June 2018
Madison Park Times
Serving East-Central Seattle since 1983
Real Estate
MADISON PARK - WASHINGTON PARK - MADISON VALLEY - DENNY-BLAINE - MADRONA - LESCHI www .M adison P ark T imes . com
Gray & Gray Home opens in Madison Park Family brings back antique, interior design business in former retail space next to Ewing & Clark office By Brandon Macz
Madison Park Times editor Debra Gray is back in the Madison Park storefront she left seven years ago to focus on family. Now, her family is in on the venture. “Not many people like their mother-inlaw enough to also be business partners, right?” said Cary Gray, co-owner of Gray & Gray Home, which had its soft opening on Thursday, May 24. Debra Gray and her friend Dottie Pearson ran the Pearson & Gray antique shop and interior design firm for 12 years, starting in a storefront where the old British phone booth sits, she said. They later moved to a space at 4110 E. Madison
St., next door to the Ewing & Clark real estate office. Debra walked away from the business seven years ago, she said, when her children went off to college in California, and her husband was traveling a lot. “Now, my kids are back in town, and Carly loves the same things I do,” she said, “so, round two.” Carly and her mother-in-law took over the former Pearson & Gray space — last occupied by the Guesthouse home decor shop — in April. “Every surface has been redone,” Carly said of the five-week renovation process, which was followed by hours of setting up Gray & Gray’s collection of antiques, jewelry, furniture and miscellaneous knick-
Photo by Brandon Macz Carly and Debra Gray opened Gray & Gray Home in Madison Park on Thursday, May 24. Debra Gray used to run a shop there seven years ago. knacks. “It feels very comfortable,” Debra said. “It’s almost like we didn’t miss a beat. Gray & Gray Home’s inventory includes a collection of “one-of-a-kind antiques,” acquired over the years and through various domestic and international trips,
Carly said. In anticipation of the store’s opening, Carly said a lot more items were purchased, and the duo has a list of trusted painters, upholsters and carpet installers at the ready for customers’ interior design needs. GRAY, Page 7
This charming single-level home sits on a spectacular street just outside the gates to Broadmoor Golf Club. Crisp, mid-century design and walls of windows bring the outdoors inside of this 3bd/2ba residence with over 2,200 sq ft of elegant space. With an oversized 6,000 sq ft lot covered in lushly curated mature plantings, it is a gardener’s delight with a private backyard oasis. This is the ideal right-sized home in Madison Park to update, or the perfect starting point for a new vision. MADISON PARK RESIDENCE: $1,500,000
MOIRA E. HOLLEY moirα@moirαpresents.com 2 0 6 . 6 6 0 . 4 78 7 moirαpresents.com
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JUNE 2018
DENNY BLAINE WATERFRONT $7,950,000
WASHINGTON PARK $2,680,000
WASHINGTON PARK WATERFRONT $12,850,000
Betsy Q. Terry
NEWPORT SHORES $4,135,000
BROADVIEW $3,890,000
LESCHI $3,495,000
Jane Powers
WINDERMERE $4,295,000
BLUE RIDGE $2,350,000
206.322.2840
ewingandclark.com luxuryrealestate.com
Kristine Losh
Pacific Publishing Company – Queen Anne & Magnolia News • Capitol Hill Times • Madison Park Times • City Living Seattle
JUNE 2018
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Strawberry trees look pretty, but fruit isn’t as tasty as some would think Steve Lorton Tree Talk
T
he Pacific Northwest suffers no paucity of beautiful broad-leafed evergreen trees. In addition to bringing verdant texture to the winter garden, many like Magnolias and Camellias reward the gardener (and indeed all who see them) with spectacular spring blooms. The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) is in a class of its own. It blooms in clusters of small cream to white urn-shaped flowers from late summer into winter and, at the same time, is covered in fruits — sparkling, jewel-like fruits. Measuring a bit less than an inch in diameter, the perfectly spherical berries are a brilliant, glistening red, as vivid as the ripest, most succulent strawberry. Seeing one of these trees for the first time in its late-season splendor will make any lover of natural beauty stop and stare. The dark green leaves of this tree are oblong, measuring two to three inches in length, on numerous branches and branchlets. This
forming a dense mass, which, if left unpruned from the ground up, serves as a formidable barrier to any unwanted view. The trick to making this plant a statuesque component of your garden is to put it in the right place and then, as it grows, “train it,” as fastidious gardeners like to say. By selecting one or more upward reaching stems and pruning off side growth, you’ll form a trunk or cluster of trunks. As time passes, this Arbutus will stretch up to a height of 8 to 35 feet, exposing a reddish bark pattern that is both rugged, yet finely patterned, supporting an intricate canopy of dark green. This leafy dome can also be selectively pruned and thinned out to open the tree, exposing more of its form and allowing light to the plantings below. There are about 14 species in the Arbutus genus, Manzanita and Madrona among them. There also are several cultivated varieties of Arbutus undo, all smaller than the parent plant. Look for ‘Compacta’ if you want a tree that will top out at 10 feet in height, ‘Elfin King’ is a bonafide dwarf which will reach five feet in height in a decade. Native to southern Europe and Ireland, the strawberry tree is
1115 41ST AVENUE EAST
JUST SOLD $3,765,000
Photo by Mary Henry
We were able to secure this coveted Washington Park property while competing with nine other very passionate buyers. Relationships matter. For strong, local representation, call me today.
perfectly hardy in our gentle climate and happy in a wide range of soils. It stands up to our soggy winters, and the toughest of our summer droughts, with nary a murmur or complaint. Simply follow the simplest rules of good gardening to establish a plant in your garden.
