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6 Alaska's White House 10 Wet and Wild: Water Features for Alaska Gardens 14 Developing Anchorage 20 Home Ownership Dreams Deferred 30 Marsala: Pantone's Color of the Year 32 Staged to Sell 36 Hiking 101 42 Envisioning a More Walkable Anchorage 49 Homegrown Healthy 53 Dining Guide 54 Building the Family Business

Alice Rogoff / Publisher Maia Nolan-Partnow / Editorial Director Viki Spiroska / Production Coordinator Jamie Gonzales / Editor Aaron Jansen / Creative Director Joshua Genuino / Art Director Kelly Day-Lewis / Layout Contributors Marcus Biastock, Fernanda Conrad, Jody Ellis-Knapp, Josh Genuino, Michaela Goertzen, Brix Hahn, Alli Harvey, Loren Holmes, Jeff Lowenfels, Julia Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Malley

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Please send letters to the editor to jgonzales@alaskadispatch.com, and include your name, city of residence and phone number. We cannot guarantee publication of letters, and we reserve the right to edit letters for length.

MORE THAN A CENTURY OLD AND SEVEN TIMES LARGER THAN THE AVERAGE ALASKA HOUSE, THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION IS A PIECE OF THE STATE’S HISTORY. BUT TO THE 22 GOVERNORS WHO HAVE PASSED THROUGH ITS ROOMS OVER THE DECADES, THE REGAL PROPERTY HAS FILLED ANOTHER ROLE: HOME. BY MICHAELA GOERTZEN MGOERTZEN@ALASKADISPATCH.COM ERCHED ON THE BEND of a hillside road in Juneau, the governor’s mansion is perhaps Alaska’s most regal piece of real estate. Built in 1912 with a federal stipend of $40,000, it was a nod of recognition and legitimacy from Washington, D.C., to the far-flung territory. With Greek-style columns and a 31.5-foot Tlingit totem pole at the entrance, the mansion’s edifice juxtaposes the state’s Native heritage with the U.S.’ political legacy. And while it may sit atop a small half-acre lot, the property has an expansive view: The Chilkat Mountains, Gastineau Channel and downtown Juneau are all visible from 716 Calhoun St.

Christened the “White House of the North” by visiting President Warren Harding in 1923, the 14,000-square-foot governor’s mansion comprises 26 rooms, 10 bathrooms, and eight fireplaces. The official residence is part mansion, part museum, filled with art and Alaskana on loan from the Alaska State Museum. But for the families who have resided in the governor’s mansion, the historic building has another name: home. When the most recent residents, Gov. Bill Walker and first lady Donna Walker, arrived in Juneau in December, they put a few low-impact personal touches on the house. “We personalized it with family photos and throw blankets,” Donna Walker said. “We brought up the rocking chair because our new grandson was visiting.” They made no other major changes.

“It’s just so beautifully and painstakingly put together,” Donna Walker said. She has an office in the mansion, complete with a fireplace and a share of the beautiful view— and a share of the house’s history. “It’s a privilege to pull Bella Hammond’s parlor chair up,” she said. “It’s been an easy transition.” A couple of the governor’s favorite features are the original seal of the District of Alaska, embedded above the living room fireplace, as well as a copy of the check signed by Secretary of State William Seward for the purchase of Alaska. Other tenants have been less studious. Michael Stepovich, son of Gov. Mike Stepovich, Alaska’s last territorial governor, recalled that it was plenty raucous with eight children inside the mansion during his fa- “WE PERSONALIZED IT WITH FAMther’s term. He admitted to banister sliding, chas- ILY PHOTOS AND THROW BLANKETS,” ing his siblings around the DONNA WALKER SAID. “WE BROUGHT piano, and his brother Ted UP THE ROCKING CHAIR BECAUSE OUR being locked inside an upstairs bathroom. (Ted NEW GRANDSON WAS VISITING.” was eventually extracted by the fire department, which got in through a window.) In addition to space, in 1957 the mansion came with another luxury: the family’s first television. “It was just Liberace and wrestling back then,” Stepovich said. Antonia Stepovich Gore, the couple’s eldest child, had especially fond memories of the home and its staff, Marguerite and Charlie Doucette, a Belgian couple. “Mother went into the kitchen to make bread one day and I don’t know what happened, whether the yeast failed or what, but she never went into the kitchen again,” Gore said. “She just left it to Marguerite.” From Marguerite’s pastel cookies with pastry cream, to the bedroom she shared with her sister Maria, to the garden with its dragon lilies and the perfect front lawn, “It seemed to me the most elegant place to live,” Gore said. Living in the governor’s mansion means welcoming in dignitaries and local neighbors alike, and Walker said she’s enjoying her role as executive hostess. “We’ve not turned down an invitation. You can always have somebody in for tea or a tour,” she said. As a state-owned estate, the residence has seen a broad spectrum of houseguests, from leaders of the free world to the judges of “Top Chef.” The ballroom alone has hosted presidents’ receptions, daughters’ weddings and girls’ slumber parties. The lawn has set the scene for the mansion’s centennial celebration and Piper Palin’s lemonade stand. Perhaps its longest-standing tradition is the governor’s annual Christmas open house. When the Walkers hosted the event for the first time in December, 4,000 guests were served 25,000 cookies and 250 pounds of candy and fudge. It was a hosting marathon. “I took one short break, but I think Bill and (Lt. Gov.) Byron (Mallott) shook hands for four hours,” Walker said.

To assist the first lady (or “first dude,” as Todd Palin preferred to be called), a house staff of four works together to handle event planning, as well as household management and maintenance. “The job is so not typical,” said Lisa Boman, executive residence manager and assistant to the first lady. Sometimes it means arranging for cookies by the ton; other days, it involves coordinating emergency response to a flooded conservatory. There has been no dedicated chef since then-Gov. Sarah Palin eliminated the position in 2007, and cooking duties are shared among the staff members who work in the mansion. “We all cook. It’s family style,” Boman said. The Walkers, she

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added, are “great leftover eaters.” Boman, who has worked at the residence since 2011, has assisted both the Parnells and the Walkers. The house staff positions are not considered political, and for continuity, they traditionally stay on when administrations change. Rather than a “Downton Abbey”-style upstairs/downstairs arrangement, Boman describes a working relationship with the governor and first lady that is more of a team effort. “I like that we’re not on the political side of it and are just a part of their family,” she said. “This is their resting place. It’s an easygoing, loving atmosphere.”

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INSTALLING A WATER FEATURE CAN BE A BREEZE, BUT PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO OUR NORTHERN CLIMATE.

BY BRIX HAHN BHAHN@ALASKADISPATCH.COM ROM A SIMPLE FOUNTAIN to a waterfall or pond, animal-shaped squirters to rock-fashioned bubblers, a water garden element can be basic or elaborate—it all depends on personal taste, budget and setting. “There’s hardly anything you can do that’s more impactful than a water feature,” said Benjamin Brown, project manager at Faltz Landscaping and Nursery in Anchorage. “Human beings love water… the main draws are the sound and visual aspects.” Living in Alaska doesn’t mean water features are out of reach; it just requires being mindful of how climate impacts on your equipment. Two important points to remember: water features require regular maintenance and constant supervision. Routinely checking a water feature for leaks, breaks and functionality will save money and time down the road. Keeping the water clean of leaves and algae will prevent pumps from clogging and breaking.

