Looking Ahead to Sunny Weather

Oregon is famous for its rain. From November to early June, that is a big part of living in the Pacific Northwest. So I think of late March and early April in much the same way that the modern office worker thinks of Wednesday. This is the “hump” time: rather like Wednesday in the middle of the week. We are half way through our rainy season and looking ahead to the onset of warm and sunny days.

Last summer I took a trip to the Oregon Garden with the specific idea to share it with readers of the blotter. But rather than post it in July, when everywhere you looked was sunshine and gorgeous, lush foliage, I decided to save it for getting us all over the hump in the rainy season. So here you have it. We are now getting over the hump an looking ahead to sunny weather.

The Oregon Garden
The Oregon Garden has a special place in my heart for a couple of reasons. My sister-in-law’s father, Bill Gerber (former mayor of Lake Oswego), was one of the founders of the garden. And my Mom, back in her active days as a Realtor, worked with Bill Gerber to find the land to create the garden. I also have a huge fondness for the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, B.C. as my husband and I visited them on our honeymoon in 1981. The Oregon Garden was founded by the Oregon Association of Nurserymen, in partnership with the City of Silverton, in 1995. The location of the garden was chosen for its gently rolling terrain, which provides variety and is easy to walk, and the abundant availability of water. The City of Silverton uses the garden to recycle its treated wastewater. This means that there is a constant source of water to serve the garden as well as the fountains and ponds.

To get to the garden, it is an easy drive from several exits off of Interstate 5. The route is well marked with signs near Woodburn and just North of Salem. It is about a 40 minute drive Southeast of Portland. When I go, driving from Lake Oswego, I go South on Stafford Road and take the back-country roads over the Willamette River at the Canby Ferry. I like the back roads because I like to drive and I like to stop at produce stands to buy fruits and vegetables direct from the farmers. It’s a gorgeous way to spend an afternoon.

The Garden is open October to April from 10am to 4pm, and May to September from 9am to 6pm. Admission is $10 for Adults, $9 for Seniors (60 and older), $8 for Students (8-17 years old), and children (7 and younger) are free. The price of admission includes use of the Tram which runs throughout the Garden for anyone who needs assistance getting around or if you’re just ready to sit and relax.

Along with the Garden having a cafe and large meeting room, there is a luxury hotel, The Oregon Garden Resort, which has a spa, restaurant, lounge, and meeting facilities for business conferences and wedding receptions.

The Garden itself is divided into a variety of landscapes to showcase the abundant variety of plants, trees and flowers that thrive in Oregon. There is a whimsical Children’s Garden, a Rose Garden, a Conifer Garden, a Water Garden, a Green Roof, and a Home Demonstration Garden, to name just a few. I am really big on flowers. Give me flowers, flowers, everywhere and I am a happy lady. So I was caught by surprise when I found that I especially enjoyed the Conifer Garden. I was with a friend who has several dogs. She was looking for landscape ideas for trees that wouldn’t hurt if her little blind dog ran into it. So we were touching and smelling and really participating in the Conifer Garden. I was amazed.

The other thing I really recommend is visiting The Gorden House, which is located at The Oregon Garden. The Gordon House was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1957. It is the only Frank Lloyd Wright house in Oregon, and the only one open to the public in the Pacific Northwest. Fans of architecture will understand that seeing a Frank Lloyd Wright house is a privilege. To get to do this on the same day that you visit a gorgeous garden is just icing on the cake.

The Garden hosts events year around. Some coming up in the near future are the Easter Egg Hunt on April 3rd (egg hunts for ages 0-3, 4-6, and 7-10; held at 11am, noon, and 1pm), Brewfest on April 23rd and 24th, a Motorcycle Show on May 22nd (I’ll be there with my husband, I can promise you), and a plant sale on June 12th.

So don’t give up. Don’t throw in the towel, although you may need to wring it out. The nice weather is just around the corner. And also remember that it is the long and rainy spring that makes Oregon so lush when the sun comes out in June. See you at the Garden!
Dianne

Race for The Cure

pink ribbonIf you have been reading the Propertyblotter for awhile, you know that I am a big supporter of the annual Race for the Cure.  I am now a 2-year breast cancer survivor.  It’s a club I never wanted to join, but now that I’m in it, I’m doing whatever I can to keep other women (and men too) from having to join.

teamdianne1Breast cancer will strike one in 8 women in her lifetime.  My great-grandmother died of breast cancer in 1929, at the age of 48, the same age that I was when I got my diagnosis.  Luckily for me, in the 80 years since my great-grandmother died, thousands of people have put time and money into education and finding a cure.  I see it as my duty to pay that forward so that future generations don’t have to live in the shadow of this terrible disease.

