2605 North Star

Not many architects get to be their own client. In the early 1990's, Kathleen and I were living in an 800 S.F. post war cape style house in Upper Arlington, Ohio. While we were looking at a 60 year old farm house for sale on North Star Road, we discovered that the adjacent corner lot was for sale. We put our home on the market, and bought the lot. Next we moved in with Kathleen's Mom, Jean Scully for one year. Callahan and Chelsea loved living with Grandma, and I am forever grateful to my mother-in-law. I miss her and think about her generosity, her music, and the way she loved to live life everyday. I sketched up the design in one sitting. It took 6 months to get financing, line up subcontractors, and get the drawings and permits filed. Six months was the exact amount of time it took from digging the hole, to move in date. It's kind of like the house in the movie, It's a Wonderful Life. The idea was to make it look like it had been on that corner forever. It was a great place for our kids to grow up in, with sidewalks, shopping, schools, park, and pool all within walking distance. I had a great experience being my own architect and builder, and I look forward to finding the right place or project for me here on Tybee Island.