Dakota Ridge Village
Looking for amazing views, open space, easy access to walking and biking trails, city parks, as well as, shopping, restaurants, and schools? Look no further than Dakota Ridge Village, north on Broadway and west on Lee Hill. Here, you’ll find a variety of properties ranging from condos to multi-million dollar mansions. This upincoming neighborhood is a pleasant environment for families as it encompasses a strong sense of community and friendliness.
Also known as Uptown, NoBo and Holiday, this mountain neighborhood has an urban feel with restaurants such as Proto’s and 4280. Need coffee, a gym, or a day at the salon. It’s all here. Doggie daycare and bike shop included, of course. And let’s not forget Play Grounds where your kids can run free and safe among the toys while you enjoy a beverage and a meal. Do you love art? You’ll be surrounded by it here. This is your heaven with art studios galore, even hosting art open houses on weekends. There is even an outdoor Cinema.
Close to everything…Endless Boulder County Open Space. Located near bus routes that take you straight to Downtown Boulder. Easy access to I-36 going west to Rocky Mountain National Park and the town of Lyons. Go east to find 29th Street Mall including the AMC Theatre.
Diversity comes together to enjoy the endless trails and elaborate city parks. Owner’s pride is abundant and shows among the Dakota Ridge Area Neighborhood Association. Watch the parasailers wind down the foothills at sunset and you’ll understand why this neighborhood is becoming a more poplar place to call home.
How To Keep Your Man in Nederland
November 20th, 2008 Categories: Boulder Subdivisions and Neighborhoods, Mountain Living, Relocating
Well, one way to do it is when he dies you keep him frozen on ice. 
That’s how Frozen Dead Guy Days got it’s name. Every year on the first full weekend in March (burrrrrr….) Nederland Colorado celebrates “Grandpa Bredo” who supposedly is still kept on ice in the Tuff Shed. His grandson, a Norwegian immigrant brought his deceased “Grandpa Bredo” to Nederland Colorado in 1989 where his body lies frozen in a shed (at -109F) behind his daughter’s old house. I’ve heard it said that Trygue (the grandson) wasn’t aware of American taboos about storing deceased relatives with yard tools…anyway Trygue was finally deported by the US government (not because of his grandfather..), and the City of Nederland Colorado grandfathered in Grandpa Bredo, against all odds, and Grandpa is allowed to remain interned in the Tuff Shed until they discover a cure for being dead.
Frozen Dead Guy Days has really put Nederland Colorado on the map. 
Along with the coffin races, dead look alike contests, the Grandpa Blue Ball dance, pancake breakfasts and snow sculpture contests, Glacier ice cream, from Boulder, has created a special flavor call “Frozen Dead Guy”, how creative, with fruit flavored blue ice cream with crusted Oreo cookies and sour gummy worms. Now that’s sporty isn’t’ it?
Another fine event held every year in Nederland is the Colorado Music & Arts Festival (the famous NedFest) which happens the last weekend of August with 2 glorious days of bluegrass and jazz music, artists shows, camping and dancing. Don’t want to miss that!
Really folks, Nederland Colorado (I always stumble on that name, I want to say Netherland…) is really a very quaint old mountain town and the best thing about it (or not) is that it’s only 15 miles from Boulder Colorado. 8,236 miles above sea level, Nederland was named by a Dutch mining company from The Netherlands, which means “the lowlands” - a bit of an anomaly. But at the time of the mining days, people would come down the mountain from the former silver mining town of Caribou, which was located 5 miles up the mountain, to the town of Nederland ( hence the name “lowlands”). As you drive up Boulder Canyon out of Boulder Colorado (take Canyon St west) you’ll pass Boulder Falls on the right, through and around the graceful curved 2 lane road with towering rock formations on both sides of the road, you quickly come to a an opening where you see on your left a majestic blue lake with a spectacular mountain backdrop, called Barker Reservoir. Barker Dam, a hydroelectric powerhouse, was completed in 1910 and supplies water to the City of Boulder and is the headwaters for the Boulder Creek.