This year, for the 3rd year, I have formed Team Dianne Crusades for a Cure.  I would like to invite you to join me on September 20th, 2009 at Waterfront Park in downtown Portland for the 19th annual Race for the Cure.  $5 of every entry fee goes to the Susan Komen Foundation.  The money is used to help women pay for mammograms, get financial aid and counseling for treatment, and to educate and to raise awareness.  Last year, even with the money raised, there were 40,000 women in Oregon and SW Washington who should have had mammograms and didn’t.  75% of the money raised is used right here in our community.  25% goes to the National research effort.

teamdianne2Even more than inviting you to walk with me, I would like to ask you to consider making a donation.  It is such a worthwhile cause.  $77 pays for one un-insured or under-insured woman to get a mammogram.

To join my team or to make a donation, please click here.  Thank you for your support and thank you for allowing me to make this appeal on the propertyblotter.  Now, let’s get back to real estate……

Community Gardens and the Bounty of Summer

luscher5Here in Lake Oswego we are blessed with the long, warm days of summer that come on the heals of the misty and rainy days of May and June.  The combination, along with personal commitment to gardening, leads to a rich bounty that is currently at its abundant peak.  I don’t know of a better place to see this, in all of its glory, than at the community garden at Luscher Farm.

Luscher Farm was purchased by the City of Lake Oswego between the years of 1991 and 1999.  It actually consists of 5 properties that when combined have an area of 47.71 acres.  The main farm, Luscher, is considered to be the most intact historic farm in Clackamas County.  Originally used as a dairy farm and for cattle, it was built at the turn of the century.  It is located just outside of the Southeast edge of the city at the corner of Stafford and Rosemont Roads.  It is now a public park that provides both recreation and educational opportunities for learing about farming, gardening, environmental education, and community supported agriculture.  And I am not talking about some hoity-toity experience where you drive up in your SUV and marvel at the cows and the chickens.  I’m talking about you and your family having a plot of land where you can nurture your own harvest and get dirt under your finger nails.

luscher1The community garden is just one part of Luscher Farm, but it is a high-light, for sure.

This year there are 188 garden plots being cultivated by individuals and families.  The plots are assigned by offering them to last year’s gardeners first, in November, and then any remaining plots are offered to the public in December.  The demand for the plots is large, so be in the game early if you want to reserve one for next year.  The prices I’m going to give are what was charged in 2009.  Prices for 2010 have not been determined, so there could be an increase.  But I believe that even with an increase it will still be a bargain.  Prices include access to a tool shed, where they have most anything you could imagine needing, organic fertilizer at the start of the season, and water.  A 10×20 plot is $47 for residents of LO and $52 for non-residents.  A 20×20 plot is $67 for residents of LO and $74 for non-residents.  There are also raised beds for older folks and people with disabilities who might have a hard time bending over to tend their garden.  The raised beds are $37 for residents and $41 for non-residents.  This fee is for the entire season and while you do have to go to your garden to do the watering, it does include the water.  Along with paying your fee, you are required to give 4 hours of your time to volunteer in the garden:  helping to build new plots (the garden gets expanded pretty much every year), weeding and mowing.

luscher2If you are not a returning gardener, but would like to have a garden plot next summer, I recommend that you call the City of Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation Department on December 1st to find out the date and time that the plots will be distributed.  In the past they were given out on a first-come-first-served basis and all plots were gone within an hour or two of being offered.  This year they are considering a lottery system, but that decision has not been made.  The phone number for Parks and Recreation at the City of Lake Oswego is 503-697-6500.

Besides the community garden, Luscher Farm has got some other very cool offerings.

