Sandra White: Washington

On the waterfront in this historic seaport village, this new center will be quite an addition to Port Townsend.  In the planning process for almost 15 years, this ambitious project is beginning to take shape and form for all to see.  There will be "hard hat" tours beginning May 31. 

In August 2000 the land was purchased( a former bulk oil terminal ) for $950,000, which was contributed partly by 1200 individual donors.  Clean up of the property  was finished in July of 2002 and a new deep water pier was completed in 2004.  There are names of donors etched into the piers planks. 

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There are two main buildings with 26000 sq. ft. and flexible spaces which will be used for on the water activities, school programs, demonstrations, exhibits, classes and workshops.  There will be open patio space and public areas (40,000 sq. ft.)  and a "chandlery" with maritime books and art work.

The Public Commons area will be paved with 1400 pavers laid in the shape of a compass rose and engraved with the names of community members who have donated to the project. 

There will also be a boardwalk linking the center to the city park, piers and docks with deep-draft moorage for historic and educational vessels providing docking for ships or small boats. 

Be sure to check out the progress of this incredible center the next time you are in Port Townsend. 

 http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/

 This is a wonderful and amazing place here in Port Townsend.  It is  run by the Sheriff Dept. with the help of a lot of terrific volunteers.  People who go every week to walk the dogs, talk to the cats, clean cages, feed and water animals and look for new homes for them.  The Olympic Mountain Pet Pals also do a great deal of work for the shelter and it's members can be found there most any day.

This shelter works very hard to place all animals and to be a "no kill" facility. 

There is a memorial page on this website, a good place to put photos and information about your own pets who have passed away. 

http://www.jeffersoncountyhumanesociety.org

There is a team of veterinarians who give much of their time to these little guys for healing and surgeries. My own veterinarians are  pretty special and much appreciated for the time they devote to the shelter.  One of them is Dr. Joyce Murphy and she is a Veterinarian Ophthalmologist.  Wow are we lucky to have her and her partner Dr. Ginny Johnson in our community.  They give so much of their time and expertise to these little guys and there is a jar on their counter marked "Angel Fund" which collects donations for animals whose owners cannot afford care.  Their clinic is call the Hadlock Veterinary and Eye Clinic and they have patients coming from all over to use their services. 

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 http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/

Our beloved Rhody Festival has come and gone;  all the carnival trucks, parade floats and animals....leaving our little town as spic and span as it was last week.  I have already told you about our pet parade.  Here are some more photos of the popular events, but first a little interesting history.

It all started in 1935 when a local businessman contacted the Hearst News Organization with an idea to film the rhododendrons in bloom as a part of their "short subjects" popular in movie theaters in those days.  The business community then organized a Queen competition to have a group of young women in the photos.  The townspeople could vote by spending money at local participating merchants.

 The following year the American Legion liked the enthusiasm generated by the event and decided to go forward with an annual event which became the Rhody Festival we enjoy today.   The festival has been going on ever since except for the war years of 1942-1945.

In the 1950's the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce took over and more activities have been added until now it is a week long celebration.  There have been golf tournaments, boat races, air show, cow chip throwing, bed race, trike race, beard growing contest, and more.

In the parade this year on Saturday there were over 96 floats this year with everyone getting into the act.  You can walk with a sign, drive a car, or have a very fancy float.  All are welcome and applauded.  There are bands, local charities represented, citizen of the year, and lots of businesses represented. 

Friday Night Bed Races

Sunday's Rhody Run

31st Rhody Run had over 2000 runners and walkers shown hear about 10 minutes into the 12 Kilometer race. 

http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/

This is one of the most fun events of the Rhody Festival every May.  Those glorious blooms are out and we have a week of celebration, including a Rhody Parade with a queen and her court, Pet Parade, Fish Fry, Carnival, Bed Races, the annual Rhody Run ( and walk) and a pancake breakfast.  How much fun can you have. 

There was speculation that we would not have much of a turnout this year due to the closure of the Hood Canal Bridge, but last I heard we had 97 entrants into the parade this Saturday.

Today was the annual Pet Parade and it was as wonderful as ever.  People of all ages dress their pets in their finest or whackiest and parade them down Lawrence Ave.  There are biscuits for the pets and  cold drinks and cookies for their humans.

There was a boy and his duck, small medium and large dog groups, cats and other animals categories.  Judges looked for original costumes and lots of attitude. 

This is the coolest cat!                                                Yours truly with lovely Lulu

                         A young Python                                                  Hard to keep these people in lines.

This parade takes 10 minutes from start to finish and is enjoyed by all. 

It is said that over 22,000 cars per day cross over to the North Olympic Peninsula on the Hood Canal Bridge which connects us to the mainland of Puget Sound and Kitsap Peninsula.  No amount of planning could prepare us for the inconvenience and loss of business the closing has cost.

