News Bites

Homes Completed in Urbancrest

The COCLT recently completed seven homes in Urbancrest. This makes 58 COCLT homes to date!

Homeowner Appreciation Event

Location and date TBD, but look for more details soon about the 3rd Annual Homebuyer Appreciation Event. We are planning an in-person event in the fall. You won't want to miss it!

"There's No Place Like Home."

Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz

LAND LEASE REFRESHER ~ Article 4.4

Occupancy

The Land Lease requires a homeowner to "personally occupy the Leased Land for at least 9 months of each calendar year of this Lease, unless otherwise agreed by the Land Trust. Occupancy by Homeowner's child, spouse or other persons approved by the Land Trust shall be considered occupancy by Homeowner. Neither compliance with the occupancy requirement nor the Land Trust’s permission for an extended period of non-occupancy constitutes permission to sublease the Leased Land and the Home..."

The Land Trust will be verifying occupancy on a yearly basis beginning at the end of this calendar year. We will be reaching out to homeowners to have the Certification of Owner Occupancy form completed online. Paper forms can be mailed upon request.

July Events in Central Ohio

We highlighted a few of the many fun events!

Red, White and Boom

Fireworks, Parades, and Celebrations

Ohio State Fair

Franklin County Fair

Whitehall Food Truck & Fun Fest

Homeowner Tips

Stop the Grass ~ Naturally

Inevitably, grass has a special knack for sneaking into flower beds. It can be prevented with mulch, groundcover plants, landscaping fabric, and creating a barrier between the lawn and flower bed with rocks.

But what to do when the grass has already taken up residency and you don't want to introduce chemicals into your yard?

While it may be tedious, you can pull the grass out by hand or use a hand fork. Removing the root is the best way to ensure the grass does not grow back.

It's Hot

AND Humid

Humidity doesn't just wreak havoc on hair and skin. High humidity leads to excess moisture in your home, which can lead to mold, damage hardwood floors, and attract pests like roaches and house centipedes.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends indoor humidity levels should be kept below 60 percent relative humidity and ideally between 30 and 50 percent.

Hygrometers can measure humidity levels and a dehumidifier placed in the basement can remove the excess moisture.

Ceiling Fans

for the Win

On hot days, using your ceiling fans in addition to your air conditioner can help reduce energy costs while cooling your home.

In the January issue, we pointed out that ceiling fans have direction switches that can be changed depending upon the season. In the summer, fans should be spinning counter-clockwise so the air is blowing down.

The blades will push the cool air down, allowing for better circulation. The cool air and wind chill effect on skin makes a room feel up to 8 degrees cooler.

Homeowner Sessions

~Ideas Welcome~

As we continue to design the COCLT Homeowner Sessions geared toward finance-related topics, we wanted to gather homeowner ideas. Tell us what topics you are interested in learning more about, and we will invite speakers in those areas to provide information that is relevant to you. Email Norman Deena with your ideas, and then look for more information about the sessions coming soon.

Community Resource Highlight

ModCon Living Tool Library program provides members access to more than 4,800 hand and power tools for DIY projects, helping individuals better care for their homes and gardens. There are a variety of low-cost memberships to choose from, including a Pay What You Can membership for those earning less than 100% AMI. Tools can be borrowed as often as needed. More information about their memberships, inventory and policies can be found here. Look for more community resources on the Community Resources page on the Welcome Home Portal.

Food Resources Listed in Real Time

Finding food resources near you is as easy as entering your zip code after you click the Read More link below. Every listed location has different procedures. It is a good idea to call first to see if an appointment is needed. Photo ids are required.

Additionally, Broad Street Food Pantry and Neighborhood Services Inc. are two organizations that serve all residents of Franklin County.