The Oklahoman Real Estate

FREAL ESTATESATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2011 THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

INDEX

Permits 4FStone 6F

HOUSE PLAN

Small footprintThe Aldridge is compact fora four-bedroom home. Itsfootprint, just 38 feet wideand 40 feet deep, allows it tofit on a small city lot.PAGE 3F

LISTING OF THE WEEK

Site has5 acresThe Listing of the Weekis a large, two-storyhome on 5 acres inOklahoma City.

PAGE 3F

Agingin place“Aging in place” —making changes toyour home to makeit more comfortableand more adaptedto your needs as youage — has beengaining popularity inthese tough eco-nomic times.

PAGE 5F

PaulBianchina

HANDY @ HOME

IN BRIEF

VINTAGECHRISTMASTIPS OFFEREDSusan Waggonerloved the home-made Christmasdecorations of dec-ades past, but shedidn’t want wornand faded relics. Shewanted them theway they lookedoriginally. So shefigured out how tomake them herself.She shares thatinformation in “HaveYourself a Very Vin-tage Christmas:Crafts, DecoratingTips, and Recipes,1920s-1960s” (Stew-art, Tabori & Chang,$19.95 hardcover).She offers instruc-tions for all sorts ofvintage decorationssuch as postcardsfrom the 1920s,cellophane candlewreaths from the’40s and sequinedtree ornamentsfrom the ’60s, toname a few. Shealso included a feweasy candy recipesto satisfy a holidaysweet tooth.

TVS HAVECHILD APPEALWho says a TV hasto be a boring blackbox? Hannspreemakes high-defini-tion TVs in animalshapes for a child’sroom — or a childlikeadult’s. The TVscome in crab, zebra,polar bear, giraffeand camel designswith a 19-inchscreen. They’reamong a selection ofnovelty TVs thecompany makes inshapes includingapples, footballs andgolf balls. The animalTVs are available atAmazon.com. Regu-lar price is $349.99.MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

Many people seem tomove smoothly throughlife. Focus and order comewithout difficulty. Andprojects, no matter howlarge, are pursued on astep-by-step basis.

Then there are thosewho find even relativelysimple tasks, such as cull-ing through a clutteredcloset, to be difficult.These include the estimat-ed 4 to 5 percent of the U.S.adult population who suf-fer from attention-deficitdisorder.

For many with ADD, theprocess of preparing theirhomes for sale and makinga housing transition canseem overwhelming, saidLinda Anderson, immedi-ate past president of theAttention Deficit DisorderAssociation, a professionalgroup focused mainly onADD in adults.

ADD (also known as at-

tention deficit hyperactiv-ity disorder when it in-cludes overactivity), is aproblem that typically in-volves habitual distrac-tion, impulsivity or both.Many people with ADD areable to pursue successfulcareers. Yet complex pro-jects that require sustainedattention can seem daunt-ing to them.

When it comes to sellinga property, the to-do listfor all homeowners is long.Choosing the right listingagent is just the first step.Sellers also must decidehow much to ask for thehome and complete the

often-arduous process ofde-cluttering the placeand ensuring it’s in goodrepair. Then, too, there’sthe move itself.

“Moving is a huge prob-lem for those with ADD.It’s terribly important forthem to connect and re-connect with peoplethroughout the process,”said Anderson, who worksas a life coach assistingadults trying to cope withADD in their daily lives.

Here are a few tips forhomeowners with ADDwho need to prepare theirproperty for sale and thenmove to another locale:

I Consider hiring a pro-fessional organizer or a“move manager.”

Judy Rough, an organiz-er who’s worked withmany home sellers, saidpeople with ADD shouldbe careful choosing some-one to ask for help.

“It’s horrific to hiresomeone who is judgmen-tal. We all remember howupsetting it was when wewere kids and a teacher orcounselor was critical.And it’s no different whenyou’re an adult,” saidRough, who’s affiliatedwith the National Associ-ation of Professional Or-ganizers (www.napo.net).

By visiting this associ-ation’s website, you canfind an organizer in yourarea who’s skilled in as-sisting clients with ADD.You also can use classifiedads to find someone who’snaturally organized — per-haps a college student or aretired individual with freetime.

I Stay focused on yourtasks as much as possible.

Anderson encouragesclients to plan their sched-ules on the Google Calen-dar that’s available free

online (www.google.com/calendar). Also, whenthey’re in the midst of aproject, such as de-clut-tering their kitchen cabi-nets, she encourages themto avoid time-consumingdigressions by shuttingdown TV, phones andemail until a chunk of workis done.

I Allow ample time forall your tasks.

In addition to the cus-tomary to-do list, one toolAnderson favors is a not-to-do list. How do you usesuch a list? On a day whenyou must paint a bath-room, for instance, it couldbe wise to place groceryshopping on your not-to-do list. This will free yourmind from the temptationto pack too much into yourday.To contact Ellen James Martin, [email protected].

UNIVERSAL UCLICK

Tips for sellers with attention-deficit disorderEllenJamesMartin

SMARTMOVES

People involved in the Miller Mantels &Trees Tour might share more than an addressin Oklahoma City’s historic Miller neighbor-hood.

“Christmas is like my favorite, so I tend to gocrazytown,” said Jordan Higgins, showing vis-itors through the 1926 bungalow at 1615 N Mill-er Blvd. that she has called home for six years.

Strains of “White Christmas” waft throughthe house, a tree glows softly in a darkenedbedroom nearby, and an eclectic collection ofChristmas decorations appears very much athome even amid the living room’s thoroughlymodern lines.

One ceramic tree, a gift from her mother,holds some sentimental value, Higgins said.

“A lot of this stuff, though, honestly, I foundat the thrift store and changed it up,” she said.

The Higgins home is one of six Miller neigh-borhood homes throwing open the doors Fri-day for the third annual Miller Mantels & TreeTour. It will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets can bepurchased in advance at Garden Gate An-tiques, 1307 N May Ave., and 23rd Street An-tique Mall, 3023 NW 23.

Money raised during the tour will go for

more lighting in the neighborhood’s medians.The tour “was just something I thought of

because every home has a gorgeous mantel,”said Mickey Barnard, who serves as tour chair-man and lent his design talents to spots alongthe tour.

Mike Stuart and Bruce Hall will open theirentire home at 1221 N Miller Blvd., which Bar-nard helped them transform into a glitteringworld for the season.

“My mom grew up in a Catholic orphanage,so holidays when I was growing up turned intohuge, huge events, and Christmas was her fa-vorite,” Stuart said.

Stuart and Hall moved into the two-storymanor in 1997, but it dates back to 1915 whendeveloper George Miller built it for his ownfamily. Miller was a gentleman farmer, Stuartsaid.

“That’s why there are medians,” he said.“The trolley tracks here carried them from thecountry — this was the country — downtown.”

Miller is far from rural now, centered northof bustling NW 10 just a few miles from StateFair Park. But the neighborhood and its homes,many dating from the early 20th century,maintain a timeless tranquility as well as theperfect canvas for holiday decorating.

MANTELS INSPIRE HOLIDAY TOUROF MILLER NEIGHBORHOOD HOMES

This peacock is part of the Christmas decor in the home of Scott Ellis at 2517 NW 12, one of six homes decorated for the historic Millerneighborhood’s third annual Miller Mantels & Trees home tour. PHOTO BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN

BY DYRINDA TYSONFor The [email protected]

Jordan Higgins stands beside a Christmastree at her home at 1615 N Miller Blvd. Thehome is decked out for the Miller Mantels &Trees home tour.

PHOTO BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMANSEE TOUR, PAGE 2F

2F SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2011 THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COMREAL ESTATE

Adorned for holidaysIn the Stuart-Hall

home, three reindeer, ref-ugees from the old John A.Brown Department Storethat dominated downtownOklahoma City for dec-ades, guard one corner ofthe dining room. A bed-room upstairs has beentaken over by a legion ofSantas and one life-sizenutcracker. Silver treesand accents gleam in a sunroom beyond.

Scott Ellis, who lives ashort distance away at 2517NW 12 with Gabriel RiveraRodriguez, isn’t shy abouthis affection for the seasoneither.

“I love Christmas,” hesaid with glee. “I’m aChristmas hoarder.”

Their 1929 Tudor revivalhome will feature fiveChristmas trees set up totake advantage of tall win-dows in a front bedroom.

In the dining room, darkwood accents offer a con-trasting backdrop forbright garland drapedoverhead.

“I’m obsessed with pea-cocks this year,” Ellis said,indicating the feathers in-corporated into the gar-land as well as the accentssurrounding a stag figu-rine on the nearby diningtable.

A peacock forms thecenterpiece of a coat ofarms above the diningroom entrance.

Participating in the tourtakes work — everyone hadto start decking out theirhouse even before theThanksgiving turkeys weretaken out of the freezer.But maybe any excuse willdo.

“I’ve been listening toChristmas music since Ju-ly, so it’s kind of like a sick-ness,” Higgins said.

Homes in the tour are:I 2517 NW 12, Scott Ellis.I 2536 NW 12, Jenni and

Jason Duncan.I 2532 NW 13, Tonja and

Basil Martin.I 2605 NW 13, Gregory

Wyatt.I 1221 N Miller, Mike

Stuart and Bruce Hall.I 1615 N Miller, Jordan

and Jeff Higgins.

FROM PAGE 1F

Tour: Homes reveal Christmas spirit

Left: A room at the home of Mike Stuart and BruceHall at 1221 N Miller Blvd. is its own winter wonder-land.

PHOTO BY PAUL HELLSTERN,THE OKLAHOMAN

Yuletide greenery decorates the front door of MikeStuart and Bruce Hall’s home at 1221 N Miller Blvd.The home, dubbed the Miller Mansion, was built in1915 by neighborhood developer George Miller.

