Audraworld

Scaled back renovation project begins at Penn Arts | Property Lines | Indianapolis Business Journal | IBJ.com

2010-04-30T13:07:00.002-04:00

Scaled back renovation project begins at Penn Arts Property Lines Indianapolis Business Journal IBJ.com

Scaled back renovation project begins at Penn Arts

April 26, 2010

Renovation work finally has begun on the Penn Arts building at 16th and Pennsylvania streets. Developer Christopher Piazza, who paid $1.4 million for the building in 2008, said he gave up on banks unwilling to lend early this year and found two equity investors instead. He had to cut the budget in half, to about $1.5 million, and expects to have the first apartment units available by September. Apartments will start at $885, and will feature original trim, doors and radiator heating, bay windows, stained concrete floors, open style kitchens with bar seating, 40-inch wall-mounted LCD TVs and new appliances. "The original decorative awning will be lit up as it was in 1922, the stylish commercial spaces will be ready for retail tenants, new signage will be installed, existing parking will be expanded, and metered parking will be installed on 16th in the front of the building pending necessary approvals," added Piazza, 25, who plans to move the headquarters of his company, Reverie Estates, into the building. The building also will feature a complimentary laundry room, fitness studio, clubhouse with conference facilities and a rooftop terrace. Piazza said his equity partners in the project are William Poovey and John Hyatt.

From the IBJ's "Property Lines" blog 4/26/10

Tax Credit Expiration Unlikely to Deter Homebuyers: Study

2010-04-29T12:43:00.001-04:00

Only time will tell how the residential real estate market will be affected by the expiration of the homebuyer tax credits, but a survey released Wednesday by Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc., found that the sunset of these incentives is unlikely to deter future purchase activity.

While more than 90 percent of consumers surveyed said the tax credits have helped both first-time homebuyers and the U.S. housing market overall, 65 percent of consumers shopping for a home said the end of these credits will have little or no effect on their interest in purchasing a home.

Consumers are still unsure about the direction of the housing market, but the survey revealed that they are becoming more optimistic about real estate values, with 46 percent of respondents expecting real estate prices in their area to increase over the next year and just 12 percent predicting a decline. Over the next five years, 79 percent of those surveyed believe prices will increase, with 20 percent anticipating prices to increase substantially.

“The survey underscores the key role the federal homebuyer tax credits played in stimulating residential real estate market activity and the U.S. economy,” said

James Mallozzi, chairman and CEO of Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services. “It also shows that most consumers believe the market has hit bottom and are more optimistic about the future.”

When identifying the most important factors affecting their decision to purchase a home, respondents cited concerns about rising mortgage interest rates and unemployment, along with more stringent lending criteria and fewer mortgage-backed securities purchased by the Federal Reserve. In fact, the expiration of the tax credits placed lowest on their list of concerns.

Among those who had recently purchased a home, 61 percent cited low mortgage interest rates as “very important” to their decisions – an amount greater than either the tax credit or low prices.

“The tax credits clearly helped stimulate the market when consumer confidence was low and housing inventory was high,” said Earl Lee, president of Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services. “While the tax credit expiration is a concern for many, the bigger issues now are the availability and cost of financing as well as if they will have a job.”

The survey also found that the dream of homeownership and the perception that owning a home is a good investment remain intact. Among current renters, 75 percent still believe owning their home is a better long-term choice for their needs the renting. And the majority of consumers surveyed said that homeownership is a better investment than individual stocks or bonds, mutual funds, or savings accounts.

“While the market is picking up in terms of sales and confidence, and the majority still believe that owning a home is a good investment, the outlook for the market remains highly dependent upon the direction of the economy overall,” Lee said.

http://www.dsnews.com/articles/tax-credit-expiration-unlikely-to-deter-homebuyers-2010-04-28

Da, DAH, da da da Dah da, DOO DOO de DOO, Deedle doo dooty doot doot doo...

2010-02-15T21:03:00.000-05:00

I am totally geeking out on the Winter Olympics this time around. I don't know why, exactly -- I don't think I watched a minute of the 2006 Winter Games -- but I've found all the sappy profiles and slo-mo replays mesmerizing this time. I hate the cold, and I hate sports that involve falling down and certain injury, so maybe it's sort of a schadenfreude thing. Or maybe it's that I've always had a thing for tall, athletic Nordic-looking guys.

