I enjoy my home, but it’s really just a bunch of bricks and sticks. I’ve never quite understood our fascination with houses. Long ago, as a graduate student studying finance, the numbers didn’t add up.

Sure, lots of people told me they had sold their house for so much more than they paid, but when I asked about how much they really had in the property, they seemed dumfounded. I wanted to know how much interest, taxes, commissions, maintenance and the value of their own time had contributed to the real cost of ownership. That’s how I had been trained to evaluate an investment.

Silly me.

The real return on home ownership seems to be emotional. Houses are repositories of family memories, symbols of status and proof of achieving the American Dream.

Now, I teach a course in business demographics, and I’m once again very aware of the issues surrounding home ownership. I fear we are forgoing a better life and community for the sake of our houses.

Maybe we should dial it back a bit.

Here’s the situation according to a U.S. Census report published last year:

Note how dependent we are on home equity to be our nest egg, particularly as we get older. That’s a lot of eggs in one basket. If I were to say that well more than half of my net worth, that is, assets less liabilities, is invested in a single corporate stock or bond, people would say I’m crazy. But, do it with a house, and I’m a solid citizen.

I don’t intend this to be a demographics or finance lesson. I think there are some very real social and personal costs associated with our housing obsession in view of gyrating home prices.

Almost 1 in 4 householders under the age of 25 owned their own homes last year according to the Census. That may mean a lot of people are incurring a significant opportunity cost that will profoundly impact their future. We need better educated workers, but it’s much more difficult to get more education when you live in a single family home, because those houses need looking after. I had an edge on my home owning colleagues in grad school because I didn’t have a lawn to mow or snow to shovel. I spent that time studying and doing additional reading.

Then there’s the kind of anxiety that comes from all those eggs in that one basket. Anybody with the bulk of their nest egg in a single immoveable asset is naturally going to be pretty sensitive about anything that might reduce that asset’s value. That means no matter what values you profess, even the slightest little thing that has even a whiff of reducing your property value can be a threat. So whether it’s a wind turbine or a nonwhite family moving in, it may be a cause for concern, even resistance.

Finally there’s the issue of being a prisoner in your own home. Taking care of a house intended for a family of five can be a real burden when you are 75. This can lead to a feeling that things are out of control. Combined with limitations on driving in a world of poor mass transit, life can become miserable, even depressing.

There’s little agreement on what the right ratio of home equity to net worth should be. Some have suggested no more than 20% to 40% of a household’s net worth should be in home equity. I don’t know.

But I do know that owning a home is not the American Dream. The American Dream is making sure that you and your kids and grandkids have the opportunity to move forward – economically, socially and morally.

Melinda Pearson

Melinda Pearson began her duties as director of the City of Omaha Department of Parks, Recreation and Public Property last month. She brings 30 years of architectural experience and 15 years of experience managing her own business to the city. Pearson was instrumental in developing the Alexa Check initiative, a statewide public inspection process and public education campaign to improve the structural safety of park buildings statewide.

She took a few moments during her first weeks on the job to respond to five questions posed by Omaha by Design.

Describe your approach to the city’s top parks job – the rules you live by, your work philosophy.

I view my position as the department coordinator. While we have many talented staff members who are experts in their fields, it will be my job to speak for the department as a whole. One of my most important jobs is to get the staff the resources they need to do their jobs, including people, money and facilities. Regarding my work philosophy, it is really no different than my personal philosophy, which I learned from my grandmother – be kind, be patient and be brave.

How has your career prepared you for your new position?

While it may sound corny, I believe my entire career has prepared me for this. I’ve always loved being outdoors and enjoy a good adventure. I’ve been involved in the design of many parks and recreation areas, including small Nebraska ball fields, ski facilities in Aspen and a lodge in Yellowstone. I’ve worked with and inside city government, the state legislature and boards. I’ve volunteered for organizations my whole life from the YWCA to the national licensing board for engineers and architects. And probably the most important, I owned an architecture firm for 15 years that I started from my living room.

What are your priorities for the next 12 months?

Get on site to all of our parks and facilities. If I go to one park a day during the week, I will not be able to visit them all in a year. Add to that park maintenance buildings, park caretaker residences, park pavilions, recreation/community centers, swimming pools, tennis facilities, marinas, parking garages and golf facilities, I will keep very busy viewing our inventory. My primary goal is to make sure all of our facilities are clean, safe and accessible to the public and to make sure we have the resources we need.

What can individuals and citizen groups do to improve/contribute to the betterment of Omaha’s green spaces?

