Kenmore Village or Kenmore Twilight Zone?

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO!

Last October I wrote a post entitled “Kenmore Village – Squandering a Chance to Create a 21st Century City” in which I expressed my frustration about the way in which the Kenmore City Council and city leadership have essentially allowed Kenmore Village to become a ghost-town. Pardon me for being so blunt, but it’s a disgrace to see business after business vacate Kenmore Village whilst the City Council clings to the false hope that Urban Partners LLC will someday be developing this site.  To add insult to injury the City of Kenmore is simultaneously building a new City Hall right across the street at great expense.

Kenmore Village is Down to Two Businesses!

On February 10th  the owner of Grocery Outlet told me, officially, that she is moving her store to Kenmore Square at the beginning of April. This means that there will be two businesses left in the square: European Deli and Kenmore Fitness.

So What’s Next?

I’ve got to tell you, I drive past the new City Hall and the almost-empty twilight zone “formerly-known-as-the-Kenmore-Village” every day and I can’t help but wonder why it is that the citizens of Kenmore can’t see the uber-irony in all this.

I can tell you that there are a lot of business owners in Kenmore who feel that the City Council doesn’t care about business development. Some have pointed to their own dealings with the City and many have also pointed to the Kenmore Village as emblematic of a City Leadership that is unresponsive to the realities facing the business community. Everyone wants to know why the City is holding on to Urban Partners LLC WITHOUT A PLAN B!

The Kenmore City Council, Mayor and City Managers owe us an explanation regarding the current status of the Kenmore Village. I don’t think the City of Kenmore can afford to allow the structures in the village to sit empty. When will the City Council tell us what they’re going to do with this important asset? I highly recommend you all get on the phone, call the Mayor and council members and tell them that we want answers regarding the Kenmore Village.

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The Best of Both Worlds – Print Media and the Internet!

Find Your Favorite Newspaper on “Newseum”

Click on this picture to visit Newseum

OK, I admit it, I’m an information junky! I love current events, cultural/political debate and I’m endlessly fascinated with languages and human communication. I remember how much I enjoyed “current events” assignments in school. I also remember how little information the average person had at his/her fingertips before the advent of the Internet. Ironically, we are now BOMBARDED with so much information (a lot of it questionable) that it’s sometime hard to wrap one’s head around all the interesting/important things going on in the world. How does one get grounded anymore?

I have found that in most of the world today, the majority of people still obtain information via local newspapers. Even though print journalism in the U.S. has suffered the loss of some 40,000 professional journalists in the last several years, most bloggers and “citizen journalists” rely heavily on professional publications of record such as the NY Times (just one example) . So I was excited when one of my college buddies sent me the link to Newseum. Not only can you read daily publications in the U.S., you can find newspapers from around the world:

Newseum Hosts Global Newspapers

Pick a continent, then click on an city to find a newspaper!

If you’re interested in Europe, Asia or the Middle East you can find publications:

LIVORNO, ITALY

BEIRUT, LEBANON

TAIPEI, TAIWAN

It’s humbling to see how many different languages, cultures and world-views there are on our planet. I can read a bit of Italian and some German but most of the world communicates in non-Indo European languages: Arabic, Sino-Tibetan (Chinese and other Asian tongues) and many others. I wish I had another life to learn a few more languages!

I would encourage you to check out this fascinating resource. You can spend forever here!

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I’m Not the Only One Bummed About the Rain!

After Some Unseasonably Beautiful Weather the Rain Is Back

Someone isn't happy!

I was at a grocery store yesterday and as I was heading back to my car I saw this poor creature hanging his head in disgust. He was clearly bummed-out about the rain….just look at him!

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKIN AT? YOU GOT A PROBLEM WIT DAT?

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Grocery Outlet Is Moving to a New Kenmore Location

“Moving a Whole Store Is a HUGE Project”

Judy Bartlow's Guiding Principles of Success!

I was fortunate to finally catch up with Judy Bartlow, the Owner/Operator of Kenmore’s Grocery Outlet. She is one incredibly busy person and it was obvious that sitting her down for a chat was going to be a challenge. I had been trying to do and interview with her since before Christmas when the owner of Kenmore Square told me Grocery Outlet had signed a lease and was moving from its long-time location at Kenmore Village. Well, it’s now official. Grocery Outlet is moving. Judy told me the target date for opening the new store is April 8th. She also told me that planning and executing this move is a Herculean project.

The Current Location of Grocery Outlet at Kenmore Village

Grocery Outlet is moving from the Kenmore Village location.....to

The Future Home of Grocery Outlet at Kenmore Square

...to 7808 NE Bothell Way in Kenmore Village

Judy has been the Owner of Grocery Outlet since 2004 and as she reflected on her long career in the grocery/retail business, it was obvious that she’s one of those fortunate people who has found meaning and fulfilment through her work. She told me that being the owner of GO freed her from the “corporate life” and has allowed her to truly give back to her customers, community and employees. As is the case with so many business owners, Judy has spent a huge amount of time nurturing and training her staff to create a winning team of professionals. She feels as if her staff has created a family at GO and that they go about the business of operating a successful operation by sharing a “common conversation.”