That said, the multiple airing of the luger snuff film on Friday night right before the Opening Ceremonies was disgusting. Can't they report on events without actually showing the poor kid's head hitting a steel pole at 80+ mph? I hope my family never has to see something like that. Given that my favorite winter sport is Wii Ski Jump (and I ROCK, thank you), I don't think they have anything to worry about.

Joined the ranks of the insured

2010-01-28T16:50:00.000-05:00

Today I'm perusing the choices I have for employer-provided health insurance. I have to choose by next Tuesday but coverage should start in a couple of weeks. I'm so excited - I haven't had comprehensive health insurance in YEARS because real estate agents are usually classed as self-employed. I am thrilled. I am even excited to make a dentist appointment (who knew?)!!!

Thank you, SBA, for giving small company owners the chance to provide coverage for their workers.

Returning from the dead?

2010-01-26T14:09:00.002-05:00

So I haven't posted anything in over a year... oops. I plan to be better! But right now I'm surfing the internet at work, so I'd better get back.

Visit www.jsruizrealty.com to see our listings!

A low-key New Year's Eve

2009-01-05T17:25:00.005-05:00

Even in my wilder years, New Year's Eve celebrations always felt a little anticlimactic. There was Y2K in Chicago, where my friend Chrissy and I partied a little too hard on Y2K Eve's Eve and spent most of the day recovering on the couch checking off other time zones that hadn't imploded. Another year I was outside having a cigarette and missed the countdown and ball drop completely (another reason not to smoke, kids).

Now that I'm older and ostensibly wiser (or I just tire more easily), I actually worry about stuff like being on the roads with the crazies. Since my move to the Near East Side, I also worry about where all those celebratory bullets end up on their way back down. That said, I had a nice time this New Year's Eve enjoying the hospitality of friends Jill & Jon in Carmel. I still almost missed the countdown, though - no matter how old I am, I will always be easily distracted!

Holidays are for reuniting with old friends and family!

2008-12-30T16:20:00.004-05:00

Our family Christmas has always been low-key, and it's even more so now that we're all grown up (numerically, at least!) and there are no little kids to amuse us. However, I love the week around Christmas every year because I get to see all kinds of people who are just popping through Indianapolis on their way to other places.

Christmas night was the annual Turissini Family Game Night - where all the sibling rivalry ("I always move his Phi Beta Kappa diploma so it's below mine!"), bitter memories of Apples to Apples blowouts past, etc., came to a head playing Wii until all hours of the night. There is a game where you can steer with your butt. I was decent at this game, no surprise there!

Saturday night my cousin Andy, his wife Melanie, and their 9 1/2 month old daughter Sabina came through town on their way to visit my grandma. I think this little girl is the cutest thing ever, and we've gotten to meet her 3 times now even though they live in SoCal. Photo ops abounded as my mom, dad, brother and I all competed for baby time.

Sunday night was another reunion - my friend Lupae cooked great food and we got to reunite with our friend Seth who was rolling through town from Atlanta. Seth was my little buddy in kindergarten and my boyfriend for a blink of an eye in high school, and Lupae and I have been friends since 1984, so we had a great time catching up. The photo op, however, was not as flattering, and we are blaming Lupae's 9 year old for making us look old since he took the picture. Time flies!

A great Thanksgiving in Southern Indiana

2008-12-20T12:53:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving was low-key this year, compared to our massive extended-family gatherings of the past... the cousins are scattered across the country now, starting their own families, etc. So it was just my immediate family plus my Grandma Hodgin, who still lives in Orleans, IN, about an hour south of Bloomington.

Since nobody felt like cooking, we opted for the Thanksgiving buffet at the West Baden Springs Hotel, part of the French Lick Resort and Casino. Wow. Since it became part of the new casino complex a couple of years ago, the hotel has been completely redone and modernized, but its amazing charm is still there!

The rotunda where we ate, built in the 20s I think, was the world's largest until the Astrodome was built. See the tiny people in the photos for perspective.