Here’s an interesting tidbit about Nederland…in 1972 a man named James William Guercio, the producer of the band Chicago, bought a boatload of property in Caribou and converted a barn into Caribou Ranch Recording Studio where many famous musicians recorded their music such as Elton John, Frank Zappa, Super Tramp, Michael Jackson, Dan Fogelberg. Sadly enough the recording studio burned down in 1985. How’s that for bragging rights?
There’s always been a certain give and take between the Hippies of the 60’s, 70;s and 80;s and the locals in Nederland. 
Nonetheless, Nederland has prospered over the years outside of the small town and many small subdivisions of newer homes have developed over the years where you can find more “modern contemporary”
homes with stunning snow capped mountain views ranging from the mid $250,000 into the millions. If you’re in need of a change, ride the local bus service, called the RTD, that runs from Boulder up the mountain to Nederland and over the Eldora Ski Resort.
So if you’re looking for simple mountain living, with the Continental Divide to the west and the culture of Boulder Colorado to the east then you should really check out Nederland Colorado, the kind of town that might just thaw a man’s heart and bring a little life back into his soul!
Written by Karen Cifala | Discussion: No Comments »
Git Ur Tax Credits Here….Git Ur Credits!
November 6th, 2008 Categories: Boulder Subdivisions and Neighborhoods, Selling Thoughts
Home buyers and sellers in Boulder Colorado can receive tax credits for including energy efficiency into their everyday lives. It isn’t just good for the environment; it’s also good for your wallet! While you may discover that the latest energy efficient appliances can be more expensive, you can save money through federal tax credits. For example, if you are building or buying a new home, you can qualify for tax credits on any products bought before January 1, 2009. Find out if you’re eligible and learn about more rebate programs in Boulder County.To be eligible for the tax credit, the product must meet or exceed the requirements of the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code. Also, find a manufacturer in your area who is knowledgeable about the credits and sells products that qualify. Another reason to go green - tax incentives are not merely deductions. They are tax credits that directly reduce your tax bill! They can even be rolled over to the next year.
Following is a list of rebate and incentive programs in Boulder Colorado.
1) Center for Resource Conservation is offering rebates for energy saving insulation and air sealing projects before the end of 2008. Prepare for winter and save money at the same time.
2) Home energy efficiency tax credit which allows up to $500 for home improvements that involve energy efficiency such as new windows. What a great deal!
3) Residential solar and fuel cell tax credit that is up to $2000 for installation of a solar electric, solar water heating, or fuel cell system. Fight global warming and get money back! A smart choice!
4) Discover the rebates from utility companies such as Longmont Power, Poudre Valley REA, and Xcel Energy. These utility companies serving Boulder County offer the rebates on energy efficient appliances and upgrades, such as evaporative coolers, energy efficient lighting, solar and wind energy, and EnergyStar appliances.
5) The City of Boulder offers water rebates on residential items such as high efficiency washers, low-volume toilets, and water-efficient irrigation systems. For more information, visit the City of Boulder rebate web site.
As you can see, going green helps the earth and our budgets. Are you a home buyer or seller who would like to benefit from tax credits and other incentive programs? It’s easier than you think!
Written by John Vaughan | Discussion: No Comments »
Flying High In Boulder Colorado
November 2nd, 2008 Categories: Boulder Subdivisions and Neighborhoods, Dakota Ridge Village, Focus on Boulder, Mountain Living, Wonderland Hills
Need another reason to live in Dakota Ridge Village in Boulder Colorado? With the great views of the Flatirons, access to trails and parks, close-knit community, and shopping availability, you’d think you had all you needed. Well, you haven’t experienced this neighborhood fully until you’ve seen the brightly colored paragliders swooping down the mountain. Yes! Paragliders, right in your backyard. Just one more unique characteristic of Boulder and it’s extreme mountain living. 
I have enjoyed watching the paragliders for many years from my own backyard in North Boulder. In the photo above, you can see Wonderland Lake. It’s taken from one of the launches that Parasoft Paragliding descends from above Dakota Ridge Village. Not only is it a welcoming sight for me to see the beautiful sails breezing down the foothills, but imagine what it’s like for the paragliders. They have the most amazing views as they fly down. As far east as the eye can see, along with the Flatirons, foothills, Wonderland Lake, and the wonderful city of Boulder. Find out more.