The city works in cooperation with Oregon Tilth’s Organic Education Center to operate a demonstration garden that is all about showing people biologically sound urban agriculture.  It teaches about organic gardening and how to grow sustainable food.

luscher7Luscher Farm is also home to the Brewster Rogerson Clematis Collection.  You know clematis?  Those gorgeous vines with the unbelievably huge blossoms?  We have lots of clematis in LO.  Different varieties bloom at different times of the year with some even blooming in winter.  If you like to garden and you live in LO, you probably know about and love clematis.

And then there is the Community Supported Agriculture program.   This program consists of 12 acres that are cultivated and maintained by 47th Avenue Farms .  This is a co-op farming program.   It consists of 12 acres at Luscher Farms that are cultivated with a variety of vegetables for year-around consumption.  These include beets, brocolli, carrots, cauliflower, chard, cilantro, garlic, greens, herbs, kale, leeks, lettuce, onion, parsley, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, scallions, spinach, squash, and swiss chard.  Yum!  The produce is grown for a set number of harvest share holders.  These share holders buy into the bounty, but they also buy into the risk.  A late freeze or unusual storm can damage a crop.  So you become a share holder in the good and the bad.  Looking at the good, it means fresh grown organic produce that is locally sustainable for your palate and luscher6your good health.  In the summer shareholders pick up the bounty of the crops on a weekly basis.  In the late fall through early spring it is less frequent, but it still happens.  I visited the wesite for 47th Avenue Farms and found discriptions of various share options, but no specific pricing.  I would imagine that next year’s membership is still being formulated.  There is a link to a waiting list as well as for e-mailing to get information.  The website is www.47thavefarm.com .

Writing about all of the wealth of summer is making me hungry.  I think it’s time to go and to steam some brocolli!

First Time Home Buyer? ~ What to Expect:

house

I was reading an article recently regarding the $8,000. tax credit for first time home buyers, and the writer expressed shock at how many people are completely unaware of it. I have noticed in my own practice recently that the larger PR machine has evidently not been doing a very good job at educating the public, as some of my clients reveal innocence on this subject as well when they discuss their leisurely plans to purchase “sometime in January of next year” etc. (the tax credit is only applicable if the home purchase is completed before December 1st of this year.) I also have heard more & more folks lately talking about attending “First Time Home Buyer Classes” presented usually by Realtors and Mortgage Brokers as a service to the public.

It seems to me that there is a real need for information out there right now. I thought I’d give a little primer below on at least the basics of what to expect during your first home-buying experience. Hope you find it helpful!

(Note: The sequence below does not apply to each and every transaction as each is individual and scenarios/time lines obviously vary. Your Realtor will be doing many more things behind the scenes than I indicate below as well, but I am sticking to outlining YOUR experience and how you can expect that to unfold… generally speaking.)

