Archive for the 'Green Living' Category
A Radical Proposition for Real Estate
by Roberta Murphy
I really want to talk about the effect petroleum costs will have on real estate, but first wish to tell a little story:
My grandgather, Adolph Michelson emigrated at the age of 7 with his family from Norway to Deadwood, South Dakota. It required a long, hard journey by steamship. train and wagon to arrive at their eventual home in the steep hills above Deadwood. It was there that they lived with other immigrants and Indians, sharing magnificent views and boot camp workouts as they trudged up and down that steep, steep hill to get to town for work, school, food and other supplies.
Views be damned. This was where the poor people lived.
As soon as the Michelson family could afford to do so, they moved their big family into a home in town, where shopping, school and employment were within easy walking distance. Their decision to move was not based on home features, the quality of the stove, or the number of closets–or even neighborhood amenities. It was based on that single and most basic real estate dynamic:
LOCATION
It is only since the advent of sprawling suburbias and each family having multiple automobiles that we strayed from distinct town and country living. The wealthy may have had homes in both locations, but the average family lived near employment . There were no school buses (or video games because kids had to hike through miles of rain and snow to get to school each day) and gasoline stations were pretty rare at the turn of the that other century. Which all leads me to wonder….
What might be the top priority for the home of the future when gas prices reach $6, $8, $10 or even $12 per gallon?
How about the radical choice of living walking-close to employment, shopping and schools? Or living near a bus stop or transit center where one can commute for work, school and fun?
I am eying real estate differently these days–and am coming around to my ancestor’s way of thinking. Location trumps views, walkable sidewalks trump big back yards and a bicycle pump beats a gas pump–at least for kids who drive or are driven to school (ever seen the long lines of mini vans idling outside our schools at arrival and departure times–or high school parking lots?). Might a more urban lifestyle offer some solutions that would allow for a saner lifestyle?
I am also wondering if Carol Lloyd’s prediction of suburbs turning into Slumburbia might also come true–sooner rather than later due to rising fuel costs? In her SF Gate article, she notes, “In Europe, where the cities never died, the suburbs have long been the homes of last resort for the poor and the marginalized.” This is already occurring in and around sprawling urban centers like Houston, where home prices in and close to downtown Houston are selling at a premium, while homes in once-affluent suburbs are selling at prices far below replacement costs. It is a scenario being repeated all over the country, with slightly different configurations along the coasts.
In San Diego County, where I live and work, we are anecdotally seeing a surge of buyers seeking to live within walking distance of restaurants, theaters, dry cleaners and food or farmer’s markets. They no longer want to battle freeway gridlock, and would happily trade their road warrior status for the peace of riding a train to work. They are also seeking more open communities, where neighbors stroll by and greet one another, where not so much of life is lived in and for cars–or behind mortgaged garage doors.
I am so, so tempted to join them….
read comments (5)Solar Shades for the Green Luxury Home
Upon first seeing these beautifully-designed solar panels, I couldn’t help but imagine other applications and modifications for the green lifestyle–whether it be in the luxury home, a school yard, a country club or off-the-grid project.
Imagine these cobra-shaped shades as swiveling solar panels that take the place of outdoor umbrellas around the pool. Or as bus stop shelters or airport curbside check-in. The possibilities are endless and scalable.
And these VEIL Solar Shades are interactive to boot. Indicators on the base show which positions will yield the maximum energy collection at given times of the day. And underneath the shade is an LED feedback system that indicates whether the shade is getting enough sunlight or not–and whether the shade should be turned.
Designed by the Australian design firm Büro North and the the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab, the VEIL Solar Shades blend form and function elegantly.
Your ideas for implementation?
Tip of the top hat to Josh Spear.
The WalMart Effect
Once upon a time, the neighborhoods off Houstons northwest FM1960 were a luxury homebuilders dream. Large wooded and level lots surrounded upscale country clubs such as Champions Golf Course, Raveneaux, and North Gate Country Club.
Affluent families were attracted to these homes because of great neighborhood schools, beautiful parks, challenging golf courses, and nearby fine dining and shopping areas. It was an area where I once lived, as did my sister Gayle Butler and our parents.
We never dreamed that dense apartment housing projects and a compatible WalMart Super Store would invade quiet lifestyles.
In fact, I received a distressed phone call last Tuesday evening from Gayle because the biodiverse preserve behind her home has reportedly been sold by WalMart to a low income housing developer. Behind her lovely residence sits a meadow with a large pond that is home to enormous colonies and species of frogs.
For almost 30 years, the entire neighborhood has been serenaded by thousands of singing frogs and hooting owls. They are a diverse natural treasure, residing at the back fence of the Super WalMart on FM 1960 at Walters Road.
