Long in the Tooth Real Estate Updated with Purpose

The Harrison Co. Real Estate's new, 110-year-old Westerville office

From a vacant church to a stylish and historically preserved office. Nicole Harrison isn’t a fan of traditional spaces. As the broker and owner of The Harrison Co. Real Estate Group, her goal is to have a space that reflects her business style, which is a little unconventional but always professional.

The Harrison Co. Real Estate Group’s first office, located in downtown Powell, was a triple-sided glass garage door building; a space Harrison enjoyed, but there was no opportunity to own the building outright on the horizon.

So, when a 110-year-old church in historic uptown Westerville came onto the market, Harrison jumped at the chance to own a piece of history.

“I wasn’t necessarily anticipating a move, it’s just when you have a property like this come on the market, it just doesn’t happen very often,” says Harrison.

After a walk-through of the building, it was apparent that there was some deferred maintenance needed to bring the church back to life.

Even though the renovation was going to be quite the undertaking, Harrison ended up going to contract August 2017 and closed on the building November of the same year.

“I was meant to own this church building and be its caretaker,” says Harrison. “I am honored at the privilege. It’s on Home Street, how much more fitting could it be for a real estate office?”

After closing on the property, Harrison then spent the next 10 months renovating the former church and one-time lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

This article was originally published within the March/April 2019 issue of Westerville Magazine.