In the winter months, Brown suggests draining the actual feature, but leaving the pump in the water. “The common belief is you have to take it out … but we found that almost 100 percent of the time the pumps will fail during that (off) season.” Inactive pumps left in the water during winter months are more likely to work properly in the spring, according to Brown. The water acts as a seal and keeps the pump’s more delicate pieces from cracking. The water remaining in the pump will expand when frozen, but typically not enough to damage it. Pumps removed from the water for winter months face a higher risk of cracking and breaking. Algae should not be a huge concern in Alaska Brown said, but it is always a possibility when working with water. Installing a water squirter to promote water surface movement may reduce the amount of algae in a pool, as will fish. Koi are a practical option and can often survive winters in northern environments, so long as they have access to unfrozen water and fresh oxygen—this means building a pond that’s too big to completely freeze, or relocating them to an indoor aquarium during the winter. Setting up an ultraviolet lamp can also help reduce algae growth, much like it does with a fish tank.

GETTING STARTED The first step when considering a home water garden feature is to decide whether you’ll do it yourself or hire a professional. Both have advantages. Hiring a professional comes with a higher price tag, but when you work with a qualified contractor who uses a high standard of installation, you reduce the risk of any features malfunctioning. Setting it up yourself saves you the cost of labor, although it will require more personal time committed to the project. Either way, you will still have the advantage of personalizing your project throughout as well as after installation.

For the purpose of this tutorial, we’ll focus on building a small pond with a circulating pump.

Any water garden begins with a place to put a fountain or pond. Be cautious of putting the feature under a tree, as falling leaves may be a constant hassle to remove. Depending on the size of your feature, it’s important to ensure the stability of the ground and to adjust accordingly.

Digging a pond may require professional assistance for larger areas. It is possible to dig yourself, but be careful not to over-exert yourself. (You might also call in some friends to help with this step.)

The bottom of any pond must be layered with special pond laminate lining to prevent water from escaping. This can be purchased through any local water garden vendor. Multiple pieces

should significantly overlap. The plastic should blanket up and over the walls of the earth bed to prevent erosion; the exposed flaps can be hidden later with rocks or earth. 4.

When purchasing a circulating pump, consider the size of your pond, the type of feature (if you choose to add one) and whether you wish to introduce fish. Fish will require the purchase of a more

advanced pump with the ability to filter out fish food and waste. 5.

Place the circulating pump in the lowest point of the pond. Faltz Landscaping recommends putting your pump in a five-gallon bucket with large holes cut in the sides; this will assist in filtering the amount of debris making contact with the pump. Plug in the pump to an electrical source. Do not tamper with any electrical parts from the manufacturer; they should already be tested, watersafe and ready to go.

Fill your pond by running a garden hose from the house or by manually hauling buckets of water.

Turn on your circulating pump, enjoy and monitor regularly.

Additional tips and reminders: • It’s possible to adjust the sounds, splashes and bubbles your water feature makes by making changes to the position, pump type and size of your feature. • Water will evaporate, so keep an eye on your feature to ensure it stays full. Refill as needed. Automatic refill pumps are available, but they require maintenance and may unexpectedly spike your water bill. • Be aware that your electric bill will go up during active months, but generally only $9 to $20. This is based off of a pump drawing between 0.5 AMPs for a smaller feature up to 9.0 AMPs for a larger one. This price increase may also be affected by how many kilowatts are being used and if the pump runs 24-hours a day or on a timer.

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The Petersen Group has been building single-family homes and high-quality condominiums in Anchorage since 1983, as well as working with Cook Inlet Housing Authority since 2005 to build affordable housing. Trevor Edmondson, vice president and general manager of the Petersen Group, says finding land to develop is one of Anchorage’s biggest challenges. “Lack of affordable, buildable land is an issue that is tough to overcome,” Edmondson said. “Much of the current available land has poor soils and poor topography, which can add substantial cost to the infrastructure of projects, as well as significant additional time for buildings to be completed.” Brian Shelton-Kelley is the director of NeighborWorks Anchorage, an organization that helps provide housing for residents from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds. Born and raised in Alaska, Shelton-Kelley says Anchorage and Alaska as a whole need to be proactive in creating housing. He’d like to see regulatory regimes altered to facilitate more multifamily development. “Changes are needed in the city’s Title 21 land use code, building permits and inspections need to be streamlined and better coordinated, and state local and federal funding could be better aligned,” he said. Edmondson agrees, saying that solutions to the housing shortage should be a collaborative effort of community, local agencies and government. He pointed to Anchorage Economic Development Corp.’s Live. Work. Play. initiative as one such solution. Established in 2011, Live. Work. Play. has the goal of making Anchorage the number one city in America to live, work and play by 2025. Housing is a big part of accomplishing that goal, and AEDC has collaborated with businesses and developers to start implementing some of the changes necessary to create sustainable housing plans. “Additionally, the municipality could help develop affordable housing via tax credits and making development more affordable,” Edmondson said. “We are seeing more high-density, multifamily units being built in Anchorage. The cost of these homes is being forced upward by the cost of construction, land, development and the time it takes to obtain permits.” Moreover, he added, it’s time to think differently about what these new homes look like. “Developers need to be creative with the use of land and need to work with various agencies to encourage changes to current codes, as well as going more vertical with construction of new housing to increase density and make units more affordable,” Edmondson said.

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NEW NEIGHBORHOODS DESIGNED FOR ALL NeighborWorks is the project developer for Hollybrook Terrace, a community of townhouse-style condominiums built to feel like a “neighborhood within a neighborhood.” The development, designed for individuals and families of all ages, is located in Anchorage’s Independence Park, an area selected for its mix of single-family homes, condominiums and affordable housing for seniors. “A healthy, sustainable housing market is one that offers options that can accommodate a range of lifestyles and price points,” Shelton-Kelley said. It’s a model that is being embraced by housing groups throughout Anchorage. Carol Gore, CEO for Cook Inlet Housing Authority, echoed Shelton-Kelley, saying housing solutions in Anchorage need to consider the needs of all residents, from young professionals to retirees. Gore considers high-density housing a “delicate but necessary option” and says it is something Anchorage must consider. “People in our community are seeking quality, affordable housing,” Gore said. “They want choices that include quality construction, with locations close to amenities such as trails, parks, restaurants and jobs.” Currently, CIHA is in partnership with Alaska Housing Finance Corp. in developing 70 units of housing at Ridgeline Terrace and 18 units of housing at Susitna Square. Their 2015 plan includes 49 units of senior rental housing at Muldoon and DeBarr, as well as the construction of 52 units of family rental housing in the same area. While it sounds like a lot, the joint effort falls far short of the 900 total units of housing experts say Anchorage needs to build each year in order

to keep up with anticipated demand. The solution may lie, at least in part, in increasing housing density. “Using the land we have left to provide more than the usual ‘one home at a time’ approach will help with affordability and will help our city both attract and retain the next generation,” Gore said. “We need to engage the community and explore the tradeoffs regarding being near amenities and having more affordable housing options in exchange for closer living quarters.” It’s an approach that requires some thought and planning, noted Shelton-Kelley. “Density can work if done right. It must be appropriate in the context of community and location,” he said. “Denser housing also requires a different support ‘ecosystem’ such as sidewalks, green space, parking, access to public transportation and mixed use areas where housing and commercial spaces co-exist.” While fenced yards and large lots are traditional selling points for local properties, Shelton-Kelley says he sees Anchorage residents’ desires starting to change. “Single-family, detached homes on 10,000-square-foot lots may be desirable to some families but may not respond to the lifestyle needs of other market segments,” he said. “I see a certain maturing of the Anchorage market as part of recognition that Anchorage is becoming an increasing(ly) urban environment, and a more urban aesthetic will be in demand.”