  • Retain services of a mortgage professional (lender) to give you best options for financing, and have an approval letter ready for you when you make an offer. Discuss “closing costs” with your mortgage professional, and review the “good faith estimate” that they will provide to you. (If you have a relationship with a Realtor first, ask them to recommend good resources for you.)
  • Work with your Realtor to find the home that meets your needs.
  • Work with your Realtor to determine appropriate offer & details/then write it up.
  • Realtor submits offer to Seller along with approval letter from lender and earnest money check. Note: The EM check is to show good faith, and is applied to the sale should your offer be accepted and proceed to close. Talk with your Realtor about what amount will put your best foot forward. (*Sometimes Promissory Notes may be used, and/but I highly recommend using an EM check to be taken most seriously.
  • Receive response/acceptance/counter from Seller in time frame you specified on the offer (in a normal transaction you typically ask for response within 24 hours, but if it is a “short sale”, the process of hearing back that you are indeed accepted by all parties concerned can take months.)
  • Upon mutual acceptance (usually within 1-3 days), schedule an inspection ASAP (you have 10 business days to conduct inspections & may back out if concerns arise during this time). Your Realtor will help you with this- Ask him or her for good resources to guide you through the process of inspecting the home. Prices vary, but a 2000 square foot house will often run around $400. more or less, and size as well as other factors come into play in the cost of an inspection.
  • Upon mutual acceptance, your earnest money check is sent to the Escrow Office, and held by them on your behalf until closing, or until nullification of the offer if this occurs within your inspection period.
  • Realtor writes and negotiates any Inspection Addendum items during this period according to your wishes (you will work with your Realtor to discuss and determine any give and take in the negotiation process that may occur. Your Realtor will offer you information and give professional advice, negotiating on your behalf and with your permission. You are in the driver’s seat, and you make the final decisions albeit under good counsel.
  • Upon mutual acceptance & reaching the end of your inspection period, your Realtor notifies the lender who orders the appraisal.
  • Your Realtor continues to work with the lender as the lending process moves forward. As long as the appraisal comes back at or above sale/offer price, you will proceed to closing through the underwriting process of the lender. Should the property not appraise for at least the sale amount, the lender will bring this to your attention and there will be some decisions for you to make around the sale price and your desire for the home (you are not required to pay any monies over and above the appraisal amount, and lenders will not lend more than the appraised value generally speaking.)
  • You may be requested by the underwriter to provide additional information on a case by case basis. Your Realtor will work with you and help in any way possible and appropriate to facilitate the flow of information required from you, but you are in the driver’s seat as far as responsibility to provide the necessary information to the lender.
  • When all underwriter/lender requirements have been met, the file is signed off by the underwriter, and passed to Escrow. The whole lender process usually takes around 3-4 weeks.
  • Escrow processes all paperwork, title insurance, and all distribution of funds between you and the seller as per the contract provisions agreed upon between you and the Seller. Documents are drafted, and a “signing date/time” is scheduled. (“Signing” is not the same as “Closing”.)
  • Your Realtor will often attend your signing with you to help with any questions that arise, and to offer moral support. (Frankly, I just love being a part of the exciting culmination of the home buying adventure!)
  • Escrow will then send signed documents back to the lender, and to the county. The transaction will then “close” or “fund & record” in 1-2 days after signing, at which time you will receive a call that you are a homeowner!
  • Your Realtor will usually meet you at your new home and deliver you the keys. (More fun!)
  • The whole process from offer to close usually takes around 30 days… sometimes 40-45. It can take a little longer depending on the lender, and sometimes it takes less time than that. You and your Realtor will assign a “no later than” date on your offer in conjunction with talking to the lender about their current load & closing time line. All parties are then obligated to “perform” within that time frame, or draft an addendum extending the closing date if that proves necessary and IF all parties agree to do it. (Because there always exists the possibility that one party may not agree to sign an extension addendum, and the contract specifically states “on or before” a particular date, the closing date is a binding contractual agreement and should be taken very seriously. As a buyer, your earnest money is at stake if you should not “perform” to contact terms.)

The above may be missing some pieces of the puzzle as each transaction is different, and various issues can arise during the process, but hopefully this give you a basic idea of how it will go!

Finding a Great Restaurant

For some time now I’ve been wanting to highlight some local restaurants and places that I enjoy frequenting here in Lake Oswego.  Today I want to let you know about 3 wonderful restaurants on the Lake Grove side of town.  All 3 are practically institutions in the area, having been in business for many years.  They are also located in a cluster along the same stretch of Boones Ferry Rd, the main road through the West end of town.

la-provenceLa Provence is the youngster in the group.  The founders of the restaurant, Pascal, Didier, and Alain came from France in 1996 wanting to share their passion for the French Patisserie, which is a bakery that specializes in pastries and sweets.  Don’t be fooled by the outstanding selection of breads, tortes, cakes and croissants that are showcased as you walk-in.  This restaurant offers first class food well beyond the temptations of sweets.  When the restaurant first opened it specialized in breakfast and lunch.  My favorite breakfast choice has long been the smoked-salmon hash.  Served over crispy hash browns, the smoked salmon is topped by a poached egg and creamy dill sauce.  The homemade bread makes delicious toast, and the coffee is outstanding.  For lunch I recommend the French onion soup.  It is the best I have ever had.  And in the last year or so the restaurant has begun to stay open for dinner service.  I recently had a wonderful dinner there at a time when they were offering live music.  I consider the pricing to be affordable and the food highly reliable.  The atmosphere is relaxed and sunny with bright splashes of color from the art work and provencial-style table cloths.  Located at 15964 Boones Ferry Rd, you can find menus and more information at their website, www.provence-portland.com/