The food was awesome too - pumpkin lobster bisque, Cornish hens, and a chocolate fountain! We're doing this next year for sure. It's $300/night to stay at the hotel, so we stay at the Spring Mill State Park Inn nearby, but someday I'll splurge and get a room here.

A final bonus - the hotel and casino bring a much-needed economic stimulus to the poorest part of Indiana.

Better late than never?

2008-12-12T21:55:00.004-05:00

Well, I haven't posted anything for oh, almost four months now... yikes. I WILL be better! For now, here's a photo of my cozy fireplace last Sunday, somewhat decked out for the holidays (no stockings yet). You can always follow my shenanigans on Facebook, if you really care that much!

A beautiful day on the Near Eastside

2008-08-24T23:29:00.004-04:00

Leeza and I went to the Feast of Lanterns in Spades Park on Saturday evening... relaxed, ran into some friends, and listened to music (headliners: Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band). Great people-watching, dog-watching, and kid-watching, good food (Jamaican patties from Da Blue Lagoon), a nice relaxing evening lit by paper lanterns.

A great day at the State Fair

2008-08-10T21:04:00.003-04:00

Saturday was a beautiful day for the Indiana State Fair... we visited the Klan sheep in their little costumes (note: apparently they're not really getting ready for a rally; these are to keep their coats clean), the cheese carving lady, the wittle bunnies and chicken babies, and a baby cow only 2 days old. Good times! Funnel cake! Everything you could ever want on a stick!

NObody expects the Fair Train!

2008-08-08T20:07:00.003-04:00

While the Fair Train has some retro aesthetic appeal, and makes neat loud whistle noises nonstop during the month of August, it also has an uncanny ability to pass by right when I'm trying to drive somewhere...

A visit to Targhetto 2.0

2008-08-06T21:43:00.003-04:00

... or, the new Glendale Target (cue heavenly choir). Actually, it's a lot like the Nora Target, and very UNlike the old Targhetto at 52nd & Keystone, which was dingy and nearly empty by the time it closed down.

I had 15 minutes between appointments today, and I needed toilet paper, so I used that excuse to run into the new Target. 10 minutes and $50 later (I'm quick like that), I emerged with a new purse, new lip gloss, and indeed, new toilet paper. And pictures!!!

So I'm a hypocrite...

2008-08-05T21:11:00.003-04:00

OK, before I bought my house I used to think people my age who got excited about what plants they had were completely lame. I still kind of think that, but I've also become one of those people. I also decided that having a flowerbed with nothing in it but ugly red mulch from the previous owner was more lame than planting stuff.

My parents and I picked a 90 degree afternoon this weekend to plant some perennials in said empty flowerbed. They look a little bedraggled and sparse, but I am assured they'll fill out in a year or so (provided I don't kill them first).

Russian sage for the back plants, Stella de Oro lilies for the middle, and the mounding little plants are fleabane. I also planted some "blue" salvia (look purple to me) by my little tree in the front yard, and some "false sunflowers" next to my driveway.

Watch, this time next year I'll be in the neighborhood garden club and giving away a bazillion tomatoes to people and whatnot!

At last, I'm cool!

2008-08-02T20:13:00.006-04:00

Well, my personal coolness is still debatable... but I do have functioning AC at last - and a brand new furnace to boot! You can see in the "before" photo that my old furnace was pretty ancient - I don't think they've used that hospital-green color for ductwork since the 1970s... I slept all afternoon in air-conditioned goodness, and so did Ringo.

Too hot to handle...

2008-07-29T21:40:00.002-04:00

OK, so, I've been putting off looking into my AC problems since it got warm. I bought my house at the end of January, and the sellers were supposed to install a working AC as a condition of closing. But, it was too cold to test. I thought my problem would be just a little adding freon or whatever. No sir... the sellers had some kind of rigged-up wiring and there's no way this AC unit ever could have worked. So I've got to buy a while new A coil(?), condenser, and AC thing. And, since my furnace is 16 years old, it'll be a lot cheaper to install a new furnace at the same time rather than in a year or two when the furnace kicks it. There goes my summer savings... no Saarinen tulip table for me now!