I’ll let you know. But one of the things I’m interested in is getting volunteers involved in many of our activities. I plan on hiring a part-time volunteer coordinator who will also work with us part-time to kick start the Omaha Parks Foundation. 

Where would you like to see your department 10 years from now?

Beautiful, sustainable and busy parks and facilities that are at the heart of our community.

For more information about the parks department, visit www.cityofomaha.org/parks.

Are you a local farmer, artist or craftsperson looking for a place to sell your goods and services? Look no further than downtown Benson this spring, summer and early fall.

The 2010 Benson Farmers Market, which kicks off May 1 and runs through Sept. 25, is currently seeking vendors. The market will set up shop each Saturday on Military Avenue between Maple and Binney from 8:00am to noon. To sign up or for more information, email bensonfm@cox.net or call Janelle Grieco at 763.8995 or Mary Pat Johnson at 390.9650.

Green Garden Workshops

Is there a better way to manage your yard?

The City of Omaha is offering a series of workshops on how to create and maintain rain gardens and other sustainable landscapes in March. Participants will learn the ins and outs from experts in the fields of landscape horticulture, soil science and landscape design.

The cost is $20 per person, which includes a take-home rain garden manual developed by the City of Omaha through a grant from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. The workshop dates, times and locations are as follows:

Saturday, March 20
9:00am to noon
Metropolitan Community College, Fort Omaha Campus, Building 7
30th and Fort streets

Thursday, March 25
6:30 to 9:30pm
Douglas County Extension Office
8015 W. Center Road

Saturday, March 27
9:00am to noon
Douglas County Extension Office
8015 W. Center Road

To register, email greengardens@lovgren.com or call Nancy at 397.7158.

Social Impact Forum

The first annual Social Impact Forum Omaha will be held Friday, Feb. 26, at Creighton University’s Harper Center. The conference is designed to engage, empower and energize hundreds of local leaders and change makers to address the increasingly complex and connected challenges facing the community. The cost is $50 or $35 for nonprofit attendees and $20 for students.

To register online or to view the complete forum schedule, visit www.socialimpactomaha.org. For more information about the event or sponsorship opportunities, contact Taylor Keen at 402.960.5689 or taylorkeen@creighton.edu.

Students Going Green

The Green Omaha Coalition’s Green Schools Program has announced its second annual Students Going Green competition. It’s an opportunity for younger Omahans to get involved and help reduce the impact of their schools on the environment. Details are available at http://www.greenomahacoalition.org/index.cfm?Page=grassroots. The winners will be awarded and recognized during 2010 Earth Day celebrations.

New Parks Director

Melinda Pearson

Melinda Pearson has been hired as the city’s parks director. She will begin her new duties Feb. 16. Pearson brings 30 years of architectural experience and 15 years of experience managing her own business to the city. She currently serves as executive director of the State Board of Engineers and Architects. Pearson was instrumental in developing the Alexa Check initiative, a statewide public inspection process and public education campaign to improve the structural safety of park buildings statewide.

A news release issued by the mayor’s office said Pearson will also play a key role in establishing an Omaha Parks Foundation.

Mayor’s Neighborhood Grant Program

The 2010 Mayor’s Neighborhood Grant Program is under way. Mayor Jim Suttle has allocated $80,000 to award grants in two categories – green improvements and crime prevention. In order to be eligible for funding, neighborhood associations must be registered and listed in the City of Omaha’s Neighborhood Association Directory.

Associations may apply for one or both grants. The total amount requested can’t exceed $5,000.

Examples of projects that could be funded under the green improvements category include community gardens, bike racks, trail/walking path signage, recycling receptacles, benches and picnic tables, energy efficient lighting, tree purchasing and planting, and green space development. Neighborhood crime prevention grant applications should focus on community involvement to reduce crime and improve public safety. The neighborhood association must have local law enforcement approval.

The 2010 grants program will not fund one-time events, projects on private property, neighborhood entrance signs and analog radio equipment. Priority funding will be given to applicants who have participated in an Omaha by Design Place Game workshop.

The application can be downloaded from www.cityofomaha.org/mayor. The deadline is Friday, March 19. For more information, contact Alec Gorynski at 444.5211 or Laura Wilson at 444.7918.

Mutual of Omaha Neighborhood Grant Program

Throughout the months of February and March, eligible neighborhood associations are invited to apply for grants to fund projects that strengthen resident participation and promote neighborhood development within one of the following categories:

• Beautification/Identity
• Crime Prevention/Safety
• Education
• Health and Wellness
• Parks and Recreation
• Restoration

The maximum for grant requests is $5,000. Neighborhood organizations in the Omaha/Council Bluffs metropolitan area are eligible to apply online at  www.mutualofomaha.com/about/corporate_support/neighborhood_grant_program/index.html.