PHOTO BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN

Left: Scott Ellis deco-rated his formal diningroom with an emphasison peacocks for the Mill-er Mantels & Trees hometour.

PHOTO BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN

Right: A table decorationadds a warm touch tothe Jeff and Jordan Hig-gins home at 1615 NMiller.


Left: Formal dining roomof Mike Stuart and BruceHall’s home at 1221 NMiller Blvd.


Simple decorations give a niche an elegant air forChristmas in the Jordan and Jeff Higgins home at1615 N Miller Blvd. PHOTO BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2011 3FREAL ESTATE

The Aldridge is sur-prisingly compact for afour-bedroom home. Itsfootprint, measuring amere 38 feet wide and 40feet deep, allows it to fiton a small city lot.

Another plus factor, ifbuilt in proximity to otherhomes, is that the planhas no side windows.This feature maximizesprivacy. At the same time,numerous windows onthe front and rear providean abundance of naturallight throughout.

Family living spacesand the owners suite fillthe lower level. Threemore bedrooms and an-other bathroom are up-stairs. Entering, you havetwo choices: Climb thestairs, or go into the livingroom, which flows on intothe dining room andkitchen. A coat closetnestles under the stairs.

Designed for efficiency,the C-shaped kitchenmakes cooking and cleanup easy. The sink, stove

and refrigerator are set ina tight triangle so nothingis more than a few stepsaway. At the same time,cupboard and counterspaces are quite ample,wrapping around threesides of the room.

Standing at the kitchensink, you can gaze out therear window to appreciatethe passing seasons orkeep an eye on children atplay. The kitchen is alsoentirely open to the din-ing room, where slidingglass doors provide patioaccess.

The Aldridge’s owners’suite has a step-in closet

and direct access to abathroom with combina-tion tub and shower.

Laundry appliances anda walk-in storage closetline the pass-throughspace that connects thehouse to its two-car ga-rage. This arrangementcomes in handy for enter-ing safely at night or un-loading groceries instormy weather.

A review plan of the Aldridge, includingfloor plans, elevations, section andartist’s conception, can be purchased for$25 by phone, mail or online. Add $5 forshipping and handling. ContactAssociated Designs, 1100 Jacobs Drive,Eugene, OR, 97402 or go to www.associateddesigns.com or call (800)634-0123.

HOUSE PLAN

House is designed to maximize space

The Listing of the Week is a large, two-story home on 5 acres in Oklahoma City.

The 5,289-square-foot home at 7017Aurelia Road has five bedrooms, threebaths, two half-baths and an attachedthree-car garage. The main living roomhas a cathedral ceiling and fireplace. Thefamily room has a fireplace. A third livingarea has a wet bar. The kitchen has abreakfast bar, work island and pantry. Themaster bedroom has a cathedral ceiling,walk-in closet and bath with whirlpooltub. Three secondary bedrooms have

ceiling fans and walk-in closets. Thehome has a covered patio, open patio,decorative pond, security system and un-derground sprinkler system.

The home, built in 2007, is listed for$1.475 million with Karen Blevins ofChurchill-Brown & Associates Realtors.For more information, call 330-0031 or203-4663.

Nominations for Listing of the Week are welcome. Sendinformation on single-family homes to The Oklahoman,Richard Mize, P.O. Box 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125.Nominations may be faxed to 475-3996.

LISTING OF THE WEEK

Home features manyspacious living areas

The Listing of the Week is at 7017 Aurelia Road in Oklahoma City. PHOTO PROVIDED

Homeowners andbuilders can get tips onhow to lower energy usagein the home and create lesspollution by attending afree presentation, “How toHack your Home,” from 7to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday onthe second floor of the En-gineering TechnologyBuilding at OklahomaState University-Okla-homa City, 900 N Port-land.

Trey Parsons, founder ofOklahoma City consultinggroup Enersolve, will givethe presentation. Parsonsis a certified Home EnergyRater and building analystwho assists homeownersand builders in retrofittinghomes to make them moreenergy efficient.

The workshop is spon-sored by Oklahoma City’sOffice of Sustainabilityand OSU-Oklahoma City’sSchool of EngineeringTechnology.

Funding was madeavailable through an Ener-gy Efficiency and Conser-vation Block Grant.

Presentationon homeenergy useofferedFROM STAFF REPORTS


Oklahoma CityWeaver Contracting

Inc., 6134 Foster Ave.,office-warehouse, erect,$3,773,522.

Tim Hughes CustomHomes LLC, 5101 WisteriaDrive, residence, erect,$1,500,000.

Allenton Homes &Development LLC, 3464NW 172 Terrace, resi-dence, erect, $1,500,000.

Vocational Energy,4625 S Rockwell Ave.,equipment, install,$1,277,798.

Cobb Engineering, 3701W Reno Ave., canopy-carport, erect,$1,000,000.

Silvercliffe Construc-tion Co., 12613 S WesternAve., school, add-on,$885,000.

Christopher Lee & Co.,301 NW 150 Court, resi-dence, erect, $450,000.

G.H & Associates Inc.,14909 Laurin Lane, resi-dence, add-on,$400,000.

Bronco Steel, 9200 WReno Ave., office, erect,$400,000.

Dodson Custom HomesLLC, 10608 BerrywoodDrive, residence, erect,$370,000.

J. Hill Homes Inc., 3517Lindee Lane, residence,erect, $285,000.

Justin Rhodes HomesLLC, 13208 Knight IslandDrive, residence, erect,$250,000.

Dawn Novosad, 15411Kyles Circle, residence,erect, $250,000.

J.W. Mashburn Devel-opment Inc., 3121 SW 137Court, residence, erect,$240,000.

Terra ConstructionInc., 6124 SW 68, busi-ness, remodel, $239,525.

Sun Contracting LLC,12600 Horsepen Road,residence, erect,$200,000.

Authentic CustomHomes LLC, 17205 Hard-wood Place, residence,erect, $199,870.

Authentic CustomHomes LLC, 8433 NW143 Terrace, residence,erect, $192,200.

Doug Gray, 12109 SW56, residence, erect,$192,000.

Authentic CustomHomes LLC, 8429 NW143 Terrace, residence,erect, $190,736.

Authentic CustomHomes LLC, 2200 NW195, residence, erect,$190,000.

Authentic CustomHomes LLC, 14301 BrinleyWay, residence, erect,$189,144.

Affinity Homes LLC,125 SW 174, residence,erect, $170,000.

D.R. Horton, 19417Candleberry Drive, resi-dence, erect, $169,400.

Authentic CustomHomes LLC, 8317 NW 143Terrace, residence, erect,$167,000.

Cedarland Homes LLC,12213 Chesterfield Lane,residence, erect,$165,900.

2k Country HomesLLC, 8536 Bella Circle,residence, erect,$165,000.

Ideal Homes, 773Christian Lane, club-house, erect, $163,000.

Sun Contracting LLC,12504 Horsepen Road,residence, erect, $155,000.

Vintage Custom HomesLLC, 309 SW 174, resi-dence, erect, $155,000.

Dodson Custom HomesLLC, 18236 BridlingtonDrive, residence, erect,$146,250.

Ideal Homes of Nor-man LP, 18313 CarilloRoad, residence, erect,$141,000.

Westpoint Homes,5920 NW 151, residence,erect, $130,000.

KFOR-TV, 444 E Brit-ton Road, storage, erect,$125,000.

Flintco, 9100 RennyRoad, medical clinic-

office, remodel, $120,000.Tony’s Tree Plantation,

3801 S Post Road, greenhouse, erect, $118,190.

Ideal Homes of Nor-man LP, 14116 Wagon BossRoad, residence, erect,$104,000.

Dalakri Parking, 529 WMain, shell building, add-on, $100,000.

Ideal Homes of Nor-man LP, 2501 NW 186,residence, erect,$100,000.

Robby Harris, 9300Summerset Lane, manu-factured home, move-on,$100,000.

Retail Permit ServicesInc., 8549 N RockwellAve., retail sales, remodel,$100,000.

Price Edwards & Co.,2219 W Interstate 240Service Road, business,remodel, $100,000.

D.R. Horton, 7509Meadow Lake Drive, resi-dence, erect, $95,000.

Oklahoma City Hous-ing Services Redevel-opment Corp., 916 NW25, residence, erect,$90,000.

Scott’s Construction,3812 SE 104, residence,remodel, $85,000.

PSC Homes Inc., 12005Chisholm Village Drive,residence, erect, $75,000.

PSC Homes Inc., 12009Chisholm Village Drive,residence, erect, $75,000.

No name provided, 2915Pine Ridge Road, parking,install, $75,000.

Quail Creek Bank, 2915Pine Ridge Road, parking,install, $75,000.

Brand and Brand, 7301Northwest Expressway,office, remodel, $60,000.

Design Build LLC, 815NW 15, residence, remod-el, $50,000.

Gardner Construction,600 N Sara Road, office-warehouse, remodel,$50,000.

Lingo Construction,324 N Robinson Ave.,office, remodel, $50,000.

Laurie Hayward, 8704Lakeaire Drive, residence,add-on, $45,000.

Home Works Plus LLC,2728 SW 25, parking,install, $40,000.

Guaranteed Construc-tion & Services, 1121 NW39, residence, remodel,$38,000.

Thomas Conduff Con-struction, 7611 SW 74,residence, erect, $35,000.

Peter Gianos, 6309Avalon Lane, residence,add-on, $28,000.

After the Fact Remod-eling and Reconstruction,2924 SW 28, office-ware-house, remodel, $26,644.

JAH Realty, 4120 NPortland Ave., medicalclinic-office, remodel,$25,000.

Evans Building Con-cepts, 14000 QuailSprings Parkway, office,remodel, $23,000.