A beautiful day in the suburbs

2008-07-26T21:20:00.003-04:00

Today I spent the afternoon at my boss's pool party in Carmel - second weekend a row in the suburbs, which is odd for me! But it was great weather and fun to catch up with people. This pic is of my boss, Jenni, me, and our mutual friend Lupae. Lupae and I have been friends since 1984 and Lupae and Jenni have been friends since 1989 - waaaaay back! Good times.

Slowly but surely putting the house together...

2008-07-24T21:54:00.004-04:00

Some rooms of my house are adorable; others, like my dining room, are empty and still need furnished. After 6 months I finally got cute sheets for my guest bedroom/office. Now I just need things on the walls in that room - I missed the 2 art fairs earlier this summer so I guess I'll wait until Penrod to look at the most choice in one place.

As for the dining room, I really really want a Saarinen Tulip table, but since I hardly ever entertain it might be a giant waste of money... but they're soo pretty!

The best news? Targhetto 2.0 (Glendale Target) is open (officially it opens 7/27, but they did a soft opening yesterday!!!)

Something new to suck all my time away...

2008-07-22T22:02:00.002-04:00

I discovered Facebook on Sunday... I wasn't in school anymore when it was first created, and when it opened up to everyone I didn't ever check it out... but now I am sucked in big time. Even Ringo has his own little Catbook page (and friends, natch).

A fun night in the suburbs

2008-07-20T20:39:00.002-04:00

My friends Steve and Colleen had people over last night to watch the UFC fights - there is something compelling about guys trying to knock each other out with their fists and feet. Senselessly violent, of course, but compelling none the less. Anyway, here are photos of Colleen, Amy, Ruth, Leeza, and me... no fighting here!

Funniest thing I overheard all week

2008-07-18T23:07:00.004-04:00

So I'm talking to my friend Leeza on the phone last night as she's standing in front of her Fishers house. All of I sudden I she says, "Hey, hi, little animal! What are you? You're so cool... like an albino squirrel... what are you?"

Leeza, meet Possum. Possum, meet Leeza. And so the unnatural love story begins...

Random photo I like

2008-07-16T21:17:00.004-04:00

This photo was taken at my cousin Andy's wedding in Lambertville, New Jersey, in July 2004. There were clown-nose things in the table decorations, and at some point in the evening everyone starting dismantling those to don the noses. I just love this picture of my brother, my sister, and me because we all look so happy.

By the way - Lambertville and adjoining New Hope, Pennsylvania, are absolutely beautiful (yes, I thought New Jersey was all wiseguys and turnpikes too). We spent a great weekend visiting where Washington crossed the Delaware and kayaking on said Delaware. Not a turnpike to be found, just Revolutionary War-era towns with quaint inns and whatnot!

Zippy, you will be missed!

2008-07-15T21:56:00.006-04:00

Today my parents' cat Zephir (we always called him Zippy) died at the exalted age of 14. He was the sweetest cat I've ever know - even when rough-housing he'd lick, not nip you.

He also had "thumbs" - he was a polydactyl cat like Ernest Hemingway's kitties (damn right they have their own link!) - and he always looked like he was wearing mittens (see photo; he was using those opposable thumbs to make some calls, apparently). He taught us all much about unconditional love; he was a gift.

I love you, Z - hope you're happily chasing squirrels and golden retrievers in kitty heaven!

You know it's a Monday when...

2008-07-14T22:16:00.001-04:00

You leave home at 9, get home at 9:30(pm), and can't for the life of you remember what it was you did all day that kept you so swamped in paperwork...

A beautiful day for the kitty

2008-07-13T20:02:00.004-04:00

So I haven't written for over a week. No reason besides laziness and sloth. Anyway, today was "Planting Hostas Day" - everyone I know, and even some of my parents' friends, has been offering me hostas and gifting me hostas now that I own a home. At first I thought there must be something wrong with the hostas; then someone explained they just grow fast and everyone has extras.

Ringo was thrilled - my parents came over, some neighbors stopped by outside - he got lots of attention. In this photo he's maxin' and relaxin' post-grandparental visit.

Tragedy strikes Audraworld!

