I work many of the Pierce County areas and I have always had an interest in homes and architecture of ALL styles, but I have a special appreciation for the “Grand Ol’ Victorian,” “Warm, Cottage Craftsman,” “Shotgun” and “North End Bungalow,” not to mention, our beautiful Neo-Classical homes. Our historic area is a wonderful mixture of eclectic history. The value of working with someone with a real love of the area in which you live is immeasurable.
University level Track and field Coach.
Retired from Real Estate in November of 2011. Agent for Windermere Professional Partners in Tacoma,Washington for 6 years. I specialize in the North End Historic District but, I love all kinds of architecture. I am also a Track Coach at Pacific Lutheran University.
Getting a unique home sold in an upper price range is proving to be a difficult task lately. Here is an unusual and creative idea that just might work! Here's the article in the TNT
Urban parks offer many of the same activities as national and state parks
Point Defiance Park in Tacoma Washington is a prime example
Millions of people enjoy the beautiful and many national and state parks this country has to offer.However, there is also a wealth of urban parks throughout the country that offer a variety of activities for many city dwellers.
Urban parks in the United States have been in existence since the mid 1800s.The first urban parks were known as pleasure grounds and were typically placed on the outskirts of cities.The primary purpose of the parks was to allow city residents to relax in nature.As time passed the urban area grew around these parks and the parks added features such as zoos, sports fields, gardens and museums.Some of the better known urban parks are Central Park in New York, Lincoln Park in Chicago and Stanley Park in Vancouver, Canada.
An urban park not so well known nationally but highly regarded and offering a wide range of activities is Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, Washington.The park was established in 1888 and today more than two million people visit the 702 acre park each year.
Variety is what makes this park special.Point Defiance offers visitors the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Pacific Northwest, a marina complex with a fishing pier, miles of shoreline including Owen Beach where they have a picnic area and kayak rentals, botanical gardens, the Fort Nisqually living history museum, miles of hiking trails mostly through forest areas and cycling along Five Mile Drive, the scenic road that runs along the edge of the park.
For more information on Point Defiance and other Tacoma metro parks please visit: www.metroparkstacoma.org
For more on urban parks in general please visit these sites:
I have found it interesting how little some folks know about Old Houses; Historic Houses, to be more specific. There is value in the fact that all of the windows are original, wood wrapped/double hung windows. Even though they may be a little drafty. Another thing that goes unappreciated much of the time ismatching hardware. When all of the door knobs, key holes, strike plates, hinges, drawer pulls, etc., are the original matching hardware, THATS really special.If it's not original...It would behoove you to choose wisely when outfitting your historic home with hardware.
Check out this article about Historic Homes Hardware from one of my favorite resources!
Every year our Historic North Slopehas this cool Progressive Dinner and Home Tour. It is so much fun and so interesting that it has become a huge sell out and people keep asking how they can get tickets. There are only 104 tickets to be sold. That makes for 4 seatings (or waves) of guests. I've purchased tickets and enjoyed this event a number of times and now I always make sure I purchase a few tickets for special friends, clients or family. It's always an experience they remember. THIS year my house is ON the Progressive Dinner and Home Tour!! I'm super excited cuz I am the "Entree House." I am proud to say that the fabulous new 6th Ave restaurant, "Marrow"will be presenting our entrees for the event. We are SOOOOOOO lucky!!!! "Marrow," you Rock! AND "Infinite Soup" is on board at the soup/salad house with a dreamy fall season soup sure to rock your world! Here is the information!:
2011 PROGRESSIVE DINNER AND WALKING TOUR
A benefit for the North Slope Historic District
Saturday November 5, 2011
Tickets; $35.00 each
Tour Times: 4pm/4:45pm/5:30pm/6:15pm
Begin your pre-holiday season with a unique evening stroll, dinner and a tour of four amazing historic homes of the North Slope Historic District. The homes featured in this year’s tour will each be presenting delectable and enticing delights as their course of the dinner. Appetizers, soup, main course (with vegetarian option), and dessert combine with stunning homes to offer a truly unforgettable occasion.
Call now to reserve your ticket(s), as this event historically (no pun intended) sells out fast.
Tickets on sale now by calling Judy Martin @ 253 572-3059
This house on North "D" Street is one I have been in a number of times. It was an amazing home back in "The Day." FINALLY the new owners are going to give it the TLC it deserves. They are even going to put the top floor back on it with the beautiful touret back on it. The only bad thing about???? The neighbor's view! Holy Cow! Some folks are really up in arms about it and plan to fight it. It will totally obstruct the view of some of the properties that sold for that specific reason. View.
WELL...How's this for a before and after? The paint job is finally finished on this amazing historic home two doors down from me. I pretty much love it! We're the best looking block on "I" Street!!
I had an amazing 2 days of Open Housetraffic!!! Such "oooohs" and "ahhhhhs." I LOVE this house. I will really miss it. Selling it and going through the process really helps me to identify with my clients. Great experience for any agent.
