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No Building Taller than Billy Penn’s Hat

August 26, 2016 by Jennifer LeBow 1 Comment

No taller than Billy Penn's hat — Philadelphia’s unwritten building code

Did you know….

City Hall was the tallest building in the world from its completion in 1901-1908? It is still the largest municipal building in the US. Locally, though, respect for this beautiful building and its meaning for the city’s history had a huge impact on the Philadelphia skyline. Until 1987, by a “gentlemen’s agreement” (a voluntary, but strictly adhered-to rule), no one built a building in Philadelphia higher than Billy Penn’s hat. Liberty Place, a two-tower shopping and hotel complex was proposed and, amid much controversy concerning its height, was built that year. The naysayers suggested that it was bad luck to dishonor the memory of William Penn’s contribution to establishing the city. Coincidentally (or not???), from that year forward, none of the four major Philadelphia sports teams (Eagle, Phillies, Flyers or 76ers) won a championship until after a replica of Penn was mounted at the top of the Comcast center in 2008. The Phillies won the world series that year.

Lower Merion Township Parks

August 25, 2016 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

philadelphia main line relocation — Lower Merion offers so much more than playgrounds!

One of the great things about living in Lower Merion is that the township has so many amenities and services that are free to us as residents. Aside from the terrific library system, one of my favorites is the township park system includes a lot more than parks. There are playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball fields, boat launch ramps, bridle trails, historic estates, bird sanctuaries, swimming pools and more! For a complete list of the locations and facilities/amenities available at each, click here. By the way, if you are looking for an off-leash dog park, West Mill Creek and Rolling Hill are the two that allow dogs to run free (you still have to clean up after them!).

What’s Included and Excluded

August 24, 2016 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

philadelphia relocation home buying — Avoid surprises: know what stays with the house and what goes.

Don’t want your 10-year old discovering the sellers left their trampoline behind on move-in day? Don’t want to be surprised that the window treatments are gone?

One of the things I’ve learned over the course of many years selling real estate is how important it is, whether on the buying or selling end, to be sure that both parties are clear on what is being included and excluded in the sale. Normally, all furnishings and “personal property” is excluded, and anything “attached” to the house in included. There are certain things that are not necessarily one or the other and, in my opinion, clarification of the following items is only a good thing:

Refrigerator (including any in the basement or garage/laundry room that are used for overflow as well as any wine refrigerators)
Washer/dryer
Microwave–if it sits on the counter, it’s considered personal property
Garage/basement/laundry room shelving that is free-standing
Chandeliers or other pendant lights and sconces
Pool table
Mirrors–some decorative ones in hallways or powder rooms may be considered attached by the buyer, but only hung (and not “attached”) by the seller
Window treatments of all kinds
Flat screen tvs and their wall brackets–if the wall bracket is removed, there will be a big hole
BBQ, fire pit, hot tub, any exterior sculpture (like sun dials, weathervanes, etc.)
Shed, play equipment, trampoline
Oil in the oil tank–if a seller fills the tank just prior to moving, he may expect reimbursement at closing

Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun in Zadar, Croatia

July 31, 2016 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

Zadar Croatia greeting to the sun, sea organ — Zadar waterfront’s Greeting to the Sun

While the city of Zadar is some 3,000 years old, most of it was destroyed during WWII. Much of the rebuilding was done at a time when concrete was the material of choice and function was the sole architectural goal. As a result, the city has a somewhat austere feeling. Perhaps to inject some whimsy into the somewhat stark landscape, architect Nikola Basic designed the sea organ. The design consists of a set of concrete steps that hide 35 organ pipes. As the waves move water through the pipes, holes in the steps broadcast the sound it creates. Like snowflakes, the exact amount/pressure/speed of the water in the 35 pipes is never exactly the same twice, so there is no predictability to the “music”.

The same architect designed the nearby Greeting to the Sun, which provides a visual experience to compliment the auditory one of the sea organ.

This 22-meter circular art installation on the ground by the water’s edge features three hundred multi-layered glass plates arranged that employ solar cells to absorb sunlight during the day. Once it gets dark, the glass plates use this stored solar energy to create a dazzling light display that mimics the sea organ’s sounds. This attraction is not only art; it also powers a portion of the waterfront at a great cost savings. Finally, the metal circle on the perimeter features the names of Zadar’s saints as well as important holidays and the position of the sun in relation to the equator so that it also functions as a calendar of sorts. Pretty cool, huh?

Selling Your House? Know Your Competition

July 30, 2016 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

main line home sales — Selling your house? Know your competition

When you list your house for sale, how do you (or your agent) determine value? One of the most informative data sets is what nearby properties in the same school district, in similar neighborhood, of comparable size and condition have sold for. It’s important to know what buyers actually paid for a house (as opposed to what a seller listed it at). However, it’s also vital to understand your competition. What do I mean? I mean which other houses are currently on the market that a prospective buyer might look at if he or she is looking at yours?

Your agent should not only tell you about, but take you to see these other properties. The way to make the most of being able to tour these other homes from the perspective of a buyer is to see it (and then, later, your own home) from the most objective viewpoint as possible. Note the positives and negatives (does it have a steeply sloped yard? is there highway noise? are the windows old? closets small? how’s the kitchen? what about the layout? nice private patio? attached garage?).

