Archive for the ‘Environment’ Category
-->
Mar
17
Posted by James Lupori
WHO WILL CONTROL LAKEPOINTE?
There has been a long-standing and important discussion about developing the waterfront area here in Kenmore known as Lakepointe. Since 1989 there has been a proposed development of the 45 acres on Lake Washington where the Sammamish River enters the lake. It is one of those wonderfully ambitious, visionary and seemingly impossible projects that has yet to materialise.
The fact is, Kenmore’s waterfront is a a real eyesore that looks more like an industrial wasteland than a part of our city. One of my readers recently commented:
“We have one Petunia in an onion PATCH. That would be LakePointe. If this is not developed and handled properly it will be all onions!!!!The City needs to get involved and not let greed and grandois ambition cloud their goal. The community needs to get involved and not assume someone else is watching out for their interests, no one is. We have health, environmental, clean water issues, ground water issues, storm water issues, hazardous waste issues, toxic issues, and more all on the one piece of property, LakePointe(45 acre Peninsula). We have the potential to pull Kenmore out of the designation labeled the armpit of Lake Washington,to Kenmore’s only opportunity for an economic, vibrant,environmentally friendly, community, the Last Pearl to be found, on Lake Washington, if we choose, this vision can only happen as a community effort.”
This is not an uncommon opinion expressed to me by my friends and neighbors here in “our fair city.” It’s one of those “if only” conversations about how incredible Kenmore could be if there was the vision and money to transform our truly spectacular position on Lake Washington from a gritty, off-limits wasteland to a vibrant waterfront community.
Waterfront Construction Gives Notice
Waterfront Construction is leaving in June 2010- What's going to happen now?
In a recent article in the Kenmore/Bothell Reporter by Tom Corrigan, it was reported that Kenmore’s Waterfront Construction (WC) will be leaving it’s location at the mouth of the Sammamish. WC has been the subject of a number of accusations regarding environmental violations. Several local watchdog groups have been accusing Waterfront of various questionable practices but Waterfront has indicated that this is not reason for their departure.
Is This the Beginning of Something New?
Since this news broke, a number of people have asked me what might happen with the property. Could this be the beginning of a transformation at Lakepointe? I’ve heard rumours that the City wants to purchase the property in order to create a park. I really have no idea what’s going to happen, but I think all of us here in Kenmore need to focus our attention on this development.
I would encourage you to contact the Mayor and City Council to see what they think about this situation. Don’t let this opportunity pass us by. Just click on this link for a directory:
http://www.cityofkenmore.com/Page.aspx?cid=1698
Share
-->
Feb
03
Posted by James Lupori
You Will Never Experience Food the Same Way Again
Most Americans have no idea how food is produced in the U.S.. Would it surprise you to know that almost everything on the American menu today is based on corn and petroleum? Michael Pollan, the author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, examines the various food chains that bring food to the American dinner table. What he reveals is both interesting and downright disturbing. A warning: If you read this book, you will never look at what you eat the same way.
Here’s a short video clip of Pollan discussing some of the ideas behind “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”:
http://www.vimeo.com/7528069
Lest you think this book is all about “going vegetarian” and swearing off the modern world, I assure you that the point of the book is nothing of the sort. In fact, Pollan acknowledges that we are, indeed, omnivores which makes our food choices that much more important. It’s how our food is “manufactured” and manipulated by food scientists, large agribusiness and genetic engineering that so disturb him. We have become so far removed from our food sources that we no longer know how it is produced or how far it travelled to arrive on the dinner table.
I hope you can make some time to sit down and read this important book. It will enlighten you and it may even change your relationship to the food you eat.
