Sandra White: Washington: Port Townsend

As of the end of business on Friday afternoon, Coldwell Banker in Port Townsend closed it's doors.   Most of the Port Townsend real estate community was shocked, and dismayed, as this is a long standing company with a very excellent reputation.  As far as I could tell, it was about 3rd in the rankings of volume, number of transactions, and number of listings.  They had about 5 or 6 top producing agents, and the owner of the company was a working broker who also owned 3 other locations.  The Port Ludlow office was sold to the top producer there, and he will continue to work out of his Sequim office. 

This left many agents literally out in the cold along with a lot of sellers whose listings they held.  I can't think of much worse in our business than moving to a new office, but to do it without having the luxury of checking things out first would be really difficult.  Of course this is a very small town with only 4 (now 3) offices with a total of 100 agents in our county.  So we all actually do know one another pretty well.  Still there will be contracts to be resigned, signs to move and new flyers to make.  Glad it's not me, for now anyway. 

For more information look for an article in the Peninsula Daily News http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100711/news/307119980/port-townsend-real-estate-office-closes-putting-up-to-18-out-of-work

Port Townsend's one time Customs House is on the waterfront on Water Street, and is now home to The Lighouse Cafe, which serves breakfast and lunch.  I have never eaten there, so no comment on the food, but it is a very interesting building which is in great shape for it's age. 

This area is full of wonderful music all summer long, with every type of music you can think of. 

Beginning in July there is Fiddle Tunes, Chamber Music Festival, Jazz Festival and Blues Festival.  Most are performed at the Centrum Campus at Fort Worden, with some of the local clubs hosting performances in the clubs.  Great music and great fun.

Also, the Olympic Music Festival beginning in July and continuing every weekend, Classical Concerts in the Barn. 

There is also some fun music at the Saturday Farmers Market, and last Sat. it was one of my favorites, the Limpopo Band. 

Every Wed. you can catch the "Music at the Dock" show, with local bands and dancing in the street.

Well worth waiting for, it seems to be here at last!  Port Townsend is a beautiful little city all year long and it does have all four seansons which is something I am not accustomed to as a native of So. CA.  But I think we all love summer the most.  Temperatures rarely reach the high 70's, and the sun is out every day.

Number one favorite thing to do in summer!

Whale watching:  This is the best!  You can board the Glacial Spirit at the Point Hudson Marina around 8:30 in the morning, and cross the Strait of Juan De Fuca to Friday Harbor for a wonderful day of amazing sights.  The whales are the Southern Resident Orca pods (3 pods live here in the summer).  Known as "killer whales" they look like playful pets, cavorting through the water. 

You will also see seals (maybe they are sea lions) porpoises and exotic birds. 

Stop in charming Friday Harbor for lunch, and return to Port Townsend around 5:00 or stay the night in Friday Harbor and return the next day with a voucher from the PS Express cruise company. 

The tall ships were in Port Ludlow (neighboring community of Port Townsend)  this weekend and available for sailings, open for tours and inspection.  They are the Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftan and come from Grays Harbor, WA.  They are visiting ports in Washington State to preserve the maritime  history of Grays Harbor and the Pacific Northwest. 

These replicas of the turn of the 18th century European merchant ships are available for charter for school outings, company meetings, and weddings.

When visiting Port Townsend, WA do not miss this fun and happy eatery.  A blast from the past, you will think you are back in high school (if you are from my generation) or you will experience what your parents did after school. 

There is a a long counter with stools topped with red vinyl, individual juke box players, wonderful black and white checkered flooring, and of course hamburgers, malts, shakes and French fries.   Just one of so many fun places to check out when you are strolling down Water Street in Port Townsend, WA

The Leader Building

Located in downtown Port Townsend, The Leader Building has an interesting background dating back to 1874. 

 Early settler Enoch Fowler was a sailor who moved to Port Townsend  in the 1850's when his ship dropped off the first white settlers.   In 1874 Fowler constructed Port Townsend's first substantial stone building which is thought to be the oldest multistory masonry building in Washington.  Built of large sandstone blocks from a quarry near Indian Island, it is still in extremely good repair and a sturdy building. 

In its early days the "Fowler Building" was used as the County Courthouse, until 1892 when the new courthouse was built.  Sometime around the time of Port Townsend's first big recession, in the late 1890's it became  empty was not used again until 1916 when the Port Townsend Leader Newspaper  took over the main floor, and the upstairs was converted to  apartments.

The Port Townsend and Leader has been printed ever since, recently celebrating it's 120^th anniversary, still in the location in the orignal townsite in downtown Port Townsend at 226 Adams Street. 

A wonderful resource for old and young alike, this is located in a big park in the center of Uptown, and has two floors devoted to recreation, education and services.  There are kids games downstairs, lots of classes for adults upstairs, (yoga, stretching and low impact aroebics) meals for seniors, and often art shows or craft shows and sales.   Seniors have access to county resource lists, and can have their blood pressure checked by an RN.

On Saturday morning the Farmer's Market is in the closed off street out in front, and people sit on the grass listening to the entertainers.  There is also a great tot lot. 

Port Townsend's newest Mexican eatery is located on a 1.4 acre parcel that was being marketed as a permitted parcel for a retail/commercial  center on the corner of San Juan and F Streets, with an asking price of around  $799,000.  The artists rendering showed retail stores on the bottom with condos on the top with parking.   This area is on the edge of Uptown and the Happy Valley neighborhoods.  I am sure one of these days we will see this new center constructed and fully occupied, and Ilook forward to that as I will be able to walk to it. 

For now, we have Bub's Taco wagon and every time I drive by I wonder "why didn't I think of that?"  The cars are lined up in the bicycle lane from 11:30 to 5:30 Mon-Fri. and I hear the food is great.   People seem to be enjoying the outdoor dining experience, some sitting on the grass, others occupying a few chairs and most standing around visiting while they eat. 

I love Spring, not only for the flowers and sunshine, but also doesn't hurt that real estate comes to life in our town.   All winter we have had not much activity and not many new listings, but this month we have had some interesting new listings and some very fast sales. 

The Uptown neighborhood is the original townsite that was settled in the early late 1800's.  Port Townsend was in the height of it's boom and there were grand buildings erected and ornate Victorian homes for those that could afford it.  Most of them have survived over the years and are favorites of our of area buyers. 

The first one that comes to mind is my own listing that went into escrow after 2 weeks.

Single level with beautiful gardens and wrap around decking. (Not a Victorian, built in 1987, one of a few single level homes in the area.

$299,000

Clay street Victorian priced at $322,000 in escrow after less than a week.

John L Scott's latest Uptown offering.  Built in 1888, the lovely Victorian home is offered at $310,000. 

This home has not been on the market for the past 30 years and is in almost original condition with some original woodwork and oak floors. 

Close to retail center of Uptown, including Aldrich's, Uptown Theater, and Saturday Farmer's Market.