Four Seasons Sun-rooms, 1144 NE 5 Terrace,residence, add-on,$22,697.

Jim and Wanda Badics,4404 Apollo Drive, man-ufactured home, move-on-mobile home park,$20,000.

A Karen Black Co., 809NW 41, residence, re-model, $20,000.

Anderson & House,4404 N Lincoln Blvd.,group home, remodel,$20,000.

Resenero Perez, 6401

NE 109, residence, add-on, $17,800.

Smith & Pickel, 800Research Parkway, office,remodel, $17,000.

Guaranteed Construc-tion & Services, 7015 NAir Depot Blvd., resi-dence, fire restoration,$16,000.

Connelly Paving Co.,3300 Northwest Express-way, parking, install,$16,000.

Locke Supply, 1300 SE82, retail sales, remodel,$12,000.

Morgan and ThedaSmith, 5925 NE 63, resi-dence, add-on, $10,000.

Guillermo Morales, 1521SW 65, storage, erect,$6,000.

Bill Wright, 3813 NW67, accessory, erect,$5,200.

Ana Monjes, 656 Hun-ters Hill Road, residence,add-on, $5,000.

J.L. Walker Construc-tion Inc., 8400 GreystoneAve., temporary building,move-on, $5,000.

Kenny and Trena De-witt, 10033 Tucker Lane,manufactured home,move-on, $5,000.

Henry Baer, 6525 NW116, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,895.

George Gray, 7912 Har-vest Hills Road, stormshelter, install-stormshelter, $4,595.

Curtis Colby, 4304 NW144 Place, storm shelter,install-storm shelter,$4,300.

David and MelissaWatson, 12820 NW 6,storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,295.

Suzanne Paul, 13448Cross Vine Court, stormshelter, install-stormshelter, $4,295.

No name provided,14420 Pony Road, stormshelter, install-stormshelter, $4,200.

Richard Vadrina, 1105NW 195, storm shelter,install-storm shelter,$4,200.

No name provided, 1316NW 157, storm shelter,install-storm shelter,$4,200.

Fred Daniel, 10617 NW37, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000.

Lauren Wurzer, 1216Gibson Ave., storm shel-ter, install-storm shelter,$4,000.

Owen Sevier, 15605Himalaya Ridge, stormshelter, install-stormshelter, $3,975.

David Walker, 8229NW 100, storm shelter,install-storm shelter,$3,725.

Neil Britten, 15713 Bren-ner Pass, storm shelter,install-storm shelter,$3,395.

Richard Mulhern,16605 Hardwood Place,storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,395.

Jason and Amy McIn-tosh, 13804 Agate Drive,storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,300.

Gloria Davidson, 2309Tuttington Circle, stormshelter, install-stormshelter, $3,300.

Arnold Ayers, 8305 NW71, residence, install-storm shelter, $3,295.

Autumn Brown, 2437NW 45, storm shelter,install-storm shelter,$3,295.

Brian Carter, 17316Parkgrove Drive, stormshelter, install-stormshelter, $3,200.

Jerri Hill, 1908 NW 160Place, storm shelter, in-stall-storm shelter,

$3,200.Ben and Bettie Fuller,

15916 Traditions Blvd.,storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,195.

Bill Chambless, 2433SW 97, storm shelter,install-storm shelter,$3,195.

Joseph Eckroat, 2412NW 180, storm shelter,install-storm shelter,$3,020.

Hand Up Ministries,8041 S Shields Blvd.,manufactured home,move-on-mobile homepark, $3,000.





Jose Ochoa, 1506 Rock-wood Ave., residence, firerestoration, $3,000.

Juan Morales, 2325 S St.Clair Ave., residence,remodel, $3,000.

Leonard Taylor, 7800Double Springs Drive,storm shelter, install-

storm shelter, $3,000.Thad and Jennifer Ful-

ton, 3604 Wild HoneyCourt, storm shelter,install-storm shelter,$3,000.

Victoria Tishner, 3528NW 176, storm shelter,install-storm shelter,$3,000.

William and BradenBlasdel, 10524 CreekMeadow Drive, stormshelter, install-stormshelter, $3,000.

Eloise C. Jones, 11712Price Drive, storm shelter,install-storm shelter,$2,995.

Eugene Jackson, 12600N Rockwell Ave., stormshelter, install-stormshelter, $2,995.

Hariprasad Gali, 2328NW 153, storm shelter,install-storm shelter,$2,995.

Jacquelin Allen, 13801Canterbury Drive, stormshelter, install-stormshelter, $2,995.

William Benson, 12125Foxglove Court, stormshelter, install-stormshelter, $2,995.

Kate Dodoo, 17200Toledo Drive, storm shel-ter, install-storm shelter,$2,900.

Andrea Large, 533 SW62 Terrace, storage, in-stall-storm shelter,$2,800.

Ann Strickland, 8721NW 114, storm shelter,install-storm shelter,$2,800.

Jerry Turner, 10104Ranchwood Manor Drive,storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800.

Tam Nguyen, 12901Burlingame Ave., stormshelter, install-stormshelter, $2,800.

Huy Pham, 4504 SE80, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,740.

TGV Investments LLC,10644 NW 34 Terrace,storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,725.

D.R. Horton, 9704 AllieHope Lane, storm shelter,install-storm shelter,$2,700.

Jack Duree, 11745 SW19, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500.

Toi Huynh, 1239 WBritton Road, retail sales,add-on, $2,200.

Fernondo Nino, 2517SW 44, canopy-carport,add-on, $2,000.

Robby Harris, 9300Summerset Lane, acces-sory, erect, $1,000.

Rocio Botello, 5513Monte Drive, residence,remodel, $1,000.

DemolitionsMidwest Wrecking,

1001 N Pennsylvania Ave.,retail.

Crosby ConstructionInc., 1614 NE 30, resi-dence.

Pious Forshee, 2241Hardin Drive, garage.

Kendall Concrete, 1700NE 19, single-family resi-dence.

Permits


It’s something we’d alljust as soon avoid, butthere’s no getting aroundit: We’re all getting older.And that’s somethingworth keeping in mind asyou plan and remodelyour home.

The concept of “agingin place” — making changes to yourhome to make it more comfortable andmore adapted to your needs as you age— has been gaining popularity, especial-ly in these tough economic times.

There are a number of things you cando, large and small, that will help makeyour home work for you instead ofagainst you as you age. Many manu-facturers are taking note of this trend,offering a wide range of innovative andattractive products so your home alsocan remain every bit as stylish as you’dlike.

DoorsDoors can be one of the biggest obsta-

cles to easy movement in the home.Consider opening up smaller doorwaysto create 34- or 36-inch doorwayswherever possible. Another alternative isto use a pair of 18- or even 24-inchpocket doors to make a nice wide open-

ing that’s also very attrac-tive.

To make doors easier toopen, replace doorknobswith levers. Replace exte-rior steps with simpleramps, or combinationsteps/ramps. With moreextensive remodeling

projects, also consider making hallwayswider — ideally 48 inches.

ToiletsMany companies offer “comfort-

height” toilets, which are about 2 inchestaller than standard toilets. These areeasier to get on and off, especially forpeople with sore backs or weaker legs.Wherever possible, plan on more freespace in front of and to the sides of thetoilet to allow for easier movement,especially for a walker or wheelchair.

Grab barsGrab bars are a useful addition in the

bathroom, in the tub, shower andaround the toilet. For safety and securi-ty, they need to be properly anchored tosolid wood, so if you’re remodeling yourbathroom, be sure to install some block-ing in the walls; it’s a simple and in-expensive thing to do, even if you’re not

planning on installing grab bars rightaway.

Don’t like the institutional look ofchrome grab bars? A growing number ofcompanies are offering them in colors,ranging from bright white to shiny blackand everything in between, in acrylics aswell as powder-coated metal. There alsoare some sleek new styles available.

Tub and showersThere are some simple things you can

do to make it easier to use your tub orshower. In addition to grab bars, a seatcan be a real plus, whether portable or afold-up version that attaches to the wall.There are many styles available, in ev-erything from plastic to stylish teak.

Lever-handle controls are easier togrip and turn than ones with smoothknobs. That applies to sinks as well asshower and tub controls. Think aboutwhere you’ll be standing — or sitting —in the tub or shower, and place the con-trols at a convenient location. Make sureyou install anti-scald valves and hand-held spray heads. Also, install a shelf at aconvenient location for soap and sham-poo, to prevent dangerous reaching orstooping over.

Barrier-free shower stalls are wellworth considering if you’re redoing your

bathroom. One company I spoke with atthe recent Pacific Coast Builders Showwas demonstrating an innovative, dam-free shower pan that’s installed on thefloor, then sealed in place with a mem-brane. The entire bathroom floor andpan are then tiled over, creating a seam-less, barrier-free installation that’s sleek,attractive and anything but institutional.You can check it out at www.designwithoutbarriers.com.

Another innovative idea comes fromthe folks at Kohler, with the new Ele-vance bathtub. This tub has a verticallysliding wall in front. The wall dropsdown to create a chair-height seat foreasy access. Sit down, swing your legsin, then raise the wall — it takes only 5pounds of force to lift. Fill the tub, andthe special double seals snap into placeto seal the wall against leakage.

When you’re done enjoying your bath,drain the water, then lower the wall foreasy access to get out. You can see ithere and also get a link to a video of it inaction: www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?item=15185102&prod_num=1914-GR.

Remodeling and repair questions? Email [email protected]. All product reviews are based on the author’sactual testing of free review samples provided by themanufacturers.

INMAN NEWS

Innovations meet ‘aging in place’ demand PaulBianchina

HANDY @ HOME

SAN FRANCISCO — Thefederal government hasshut down dozens of In-ternet scam artists whohad been paying Google torun ads making boguspromises to help desperatehomeowners scramblingto avoid foreclosures.