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FTER MONTHS SKIMMING listings in search of her first home, Elizabeth Knapp, a 26-year-old elementary music teacher in Anchorage, stumbled on her househunting holy grail one night in February after work. It appeared in an agent’s email: three bedrooms, two bathrooms, garage, all updated, located in the East Anchorage neighborhood near her parents. Most crucial and hard-to-find was

the asking price: $285,000. She called her agent right away and got set up to make an offer the next morning. Six other offers were already waiting. Knapp and her agent decided to go above asking. To increase the chances the sellers would pick her, Knapp wrote a personal letter. “I told them that I grew up in the neighborhood and am still a frequent visitor,” she said. She said she liked the nearby dog park and the trails, and that her parents lived nearby. And she did all that before she even set foot in the house.

Such is the housing market in Anchorage and many other parts of Alaska for millennials — people in their 20s and early 30s — who are looking to get into their first home at an affordable price. Knapp’s offer, the first she’d ever made, was accepted. Her story, agents say, is not typical. “We are in a sellers’ market. We’re seeing three and four offers,” said Ava Anderson, a realtor with Jack White in Anchorage, speaking about first homes under $300,000 like Knapp’s. “The last one I had had, like, nine offers.” Qualifying for a home loan and finding a house in that range that meets the high expectations of young homebuyers has never been harder, according to Anderson. Competition is high and barriers are many, she said. And a number of indica-

SELLER’S MARKET? GENERATIONAL DIVIDE? tors show that fewer millennials are buying. Alaska Housing Finance Corp. makes about one in every six home loans in Alaska, the majority of them to first-time homebuyers. Over the last five years, the corporation has seen the total number of loans made increase, but the percentage of millennial applications has decreased from 44 percent in 2010 to 41 percent in 2014, said Derrick Chan, an AHFC planner. Millennials, who make up about a third of the homebuying population, have higher debt burdens and different ideas about family and what their professional lives might look like, said Susan Fison, an Anchorage-based expert on housing demographics. “I think a lot more millennials are oriented

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toward having more flexibility, and renting does give you more flexibility,” she said. There are also strong economic forces at play, she said. Median student loan debt among people under 35 was higher than ever, roughly $17,000 per person in 2013, according to figures from the Federal Reserve. The same figures showed that median net worth for the same group has never been lower, at roughly $10,000. One in three were living at home as recently as 2012, according to a report from the Pew Research Center. A recent state report on Alaska 20-somethings found that between 10 and 16 percent lived at home between 2008 and 2012. Millennials also tend to delay marriage, Fison said, and married people are more likely to buy houses. A recent report from the Urban Institute showed that more millennials will be unmarried at 40 than any previous generation. “Once you have children, the rate of home-buying really goes up,” she said. But these days having children can also stop couples from entering the housing market. “Childcare is just unbelievably expensive,” she said. “It’s close to a house payment.” Natasha and Stephen Price, ages 31 and 33, illustrate Fison’s point exactly. “When we first got married in 2007, we thought, we’re married now and we don’t have kids, so we’re supposed to follow that perceived American dream and we should buy a house,” Natasha said. “We ended up finding a house to rent that was such a ridiculously good price we were afraid to leave.” They kept looking at houses, but they wanted to find something under $300,000 that didn’t need much work and was in a part of town where they wanted to live. Every time they came close, there were so many other offers, it seemed impossible, she said. Plus, there was a quality issue. “The houses in our price range were zero lot lines, and condos with added dues, or not the

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value we thought was appropriate for the condition,” she said. And then they had their son, Jack. Both of them work, and the cost of childcare only made their low rent look better. They might consider buying once Jack goes to school, she said. “It’s like, why would we buy? We’re saving money by not paying a mortgage,” she said. Anderson, the realtor, said that loan requirements have never been more stringent, and more money is necessary to get into houses. Many of her clients have waited longer to buy because they have to save more. Millennial buyers’ expectations for property condition are also a common hurdle. “When I bought my first home, I bought a crap-tacular property and was able to see past the cosmetic issues,” she said. That doesn’t happen anymore, she said. Millennial buyers have a hard time seeing what can be. Anderson blames childhoods with lots of electronics and too few toys that allowed them to exercise their imaginations. HGTV, she added, is also not helping. “Finding a move-in ready, beautiful property is nearly impossible unless you’re paying top dollar. And they don’t have top dollar,” she said.

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The average home price in Anchorage, which has the highest percentage of 20-somethings in the state, is close to $350,000. Juneau prices are similar, said Karinne Wiebold, an economist with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Mat-Su, Fairbanks and Kenai are closer to $250,000, she said. Comparing wages to home prices, Fairbanks had the most favorable ratio, Wiebold said. “Fairbanks is kind of a sweet spot,” she said. Danielle Hamilton, 25, and her husband Clay, 27, bought a home in Fairbanks recently. They moved to Fairbanks from Florida for Clay’s job as a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service pilot, she said. Danielle said the couple found that houses in Alaska were much more expensive than in Florida, where they could buy new construction for $250,000. “The homes are just different,” she said. “People live differently. They don’t finish things.” The couple put an offer on one house but pulled out when they discovered it needed too many repairs to meet the standards of the lender. They ended up getting a place 20 minutes out of Fairbanks. It has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a finished basement and a garage. On seven acres of land. Unlike a lot of what they looked at, she said, “it’s a pretty normal home.” Anderson said the Anchorage market is expected to be flat in the next year, which is good news for homebuyers. Kelli Powers, a realtor and associate broker with Century 21 in Fairbanks, said the outlook there for young buyers seemed positive as well. Interest rates are good, and home prices are too. “We’re hoping these kids will be finally moving out of their parents’ houses and buying places,” she said. Julia O’Malley is an independent journalist who lives in Anchorage. She writes about Alaska people, culture, politics, family and food at juliaomalley.media.

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P r o u d ly s e r v i n g A l a s k a b u s i n e s s e s s i n c e 1 9 6 4

The 55th Annual Home Show features more than 150 industry experts and a full schedule of seminars all weekend. If you are looking to update your current home or purchase a new home, you will ﬁnd inspiration, retailers and advice all under one roof.