gubancsNext door to La Provence is Gubanc’s.  Gubanc’s and I have something in common.  We both came to Lake Oswego in 1976.  I guess you could say that we kind of grew up together.  Owned by Tony and Anne Gubanc, this restaurant is a neighborhood classic.  The atmosphere is classy while being comfortable.  Not too expensive, you’ll find the food to be Northwest with an interesting flair.  The restaurant is most famous for its soups.  They have 80 different varieties that were personally created for their menu.  While the traditionals like clam chowder are available, you will also often find unusual selections like Chicken and Pear or Santa Fe Chicken with White Bean.  Yum.  A great deal at lunch is the Soup Board.  For $7.50 you get a generous bowl of homemade soup with a side board of bread, cheese, and fruit.  Dinner options include South Western Pork Wraps, Chicken and Dumplings, and Halibut Provencial.  For dessert they are well known for their Fresh Fruit Cobbler.  You’ll find it busy every night of the week.  There is a full bar and I think there are quite a few regulars who eat dinner here several nights a week.  To continue to fill the dining room night-after-night for over 30 years, you know they must be doing something right.  Located at 16008 Boones Ferry Rd.  For a copy of the menu and more information, visit Gubanc’s website at www.gubancspub.com.

riccardosFinally, I want to brag about Riccardo’s.  This is my favorite “special occasion” restaurant in Lake Oswego.  Not that you would only want to go there on special occasions, like an anniversary or a birthday.  I have gone there with friends for a casual lunch or dinner many times.  It’s just that I’ve also celebrated many birthdays and anniversaries there.  In my mind, it is a special place that provides just the right atmosphere for a special night out.  Opened in 1980 by Riccardo and Georgette Spaccarelli, it is very fine Italian dining at it’s best.  The Spaccarellis are known for their annual trips to Italy where they visit wine producers and make selections to offer with their food.  The entire meal is extremely authentic.   It’s also mouth watering and complex.  My favorite item on the menu is the Penna Strozzapreti.  Penna pasta with a sauce of cremini mushrooms, black olives, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes in a light cream sauce that is then dusted with parmigiano reggiano.  That is comfort food to me and a real taste treat.  There are two dining rooms.  The inside room seats 55 and is very nice.   But my favorite, and where I always make it a point to dine, is the outside patio.  It seats 75 and is surrounded by high walls that in the summer are topped with flowers.  There are terra cotta tiled floors and several fountains.  The perimeter tables do have a roof over them and in cooler weather they have numerous heaters to keep you warm.  No, I don’t think you’d be able to dine out there in January.  But for most of the year you can.  It is not only comfortable, you will feel like you’ve gone to Italy.  Riccardo’s is just across the street from Gubanc’s and La Provence at 16035 Boones Ferry Rd.  You can find their menu and more information at their website, www.riccardoslo.com

There are other great restaurants in LO.  I’ll work on giving other recommendations in the future, but this is a good starting point for a new resident in the area.  And just like the long-time residents, you’ll go back again and again.

~ The Dog Whisperer ~

valerie_3There is such a panoply of amenities in Lake Oswego that Dianne and I have been talking about incorporating profiles of local favorites from time to time. I thought I’d begin with a very special person who I would be lost without… my local “dog-whisperer”, Valerie Pulley.

Ever notice that periodically certain topics tend to pop up any time you turn on the television or are in conversations with different groups of people? Lately itnyree1 seems it has been the subject of pets, and dogs in particular. We all know what a Portuguese Water Dog is now, thanks to “Beau” at the White House. I know our own friend & blogging cohort, Ron Ares, wrote a post most recently about his own dog, Nyree (left), adopted by the Ares family to save her from becoming a casualty of foreclosure. I’ve seen pieces on local and national news about the amazing number of dogs that have been abandoned or taken to shelters as fallout from the current economy, and it is heartbreaking to consider.

