 are uniquely designed for space, style, and convenience. These sophisticated one-bedrooms include open living space floor plans leading to a second story private terrace, standard wood flooring and a large walk-in closet in the master bedroom. Unit 1066 is the last remaining gorgeous renovation of a historic 1890s luxury brick duplex with full bay windows. It combines historic architectural detail with modern style and convenience with a large, open concept great room, 2 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, and dramatic 10 ft. ceilings. Call (614) 221-8889 x363 or stop by Homeport Home Ownership at 734 E. Long St. M-F 9-5 or by appointment.]

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    Anne Evans
    Anne Evanshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-evans/
    Anne Evans is the Co-Founder and Director of Operations for The Metropreneur and Columbus Underground. She regularly contributes feature stories on both sites, as well as Mega Weekend each week. She has started and grown businesses, created experiences, forged community partnerships, and worked to create opportunities for others. She loves meeting new neighbors and those making an impact in our community. Want to connect?
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