EMPOWERING WOMEN TO TAKE CHARGE Join us at the seminars hosted by the National Association of Women in Construction. The full schedule is available online at AHBA.net.

Be sure to take a break at the beer garden!

STOP BY ONE OF THE MORE THAN 150 HOME, REMODELING AND GARDENING BOOTHS A-1 Lawn & Landscaping ABC Seamless Adams Family Painting AFS Construction Alas-Co General Insulation Alaska Custom Gutters Alaska Decks & More Alaska Division of Economic Development Alaska Home Magazine Alaska Housing Finance Corporation Alaska Premier Closets Alaska Pure Water Products Alaska Roof Coatings, LLC Alaska Sales & Service Alaska Stairlift & Elevator Alaska Thermal Imaging LLC Alaska Treeline, Inc.

Alaska Unlimited Alaska USA Mortgage Company Alaska Waste Alaska Water Conditioning Inc. Alaska Wood Flooring Supply Anchorage Arbor Care, LLC Anchorage Sand & Gravel Anchorage Tank & Welding, Inc. Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility Arctic Green LLC Arctic Home Living Arctic Terra, LLC Assistive Technology of AK / AK Relay Barb Huntley & Associates Blinds Unlimited Brandy Pennington Alaska Real Estate Buhler Construction

Builders Bargains Builders Choice California Closets Cold Climate Housing Research Center Cook Inlet Housing Authority Cub's Painting Services Cummins Northwest Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union ENSTAR Natural Gas Company Environmental Protection Agency Extreme Heating & Air First National Bank of Alaska Florcraft Carpet One FSBO System Fullmer's Painting Gage Tree Services Garage Experts of Alaska

GEICO Giant Don's Flooring America Glacierstone Solid Surface Grayling Construction Great Land Window Guardian Security Systems Inc. Habitat for Humanity Healthy Backs Healthy Homes Alaska, LLC Holland Rooﬁng Co., Inc. Homan Inc. IBEW 1547 Industrial Rooﬁng, Inc. Inspiring Spaces International Homes of Cedar, Inc. Invisible Fence of the Greatland Jack White Real Estate

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

March 27 12 p.m.-8 p.m.

March 28 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

March 29 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

$10 $8 $8 FREE

Admission Seniors 62 & over Military (active & veterans) Kids 12 & under

Free Parking Portion of ticket sales will go to:

Visit www.ahba.net or call 907.522.3605 for more information Sponsors:

All Classics

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Mountain Tops, LTD Municipality of Anchorage Neighbors Windows & Doors New York Life North Coast Countertops Northeat Hearth & Home Paciﬁc Homes Paul's Tree Service Pepco/Lindal Cedar Homes & Sunrooms Pioneer Door Inc. Ply Gem Windows-Denali Windows Polyseal Insulation, LLC Quick N Brite Rain Proof Rooﬁng RAM Services Re-Bath Remax Dynamic Properties

Renewal by Andersen of Alaska-Integrity Rooﬁng Replacement Glass Co Inc. RES Renewable Energy Systems Residential Mortgage, LLC Rivers Wood Products Scentsy, Trish Sutter Ind. Consultant Senco Alaska Inc. Shiloh Construction Shiloh Windows & Doors Spenard Builders Supply Spinell Homes-Garage Town Squires Design & Remodeling LLC Superior Logs & Superior Products T&M Enterprises Tall Trees Techno Metal Post of Alaska Texas Reﬁnery Corporation

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only . Not on e r u t ti a p ic ersa porthan is a conv ore im to s d r o w or dm ore w interi r ter. An all of ho a lth m year, its t l r s e o t w ly a OK f the n be tant hiskey. zarks, Y BO book ca color o E O w K e IS use able at WH ee table terior th l i a v x ff A A co itemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s e 95. is $27. is th

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PANTONE, THE GLOBAL AUTHORITY ON COLOR REVEALS THE SHADE OF THE YEAR INCE 2000, Pantone, a prestigious color systems company, has proclaimed a color of the year. Showcased in stores across the United States, it has inspired everything from furniture shades to red carpet trends. For 2015 the color of the year is marsala—the deep hue of curries and wines, with a name equally as rich. This is a calming and high-brow hue, most simply described as a matte burgundy. It has thus far graced fashion runways, highlighted Pottery Barn collections and most importantly, traveled to Alaska in the most timely fashion.

BY BRIX HAHN BHAHN@ALASKADISPATCH.COM PHOTOS BY JOSH GENUINO JGENUINO@ALASKADISPATCH.COM Marsala is as modern as the time we live in: it’s gender-equal, confined by no age group and seamlessly carries from one season to another. Marsala is no longer simply a color, it’s a lifestyle. Underlying earth tones make this shade perfect for a dining or bedroom accent wall. It can be paired with silver or gold, and is ideal for all varieties of home and personal accessorizing. There is nearly a texture to it, and the hint of deep cabernet within allows for maximum layering possibilities. Marsala, Pantone 18-1438 The Pack Rat Antiques 1068 W Fireweed Ln Anchorage, AK 99503 907-522-5272 Ozarks 4131 Old Seward Hwy Anchorage, AK 99503 907-563-0900

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IN A FAST-PACED HOUSING MARKET, EVERY ADVANTAGE COUNTS.

F ALL THE FACTORS to consider when selling a house, making a good first impression on the buyer by enhancing the home’s visual appeal is a top priority. Home staging—making a property more welcoming by adding furniture, décor and other enhancements— brings out the positive attributes of a house, provides a walking flow to highlight and enhance the beauty of the space, and allows the buyer to visualize the property as a future home—not to mention making the house stand out from the competition. The way a buyer perceives a home translates directly into the selling price. According to a 2015 survey conducted by the National

Association of Realtors, 49 percent of sellers’ agents believe staged homes have an effect on the buyer’s view of the home, and “37 percent of agents believe staged homes (increase) the dollar value buyers are willing to offer by 1 percent to 5 percent.” When the aesthetics of a home leave a favorable impression, buyers are more likely to remember the home over other available properties—which provides the seller with the benefit of not having to leave the house on the market long enough to have to lower the price. “For most people, their home is their No. 1 investment in life. The investment in staging is far less than reducing the price of the home, which—depending on the value of the house—can range from $5,000 upwards of $20,000,” says Lora Nordstrom, a realtor with Jack White Real Estate in Anchorage and owner of Flourish Home Staging.