Recently, a friend of mine who has been experiencing the stress of the economy herself, told me a story that made me race out the door, camera and notepad in hand. My friend’s dog was badly in need of grooming, being a breed that really needs some professional upkeep. It had been awhile, and though she felt horrible about it, she just didn’t have the funds to spare. We both frequent the same wonderful dog groomer, Valerie Pulley, and she told me that Valerie was so concerned about her pooch that she called & asked my friend to please just come in and consider it her gift. Valerie knew the dog needed her attention, and decided that this was the most important thing. Well… word about special people like Valerie spreads quickly in a community like Lake Oswego, and while I don’t want to encourage others to solicit favors : ) I DO want folks to know about her, and others like her, and so a few words about this exceptional person:

Valerie has been a professional dog groomer since 1994 when she completed her schooling in Phoenix. Her mother was a dog breeder, and Valerie’s plan in the beginning was simply to assist her mother. It didn’t take her long to realize that she had a special talent, and wanted to make this her career. Valerie just loves dogs, and they tend to sense it. Her ownkato1 Staffordshire Terrier, Fedore, is her pride & joy, I’ve been taking my crazy black Standard Schnauzer, Kato (right) , to Valerie for years, and she is the only one who can calm him down enough to let his toenails be clipped. Turns out others have noticed this talent as well, and dog owners from far and wide bring their “hard to handle” pets to Valerie for tender loving care. Valerie mentions that “Some dogs have been kicked out of every grooming salon in Portland for biting, scratching, and generally squirming and freaking out. They bring them to me because I am the only one they’ve found to be able to handle them.” I valerie_4ask her why she thinks this is, and she says “I’m just not afraid of them, and I care about them.” She has been working in the Lake Oswego area for around 12 years now, spending some of her career at the Lake Oswego Dog Shoppe, and now is working for Groomingdales in Tualatin on Nyberg Rd., just about five minutes from my house & a toe over the Lake Oswego borderline. A customer notices that I am interviewing Valerie and volunteers “I come here all the way from Sherwood. They’re so nice & so good I wouldn’t go anywhere else.” For my part, I’ll go anywhere Valerie is… and Kato is very grateful.

You can reach Valerie at: 503 692 WOOF (9663).

Lake Oswego Market Activity – April 13-19, 2009

p10100071Well, the cherry trees are in full bloom, temps are in the 80’s, and real estate activity continues to move forward… a gradually enlivened, seasonal bustle.

Lake Oswego saw 22 new properties hit the market last week. We had 10 go pending, and 2 that closed. So, nothing earth shattering in the “sold” department, but encouraging nonetheless.

Here is the latest market activity for Lake Oswego (see below the tables for additional notes):

NEWLY LISTED (April 13—19, 2009)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
PROP TYPE
LIST DATE
Address List Price # Beds # Baths Tot. SF Prop Type List Date
100 SW KERR PKWY $97,900 1 1 617 CONDO 4/13/2009
4000 CARMAN DR $144,000 2 2 935 CONDO 4/19/2009
82 OSWEGO SMT $234,900 2 2 1,212 CONDO 4/17/2009
1897 BOCA RATAN DR $249,480 3 2.1 1,739 ATTACHD 4/13/2009
6025 KENNY ST $299,900 3 1.1 1,258 DETACHD 4/16/2009
17683 NICOLE LN $324,900 3 2 1,200 DETACHD 4/13/2009
16824 SW INVERURIE RD $389,900 3 3 1,896 DETACHD 4/13/2009
3009 WEMBLEY PARK RD $395,000 3 1.1 1,754 DETACHD 4/13/2009
18220 BICKEL CT $399,000 3 3 2,075 DETACHD 4/18/2009
1023 LUND ST $419,000 4 2.1 2,313 DETACHD 4/18/2009
68 TOUCHSTONE 349900 – 424880 5 4.1 3,148 DETACHD 4/14/2009
510 2nd ST $439,000 2 1.2 1,520 CONDO 4/13/2009
19061 INDIAN SPRINGS RD $479,900 4 3 2,341 DETACHD 4/16/2009
4920 MULHOLLAND DR $555,000 3 2.1 2,498 ATTACHD 4/17/2009
15943 WHITE OAKS DR $559,500 4 2.1 2,746 DETACHD 4/16/2009
4672 AUBURN LN $575,000 3 3.1 2,732 ATTACHD 4/15/2009
4114 GLACIER LILY ST $599,000 4 2.1 2,470 DETACHD 4/19/2009
5421 Bay Creek DR $649,500 4 2.1 3,241 DETACHD 4/17/2009
133 FURNACE ST $695,000 2 2.1 1,927 CONDO 4/16/2009
5392 SOUTHWOOD DR $774,900 5 3 3,871 DETACHD 4/15/2009
301 IRON MOUNTAIN BLVD $1,150,000 4 3.2 3,004 DETACHD 4/14/2009
19007 EASTSIDE RD $1,390,000 4 3.1 4,651 DETACHD 4/14/2009