The crackdown renewsquestions about the rolethat Google’s massive ad-vertising network plays inenabling online miscon-duct. It may also increasethe pressure on the com-pany to be more vigilantabout screening the mar-keting pitches that appearalongside its Internetsearch results and otherWeb content.

The criminal investiga-tion into alleged mortgageswindlers comes threemonths after Googleagreed to pay $500 millionto avoid prosecution inRhode Island for profitingfrom online ads from Can-adian pharmacies that ille-

gally sold drugs in the U.S. A spokesman for the

U.S. Treasury Departmentdivision overseeing theprobe into online mortgagescams declined to com-ment on its scope other tosay it’s still ongoing. Goo-gle Inc. also declined tocomment.

No company wants to betainted by a criminal in-vestigation, but the pros-pect is even more nettle-some for Google because ithas embraced “don’t beevil” as its corporate mot-

to. That commitment may

make it difficult for Googleto fend off a call by Con-sumer Watchdog to donatethe revenue from fraudu-lent mortgage ads to legiti-mate organizations thathelp people ease theircredit problems. Consum-er Watchdog is an activistgroup that released a re-port in February assertingthat Google was profitingfrom ads bought by mort-gage swindlers.

“Google should never

have published these ads,but its executives turned ablind eye to these fraud-sters for far too long be-cause of the substantialrevenue such advertisinggenerates,” said ConsumerWatchdog’s John M.Simpson, a frequent criticof the company.

To fight future abuse,Google has suspended itsbusiness ties with morethan 500 advertisers andagencies connected to thealleged scams, accordingto the U.S. Treasury De-partment’s Office of theSpecial Inspector Generalfor the Troubled Asset Re-lief Program.

The evidence collectedin the current investiga-tion led to the govern-ment’s closure of 85 al-leged mortgage scams. Theidentities of the businessesand people involved in thescams weren’t immediate-ly disclosed.

The con artists are ac-cused of duping people in-to believing they could

help lower their home loanpayments under govern-ment-backed mortgagemodification programs.The alleged rip-offs typi-cally relied on collectingupfront fees or getting vic-tims to transfer theirmonthly mortgage pay-ments to the scam artists,officials said.

In some cases, the swin-dlers passed themselvesoff as being affiliated withthe government.

Google’s name poppedup because the scam art-ists relied on the compa-ny’s vast advertising net-work to bait their victims.

About two out of everythree Internet search re-quests are made throughGoogle, making its ad net-work a prime outlet forfinding people hoping tosave their homes, accord-ing to Christy Romero,deputy special InspectorGeneral for the TroubledAsset Relief Program.

“The first place manyhomeowners turn for helpin lowering their mortgageis the Internet through on-line search engines, andthat’s precisely where theyare being taken advantageof and targeted,” she said.

INTERNET SCAMMERS PLACING ADS PROMISING FORECLOSURE HELP TARGETED IN CRACKDOWN

Government shutters scams tied to GoogleBY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The crackdown renews questionsabout the role that Google’s massiveadvertising network plays in enablingonline misconduct. It may alsoincrease the pressure on thecompany to be more vigilant aboutscreening the marketing pitches thatappear alongside its Internet searchresults and other Web content.

Q. I heard that you couldgive up on your secondmortgage if you are currentwith your first mortgage.My wife and I are currentwith both of our loans andhave good credit scores,but this sounds attractive.Is it a good idea?

A. No. A second mort-gage, just like a first mort-gage or a third mortgage,can be foreclosed by yourlender, causing your houseto be repossessed. The firstmortgage holder will getpaid from the sale pro-ceeds before the secondmortgage holder does, butthe end result is the same— you lose your house.

But in a Chapter 13bankruptcy, it is possibleto strip or remove yoursecond or third mortgage,if those mortgages arewholly unsecured. Thismeans that if the amountowed on your first mort-gage is greater than howmuch your house is worth,the bankruptcy court can,in effect, make your othermortgages go away.

Outside of bankruptcy,it may be possible to nego-tiate with your secondmortgage lender to allowyou to pay off the mortgagefor a reduced amount,sometimes even as low as10 cents on the dollar.

All of these methodswill hurt your credit.

Q. I am a senior citizenand need to downsize now.My mortgage paymentsare up to date. Can I do ashort sale without being in

foreclosure?A. Absolutely. Despite

almost everything youhear, it is possible to short-sell your property or obtaina mortgage modificationwhile you are current onyour payments. The key ineither case is that you needto show that you have hada change in circumstances,making the short sale orloan modification neces-sary.

I have repeatedly heardthat borrowers are told bytheir lenders that theyneed to be behind on theirpayments in order to getrelief, but this is rarelytrue. Usually the lender’srepresentative will say thisjust to get you off thephone. If that happens toyou, hang up and call backand get a rep who is willingto take the time to give youcorrect answers.

If you still have trouble,as is sometimes the case,then at least you tried yourbest.

Gary M. Singer is a Florida attorney andboard-certified as an expert in realestate law by the Florida Bar. Send himquestions online athttp://sunsent.nl/mR20t7 or follow himon Twitter@GarySingerLaw.

MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

Giving up onsecond mortgagecould be disastrous

GaryM.Singer

REAL ESTATE LAW


DEAR BARRY: Thehome I’m buying is occu-pied by the owners and willremain so until the day be-fore the sale is completed.With all of the furnishingsand personal effects cov-ering walls and floors andfilling the closets and ga-rage, how can my home in-spector possibly do a thor-ough job?

DerekDEAR DEREK: Home

inspections typically occurwhile a home is occupiedby owners or renters. Thisis one of the obstaclesaround which home in-spectors must work, and insome instances propertydefects can escape discov-ery. A hole in a wall may beconcealed behind a sofa,

moisture damage might becovered by storage in a ga-rage, someone’s “bootleg”plumbing work might behidden behind a stack ofsuitcases, or an unground-ed outlet behind a pianomight go untested.

In the majority of cases,furnishings do not preventdiscovery of major defects,but exceptions are un-avoidable. This is why finalwalk-through inspections

are conducted by buyersand agents just beforecompleting a sale, whenpersonal possessions havebeen removed from thepremises.

It is also one of the rea-sons why sellers are re-quired to disclose allknown defects. Sellers of-ten are aware of conditionsthat might not be apparentto a home inspector. Withall parties working togeth-er in good faith — buyers,sellers, agents and inspec-tors — significant defectshave a good chance of be-ing revealed. But no onecan guarantee perfectionin these processes.

DEAR BARRY: We weresurprised when our homeinspector didn’t mention

the refrigerator or thewasher and dryer in his re-port. But our surpriseturned to shock when wemoved in and found thatthose appliances weregone.

Are these items sup-posed to be included in thesale of a home, or are theyconsidered as personalproperty, to be taken by thesellers when they move?

MelanieDEAR MELANIE:

When appliances arefreestanding, rather thanbuilt in, they are not re-garded as components ofthe property and are onlyincluded in the sale if thereis a specific agreement be-tween buyers and sellers.This is why such items as

refrigerators and laundryappliances are not includ-ed in a home inspection.

On the other hand,built-in appliances such ascooktops, ovens and dish-washers are regarded asfixtures. These are gener-ally included as part of thesale of a home and, ac-cordingly, as subjects of ahome inspection report.

DEAR BARRY: Theseller of the home I’m buy-ing disclosed that thehouse was treated for ter-mites about two years ago.I was already nervousabout buying a home, butthis has me really worried.Is past termite infestationa reason to back out of apurchase?

Lisa

DEAR LISA: If past ter-mite infestation were a ba-sis for canceling a pur-chase, few homes wouldbe worth buying. Sooneror later, nearly every homewith wood componentshas termite infestation,except in those rare cli-mates where termites donot exist.

As long as the termiteproblem in this home wasadequately addressed by aqualified professional,there should be no need forworry. Just be sure to get aclear termite report beforecompleting this transac-tion.

To write to Barry Stone, go towww.housedetective.com.

ACTION COAST PUBLICATION

Personal items shouldn’t stall inspectionBarryStone

INSPECTOR’S IN THEHOUSE

Preregistration for theannual InternationalBuilders Show is up nearlya quarter over last year,and dozens of exhibitorshave snapped up remain-ing booths in the past twoweeks, organizers said.

The trade show, orga-nized by the National As-sociation of Home Build-ers, will be Feb. 8-11 at Or-ange County ConventionCenter in Orlando, Fla.Expert speakers, opportu-nities for networking andentertainment, nearly 175education sessions, hometours and more than 700exhibitors of products andservices combine to makeit the largest light com-mercial construction showin the world.

Homebuilders, remod-elers, designers, architectsand developers will fill theclassrooms and trade showfloor to examine the latestenergy-efficient applianc-es and insulation products,technical improvementand innovation in roofing,decking and other buildingsupplies, new designtrends for the kitchen,bath and outdoor living ar-eas — and everything inbetween.

“I do about 10 shows ayear, but if you said to me Icould only do one, it wouldbe this one,” said BrianStowell, president ofCrown Point Cabinetry inClaremont, N.H. Thecompany is exhibiting atthe International BuildersShow for the third year in arow.

In a still strugglinghousing market, Stowellsaid, “unless you are there,you are not going to be infront of the people who aredoing the jobs.”

Attendees also can gaina better understanding ofthe country’s economicoutlook at a special pre-sentation by Federal Re-serve Chairman Ben Ber-nanke open to all creden-tialed attendees on Feb. 10.

Thirteen tracks of edu-cation — from “Remodel-ing” and “Green Buildingand Sustainability” to“Business Opportunitiesand New Markets” — willoffer information to pro-fessionals in all segmentsof the industry. Sessionswill detail tools for projectfinancing in a tough lend-ing market, social mediatactics specific to newhomebuyer and othermarketing tactics, ad-vanced framing tech-niques, consumer prefer-ence surveys for the 50-plus buyer, among othertopics.

