Heads Up, 7-Up. Redwood at High Point nearly sold out

Won't you be my neighbor?

Polygon Homes, one of 5 developers building at The High Point, has very few units available in their 96 unit Redwood at High Point condominium community (plus 7 SFR houses). These are ready to move in to today - aren't you lucky?? I have to wait until August before getting the keys to my townhome there.

Both units currently being advertised are "Genesee" floor plans, which are 2 bedroom 2 bath condo suites with single car garages.

"Lot 906" (building 9) is either a 2nd or 3rd floor 2 bedroom, 2 bath suite with a one car garage (2nd floor is direct access, 3rd floor is not attached). Click here for the floor plan. This building faces west, and this unit has a deck with a view of the pond and Puget Sound. All of the homes here are very nicely appointed, gourmet kitchens with maple shaker cabinets with brushed nickel handpulls, and stainless steel Whirlpool appliances. The master bath includes a shower with a handset ceramic tile surround.

"Lot 1001" (building 10) is a ground floor 2 bedroom 2 bath suite with an attached one car garage that walks right into the gourmet kitchen. Click here for the floorplan. This building also faces west. This unit has over $6,000 in upgrades - which translates to a hardwood entry and upgraded carpet in the dining room (according to their flyer). This ground floor unit faces the park, close to city views, and a nice trail (around the pond). This unit happens to be ADA compliant and accessible - something hard to find. It's ready to move in NOW.

If you are interested in taking a closer look at The High Point, it's one of the few developments of its kind, inside the city limits. If you would like to have buyer representation, a Buyer's Agent, please email me at wendyhj@greenspacesrealestate.com. Polygon pays SOC (selling office commission) so it won't cost you a thing to have someone on your side. I know the sales staff, the community, and am moving there myself so have been through the many hoops that a developer such as Polygon makes you jump through. I've lived in West Seattle for 10 years, so if you are moving from out-of-area, I can get you plugged in to the many wonderful things there are to be found in West Seattle.

High Point Highlights:

A friendly front-porch community

Parks and playgrounds, sidewalks and trail -West Seattle Parks and Trails

Places to walk, run, bike or just plain escape -Longfellow Creek

The High Point Pond offers spectacular views, night and day

Future mixed-use retail center with grocery, shops and conveniences

A beautiful new branch of the Seattle Public Library right in your backyard -High Point Library

Built Green(TM) & Sustainable Living -Green Living EXPO

A Built GreenTM community with environmentally sensitive land plan - Neighborhood tries to honor Mother Nature's runoff rules

All the great shops, bistros, entertainment and services of West Seattle nearby - Things to do in West Seattle

Close to downtown, easy access to I-5, I-90, SR-99, SR-518 -Directions to High Point West Seattle

Highly rated West Seattle Golf Course within blocks

A true city neighborhood mixing incomes, ethnicity, origin, culture and interests -Elizabeth Stubblefield Article

Q&A: Local impact of global warming

Seattle Times' Climate Challenge has been running all month long. Read the "live Q&A" online transcript from today's session with Amy Snover and Jeremy Littell, scientists with the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group.

Visit the Seattle Times Climate Challenge homepage to learn more about reducing your carbon footprint.

Dog + yoga = Doga

New session begins June 3rd!

I spent Sunday afternoons in March participating in a new "yoga with your dog" class at the Seattle King County Humane Society facility on SE Eastgate Way in Bellevue. The instructor, Brenda Bryan, teaches a "Gentle Yoga" class at 8 Limbs Yoga in The Junction of West Seattle - and has recently added a new dog yoga class at the Capitol Hill location of Downtown Dog Lounge.

I've been bugging her for a West Seattle location since the first day of class. I'd spent months looking for a dog yoga class because of a show shown on Animal Planet in 2005/06, called "K9 Karma". I was a recent dog adopter and watched lots of dog shows to learn more about them (dogs, not shows). Host Kari Harendorf, who is a dog trainer and also owns a yoga studio in New York City, began and ended each show in the yoga studio with her students and their dogs, but she and her shepherd mix, Charlie (aka Peanut) would go on adventures all across NYC. It was a great way to be a tourist in New York, told from the dog's perspective. I longed for a yoga class here - and kept googling "dog yoga" for over a year until finally something turned up. I was lucky to find the Humane Society class flyer online about a week before class started, althought I was too late for the initial orientation.