PENDING SALES (April 13-19, 2009)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
PROP TYPE
DOM
Address List Price # Beds Tot. Baths Total SF Prop Type List Date CDOM
13880 SUNDELEAF DR $234,500 2 1 976 DETACHD 1/23/2009 84
1635 ASPEN ST $319,900 3 2.1 1,618 DETACHD 3/24/2009 285
3 CELLINI CT $449,000 4 2.1 2,531 DETACHD 1/19/2009 86
11 BECKET ST $465,000 3 2.1 4,030 DETACHD 4/9/2009 111
80 TANGLEWOOD DR $469,000 5 3 2,713 DETACHD 10/11/2008 371
855 7TH ST $469,900 4 1 1,392 DETACHD 8/18/2008 240
13470 PETERS RD $474,900 3 2.1 2,324 ATTACHD 4/1/2009 15
19431 KOKANEE CT $529,000 4 2.1 2,250 DETACHD 4/9/2009 8
595 D AVE 625000 3 2 3,760 DETACHD 2/2/2009 309
1915 SW CHILDS RD 1594950 5 5.2 5,689 DETACHD 3/14/2008 397

SOLD (April 13-19, 2009)

ADDRESS ORIG. PRICE SALE PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
PROP TYPE
DOM
Address O/Price Close Price # Beds Tot. Baths Total SF Prop Type CDOM
92 GALEN ST $119,500 $100,500 1 1 689 CONDO 42
615 LAKE BAY CT $669,900 $505,000 3 3 2,542 DETACHD 190

Criteria: Homes in the 97034 and 97035 zip code, listed, pending or sold between the dates listed above as reported by the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS). DETACHD refers to Single Family Detached Residence, MFG refers to manufactured housing, and ATTACHD refers to single-family residences with some portion of the structure attached to another property, but not constituting CONDO ownership. DOM stands for days on market, or the number of days from when the listing became active and when it received an acceptable offer.

Tryon Creek State Park

tryon-sign1Located along Lake Oswego’s Northern boundary is Tryon Creek State Park.  It consists of over 600 acres of natural areas.  There are trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and a paved trail that is designed to be user friendly for people with disabilities.  It is a gem in the metro area and it is at our back door.

I have been hiking in the park for years.  The trails are varied enough that you can do a short excursion of under a mile or stretch it out to be several miles long.  While hiking in the park last Sunday, I was impressed with the condition of the trails.  Oregon lottery money has been infused into the maintenance of the park and is easily evident in the well maintained paths and bridges.

tryon-creekBridges are necessary because the park is layed out around a canyon that contains a natural watershed.  The creek at the bottom is one of the few remaining creeks in the area with an active run of steelhead trout.

The history of the park goes back to an early pioneer, Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon (gotta love that name!).  He established the first land claim which was sold in the late 19th Century to the Oregon Iron company for $7000.  The Oregon Iron Company logged the canyon to provide fuel for the iron foundry in Lake Oswego.  Logging continued off and on until 1961.

tryon-pathPeople locally began to appreciate the value of the natural area and the Friends of Tryon Creek was formed in 1969 to work toward preserving the area in its natural state.

In 1970 a land developer obtained an option on the property to develop it into homesites.  This set off a firestorm of volunteer support.  In just 3 weeks time 325 volunteers raised $27,000 as the first step in saving the park.  Efforts continued throughout the year and on October 26th of that same year, Governor Tom McCall announced the formation of Tryon Creek Park.  The state then purchased 600+ acres for nearly $3,000,000.  The park was dedicated in 1975.

Today visitors come to the park to enjoy the trails and the nature center.  There are classes for children as well as for adults.  There is an annual art display called Natural Cycles:  Art in the Forest.  And then there is the Trillium Festival.

tryon-trilliumA discussion about Tryon Creek State Park would not be complete without the subject of the native trillium.  Trillium Ovatum are a wildflower that grow in the undisturbed shadows of the forest.  They are a member of the lily family and bloom in March.  They start out white and turn pink as they age.  They are a very delicate plant.  As a child I recall my grandmother telling me “don’t pick the trillium”.  This is because if you pick a the flower, it takes the plant 7 years to recover and to bloom again.

