Properties Magazine began its monthly publication in 1946 with the sole purpose of covering the real estate, design and building industries of Northeast Ohio. Properties helps keep professionals educated and informed by shining a light on the most notable and unique building projects and the people behind them, as well as the publishing of educational articles written by experts in their respective fields.
In 1946, Jack J. Wyse purchased a 12-page publication, Apartment House and Building Management, and changed the name to Properties Magazine. “Mr. Real Estate,” as he was known, spent 40 years building and refining the publication.
Wyse was a Clevelander (1930 graduate of John Adams High School) and a leader in the Northeast Ohio real estate and construction sectors. As he wrote in a 1946 statement introducing the magazine:
“We in the real estate and construction industries have the three-fold job of: one, putting our own homes in order; two, telling the people about the services we perform; and, three, developing strong united organizational leadership. “
“Properties dedicates itself to these principles. It will speak out. It will forge an editorial tool to help preserve democratic principles in this republic – particularly as it affects the industry we live in.”
The big issue at the time was rent control, an artifact from World War II and the various price controls enacted to regulate the wartime economy. And Wyse attacked it with the vigor of a four-star general.
“Forces are at work to undermine the sound business principles upon which real estate and construction can prosper,” he wrote in that same statement. More than report what was going on, Wyse would position Properties to be a voice for positive change.
Aiding in that effort was Gene Bluhm, who signed on with Wyse in April of 1947. A WWII Army Air Corps veteran, Bluhm joined Properties part-time while attending college on the G.I. Bill. Intent on a career in radio broadcasting, Bluhm would announce news and music on Cleveland stations for 22 consecutive years under the name Gene Elwood. He gradually took on more responsibilities and became a valuable editor for Properties, eventually switching his radio work from full- to part-time.
The two operated the magazine out of the old Kangesser building at 2921 Prospect Ave. until 1958 when they moved it to the former WHK building at 5000 Euclid Ave.
After Wyse’s death in 1989, Bluhm purchased the publication and continued its legacy before eventually selling Properties after the June 1997 issue (Bluhm’s 602nd issue).
Since that time, Properties has prospered under the ownership of Ken Krych. Krych had 40 years of construction-news experience already under his belt, including high-level management and business development roles at three of the largest information services; F.W. Dodge Division of McGraw Hill, Inc., Construction News Services (CNS, Inc.), and Construction Market Data, Inc. (CMD). Having written for the magazine and supplying information to it for years, Krych understood and kept its “core values and integrity” since taking over ownership in 1997.
He and managing editor Mark Watt have continued to grow the publication's readership and improve its aesthetic qualities and journalism. Properties still circulates monthly throughout the region and is also available in digital format at www.propertiesmag.com.
