Ravenna Park - North

Ravenna Park North - THIS BLOG - Is Moving

2011-02-13T16:27:28Z

I started this blog a few years ago in an effort to engage the Ravenna Park Community in dialogs about our neighborhood. It has provided me with a place to lean a little about blogging, to express some of my opinions and to make mention of various events that impact this part of Seattle.

Then along came the gigantic issue of the Sisley properties and what might become of them. I removed that topic from here and took it to a new blog site: Roosevelt-Ravenna Zoning Issues. That site has been more successful as far as reaching readers. I wanted it to be an open site where anyone with a stake in the future of Ravenna and Roosevelt development could post, not only comments, but also write articles and express their opinions in a more meaningful way. That has worked to a small degree and I hope it grows in the future. The future of those properties is the biggest issue confronting the community at this time. Please go there and tell us how you feel.

About a year ago I became very actively engaged with the Active Rain platform. Active Rain is a blogging site where real estate professionals from around the country meet, write blogs and discuss real estate trends, techniques, and technology. It is a fantastic site to learn how to blog. A second be equal branch of Active Rain is the advertising function where agents can post listings which they are marketing. The site is open to the public. Take a look.

As Active Rain further developed it incorporated a blogging method known as Community Pages. Start at activerain.com and search state, city, or neighborhood and you will be taken to the page where one of several local real estate professionals write about the neighborhoods in which they live and work. There is excellent local information there and a much better presentation than I have been able to muster here. Check out Ravenna Park.

Through Active Rain, I have learned something about networking and online networking. With that information I have just created a networking blog with four other professionals. A lender, and escrow person, an inspector and a title company representative. I'd like to have an appraiser, a stager, and possibly a few others join the group but haven't found them yet. We are known as the Puget Sound Real Estate Professionals and are attempting to raise and discuss issues of interest to buyers and sellers in the Puget Sound area. This site just began in January.

I work at Lake and Company Real Estate and we have an office blog: Lake at Home. I contribute there along with several other agents.

Another blogging site, Posterous caught my attention and I was interested enough to create a blog I call A Realtor's Diary. This is a site where I have fun or whine about how my days go.

Thanks for coming here. I've enjoyed it, but it is time to move forward. Blogging is the future of new, especially in the neighborhoods. And bloggers love company. Stop by one of my other sites and say hi once in a while. I'd love to hear from you.

Ravenna Ravine Work Party Saturday

2011-01-13T00:11:32Z

The Friends of Ravenna Ravine will be in the park this Saturday, the 15th. Here's the word from George.

"We will be getting ready to plant bare root shrubs in
February. The emphasis will be on getting the last of the blackberry and any
holly, laurel or ivy seedlings where we will be planting.

We don't know yet when we will get plants, if it is not in time for next months regular work party we may have to move the date or do an extra day.

We will be working west (up stream) of the complex trail junction we often use as a staging area where the small tributary stream comes in from the north. The same areas we were working in last month.

As usual: Meet at the Kiosk (near the Tool Box). Ravenna Park lower play field in SE Ravenna Park, North of NE 55th St. and North of the ball field at 10Am on Saturday. We work until 12:30.

You will be most comfortable if you wear layers of clothes, and sturdy shoes, that you don't mind getting dirty. bring water. Tools and gloves will be provided."

Everyone and anyone is welcome to help out. As the city cuts back on projects because of budget shortfalls, the community and park neighbors need to step forward to keep our parks in good condition. We all know what happens when ivy and blackberry are allowed to take over.

Saturday's adventure is only 2 and a half hours. Come lend a hand.

Naomi Circle Work Almost Complete

2010-12-28T03:51:27Z

It seems almost anticlimactic to finish this project right now. So many of the people who worked on it are away for the holidays. The plants are in such a beginning stage and dormant at the moment as well.

So for now, the celebration party will have to wait. There will be more work in the future. Always a garden needs weeding, and mulching and pruning and so forth. This particular garden will also need a frequent litter removal. But we all can do that on a daily basis as we walk through.

Recently George trimmed the trees that were growing out over the street and they are looking pretty good right now. One of them needs some repair work. Here are some pictures provided by Woody from when the circle was covered with ivy and the removal had just begun and then a short video look-around of all the plants and trees that have been put in over the past few months I took just before Woody and I picked up the pruning debris that George completed. . Great job neighborhood. I can't wait to see it flourish.

Activity for the past 30 days in Ravenna Park

2010-12-13T17:42:29Z

As a rule, the real estate market slows considerably in December and on the heels of a slow year, this December is no exception. Some sellers recognized the need to cut their prices drastically and they have achieved sales. It's a time to make your home the most attractive property on the market if you are interested in getting it sold.

