Port Townsend Real Estate : Sandra White (John L Scott Real Estate)

We have been experiencing Spring for a month now, with buds on all the trees and little flowers popping up everywhere.  This is in one of the windows of my very favorite stores in Port Townsend called "The Perfect Season" which has the most wonderful and unusal items for home and garden.  You must stop in when visiting Port Townsend. 

This wonderful Victorian Building has sweet memories for Port Townsend residents.  Owned by 2 sisters who moved here from San Francisco and started a business selling gifts, antiques, great greeting cards, and wonderful and whimsy pet supplies.  It was called April Fool and Penny Too.  As I recall reading, that was about 25 years ago.  It was always the first place I would head for when needing a gift, as it seems all my friends and family are pet lovers.  Some of the items were a bit pricey, like the antique childs dish I bought to feed my little Shih Zhu Lulu in, or the pet pillows shaped like a dog lying on the floor, complete with little feet that stick out.  But if you wanted a bargain the upper room called the "attic" had some great buys. At one time it housed a bank and there was a small room filled with gift paper that had once been a vault. There was always a big fat cat in the pet accessories room just lying in a big soft bed, and a large lab type mix dog wandering around in the main room.   

It is now closed and sorely missed, as one of the owners passed away last year and the whole building is for sale. 

 Price is around $2,500,000 for a waterfront building with retail street level, upper level 2000 sq. ft. apt. and an extra parking lot on Water St. in Port Townsend.  (This is not my listing).

View from this building.

                                                                                                          This may be the smallest commercial rental you have ever seen.  It is located in Downtown Port Townsend right on the main street, Water Street.

This little space has an interesting history, and at one time was the home of our wonderful ice cream store, still know as the Elevated.  The Elevated got it's name from the small elevator shown in the photo where the ice cream was sold out of the small window. 

Today, the Elevated Ice Cream store is located across the street and has grown to a large shop with tables and chairs, a small candy store, and long lines of customers during the warmer season.   The ice cream is still home made and hand packed, and is the best!  There are usually over 35 flavors using fresh fruits grown locally, and Italian ices. 

Can you think of a smart new business to locate in the old elevator?  The rent should be affordable.

Water Street Creperie

 Most mornings I like to take a walk in the historic downtown area of Port Townsend and while the streets are empty and the sun is coming up you really notice if a store has gone out of business and something new has popped up for rent.  The past 12 months or so it seems we have had more closings than I have ever seen.

 This morning I saw a very positive and upbeat sign.  A new store called the Water Street Creperie that just opened 2 days ago.  What a lovely and delightful shop!  Tastefully decorated and beautifully furnished with tables, chairs, counters and imaginative art work.

There are outdoor tables and chairs, and a pass through counter for street side purchases.

 They feature crepes with breakfast ingredients, (eggs, cheese, etc.) or lunch type with turkey and ham, a vegetarian offering, plus wonderful desert crepes.  The two I would most like to try (as soon as I lose 20 pounds) are the Graham Cracker Crumble, and the Goat Cheese and Honey. YUMMMMM!

 I met one of the owners, (who else would be there at 7 am.?) a nice young man named Brandon Ellard, who told me he grew up in Port Townsend,  and his friendly employee Jackson.  I welcomed them and wished them luck.  Brandon's partner James Larson was out of town.  A couple of brave and daring young men, and the backbone of our country's economy.

You will see this little guy mostly out for a swim, playing in the water, but occasionally they are walking down the sidewalk, or warming themselves on the beach.  They like to hang out on the boat docks and ramps especially on sunny afternoons.  There is a wonderful painting in one of the shops of otters crossing the street in Port Townsend, and we have a restaurant named "The Otter Crossing".  They are really a fun sight.  

Get away from the crowds, traffic and big city noise in scenic Port Townsend, Washington.

Take your stay in this serene historic setting to an even more secluded level by staying in a vacation home or cottage. Here are my favorites:

The Birdnest Cottage 533 U Street 360-379-5663

"We Love It"

This premium cottage near Historic Fort Worden and Beaches sleeps 6 and has upgraded amenities andhas a view of the water and Point Wilson.

Almost Uptown Cottage 912 F Street 360-301-5151

Walk to the golf course and scenic trails. Located in a mellow neighborhood. Minutes by car to downtown and beaches.

Sleeps 4 and is available nightly and weekly. Rates start at $125 per night and seventh night is free!

Each unit built in 2004. · Each unit is approximately 505 square feet. 1 Bedroom / 1 Bath

· Inside Laundry, Approximately 5' x 14' Attached Storage,· Private Fenced Yard

 Quiet Setting, adjacent to Land Trust Farm· Propane Forced Air Furnace · Mature Landscaping

· Optional Garden Plot · Optional Adjacent Building Lot   (Approximately 48' x 100')
Duplex priced at $250,000  (discount for cash transaction).

Check MLS listings in Port Townsend.

Port Townsend Carnegie Library in Uptown

                                                                                 A gift from Andrew Carnegie, this incredible library is housed in it's original 1898 building (with the exception of an add on from early 1990 when the town had outgrown the original building.)   A group of women organized in the late 1890's  for the purpose of building a new Library, and first bought the land, then obtained a grant from the Carnegie Library Foundation. 

 The architecture followed the guidelines of the foundation and has the look of a charming  art deco building. The front steps are no longer used, but are still grand and stately.  There is a children's section with lots of story telling and special program.  There is a room for DVD's, VCR's and special books.  

 Upstairs there is a fireplace at each end of the room, although they are no longer in use.  There are several computers and the library offers the Virtual version.     Well run and stocked this is a great library.  There are still no book late charges or fines, just a conscience jar!

Port Townsend's Key City Theater   Now 50 years old, and still going strong with exciting plans for a new theater.  The group has performed it's plays in venues all over the city, the first one in 1958, held at the public golf course in the dining room with the performance sold out. They moved around to places like the Elks Club, 20 years in the old Scandinavian Church, and then moved to the high school auditorium.  Currently the Key City Players are in a storefront building just off Water Street that seats 48 people and performances are continually sold out.      The first step toward the new building was the purchase of a commercial lot on Lawrence Street in Port Townsend.  This was possible through a donation from a benefactor for $300,000.  Plans are for a 2 story building with a footprint of 8500 sq. ft.  In addition to 150 seats it will include a shop, lobby, office, restrooms, greenroom, dressing rooms and storage.  

  This weekend they are featuring the Playwrights Festival with 3 award winning one act plays chosen from the Port Townsend Arts Commission 2009 One Act Play Competition.  This is sure to be a hit as always with SRO.

Above is the new location on Lawrence Street.

This is the current location on Washington Street.  This seats 48 people. 

Sales of single family Residences in Jefferson Co. , WA

2005 through 2009

Year             # of Sales         % of Listing Price      Average Price

2005              620                  99.3                $322,175

2006              506                  97                    383,550

2007              390                                          371,357

2008              280                                          348,048

2009              239                  92.6                  299,109

This graph was in the Port Townsend Leader, and information is from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.  Dollar volume dropped during this period by 14.6 %.

  The same article also reports the number of Realtors in Jefferson County was 171 and dropped to 115 by the end of December 2009.