Share
-->
Jan
19
Posted by James Lupori
Dr. John Marzluff Knows Our Crows
Dr. John Marzluff, Professor of Wildlife Science
During the winter months, the residents of Kenmore are “blessed” with the presence of thousands of crows. Kenmore has a number of natural habitats that the crows love. Sometimes the sky is literally filled with these wonderfully animated (and noisy) pranksters. I’ve written about the crows in previous posts and a couple of days ago a reader asked the following question:
“Tonight we were walking down by Cascadia Community College on the trail. Thousands and Thousands of crows filled the sky until it was dark. We saw their flight lines. At one point, it was a little frightening for our daughter, however, we were so mesmerized, she too was in awe. Every morning we see them fly South, every evening they fly North. I think their roosting spot are the wetlands and trees in front of the college.
I’ve always liked crows for their personality, however, I’ve never seen numbers like these in the last twenty years I’ve lived in Bothell. I’m hoping they don’t feast too much on the baby robins in the Spring. I would love a blog from professor John Marzluff to tell us why the numbers have gone up so much.”
Well, this really piqued my curiosity, so I wrote Professor Marzluff, who lives in the area and who is a world renowned crow guru, to see if I could sit down with him and “talk crow!” We will be meeting at the UW in the near future and he graciously sent me some responses to questions he’s received recently from a Bothell High School student. She was wondering why there are so many crows in the area:
- What are some possible causes of this increase in crows populations?
What you are seeing is a huge gathering of crows as they go to and depart from their night roost. Crows roost together in huge numbers to reduce their risk of predation (by owls and hawks, for example). In our area they typically seek out swampy areas with lots of thick low willows and emergent cottonwood trees within which to roost. They had been roosting on Foster Island just south of highway 520 by the UW, at Kenmore just behind the park and ride, and along the Snohomish River just east of Maltby. For some reason now the birds from those three roosts are mainly concentrated in the willows by UW Bothell/Cascadia. Winter is the time when roosting numbers are largest because birds do not have to stay on their territories as they do later in the year when they will have nests. The possible causes of the shift to Bothell are disruption of the other roost sites (I don’t think this is the case, but perhaps an owl recently raided one), or just better digs in the rapidly growing restoration area where they are now roosting. It is a safe, well lit, inaccessible area that the birds are using. And it is in good position for their daily commute to Seattle, Snohomish, and the area in search of food.
2. How would this might effect the community like in Bothell?
It is bringing attention, for sure! I think it is positive, really a neat natural sight for people to enjoy and WONDER about. This is something that city people don’t often do, especially in our increasingly technological world. So to be stimulated by a natural display like this is positive. Some people worry about large roosts because they are noisy and the birds do release waste as they travel in and around the roost. But in this case there are few if any houses near the actual roost, so that affect should be minimal.
3. Due to this change, what else if affected and how?
The crows fertilize the grounds below their roost. This has been shown to be significant in Japan, for example. So, in the place they are now roosting they are adding fertilizer (crow feces) to the restoration planting site FOR FREE–this is what we call an ecosystem service. It should make the plant grow taller, quicker and beautify the Bothell surroundings.
I’m really excited at the prospect of sitting down with Professor Marzluff. If any of you have burning questions about crows or other bird species and their relationship to our local environment, please let me know and I’ll ask him.
Share
-->
Dec
14
Posted by James Lupori
ALPACAS IN KENMORE! HOW COOL IS THAT!
Meet Lyle Lovett!
Back in 2003 I was working with a number of home buyers who were interested in purchasing “waterfront” properties. In the world of Real Estate, waterfront can mean a lot of things. Here in the Seattle area we have Sound-front, lake-front, slew-front, river-front, stream-front and creek-front properties. My clients wanted to find a unique, waterfront property in Kenmore or Kirkland and one particular property kept coming up in our searches: On the 193rd block of 73rd Avenue NE is a Spanish-Style home (with a Sante Fe flavor) that lies on a 4.9 acre lot and is transversed by Swamp Creek.
The Hess Property: An Incredibly Interesting Property!