LESLIE DICKINSON | 206.200.2174 Founding Member, Madison Park Leslie.Dickinson@RSIR.com LeslieDickinsonHomes.com
Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.
TREE, Page 9
PROVEN RESULTS
R
ealogics Sotheby’s International Realty is proud to present The Madison Park Home & Garden Tour on Sunday, June 3rd, 2018, from 12 to 4 pm. A walking tour of distinct neighborhood homes and gardens will highlight
a broad range of innovative, classic and stylish design. Homes include historic Olmsted gardens, an Ellsworth Storey craftsman, a new sophisticated penthouse, Northwest contemporary home and much more. Tickets for the tour cost $25 for adults with all proceeds benefiting McGilvra Elementary School. Buy yours at www.madisonparkhometour.com
2018
Madison Park
or the Park House.
Home & Garden Tour
MadisonParkHomeTour.com
TICKETS
Benefiting McGilvra Elementary School
Elementary School
MARKET UPDATE
I look forward to seeing you on the tour!
JUNE 3rd 2018 12-4 PM
neighborhood homes and gardens that highlight a broad range of innovative, classic and stylish design. All proceeds
Start: Begin at the Park House 4031 East Madison Street, Seattle
benefit McGilvra Elementary School.
Historic Olmsted-Designed Garden
All proceeds benefit McGilvra Elementary School to provide critical education support roles including; music classes, art classes, reading specialists, math specialists and more.
Sophisticated Penthouse NW Contemporary Ellsworth Storey Craftsman and Many More!
McGilvra Elem.entary School
Student lnform.ation Folder
1617 38th Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98112 206.252.3160
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RSIR ranks amongst the largest, most productive and fastestgrowing real estate companies in Washington with access to 22,000 brokers in 70 countries that generate US sales of $80 billion+ annually.
A walking tour of distinct
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WHAT MY CLIENTS ARE SAYING
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children under 16 free accompanied by a paying adult
Tickets Available:
Thank you! To Our Platinum Sponsors:
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AR
Sotheby’s Presents Magnificent Jewels at Auction this Spring.
Managing Broker | Senior Global Real Estate Advisor Founding Member | 206.399.5842 Laura.Halliday@rsir.com
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Laura Halliday helped us sell our house in Laurelhurst quickly and for a very good price. Our home sold so fast that we had nowhere to live, so we moved to a downtown condominium. While we were there, Laura kept looking for a smaller house for us and found one which we are now happily living in. She is an excellent real estate person who works hard and diligently for her clients. We could not recommend her more highly.
JUST LISTED | LUMA - $795,000 1321 Seneca St #803 - A high-impact yet timeless interior with top-of-the-line finishes includes 9-foot ceilings, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances & beautiful hardwoods all set against a canvas of sparkling city views. One bedroom, one bathroom & a great room with a luxe kitchen that opens to an outdoor deck. Life @ LUMA comes together in a collection of incredible amenities: expansive rooftop terrace, jetted pool, fireside lounge, fitness center & pet lounge! Close to everything with a walkscore of 97!
- CHARLIE BURDELL & RYAN DURKAN
Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Seller reserves the right change the product offering without notice.
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JUNE 2018
Coming to a tipping point in the market many cases, those sellers become buyers.
Right now
Chris Sudore Property Views
THERESA & PETER TRUEX 206.972.7768
•
206.972.4424
TE AMTR U E XPR OPE RTI E S.CO M
There’s only one way to describe the Seattle real estate market at this moment. It’s completely crazy. Not just the pace, where we’re seeing homes sell in hours of hitting the multiple listing service with several offers. Not just the prices, which are climbing higher and higher. This boom has also brought a lot of new agents who just earned their license, so some deals are going sideways for reasons that could be prevented. The Seattle head tax argument adds to the mania. There’s never been anything like it. We’ve had 36 pending sales in the last 20-plus days, and inventory is still incredibly low.
Where will it end up?