Nordstrom says she has seen the power of home staging firsthand. In one scenario, a completely vacant home that had sat on the market for 168 days took just 69 days to sell after being staged. “No major improvements were done to the property while my sellers lived there,” Nordstrom said. “So the house is the same as before, but now staged. You can see how the colors and decor add warmth and charm … also, it helps to show the purpose of each space. Sometimes just some color and sparkle is all you need.” Professional stagers say it’s in the seller’s best interest

“SOMETIMES JUST SOME COLOR AND SPARKLE IS ALL YOU NEED.” to understand how home staging will benefit them— even if the home is occupied. “An experienced stager can coach the seller on how to repurpose furniture, redesign spaces, and declutter,” explains Stacy Goade, owner and design consultant at Alaska Premier Home Staging. If the home is vacant, it is easier for the buyer to focus on cosmetic flaws or to overlook the home altogether. On average, buyers spend only five minutes looking at an empty house, compared to 40 minutes on a furnished home. We buy with our eyes, Goade says; therefore, it is her priority to create value in the eyes of the buyer by strategically furnishing a house to give it personality. “Staging gives you hope that a successful sale can be done,” Goade said. With the rising popularity of TV home shows, and listings being shared via social media photos and online vir-

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tual tours, home staging continues to gain popularity in Alaska. Some realtors will offer staging as part of a comprehensive plan to market a house, either by staging it themselves or by working with stagers like Luke Sherman, owner of Stage to Sell Anchorage, who for nine years has worked directly with realtors staging their listings. “Realtors have told me about houses that have been for sale for six months to a year that, once staged, sell within a few weeks,” Sherman said. “They attribute a fast sell to the staging. It is not unusual for the homes I stage to sell in four to six weeks.” Professional stagers have experience targeting different markets and will stage and charge accordingly. Variables such as the size of the house, whether the property is vacant, and the number of staged areas come into play when determining cost, but on average a seller can expect to pay anywhere from $195 for a two-hour consultation to $2,500 to stage a whole house, or 1 to 3 percent of the asking price. Some local stagers and realtors, like Goade, offer home staging seminars in the Anchorage area. Goade’s advice? “As soon as you decide to sell, call the stager, do the consultation and get a to-do list. It will reduce stress and anxiety.”

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THE WEALTH OF TRAILS IN THE ANCHORAGE AREA PUTS A HEALTHY HIKING HABIT WITHIN REACH NO MATTER YOUR AGE OR FITNESS LEVEL— AS LONG AS YOU KNOW HOW TO GET STARTED SAFELY. BY ALLI HARVEY FOR 61º NORTH EOPLE LIVING IN ANCHORAGE have incredible access to a big backyard playground in the mountains. However, if you’re new to town, or even if you’ve lived here all your life and come from a family that didn’t do much outdoors, the mountains can seem as beautiful as they are imposing. Simply breaking out of day-to-day patterns to take a hike can feel daunting; not to mention wondering about what to bring or what to wear. Let’s make it easy. It’s good to approach hiking, especially in Alaska, with a healthy measure of respect and planning, but it shouldn’t keep you off the trails. Day to day, living and working in Anchorage can feel like Anyplace, USA. Hitting the hills after work or on weekends and finding yourself removed from the city, yet so close, is what makes life here amazing.

WHAT TO WEAR My rule of thumb when hiking, especially as a beginner, is to stay comfortable, and what you wear can make or break that experience. You don’t need to look like you’re on safari or dress like the spandex-clad mannequin at REI, but you do need to find clothing that will keep you dry and warm. You also need to bring more than you think you’ll use, so you can add layers as you cool off on your way back down the mountain, in case the weather changes—which happens, especially in Alaska, every five minutes—and in case you are caught out longer than expected. When selecting what to wear, avoid cotton. Your softest T-shirt is perfect for stashing in the car for afterward, but once the cotton is wet (from weather, water or from sweat) it won’t dry. This can cause anything from chafing to uncomfortable cold clamminess to, in more extreme cases, hypothermia. Instead, look for clothing made of material that will quickly dry while keeping you warm, even if it’s wet. Companies like Patagonia, North Face and, yes, REI design their own base layers from synthetic materials, merino wool (not itchy!) and silk. You can also find perfectly good, and less expensive, layers at stores such as Fred Meyer, Target and thrift stores; just check the tags. I always stash a warm jacket, hat and mittens in my backpack. Finally, wear shoes that are comfortable! One of the biggest mistakes people make is going out and buying new hiking boots and immediately heading up a hill. Hiking boots can be painful to break in. Find a good pair of boots and break them in around the house or in your neighborhood before you walk on them for miles. If you do not need much ankle support, tennis shoes with a decent amount of traction work fine.

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WHAT TO BRING Before you even head out the door, let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to be back. When you’re about ready to hit the trail, double check that you have your car keys in a secure place in your backpack. I suggest also bringing your wallet instead of leaving it in the car. This allows you to bring peace of mind! You need to bring plenty of water. I suggest at least 32 ounces per hiker, and more depending on how long you plan on staying outside, the temperature and how difficult the hike is. This is also the time to bring high-calorie snacks! No carrot sticks, please; pass me the chocolate and peanuts. I typically bring bear spray (a high-test Mace),

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especially if Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m hiking in a group of four people or fewer. Making lots of noise while on the trail, particularly in very brushy areas or when turning a corner, is key to avoiding a bear encounter. Trekking poles can be wonderful for stability, especially coming downhill. They essentially transform you from a two-legged animal to a four-legged animal, helping you distribute weight more evenly to keep your balance and reduce pressure on your knees. On this note, I

always stash a few ibuprofen in my bag in case of a headache or pain. Fun extras to bring include a camera, binoculars and books to identify birds, plants and animals. There are plenty of pocket-sized books to choose from at Title Wave. I like to stash a garbage bag and a few ziplocks in my backpack to keep things (my phone, books) dry in case of rain.

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PLACES TO START Glen Alps Trailhead: This is Anchorage’s most popular trailhead, which is great for beginners because there are lots of options, views are very easy to come by and there are always plenty of people on the trail. Flattop Peak, accessible from Glen Alps, is Alaska’s most-hiked mountain, but a word of caution — it is not an easy hike. It’s gorgeous and well worth it, but if it’s your first time heading up there I recommend preparing well and taking your time. Note: Parking in all Chugach State Park trailheads costs $5/day. Eagle River Nature Center: This was the first place I went hiking in Alaska, and it blew me away. The 2.5-mile hike to Echo Bend in particular was mostly flat and offered a stunning view of the Chugach that really put Alaska in scale for me. In any other part of the U.S. this would be considered national park material, but here in Alaska it’s simply part of Anchorage. Echo Bend is a great picnic spot. Crow Pass: Accessible from Girdwood, this trail is for fit or patient hikers who are ready for something a little bigger. It is an 8-mile out-and-back hike to the pass and a stunning view

of Raven Glacier. The elevation gain is steady and places you in the middle of an incredible panoramic view of the mountains. If you want to feel like a tiny speck walking through a vast gorgeous postcard, this is the hike for you!

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It takes just the right amount of planning and daring to explore our big backyard, which is truly open to anyone. There is no better feeling than heading outside and remembering what makes Anchorage an incredible place to live. Explore and enjoy!

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WALK I N G , B I C YC LI N G AN D OTHER FORMS OF H U MAN POWERED TRANSPORTATION ARE HEALTHIER WAYS TO GET AROUND—AND THESE ADVOCATES SAY THEY MAKE FOR A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY, TOO.