2008-07-03T20:52:00.007-04:00

Yes, it's true; my dear little Roomba has suffered a freak accident and has been de-brush-itated. Trooper that he is, though, he kept on cleaning without a complaint until he needed emptied and left it to me to notice his injury. Now he is "differently abled," but still doing his job with aplomb. (The "action" shot I took after the injury doesn't look very active, but trust me, his wheels are spinning!)

Great Google-y moogly!

2008-07-02T21:54:00.003-04:00

Weird things that pop up when I Google me - apparently having a real estate license/being a member of the local Board of Realtors puts my name on hundreds of real estate websites that I've never heard of and have no affiliation with. Apparently you can even "rate me". No one has, thankfully ... since I don't know who they'd be. It's a little odd - I feel like my personal (web)space has been invaded somehow.

Random photo I like

2008-07-01T21:17:00.002-04:00

I went to a Cubs game with my family (hi, free tickets!) last Month - it was a blast! 80 degrees and sunny, plus the Cubs won! However... there was a slight problem with the view from our seats... can you spot what is missing from this view?

You know it's a Monday when...

2008-06-30T20:25:00.003-04:00

you walk into your office and it STILL smells like something died in there! We have narrowed down the source of the smell to... something that died in there, in the attic or crawlspace. Open windows and Bath and Body Works room sprays are the hot office things lately...

ANOTHER beautiful day in the city!

2008-06-28T20:36:00.004-04:00

Today the weather thankfully cooperated... went to a big ol' cookout in Garfield Park and took the opportunity to visit the Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens with friends Amy, Nikki, and Leeza while I was there. It's really not the best place to go when it's already hot and humid (I have great memories of visiting the poinsettia-bedecked greenhouse for family Christmas photos in the 80s), but it was worth the trip, and very peaceful and relaxing inside.

HOWEVER... after reading the sign (and smelling the water), we opted against stomping in Pleasant Run. Gotta love those antiquated combined sewer overflows...

Besides the gardens, we had some hot dogs, played with cute kids and dogs, and caught up with people we hadn't seen in ages. Now I've got to buckle down and finish up my continuing ed for my real estate license by Monday...

The vagaries of McDonald's pricing

2008-06-27T21:40:00.006-04:00

So... I don't understand McDonald's prices. The horrible McDonald's near my office, at 52nd & Keystone, charges $1+ more for the same value meal than the McDonald's near my house, on the Near East Side. That's a huge difference, especially since the Keystone McDonald's usually takes fifteen minutes to order and gets the order wrong most of the time, and the other one is usually on the ball. Does anyone else get this?

For more broadly interesting McDonald's price-related stuff, I LOVE The Economist's Big Mac Index.

What I'm into right now

2008-06-26T20:33:00.005-04:00

First, the coolest word ever, courtesy of the Free Exchange blog over at The Economist's website:

ECONOBLOGOSPHERE.

I mean, I already thought "blogosphere" kicked ass, but dang, putting the "econo" in front is sublime.

Also, I'm loving the Old 97's new album, Blame It on Gravity.

Great Google-y moogly!

2008-06-25T19:20:00.004-04:00

So, some people found my blog! One even commented! And now if you Google "audraworld" this blog comes up. Still, I'm always amazed at the odd stuff that comes up when I Google myself:

This result isn't still there, but several years ago, when Google was still really new, I found my name in the rehab journal of a guy I went to grade school with (I believe I was cited as "the smart one" and other kids in my class were "the popular ones") - I hadn't seen the guy for fifteen years, nor did I know anything about him since junior high.

But it's a little disconcerting to know I've been driving men to drink since 1984 or thereabouts. Ah, Google.

Random photo I like

2008-06-24T19:51:00.004-04:00

I took this in October 2007... The ceiling of the sanctuary in Eero Saarinen's North Christian Church (1964) in Columbus, Indiana. You can see this and other amazing architecture on a two-hour tour led by volunteers from the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau. I grew up and still live an hour or so away from Columbus and I had no idea of the true extent of the public art they've got down there - even the flooding hasn't diminished it!

You know it's a Monday when...

2008-06-23T21:50:00.002-04:00

...you walk into your office and your first thought is, "Man, it smells like something DIED in here!"

Day of patriotism(?)