Our little city of Port Townsend has done a lot of publicity to remind our summer visitors that we are still here and accessible, but I hear from local business owners this is not working too well.  There is a one lane highway that will take you to the mainland, but it seems to be a 4-5 hour trip.  There is the possibility of taking a walk on ferry from point a to point b and then catching a bus or two into Seattle.  It now leaves at 4:30 am.  The other possibility is 2 ferries with about 2 hours of driving and waiting in between, but these have been booked to capacity daily. 

In 1979,  before my time here in Port Townsend, the west end of the 1961 era bridge sank due to an unusually heavy windstorm.  The bridge did not reopen until 1982.  Real estate was a real bargain here in those years.  So if you consider the alternative, this is a small price to pay for the safety and long range benefit of a newly refurbished bridge.  It will be wider and much more reliable.

There was decaying concrete and rusted steel on the east half, which is now being replaced with a new section.   This 60 million pound, 943 foot  structure is being tugged over from Port Gamble and a high tide is needed to ease it over. 

The sections have to be lined up with not much room for height difference ( less than the height of two pennies stacked up) so the water has to be as still as possible for this endeavor.  They will look for a "slack tide", the period between the outgoing and incoming tide, which this week should be before dawn.

This is the 770 ft.  old section of bridge on its way to Canada, shown here passing by Point Hudson in Port Townsend.    The pontoons will be used in a marina breakwater there. Some other parts of the old bridge are going to salvage. 

This whole project can be viewed from Shine Tidelands State Park shoreline near the west end.  So far weather is co-operating and hopefully the project will be finished on time (June 15th) or possibly early, due to hefty bonus money for earlier deadlines. 

http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/

I figure if I keep writing about Port Townsend and even 1% of you come to visit, it will be a tremendous boost to our economy.  This is a wonderful spot on the waterfront in Port Townsend with a very interesting history.

Clam Cannery

This is a great old building that was used for clam canning dating back to the year 1885. Eventually and more than once,   Port Townsend had a big depression era when everyone moved away and the population was down in the 2000 range. 

The cannery was in use again around the 30's and was next to the ferry dock.  Sometime later it fell into disrepair, and was home to lots of pigeons and sea gulls. 

A very ambitious business man fell in love with Port Townsend and this wonderful old building and bought it with plans for renovation, including a restaurant on the ground floor and retail shops or condos on the top floor.  He has also leased the old ferry dock above and plans to make use of it one day.

It has been at least 5 years that I know of and probably longer in getting this project together, but I believe it will happen soon.

The upper floor is now finished with beautiful condos and are being offered for rent or for sale.   They feature a smashing view of the bay and shipping lanes,as well as the Islands of the San Juans, and Cascade Mountains.  The decor is beautiful and upscale with granite and stainless steel, hand-forged steel, hammered copper, concrete floors and counter tops, hand-blown glass fixtures, radiant floor heat, hand-built custom cabinets and top of the line appliances.

During this month and next since our bridge is out and we are floating out here by ourselves the owner is offering to fly people to his units in a seaplane.

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 One of my favorite photos I have taken of a Bald Eagle was taken on a piling out in front of this building.  From here you can walk to any number of good restaurants with live music,  our wonderful Rose Theater, or some pretty great little shops.  By the way, this is not my listing!

http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/

 New Stats for Western Washington

According to our Northwest Multiple Listing Service there has been a significant increase in pending sales for April, up 11.4% compared to a year ago and up 21.3 % from March figures. 

The NWMLS encompasses 19 counties. In the Puget Sound area (King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties) pending sales were up 26% from March.    According to the data, the inventory is less, and prices are stabilizing.    The median price for April's closed sales was $270,000 for homes and condominiums, down 12.9 percent for the one year period but was the same for March.

Inventory is down 18.3% from last years levels. 

This good news is credited to lower prices, lower interest rates which means higher affordability and improving consumer confidence and of course the first time buyer tax incentive. 

According to Lennox Scott, chairman and CEO of John L Scott Real Estate described the market as "bifurcated".  " Sales are up and prices have stabilized in the more affordable market, " but he also noted the high end properties are experiencing different market conditions. 

 http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/

Many people dream of moving to a small, quaint and rural town and running a B & B.  Seems the problem is that it is a lot of work, hard to find and keep good help, and sometimes there are too many vacancies.  Most owners are just plain tired.  It can take a long time to sell these often magnificent Victorian beauties as some of Port Townsend B & B owner's are finding out.  Here are some examples:

Old Consulate Inn:

Grand old house with an interesting history dating back to 1891, when it was used as the consulate headquarters, with 9 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and staff living quarters in the basement.  On the market for approx. 4 years, currently listed at $1,100,000.  Beautiful woodwork, nice rooms and grounds.  12,000 sq. ft. lot in great location near the Jefferson County Court House. 

