Harris-Askins House

Harris-Askins House is an apartment building for qualified low-income seniors ages 62 and older. Located just south of Uptown Westerville, the building offers 45 one-bedroom apartments and 15 efficiency units at reduced rents, with elevator access to the second and third floors.

The building is operated by a non-profit organization created by our club, Westerville Rotary Elderly Housing, Inc. Its Board of Trustees consists of both Westerville Rotarians and non­Rotarian community members. Officers are elected annually. Board members serve rotating three-year terms.

The club sponsored development of the building in the early 1980s. For nearly three years prior to its 1985 opening, our members volunteered their professional skills in fields including construction, facilities management, finance, government, housing, insurance and law to leverage a $10,000 investment into $2.1 million in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funding.

At inception, a critical role was played by Rotarian and architectural engineer Billy Saltz. Billy worked with government and construction officials to improve the original building plans. Without exceeding the proposed budget, his expertise enabled several adaptations, including the major addition of a community room. His near-daily onsite inspections resulted in a building which has stood the test of time remarkably well.

Opened as Harris House in honor of Rotary International founder Paul Harris, its name was later changed to Harris-Askins House to recognize many years of key leadership and management contributions by Rotarian Paul Askins. Rotarians Joe Barone, Jim Biven, Carol Groseclose, Tom Staebler and dozens of others have devoted countless hours to our facility for more than 40 years.

Although each apartment includes a full set of kitchen appliances and is designed for independent living, our residents enjoy multiple opportunities to join with their neighbors. A community room offers a 52″ TV/VCR/DVD player with surround sound, a fireplace, a library, and a kitchen facility. It is commonly used for private gatherings. Among them are small group meetings, monthly birthday parties and an annual Rotary-sponsored holiday party.

A sunroom with a piano, a gazebo, and a quiet tree-lined walkway with flower gardens provide additional settings for socialization and to walk with small pets. The Westerville Public Library, Uptown Westerville shopping and restaurants, and walkable city parks are nearby. Local organizations regularly visit the building to bring our residents health, maintenance, social and informational benefits.

Our club’s commitment is to create a safe, friendly and comfortable home which offers low-­income seniors more than just basic shelter. That commitment is shared by our long-time property management company, Showe Management Corporation. The building’s Property Manager, Lisa Pyle, is on site daily, assisted by Regional Operations Manager Pedro Salomon and Regional Administrative Manager Laura Salomon.

Each of them has demonstrated a personal dedication to providing a high level of services, and to treating our residents as family. A long waiting list of rental applicants attests to the quality of their exceptional efforts.

Harris-Askins House has been a continuing source of pride for the club for more than 40 years. It is a clear example of what can be accomplished by Rotary volunteers who dedicate their professional expertise and efforts in the Rotary spirit of “Service Above Self.”

Harris-Askins House
200 South State Street
Westerville, Ohio 43081
614-899-1997
HarrisHouse@showemgmt.com