The answer, as with so many questions, was just a Google search away.

That’s a tour helicopter, which explains why we’re seeing it a lot more in the summer. We must spot (and hear) the helicopter on its way to Green Lake or the UW, in a tour package that includes the Space Needle, Lake Union, Lake Washington, Snoqualmie Falls, Ballard Locks and Elliott Bay Marina.

Thanks, Marina!

Another mystery remains, however.  We’ve had a couple of inquiries from Green Lake residents wondering about a low-flying single prop plane that frequently flies in circles over the north end of Green Lake.  It has been spotted this summer and last.  Our best guess is that this plane is also sightseeing-related, but we can’t say for sure.  If you have any information, please do let us know!

Update, Thursday July 29:

Many thanks to commenter Greenman, who writes that the low-flying single prop plane frequently seen over north Green Lake may be a Cessna, used by the Washington State Patrol to monitor traffic over I-5.

The Washington State Patrol’s website indicates that the WSP Aviation Section uses five Cessna fixed wing aircraft to aid their mission of providing “aerial traffic enforcement, traffic congestion management, and other aerial law enforcement services.”

Thanks, Greenman!

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake • Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2010.

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Post tags: noise pollution, wallingford

Green Lake resident Deb Kapsner reports that she was awoken shortly before 5 a.m. by the sound of a dog barking.  As she watched out the front window of her house, she saw one man being detained, face down on the sidewalk, by police.  A police officer was holding a police dog about six feet from the suspect.  The dog, Kapsner says, “was barking incessantly and occasionally tugging at the officer’s arm.  Clearly the dog was on duty.”

Kapsner then heard the suspect being read the Miranda warning.  Meanwhile, at least six police officers, aided by the police dog, searched the area for a second suspect.  At 5:10 a.m., although they had not found the second suspect, they ceased their search.

Photo courtesy Deb Kapsner

Photo courtesy Deb Kapsner

It is unclear what brought police to NE 61st St.  SeattleCrime.com’s 911 Map, which draws from emergency dispatch calls, police reports, and tips from citizens, does not yet display any information relating to that block of NE 61st on Saturday morning.

In addition to keeping an eye on the 911 map, I spoke with crime reporter Jonah Spangenthal-Lee.  While he was not able to track down any information about this specific incident, he indicated that, judging by the time of day, the size of the police response, and the lack of information about the event, the suspects were likely involved in a car prowl or burglary.

The 911 Map displays a Saturday morning car prowl in the 2300 block of N 61st (between Corliss Ave N and 1st Ave NE), just two blocks from where the suspect was apprehended.  The car prowl was reported at 4:24 a.m.  While it is possible that this incident is related to the police activity that Kapsner witnessed, we can’t say with certainty that it is.

If any new information becomes available, I’ll be sure to update this post.

As always, if you have any information or photos about crime (or other happenings) in the neighborhood, be sure to let us know.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake • Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2010.

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Post tags: crime, noise pollution

________

Everyone wants the highest possible price when selling a home. Not everyone understands pricing strategy, the emotions of Buyers, the psychology of numbers and analysis of price point searches.

A good agent knows that pricing a home high will often make for longer market time, pickier Buyers (if any Buyers), more expense and inconvenience for the Seller and an eventual selling price LOWER than would have been achieved by underpricing the home from the start. Sellers’ resistance to accept this reality from the start is often the biggest challenge to getting the home sold quickly for a good price.

Example #1: I recently evaluated a cute, but tiny house on a very small lot in the Green Lake neighborhood. Because of the small square footage, tiny north-facing lot, low ceilings and a few other points, this property didn’t show much value on paper. I was confident I could deliver a price of $510,000 to $525,000 even though stats suggested this home to be a much lower value.

Knowing that $500,000 is a major psychological price point and many Buyers search up to that point, we chose a price of $498,000. We also made arrangements for the Seller to be out of town and unreachable for a couple of days so nobody could get a low offer in front of him too quickly.

We made the home as emotionally appealing as possible and did some pre-marketing to generate BUZZ. I had people wanting to know all about this home BEFORE we were on the market.

When we hit the market at $498,000 there were many, many hits on MLS, on the virtual tour and elsewhere. The open house was like a parade.

By the time the Seller returned to town we had six offers. Several of these offers were from Buyers who were only searching up to the $500,000 price point. If we had priced the home above $500k they would never have seen it. These Buyers went back to their loan officers and increased their loan approval letters to accommodate the higher price they were now anxious to pay for this home.

The successful offer had an escalation clause. Using the other offers to invoke this clause, we got the price up to $525,000.

I also convinced one of the other agents and her Buyers to submit an offer that we accepted in back-up at the same price and made sure the number 1 Buyer knew it. This motivated the first Buyer to ask for absolutely nothing in response to her inspection, even though this was an 84 year old house with numerous flaws and quirks.