Parasoft Paragliding is one of the local companies right here in North Boulder who can train participants in this magnificent feat. They explain that paragliding is the newest and fastest growing form of foot-launched flying. What is it? Paragliding is the simplest form of human flight. A paraglider is a non-motorized, foot-launched inflatable wing. It is easy to transport, easy to launch, and easy to land. The paraglider itself is constructed of rip-stop nylon from which the pilot is suspended by sturdy kevlar lines. The pilot is clipped into a harness and oriented in a sitting position for maximum comfort. With a paraglider, you actually fly like a bird, soaring upwards on currents of air. Paragliders routinely stay aloft for 3 hours or more, climbing to elevations of 15,000′, and can go cross-country for vast distances.
I spoke to several paragliders. I discovered that their packs weigh up to 40 pounds and it takes about 25 minutes to hike to the launch spot in Dakota Ridge Village. The company suggests that the best way to start is with a two-day Introductory Course designed to give you a taste of real flying. Under radio supervision, you will fly solo from the training hill and progress to higher flights, all in the first two days. The basic techniques of paragliding — launching, turning, landing — are fairly easy to learn. The two-day length of the course is designed to compensate for weather constraints and different learning curves. If after your introductory flights, you want to continue with paragliding, the next step is to enroll in a Para 2 Certification Course which will teach you about micrometeorology, different launch and flying techniques, safety procedures, etc. Below is a photo of one paraglider landing in the park.
To live near this extreme sport and witness the beauty of the paragliders is another reason why I love living in North Boulder and the Dakota Ridge neighborhood. So, do you need another reason to move to this neighborhood? Check it out for yourself and discover why so many families have decided to live here. Contact the Troia Team to learn about available properties in this area.
Written by Julie Johnson | Discussion: No Comments »
Building a Xeriscape or Zeroscape in Boulder Colorado
October 29th, 2008 Categories: Boulder Subdivisions and Neighborhoods, Focus on Boulder, Relocating
Moving to Boulder Colorado is a lot like moving to the moon, if you’re from most anywhere else in the US. You think you know what it “should” look like or what you would like it “to look like”, but when you actually get here you have to adjust your perceptions a bit. Boulder is located where the great plains end and the Rocky Mountains begin. Boulder isn’t all plains and isn’t all mountains, but somewhere pleasantly in between - and oh, did I mention the gorgeous foothills? With 300 days of sunshine, 17-25 inches of rain, an average of 158 inches of snowfall each year and with varying degrees of altitudes between 5000 - 14,000 feet above sea level there is an amazing diversity of plants - which gets me to my title point - what is heck is a “xeriscape”?
I did some research and found that Painted Desert Landscaping describes “xeriscape” as being less lawn area but not just rocks and gravel; landscaping that consists of plants that are well suited to your particular soil considering how much sun exposure your yard gets, how much maintenance you are willing to put into maintaining your yard and what views or screens you would like to build. Xeros is derived from the Greek word meaning dry and scape comes from the word landscape. Clever huh?
Being home grown from the East Coast of Virgina, I grew up with lush manicured green lawns and many deciduous shade trees, where I planted the traditional hostas around my patio and brick walkways (they like shade for the most part) and the annual impatience flower (which needs water everyday) without a worry in the world that they would grow and flourish without much maintenance. What I found out that here in Boulder most soil is very poor in nutrients and can be either quite sandy or possibly clay. You must add compost and organic matter to the soil here in Boulder to help maintain #1 the water absorption and # 2 the nutrients. Imagining not having green lush grass to walk on takes some time to get used to, but after educating myself I found that my perception and appreciation of natural beauty increased the longer I’ve been the Boulder area.
So, the alternative to creating the lush green garden here in Boulder (which you can do because most homes are sold with underground yard sprinkler systems) would be to create either a “zeroscape” - which would be just gravel and more rocks and a few wild growing weeds, or talk to a landscaper who really knows the natural varieties of plants that might not need the additional amendments and that can thrive with much less maintenance. They can help you step through the process of designing a “xeriscape” which is creating a sophisticated and interesting landscape around your house with the natural environment in mind without giving up the beauty.