The Trillium Festival is held annually when the forest is in full bloom.  It includes a plant sale where you can purchase trillium to put into your own garden.  This year’s festival is April 4-6.

Admission to the park is free.

This park is so close to Lake Oswego that it is easily enjoyed.  There are trails directly into the park from both the First Addition and Forest Highlands neighborhoods.

Lake Oswego Hunt

lohuntLake Oswego is home to a very unique and beautiful facility, Lake Oswego Hunt.  The Lake Oswego Hunt is an equestrian training program and a riding school for children and adults of all ages.  Unlike many facilities that focus on one discipline, Lake Oswego Hunt works with Combined Training, Dressage, and Hunter/Jumper.  So if you have a love for horses, and you want to have access to horses in your life, there is a way to do that here in Lake Oswego.

While I love the beauty of horses, and have ridden horses on a couple of occassions, what I love about Lake Oswego Hunt is the gorgeous arena and barn.  As you drive along Iron Mountain Blvd. you can not help but notice the beautiful white barn and fences tucked into 19 acres of meadow at the base of Iron Mountain.  It is just extremely picturesque.

Built in 1936, the indoor arena is the largest and oldest bow-truss structure West of the Mississippi.  It is 90′ x 220′.  When you look up at the roof from inside you can not help but be struck by the barrel vaulting.  There are cathedrals in Europe with similar ceilings.  This one just happens to be made out of wood.  In 1987 this unique structure was recognized with a listing on the National Registry of Historic Places.  There is currently a very active effort being made to preserve and to restore the building.  A Historic Preservation Committee has been formed that is hard at work to keep this facility in good repair.

horsestallsWhen I stopped in to visit the Lake Oswego Hunt, besides the beautiful arena and barn, I was also struck by the warmth and friendliness of the people that I met.  Everyone was gracious and welcoming.  I was very taken with the attitude that this is a place that wants to be a part of our community.  They made it very clear that they love to have people come in and that they are happy to give you a tour.  Along with a calendar of events that includes horse shows and parties, there are occassional open houses that invite the general public to come and see what is happening at Lake Oswego Hunt.  The next open house is scheduled for February 7th, from 9am to 5pm.

There are a couple of ways to be a part of Lake Oswego Hunt.  You can join as a full member and have the ability to board your horse and have full access to the club room and all of the facility.  You can also join on a social membership to enjoy the horse shows and be a part of the social programs that include brunches and parties.  Finally, the riding school is open to the public.

I have a love for old buildings and architecture.  I think that Lake Oswego Hunt is a facility that is deserving of our support.  If you’ve never visited, stop by.  I think you’ll be impressed by what you see.  If you’d like more information, you can visit the Lake Oswego Hunt website by clicking here.

Furnace Gets Facelift

Lake Oswego's Iron Furnace in George Rogers Park

Lake Oswego’s historic Iron Furnace in George Rogers Park is set for a face lift, to be completed in June 2009.

This local treasure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is in need of some tender loving care. The exterior of the 44-foot high furnace is in decent shape, but the interior stonework is severely deteriorated.

Having been abandoned in 1885, the elements have taken their toll, and there is a danger of falling debris, therefore the furnace is fenced off and considered unsafe in its current condition. The restoration will replace grout, chink stones, bricks and basalt stones according to the City of Lake Oswego. The city anticipates that this work, plus a roof for protection, and compliance with current seismic standards will enable it to conduct regular pre-arranged group tours through the furnace structure.

The stone furnace was built by the Oregon Iron Company and began operating in August of 1867. With Oswego’s iron deposits, the company was the first manufacturer of iron on the West Coast, and the Oswego iron industry was reportedly the biggest manufacturing enterprise in Oregon during the nineteenth century. This amazing piece of Oregon history is said to be the only surviving iron furnace west of the Rocky Mountains.

The Lake Oswego City Council has awarded the $830,785 contract, to Pioneer Waterproofing, Inc. Requiring specialized skills, Pioneer Waterproofing fits the bill and has met the standard for brick and masonry restoration in conformance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Pioneer Waterproofing has also completed impressive restoration projects which include Vista House, Crater Lake Lodge, Timberline Lodge, and the Portland Art Museum.