IS IT TIME FOR YOU TO SELL OR BUY A HOME? CONTACT THERESA & PETER TRUEX
TEAM TRUEX
MADISON PARK PROPERTIES
All I can ever answer is what we know right now. It feels like we’re at a tipping point, though, and everyone has an opinion on Seattle real estate. Some are sure the bubble’s got to burst. They point to the head tax as an anti-business move that will cause employers to move out of the city, taking people and jobs with them, leaving a surplus of homes behind. Some buyers are hoping for that scenario, so they can finally afford something. The other half says this market is never going to stop — it may cool a bit — but it’s always going to go up like San Francisco did. Counter-intuitively, that scenario makes it hard for sellers because, in
We’re in a dominant seller’s market, as we have been. However, unless those sellers already have a home here or they’re moving out of town, they’re stuck, because they will also need a home to buy. Going into a rental while you search for your next home is becoming more difficult than it was, because rental vacancies are low. So a part of the market is, oddly, immobile. I have a handful of active clients looking for the same kind of home in roughly the same neighborhood. They all want a 5,000-square-foot home, on a big lot, with views of Lake Washington. I’ve taken to driving those neighborhoods, looking for homes that fit the bill. Then I’ll reach out to the owners to see if they’d like to sell. What I hear from those owners is, “If I find a place to buy, I’d sell.” I have to create the movement in that market.
Look for experience Our real estate boom has brought a lot of new agents into the business because there’s undeniable opportunity. Some, though, are unprepared for the pace and lose their heads and advise their clients poorly. If you’re contemplating buying or selling, you need a broker who is: • An experienced negotiator • Calm • Strategic • Cerebral • Experienced VIEWS, Page 9
Homes Closed in Madison Park, Madison Valley, Washington Park, Denny Blaine, Broadmoor, Leschi and Madrona from April 23 - May 23 Address
Bed
Bath
2711 E Roy St
3
2
1933 42nd Ave E #3
2
1.75
119 30th Ave E
2
1.5
115 29th Ave #A
3
2
2320 43rd Ave E #15A
3
2
204 31st Ave S
3
2.5
1814 27th Ave #B
3
3.5
815 33rd Ave
3
1.75
906 29th Ave
4
2.75
3224 S Lane St
3
1.75
2611 E John St
3
3
1705 25th Ave
3
2.25
1810 37th Ave E
2
1
1015 32nd Ave E
4
4
3863 E Olive St
3
3.25
3431 E Florence Ct
4
3.5
2000 43rd Ave E #202
2
1.75
1523 39th Ave E
4
3.75
403 31st Ave S
5
2.25
1229 42nd Ave E
3
3.25
1121 38th Ave E
4
3
133 Dorffel Dr E
5
3
1141 37th Ave E
5
3.5
1044 34th Ave E
3
3.75
Sq Ft 1,150 1,030 1,720 1,370 1,045 2,220 1,780 2,140 2,080 1,920 1,760 1,922 1,040 2,836 2,420 3,540 1,944 3,070 6,080 3,918 4,045 4,240 4,899 3,670
Built
Days on Mkt
Asking Price
Sold Price
1966
7
$650,000
$771,000
118.62%
1991
6
$665,000
$755,500
113.61%
1945
2
$680,000
$820,000
120.59%
2006
6
$699,999
$848,000
121.14%
1968
3
$750,000
100.27%
1988
4
$760,000
$760,000
100.00%
2007
9
$780,000
$900,000
115.38%
1937
11
$800,000
$857,500
107.19%
1907
20
$929,950
$915,000
98.39%
1927
29
$950,000
$900,000
94.74%
2018
11
$1,099,600
100.00%
2018
18
$1,195,000
100.00%
1945
7
$1,400,000
112.00%
1909
7
$1,586,000
106.90%
1902
9
$1,780,000
93.93%
2007
7
$2,130,000
104.67%
1985
16
$2,000,000
97.56%
1927
9
$2,075,000
96.51%
1905
21
$2,165,000
98.63%
2008
10
$2,125,000
88.73%
1928
52
$2,800,000
94.92%
1910
30
$2,850,000
96.12%
1928
9
$3,050,000
96.83%
2000
2
$3,950,000
100.00%
$748,000
$1,099,600 $1,195,000 $1,250,000 $1,495,000 $1,895,000 $2,035,000 $2,050,000 $2,150,000 $2,195,000 $2,395,000 $2,950,000 $2,965,000 $3,150,000 $3,950,000
Sold Price/Asking Price
Pacific Publishing Company – Queen Anne & Magnolia News • Capitol Hill Times • Madison Park Times • City Living Seattle
JUNE 2018
Artfully uniting extraordinary homes with extraordinary lives: luxury is an experience, not a price point.
ORCAS ISLAND $12,500,000 rsir.com Web ID # 77BS2L
NORTH CAPITOL HILL $4,499,000 rsir.com Web ID # 3M3R5G
BROADMOOR $8,900,000 rsir.com Web ID # XDK397
FIRST HILL $795,000 rsir.com Web ID # TEM3P4
Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty is proud that many of our experienced brokers call Madison Park home, serving the community by supporting local charities, schools and neighborhood councils. In addition to being local experts, only properties listed by RSIR benefit from marketing platforms that draw more than 2.5 million unique viewers per month. Discover why we are America’s Most Trusted® Residential Real Estate Brokerage* for two years running.