Also, the appraiser was questioning our value, but I made sure I met the appraiser at the home myself so I could “sell” her the house too, and show her the signed back-up offer at the same price. This helped us avoid a common current problem, which is low appraisals that destroy sales.

This sale closed quickly with a very motivated Buyer and my Seller was always in a strong position at every point in the transaction. Because of all the competition from others, the Buyer is confident that she got a great deal. Everyone is happy.

Had we started at an asking price of $525,000, many of those potential Buyers would never have known about the home, we would not have had all of those offers, the successful Buyer would have been in a much stronger position to negotiate, the sales price would likely have been lower, we might have needed to make concessions in response to the inspection and the appraisal might have been a challenge.

Example #2: I had a classic home listed at Green Lake that I knew needed to be priced below $1 million for a quick sale at a good price. The Sellers resisted getting the price under that million dollar mark.

We sat for a painfully long time on the market while priced over $1 million. We were missing everyone who searched up to $1 million in asking price. Once we got the price under $1 million, the home sold. Unfortunately, it did not sell for asking price and the Buyers were extremely picky on their inspection, which meant the Sellers made more concessions to get the transaction closed. The Seller admitted, “.. we didn’t take your advice and it cost us.” Even after all this, an appraiser called me later to ask how I got such a high price for that home and told me it was the highest sale price at Green Lake for the last couple of years.

Every situation is different. The same strategy does not work for every home and there are more details than I can possibly write about here, but these are two real life 2010 situations here at Green Lake. If you are interested in selling your home at Green Lake or in another classic city neighborhood in Seattle, give me a call for a free consultation at 206-786-1789.

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Michael Cornell is Chairman of the Green Lake Community Council, My Green Lake’s Site Sponsor, and a REALTOR® specializing in Green Lake and surrounding neighborhoods.  He has not had a listing “expire” (fail to sell) since 1998.

©Michael Cornell, REALTOR for My Green Lake • Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2010.

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Post tags: advertiser, real estate

India Holden, who co-directs the center with her husband Steven Holden, says the center is “loosely organized around spirituality, not any one religion, and is designed as a community center.”  The space will be made available to the community to use free of charge, although donations will be accepted.

“People can do session work like healing work, counseling, meetings, workshops, support groups, meditation, classes, sat sangs, etc.,” says India.  “Really anything. We want to support people in bringing their gifts into the community and provide the space for that.”

India will also be teaching several programs at the center, including an Inner Wisdom class, Saturday guided meditations and Sunday morning spiritual explorations focused on Bhakti talk and conversation.

On September 5, 2010, spiritual teacher Matt Kahn will be visiting the space.  In November, India will be holding a party there, celebrating the release of her book ‘You’re an Adventurer on the Cutting-Edge of Yourself.’

India says that the opening of the center is the result of a vision that she had.  “This,” she says, “is the dream of my life becoming reality.”

All are welcome at Sunday’s grand opening party.  A schedule of the day’s events can be found here.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake • Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2010.

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Post tags: building community, party, spiritual

Looks like part of Wallingford Ave N. of 85th is under heavy construction.

Do you know how I might find out what they’re doing?

Yes, Nate, there is in fact a very easy a way to find out about road construction in Seattle.

The Seattle City-wide Planned Construction map, available through the Department of Transportation, shows a project currently underway on Wallingford Ave N between N 88th and N 90th Streets.

The project is a part of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission‘s “Mandated Bare Steel Main Replacement Program.”  Along with the bare steel main, the street’s gas main is also being replaced.  (A “main” is a “principal pipe or conduit in a system for conveying water, gas, oil, or other utility.”)

While some reduced street capacity is accounted for on the map, there should be no impacts to sidewalks or parking lanes.  (Update, 7:40p.m. Nate tells us that there are signs out on the street closing the parking lanes until August 6 on weekdays 7-5.  Thanks, Nate!)

The project’s estimated end date is listed as December 31, 2010.

Got a question about what’s happening the neighborhood?  Drop us a line.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake • Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2010.

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Post tags: construction, traffic

Some highlights:

Gluten-free Baking with no Eggs, Soy or Dairy 6:30-9pm, Monday, September 20, 2010

My Tween and Me: Chinese Crepes 6:30-8:30pm, Friday, October 1, 2010

Vegetarian Holiday Feast 6:30-9pm, Thursday, November 4, 2010

Yule Log Making 4-6:30pm, Thursday, December 2, 2010

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake • Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2010.

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Post tags: aurora, food, lifelong learning, local businesses

Dr. Barry Gjerdrum

For the month of August, your child will receive a comprehensive health evaluation including a scoliosis screening, posture assessment and functional biomechanical evaluation for $39. (A $110 value)  Bring in your child and YOU can receive the same amazing offer.  “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree”.  Let us help your child grow into a healthy, happy body!