I encourage yoga practitioners of all levels (and no experience is required at all, really) to try Yoga With Your Dog! I found it a fun class, and very relaxing for my Italian greyhound, Sophia. Unfortunately for me, my dog weighs only 16 pounds and isn't much of a "yoga prop" for me, even tho she did make a great partner. When Brenda brings a class to West Seattle, you can bet I will be there!

Read "Doing yoga, doggie style" (April 3rd)

Read or Listen to "Yoga Class Incorporates Canine Partners" on NPR (May 18th)

Visit Brenda Bryan's web site

View the Yoga With Your Dog flyer from Seattle King County Humane Society. A new session starts June 3rd!

Sparking a culinary revolution

The latest body+soul email newsletter links to an online exclusive on the MSLO web site - an interview with Chef Alice Waters, regarding sustainable food, kids' eating habits, and more.

They also have published a web-exclusive resource list of programs to help you become an organic farmer.

If you're interested in visiting a successful, local organic farm - or even learning and working on one - Full Circle Farm in Carnation has some openings and also offers internships with some nice rewards. You can also buy their produce at over a dozen local area farmers markets.

Want to own your own farm in Carnation? Click here to see current listings of real estate for sale in the fast growing east King County town of Carnation.

And go play in the dirt today!

Another fine example of the greening of development

Came across a great post on Seattlest about Saltaire's use of a goat clearing crew from "Rent-a-Ruminant" on Vashon Island for a quarter acre building lot at a very busy intersection, Dearborn and Rainier. Goats are more eco-friendly because they're an alternative to using heavy equipment. Saltaire Homes is one of the green builders at The High Point in West Seattle.

Read Goats! Goats in the Central District

A guide to area farmers markets

Hot off the press and in today's Seattle Times. Read or print out A guide to area farmers markets

Transcript of Live Residential Real Estate Q&A from seattletimes.com

Read the Q&A session here.

Sustainable West Seattle

Last night I attended the inaugaural meeting of a newly formed group, Sustainable West Seattle. Nearly 40 people were in attendance and we nearly overflowed the meeting room at the High Point Library on 35th and Raymond. We were visited by one of the founding members of Sustainable Ballard, who was able to share some of her experiences and give some advice about trying to start a group like this.

Hot topics discussed included
· Eating Locally
· Energy Efficiency
· Local Transportation Solutions
· Green Building
· Green Space Protection and Advocacy
· Sustainable Landscaping and Gardening
· Water Conservation

But the number one topic discussed was Transportation - using public transportation to, from, in, and around West Seattle can be very challenging and takes a lot of time due to Metro's inefficiency. There are a lot of people interested in working on and improving transportation!

One of my personal interests is local food, as evidenced by my three years serving as Secretary on the Board of P-Patch Trust. My term ends on Wednesday, freeing me for other projects or organizations. My plan was to focus on more animal-related efforts, but with our move to High Point this summer and the new direction of my real estate business (I will be a Built Green "special agent" soon!), I expect to be busy with HOAs (for my local condo community and also the Master Community of High Point) - and now Sustainable West Seattle.

Sustainable West Seattle is just getting off the ground and trying to figure out what members' interests are and what skills and experience volunteers can bring to the organization. The group plans to meet on the 3rd Monday of every month - and smaller groups of volunteers may meet more often if working on a project. The location may move around, so be sure to check the web site for the most current information!

First-time buyers find ray of hope in condos

Great article in today's Seattle Times. Read First-time buyers find ray of hope in condos

Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis

Wow, this is too cool. A whole web site and series of 7 global music concerts in support of greening the Earth and reducing global warming. It's an MSN channel that "melds music and movement". Live Earth, as MSN editorial director Mark Pawlosky points out in his inaugural column, “is a user-friendly, green-tinged site wrapped around one of the most ambitious music events of all time”.

The date to remember? 07/07/07
In fact, you can even click on a link to automatically add the appointment to your Outlook Calendar - or your MSN Calendar, Google Calendar, Yahoo Calendar, Apple iCal - or get "Windows Live" alerts.

I signed up for the newsletter.

Luckily it's a Saturday or else I would have to take the day off work to watch!