Meet your global real estate advisors:
TOBY LUMPKIN 206.786.2035
NEDA PERRINA 206.218.8589
C I NDY PAUR 206.949.4497
PETER PHILLIPS 206.949.3555
LESLIE DICKINSON 206.200.2174
EVENTS YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS Upcoming Event
BONI BUSCEMI 206.259.0012
JOHN MADRID 206.498.1880
LAURA HALLIDAY 206.399.5842
HOADY SPENCER 206.372.1092
SCOTT MACBRIDE 206.617.5777
4031 East Madison Street | Visit RSIR.com or call 206.466.2409
Upcoming Event
Park House Paws
SEAS THE DAY | GET OUT & BOAT FEST
MADISON PARK BEACH | LIFEGAURDS ON DUTY
JUNE PARK HOUSE PUP | MEET HANK
Come on out Saturday, June 9th to the Get Out & Boat Fest on South Lake Union! Enjoy FREE 45-minute power and sailboat rides around Lake Union, learn new boating skills with the guidance of industry professionals, and attend boating seminars offered by marine experts. 'Seas the Day'—get out and boat!
Madison Park Beach will have lifegaurds on duty June 23rd to September 3rd. The beach will be patrolled 12pm - 7pm Monday through Friday and 11am - 7pm on weekends. Come enjoy this 400-foot beach complete with a bathhouse, restrooms, bike rack and benches.
We are excited to introduce you to Hank, our June Park House Pup! The faithful companion of Ethan, our broker care coordinator in Belltown. Stop by our office and introduce us to your four-legged family member and maybe we’ll feature them next month!
RSIR.COM *Sotheby’s International Realty received the highest numerical score in the proprietary Lifestory Research 2017 America’s Most Trusted® Residential Real Estate Brokerage study. The study based on 6,299 new home shoppers in the United States between January and December 2016. Your experiences may vary. Visit www.lifestoryresearch.com. Each office is independently owned and operated.
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JUNE 2018
Park House shows ASUW Shell House University of Washington planning $10 million renovation of historic row house near Montlake Cut By Brandon Macz
Madison Park Times editor Toby Lumpkin has a passion for construction, real estate and rowing. He combined them all together during an open house in Madison Park to raise awareness and funding for a $10 million renovation of the University of Washington’s ASUW Shell House. The Realogics|Sotheby’s International Realty broker was a UW oarsman from 1988-91. “I wasn’t very athletic. I couldn’t play basketball,” he said, “but then, when I realized I could work really hard, rowing appealed to me.” The UW rowers lived in a modern shell house when he went to the university, Lumpkin said, but the athletes would find ways to hang out in the historic structure, which last housed the crew program in 1949. “Nothing has changed in a hundred years in it,” he said. “Right now, it’s this untouched things that needs to be thoughtfully renovated.” Lumpkin was at the Head of the Lake Regatta last November, when he noticed the shell house door was open. He went in, and that’s when he met Nicole Klein, capital campaign manager for the ASUW Shell House. He became a member of an advisory committee for the renovation almost immediately after. He invited Klein to bring down historical photos and design renderings for the project during an open house at Sotheby’s Park House showroom in Madison Park on Thursday, May 10. The ASUW Shell House, also known as the Canoe House, was built by the Navy as a hangar for Boeing seaplanes, but World War I ended before the building could be used for that purpose. UW bought it for a steal in 1919, at $1. It was used for the rowing program until 1949, and was made famous in Daniel James Brown’s book, “The Boys in the Boat,” about the UW crew at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. People have been renting space in the shell house for storing kayaks and canoes since 1975, Klein said. It is accessible to those renters by way of a private access code. What UW wants is to open the shell house back up to the public and students, Klein said, building community and the Montlake Cut waterfront. The shell house will be repurposed for lectures, classes, graduations and ceremonies, as well as be available to rent. Those renting space for their canoes and kayaks will have to leave. “They’ve been agreeable,” Klein said, “because they know it has to be more than a boathouse now — it’s so historic.”
(Above) Nicole Klein, ASUW Shell House capital campaign manager, shared information about the project during an open house at Realogics|Sotheby’s International Realty’s Park House on Thursday, May 10. (Left) Realogics|broker Toby Lumpkin was on the UW Rowing crew from 1988-91. Photos by Brandon Macz A feasibility study was completed last year, with pro bono assistance by Hoffman Construction in the form of a 3-D scan of the building. “It is so important to our history that people start giving us help,” Klein said. UW took the ASUW Shell House through the Seattle landmarks process, receiving designation status in April, Klein said. She added this is the first UW structure to receive landmark status. Construction can’t start until the full $10 million is raised, a goal Klein expects to reach by the end of this summer. Shoreline and seismic retrofitting permits are expected to take a year to complete. She is exploring a number of grant opportunities, such as with Historic
Seattle. If all goes as planned, the renovated ASUW Shell House would open in 2020, and the condition of the wood building restored to what it was 100 years ago, Klein said. Famous boat builder George Pocock designed boats that were very popular, especially among UW rowers in the past. His shop was in the loft of the shell house. Honoring that history, UW wants to reserve that loft space for Steve Chapin, a Port Townsend boat builder who apprenticed in the style of Pocock, where he can build his racing shells. “We want to fund apprenticeships, and also help him sell the boats,” Klein said.