As a Realtor® I have found that clients love to look at “interesting” properties but are often intimidated by the scale and scope of land that comes with complex components. This particular property includes the 4700 square foot home, Swamp Creek, a number of outbuildings, 2 bridges (one of which was over 60-years old) and a huge pasture. At that time, the home was listed over $1 million. In the end, my clients found it hard to wrap their heads around what to do with the place and I never had the chance to take a stab at it.
Outbuildings
This bridge replaced the old 60 year-old structure....$$$$$$
Swamp Creek
THEN CAME PAUL AND JANET HESS!
In 2005 my wife and I moved from our long-time residence in Shoreline to Kenmore and that same year Paul and Janet Hess purchased “the one that got away!” As it happens, we currently live a short distance from the Hess property and for the last couple of years we’ve noticed something really interesting down in the pasture: ALPACAS!!!! Every morning, when I take my wife over to the Kenmore Park & Ride, we’ve been noticing a growing population of what we thought were llamas. Finally, I decided to go over and meet the owners and find out if they would let me “meet the critters.” As it turned out, Paul Hess graciously allowed me to come over last Thursday to meet the herd and talk about all of the things he and his wife have done to transform the property into a truly amazing place.
Paul is an wonderfully engaging person and we talked about how he and his wife were able to align some of their personal passions with various facets of the property. We talked about the challenges of Swamp Creek, replacing the original bridge, environmental issues, (some) local politics and, of course, the herd of alpacas. When we went out to meet the animals I was surprised at how approachable they were:
The alpacas were extremely curious and seemed to have no fear of me. Even the mothers and the babies came right up to me. I have to say this was a lot of fun!
Today the Hesses have 18 alpacas and 2 romney sheep. Alpacas produce one of the most valuable fleeces of any animal and clothing made from their fleece is highly sought-after and expensive. Janice has a wonderful workshop where she processes the fleece and produces handmade products.
My visit with Paul Hess was a real treat because I have both a personal and professional connection to this unique property. Personal, because I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a neighbor with the vision and enthusiasm to transform a complicated property into a working compound. Professional, because I tried to sell this property. You know, it is always the obligation of real estate professionals to recognize the “highest and best” use of a piece of property and I can say with confidence that the Hesses are genuine stewards who have made their property a truly magical place.
Share
-->
Dec
12
Posted by James Lupori
Does the “Green” Label Help Sell Homes?
The Ideal Home: Living off the Grid!
Everyone knows that owing a home designed with “green” or environmentally efficient/friendly features is a wonderful idea. Most home owners I know (including me) would love to add eco-friendly features to their homes: solar panels, on-demand water heaters, geo-thermal heaters or a wind turbine. We all know that building our homes with “green” products is the right thing to do: recycled materials, high-value insulation, modern windows, etc…..This stuff all sounds great; however, the truth is: the “green” housing market is struggling.
In a number of blog posts, I’ve highlighted some of these technologies: “Embracing Alternative Energy – The Zero Energy Idea House” and “Solar Energy – The Perfect Remodeling Project of the Future”. In the course of researching and writing about this subject, I’ve had to confront some facts:
- Most home owners don’t see the economic pay-off of converting, let’s say, a water heater to a solar system knowing that they may not realize a return on the investment.
- Builders will not sacrifice profit margins by using the green products
- Most jurisdictions haven’t caught up with these technologies. They don’t have ways to evaluate and approve wind turbines, solar systems, etc.. Permitting is often a problem
- Green buyers and sellers struggle to find each other
- As pointed out in the audio clip below, home buyers place a higher value on location, price and traditional amenities than on environmentally friendly additions
Listen to This Excellent Audio Presentation:
This morning National Public Radio broadcast an excellent article entitled, “In Tight Market, Real Estate Agents Tout Eco Features.” I highly recommend you spend five-minutes and listen to this thoughtful discussion of the challenges facing the “green” movement in Real Estate.
Click on this picture and listen to the article!
For those of you interested in finding out more about some of the issues raised in this article, here are two more interesting websites:
Evaluating Green Products
Click on the picture to visit this website!