“Outstanding network-ing opportunities, specialdisplays and product in-formation for niche mar-kets such as universal de-sign and custom building,and the signature educa-tional events that only theNational Association ofHome Builders can provide— each of those is reasonenough to make plans toattend the InternationalBuilders Show,” said asso-ciation chairman BobNielsen, a homebuilderfrom Reno, Nev.

Interestbuildingin showFROM WIRE REPORTS

Sales of newly built, single-family homes inched up 1.3 per-cent to a seasonally adjusted an-nual rate of 307,000 units in Octo-ber, according to the U.S. Com-merce Department.

The gain is from a downwardlyrevised rate in September andmarks the best pace of new-homesales activity since May.

“Builders have been seeingsome marginal improvement insales activity over the past fewmonths, particularly in selectmarkets where consumer confi-dence is higher due to improvedeconomic conditions,” said BobNielsen, chairman of the National

Association of Home Builders anda homebuilder from Reno, Nev.“While this trend is encouraging,overall sales activity is still wellbelow normal due to the effects ofoverly tight credit conditions for

builders and buyers, the continuedflow of distressed properties onthe market, and inaccurate ap-praisal values on new homes.”

The report is “right in line withour forecast for modest and grad-

ual improvement in sales activitythrough the remainder of theyear,” said David Crowe, the build-ers’ chief economist. “Particularlyencouraging is the fact that build-ers continue to hold down theirinventories to match the currentsales rate, with the number of newhomes for sale now down to a sus-tainable 6.3-month supply.”

New-home sales held un-changed in the Northeast andgained 22.2 percent in the Mid-west and 14.9 percent in the Westin October. The South posted adecline of 9.5 percent.

Meanwhile, the nationwide in-ventory of new homes for sale heldat an record low of just 162,000units in October.

New-home sales reported at best pace since MayFROM WIRE REPORTS

Builders have been seeing some marginalimprovement in sales activity over the past fewmonths, particularly in select markets whereconsumer confidence is higher due to improvedeconomic conditions.”

BOB NIELSENNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS CHAIRMAN

SAN JOSE, Calif. — LakeTahoe-area real estateagents, hungry for sales inthe aftermath of the hous-ing bubble, are countingon the Bay Area’s boomingtech industry to help gen-erate the next crop of mil-lion-dollar vacationhomebuyers.

The market for vacationhomes costing more than$1 million, though downover the year, turned in astrong third-quarter per-formance, according toColdwell Banker. That waspartly due to buyers fromSilicon Valley, vacationhome developers and realestate agents said.

“People are starting tofeel a little bit better aboutthings. Silicon Valley iskind of spearheading thatrevival. We’re seeing thosefolks make their way into

the Tahoe market,” saidJim Telling of East-WestPartners, the developer ofHome Run at Northstar,Calif.

Some buyers from thetech industry havesnapped up vacationhomes recently that runfrom $1 million to $4 mil-lion or more.

For example, more than20 parcels at Martis Camp— a 2,100-acre custom lotdevelopment betweenTruckee and Northstar —have been scooped up byemployees of tech compa-nies such as Google, Face-book, VMware and Apple,the development’sspokesman said.

One Apple employeebought at Home Run, asmall mountainside ski-in, ski-out village of town-homes, where luxury realestate sells for $1.75 millionto $2.2 million. AnotherApple employee sold some

stock and purchased aplace at Incline Village re-cently, reportedly for $3million.

Last, but not least, Ora-cle CEO Larry Ellison isputting the finishing tou-ches on a lakefront com-pound at Incline Village.Ellison reportedly spent$58 million to assemble an8-acre spread. The site hasseveral buildings, a pond, awaterfall, tennis courtsand a sandy beach withtwo piers.

“I think the world’sstarting to right itselfagain,” Telling said. Hisdevelopment’s first eighthomes are under con-struction on the mountainnear the 170-room Ritz-Carlton Hotel, which

opened in 2009.The Bay Area has always

supplied a big portion ofTahoe vacation home-buyers.

“It’s good for a longweekend,” said AndyBechtolsheim, who is oneof Ellison’s neighbors atIncline Village. Bechtol-sheim, an angel investorand co-founder and chair-man of Arista Networks,said he’s been going to Ta-hoe for 20 years.

But until recently, theeconomic downturn haddiscouraged many buyers,while falling prices keptmany sellers off the mar-ket.

Now, according to Ernst& Young, 25 Bay Area techcompanies are preparing

initial public offerings,providing new hope to lo-cal real estate agents.


Tech-rich buyers help Tahoe market reboundBY PETE CAREYSan Jose Mercury News


KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ifyou’re looking for cluesabout someone’s decorat-ing style, Becky Berg sug-gests starting with a book-shelf.

Anthologies like “Cow-boy Poetry” share shelfspace with novels by LarryMcMurtry and LouisL’Amour in one client’s co-zy condo.

The condo, perched on ahill on the Country ClubPlaza, offers a view to ametropolis. Inside, how-ever, Berg has created aspace anyone who lovesthe West would be proudto call home.

“For Western or moun-tain design, it starts withnatural colors and tex-tures,” said the owner ofBecky Berg Design. “Thisclient had a home in themountains of Colorado,and he wanted that feelinghere.”

Beyond the foyer, an an-tler chandelier that drawsthe eye to a dining areaachieves that goal. Thoughthe room is small, the siz-able light fixture seems inbalance with the room.

“One big piece like thisreally makes a statement ina small space,” said Berg,who has been a designerfor more than 20 years.“The antler piece actuallymakes the space appearlarger.”

Antlers have been apopular design feature forthe past few years.

“They add a warm touchto many types of decor,”said Gordon Andahl, pub-lic relations director of ZGallerie.

Though they are tradi-tionally used in Westerndecor, Andahl points to thewhite, pewter and chrome

finishes on resin-basedantler objects that fit rightin with contemporary de-cor.

“They’re a chic, decora-tive way to convey a look,”he said. “Contrastingwhite and silver finisheswork well with the warmneutral tones that are pop-ular now.”

Study artwork or roomdecor that incorporatesantlers and you may beseeing what was once thecrowning glory of a deer,elk or moose; the animalsshed those antlers annual-ly, to the delight of collec-tors who use them in homedecor. Most likely, howev-

er, when you spot antlerlight fixtures or other de-cor, you’re looking atcarved wood or resin im-pressions.

“We use real antlers asmolds for our replicas,”said Deb Severinson, anassociate manager ofhome furnishings for Ca-bela’s, which has a locationat Village West in KansasCity, Kan. “Faux antlersare much more cost-effec-tive.”

Chandeliers that canrange from those with sixto more than two dozenantlers have sold well formany years, Severinsonsaid.

When you walk intoWilson Lighting in Over-land Park, where Bergshopped, an antler chan-delier is one of the firstthings you’ll see.

She also found twolamps with bases made ofantlers.

While such shops mightbe a fine place to start yoursearch for antler merchan-dise, don’t stop with light-ing fixtures, said Jill Tranwith Tran + Thomas De-sign Studio. Think table-top stands, door pulls, coatracks and candle holders.

“Whatever they’re usedfor, what’s important isthat they’re in good

shape,” Tran said.She suggests also hunt-

ing down antler decor atantique shops and estatesales.

“As with any home de-cor, study it to be sure it’sin good shape. If it’s fauxand painted, be sure it’sdone well, as there aresome really awful ones out

there,” she said.It would be a shame,

Tran said, not to acknowl-edge the season when us-ing antlers.

“Decorate for the holi-days with them,” Transaid. “Hang glass bulbs onthem, or decorate themwith pinecones. Incorpo-rate them with real hollyand candles, or use themas stocking holders.”

Whether designing theinterior of a vacation homein the mountains or addinga bit of the Old West toyour home in the city, Tranpoints out that antlers un-questionably serve onepurpose in the home.

“They add an element ofthe great outdoors,” shesaid. “So many people lovethat touch of nature.”

Antlers bring home a bit of great outdoors

A condo in Kansas City, Mo., features antlered light fixtures and lamps. MCCLATCHY TRIBUNE PHOTO

BY MARIA COTEMCT Information Services

A lamp features antlersin a condo in Kansas City,Mo. MCCLATCHY TRIBUNE PHOTO


BALTIMORE — SabrinaOliver looked forward togood schools and saferstreets when she movedher family from her crime-ridden and trash-strewnWest Baltimore neighbor-hood to the suburbs, butwas surprised to discoveranother benefit as well — adramatic improvement intheir health.

The asthma that afflict-ed daughter Nyla, 9, andfrequently kept her out ofschool just about disap-peared when the family re-located to Parkville, Md.,and most recently to Or-chard Beach, Md., wherethere were no roaches andmice, and less dust be-cause the houses weremore modern. Althoughchronic depression hadonce mentally paralyzedOliver — keeping her out ofwork and on disability —the 38-year-old no longertakes antidepressants andhas a job sitting with se-verely ill patients at hospi-tals.

“I feel transformed,” Ol-iver said. “I feel like Imoved to a whole otherworld.”

Sociologists and publichealth officials have longthought a ZIP code is atleast as important as race,age and genetics in deter-mining a person’s health.Now, a growing body ofmore advanced research isbringing the issue to theforefront once again andopening up the debateabout how the nationlooks at health care.

In one recent study, re-searchers at the JohnsHopkins BloombergSchool of Public Healthfound racial disparitiesnormally associated with

hypertension, diabetesand obesity weren’t asstrong when they took intoaccount where peoplelived.