Dr. Barry Gjerdrum is a pediatric specialist.  He has a very gentle approach to chiropractic and has had great success with kids and pregnant moms. Chiropractic has helped many babies and children with ear infections, colic, constipation, torticolis, sports related injuries and overall health and wellness.  As for the pregnant moms, he is one of the few chiropractors in the area who is proficient in Webster’s Technique which helps mom turn a breech baby!

Ed. note: Lifestyle Chiropractic is a My Green Lake advertiser.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake • Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2010.

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Post tags: bargain alert, health, kids

The program, which runs from July 12 to August 13, 2010, includes a variety of classes, including Contact Juggling, Circus Arts, and Girls Rock!, which was recently highlighted in The Seattle Times:

Girls Rock! Seattle starts Monday and runs through Friday at Billings Middle School in Greenlake. Besides music classes, the day camp features workshops on stage presence, zine making, jewelry, self-defense and the history of women in music. The girls also form bands and write songs to play at the showcase. [...]

Artists Natalie Walker and Holly Houser created the Seattle camp two years ago, and registration doubled this year. There are around 40 Girls Rock! nonprofit camps around the world, first established in Portland in 2001. The local program costs $350 for a week, but over half the students get financial assistance, made possible through grants.

“It’s a safe space for girls to express themselves,” said Houser, 32. “It’s not about being a maestro at their instruments. … A success story at camp is maybe somebody who is really quiet and reserved, who has a hard time opening up to her peers, but at the end of the week, onstage, is completely belting out on her instrument and just feels like a rock star.”

Eighty Girls Rock! participants will be hosted by Billings Middle School this week, July 26-30.  Have fun, girls!

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake • Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2010.

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Post tags: billings middle school, kids, lifelong learning, music, schools, teens

Green Lake's Station 16

Tonight (Saturday, July 24, 2010) was Medic 16′s last night in Green Lake.

I spoke with Greg Forslund, a fire fighter at Fire Station 16 (6846 Oswego Place NE).  Forslund confirmed that The Seattle Fire Department is transferring the Medic One Unit to Station 17 (temporarily located at 4557 11th Ave NE), and that tonight was the unit’s last shift at Station 16.

Engine 16, a fire engine, will remain at Station 16, which is scheduled to be renovated in 2011.

Medic One Units provide Advanced Life Support.  The Fire Department reports that they respond to approximately 28,000 Basic Life Support alarms and 25,000 Advanced Life Support alarms per year, as well as all working fires, hazardous materials and rescue responses.

There are only seven Medic One Units in Seattle.  The Fire Department felt that Station 17, in the U-District, would be a more effective placement for Medic 16.  Forslund told me that Medic One Units serve the entire city, not just one neighborhood, and that units from outside of Green Lake often come into our neighborhood.

Forslund also explained that the bays at Station 16 are quite narrow.  Medic 16 will have more room at Station 17.

It is not known yet if Medic 16 will retain its name or be renamed “Medic 17.”

Ed. note: Thank you, My Green Lake tipster Veronica, for giving us a heads-up about Medic 16′s move to the U-District.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake • Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2010.

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Post tags: fire, medical emergency, udistrict

Green Lake Elementary parents are using funding from the City of Seattle’s Neighborhood Matching Fund to improve the existing garden by making it accessible to kids with disabilities, adding an outdoor classroom for instructional activities and constructing sustainable elements to be enjoyed by the whole neighborhood.

The workshops and work party will be Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1, 2010 at Green Lake Elementary School (2400 N 65th St).

Work starts at 9 a.m. and goes until 4 p.m. You are welcome to come for the whole day or as long as you can.   Snacks and drinks will be be available and there will be supervised kid activities on the playground.  Please bring a water bottle to minimize trash and be prepared to get dirty.  If you can, bring garden or hand tools.

There will be two workshops:

“Green Roof” Garden Shed

Under the direction of carpenter Carl Berg of Viking Craftsman, volunteers will spend a weekend building the school’s new garden shed.  Using reclaimed materials donated by Earthwise Architectural Salvage, the shed will incorporate a “Green Roof” that will be planted with grasses, herbs and sedums.  The shed will also have a drainage system that will utilize a rain barrel, demonstrating water reclamation techniques for garden use.

Outdoor Classroom

A very large, labor intensive project, the Outdoor Classroom Workshop will last several days.  Volunteers will start by building “Rammed Earth” benches.  Contractors will then install a circle of pavers in the center that will tie into the gravel pathway.  There will be a sustainable building expert on hand to instruct volunteers on how to build the forms, mix the earth and install the benches correctly.  This would be a great project for kids to be involved with.

RSVP to olalliegles@gmail.com.  In order to help organizers plan snacks, please indicate when you plan to participate.



©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake • Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2010.

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Post tags: construction, gardening, green lake elementary, kids, schools, volunteer