The Green Multiple Listing Service – Linking Buyers and Sellers
Click on this picture to visit Listed Green Homes
I personally believe we Americans are a long way from embracing and incorporating eco-friendly, green products into our homes. Today, in the Seattle region there are slightly over 200 homes utilizing solar systems. Also, most home owners are finding it hard to finance any sort of upgrades to their homes. The best we can hope for in the immediate future is to weatherize our homes in traditional ways (caulking, insulating, using good windows, etc.). It’s better than nothing.
Share
-->
Oct
25
Posted by James Lupori
Kenmore Undressed is 400 Posts Old!
Click the picture to view my first Kenmore Undressed blog post
When I began blogging in April, 2008 I was convinced that having a presence on the Internet, in the form of a Blog, would allow me to reach out to the public and help build my Real Estate Business. At that time, it was obvious that a huge sea change had occurred in the real estate industry: the way in which the public worked-with and related to Realtors® had been forever changed by the Internet. As it turns out, the transformation has been stunning. The way in which real estate is purchased or sold and the role of real estate professionals has become incredibly integrated. Marketing and advertising has shifted almost exclusively to on-line products. Information and statistical data about property, which had been under the control of the agents, is now readily available to the public. Today, virtually all real estate professionals have a website or blog.
Kenmore Undressed is More than Real Estate
It didn’t take me very long to discover that Kenmore Undressed was becoming far more than a place where I wrote about home sales, open houses and statistics. The fact is: I really enjoy writing and blogging has allowed me a creative outlet that I never thought possible. Not only can I put down in words the things I’m pondering, but I can also point my readers to the very sources that inspire me in the form of links, pictures, publications, maps, etc.. It’s a synthetic, integrative process and it’s downright fun.
Some Favorite Topics
Alternative Energy, Localism and Sustainability
I have tried to understand how utilizing alternative energy technologies can transform our communities. My hope is that some of these articles might inspire some of our local Kenmore urban planners to consider how we can set some long-term goals to have more homes utilize these technologies.
Eric Teegarden's Solar Home - Click on the picture to read the article
Zero Energy Idea House - Click on the picture to read the article
My wife and I believe that it’s important for everyone to try and purchase the basics from local merchants and producers. We are fortunate here in Kenmore to be close to local, organic farms. As a result we purchased a “share” in a local subscription farm this summer. I was able to produce the following presentation to show you just how wonderful it can be to purchase fresh, local produce:
Click to view the presentation
Writing About Kenmore/Local Businesses
I have always been interested in how businesses work. When I became a Realtor® I became hyper-aware of the day-to-day challenges of running a business, trying to stay relevant and, at the end of the day, make a living. One of the most enjoyable things I do as a blogger is to write about businesses here in Kenmore and the surrounding area. Here are a few examples:
Crocodile Rocks – Stone Works and Fabrication
Click on the picture to read the article
James G. Murphy Co. – Auctioneers
Click on the picture to read the article
Maser’s Grooming and Pet Shop
Click on the picture to read the article
Mr. Freeze – The Financial Curmudgeon
We all have an alter-ego. You know, that grumpy (Andy Rooney of 60-minutes) self that hides in the background just waiting for a chance to unload on the world. Well, with the help of ElDave on flickr.com and years of experience in the Credit/Collections/Financial Education/Counseling industry I created Mr. Freeze as a way to express my perspective on the American proclivity for financial self-destruction. It also lowers my blood pressure which my doctor appreciates.
A Whole Slew of Other Topics
I Think, Therefore I Blog
As I mentioned above, Kenmore Undressed was supposed to be a new way to “market” myself as a Realtor®. Instead, it has turned out to be one of my passions which lives in spite of the real estate angle. It has made me far more knowledgeable about Kenmore, The City. It has allowed me to introduce myself to some very fascinating people and, frankly, it has made me think more deeply about how the world works. Indeed, it’s been a lot of fun so far and I intend to continue the journey for a long time to come………………………………….
