Belltown
On April 8, You Can Bike the Viaduct
The Cascade Bicycle Club offers everyone a chance to ride a bicycle on the Alaskan Way Viaduct in either the 3-mile “Viaduct Experience” or the 12-mile “Emerald City Ride.” Both rides take place April 8. 3-mile SR 99 Viaduct Experience Designed for families with children and beginning riders, this fun, mostly flat route will give…
Read Moreb’End Tunnel Walk
On Sunday, pedestrians replaced cars in a soon-to-disappear part of Seattle. The Battery Street Tunnel, located just northeast of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, shut down to motor vehicles and welcomed foot traffic on March 5. The tunnel walk was a public art initiative called b’End Tunnel, which celebrated the Battery Street Tunnel in its last years of service. The…
Read More$2,000,000 for Our Neighborhoods
The City of Seattle wants us—you, me, and our neighbors—to decide how to spend $2,000,000 on small-scale neighborhood improvements. Does your community need a new crosswalk? How about a median? Or a flashing beacon, repaired sidewalk, curb ramps, park benches, or trail improvements? That’s what this project, “Your Voice, Your Choice,” aims to accomplish. As real estate…
Read MoreThe Bogue Plan – A Better Seattle
Seattle voters authorized a Municipal Plans Commission on March 8, 1910. The city was growing, and they needed a game plan for long-term development. The commission selected Virgil G. Bogue to plan and beautify Seattle’s future. “Virgil G. Bogue, who is not unknown locally, will draw the substantial salary of $1,500 a month, and be…
Read MorePeople on People on People
Seattle is now the #10 U.S. city for density. Density isn’t what usually comes to mind when most people think of our city. I know I used to picture the waterfront, the comfortably impressive skyline, and the charming village-esque neighborhoods. But I’ve watched more and more people move into those charming neighborhoods, and I’ve noticing…
Read MoreRain, Rain, Come or Stay
Autumn means clouds, and clouds mean rain—and rain means the Washington we all know and (some of us) love. Well, it’s Autumn. The forecast looks wet. But Seattle, it turns out, gets quite the range of rainfall, according to new data from Seattle Public Utilities. Rain in Green Lake is not the same as rain…
Read MoreSeattle Condo Prices Climb
The August numbers are in, and condo numbers are up. The average price of a Seattle single-family-home was $575,000 last month (15 percent higher than last year), while the average price of a Seattle condo was $395,000 (32 percent higher than last year). In an already crazy-high real estate year, this is the biggest 12-month…
Read MorePrime Now, Wine Now
Seattleites, booze has never been more convenient. …for some of us. Amazon just launched—for the first time ever in the U.S.—Prime Now, alcohol-style, which can bring a bottle of wine or a pack of beer to your doorstep in under an hour. It’s more than just a booze service. Prime Now lets you pick from more…
Read MoreWalkable Seattle
Traffic is terrible. One solution? Walk. Walk Score ranked Seattle as the 8th most walkable major U.S. city this year, with an overall rating of 70.8. They also provided specific ratings for each Seattle neighborhood, so you can find out exactly how walkable an area is. Savvy homebuyers often ask us walkability questions when shopping for real…
Read MoreRental Registration and Inspection Ordinance
Do you know the new rental licensing requirement, SMC 22.214 (Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance)? The Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance (RRIO) requires landlords to register ALL rental housing units in Seattle, from single-family houses to large apartment buildings. ALL properties must be registered from 2015 to 2016, with specific deadlines based on the ZIP code where…
Read MorePhoto Contest: Seattle Bloomin’
It’s springtime in Seattle! For May’s photo contest, send us pictures of nature in bloom. Step 1: Take 1-3 photos of blossoms. A flower, a tree, a blooming onion. They’re all fair game. Step 2: Email your photo(s) to josh.realestategals@gmail.com with: • Your name • A brief caption Step 3: We’ll post your photos on our Facebook page. The photos…
Read MoreKing County’s Worsening Homelessness
Homelessness in King County is up. The number of homeless people sleeping outside jumped a heartbreaking 21 percent since this time last year, according to a count organized by Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness last Friday. The official numbers? King County: 3,772 people sleeping outside (649 more than last year) Seattle: …
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