Skibinski: Building the community one home at a time

Although Ted Skibinski currently resides in Lansing, New York with his parents, Mike and Mary, and members of his extended family, he has had his focus on purchasing and renovating homes in Groton for the past six years — primarily turning them into apartments — because he sees it as his opportunity to provide safe, clean, affordable housing for those who become his tenants.

Mike and Mary raised Ted and his brother, Andy (who sadly passed away this past April), in Ithaca. Mike was a telephone lineman for Verizon for 35 years before he retired, but his “side gig” was owning apartments in Fall Creek. That endeavor involved the entire family and was essentially the start of Ted’s own lifelong “side gig.”

“I grew up painting, doing yard work and renting and showing apartments,” Ted said. “I just thought that was normal.”

Ted is a 1988 alumnus of Ithaca High School. After graduating, he attended Tompkins Cortland Community College, where he earned his associate degree in graphic design in 1991 before moving on to earn his bachelor’s degree in the College of Imaging Arts & Sciences at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in 1993.

“I always wanted to create things and build things, so that seemed to be the right path to take in college,” Ted said. “When I left RIT, I worked from 1994 to 1998 for Iron Design in Ithaca as a graphic designer. I loved the work because I was creating things and problem solving.”

In 1998, Ted moved to Houston, Texas, where he worked another four years as a corporate events art director for Compaq Computer Corporation before he worked a short time creating purchase displays for the Pennzoil Corporation.

Still in Houston, Ted spent the next 12 years managing the creative services department for Universal Weather and Aviation, a private aircraft company that had 52 offices in 52 different countries, which Ted had the delight of promoting in his work.

“The company literally pioneered business aviation,” Ted said proudly, “but in 2017, I was laid off. I felt ‘ceilinged out’ at that point, anyway, and knew it was time to do something that I really wanted to do.”

Up to that point, Ted had also been buying and flipping houses about every two years. He would live in them, work on them in his spare time and then sell them. He said he “just enjoyed the process,” and it was what he’d always known growing up.

Ted moved back to live with his parents in Lansing, along with his aunt Elaine Armstrong, and uncle Robert and aunt Elizabeth Cree.  

Next, Ted obtained his Realtor license, spending the next six years acting as what he affectionately referred to as a “weekend warrior realtor” for Warren Real Estate, until just recently when he switched over to Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. At the very beginning of all that, though, Ted had purchased his first Groton home on Barrows Street from a long-time family friend, who also happened to be a client.

“That house is a duplex with a cottage behind it, and it just wasn’t selling,” Ted explained, “but I refurbished it and rerented it, and thought to myself, ‘This place [Groton] has potential. I’m all in now — this is the direction I need to go in. The work is here, the opportunity is here, and the motivation is in me.’”

With great faith in his newfound purpose and direction, Ted liquidated his 401(k) retirement account and most of his savings. He purchased his next project at 214 Elm St., which he renovated and turned into a four-unit apartment house before moving on to acquire the property at 313-315 Elm St.

“That one was in very bad shape; the house was literally destroyed,” Ted said, “but I turned it around and made it into two four-bedroom apartments. By that time, I had learned that larger apartments were most needed for young families, and that has become my ‘sweet spot’ — to provide safe, clean, affordable housing for those folks.”

Currently, Ted is deep in the throes of gutting and renovating his newest acquisition at 166 Main St., which will become two three-bedroom and two one-bedroom apartments when it is completed.

“Every apartment I rent has its own washer, dryer, dishwasher (except for 214 Elm), microwave, stove and refrigerator, and I make sure all the lawns are mowed,” Ted said. “My dad is in it with me and is the main handyman. He does 90% of the repairs, and he loves it! We do our best to give people what they pay for.”

In his personal life, Ted is a member of St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church in Ithaca and is part of its pastoral council. In January of 2023, Ted became a part-time code enforcement officer for the village of Groton.

“As code officer, I’ve learned a ton,” Ted said, “and it’s made me a better landlord. When you have purpose, you don’t feel like you’re working, and I’ll do the job as long as they’ll have me!”

“All along the way, I love being able to offer people something difficult to find, child-safe, and just building community within this community,” Ted added. “It’s great to see the wave of enthusiasm in the village with the New York Forward grant, the new fire station and just the overall positive buzz!”

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at 607-227-4922. 

In brief:

VBS at Groton Assembly of God

Come one, come all, for “The Great Jungle Journey: An Epic Cruise from Genesis to Revelation” Vacation Bible School at Groton Assembly of God, 701 S. Main St.! They will have a “knightly” program from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 11 through 15. Open to those just entering first grade through those who recently graduated from seventh. There will be fun songs, crafts, recreation, amazing lessons, snacks and a drama production each night.

Groton Olde Home Days

Save the date for Groton Olde Home Days, coming your way Aug. 22 through 24 with Playland Amusements Carnival Midway, magic shows, pony rides, food, vendors, live music, the classic car show, Groton Historical Association’s famous Crafts and Collectibles Show, the grand parade and so much more! Keep your eye on this column for full details in the Aug. 14 edition!

Save the date for a back-to-school carnival!

Groton Assembly of God, 701 S. Main St., is planning a back-to-school carnival on church property from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, with fun for everyone. There will be a taco truck, carnival snacks, inflatables, carnival-themed games for kids (with prizes guaranteed), adult giveaways, crafts, photo station and local police, fire and EMS meet-and-greets — and it’s all free! Full details will appear in this column in the coming weeks.