Share
-->
Oct
20
Posted by James Lupori
Here’s What a “Farm Share” Looks Like
Click on this picture to view a "time line" of our Organic Food Boxes
One of my friends asked me if I could sum up the farm subscription we purchased this season from Growing Washington. After going through a list of the various produce we received, he looked bleary-eyed. “Can you draw me a picture please.” Actually, eighteen weeks of vegetables turned out to be A LOT of food.
In order to provide you all with an overview of the value of the “farm share” we purchased in June, I have utilized the technological wizardry of Capzles. I hope you enjoy the presentation!
Share
-->
Oct
19
Posted by James Lupori
Oil Prices Up Today – We Never Learn
A vintage picture from the 1973 "oil crisis"
I was in Junior High School when the 1970’s and the oil “crisis” hit. It was a real wake-up call to Americans regarding our dependence on foreign oil. In response, there was a huge wave of interest in innovative solutions to problems that, at that time seemed imminent: dependence on fossil fuels, overpopulation, world-wide starvation, etc.. Back then it seemed as if our capacity for innovation and enterprise would lead the U.S. into the 21st Century with technologies and ideas making us more self sufficient than ever.
Alas, when the price of gas fell and the Reagan Administration declared “it’s morning in America,” we all but forgot about changing our way of life. After all, Americans have always had the attitude that our “lifestyle” is not negotiable. The 80’s, the 90’s and now the first decade of the 21st century have come and gone and we are only now coming to grips with some enormous challenges.
As a Realtor® and homeowner, I’ve been aware that the way we build and power our homes hasn’t changed in over 100 years. In spite of the technologies and building methods at our fingertips, our homes are extremely inefficient and wasteful. We are incredibly dependent on the “grid” for our existence. Sooner or later we will be forced to change our ways. We simply cannot continue to burn coal, natural gas and oil to run our homes and cities. Well, it was inspiring and enlightening to find a home that is blazing the path for others to follow: Zero Energy Idea House!
Home Building Pioneers in the Seattle Area
Last week the SeattlePI reported that there would be an open house in Sammamish at a home called Zero Energy Idea House which, by incorporating a number of “green” building technologies, results in the consumption of only $500 worth of energy per year. OK, I couldn’t resist checking this out. So, on Saturday I visited Zero Energy Idea House.
The owners, Donna and Riley Shirey (Shirey Contracting) have owned the land on which this home is built since the 1970’s. According to Donna, this home is the result of many years of thinking and planning. They want the home to be a model that others can use to incorporate “alternative” solutions to our modern-day energy challenges.
Notice the solar panels, pvc hot water system and wind turbine!
I asked Donna why there are so few home builders interested in incorporating alternative products into homes. Donna indicated that they have approached builders for many years and basically found none willing to incorporate green technologies. “It’s all about profit margins,” she said. Donna indicated that many of the components of her home are not “new.” Most are easily obtainable from suppliers and have been for years.
I did not take pictures of the interior of Zero Energy Idea House out of respect for the owners; however, I did have the opportunity to wander around and check out the huge number of green products including the surfaces, floors, appliances, the water and heating systems, etc. One of the most fascinating components of the house was the HelixWind turbine which is ideal for city applications as it does not require the straight-line winds that the propeller turbines need.
Click on this picture to view a video of how it works!
Overall, it was a great educational visit to Zero Energy Idea House. I believe that it’s time we begin a serious discussions with our governmental leaders and those who actually build homes to start utilizing these 21st Century technologies.
Share
-->
Oct
11
Posted by James Lupori
The Pent-ultimate Box
The weather in Kenmore (and the Seattle Area) has been incredibly beautiful for the last several weeks. Autumn is gently painting the world with the beautiful golds, reds and oranges that signal the end of the year. We have had a good solid month of sunny days and mild temperatures since September. It has truly been wonderful to experience such a wonderful Fall. This also means our weekly food box subscription is coming to an end.