A Nice Store with Great Values and Wide Variety of Merchandise

Judy explained that Grocery Outlet is unique in many ways. Unlike many grocery store chains, GO has a staff of buyers who spend a lot of time travelling the whole world in search of good values and unique products. She proudly stated that “we are master merchants.” As you walk the isles of GO you will not only find familiar name brand products but also a huge variety of items you won’t see at other stores: I noticed some very high quality Italian Olive Oil’s and interesting wines at good prices.

I asked Judy who the average GO shopper is. “We attract a wide range of shopper. Of course there are those looking for bargains who want a good deal; however, we find a lot of local residents shop at our store.” She also mentioned that she has a lot of “long term wine shoppers!”

I was mightily impressed with Judy and her Grocery Outlet. Her enthusiasm for her store, her employees, community and industry is infectious. She has spent a lot of time cultivating a great business and she has also given back to the City of Kenmore through a number of charitable events and programs (The Childhood Cancer Care Line, Easter Egg Hunt and a Feed a Family Program).

The City of Kenmore is lucky that Grocery Outlet is staying here as it is truly a jewel in our business community crown. Let’s send some good energy to Judy and her staff and wish them a smooth transition to the new location. This is exciting! Oh, did I mention that GO will be very close to my house!!! I can’t wait!

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An Antidote to Stupidity – Naomi Klein and Barbara Ehrenreich

Quit Listening to Stupid People

My wife and I were in Italy when Sarah Palin was chosen as John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 elections. My relatives turned to us and asked, Chi e’? Who is that? Of course we had no idea then and, frankly, after over a year of undeserved attention and overexposure, I’m still not sure who she is. Even tonight, as she addressed the “Tea Bagger Convention” all she can seem to parrot are worn-out clichés and political half-truths. I am sure of one thing: She’s not the fastest bullet in the chamber. In fact, what so disturbs me about Mrs. Palin is that anyone takes her seriously as a politician, leader or thoughtful person.

In the brilliant book “Outliers,” by Malcolm Gladwell, the author identifies what he calls the 10,000 hour rule. Studies suggest that the key to success in any field has nothing to do with talent. It’s simply practice, 10,000 hours of it — 20 hours a week for 10 years. And you know something, it’s clear listening to Mrs. Palin that she has spent very little time cultivating her intellect (or much else it seems).

So, as an antidote to stupidity, I invite you to watch the  clips below that feature two of the smartest kids in the class, Naomi Klein and Barbara Ehernreich. Both of these brilliant thinkers are not only accomplished authors and lecturers but women who have addressed some of the most important and provocative issues of our time. Ah, it’s nice to listen to smart people:

Naomi Klein – The Shock Doctrine

Barbara Ehrenreich – Bright Sided

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A Conversation On Body, Mind, Spirit, Nature and Medicine

Don’t Miss this Fascinating Conversation at Bastyr University

Warren Etheredge

A series of conversations on Body, Mind, Spirit, Nature and Medicine - Feb. 8

Bastyr University is proud to host a series of conversations examining the intersections of science, spirituality and medicine. The events are presented by the Bastyr University Center for Spirituality, Science and Medicine and will be moderated by Warren Etheredge of The Warren Report.

Event Details:

Where: Bastyr University Chapel, 14500 Juanita Dr. N.E., Kenmore, WA 98028
When: Musical conversation begins at 6:30 p.m.
Moderated conversation is 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Advance Tickets: $15/night, $40 for series
At the Door: $20
Students: $10/night, $25 for series
Dine in Bastyr’s award-winning, vegetarian cafeteria before the conversation. Open until 6:30 before the event.

Spirit conversation:

When: Monday, February 8, 2010
With: Rabbi Ted Falcon, PhD, Terrill Gibson, PhD, and Leanna Standish, ND, PhD, LAc
Music: By Thomas Arthur
Register online for this lecture.

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The Omnivore’s Dilemma – What We Eat Matters…A Lot

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”:

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.

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Kenmore Home Sales, Janary 2010 – Not Bad Compared to 2009!

Warm Weather Brought a Warmer Real Estate Market to Kenmore

Last night I attended our neighborhood annual Home Owner’s Association Meeting and there was a lot of concern about property values and questions about how the real estate market was going to perform in 2010. There is no reason to believe that 2010 will bring much change to this tough market. Lending continues to be tight and I have a sense that the job market will have more of a negative impact on the market than does price or inventory. Even so, last month buyers were obviously taking advantage of tax credits and low interest rates. So let’s take a quick look at January which turned out to be a good month for home sales in Kenmore:

ACTIVE LISTINGS

We saw a 31% decrease in inventory compared to last January (148). I believe a lot of homeowners have finally realized that unless they absolutely MUST move, they are staying put. One interesting factor this last month was the number of new construction homes that were offered and sold. Currently, 27% of the active listing are new construction and many of these homes (DH Horton homes) are smaller 1500-2000 square foot houses at the low $300,ooo price point. It was a smart move to build smaller. The builder is also offering some attractive buyer’s incentives. 39% of the inventory has dropped in price and many of these price reductions are significant.