Ok. Now go back to your house. TRY to assess it using the same criteria. Do your best to ignore the sentimental value of your home and look at it through the eyes of a stranger who is looking at it with a critical eye–just like you did with those other houses for sale. Put aside special memories associated with particular spaces. Talk with your agent about your analysis and listen to what he or she tells you about the (general) public’s preferences–features of your house that are “quirky” even if they speak to your own idiosyncratic tastes may not be as appreciated by buyers. Now that you understand what else buyers are seeing that is similar to your house (as well as what kinds of other houses they are seeing in the price range you are considering), you are in a better position to put a price tag on your own house.

Jen LeBow’s Grilled Vegetables with Feta

July 28, 2016 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

Grilled vegetables with EVOO, balsamic and feta — The feta and balsamic vinegar really boost the flavor of the veggies!

So, as recipes go, this one is very forgiving in that you can substitute the vegetables you use and you can change the seasonings to suit your taste. It hardly qualifies for a recipe at all, except for the few, but vital ingredients of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and salt, and the importance of the marinating.

Cut up any combination of the following vegetables:

Peppers, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, carrots (very thinly sliced or they won’t be done when everything else is), eggplant, zucchini

Place them in a large mixing bowl or Ziploc bag(s). Add olive oil (about 3 T for a gallon-sized bag) and 1 1/2 T balsamic vinegar. Add 1 t kosher salt and mix well. You can add thyme, rosemary, oregano, sage or any other seasonings you wish.

LET SIT. The flavors won’t penetrate the veggies if you don’t. Half an hour will suffice, but longer is better. Mix once during the waiting period.

Preheat grill to low/medium. Try to spread out vegetables in a single layer in grilling basket or on grilling tray. Stir about every 7 minutes. In about 25 minutes, most veggies will be done; certain larger pieces and carrots may take a bit longer.

When you take them off the grill, sprinkle chopped feta on top. If you like, you can put the dish under the broiler for a minute to melt the cheese a bit.

Haas Estate Grounds to Open to the Public

July 27, 2016 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

Haas Estate Public Gardens — Main Line Haas estate to become public gardens

Right across the street from the busy Villanova University campus is the 42-acre Haas estate, named Stoneleigh. Upon the death of its most recent owners, the heirs have decided that the grounds, which were lovingly planted and maintained (and frequently toured by selected invited visitors) will now become one of Lower Merion’s preserved estates and will be free to visitors. The Olmstead brothers (the sons of Frederick Law Olmstead, responsible for laying out New York’s Central Park) designed the gardens when the house was built by gas magnate Samuel Bodine in 1900. Otto Haas (of the chemical company Rohm and Haas) purchased it in 1964 and passed it on to his son, John, who, along with his wife, Chara continued their stewardship of the property, including placing a portion of the estate under a conservation easement. Their interest in philanthropy and environmental conservation led their children to suggest the plan to turn it over to the township. Before it opens to the public at the end of 2017, the swimming pool will be filled in and new plantings, in keeping with the Beaux-Arts style of the original garden, will be installed. The stately stone mansion will become the headquarters for a non-profit organization committed to preserving historic pipe organs, which were an interest of the family’s.

When you go, be sure to look for the tree with the family of bunnies carved into it–Haas means “hare” in Dutch and German, which is the family’s ancestry. It is visible from the County Line/Spring Mill intersection and was often the focal point of holidays (Easter, Halloween, etc.) as well as special events like ‘Nova graduation, when they would be costumed in caps and gowns. While I imagine many visitors will enjoy visiting Stoneleigh, I think that the location, adjacent to the university, is wonderful–I can easily envision stressed-out, financially-challenged students needing and then celebrating the opportunity to “get away from it all” (for free!) in a quiet, natural sanctuary designed for reflection and serenity.

Current Trends in Flooring

July 23, 2016 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

What's trending in flooring? — What’s trending in flooring?

I go in and out of a lot of houses and I notice when certain design features (finishes, accessories, even layout styles) are waning or gaining in popularity. Recently, new trends in floors seem to be all the rage. In what might have sounded like an oxymoron only a few years ago, “high end vinyl” is now a chic option. (Who’d have thought?) These low–maintenance floors are the most economical choice and tend to have long lives. They are now available in designs that often mimic natural stone, wood, ceramic and even porcelain. I’ve even seen some that are made to look like leather! Similarly, tile is now experiencing a similar trend–looking like other materials. You can choose ceramic tile that looks like natural stone or brick and porcelain tile that looks like wood (a very common choice in new construction bathrooms, for some reason). People are also demanding (and finding more) 16″ sized tiles. These are often laid on the diagonal, creating a more elegant look. Cork isn’t brand new, but, especially in kitchens, is gaining in popularity. It is more forgiving to tired backs and legs, as it has some “give” and is, therefore, kinder to dropped dishes. It is also an environmentally conscious choice as it is easily renewable. Finally, wood, more popular than ever, is showing up in gray and even darker tones and wide plank as well as reclaimed/distressed lumber are increasingly chosen by designers and home owners. Gone are the days when floors were just for walking on–now they are an expression of creativity and taste!

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