The researchers lookedat racially integrated,working-class neighbor-hoods, including in South-west Baltimore, and foundthat blacks and whites hadsimilar health outcomes.They also compared healthoutcomes in the neighbor-hoods to national healthsurveys. Across the coun-try, blacks are more likelyto suffer from hyperten-sion, but when looking atthe Baltimore neighbor-

hood, the disparity de-clined by 29 percent.Blacks and whites in theneighborhood also showedsimilar odds of beingobese.

The researchers attri-buted the difference towhites in the neighbor-hood having higher ratesof disease than whites onaverage nationwide.“When whites are exposedto the health risks of achallenging urban envi-ronment, their health sta-tus is compromised simi-larly to that of blacks, whomore commonly live insuch communities,” the

researchers wrote.“When people are living

in a similar type of envi-ronment and they behavesimilarly, they tend to havesimilar health outcomes,”said Thomas LaVeist, di-rector of the Center forHealth Disparities Solu-tions at Hopkins and leadauthor of the study, whichwas released last month.

A different social exper-iment started by the U.S.Department of Housingand Urban Development inthe 1990s is now alsoshowing evidence thatwomen in five cities, in-cluding Baltimore and Los

Angeles, had a lower riskfor diabetes and extremeobesity when they movedto better neighborhoods.

Under the program,HUD looked at the healthimpact a ZIP code playedin the lives of 4,500 fam-ilies, some who were givenvouchers that allowedthem to move out ofneighborhoods with pov-erty rates of 40 percent ormore. The other familiesstayed. Researchers revi-sited the families whomoved over two years be-ginning in 2008, testingtheir blood levels, check-ing body mass index levels

and having the familiestake a survey. They com-pared the results to a groupof families who hadn’tmoved.

The study, publishedlast month in the New En-gland Journal of Medicine,found that the longer peo-ple lived in a lower-pover-ty neighborhood, the moretheir body mass index anddiabetes symptoms im-proved.

People who stayed in theold neighborhoods had aprevalence rate of 18 per-cent for extreme obesity,while women who leftwere one-fifth less likely tosuffer from extreme obes-ity. They were also one-fifth less likely to have dia-betes than women whodidn’t move.

Jens Ludwig, a professorat the University of Chica-go and lead author of theHUD study, said he hopesresults like this will helpthe health industry see im-proving neighborhoods asa form of preventive care.


Where you live may affect your health

Joseph Walker, 12, left, doodles as his mother Nicole Davis, right, helps Jamel Davis, 12, with homework at thefamily’s home in Laurel, Md. Davis says her family’s health has improved since moving from West Baltimore,Md. MCCLATCHY TRIBUNE PHOTO

BY ANDREA K. WALKERThe Baltimore Sun

When peopleare living in asimilar type ofenvironmentand theybehavesimilarly, theytend to havesimilar healthoutcomes.”

THOMAS LAVEISTDIRECTOR OF THECENTER FOR HEALTHDISPARITIESSOLUTIONS AT JOHNSHOPKINS


MINNEAPOLIS — Paul Brazeltonwill soon move his family into a1935 Tudor in south Minneapolisthat has no furnace.

He’s just finished a massiverenovation of the family homeand with winter bearing down,he removed the boiler and plansto use that basement space forhis daughters’ home-schoolclassroom.

He also took out the fireplace.If this sounds like the most

uninviting house (and class-room) in Minneapolis, there’ssomething else to know: Brazel-ton, a software engineer andpassionate environmentalist,has nearly finished a retrofit ofhis house to the stringent engi-neering standards of the Passiv-haus model, a German system ofhomebuilding that uses insula-tion and highly efficient doorsand windows to save energy.

The finished 2,000-square-foot home could be warmed evenin the dead of winter with a pairof small space heaters, Brazeltonsaid, though the family plans topiggyback on their water heaterand use an in-floor heating sys-tem in the basement.

“We’re really nervous,” saidBrazelton, half-joking, “becausewhen it’s 20 degrees below andyou can feel your house con-tracting and cracking like it’s justtrying to resist the cold, it’s hardto believe that two space heatersfrom Target will do the trick forus.”

The finished project is ontrack to be certified by the Pas-sivhaus institute of Darmstadt,Germany, as the first “Ener-PHit” home in North America,according to their architect TimEian of TE Studio in Minneapo-lis.

The EnerPHit standard, de-signed for existing homes, hasbeen used thousands of times inGerman-speaking and Scandi-navian countries, said Eian, aGerman native. Such homes seetheir energy use fall from 75 to90 percent.

Brazelton and his wife, Desir-ee, have remodeled two otherhomes before, but never on thescale of the house he’s workingon now, nestled in a neighbor-

hood near Lake Nokomis.When they found it more than

four years ago, the three bed-room house had outdated me-chanical systems and an awk-ward layout. A year ago they had“one-time” money and decidedon an addition, but their plansquickly grew.

Brazelton, looking for ideas,toured a Passive House in Hud-son, Minn., and came away im-pressed. Six months into the de-sign, Eian, the architect, calledto say he had run their latest planthrough a computer programand it showed that the Brazeltonhome could meet the EnerPHitstandard.

“That kind of captured our

imaginations and short circuitedthe logical part of our brain andwent directly to the emotionalexcited part and we were like,‘Let’s do it,’ ” Brazelton said.

The core idea of a PassiveHouse is that it’s so well insulat-ed that it doesn’t require a lot ofenergy.

Triple-pane windows, highlyefficient doors and loads andloads of insulation make thehouse incredibly airtight. A me-chanical ventilator blows freshair in and stale air out. A heat ex-changer takes the heat out of theoutgoing air and adds it to the in-coming air to minimize heat loss.

A heavy duty retrofitting ofthis type can run $50 to $100 per

square foot, Eian said. A new1,750-square-foot house built toPassive House standards wouldtake about 15 years to pay off theextra cost of insulation, windowsand doors, Eian estimated.

Desiree and the Brazelton’sthree daughters moved in withrelatives as the work started thissummer. Stucco was removedfrom the exterior. The rottingchimney was torn down. Heavymachinery dug a trench aroundthe basement foundation.

What followed was a compli-cated process of adding insula-tion so that the home’s shell —everything from the attic to theexterior walls to the basementslab — would be wrapped in in-

sulation. The slab was broken upso that EPS foam could be laidunder the house. The exteriorwalls were given vertical woodenribs every few inches to hold the9.5 inches of cellulose that wouldbe required. The exterior wallswill have an R44 rating. The atticwill hit R80.

A website (www.minnephith-ouse.com) lists the companiesinvolved. Brazelton blogs thereabout the home’s progress, whenhe’s not building, being a fatheror tending to his day job.

“I told my wife after this isdone I’m going to check myselfinto a psych ward to decom-press,” he said.


Family plans house as engineering marvelBY MATT MCKINNEYStar Tribune

Al Stegora fits insulation around windows ofthe Brazelton family home in Minneapolis.

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

Paul and Desiree Brazelton, Madeline, 3, held by Paul, Amelie, 7, and Penelope, 5,are shown in front of their home in Minneapolis. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

Amelie and Penelope Brazelton play in the walls of their home, which are morethan 9 inches thick. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

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5533 Huddleston, 3/2/2CH/A $900.

4201 SE 45, 3/1 $550.All nice. 732-3411

343 SE 49th spacious2bed home on corner lot,ch/a, well kept area, only$550 Fidelity Real Estate410-4300, 692-1661

Houses All Areas-Free List4 bed from $595-12953 bed from $495-9952 bed from $395-795

605-5477 2545 SW 59th

3/1.5/2, ch&a $650+$650dep. no pets, fresh remod.

306-5437 or 632-2328

29 SE 33rd 1/1 $350824 SE 22nd 1/1 $375

681-7272

2 bed Trailer, 1bed house$400 mo ea, $150 dep,

Refs req'd, 321-4773

1242 SW 47th sharp 4bdbrick home, fresh paint,new carpet, nice area,ch/a, covered patio, only$795 Fidelity Real Estate410-4300, 692-1661

Near Integris Southwest,2 bed, 1 bath, ch&a, dou-ble driveway, very clean,new carpet & paint, nosec 8, $575 mo, 691-5479.

2909 SW 40th sharp 3bdhome, fresh paint nicewell kept area, only $550mo. Fidelity Real Estate410-4300, 692-1661

1301 SW 26th Largespacious 4bed 2 story

home on corner lot, only$695 Fidelity Real Estate

410-4300, 692-1661

325 SW 92nd Extrasharp spacious 2bd patiohome w/2ba 2car garage,ch/a, fp only $950 FidelityRE 410-4300, 692-1661


605-5477 2545 SW 59th

3121 S. Woodward 1bd1 bath w/d hook up

$425 a month 408-5836!!!MOVE IN SPECIAL!!!

1412 SW 37 2bd 1 bathgarage $485 a month

408-5836!!!MOVE IN SPECIAL!!!

3 bed, 1 3/4 bath, largedining area, 2 car garage,large backyard, $850 mo+ deposit, 605-9338

2504 SW 32, 3 bd,1.5 bath, $575 /mo


1709 SW 16 2bd 1bathgarage $425 a month


3116 SW 20 2bd 1bathstorage $395 a month


3 bed security system,$550 month, $250 dep.2bed, garage $525 mo,

$250 dep. 631-8039

2 & 3 Bdr homes. Quiet,stove, refrig, new paint &carpet. $495 ea 596-8410

3 bed, 1K bath, 2 cargarage, W/D hkup,

$650 mo + dep. 691-1388

3 bed, 1 bath, $550 permonth, $400 dep, 2 hous-es available, 631-8220.