REVIEW Madison Valley author compiles ‘Places of Interest’ By Brandon Macz
Madison Park Times editor As the new editor for the Madison Park Times, there’s a lot to learn about the neighborhoods I cover. Much of the information I’ve gathered has been in the moment, based on some article I’m writing. As time permits, I’ve been looking for local sources that can fill in the numerous gaps in my knowledge of the history of these Central Area communities. Recently, I saw a write-up by the Madison Valley Community Council about local author Isabelle Gray and her book,
“Madison Valley: Places of Interest.” First, Isabelle Gray is a pen name — a combination of two family names — the author not seeking a lot of spotlight. Gray was kind enough to make time on a rare sunny spring day to meet up and give me a quick walking tour of some places of interest from her book. Gray grew up in Madison Park, and has lived in her current Madison Valley home for about seven years now. “Madison Valley: Places of Interest” came out in November 2017, Gray going the self-publishing route. The book is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble Nook Press.
“It was kind of a gradual process, I guess,” Gray said. The Madison Valley author would go on walks around the neighborhood with her husband, and later with her daughter, who’s almost 3 1/2 now. She started by just taking notes of interesting places, wanting to learn more about their history, and gathering interesting tidbits from neighbors. “I live here, and a lot of the history I didn’t know before I started researching it,” Gray said. She began writing the book with com PLACES, Page 9
Pacific Publishing Company – Queen Anne & Magnolia News • Capitol Hill Times • Madison Park Times • City Living Seattle
JUNE 2018
7
Featured Listing Featured Listing 1500 38th Avenue | Madrona | $5,280,000
433 30th Avenue South | Leschi | $1,860,000
WHAT CLIENTS ARE SAYING Lisa Turnure made selling our house almost fun! Starting with a well-crafted marketing plan, she handled everything--staging, public relations, private showings, open houses, professional networking, contract negotiations and successful closing. Always upbeat, always ethical, Lisa Turnure was just outstanding.- Randy and Jane
Broker, Global Luxury Director 206.919.6605 lisaturnure@CBBain.com LisaTurnure.com
Home is on the horizon
Historic Capitol Hill
Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. 2033 6th Avenue, Suite 600 Seattle, WA 98121 | 206.330.0314
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GRAY, from Page 1 “We really just buy things that we like and things that are beautiful, and we would have in our homes,” she said. “I think we both have the rule that, if we feel strongly enough about it, go for it,” Debra said. Carly said her motherin-law has added to Gray & Gray a variety of interesting religious items. On one wall hangs a collection of votive offerings Debra bought from a Roman church that was redoing its niches. They date back a hundred years, she said. Debra said the partnership will work well, because her daughter-in-law’s friends are looking for new homes and items to fill them with, while her friends are looking to downsize. Carly said she always wanted to open a shop like Gray & Gray. “I never really thought I would do it at this point in my life — two kids under four — my life is already pretty crazy,” she said. She majored in art history, and said she’s interested in the stories behind the items she finds.
Photos by Cutline
“The stories that come with art are also the stories that come with furniture and antiques,” she said, “and there’s something beautiful about that.”
Carly said she wants to eventually incorporate workshops into Gray & Gray’s offerings, such as calligraphy and making floral arrangements.
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JUNE 2018
Lake Washington public marinas slated for overdue replacement City finds habitat improvements will improve with new moorage at Leschi, Shorewood locations By Brandon Macz
Madison Park Times editor Seattle Parks and Recreation has determined an environmental impact statement isn’t necessary ahead of work on three cityowned Lake Washington marinas, which could start as early as this fall. SPR recently entered into a lease agreement with Marina Management LLC to maintain, operate and improve public access to the Leschi North, Leschi South and Lakewood Moorage public marinas. “It’s great that we provide public moorage, but wee don’t have that operations expertise,” said SPR senior planner David Graves about getting out of the marina business. Each improvement plan has different elements, and all include removal of creosotetreated wood pilings, floating docks and steel tube breakwaters/wave attenuators, according to SPR’s Determination of Non-Significance (DNS). New docks, steel pipes and breakwaters/wave attenuators would then be installed, along with pump-out facilities and public short-stay moorage. There is no short-stay moorage currently at the marinas, nor are there pump-out facilities for boats with bathrooms. Graves said SPR has secured some grant funding for the pump-out facilities, where people can empty their bathroom waste.