There are only 4 homes currently on the market. Two of these just came on in the past week. The other 2 have been on the market for about two months.

One expensive home, the one on NE 62nd now has a firm sale after being on the market for 117 days and having reduced the price from $979,500 to $825,000.

Two other homes have recently closed. 6325 NE 18th came on the market at the real deal price of $315,000 and sold for $325,000 with just 1 day of market time. And across the street at 6328 18th Ave NE, after a whopping 512 days on market, sold for $500,000 after originally being listed for $788,000. Both were listed by out of area agents. Were the prices too high or too low to start with? Were the sellers trying to "test the market" or "just wanting it to sell fast." You be the judge.

I expect things to be pretty quiet through the holiday season. Some buyers will be out looking for a good deal, but most sellers will wait and see what 2011 offers by way of rising prices.

Investors are back in the market. There is job growth in the South Lake Union area and downtown. Financing is easy if your credit is good and the interest rates are exceptionally low.

Naomi Circle Planting Continues

2010-11-15T16:47:11Z

Now is a good time to take look at the progress being made at the Naomi Circle Makeover.

The second round of planting went very well. It's exciting to see some trees in place now as well as Oregon Grape, wild strawberry, kinick kinick, and other native species.

The gravel path will be installed on Dec 5th, I think and other plants as well. Come join the fun.

More planting to do at Naomi Circle

2010-11-11T16:19:34Z

This Sunday, Nov. 14th, another load of plants will be on hand for planting in the New and Improved Naomi Circle. Work has been going on for over a year now and the small park is really taking shape.

So bring a rake, a shovel a hand trowel or anything else you might need to put a few plants in the ground. Or you can bring by some snacks to warm the hearts and the bodies of those planting.

Something to think about: With the ivy gone and the new planting in progress, have you got any ideas for additional features to make this small spot of ground, our oasis in the street, just a little bit better. Would a bird house be a worthwhile addition? A plastic bag dispenser for dog waste?

The neighborhood will continue to maintain this traffic circle. What are your ideas and how will you contribute?
The east side of the circle has many new plants as of last weekend. Stop by Sunday for an hour and help with the second round.

Naomi Circle Now 1/2 planted

2010-11-09T00:40:58Z

On Saturday approximately 280 plants found their new home in Naomi Circle. George did a fine job of organizing the crew and getting the plants distributed. There were 8 flats of 4 inch pots (about 144 plants) and the rest were in gallon containers. The ferns planted are pretty easy to see. The other plants are small now, but with a typical rainy winter we should be able to see the fruits of our labor next spring.

There will be another planting party this coming weekend and that will be scheduled as soon as the shipment of plants can be verified. So stand by for that.

Naomi Circle: The Planting Begins

2010-11-04T22:59:25Z

Traffic Circle Plant list.pdf

The plants have arrived and there will be plenty to do this Saturday November 6, 2010. Make it a point to be at the traffic circle at 10:00 AM Saturday and bring your hand trowel and any other planting devices that may seem appropriate.

There are 8 flats of 4 inch pots and about 30 one gallon pots. The link at the top will give you an idea of the full list of plants and trees intended for the circle.

Here are some pictures of the plants currently on hand:

This project has shown what a community can do when working together. Our donated hours have help pay for the cost of equipment needed and for the plants to be planted here. We have certainly made a positive impact on our neighborhood by contributing a little time on occasion to this project.

Hope to see you there Saturday.

Naomi Circle Work Progresses

2010-09-19T02:19:13Z

Today the Bobcat with cement buster attachment arrived on the scene. Matthew did a bang up job destroying the ancient pavement under the traffic circle in the areas the new trees will be planted.

Cinnamon rolls and bagels arrived along with coffee, juice and water to nourish the workparty. The sun came out and smiled on our progress. It appeared to me to be the largest gathering for a work party yet and my thanks goes out to the many hands who made the work lighter.

The cement was removed from the tree holes and then loaded on the truck and hauled away. A big step forward as we get ready for the trees and the rainy season.

Beat the Heat in Ravenna Park

2010-08-13T02:20:01Z

This Saturday the Friends of Ravenna Park will be working in the shade, starting at the bridge where the service road crosses the creek and the tributary stream comes in from the north, clearing the bindweed off the plantings and pulling other weeds along the way. The forecast is for hot weather but that part of the ravine stays cool in the morning and should not be too bad with the sun rising later than last month. If it gets too hot we will quit early. Bring water!

George says to meet at the Kiosk (near the Tool Box). Ravenna Park lower play field in SE Ravenna Park, North of NE 55th St. and North of the ball field.

You will be most comfortable if you wear layers of clothes, and sturdy shoes, that you don't mind getting dirty. BRING WATER. Tools and gloves will be provided.