Greenlake in Seattle
Greenlake in Seattle
The week’s organic box from Growing Washington was filled with some wonderful produce: Winter squash, sweet, red and purple potatoes, braising greens,kale and Swiss chard, spinach, arugula and lots of eggs:
Bush Delicata Winter Squash and Arugula
Potatoes! Purple, Red and Sweet potatoes
Swiss chard, Kale and Duck eggs
I recently began another year of evening Italian classes. We are required to give short presentations about our interests, so last week I did a presentation in Italian explaining the concept of subscription farming. Our instructor, who is from Northeastern Italy had a hard time understanding the idea at first. For Italians, shopping for fresh, high-quality produce is not the exception or “special.” One of the reasons we purchased a farm share this year was to try and prove that here, close by our home in Kenmore, WA we could, indeed, eat high quality, fresh, locally produced food. We also wanted to prove that this can be done affordably. As I’ve mentioned in past blogs, for 18 weeks the cost has been $36.00 per week! We have received more than enough food to feed the both of us and then some. Most importantly, we have both lost weight and feel better than we have in quite some time. There’s something about eating a more plant-based diet that does that.
Well, we only have one more week to go!
Share
-->
Sep
30
Posted by James Lupori
Player #1 – A City-Owned Culvert
This is not the actual Kemore culvert but is a good example of one!
Imagine you live near a city-owned culvert that has begun to flood every year when the rains come. The water overflows the banks of a stream fed by this culvert.
Player #2 – An Overflowing Stream
The stream overflows flooding your property and your crawl space, bringing with it debris and gunk and expensive clean-up costs. You and your neighbors take action and sand bag the stream to stop the flooding….Whew. That sure helped….
Player #3 – Sand bags
Because the water is coming from the city-owned culvert, you ask the city for help and the city says, “Hey, the water is on YOUR property, so we can’t help.” That’s nice. So the the City doesn’t want to be a “player.” But someone else wants to crash the game…..In comes:
Player #4 – The State Department of Fish and Wildlife
Click on this picture to visit the department's website
The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife informs you that in protecting your property by sandbagging the stream, THE STATE’S STREAM, you’ve broken the rules. Yes, my friends, you didn’t get the proper permits, so YOU’RE GOING TO BE FINED FOR PROTECTING YOUR PROPERTY!!!!You ask, why on earth would you want to fine me for putting sandbags next to a flooding stream to protect my property? Well, the WSDFW says there are salmon in the stream and you can’t mess with that stream!
Player #5 – Salmon……You Know, the Fish!
Not seen in this particular stream since the late 70's
NOW, HERE’S THE FUN PART!!!!
Even though the City of Kenmore is unwilling to help the residents of the condominium complex, they did bring in a consultant to help the Homeowners Association. The good news is that the owners may someday be able to protect their property. Great. Unfortunately, in order to sandbag the stream, the WSDFW requires a “study” that will cost the homeowners from $50,000 to $70,000. AND, this study may take months. So, the residents must find $50,000 for the study and they are going to be fined during the period it will take to do the study! Don’t you just love these stories?
This is Kind-of Personal
It just so happens that one of my best friends lives in this condominium complex and I can remember when this problem really started. Three years ago the stream in question overflowed. Then it flooded again last year. My question is why it has taken so long for this situation to be addressed in a meaningful way by all the “players?” It’s obvious that the cost will be shifted to the homeowners because that’s what government agencies and cities do when the stuff hit’s the fan. Well, I’d like to suggest that there are other “players” in this game that will be revealed in the future. Let me just say that it isn’t coincidental that this particular stream has been flooding after years of construction in the neighborhoods up the hill from this condominium complex. Could it be that something else is going on here? Well, as this game heads into half-time, I’ll be sure to check back in to let you know how things are going.
Share