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HE ANCHORAGE TRAIL SYSTEM has quite possibly the most diverse set of users of any trail system in any city in all of America: walkers, runners, bikers, rollerbladers, skiers, skijorers, snowshoers, dog mushers, birdwatchers and horseback riders all traverse its vast network. Still, 66 percent of Anchorage residents admitted to wishing they used the trails more than they do now, according to a survey conducted last year by the Anchorage Economic Development Corp. That should come as good news

for local advocates seeking to make Anchorage trails easier to navigate and access, and create a more walkable city for recreation, commuting, fitness and quality of life. Despite some delays and impediments, there has been real progress made over the past year. From the implementation of the Anchorage Bicycle Plan to the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first mixedused development, the coordinated effort of user groups, developers and city planners to create community through walkability is making great strides.

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A GOAL: TRAILS FOR ALL As executive director of the Anchorage Park Foundation, Beth Nordlund’s goal is to help everyone feel comfortable with the trail system. She believes improved wayfinding—through signage and phone apps—will make a significant difference, as well as enlisting neighborhood residents to participate in the improvement of their own trail section. “I would like to neighborhood-ize the trail system,” Nordlund said, meaning she hopes to better connect residents to their local amenities—schools, stores, and office buildings. Within each neighborhood, she’d like to build a group that knows its access points to the trails, advocates for expansion, and spurs development—not only of the trails themselves, but of lighting and artistic displays. She hopes to see neighborhoods build community around that thing we all love—our own segment of the system. “We already know Anchorage parks and trails are why people choose where they live in Anchorage,” said Holly Spoth-Torres, the Anchorage municipality’s park superintendent. “My goal is to have a park within a quarter mile of everyone in Anchorage, and for everyone to be able to access a trail within walking distance.” STRIVING FOR BIKE-FRIENDLINESS Steve Cleary, executive director of Alaska Trails, a nonprofit organization that promotes the expansion of trail systems statewide, has a parallel vision for the biking community. “I would like Anchorage to be recognized as a bike-friendly city,” he said, adding that it would revitalize Anchorage and help it attract more professionals and millennials. “It already has long corridors to make commuting relatively convenient.” Cleary said he would like to see the expansion of on-road infrastructure to create bike lanes along major roadways, as designed by the Anchorage Bicycle Plan, which was approved by the Anchorage Assembly in 2010 but has yet to provide real solutions for bicycle commuters. Though progress has been slow and there are significant funding, redesign and safety challenges, the plan is set to move forward this summer with funding secured by Bike Anchorage, another bicycle advocacy nonprofit. Its president, Brian Litmans, emphasized that with only 10 miles of bike lanes incorporated into today’s road infrastructure, and 109 miles approved for implementation, the plan will create 10 times the currently available bike lane mileage. Even better, the additional miles will not only add length but deliberately connect business districts to residential areas.

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MAINTENANCE CHALLENGES FOR WINTER CITY WALKERS Even if Anchorage had a trail within a quarter mile of every resident, and a biking infrastructure to rival Portland’s,

it would still be a winter city, with snow and ice as an added impediment to accessibility. In 2012, when the city broke its record for most snowfall, neighborhood streets narrowed to one lane, to say nothing of the sidewalks. Tellingly, that year’s mayoral race seemed to hinge on which candidate voters believed could best manage the city’s snow removal network. With 200 miles of sidewalks and trails to maintain year-round, the municipality’s goal is to have all sidewalks open within 72 hours of snowfall, in addition to the more than 1,200 miles of roadways it oversees. While the municipality’s deputy director for maintenance and operations, Alan Czajkowski,

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says that they maintain that standard, or better, he admits that residents aren’t always satisfied with the muni’s progress. Snow spills over onto sidewalks after a road clearing; equipment is too large or heavy to maneuver along sidewalks; the price of picking up thaw-enducing chemicals makes it too costly to put them down in the first place. In addition, it’s just plain difficult to produce pavement after record-breaking snow — or, for that matter, unseasonable warmth, as has been a more pressing concern this winter. “When it’s 40 degrees in the afternoon and freezing at night, there’s not a whole lot I can do,” Czajkowski said of this winter’s weather. He added, though, that the municipality does want to know about problem areas, and he encourages residents to call the street clearing hotline at 907-343-8277.

MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENTS To really integrate walkability as a lifestyle, the Anchorage municipality has begun to experiment with mixed-used developments — its pilot being Turnagain Crossing, the apartment-bistro complex in the Turnagain neighborhood best known for its popular restaurant, the Rustic Goat. Conceptualized by local developer James Brooks, the project had its delays and hiccups, but in the 2013 rewrite of Title 21, the municipality adapted permanent zoning codes to allow such developments and encourage the kind of compatibility between residential and commercial districts that has been popularized in some of America’s most walkable cities. “The new Title 21 has changes that make it easier to develop mixed-use developments, from the perspective of zoning regulations, and will result in a more walkable city over time,” said Erika McConnell, current planning section manager for the Anchorage Municipal Planning Department. Another win for a more pedestrian-friendly, communityoriented—and healthy—city.

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An Effective Alternative to Braces Q

during the day. It actually guides your child’s teeth into the correct position, before more severe crowding or bite problems arise. Why have I never heard of the Ortho-tain?

By: Owen Mandanas, DDS

In my 14 years as a dentist in Alaska, I have focused a lot on preventive dentistry. Usually it involves prevention of cavities and gum disease. For the past four years, however, I have been using an appliance with my patients, called the Ortho-tain, that can effectively prevent the need for orthodontics. I am truly excited to share this with you and it is a goal of mine to straighten as many young smiles as possible with the Ortho-tain. I truly am amazed by the results I have seen to the point that I think it is crazy that the public is not aware of its existence. There is an alternative to traditional braces and, yes, it actually works!

What exactly is Ortho-tain?

The Ortho-tain is a mouthguard appliance that can straighten your teeth without brackets or wires. It is generally worn at night and a few hours

The appliance has been around since the 1970’s. I believe you have never heard of it because it is not as lucrative as traditional orthodontics, yet it is as good, or more effective, in most people. It was invented by Dr. Earl Bergersen, a humble and caring orthodontist, not a salesman. I had the pleasure of meeting him in 2012 and he was very excited to share and teach this technology which relies on an understanding of growth and development.

My dentist said that it is too early to worry about braces for my 7-year old daughter, but I can already tell she is going to have problems. I had braces when I was a child and I don’t want her to go through what I did. Will the Ortho-tain work on kids this young?

A: I have placed children as young as 5 or 6 years old on this appliance. It is ideal to start them at a younger age because compliance is usually better in younger children. Also, at this

age they only need to sleep in the appliance. It can correct cross-bites, overbites and deepbites. These are growth and development problems that can be challenging to correct with braces or may even require surgery as an adult.

Can I afford Ortho-tain?

A: Definitely. The appliance is 1/3 to 1/2 the costs of traditional orthodontics.

I am glad that my child will not need a retainer after treatment. How come you need one after braces?

A: Your teeth are connected to your jawbones with a periodontal ligament. With normal braces we wait for the adult teeth to come in all crooked and twisted (after the ligaments are set) and we untwist them. Microscopically these ligaments are like rubber bands and they want to move back to where they were. This is called relapse and is why many people get braces over and over again. Since the Ortho-tain guides teeth in straight as they erupt in the first place, the ligaments form and end up exactly where we want them. It’s actually one of the most remarkable things about the appliance.