Those will likely be put in place next year, he said. “We’re sorting out the budget for that, right now,” Graves said. The outer row of floats at Leschi South were removed in July 2017, according to the DNS, because they had sunk and created what the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections deemed a safety hazard. It is in the worst condition out of the three marinas. Under the marina lease agreement reached with Marina Management, the company will provide capital improvements, plus 3 percent of its gross revenue from rentals in quarterly payments. The city committed to investing $3.8 million for design, procurement, permitting and construction, according to the lease agreement. Marina Management is required to provide at least six free community events per year, and also maintain and improve space for existing programs. That includes for the Dragon Boats, Corinthian Yacht Club, Thistle fleet, Footloose Sailing program and Thunderbirds. The Leschi South marina improvements are expected to start first, followed by the Lakewood Moorage, and then Leschi North. Each moorage project is expected to take up to two months to complete, and the total overwater coverage by structures is
Photo by Brandon Macz The City of Seattle’s Leschi South marina is in the worst condition, and expected to be replaced first. expected to decrease by 167 square feet. The expectation is that Marina Management will be able to relocate renters from one moorage site to another. “Overall, the project will improve habitat conditions by reducing overwater coverage in the nearshore, allowing light into the water column and removing creosote treated pilings from the Lake Washington,” the DNS states. “To the extent that overwater coverage is increased at one location, coverage will be reduced at another location such that the net over water coverage of SPR’s marinas on Lake Washington is decreased.” Graves said improving light is good for underwater plants, and also for juvenile salmon that swim along the shoreline. Predators hide under dark docks, and
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salmon do not adjust to changes in light the same way people do, Graves said. Instead, they will go out to deep water, where they’re at greater risk of being eaten by predators. The old piers, floats, walkways and wave attenuators will be removed by a crane and placed on a barge, and then the creosotetreated pilings will be removed. The new piers and walkways will be towed in afterward, according to the DNS. “Since they’re off the shelf, there’s not a lot of design work to do,” Graves said about the floating docks. Leschi North is at 324 Lake Washington Blvd., Leschi South at 150 Lakeside Ave. S., and Lakewood Moorage is at 4500 Lake Washington Blvd. S.
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PLACES, from Page 6
Dig a million-dollar hole for a ten-dollar plant. Soak the plant well the day before planting. Loosen the root ball once out of the container. Set the plant in the hole and fill the hole thrice with water, allowing it to sink in, saturating the soil all around. Fill in the hole and tamp down the soil. Water again. Don’t let the plant dry out in its first summer in your garden. After that,allow nature to do the irrigation. Now, it is fair to say, most great beauties have their down-
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CB Bain’s Community Partnership program adds up
munity members in mind, but said she hopes it’s helpful for anyone wanting to explore Madison Valley or learn more about her neighborhood. Packed with photos, maps and historical facts sourced from municipal archives, news articles and old community newsletters, “Madison Valley: Places of Interest” is easily digestible at just under 80 pages. As Gray writes it, the places she highlights in her book are not deep dives, but thorough introductions that certainly piqued my interest. Gray said she thought about writing them in alphabetical order, but her husband encouraged her to organize the book around interests — East Madison, Flooding, Greenspaces, Notable African-American Residents, etc. The book hits on a number of parks and greenspaces, not all of which are well known, and some that are tucked away, but still easy to find if you know where to look. For part of our interview, we sat on a park bench in Julia Lee’s Park at the southwest corner of East Harrison Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way. She pointed out the new artistic treatment of the circular brick planter, where a maple tree stands in the middle of the plaza, was installed after her book published. Julia Lee Roderick Knudsen was a Seattle native who died in 1990. Her husband, C. Calvert Knudsen, created the park to honor her in 1993 — he could see it from his office across the street. The Knudsen family donated the park to the City of Seattle in 2016. Maybe it’s the romantic in me, but I really enjoyed learning about this public park’s history, having walked the area numerous times and never even noticing this little oasis just a short walk south of the Essential Bakery. On our way to Drainage Park, Gray pointed out The Valley School on 30th Avenue East. The independent school isn’t in her book, she said, adding it’s nice enough to make its private playground open to the neighborhood on weekends. Drainage Park, as its name suggests, is the first of a two-phase project to address flooding issues in the neighborhood, which came to a head for the city after the 2006 Hannukah Eve storm. Gray breaks the two phases up separately, and includes a passage about the Kate Fleming Memorial, named for the woman who tragically lost her life when the Hannukah Eve storm caused her basement studio to flood and she couldn’t escape. Further up 30th Avenue we stopped at William Grose Park, which had originally been named 30th Avenue East Park, until community members petitioned the city to change the name. William Grose was one of many African-Americans to settle in Seattle and play a part in helping build the black community that exists in the Central Area today. Gray has an entire section dedicated to such figures, whose names now identify neighborhood parks and historic houses where they once resided. Like the rest of Seattle, Madison Valley is seeing growth and change, and some parts of her book could be updated already, but Gray said she has no plans to do so currently. “The problem with that is I could constantly be doing that,” she said. What “Madison Valley: Places of Interest” does is establish an entertaining and informative starting point for discovery in the neighborhood. It’s a foundation for people to build on through their own experiences navigating Madison Valley, and outlines a history of community and community led projects she hopes people can take pride in. “It made me appreciate the history of the neighborhood a lot more,” she said, “and think of it as a place that has an interesting and rich history that I know about. I think it was a great neighborhood to live in before, and I still do.”
