There are few things more inherently nosy than a home tour. You get to walk around a neighborhood you already know, peek inside houses you’ve probably walked past a hundred times, and see what people have done with the spaces behind those familiar facades. And once a year, the Short North Civic Association gives us a perfectly legitimate reason to do exactly that.
The 51st Annual Short North Tour of Homes & Gardens is happening Sunday, Sept. 20, with nine homes and spaces opening their doors for a closer look at the architecture, renovations, gardens and design choices that make the neighborhood what it is.
The self-guided tour runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., starting at the Goodale Park Gazebo. Tickets are $25, or $20 for early birds, and include access to all of the homes and free shuttles running along the tour route.
And this year’s lineup has a pretty great mix. There are historic homes that have been carefully restored, modern spaces designed around city living, a former industrial warehouse that became a 900-square-foot condo and even a luxury clothing showroom with a rooftop terrace.
Here’s a look at what you’ll find along the tour.
852 Neil Avenue
Kyle Zumfelde purchased this historic home in December 2024 and got to work pretty much immediately. The renovation has included electrical updates, asbestos and mold removal, structural and porch repairs, sewer and water line work, floor stabilization, fireplace restoration and new windows designed to bring back the home’s original look.
The front door got some special attention, too. Zumfelde spent eight weeks removing decades of paint himself.
Outside, the landscaping has become a project of its own, with historic bricks cleaned up and reinstalled in a herringbone pattern, curved borders and fountains chosen to complement the stone of the house and its neighbor.
1390 Neil Avenue
Ben Mitchell and his family bought this home in 2023 while they were still living in Los Angeles, eventually moving to Columbus and spending the next two-plus years restoring it as a single-family home.
The renovation wrapped up in mid-2026, but it became part of the family’s story long before that. When they brought their daughter home from the hospital, only about half of the first floor was finished. For roughly six months, the front room served as the family’s bedroom and main living space while construction continued around them.
The goal throughout was to update the home while preserving the scale and character that originally made them fall for it.
995 Ewing Alley
Scott Kirschman’s home is a little different, especially once you get to the backyard.
He’s dubbed the space The Albacore Club, a nod to his favorite movie, Chinatown, and uses the shaded backyard as an outdoor dining room. Inside, his love of mid-century modern design comes through, with the main room taking inspiration from 1966 and a general goal of making the house feel like a permanent vacation.
There’s also a story behind the red front door. A friend’s mother, who was an expert in feng shui, told Kirschman the home’s existing red door represented new opportunities, good luck and protection. He’s keeping it.
993 Dennison Avenue
Eric and Rachelle McDonough have lived in the Short North for more than 20 years, and their four-story contemporary condo is a pretty good example of why they’ve stayed.
The couple are the original owners of the 2017 building, and the home’s fourth-floor cabana and rooftop patio were what sold them on the space in the first place. They’ve since renovated the kitchen, added a pantry for all those Costco purchases, replaced the hardwood flooring, updated the stair railing and created a small art studio for Eric, who is a painter.
And, of course, having Goodale Park and plenty of restaurants within walking distance doesn’t hurt.
379 W. 6th Avenue
Caroline and Michael Stinziano redesigned much of the first floor of their home to make better use of the space, expanding the kitchen, adding storage, relocating the half bath and creating a walk-in pantry. The kitchen was specifically designed with entertaining in mind, including the family’s annual Thanksgiving gathering.
They also added a climate-controlled room onto the back of the house. The family calls it the “Dad Cave,” although they note that Dad probably uses it the least.
It’s primarily used for movies and sports, and apparently it’s also become a handy spot for the occasional home-tour planning meeting.
138 Punta Alley
This might be one of the most unexpected homes on the tour.
The Punta Alley condo began as an industrial warehouse in 1910 when the property was part of an asphalt company. Today, the 900-square-foot space has a much different feel, with a 10-by-10-foot windowed garage door opening directly from the living space into a private courtyard.
Owner Stacy Buttari has filled the space with plants, an outdoor couch, a fountain and wind chimes. There’s also a living plant wall inspired by one she saw at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge and later recreated in her own home.
It’s a good example of how creative you can get with a relatively small urban space.
101 Warren Street
Kenneth J. Stoffer’s home dates to approximately 1877 and has been through a top-to-bottom renovation since he purchased it in 2006.
The late-19th-century brick house still has its tall windows, limestone sills and decorative details, along with a covered porch and the narrow, tall proportions typical of Columbus homes from the era. Stoffer also added an extension, a three-car garage and a backyard designed by Oakland Nursery.
And the house has hosted plenty of gatherings over the years, including parties during the Doo Dah Parade.
939 N. High Street, Unit 304
In the Wood Building, Tara Guillozet Baugh and DJ Baugh have created a home that feels distinctly different from the typical downtown apartment.
The couple were drawn to the space’s unusual architecture, large windows, bay overlooking High Street and existing woodwork. Rather than completely overhaul the apartment, they’ve taken a more gradual approach, adding lighting, mirrors, art and floor-to-ceiling bedroom curtains.
Their style mixes sculptural objects, stone, natural materials and pieces with personal histories, creating a space that’s more about collecting and layering over time than trying to decorate everything at once.
The Pursuit Loft
There’s also a chance to see something that’s not technically someone’s home. The Pursuit Loft is a 1,500-square-foot private luxury showroom and office in the Wood Building, renovated in 2026 from a two-bedroom apartment. The space is set to open in late October as an expansion of Pursuit’s retail storefront downstairs.
It includes a large walk-in Pursuit Aspirational Closet with custom cabinetry, custom bookcases and room for the retailer’s full wardrobe offerings. There’s also a secluded rooftop terrace for entertaining.
How To Take The Tour
The Short North Tour of Homes & Gardens takes place Sunday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can purchase tickets ahead of time or on the day of the tour at the Goodale Park Gazebo, where you’ll pick up your tour program and map. Tickets are $25, with early-bird tickets available for $20.
Free shuttles will run throughout the day, so you can hop on and off between homes, or you can walk the route and take in the neighborhood along the way. On-street parking is free on Sundays, with several garages near Goodale Park.
There’s also a Preview Tour & Rooftop Party on Saturday, Sept. 19 for anyone who wants to make a whole weekend of it. The $125 ticket gets you a first look at the homes from 4:30–7 p.m., followed by a rooftop party at The Pizzuti from 7–10 p.m., with food from Schokko Catering, two complimentary drinks, music, entertainment and access to the Pizzuti Collection’s current exhibit.
Preview Party ticket holders also receive complimentary admission to Sunday’s tour.
Proceeds from the events support Short North Civic Association programs and neighborhood projects, including Screen on the Green, the Goodale Park Music Series and neighborhood beautification.
For more info, or to snag your tickets, please click here.