If you live anywhere near the park it's a great way to give a little back to this treasure we have here.

There is other work coming up on the Naomi Circle project as well. When the rain starts again the trees and other native plants will arrive and by Spring we will have a wonderful little park right here in the hood.

Ravenna Park and July 2010 Sales

2010-08-10T04:09:06Z

Currently in Ravenna Park there are 7 active listings. A few of them have been around forever. There are now four properties under contract including the one on he corner of 15th Ave NE and NE 63rd Street. That one started at $750,000, got reduced to $650,000 and then to $550,000 and was snatched almost immediately. I wonder who bought that property. Likely a development group with deep pockets.

Two sales closed during July and here they are: July2010.PDF

We'd be happy to show you any of the active listings in the area.

Zoning Information Moved Now

2010-08-05T01:50:14Z

Because of the large amount of Roosevelt and Ravenna zoning changes and projected changes all of that information is being discussed at my Ravenna-Roosevelt Zoning Issues Blog. There is a large amount of importance with zoning issues now that a significat power, RDG, with plenty of backing funds and the false reasoning that, "We are doing it because of the light rail and green house emissions...blah, blah, blah. They are doing it because that's where the property is and they and make a damn fortune developing it. It matters little or nil to them, where it is.

I will limit this site to real estate in Ravenna Park, and other happenings of interest here in the neighborhood where we live.

Naomi Circle Work Crew Digs Deep

2010-07-26T03:57:11Z

About a dozen workers showed up for the continuing effort at the re-landscaping of the Naomi Circle. Sunday was a beautiful, warm summer day and everyone was in good spirits. Some ivy shoots were spotted and quickly dispatched. On the west side of the circle a few of the volunteers went after the sumac runners and there is hope that we will see no more of that plant, here, for now.

Tree holes previously dug on the south and east side of the circle had been completed as far as possible. The backhoe with jackhammer attachment will be needed to penetrate heavy concrete in those areas. About eight of the men worked in rotation on the north tree hole, the eventual home of a pine tree. The top two or three feet of the designated spot was composed of various sized chunks of old concrete mixed in with dirt. Obviously somewhere back in the 70's when the circle was crafted, the broken cement was thought to be good fill prior to covering the area with dirt and then planting the ivy.

Our design was to make sure we penetrated the pavement below the circle to ensure that the roots of the tree would have some place to go. There was a layer of black top probably two inches thick and then we got into a layer of concrete that had pretty well rotted over the years. Using an iron bar, and axle from some ancient vehicle, a pick axe and several shovels we worked at the hole until we got it as deep as we wanted.

This fall, about the time the rains begin, we will be putting the trees in the ground and planting several species of native plants as well. Helping hands are always welcome. It was a delight to have a neighbor bring some cookies and lemonade for refreshment.

The SCCF and a Naomi Circle Work Party

2010-07-23T12:44:06Z

In the neighborhood this week there will be a works party down at the traffic circle. We will be digging some holes for trees and pulling up sum sumac roots. This will all take place on Sunday, July 25th about 10:30 to noon, or so. It should be nice and probably on the warm side. If you don't want to dig or pull roots, you might bring some lemonade and cookies down to the circle to sustain those who are. Doing so also counts for hours work as we amass credits to earn the grant that is paying for the parts of the project for which we need real cash.

In other news, on the night of the 21st there was a scoping process of sorts for the proposed development on 16th and 65th. It was orchestrated in such a way that those attending didn't get to hear the voice of the public. Perhaps the DPD had something to do with that. I wasn't there, but I'll find out more and when I do I'll publish it on the Roosevelt Ravenna Zoning Issues blog.

Last night I went to a meting of the Seattle Community Council Federation. They had a short discussion of the issues concerning the Sisley buildings. I'd never heard of them before and when I find out more, I'll put that on the RRZI blog as well. It might take a few days.

Two meetings of importance this week

2010-07-19T03:27:01Z

On Monday night, July 19th, at 7:00 PM at Calvary Christian Assembly the Roosevelt Land Use Committee will hold its regular monthly meeting. There will be discussion concerning the Roosevelt Development Group's proposal to change zoning in the area. Because of the RDG zoning change application, the Department of Planning and Development has ordered an Environmental Impact Statement to be done. At the land use meeting Monday the format and content of how to get the EIS to consider particular impacts will be shared. Try to be there.

On Wednesday, July 21st, at 6:30 in the same building the DPD will host the scoping meeting. Come prepared with written statements to present to the DPD about which impacts this development will have on the community so that they can be studied by the entity doing the EIS.

The bigger the crowd the better. This meeting will be recorded. Our community when standing together can prevent poor development options. This is surely a case of disrespect for the work of our community leaders and the well thought out plan for increasing density in this area. I hope you can make it to this meeting.