First Thursday is Back!

We stopped in last night at the opening of a new showroom for Kalkhoff Bikes at 11th and Glisan and it was deja vu all over again.  A  swarming crowd turned out in the Pearl District’s First Thursday for brats and beer to see the latest new thing.  No, it wasn’t condos or lofts – duh.  This night the new new thing is innovative bikes for urban commuters.  Cool and techie products were displayed and played-with in a gallery space reminiscent of an Apple store with white walls, cool stuff and trendy people.  It was great fun!

The bikes are awesome!  Electric battery powered models from performance sport styles to jazzy all-about-town, (read practical and possible to pedal anywhere) cruisers.  High style, high quality and enabling of the high life of Portland –  e-urban sustainable and really, practically useful for getting up hills!

What does this have to do with real estate?  Not much.  It was reminiscent of the days we sold Civic lofts from the B-Street Gallery on 13th – and invigorating to be so engaged again in a new concept.  And the fresh activity for the first Thursday of the month speaks positively of the marketplace in general.

The evening and the event are market relevant because people are out again to check out what’s new and be part of product innovation worthy of the Portland culture.  Here’s to Kalkhoffusa.com for bringing their marvelous new bike and commuter technology to Portland . . .  and for bringing back the party to the Pearl!

April 3, 2010 · Filed Under Neighborhoods, Places We Recommend

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Arbor Creates a New Generation of Solidly Built Custom Homes

by Sarah Norton

Arbor Custom Homes has invented a new genre of homes for the Portland area. Since 1988, this local developer has distinguished their architecture, their neighborhoods and the quality of their product far above their competition. From Wilsonville to Bethany, offering condominiums to manor homes – every Arbor home is built with a high standard of design and function – utilizing space and location to optimize what buyers really want. Arbor has honed in on what connects with home buyers, even in a difficult market.  And they sell homes doing it! So why, you ask – why does an Arbor home sell faster and for more money that other options?

Arbor neighborhoods simply WORK! Each one has a special sense of community and usually has a neighborhood park, pool or play area for residents to gather and have fun. Arbor’s lots are smaller so residents tend to get outside the private space of their home and gather with other families in the neighborhood’s public spaces, sideways, driveways and low-traffic streets. The homes are always well maintained and the front lawns are usually maintained and nicely manicured by the HOA.

Arbor floorplans are very livable. They have a wide variety to choose from- master on the main level, den spaces, loft spaces, formal spaces, extra bonus rooms, storage- big and small. The room spaces are always substantial and flow nicely. Most of their floorplans come in three “elevations” or exterior styles- French, English and American. Each elevation looks different from the street which gives the neighborhood good dimensions even if the homes are the same floorplan. Arbor generally builds 2 level homes with a great room on the main level and most of the bedrooms on the upper level- standard but again- very livable. Arbor also has a campaign for GREEN building- check out this link for more information on this effort. Arbor Builds GREEN

Arbor finishes are high quality with a very pleasing aesthetic. You’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven when you visit their design center in Beaverton to custom select the finishes for your home. The design center consultants have a keen eye for design and can help you choose your finishes. The offer a wide variety of built-in components, granite and paint selections, cabinetry, outdoor kitchens, travertine tile, light fixtures, high energy efficient systems, appliances – the sky is the limit. All these upgrades come with a price which adds on to your “sticker price” prior to the closing date/completion of your home.

Most importantly, Arbor builds solid homes. Their structural warranty is solid but you probably won’t need it because Arbor has perfected their structural building practices. They know what works for homes in the Northwest and how to best keep the structure dry and rot free – which is a major concern in our neck of the woods. Arbor also educates residents on proper maintenance and has great customer service and emergency maintenance on call for any problems you might experience.

Some home buyers think of Arbor as a developer who just builds homes on “postage stamp” lots with a common aesthetic, one right after the next. This is partly true – if you want ½ acre with a private backyard then Arbor might not be for you. But if you are looking for a solid home, great finishes in a wonderful neighborhood – you should consider an Arbor neighborhood. And even Arbor is making deals in this market so give one of us a call and we can help you choose a neighborhood that best suites you and your family.