OWNER FINANCE lse/purch Nice 3b 1b ch&a lgutil rm 532-2185 for info

3205 Independence 2/1$5503700 SW 42nd 3/1.75 $750

681-7272

2709 S Klein 2bed 1 banew paint. appls $650mo+ $300 dep. 618-7338

Rental List at 4524 S May1-3 Beds from $325-750

SWHome Rentals 681-7272

1119 Park Manor 3 bed, 2full & 3 half baths, 2car,office, wd flrs, $1650mo,$1500dpTMS Prop348-0720

1229 Sumac, 2000+ sfexecutive home, 3bd 2ba2 living, 2 car, on nicelylandscaped cul-de-saclot, $1350 mo Fidelity RE410-4300, 692-1661

1724 Marian 3bd + bonus1bath $750+dep WACHome&RanchRlty794-7777

3 bed, 2 bath MH, ch&a,on 1 acre, fenced, nearJones, $600 month, oth-ers available, 733-8688.

Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bdMWC $350&up 390-9777

usespectrum.comMgmt » Leasing » Sales

PROFESSIONAL REALESTATE SERVICES

SINCE 1982

Spectrum Management848-9400

2530 NW 16, 1bd $400mo$300dep. W/D hook-ups

750sf 208-8996/694-9730

Over 70 Foreclosures onLand or 0 down w/ yourland. wac 405-631-3200

Abandoned D/W set up on3.3 Acres All improvements& huge deck. Ready tomove in!! 405-631-7600

Special Gov't Program!Own Land/Family LandZERO DN! Instant Rebatesup to $10,000. Use forlower price, furniture,land improvement. HugeSavings! New & RepoHomes avail. E-Z process& app by phone. WAC

405-631-7600

3bd, 1ba, 1 car garage,large backyard w/privacy

fence. 105 Barbour$575/mo. 329-3076

Luxury Town Homes2-3 bed, 2 bath, 2cargaran full size w/d, gat-ed from $800. 789-3705

Office Complex built 2007,in Mustang. 14,000sf

$795,000 Greatinvestment! Owner: (405)414-8046, Office: 376-4238

StevensCarpet

Watonga and KingfisherFlooring business forsale. All equip, 2 loca-

tions, profitable!$999,995 (580) 623-5080

Hair salon, Memorial and NWestern area, partially fur-nished, call or text 414-7585

3540sf may divide NW 50& Meridian Putnam Plaza$1800mo Greg 470-1700

New I-35 frontage bldgfor rent: ofc/shop/whse,1900sf $800mo 412-7665

OFFICE SPACE available.$7/sf. Great for

medical, professional.3801 NW 63rd. 640-8206

7608 N Western AveRetail/Office space, up

to 2200sf avail, 370-1077

GREAT Office SpaceVarious NW locations300-6000sf 946-2516

HUNTING HUNTING40A Caddo Co $60,000160A Irrigation potentialTillman Co $1700/acre232A both sides Otter Crk,hunting/farm land $278,400342A Kiowa Co river fronthunting/farm land $350K320A Wichita Mtn, remote& refuge like $480,000910A Excellent Hunting& Pasture $795/acreGirl Scout Camp nearOKC, Gorgeous CallDuck & Deer Hunting Lease160A, Tillman Co Call

Tumbleweed Terr. REJohn McElroy 580-569-4213

1N to 10A, E. of OKC,pay out dn. before 1st pmt.starts, many are M/H readyover 400 choices, lg trees,some with ponds, TERMS

Milburn o/a 275-1695paulmilburnacreages.com

Norman: Extra Sharp 2bdHome w/1car garage,tastefully decorated, ch/a,park like O acre lot, nicearea, only $93,900 FidelityRE 410-4300, 692-1661

HOMES WITH LAND4bd 1N A 1O bath trees2-3bd 2K A animal shed2bd unfin 5A privateMilburn o/a 275-1695

Call for Maps! See whywe sell more acreagesthan anyone in Okla.

E of OKC. o/a 275-1695

Cattle & Hunting Ranch1,120 acres, Osage Co,

60% grass, two creeks, 5ponds, trophy deer; now

$893 per acre; see atswezeyrealty.com or call

918-331-5010

FHA/VA Financing AvailUpdated 4/2/1 near Tinkerch/a, new paint, carpet.Warranty + closing costs$69.9KRlty Exprts 414-8753

5Acres, 4500sf. custompool. $229,000 cash

opportunity of alifetime. 301-6495

OWNER FINANCING$2000 down No Credit Ck522 E Douglas Dr. $49K

‘‘ 410-8840 ‘‘

Open Sunday 2-43200 N Warren Ave

"Many Updates, A MustSee!" 3 bed 1.5 bath

1200+ sf $99,500.Prudential Alliance Rlty,

Yukon. E. Manning833-3051 pru6V8L8

Beautiful 3 bed, stone,corner lot. complete

renovation! Wood floors.Less Than $4,000 downunder $700 mo (wac)Greg »» 470-1700

Nice 3bd Brick Home 2ba2car in excellent wellmaintained area. Only$69,900 Fidelity Real Est410-4300, 692-1661

Bank Owned 3/2/2 2035sf+ enclosed patio/sauna,corner lot, PC Sch $109.9kRealty Experts 414-8753

BANK OWNED Historic4/1.5, 3 liv, 2 din, 2342sf,hardwood floors $74,900Realty Experts 414-8753

3bed stone home, hard-wood floors, ch&a,

$33,900 cash 301-6495

Extra Sharp 3bd patiohome 2ba oversized 1carbrick, cathedral ceiling,fireplace, ch/a, beautifullydecorated, Westmoore Schlonly $93,500 Fidelity RE410-4300, 692-1661

OWNER FINANCING$2000 down No Credit Ck2509 SW 39 3/1 $51,0001115 SW 32 $1000 dwn 3/1

‘‘ 410-8840 ‘‘

OWNER FINANCE lse/purch Nice 3b 1b ch&a lgutil rm 532-2185 for info

2 houses on 3/4 Acrelot 1200sf each.

$37,900 CASH. 301-6495

OKC SW Open Sun 2-4,301 SW 99th, 2653sf,

3 bed, 2.5 bath, 3 living,2 dining, 3 car, in soughtafter Ranchwood Manor,

Buchanan Realty,Call Jonelle 503-6205

40 ACRES HUNTINGLAND HUGHES CO.

$25,000. 405-886-1643

S. Texas ranch, 11000+/-ac, great hunting & fishing,

Broker 254-770-8770

$100 lot rent for6 months. Move

Your MobileHome FREE!

Or...$5000 towards aNew Home. 9 Communi-

ties in NW, SW, SE(Moore), MWC,

Choctaw...Call for details405.326.5728

$5000 Towards YourNew Home! You Pick theHome, You Pick the Lot!

9 MH Communities inSW/NW/SE (Moore)

MWC/Choctaw. Call forDetails 405.326.5728

Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bdMWC $350&up 390-9777

Repo DW 32x70 4 or 5bdCall 517-5000, 517-5003

Owner carry with down.Nice homes & fixers.

417-2176.www.homesofokcinc.com

I BUY HOUSESAny condition. No cost

to U 410-5700

I BUY & SELL HOUSES27 YRS EXP 650-7667

HOMESOFOKCINC.COM

4bd 4ba house on 5 acresfenced, outbuildings $1200+ deposit 681-1644

$99 Move In Special1 & 2bds, carports, coinlndry $345-445 470-3535

VERY, VERY QUIETNear mall, schls, hosp,

Try Plaza East 341-4813

» Free Rent Til 2012 »1&2bedrooms. Spring TreeApartments. 405-737-8172.

Free Month Rent! 1&2bdQUIET! Covered ParkingGreat Schools! 732-1122

»» ALL BILLS PAID»»310 S Lahoma nice, clean,1bd $450; 1bd efficiency$350 Fidelity Real Estate410-4300, 692-1661

$100 Off1st Mo Rent 1&2 BedroomsFurnished & Unfurnished

NEWLY REMODELEDGATED COMMUNITYCAVE CREEK

ON ROCKWELL3037 North Rockwell

495-2000

$100 off1st Mo Rent Selected Units

LARGE TOWNHOMES& APARTMENTS

• Washer, Dryers, pools• PC Schools, fireplacesWILLIAMSBURG

7301 NW 23rd

787-1620Walford Apts-Midtown-518 NW 12 large 1bd 1ba1100sf $850mo $400depwasher/dryer hookup.Studio 600sf $650mo $400dep. Basement efficiency$400mo $300dp 409-7989

FREE RENT TIL 2012Newlyremodeled1,2&3bedsPutnam Green 405-721-2210

Briargate Apts 1bd 1ba1718 N Indiana

850sf, wood floors, eleconly $525mo $250 dep,409-7989 No Sec 8

Oakwood Apts 5824 NW 341bed 1bath 800sf $325mo $175/dep. You payelectric only 409-7989

Furnished/UnfurnishedBills Paid» Wkly/MonthlyWes Chase Apts, Elk HornApts, Hillcrest 370-1077

MAYFAIR Great location!1/2 bd W/D hdwd flr quietsecure ngbrhood¡947-5665

1 Month Free!2bd $575 Casady751-8088

•ABC• Affordable, Bugfree, Clean » 787-7212»

800 N. Meridian 1bdAll bills paid 946-9506

K off first monthCountry Creek Apts,lease a studio, 1 or 2 bedin Nov & get K off firstfull month's rent. Calltoday! 405-691-0115.

523.5 SW 26 (&Walker)1bed 1ba 800sf garageapt $325/mo $175 dep409-7989 no sec 8

$99 SPECIALLg 1bdr, stove, refrig.,clean, walk to shops.$345 mo. 632-9849

3315 1/2 SW 28th2bd apt upstairs, all bills

pd $575/mo 408-5836!!!MOVE IN SPECIAL!!!


$99 Move In Special!!!Lg 1 and 2 Bdr, $345 to

$420 mo. 632-9849

San-Tee Apts, Sm. Eff,$275 a month 685-2909!!!MOVE IN SPECIAL!!!