Put it on your calendar! Visit Live Earth and the Alliance for Climate Pretection, the beneficiary of this fundraising effort.

There is even a section on the web site called Green - that gives you tons of tips on how to live green, reduce your footprint, and your contribution to the global warming problem.

Where does Seattle fit into all this?

Seattle is listed as one of the 10 greenest cities in the United States according to the Live Earth web site.

Read how Seattle's current Mayor Greg Nickels has led us in meeting the emissions reduction targets of the Kyoto Protocol, and challenged every mayor in the U.S. to do the same.

Climate Challenge Daily Tip and Phinney's EcoVillage

Wow, this article is so cool! I want to see if I can implement something like this in my own neighborhood. Need to find some like-minded neighbors!

Read Neighborhoods battle global warming on a small scale

Green home remodeling still a gray area

May is National Home Remodeling Month and all the talk is about going green! Here in the Pacific Northwest we have the guidance of BuiltGreen. But, there was an interesting article on MSNBC.com about the lack of National Standards. Read Green home remodeling still a gray area

Light bulb may be on its way out

I don't want to contribute to global warming any more than you do, but have you ever kicked around a couple of CFLs for 6 months while waiting for a trip to the transfer station? CFLs can not be disposed in the regular trash because they contain mercury. So they last for years, but when they finally do burn out, getting rid of them is a pain.

LEDs may be an option! I want to hear more about this and will be paying attention as this technology progresses. Read Light bulb may be on its way out

Home In On It

From the Master Builders Association web site:

New Comcast ON DEMAND builder show

After working closely with the Master Builders Association, Comcast Cable will be premiering a new channel in their ON DEMAND line up. Northwest Living is an ON DEMAND network dedicated to local builders, contractors, professional services and home and garden-related retailers.

A special feature on this channel is a program called “Home In On It.” This segment will offer tips and information useful to Seattle area homeowners while providing our members with a chance to showcase their services. Other associations have had great success with similar programs in several markets across the nation.

The Master Builders Association has committed its support by becoming the presenting sponsor for “Home In On It,” an original, locally produced program. A launch lunch for the first program is being held at the MBA, Tuesday, May 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Seating is limited so R.S.V.P. to the Events department at events@mbaks.com or (425) 451-7920.

Safe, local food: it's yours, at a price

Good article in the Seattle Times today about local and sustainably grown food. I shop at the West Seattle farmers market every Sunday as long as I am in town. I am happy to have Sea Breeze Farm at the market this year! They just started their booth in January, during the "off-season", when only the hard-core farmer holdouts keep coming (like our good friend Wade at Rockridge Orchard and Cidery).

One place we have never cut corners on is our food. A lot easier to do for us than others since we are a child-free household and don't have other hungry mouths to feed other than our own!

Social engineering? Or a great idea?

There's a fabulous article in the Seattle Times today, discussing the redevelopment of Holly Park into NewHolly (in southeast Seattle). This is what is happening now at High Point in West Seattle - where my husband and I are moving to in August (we are waiting for our building to be completed).

NewHolly is a few years ahead of High Point. It is good to have a model and other people to talk to about how to overcome barriers between neighbors.

Read A new neighborhood built to tear down old barriers

Real Estate Roundup

Some expert comments on our spring real estate market in the Puget Sound region.
Buying a home here: You'll pay even more

Bank of America eliminates closing costs

Wow! Bank of America eliminates closing costs

Home prices remain steady

Today in the Seattle P-I (online): Home prices remain steady

Does green mean business?

Great post by Ideal Bite on green MBA business school.

TOUR -- Ravenna Craftsman Bungalows: Welcome Home

From Seattle Architectural Foundation newsletter:

We’ve just learned that we will have interiors for the May 19 Ravenna bungalows tour. This tour will be given twice this year, the second time on Sunday, September 30 as part of Historic Seattle’s Bungalow Fair.

May 19
TOUR -- Ravenna Craftsman Bungalows: Welcome Home
Date: Saturday, May 19
Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Where: The tour will meet in the neighborhood. Logistics will be sent with email reminder.
Cost: $10 in advance, $12 day of tour (if space available)

Featuring informal plans, handsome woodwork, plus stone or river rock foundations and chimneys, these practical and structurally honest homes thoroughly convey early 20th-century Seattle. Interiors included.