Ann Starett Mansion:

Built in 1889 as a wedding gift for his bride by one of town's prominent citizens and local builder.  Amazing architecture and grand old house.  A B & B in the past, it is now operated as a boutique hotel (I am told there was once a wonderful and popular restaurant there)  with 10 bedrooms and 10 baths.  On the market for the past 5 years or so, it is now offered for $975,000 down from 1.7 mil. 

English Inn:

Out of the way a bit, on the edge of Uptown, and well hidden behind English Laurels. Built in 1885 with  6 bedrooms and 6.5 baths with a wonderful Old English Pub on the ground floor.  On the market for 1.5 years it is currently offered for $759,000.

Ravenscroft:

New in comparison to most of the historical homes above, this building is from 1989 and is keeping with the Uptown vintage construction.  Currently run as a B & B with 8 bedrooms, 9 baths and fabulous kitchen dining area the home has 6222 sq,ft, on a 12,000+ sq. ft. lot.  Currently offered at $995,000.

Inn At McCurdy House:

Wonderful view home in heart of Uptown, with only 3 bedrooms, 2 baths.  Recently purchased by current owners and back on the market with an asking price of $897,000 ( less than their purchase price less than 2 years ago.)

I am sure you will find this same type of inventory all over the Pacific Northwest.  Great time to act if you have the same dream.

http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/

Cindo de Mayo  is not as much fun here as it was in California.  There, people are always  happy for the excuse to have Margaritas, and act crazy.  Oh well, they would never have a Rhodie Festival with a bed race and a pet parade, like we have here in Port Townsend,  so there are trade-offs.

Here is what Wayne (Dyer) has for you today. 

If things are not working, ask yourself,"In what way am I creating this? In what way can I change?

Where I live we are surrounded by water and a fair amount of rain.  However, the state of Washington is planning to regulate its use in our area of Jefferson County to benefit the salmon habitat. 

The resulting limits on water usage could seriously  affect our small farms and some believe it is a plan to limit growth in the state.  There are local farm bureaus that are lobbying against the limits, and many public forums take place with the Department of Ecology and the Department of Natural Resources. There have been many realtors working to defeat the regulations.

Possible new rules would limit the number of  new wells, denying some land owners development of their own land, metering existing wells and  limiting the amount of water to a maximum of 500 gallons per day, or an average of 350 gallons per day. 

There has been talk of tripleing  setbacks from rivers,  streams and wetlands to the point where a five acre parcel would be unbuildable.

There is no way to please both sides in this issue.  Stay tuned!

More about the Puget Sound

• More than 5,700 acres of aquatic land (land under water) exceed contamination levels that are considered safe.
• Nearly 20 percent - or about 30,000 acres - of commercial shellfish beds have closed to harvest since 1980.
• Approximately 70 percent of Puget Sound near-shore estuary habitat (the land near the mouths of rivers) has been lost to residential, commercial and industrial development. These areas are vital nurseries for salmon and other marine life.

The Causes

Population growth and development have taken a toll on Puget Sound. Nearly four million people live in 115 cities and towns around the Sound, and more keep coming - 1.5 million more in the next twenty years. That's like adding a city the size of Portland. On the surface, Puget Sound still looks terrific; yet underneath there are alarming signals that the ecosystem is in trouble. We must take action now to prevent irreversible decline.

Among the many Puget Sound species listed as threatened or endangered are: orcas, otters, steelhead, salmon, bull trout, albatross, pelicans and sea turtles.

Today there are far fewer shorebirds - nearly a 50 percent decline in just the past two decades.

Thousands of acres of commercial shellfish beds are closed because the clams, mussels and oysters are unsafe for us to eat.

The state Department of Health keeps a list of Puget Sound beaches that are not safe for swimming because they are contaminated with bacteria.

And in Hood Canal, there are dead zones - areas without enough oxygen in the water to support life -- with signs that new dead zones are emerging in other parts of the Sound.

One-third of the households around Puget Sound rely on septic systems, many of them old or leaking, which send raw sewage into the Sound.

Every day, treated wastewater flushes into Puget Sound, along with toxic chemicals.

Two million acres of forest at the base of our mountains has been cut, paved and built up in less than one generation - that's an area as large as King and Pierce counties combined.

Our cities and suburbs are built so that less rainwater is absorbed where it falls, and more rainwater picks up chemicals and oil as it washes over roofs and roads into storm drains that empty into the Sound. This "stormwater runoff" is the number one cause of pollution in Puget Sound.