Furnished efficiency $3102820 S Robinson 232-1549

8012 NW 7th Pl Unit 324Thousand Oaks Condos(1 blk W of Council onNW 10th) Extra sharp1bd washer, dryer, fridge,stove, storage closet,wood deck. Tenant payselect only, $500. FidelityRE 410-4300, 692-1661

Quail Springs Condos1 bd, 1 ba, 1 FP, upstairsgated $550mo, $400dep

‘¡ 831-0825 ¡‘

Clean 2 bedroom, 1Kbath, all appls with W/D,$525+$300 dep, 326-3370

Oldetowne » 2bd 2ba9200 Stonegate attach gar.1 mi. to Tinker 769-7177

902 N. Gardner3bd, 1.75 baths, fireplace

$550/mo 408-5836!!!MOVE IN SPECIAL!!!

» 12109 Windmill Rd PCNExtra Nice 3bd/2ba/2car

FP $875 Nov 30. 721-1831

Large 1bed, new paint &carpet, $425 + gas/electric2607 N Dewey 232-9101

HEFNER ROAD & MAY,2/2/2, 2531 W Hefner Rdappt only $900¡843-5853

1342 Broderson Cir. 3bd1.5 bath 1 car garage,

$625 a month. 408-5836!!!MOVE IN SPECIAL!!!

Duplexes, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2car, some new, some gat-ed, call Rick, 405-830-3789.


2 Bed 1 Bath PC Schools6125 NW 55th Street

405-773-4777

Remodeled 3/1/1 C h/a6802 NW59th st 750mth500dep 760-2708 8a-9p


605-5477 2545 SW 59th

1920 Karen Dr 2/1 $4252208 Doris 2/1 $4503921 Pearl Way 3/1/1 $650837 Scott St 3/2/1 $750

681-7272

3629 Teal Dr. 2bd 1bath,$475 a month 408-5836!!!MAIL IN SPECIAL!!!

3717 SE 26th, 3 bd, 1 ba,$675 rent, $500 deposit.ch&a, no pets, 973-5890.

173rd & Penn Ave. 1450sf, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2car garage. $1100 permonth. Call 312-3198

Large 4 bed off Santa Fe,gated, comm pool/rec cen-ter. $1700/mo, 440-2095.

3/2/2, 1400sf mol, ch/a,308 Cherryvale Rd $995mo, $995 dep 370-1077


605-5477 2545 SW 59th

1200 Lauren Ln 3/1.5/1CH/A $700 and

206 W Jacobs 3/1 $600.Both nice. 732-3411

House for rent4bed, 1.25ba, 1-storyHome, central A/C,$750. 405-703-1471

1016 Willowbrook3bd 1.5 baths w/den$750/mo 408-5836

!!!MOVE IN SPECIAL!!!

3/2/2, 9715 NE 3rd Pl, bigyrd, Carl Albert schls, $750972-467-7178, leave msg.

1305PinewoodCt3/1/1 $495321 Silverwood 3/1/2 $650

681-7272

Near Tinker, newly re-modeled 3 bd 2 ba, fncd

$800+dep. 405-595-7655

3 bd, 2 ba, 212 E. Ercoupegas stove, lrg kitch, 1c gar

$650 + deposit 412-7013

1013 S Howard 2/2/1 $7008713 Woodbend 4/2/21840sf fp$1250+dep WACHome&RanchRlty794-7777

1/2 of Duplex. 2bd, 2ba,liv, kit & dining, 2 car,fenced backyard. 637-4406

17456 Blackjack Rdg 3/2/21600sf $1000+dep WACHome&RanchRlty794-7777

1020 Clover Ln 1200sf3bed 2ba $775 mo, $600dep 409-7989 no sec 8

1215 NE 46 3/1.5/2 $795681-7272

Exec 5/3/2 lease/leasepurch PC Schl $1500+dep7637 NW 102. 209-6906

2930 NW 12th large 1bdduplex, water paid $3753232 NW 28th 2/1 $4751445 N Bradley 3/1.5/2$900

681-7272

3232 Brushcreek, inQuail Creek on the golfcourse, 3 bed, 2.5 bath,2 car, 1 FP, $2275 mo,$2000 dep, 831-0825.

228 NW 87th 3bd $600261 NW 83rd 3bd $5509921 McKinley 3bd $600

FLESHMANS INC235-5473 or 314-3551

1719 NW 12th, 5 bed, 2bath, corner lot, stonehouse, $875 per month,no sec 8, Greg, 470-1700.

9417 N. McKinley 2bd1 bath $550 a month.


Commercial RE

Business Property For Sale 351

Established Business For Sale

Business Property For Rent 360

Offi ce SpaceFor Rent 363

AcreageFor Rent 400.5

Acreage For Sale 302

Farms, RanchesFor Sale, Okla. 308

RE for sale

Del City 313

Edmond 314

MWC 317

OKCNorthwest 324

OKCSouthwest 326

Open Houses 334.2

IndustrialProperty 336

Mobile Home Parks Community/Acreages 338

Mobile Homes, Manufactured Houses 339

Real EstateNotices 345

Real EstateWanted 346

Apartments

Bethany/Warr Acres 420.5

Edmond 422

MWC 424

Norman 429

OKCNorthwest 431

OKCSouthwest 433

OKCSouthwest 433

Condominiums,TownhousesFor Rent 441

Duplexes

MWC 446

OKCNorthwest 453

OKCSouthwest 455

Yukon 460

Hotels/Motels 462

RE for rent

Bethany/Warr Acres 464.5

Del City 465.5

Edmond 466

MWC 468

Moore 469

Mustang 470

Newalla 471

OKCNortheast 474

OKCNorthwest 475

OKCSoutheast 476

OKCSouthwest 477

OKCSouthwest 477

Village/Nichols Hills 481.5

Norman 473

Mobile HomeRentals 483

Rental Services 487


HACKENSACK, N.J. —There are certain spacesthat home buyers crave,like giant kitchens andexpansive walk-in closets.

And then there are thespaces that turn up un-expectedly, especially insome older homes —spots like bomb shelters,smokehouses and out-houses.

These can open a win-dow into history, giving afresh sense of how peopleonce lived. The bombshelter recalls a timewhen Americans fearednuclear attacks from theSoviet Union, and imag-ined how to survive in ascorched landscape. Thesmokehouse tells of atime when Americansdidn’t buy their meat atthe supermarket, butbutchered it and smokedit to preserve it.

And the outhouse tellsabout life before indoorplumbing, when … well,you know.

Quite often, homeown-ers find new uses foroddball spaces.

Tom Johnson of Liberty100 Realty in Waldwick,N.J., recalls selling ahouse where a secretstaircase connected acloset on the first floorwith a closet on the sec-ond. The owner lined upher shoes on the steps.

A Ridgewood, N.J.,Tudor listed by BethFreed of Prominent Prop-erties Sotheby’s Interna-tional Realty includes an

elevator, which the own-ers use as a linen closet.

Old bomb shelters aresometimes converted towine cellars. Ruby andBobby Kaplan of Teaneck,N.J., store old clothes,toys and household itemsin theirs. In Bobby Ka-plan’s words, it’s “a nice,cool place for junk.”

The shelter is a surprisein the Kaplans’ large stuc-co house, which has beenso extensively renovated itlooks nearly new. (Theseven-bedroom home ison the market for justunder $1.5 million becausethe Kaplans’ three chil-dren have grown. RubyKaplan, a real estate agentwith Vera & NechamaRealty in Teaneck, is list-ing the home.)

The Cold War hideouthas thick concrete wallsand a 2 ½-foot-diametercorrugated-metal tunnel,which leads beneath thelawn to the outside. Bob-by Kaplan recalls thatwhen the couple firstmoved into the house, hewas in the yard with thedog when the dog sud-denly vanished. He hadfallen into the bomb shel-ter tunnel, which thefamily later closed up.

Bomb shelters werebuilt in the 1950s and1960s as places to escapenuclear fallout. A photofrom the National Ar-chives shows a cozy mod-el, with a table covered bya checked cloth, twoneatly made bunk beds,and shelves stacked withcanned food. Magazinesare piled on the table, to

help pass the time under-ground.

And in 1960, PopularMechanics magazineoffered readers advice onhow to build a shelter,saying: “An undergroundshelter having at leastthree feet of earth or sandover it, plus adequatedoor and air filter, willgive you almost completeprotection.”

Nickie Lisella’s Allen-dale, N.J., house camewith a bomb shelter.

“I thought it was coolwhen we first saw it,” saysLisella, a manager withTerrie O’Connor Realtorsin Allendale. “I figured ifanyone dropped a bomb,we could save our family.”

Buyers often are drawnto extra spaces, especiallyif they’re big enough for avariety of uses. Ann Ma-tri, a Coldwell Bankeragent in Saddle River,N.J., recently listed an1890 two-bedroom housein Midland Park that soldalmost immediately, andover asking price, largelybecause it included asmall backyard stonebuilding with a potbelliedstove. It was originallyused as a summer kitch-en, when it was too hot tocook indoors. The buyerplans to use the space,roughly 12 feet by 14 feet,as an art studio.

“I advertised it forhobbyists, artists, musi-cians,” Matri said. “I can’ttell you how many peoplecame. A lot of people liketo have some sort of stu-dio or a little privacy.”


Oddball spaces stillaround, repurposedHOMES | OUTHOUSES, SMOKEHOUSES, BOMB SHELTERS FEATURED

BY KATHLEEN LYNNThe Record

Homeowner Ruby Kaplan stands in the bomb shelter with a tunnel leading out-side her Teaneck, N.J., home. MCCLATCHY TRIBUNE PHOTO

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The Oklahoman Real Estate