TRYING TO GET MORE FRESH, LOCAL FOODS INTO YOUR DIET? THINK ABOUT GROWING YOUR OWN. ALASKA’S FAVORITE GARDENER SHARES HIS FAVORITE FAIL-SAFE VEGGIE SUGGESTIONS FOR THE NOVICE NORTHERN FARMER.

HAVE ALWAYS INSISTED that you cannot be a real Alaska gardener unless you start some plants from seed. I suppose I could also opine that you are not a real chef until you cook something from your own garden. Either way, there are plenty of vegetables that can make you both a gardener and a chef. You know it is coming: Choose the right seeds to start and they will practically grow by themselves. It’s true. With some seeds, all you have to do is cover them with soil and make sure the soil doesn’t totally dry out. After that, it is pretty much watch them grow and then harvest. Let’s start with radishes. The one problem with growing these from seed is that they are much too easy. Newbies plant the entire package all at once and end up with 150 radishes ripening on the same day. The trick is to plant a dozen every five or six days so they don’t all ripen at once and your family won’t learn to hate them. Radishes are used to help decorate and add a pungent taste to any salad. To increase interest in eating your crop, try something other than the traditional

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red and white colors. There are black radishes, yellow ones and even purple varieties. You can find round, cylindrical, big and small kinds and many that sport beautiful, variedcolored patterns. A close relative to the radish is the kohlrabi. It is round and forms its bulb above ground. Kohlrabi grow to softball size from seed under our growing conditions, but they really need to be harvested when they are the size of a tennis ball. Because they do so well here, they were popular with the pioneer gardeners and are usually a treat for Outside visitors. Kohlrabi can be started about six weeks before things are transplanted outdoors for an early, first harvest and then a second crop can be grown from seed planted directly in the garden. Local nurseries and seed racks have lots of varieties of kohlrabi seed. Some would say you shouldn’t grow radish or kohlrabi without growing lettuce for the rest of the salad. Easy? Consider that yours will be on your table only three weeks after planting. Don’t have a garden? You can grow loose leaf lettuces in containers on the deck. There are almost too many leaf lettuce varieties to plant. They will all do well. In fact, one of the best ways to grow these seeds is in a mix. Toss a few packets together and plant, barely covering seed. And there is an added bonus: clip your produce with a scissors and new leaves will grow back. OK, kale may be all the rage on the health food front, but it has been an easily grown vegetable in Alaska gardens for years. It can really take the cold and even tastes better when it has had a few frosts, though our cool nights mean that it will taste good all season long. Since they have been so popular over the years, you will find a good variety of kale seeds available locally. Don’t forget that these are not only for eating. Kale can make a terrific landscape plant,too. Just eat it at the end of the season when you clean up the yard. Last—but by no means least—on the “easy list” are sugar snap peas. These delicious peas have an edible pod, which is never tastier than when picked and eaten right from the vine. And they grow better here than any place I know. Snap peas grow quickly, and you should provide them with a bit of support to grow on—a stick, a string, net or wire (nothing complicated), whether that be in a container

on the deck or out in a garden bed. There are lots of varieties and all will do very well. Do look for Super Sugar Snap and Sugar Ann, which are improvements on the original variety. There are lots of other easy seeds, that is for sure. The key thing is to choose a few and give growing plants from seed a try. It will make you a Real Alaska Gardener. Jeff Lowenfels is co-author of "Teaming With Microbes" and author of "Teaming With Nutrients." Contact him on his website at teamingwithmicrobes.com.

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and wine will have you coming back for more! O L ! $$ CAFE AK AMERICAN 2602 Spenard Road 770-0604 New Spenard cafe serving up lunch and dinner -- made-from-scratch classics like biscuits and gravy, potato salad, pies and cakes. Breakfast served all day 11 a.m.-8 p.m. O B L K WA NA $$ CROW’S NEST FRENCH / AMERICAN 939 W. 5th Avenue 276-6000 captaincook.com The Crow’s Nest is known for innovative French and New American fine dining cuisine, and for its outstanding wine list, coming from their 10,000-bottle wine cellar. O D LN WA $$$$ DISH SUSHI BAR & JAPANESE RESTAURANT ASIAN 639 W. International Airport Road 562-1275 If the assorted sushi rolls, Japanese, Chinese and Korean cuisine isn’t enough to get you in the door, the “Sushi Beats” will! Fans of this event dance the night away with DJ-spun favorites. L D K LN ! WA $$

DOWNTOWN GRILL NEW AMERICAN BISTRO 802 Gambell Street 907-375-5500 downtowngrillak.com The best lunch and dinner in downtown Anchorage, our eclectic menu has something for everyone, from our handmade wood-fired pizzas to our slow-smoked St. Louis-style ribs. Live music, outdoor seating, free parking and an impressive selection of beer

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FIRETAP ALEHOUSE AMERICAN 1148 N. Muldoon Road 332-2337 10950 O’Malley Centre Drive 561-2337 firetapalehouse.com

MIDDLE WAY CAFÉ ORGANIC / BAKERY 1300 W. Northern Lights Boulevard 272-6433 middlewaycafe.com

SNOW CITY CAFÉ AMERICAN / CAFÉ/ VEGAN FRIENDLY 610 W. 4th Avenue 272-2489 snowcitycafe.com

This sports bar with a dozen flatpanel TVs and an assortment of beers on tap doubles as a sit-down, familystyle restaurant with a dedicated kids menu.

Anchorage’s very own pioneer in incorporating a wide selection of organic and locally-sourced product, Middle Way Café offers gluten-free and vegan/vegetarian options.

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JENS’ RESTAURANT SEAFOOD/AMERICAN 701 W. 36th Avenue 561-JENS (5367) jensrestaurant.com Warm upscale restaurant with a lively wine bar. The menu changes often to take full advantage of the finest and freshest ingredients available. Try their customer favorite Danish Meatballs – Frikadeller with red cabbage. L D K LN WA $$$$

LA MEX MEXICAN 8330 King Street 344-6399 homeofthegrande.com For over 40 years, La Mex has been serving delicious Mexican food in Alaska and is the original home of The Grande™. They serve up authentic Mexican cuisine in a family-friendly atmosphere. O L D K LN ! WA $$ MARX BROS CAFÉ AMERICAN 627 W. 3rd Avenue 278-2133 marxcafe.com

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MOOSE’S TOOTH PUB & PIZZERIA AMERICAN 3300 Old Seward Highway 258-2537 moosestooth.net

SOUTHSIDE BISTRO AMERICAN 1320 Huffman Park Drive 348-0088 southsidebistro.com

Enjoy creative pizzas and handcrafted beers from their very own brewery. You can match brews with a seemingly endless menu of pizzas sporting standard toppings and inventive creations.