Register online at www.seattlearchitecture.org or call 206.667.9184 with your V/MC. Walk-ups welcome if space is available.

REGISTER

"Green Building" "Sustainability" What does it mean?

From the Seattle Architectural Foundation calendar:

"Green Building" "Sustainability" What does it mean? We hear and see these terms every day. The King Street Center one-hour tour on May 11 is an opportunity for you to learn more about green building and sustainability.

May 11
TOUR – Green Building Tour: King Street Center
Co-sponsored by King County Green Building Program and Urban Green
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Where: King Street Center
Cost: $10 in advance, no walk-ups accepted
King Street Center is the first building in the Pacific Northwest and one of only a handful nationwide to receive a Gold level rating from the U.S. Green Building Council for features in existing buildings that help conserve natural resources and protect the environment. Gold is the second highest rating possible through the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED®-EB) program.

For more information click here. Tour logistics will be sent with the registration reminder.
Register online at www.seattlearchitecture.org/tours or call 206.667.9184 with your V/MC.

Green Building tours give you the opportunity to walk and talk with the architects, engineers, project managers, clients and developers involved in bringing some of our region’s first “green buildings” to life. Find out about green building certifications such as LEED and BuiltGreen and how these buildings are creating a more sustainable future for our cities, our region and our planet. Seattle Architecture Foundation, King County Green Buildings Program and Urban Green have teamed up to provide six Green Building tours this year.

Fab Floors

A great article about eco-friendly floors in the latest Natural Home and Garden magazine. We had Marmoleum linoleum installed in our kitchen about 3 years ago - because I couldn't stand the old floor but we weren't ready to remodel and totally redo the kitchen. It was an affordable fix.

'Urban' farmers riding the trend for fresh, local

Some of our favorite farmers are quoted in this great story in today's Seattle P-I. Steve comes with me to the farmers market JUST to talk to Wade Bennett of Rockridge Orchards. We took a MINI Cooper group there when going on a drive around Mt. Rainier in 2003 and have visited a few times since. Jeff Miller is also a great guy to talk to, and his farm is in my "hometown" of Monroe.

Green construction saves money and energy

Great article on green construction on MSNBC.com. Also, America Goes Green (video from NBC Nightly News.)

The New Legend of Smallfoot

Here in the Northwest the legend of Bigfoot runs rampant. The nearly 100-year old story is actually repeated on many continents with different names.

Now there's a new kind of footprint, and I think we should call it "The Story of Smallfoot", since it's not a legend of lore, but reality. This new footprint should be smaller than a human's, instead of the size of Sasquatch's foot. Your "carbon footprint", according to Wikipedia: "is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide or CO2 emitted through the combustion of fossil fuels; in the case of an individual or household, as part of their daily lives;

A carbon footprint is often expressed as tons of carbon dioxide or tons of carbon emitted, usually on a yearly basis. There are many versions of calculators available for carbon footprinting.
This is directly related to the amount of natural resources consumed, increasingly used or referred to as a measure of environmental impact. Carbon dioxide is recognized as a greenhouse gas, of which increasing levels in the atmosphere are linked to global warming and climate change."

There wasa great personal story in the Seattle Times today that I enjoyed and appreciated. I recycle and try to reuse things, too, but I admit not to the extent of this family. Read Simple Steps Reduce Carbon Footprints

Can you think of 3 ways to reduce your carbon footprint, today?

I can...

1. Try to buy more bulk foods, so I can use reusable containers and use less packaging, that ends up in the recycle bin, but it would be better to not have used it at all
2. Plant a garden to grow salad and other vegetables. It is hard for me to commit to this, this year, since I will be moving at the end of August - but I can dig up my plants and take them with me to start my deck container garden at the new place.
3. Public transportation is real difficult for me. But I have started parking in a central location and walking to a bunch of different shops at once, for exercise and also to save the gas/hassle of parking in different spots. Last Thursday I had a massage appointment and I also need to go to a pet store, so I parked at the pet store, walked 10-12 blocks to my appt., then walked back and did my shopping (I had Sophia with me so we got some good exercise!). It only took about 15 minutes each way and I got my walk in for the day. I am going to try to do that sort of thing more often.