The deadline is Wednesday, March 31. Applicants will be notified the first week of June.

The fifth annual Restore Omaha Conference is set for March 5-6 at Metropolitan Community College’s South Omaha Campus. The educational event, designed for the general public as well as professionals, promotes the practice of historic restoration. Omaha by Design is a workshop sponsor.

Donovan D. Rypkema

The 2010 keynote speaker is Donovan Rypkema, principal of PlaceEconomics, a Washington, D.C.-based real estate and economic development consulting firm. A nationally renowned economist, Rypkema specializes in the revitalization of business districts, community development and the economics of restoring historic properties.

The conference begins Friday, March 5, with an opening reception at Frank’s Pieces of the Past, 814 S. 14^th St., from 7:00 to 10:00pm. Owner Frank Horejsi has been an architectural salvager since the 1980s.

The conference runs from 8:00am to 4:00pm Saturday, March 6, with a series of concurrent sessions. Among the topics are restoring stained glass, restoring a commercial building and creating a Victorian garden with native plants. Rypkema will speak at the luncheon beginning at 11:15am.

The event also will feature an exhibitor area for vendors and community resources related to restoration and preservation projects. To register or for more information, visit www.restoreomaha.com.

Downtown Benson TIF District

“This provides another tool for job creation and infrastructure improvement in Benson,” said Omaha City Councilman Pete Festersen, who represents District #1. “It is a proactive indication to developers that Benson is open for business, and it provides financial benefits for current businesses considering major renovations.”

The creation of this district will enhance the Benson-Ames Alliance’s efforts to revitalize the area in conjunction with The Maple Street Corridor Project, said Lisa Dale, chair of the Benson-Ames Alliance Steering Council and principal at Benson High School. The project includes a new streetscape design for downtown Benson, a housing and retail marketing analysis, and www.bensonbeat.com – a community outreach initiative designed to spark civic pride and investment in redevelopment opportunities that match the local vision for the area.

Conceptual drawing of east gateway to downtown Benson.

The first component of the new streetscape design plan slated for implementation is the creation of an east gateway to the Benson business district where Maple Street diverges from Northwest Radial Highway. Work on the $500,000 project will begin in April 2011.

Funding for a second component of the streetscape design plan, a northwest gateway to the Benson business district where Northwest Radial Highway and 63^rd Street converge, is included in the city’s Capital Improvement Program budget for 2014-15.

For more information about The Maple Street Corridor Project, call 402.554.4010 or email info@bensonbeat.com.

The Benson-Ames Alliance (B-AA), dedicated to revitalizing the city’s Benson-Ames sector, selected downtown Benson as its first priority area. Omaha by Design serves as the project manager for the B-AA. The Maple Street Corridor Project is a partnership of the Benson Business Association, the Benson Neighborhood Association, the Benson-Ames Alliance, Omaha by Design and the City of Omaha Departments of Planning and Public Works.

These recommendations are among those detailed in the Building Construction section of Environment Omaha, a new policy development initiative that’s creating a comprehensive environmental section for the City of Omaha’s master plan.

Feedback is currently sought on the Building Construction draft document. It was developed by the Building Construction Advisory Committee, which is chaired by Jay Noddle, president and CEO of Noddle Companies. The committee, a group of 39 volunteers representing a diversity of professions and perspectives, included suggestions from the public in developing the content. The document was then reviewed by the Environment Omaha Core and Working Committees.

The document begins with an overall vision statement: Omaha seeks to lead the nation through innovative building construction, renovation and maintenance approaches that create a “regenerative community” designed to have a net positive and affordable impact on Omaha’s environment, economy, culture and quality of life.

It then lists recommendations in four areas:

• Non-residential, renovation
• Non-residential, new construction
• Residential, renovation/new construction
• Building sites

 Members of the public can post their comments on www.environmentomaha.com/discussion.

Omaha by Design serves as the project manager for Environment Omaha. For more information, call 402.554.4010 or email info@omahabydesign.org.

The Urban Design Handbook for Omaha, a work in progress, has been created by the city’s planning department to help a variety of audiences understand the principles behind the groundbreaking package of zoning code changes and additions adopted by the Omaha City Council in 2007 that help bring the Urban Design Element (UDE) to life. “Written or verbal descriptions are not as effective as photographs of existing buildings or conditions,” said Jed Moulton, manager of urban design in the city’s planning department.