2008-06-22T20:19:00.004-04:00

My friend Leeza says she feels patriotic after our adventures today - we went to the finals of the 10m platform US Olympic Trials. I'm not so sure about the patriotism, but it was a lot of fun!

The top 2 men (boys, really - they were 18 and 19) are from Noblesville and Indy. And the top woman was Laura Wilkson, who's been in 2 other Olympics already and is almost my age - she's 30! That's ancient for a diver - the second place "woman" was 15.

Watching all these competitors with amazing bodies doing these incredible flips and spins made me want to get in shape - except that my fantasy "in shape" me can also do somersaults off a 10m platform. Somehow I don't think that's gonna happen...

A beautiful day in the city

2008-06-21T20:33:00.008-04:00

Today my friend Leeza and I had quite the day on the town. First we stopped by a couple of my company's bank-owned listings to check on their condition (condition: moldy, yikes; and, in need of repair).

More fun and less smelly, we hit the Meridian-Kessler Neighborhood Association Home Tour. I grew up in Meridian-Kessler, and when my mom refers to "the Neighborhood," you can still hear the capital "N"... as in, "What a nice boy; is he from the Neighborhood?"

Finally, we hit the Old Point Tavern, one of my old drinking haunts when I lived downtown, for dinner alfresco; then we hit some of the stores open late along Mass. Ave. - At Home in the City and Global Gifts. It's great to have a house to shop for now - for years I've stopped myself before buying things because I didn't want to have to move them!

So now I'm home, with my new bird candle, Kenyan carvings of kitties, and blood-orange candle!

Finally! Glendale Target (and more) opens in about a month!

2008-06-20T21:05:00.003-04:00

"Glendale sets date for reopening gala
Open-air retail site relaunches July 26 with $28.5M makeover
....

Famous Footwear, IU Medical Group and a new spa will join Target as the newest tenants to sign on at Glendale Town Center, which will unveil its $28.5 million makeover with a grand reopening next month.

The daylong block party will be July 26, the day before Target opens its doors at the 685,000-square-foot open-air lifestyle center.
....
The event will end with a free concert on a large makeshift stage set up outside the center."

For the complete article go here.

Hooray! But... I'll still miss Targhetto...

What I'm into right now

2008-06-19T19:58:00.003-04:00

Lately my Netflix recommendations have included lots of TV shows I've never managed to catch on their first runs. I've heard for years how The Wire is "the best show on TV", blah blah blah, and I've avoided it because I was convinced it couldn't live up to the hype. But once again, I was wrong; I just finished watching the first season on DVD and I'm hooked! I like that not every loose end is tied up, and that no one is wholly "good" or wholly "bad".

Great Google-y moogly!

2008-06-18T22:32:00.004-04:00

I've been feeling depressed that no one has miraculously found my blog yet - not that I've mentioned it to a soul either. So to make myself feel better, I Googled myself (it sounds so naughty!) - 1310 results, not bad! The top result is my MySpace page.

Random photo I like

2008-06-17T20:28:00.008-04:00

I took this in 40mph winds in mid-April 2007 on Tybee Island, near Savannah, GA. I'd never been on a beach in cold weather before! The bench swings were comfy, for the short time I could endure the sandblasts coming off the ocean.

At least now I can brag about my in-home sauna...

2008-06-16T20:57:00.003-04:00

I think the true responsibilities of being a homeowner have finally started to sink in.... these crazy vine weed things are taking over my garage and the hedge in my back yard (and my driveway, in parts)... my AC needs recharged, and I STILL don't have any dining room furniture.

I've tricked my brother into becoming my lawn boy (with a J.D. to boot, in case I need to retain counsel quickly), but now I need a hedge boy, and an AC boy, and a garage door boy, and a pool boy (not that I have a pool, but having a pool boy just in case wouldn't hurt).

Apparently broken things don't just fix themselves no matter how hard I ignore them... dang

a very good place to start

2008-06-15T19:52:00.000-04:00

My own blog? Why not? I don't have anything particularly important to say, which is ok with me. But I crack myself up a lot, so maybe I can entertain others too (or frighten them!). Or, maybe I'll never post again. Oh, the suspense....