Who wants to be our neighbor? June 2009 Edition

It’s been nearly a year since the last time I posted one of these updates, and with the Lincoln Theatre recently opening and Whitney Condos about to begin construction, I figured it was probably a good time to remind people about some of the investment opportunities over here in my neck of the woods.

For those of you just joining us, I live in the King Lincoln District, which is a neighborhood immediately adjacent to Downtown. We’re just north of Olde Towne East, and just east of Columbus State and CCAD. My home is about a 25 minute walk from the center of Downtown, a 25 minute walk from the North Market and Nationwide Arena, and about a 35 minute walk from the Short North, Huntington Park, and COSI. And we’re even closer to amenities such as the Downtown Library, The Columbus Art Museum, the Topiary Park, and Tip Top.

The King Lincoln District is really a great location in the heart of the city that is still actually a place where you can find affordable housing.

So… on with the show!

Here are some listings I’ve found in the neighborhood. I’ve posted a few quick details, and provided links to where you can view more information and photos and such. These are not all of the units in the area currently for sale… just a sampling that I find interesting or particularly attractive. They are listed in order by price from low to high, which typically means that they’re also in order from “needs the most rehab work” to “move-in ready”:

228 Monroe Avenue [map]
$25,000
3,304 sqft - 6 br 2 ba
($7.50 per sqft)
The photos look like this place is in need of some serious work, but for such a low asking price, you can afford to spend some money on it. The location is great, many of these large homes on Monroe between Broad & Long are already  rehabbed and look amazing.

183 Talmadge Street [map]
$29,500
 1128 sqft - 1 br 1 ba
($26 per sqft)
I’ve walked by this place and it looks like some major construction work was started and then halted, as is apparent from the exposed materials on the exterior of the house. Not sure what shape the inside is in, but I imagine something similarly unfinished for such a low asking price. Could be a great deal for anyone handy with wrapping up this kind of work.

181 Miami Avenue  [map]
$49,900
1558 sqft - 3 br 1 ba
($32 per sqft)
This one is listed as “rented @ $550″ which makes it sound like the current owner is renting it out. Could be an easy investment for anyone looking to continue to rent it. Looks to be in pretty well maintained shape on the surface.

270 Monroe Avenue [map]
$64,900
 2952 sqft - 6 br 2 ba
($22 per sqft)
Another Monroe Mansion in need of some TLC. Lots of photos of this one on the listing page. Some rooms look pretty rough, others don’t look too bad. Sounds like it’s still divided into a duplex, so half could be rented out, or it could be re-opened up and restored into a single huge house.

233 Miami Avenue [map]
$74,250
1844 sqft - 3 br 2 ba
($40 per sqft)
Judging from the photos on the listing, this one looks like a recent total rehab that went into a bank sale for some reason. Looks like it’s in great condition for someone who is move-in ready and doesn’t need to do a lot of major renovations.

120 Hamilton Park Place [map]
$99,900
818 sqft - 1 br 1 ba
($122 per sqft)
This one bedroom condo is located on the third floor of a historic hotel building rehab at the corner of Long & Hamilton. Downtown views. Brand new renovation with finishes built to suit. Located next door to the Lincoln Theatre and across the street from the Gateway building (contains a coffee shop and dry cleaners).

223 Monroe Avenue [map]
$145,000
1712 sqft - 3 br 2 ba
($85 per sqft)
A complete rehab on Monroe Avenue. I can’t say that I’m personally a fan of the exterior, as I prefer the more traditional brick homes in the neighborhood, but the place definitely has character inside and out. Another great deal for someone who wants to do minimal work and just move in.

274 Hamilton Avenue [map]
$159,900
1600 sqft - 3 br 2 ba
($100 per sqft)
The aforementioned Whitney Condo development that is breaking ground in a few months. This is one of the few entirely new-build  projects going on in the neighborhood right now, but offers killer deals and a variety of prices in the $150k-$250k range and includes full basements and garages too.

97 Hamilton Park Place [map]
$225,000
3153 sqft - 3 br 2.5 ba
($71 per sqft)
An amazing historic renovation of a two-unit condo building. Lots of great photos on the listing page including a view of the downtown skyline from the third floor. Great location too, being near the corner of Hamilton and Long and close to the Lincoln Theatre and Gateway Building.

126 Hamilton Park Place [map]
$234,900
1675 sqft - 2 br 1 ba
($140 per sqft)
Another unit in the Hamilton Park Place Condo building, this time a little bigger than the 1 br unit I posted earlier. Very impressive renovations, again with details built out to suit. Worth stopping in during a Sunday open house to check out the model units in the building.

And that concludes this edition of “Who wants to be our neighbor”! I’ll try to make it a point not to wait so long before posting the next entry. Always lots of good places coming and going on the market, and I’d love to see more new people moving into this historic area and helping to return it to the vibrance place it once was.