TREE, from Page 3
JUNE 2018
side. While you can’t blame a strawberry tree for being temperamental, or invasive… it is messy. Old leaves drop, almost continuously, through the year. When the blossoms drop, they collect in a somewhat fragrant litter beneath the plant. And when the fruits fall, they squish under foot. The answer is simple: do not site this plant (as I have woefully done) next to a walkway or patio. Otherwise, you’ll be sweeping under it daily in autumn when the drop is heaviest. Put the plant out in a bed where the droppings will quickly decompose, turning into top soil. The great books on arboriculture will tell you, with what
Coldwell Banker Bain reports it has raised $1.92 million for nonprofits through its Community Partnership program, from its start in 1988 to the end of 2017. CB Bain brokers partnered with 155 nonprofits in 2017, according to a news release, with contributions averaging $1,603. Under the Community Partnership program, each time
a broker-supported nonprofit refers a real estate client that results in a closed transaction, the broker and CB Bain donate an amount equal to 10 percent of the commission to that nonprofit. Coldwell Banker Bain of Madison Park brokers Carrie Haymond and Lisa Turnure have contributed nearly $5,000 to Broadway Bound and REJoyce
Fundamentals Academy, according to the news release. “We are so proud of the efforts of our brokers in making this program a success,” said CB Bain president and COO Mike Grady in the release. “We appreciate the work these wonderful organizations are doing in our communities, and believe it’s important for us to give back in markets where we work.”
Chaffey Building Group plans Madrona live/work units Chaffey Building Group has plans to develop three live/work units and four townhomes in Madrona’s commercial corridor on 34th Avenue, which will require razing a single-family home and detached boutique. The development at 1132 34th Ave. will be the latest live/work construction project on that block, with Denizen Development Group’s Madrona 12, 1119 34th Ave., down the street expected to open to new residents this fall. The 1132 34th Ave project is being designed by A.N.A. Design & Permit, LLC, and True Scape
Design is handling the landscape plan. Chaffey Building Group declined to comment on this project or any of its others in the neighborhood. The three-story live/work units will be grouped into one structure, with commercial spaces fronting 34th Avenue. The four townhomes are planned to be spaced 10 feet back from the live/ work units, according to public documents provided to the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections. Massing for the live/work units
VIEWS, from Page 4 • A go-getter • Calm — I know I mentioned that already, but it’s key I went on a listing appointment a few weeks ago, in a neighborhood I know very well. The sellers wanted someone with neighborhood knowledge. I can walk there from my office, and I have sold the majority of the homes on that street over the years. Instead, the sellers chose a new agent who cut their commission to get the listing. I wish them all the best. The catch? If someone can’t negotiate for their own pay, how can you be sure they can get you the best final sales price on your home? The savings on that commission may not make up for choosing the junior agent that is not capable of fetching the highest market price. On the buying side, experience and calm can make even more of a difference. I represented buyers who were looking at a home a block from my office. The sellers were trying too hard to get too much — trying to create a bidding war. I didn’t seems like an edge of pride, that the gorgeous fruits are edible and can be used in preserves and even alcoholic beverages. I bit into one once — once was enough. The fruit is mealy initially, and upon chewing turns slimy, and there is little or no flavor. The advice here is, devour these amazing fruits with your eyes alone. Still, this tree is well worth a spot in any garden and a good choice for the small urban plot. It’s a sight to behold and, to my way of thinking, the moniker, strawberry tree, doesn’t do it justice. Had I given it a common name, I’d have called it Tree of Jewels.
is proposed to include dark brick on the street facade with dark window trim on the first and second floors. LED neon strip is proposed for the overframing of the ground-floor commercial spaces. The top floor is proposed to be white hardie panel siding with white window trim. A metal railing will surround the heated rooftop decks. There will be four parking stalls for the townhomes. Chaffey Building Group declined to discuss this or any of its other Madrona projects.
like the situation, and advised my buyers to hold off submitting an offer. Fortunately for them, there was no bidding war. In fact, the sellers dropped their price, and we made an offer. So did three other buyers on the same day. Our offer had a hard stop on price — my buyers weren’t going to get into an escalating price situation past a certain point. Our offer was the lowest, but it was the cleanest, with the best terms. The other two parties had missed details in the contract, either because of haste or lack of knowledge. I knew the listing broker, and she trusted me to get my buyers through the process and to the settlement table. Her sellers agreed. My clients got that house, in this crazy market, even with the lowest offer of the bunch. Experience, attention to detail and knowing who to trust made all the difference. Feel free to reach out with any questions. Not only do I live in Madison Park, my office is just blocks from my house and I care beyond belief for the integrity of our neighborhood. Chris Sudore is a Madison Park resident and managing broker at Coldwell Banker Global Luxury. He can be reached at Chris@KingCountyEstates.com.