PENDING SALES

Pending sales are encouraging as they represent homes that are in the sales process. Last January there were only 19 pending sales. It’s also a positive sign that the days-on-market are fairly low at 64 days. Something to keep in mind is that 43% of the pending sales are new construction. Only 16% were “distressed” properties.

SOLD HOMES

Last January there were a whopping 8 homes that sold! We did much better this year. Of course, this time last year we were still recovering from the most severe winter in many years and that certainly made things tough; however, it’s nice to see that we had some good activity. I would like to point out that fully 58% of the homes that sold last month were new construction, most of which were the lower priced properties. As the new homes are sold out, it will be interesting to see how the remaining inventory will sell. I can tell you that selling a home that’s over $450,000 is  challenging.

So the 2010 real estate market started out much better than last year. Let’s hope that the momentum continues. If you have any questions regarding the Kenmore housing market or have questions about the value of your home, please give me a call at 206.713.2102 or email me at jlupori@gmail.com.

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A Stunning Discovery – Our 1st Home Is “For Sale” and We Want To Cry!

Seeing Our First Home “For Sale” Is a Real Wake Up Call!

Our 1st Home circa 1990 in Shoreline, WA

My wife and I have a confession to make: We bought our first home because there was a raspberry patch in the back yard. Yup. That’s what sold us on the place! We were looking for a house with room for a garden and when we ate some of those sweet, ripe berries we were hooked. When we think back on it, we realize that we should have spent more time looking at the house itself because….well, we have 16 years of “home project” stories to share with you if you ever want to hear them.

It’s a classic story. We had been looking at homes in 1989 which was a tough time for a young couple to be buying their first house. Prices were rising, interest rates weren’t all that great (our first mortgage was at 10.25%) and a huge number of homes were being purchased by Californians who saw good values in Puget Sound. We had looked at a huge number of homes with our VERY PATIENT real estate agent and were losing patience as we kept getting beaten out of sales left and right. Luckily,  our agent found a home that wasn’t yet listed and a contractor who was anxious to make a deal. Well, we ended up writing our offer on the hood of a car in the parking lot of the Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle on a warm July evening. We were excited and really, really scared!

We lived in our little house (barely 800 square feet) for 16 years. There was hardly one square inch of the place that we didn’t alter, remodel, tweak or paint. When it came to the yard Virginia was the “Flower Lady” and I was the “Vegetable Guy.” Necessity forced me to learn all about the challenges of owing an old home. Sometimes this was not very fun but today, as a real estate agent, the experiences of fixing that little house have made me a better advocate for my clients. I still can’t fix a leaking faucet!

The truth is, WE REALLY LOVED OUR HOUSE. Several of our cats were born, grew-up and died at that house. We entertained and frolicked there. It was a wonderful little universe that we made our own for many, many years. That’s why, when I drove through the old neighborhood on the way home from an appointment today, I was shocked to see a “For Sale” sign in front of our first house. A wave of intense emotion literally gripped me as I pulled into the driveway and saw the old house all “prettied-up” for potential buyers:

Manicured and "prettied-up" for sale!

When I drove up to the house, I discovered it was vacant. I have to tell you, I really struggled to get the key and go into our old house. I had not been in the home since we sold it and moved here to Kenmore in 2005 and I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel walking into a place where my wife and I had lived for so long…………..

As it turned out, I was surprised to find that the home was almost the same as we left it 5 years ago.  I was also overcome with a sense that Virginia and I had been good stewards of this little house as had the last owner. We really exerted a lot of  hard work to make the house a better place when we lived there and as I write these words I’m proud that it’s going to be another lucky family’s home. It really is a cute little place.

When I got home today to share my experience and pictures with my wife she was very emotional. After all, we were in our 20’s when we bought the house and we became “real adults” living there with our crazy cats.  It was a time in our lives when we learned how to deal with many of the challenges life throws at us. Most importantly, we share some wonderful memories of good times and creating a life together in that little house. I hope the new owners find as much joy there as we did.

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RIP Howard Zinn – The People’s Historian

If You Haven’t Read Howard Zinn, You’re Not Educated

It has often been said that History is told by the powerful. Well, when it comes to American History, Howard Zinn challenged and defeated that notion in 1980 with his powerfully influential work, “A People’s History of the United States.”

Required Reading for All Americans!

Howard Zinn, a professor of History at Boston University, generated a great deal of controversy among scholars and critics with “A People’s History” because he wrote about the American story from the perspective of slaves, the poor and working people. For those of you who haven’t yet read this book, I highly recommend you do. It very well may give you a different perspective of “populism” and class struggle in the U.S..

For those of you unfamiliar with Howard Zinn and want a quick insight into his thinking, take a look at this interview with him in 2008. Howard Zinn: one of the good guys!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wajahat-ali/the-late-great-howard-zin_b_439481.html

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