The idea for the handbook stemmed from a recommendation made by the volunteer Technical Advisory Group that helped draft the package of UDE zoning code changes and additions. Its content, organized by zoning code section numbers, contains brief narratives of each of the provisions and the principles they represent. It also includes general background information for urban villages and street design as well as a “call for photographs.” Local design firms are invited to submit photographs of projects they feel are good examples of the provisions. The firms will receive photo credits for their work if their submissions are used.

In addition to serving as a guide for concerned citizens, developers, architects, engineers, other design professionals, city staff and the general public, the handbook is being used by the Urban Design Review Board as a way to achieve a consistent interpretation of the urban design zoning provisions, Moulton said. The Urban Design Review Board, which has been in operation since 2009, was created based upon a recommendation in the Urban Design Element.

A PDF of The Urban Design Handbook for Omaha can be downloaded from http://www.cityofomaha.org/planning/urbanplanning/design-guidelines. Moulton said the planning department intends to update and revise the inaugural document on a regular basis. The next version will include more local examples and more descriptions of building design guidelines.

For more information, contact Moulton at 402.444.5208 or Jed.Moulton@ci.omaha.ne.us. 

Omaha by Design partnered with the City of Omaha to create the Urban Design Element in 2004 and the subsequent package of zoning code changes and additions in 2007. For more information, visit http://www.omahabydesign.org/projects/urban-design-element.

Seems to me there are a couple of major justifications for energy conservation and sustainability. One is concern for the future of the planet. Regardless of what you think about human activities and global warming, there remains the specter of having to break off a piece of air before you breathe it.

The other approach is more practical and financial. Simply put, we should not waste if we can avoid it, and we have a right to expect a return on our conservation efforts.

I tend to be more in the latter category. Not that I don’t have concerns about the future of humanity on earth. But since I don’t have kids, it doesn’t cause me to lose any sleep. Though I do remain baffled by parents and grandparents who aren’t more worried, but that’s another column.

As we have endured a pretty nasty winter, I’ve had a bit of a bad dream about a cold front moving through my personal finances in the form of rate hikes by our local utilities.

Back in October, I wrote about my personal energy conservation efforts amounting to more than a 30% reduction in natural gas use. I figured that was a good start on getting a decent return on my investment in insulation, windows and furnace despite the bad timing of the upgrades causing me to miss out on the energy tax credits.

Then I read that the OPPD approved a 4.9% rate increase, MUD increased rates by about 1.2%, and the city council rejected a request from a homeowner asking to install a wind turbine. The OPPD increase alone has caused me to rethink the timing of upgrading our air conditioning condenser to increase efficiency.

The chill that came over me was the prospect of perpetually being in competition with the utilities and government to simply stay even.

Both OPPD and MUD, to their credit, are trying to hold the line on costs. OPPD cut more than $20 million in planned spending this year and more than $20 million from next year’s budget. MUD’s rate increase was scaled back to 1.2% from the 3.3% originally requested, and the proposed construction of a $16.5 million building project is under scrutiny. Omaha by Design is working with the city to draft new environmental rules for inclusion in the master development plan that will accommodate new green technologies.

Still, this is cold comfort, in my opinion. The demographic and economic realities should, in theory, mandate constant or decreasing utility rates. Omaha’s population continues to grow modestly through births, migration and annexation, but without significant numbers of new hookups, energy use won’t grow much. So, as energy is conserved and use decreases, the only way to maintain revenues will be to continue to raise rates.

Likewise, as we become more energy efficient and alternate sources are implemented, particularly at the residential level, energy demand will also decrease and that, in turn, will decrease the quantity and costs for the raw materials that are used to produce the energy needed to serve demand. Lower demand for commodities like gas and coal usually means lower prices.

My bad dream is that, 20 years from now, I may have made a lot of low ROI improvements simply because rates keep increasing. Because Nebraska’s utilities are public, they tend to function as governmental subdivisions. Like all government entities, they will resist downsizing and cannot change their stripes by offering other services to shore up revenue.

Given the recent bad behavior in and out of government, I would feel a whole lot more comfortable if I had confidence that my investments in conservation had a reasonable chance of earning a long-term return and keeping me out of competition with my own city.

The Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat celebrates a new year for trees and the importance of nature preservation. The Jan. 31 event will take place in the garden’s visitor and education center. Activities will include a planting project for children and adults, stories, cookie decorating and more. Visitors will be able to taste each season through nuts, seeds or fruit as they tour the spring flower show in the floral display hall.

Environment Omaha and other community groups involved in sustainability will have information tables encouraging participants to “be green.”

For more information, contact Margie Gutnik at 402.492.8550 or programming@Bethel-Omaha.org.