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JUNE 2018
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Madison Park’s Premier Luxury Team, King County Estates
Chris Sudore President/Founder of King County Estates 206.799.2244
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JUNE 2018
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Madrona 12 homes coming this fall Denizen developing four Built Green live/work units, eight townhomes on 34th Avenue
Image courtesy of Denizen Development Group
By Brandon Macz
(Left) There will be eight townhomes on the west side of Madrona 12, with two attached garages and six carports. Four live/work units will front 34th Avenue. (Below) Madrona 12 homes are expected to be completed this fall.
Madison Park Times editor Denizen Development Group plans to have new townhomes and live/work units across from its Madrona Lofts ready for occupancy this fall on 34th Avenue. Madrona 12 has been a long time in the making, Denizen purchasing the land at 1132 34th Ave. three years ago and waiting two years to get its permits, said principal Chris Jolley. Construction started in early April 2017. Four live/work units will front 34th Avenue, two on either side of a courtyard and vehicle entry. Jolley said people can use the ground-level space for a home office or lease it out for any business but a restaurant. There will be eight townhomes on the west side of Madrona 12, with two attached garages and six carports. Denizen is including electric vehicle charging stations for all of its parking spaces, a standard for all of its developments now, Jolley said. The exteriors are a mix of hardy board, metal siding and concrete masonry unit, with a rusted steel look for the retail spaces. “We wanted to play off what we did across the street with the (concrete masonry unit)” Jolley said, referring to the Madrona Lofts development. Denizen works with David Vandervort Architects, and Madrona 12 is being constructed to 4-Star Built Green standards. “We’re building the homes really tight,” Jolley said, adding future homeowners will likely use air conditioning more than the heaters. The retail spaces have 13-foot-high ceilings and a loft space for storage or a small studio, said principal Laura Rhodes. Homes will range from $900,000 to $1.3 million, with one- to three-bedroom options, Rhodes said. Several homes will have green roofs, while others will have decks — all will be plumbed for gas and water, said Denizen marketing director Bryan Rhodes. Bamboo composite is
Photo by Brandon Macz being used for the decking, and roof decks will be wired for cameras. Plant trays are being grown in Oregon, Jolley said, and should come in around late June. Jolley said the homes are being wired for smart-home packages, where people can use sensors and virtual assistant technology for turning on lights, unlocking doors, security cameras, heating controls and more. He added it’s possible some of the young tech workers that might be attracted to the Madrona 12 homes will want to set things up themselves. Every home will also have fire suppression sprinklers. A new driveway apron is being added and sidewalks replaced on 34th Avenue East. All three exceptional trees out front are being protected during construction. Find out more about Madrona 12 and other Denizen projects coming soon at denizendg.com, including four townhomes that will be available before Madrona 12 at 15th Avenue and Olive Street in Capitol Hill.
Keller Williams pulls together Agents use RED Day to clean up Leschi Park By Brandon Macz
Madison Park Times editor
Agents with the Ben Kinney Team at Keller Williams Realty pull ivy and blackberry bushes at Leschi Park for RED Day on Thursday, May 10. More photos online.
Photos by Brandon Macz
Agents with the Ben Kinney Team at Keller Williams Realty spent this year’s RED Day pulling weeds and invasive ivy and blackberry out of Leschi Park. Short for Renew, Energize and Donate, RED Day is an annual day of service for all Keller Williams Realty offices around the world. “All the offices close on this day, and we all have our RED Day committees to decide what ours is,” said Christi Webster, director of operations for the Ben Kinney Team. “One of our agents lives right by here, and I think she was talking to the parks department.” That was managing broker Janice Brown, who is also president of the Leschi Community Council. Webster said her team volunteered with Mary’s Place and the YMCA for food and Mother’s Day baskets last year, and had a work party at Camp Long in West Seattle the year before that. Parks are a good fit for RED Day, she said, because it’s easy to get volunteers all together in one place. “There’s all kinds of really cool history about the park,” Darcy Thompson told
volunteers before the cleanup started on May 10. A neighborhood volunteer and member of the Friends of Frink Park, Thompson said Leschi is one of Seattle’s older parks. Seattle’s old trolley line terminated there, the trestle still visible behind on the west end. People would get off and walk down to Lake Washington to catch a ferry to Mercer Island or the Eastside, Thompson said. Developers had held on to the land for a number of years, building around it and using the park to offer various amenities. It had housed elk and other wildlife, Thompson said. When the land was granted to the City of Seattle, the animals were moved to Woodland Park for its new zoo. Leschi Park celebrated 100 years as a public park in 2003. Volunteers have historically focused on Upper Leschi Park, where it connects to Frink Park, said John Barber, who has been the Parks and Greenspace Committee chair for the Leschi Community Council since 1983. Fighting blackberries on the Cable Car Bridge Pathway has been an ongoing battle for the past 15 years, he said. At 18 1/2 acres, Leschi Park’s needed plant and weeding maintenance is a tough job, and not something Seattle Parks and Recreation can take on alone, Barber said; that’s why volunteer support is so important.
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JUNE 2018