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O L D K LN WA ! $$ PHO LENA VIETNAMESE / THAI 2904 Spenard Road 277-9777 360 Boniface Parkway 279-9777 pholena.com Pho Lena serves up unique, delicious dishes from Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and other delicacies from the far East. L D K NA WA $$ SACKS CAFÉ & RESTAURANT SEAFOOD / EUROPEAN 328 G Street 276-3546 sackscafe.com Stylish café decorated in warm Southwest colors and sharp angles. Casual lunches to gourmet din-

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LIKE OTHER YOUNG ALASKANS, THE SPINELLI SIBLINGS LEFT THE STATE TO SEE WHAT THE WORLD HAD TO OFFER. THEY DIDN’T KNOW THEY’D END UP FINDING FULFILLMENT RIGHT BACK WHERE THEY STARTED— WORKING WITH THEIR DAD.

Three generations of Spinelli's, in front of one of their home design-build projects.

PHOTOS BY LOREN HOLMES

BY MICHAELA GOERTZEN MGOERTZEN@ALASKADISPATCH.COM

HEN YOU’RE RAISED by a dad who builds houses, you might think there’d be some expectation that becoming a homeowner yourself means supporting the family business. So when Lauren Spinelli bought her first home in Anchorage, she caused a little bit of family drama. “It wasn’t a Spinell home,” Spinelli said. “It drove Dad crazy.” That’s because “Dad” is Chuck Spinelli—and if that name sounds familiar, it’s because the family business, Spinnell Homes Inc., has built more than 3,200 homes in Southcentral Alaska since its founding in 1987. That’s nearly one home every three days for nearly 30 years. But Chuck Spinelli has built something besides houses. In a state with one of the

nation’s highest population turnover rates, where fewer than half of its residents were born in the state and leaders look for solutions to “brain drain” as high-achieving students are lured to Outside colleges and career opportunities, he has built a multigenerational family business, with two of his three adult children now poised to take the reins. Originally from California, Chuck and Jackie Spinelli were dispatched to Anchorage by Chuck’s employer in 1984. High construction costs—and the 1986 oil bust—caused the company to go bankrupt a couple of years after the family’s arrival, so Spinelli kept building houses under his own name. “I didn’t really have a choice,” Chuck

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said. “I needed a livelihood.” Like other Alaska parents, the Spinellis watched their children grow up and move out of state to pursue new opportunities. But then something unexpected happened: The kids came back. Andre, the eldest, started working for the company at 15, cleaning up work sites and doing odd jobs, but after high school he took off for the Pacific Northwest, attending Portland State University for a year and then dabbling in professional snowboarding. “I had a friend that said, ‘Let’s go to Bellingham and be snowboarders!’” Andre recalled. “He went on to be a megastar snowboarder, so sometimes I wonder if I made the right decision. But I made a conscious decision to come back and do Spinell Homes.” Andre came back to Alaska and started doing design work for his dad. “He taught himself how to engineer a house plan,” Chuck Spinelli said. Since then, Andre has become a certified Green Builder Professional and a member of the board of directors of the Cold Climate Housing Research Center. He has also served as president of the Anchorage Home Builders Association. His long-term goal for the company is simple: “I just want to keep building homes in Anchorage—(where space) is on the verge of extinction.” With limited acreage in the Anchorage Bowl, high-rise housing, as well as taking more of their business to the Mat-Su, seems inevitable. “There is a lot of developable land left in

Anchorage—it’s just challenging,” Andre said, referring to lots with organic soil and drainage issues. “I want to keep identifying places to build here in Anchorage, without being the guy who mowed down a park.” As for Lauren, after graduation, “She kissed us goodbye and said she was never coming back,” Chuck said, laughing. “She said, ‘I’m going home (to California) where I belong.’” After earning a degree in special education from the University of Redlands, though, Lauren came back to Anchorage. She did some substitute teaching, worked in retail — and had no intention of entering the family business. She’s now settled in Anchorage, with two small children and an integral role in the company. What changed for her?

“I wanted to buy a house, and I couldn’t do that,” Lauren said. After joining the company, gaining finan-

“TH ER E IS A LOT O F DEVELOPABLE LAND LEFT IN ANCHORAGE— IT’S JUST CHALLENGING ,” AN DRE SAID." cial stability, and “getting sucked in,” she did buy that house — a small ranch-style home in the nearby Turnagain neighborhood. A non-Spinell home. At least, at first. “Dad did remodel the house,” she said. “He started with a leak in the bathroom, and then

he called me one day and said, ‘Hey, is it OK if I replace all the windows?’” Since then, she’s designed two houses for herself — both Spinell-built. Lauren didn’t leave education behind. As the lead customer liaison, she communicates the homebuilding progress with buyers from design to closing. “Instead of teaching kids, now I teach adults about their houses,” she said. “I want to keep customers that started with a condo and stay with them to their dream home.” As Chuck and Jackie move toward retirement, a natural transition is beginning to take place. Andre and Lauren will buy into the company this year, becoming vice presidents of design and development, and sales and

marketing, respectively. The brothersister pair say they work well enough together as business partners, but they are still siblings, nonetheless. “We both have that hothead, Italian anger,” Lauren said. “But we alternate days. We’re not always yelling at the same time.” “It can get feisty at times,” Andre agreed. “Sometimes professional limits get left behind.” “Lindsey would add balance,” Lauren said of their younger sister, an account executive for a local advertising agency and one of this year’s Alaska Journal of Commerce Top 40 under 40 recipients. “And we could just do so much more.” There’s one problem: “Lindsey says, ‘I could never work with Andre,’” Lauren

admitt e d , laughing. As buildable space dwindles, the population swells, and infrastructure ages, the next generation of Spinellis is preparing for the role they’ll play in the ever-evolving Anchorage housing market — and working on ways to balance the realities of the local market with clients’ expectations of what an Alaska home should be. “My impression, when people come to Anchorage, is that they want to live in a house with a two-car garage or in a log cabin,” Chuck said. “It’s what my kids want. They want the Alaska dream.”

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ROLL CALL

100 YEARS How many years have you

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lived in Anchorage?

Share your story on AnchorageCentennial.org

From pioneers to new arrivals everyone is welcome and encouraged to share their own personal stories on the interactive Roll Call feature.

THEN & NOW

Share your family legacy and experiences of growing up in Anchorage through the Family Albums page. Upload your family photos and archive your family’s part in Anchorage history. Share your photos with us on AnchorageCentennial.org.

Contribute a photo and view the evolution of Anchorage through the last 100 years or more! Browse Then & Now photos and learn about the history behind these historically significant locations. Upload your Then & Now photos of your favorite Anchorage places!

OFFICIAL ANCHORAGE CENTENNIAL PRINT BY BYRON BIRDSALL This Centennial collector’s print is signed by Byron Birdsall and all 7 living Mayors of Anchorage. This limited 450 edition is sure to sell out so don’t wait and get yours today.

Stop by or call Artique Gallery 314 G Street, Anchorage, Alaska • 907-277-1663 A portion of the sale of each print will be donated to fund the Anchorage Centennial Celebration.

FROM THE SHORES OF SHIP CREEK:

STORIES OF ANCHORAGE’S FIRST 100 YEARS Researched and written by Charles Wohlforth to help celebrate our city’s centennial and illustrated with historic photographs.

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