November 09, 2011
Andrew Piersol and Elizabeth Hutchison.
The empty storefronts along Maple Street in downtown Benson are beginning to give way to a new crop of businesses. The activity, which has the local rumor mill churning, is spilling over into the local housing market, as those in search of home ownership are beginning to view the area as a viable option.
Elizabeth Hutchison and her husband, Andrew Piersol, just purchased a home in Benson. So did Nebraska natives Andy and Angie Norman.
Each couple spent time outside the state before returning to set up house in one of Omaha’s historic neighborhoods. The following Q&A outlines the reasons behind their respective decisions to buy in Benson.
To access a housing and retail marketing analysis of downtown Benson, visit http://www.omahabydesign.org.php5-5.dfw1-2.websitetestlink.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/downtownbensonfinalreport4.pdf.
Q: Tell us a bit about who you are and what you do.
Elizabeth Hutchison (EH):
We are Nebraska natives who returned to the state after two years in Chicago so I could begin working for Union Pacific. Andy works as a buyer for Whole Foods Market.
Andy and Angie Norman. (photo by Daniel Muller)
Andy Norman (AN):
We’re both 31-year-old culture lovers who have deep roots in Nebraska. Angie graduated from Norfolk High School, and I graduated from Chase County High School. I formerly was the managing editor of The Reader newspaper before we moved to East Lansing, Mich., so I could pursue my master’s degree in environmental journalism at Michigan State University. We were brainstorming for the perfect master’s project for me when Angie came up with the idea of using my Omaha/Lincoln local music knowledge and sources to create a web site that covers, for the first time, the two cities’ music scenes as one. The idea was a good one. I built HearNebraska.org as my master’s project, and we moved to Lincoln in May 2010 to launch it as a nonprofit. Its mission is to cultivate Nebraska’s music community and small businesses that support it, while making Nebraska an internationally known cultural destination. We stay incredibly busy managing the site and its social media channels, while producing high-quality, multimedia journalism — we’re capable of doing that only because of the large number of very talented volunteer contributors who believe in the mission. For paid work, I serve as a copywriter/producer for Thought District, a Lincoln advertising agency. Angie travels back and forth to Lincoln to sell dresses and other boutique clothes at Stella.
Q: Are you first-time home buyers?
EH:
Yes.
AN:
We are.
Q: What type of things were you looking for in a home?
EH:
We were looking for an affordable older home that was move-in ready but had opportunity for improvements and modifications. We wanted a fenced back yard for gardening, pets, barbecues, etc., and good spaces for hosting friends and family. Andy is a cook, so a spacious kitchen also made the list.
AN:
We wanted a charming house that was move-in ready and had spare bedrooms should we decide to expand our family. And we wanted it as close as possible to the pulsing heart of downtown Benson, which boasts the most music venues per capita in the state and an incredibly talented, energized creative class. We found all of those qualities in the home we purchased.
Q: Describe your home search process – length of time, number of properties visited, geographic areas considered, etc.
EH:
We didn’t start out as serious buyers on a strict timeline. We just wanted to familiarize ourselves with the Omaha market so that we had a reference point. As we began exploring the Midtown area, the idea of not renting became increasingly more appealing. Our current home is about the 20th place we looked at in four months time and the only house we toured outside the Midtown area, excluding a trip to Bellevue.
AN:
Surely, our experience was atypical. We were looking to rent, initially, in the Benson area. A friend found our home online and sent us a link. We visited, fell in love with it and made an offer. We compared the price and features of this house with others, but we never viewed another one. The entire process took no more than eight weeks.
Q: Are you planning any renovations, or did you buy exactly what you wanted?
EH:
We are planning renovations with a list that grows daily. Among the larger, non-cosmetic projects are finishing the basement, remodeling the first-floor bathroom and rebuilding the front porch. Dream projects include building a back porch accessible from the kitchen and expanding the garage.
AN:
We purchased a house that was quite old — 1890 — but was in fantastic shape. It had been remodeled, top to bottom, recently. So we don’t need to make any large renovations, just a new shade of paint in the kitchen and, eventually, some hardwood flooring to replace the living room carpet.
Q: What drew you to the Benson area?
EH:
It’s established with older homes that vary in their characteristics. We appreciated the neighborhood’s diversity and the prospect of a developing business district with restaurants, bars, music venues and retail in walking distance. I’m also looking forward to being within blocks from the yoga studio.
AN:
It’s the people and the culture — the music and art. We have good friends who have recently started businesses here. And we want them to succeed. We believe Benson will serve as the perfect headquarters for Hear Nebraska.
Q: What do you think the Benson area’s biggest strengths are?
EH:
Its residents have a sense of community and pride in their neighborhood. It appears to be culturally, economically and age diverse. Just two weeks in and we’ve already received a “welcome to the neighborhood” baked good.
AN:
Its smart, ambitious, locally focused business owners who are working hard to progress the neighborhood.
Q: What do you think the Benson area’s biggest misperceptions are?
EH:
Some said we were “hipsters.” : ) More seriously, we did hear concerns from some about crime. However, per police records (and our experience thus far) there’s no noticeable difference from our former residence at 64th and Center.
Q: What are you most looking forward to when you’re settled in?
EH:
A space that is completely ours without shared walls where our family and friends can come and relax. A refuge for our 2-person family and, hopefully, someday soon a dog.
AN:
We’re most looking forward to hosting friends at our dinner table. A close friend made it out of two doors and it has a glass top. It’s the perfect spot for great conversation.
Q: What advice do you have for other first-time home buyers in the metro?
EH:
Take your time. Look at homes in areas you may have not initially considered or thought were a good fit.
AN:
Don’t worry: Your friend will surely suggest the perfect house for you, requiring very little work on your end.