The Jackson Group recently helped some clients purchase a home in the Arbor Oaks neighborhood off Springville Road, near Rock Creek Community College. These clients had been looking at homes in the Bethany area with a good “walkability” factor- near walking trails and shopping areas. The Arbor Oaks neighborhood was at the top of their list from the beginning. They just sold their home and needed to move within 45 days so building a home was not a possibility. The sales office at Arbor Oaks has been busy making deals on custom homes and move in ready homes. Their inventory of move in ready homes was minimal but they still had a variety of homes and floorplans available in a range of prices. Our clients had one home in particular in mind but they had to act quickly to secure the home because there had been a lot of interest. This home was ideal for them- lovely finishes, about 2900sqft with a bonus room and 4 bedrooms. Their offer was accepted and now they will move into the home and neighborhood of their dreams.  We wish them well!

June 1, 2009 · Filed Under Places We Recommend

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Portland Farmers’ Market is Open!

A favorite stop of mine on Saturday mornings after my Pilates and Aerobics classes is the Farmers’ Market at the Portland State University campus.  The Portland area has several farmers’ markets, on different days and in different locations, but this one fits my schedule and location best.  Another good one for me location-wise is the Thursday afternoon version at the Patagonia Building in The Pearl.  Either one of these or the others on the schedule are great open markets of seasonal fresh produce and farm products, dairy and meat offers, flowers and fun stuff.  It is fresh, local good food and a totally fun experience.  My niece Ashley and I meet up there on Saturdays about 9:20.  Ashley arrives from South Waterfront by streetcar, so she is totally sustainable, and we drink coffee and share our interest in food, cooking, gardening and family.  We have our favorite spots, the ‘Tart’ Lady from Hood River, the mushroom stand, the grilled pepper man, and any one of the fresh veggie and fresh egg providers.

The crowd is increasing now that the sun has come out!  Hope to see you there sometime!

Becky

April 4, 2009 · Filed Under Neighborhoods, Places We Recommend, The Jackson Group

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Cabaret!

Last night my husband, Gene, and I had the pleasure of seeing Cabaret, directed by Chris Coleman of Portland Center Stage, at the Gerding Theater at the Armory. We loved it! And, we were so pleased to observe how Portland has produced – through Portland Center Stage and the Gerding Theater – such remarkable talent and success with this production and with the theater in general.

Our date began with a quick drink and dinner a The Henry Tavern in the Brewery Blocks. The place was jam-packed and we were lucky to find a table opening up in the bar or we likely would have had a too little time for dinner before the show at 7:30. We observed that the big crowd at Henry’s was a sign of Portland prosperity and the Pearl District’s neighborhood energy! Truth is, any number of places in the Pearl neighborhood near the Gerding Theater that we might have chosen for our dinner would have been busy. The District is always lit up with life and energy and activity. That’s why so many people want to live here.

Off to the theater we went and there we experienced again the intimacy and comfort of the renovated building. Here was a striking example of what we love about Portland. The commitment of Portland people, both businesses and individuals, to do what is right and give back to the community, the culture and the future of our city. Gerding/Edlen Development’s commitment to bringing the old Armory into the modern age while at the same time preserving and protecting it’s historical character is a winning example of that ethic.

Then, there was the show! It was awesome! From the rousing, raucous and racy opening that had us smiling big and feeling the heat – to the tense, tender and unfortunate ending – we were gripped.

Wade McCollum, playing the emcee, is extra-ordinary! He is the part he plays, the stimulating, seductive and provocative “ground” for the audience, and the “tease” for Sally Bowles, who is swept up in the push-pull relationships of living for the moment or living for the future. Ultimately, Sally (played by the larger-than-life Storm Large!) is compelled to live in the now, but her tug within is packed with tense energy and excitement and leveled back to her (and us) with hard, cold reality. The show is dramatic, entertaining and real at the same time.

We were totally engaged and entertained. I recommend it!

Becky

November 7, 2007 · Filed Under Places We Recommend

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