(Im no biologist, but you might call me a frog and owl lover and Ill take no offense especially since we are inundated with reports of mysterious declining frog populations)
Gayle and her neighbors mourn the potential loss of these frogs, owls and other rare gifts of nature to asphalt, concrete and greed. In fact, they are starting to mumble about the Walmortification of neighborhood, flora and fauna.
They are also understandably concerned about:
- Declining property values over which they have no control.
- Increased crime.
- Deterioration and overcrowding of schools.
- The loss of peaceful sleep.
- Flood control: The pond and surrounding grounds contain and absorb water during heavy rainfall (which already floods at the northern end of the property).
- Impassible traffic on FM1960 that is already overly congested.
WalMart touts that it œSells for Less, but at what cost to the people, animals and the environment around their neighborhood stores? From my zoning-secured and and bio-protected community in North San Diego County, I cant help but question why WalMart didnt take steps to secure this 40-plus acre preserve from Radler Enterprises for all to enjoy? This would have been an opportunity for WalMart to truly create an atmosphere of saving.
Is it any wonder that empowered cities like San Marcos, California voted to keep WalMart out? Or that their super centers are resisted by so many?
WalMart: This is your challenge to save a biodiverse treasure pleading for life at your back door.
Harris County: Are you really going to allow this destruction?
A Novel Green Mansion
by Roberta Murphy
Any verbiage I add to this photo would probably be superfluous, since this chatty picture already exceeds the expected thousand words.
Hats off to someones clever recycling of mobile homes.
Not sure if the intent was green construction, but the designer certainly managed to minimize the footprint of this little mobile home park.
I also wonder about the relation of people who live here. And what about plumbing? Or high winds?
Finally, hope this upwardly mobile community isnt anywhere near the path of tornadoes.
Thank you Ronnie Sellers, fellow ANTS investor and bonsai guru in North Carolina, for the photo. He is especially fond of the red shipping container with the attached solarium.
Embarrassing Note: Just discovered this photo is from a movie set. The onlookers are cropped out of the photo. Still a clever arrangement!
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Azulera: Costa Rica Luxury
Azulera Resort Village on Costa Ricas breathtaking Guanacaste coast promises to be the luxury resort destination within the next two years.
By then, it is projected, Greg Normans challenging beach-to-mountain golf course will be completed as will the five- star Hyatt Regency Hotel and the 64 ultra-luxury condos that will be contained within this gated Brasilito complex.
The bio-sensitive Hyatt Regency Azulera Resort and Spa will coexist within a pristine tropical forest that stretches from mountain peaks to the white Pacific beaches below.
Following this first phase of development will be a large shopping and medical plaza and another projected 1000 condos, town homes and ocean view luxury estates.
We just returned from visiting the site and watched as Azulera owner-developer Anil Kothari (CEO Global Financial Group), golf legend Greg Norman, Hyatt executives, and Costa Rican Ministers of Transportation, Environment and Energy, and Tourism gathered for the formal groundbreaking ceremony that was finalized with the planting of a native Guanacaste tree near the beach.
We joined about 30 other real estate brokers from the US and Canada for the ceremony, and would spend the next few days learning more about the province of Guanacaste and this precious paradise. The spectacular natural beauty of the area struck us all, as did the gentle warmth of the Costa Ricans and, of course, the balmy climate. We learned that there is more biodiversity in Costa Rica than along the Amazon. This is because the climate is both sub tropical and tropical, and a varied terrain that ranges from plains to beach to jungle to mountains.
We all appreciated that Costa Rica is both a highly-educated country and one that fiercely protects its flora and fauna. Hunting is not allowed, and children are taught from an early age to treasure their natural environment, which includes magnificent foliage, various breeds of wild monkeys, parrots, macaws, and other exotic birds, along with reptiles of all sorts including iguanas and red-eyed lizards.
The Guanacaste coast is being developed with great care. The Four Seasons has developed a private resort to the north, Marriott is building a golf resort in nearby Pinellas and the Ritz Carlton is planning a luxury hotel with golf course and a 200-slip marina to the north of Azulera.
And just last month, Steve Case, founder of America Online (AOL) announced plans to open an $800 milllion beach resort with two boutique hotels just south of Playa Hermosa. At around the same time, two Minnesota developers announced that they would also be building a 150-room Regent Hotel on Guanacastes Papagayo Peninsula.
Guanacaste is a Costa Rican province abuzz with carefully-planned and eco-sensitive luxury development and we are honored to be among those representing the developer in the sale of the 64 Azulera luxury condos.
Additional articles about Azulera Resort Village, Guanacaste and Costa Rica will be forthcoming.
In the meantime, if you would like additional information about Azulera condo availabilities and pricing, please feel free to email me (roberta@sandiegopreviews.com) or call 877-818-8197 or 760-402-9101.
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