Did you know that digging up “wild plants” is a No-No here in Boulder? If you want the “wild” look consider planing native grasses or wildflower fields around your house. Some natural plants are considered “noxious” and spread like wildfire if you’re not careful, so please consult the Boulder County website before you plant.
Colorado Aspen
If you are reading this blog and it is fall in Boulder, here’s what you need to be thinking about for your yard:
1. Winter watering is very important especially if your garden faces south or west - because it gets more sun - and even though it gets cold here in the winter, the sun is still very bright and sometimes very warm.
2. Evaluate and plan for spring on how you would like to enhance or renovate your garden or landscaping next spring. Do some research on plants varieties that can improve your landscape while conserving water.
3. Clean existing beds and remove dead annuals to reduce habitat for overwintering pests but leave the perennials that provide food for the birds. If in doubt, don’t cut back.
4. Plant spring flowering bulbs and divide and transplant the old ones.
5. Clean out leaves and other debris.
6. October is a great month to aerate and fertilize your yard.
7. Don’t forget to clean, sharpen and oil your garden tools for next spring.
If you are thinking aboutcomposting to create your own organic matter for your garden be prepared for visitors like raccoons, foxes and possibly mountain lions or bears. Mule deer are everywhere, but they are not going to root through your compost.
Don’t forget about the birds! Planting a natural garden will also attract the local birds. For more information about the local birds that live in Boulder Colorado check out theWild Bird Center of Boulder.
My mom always said to me, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”. So my advice today is :”when in Boulder, do as the Boulderites do”, which means be more conservative with your water and try to think about landscaping in a more ecological natural way. If you remember where you are that will be easy. Happy Plantings!
Written by Karen Cifala | Discussion: 1 Comment »
Spooky Dead People Rise Again in Boulder Colorado
October 22nd, 2008 Categories: Boulder Subdivisions and Neighborhoods, Focus on Boulder
It’s that time of year again when Boulder Colorado’s “Meet the Spirit’s” event happens. It takes place at the historic Columbia Cemetery in downtown Boulder where local volunteers bring back to life colorful historic characters and city founders by presenting short biographical monologues. Dressed in full regalia complete with Victorian mourners, funeral music and vintage hearses. You won’t want to miss the reenactment of a solemn Masonic burial service. More than 30 Columbia spirits were brought back to life among them the well known bounty hunter, trapper, linguist and Indian scout Tom Horn.
Tom was hanged for killing a 15 year old boy he mistook for a cattle rustler November 20th 1903 at the age of 43. The controversy of his confession still is a point of contention for Wyoming, and his death symbolically marked the passing of the Old West.
The famous Joseph Sturtevant known as “Rocky Mountain Joe“, was found dead April 6, 1910 near the Interurban railroad tracks 5 miles north of Denver after being put off a railcard for having no money. Joe was the official photographer for Chautauqua and he acted as a guide and driver for groups of ladies who
“wished a short expedition by tally-ho” into the mountains. He also was a great story teller to children by thrilling them with Indian and mountain exploits.
Captain David Nichols came to Boulder in 1859 as a blacksmith. After being involved in the Mexican War, he was active in the Civil War and fought with Chivington at the Battle of Sand Creek where he was elected to the Colorado Legislative and became the Speaker of the House in 1873 and then appointed to the Board of Commissioner for the State Penitentiary in 1878. He later became a farmer and instrumental in getting the University to locate to Boulder. He was known for his famous ride from Denver to Boulder when he leaped on a horse and galloped to the State Legislature with the news that assured Boulder’s claim for the site. He died of heart trouble Dec 16, 1900.
Marinus Gilbert “Marine” Smith, born in 1819 and died Jan 11, 1901, cause of death unknown. After the Boulder flood of 1894 he was declared insane, fearing imaginary enemies, and taken to Pueblo Asylum. During his lifetime in Boulder he donated 25 acres for the University of Colorado to insure it was established here and he also sold 10 acres to Columbia Lodge #14 for the Columbia Cemetery. He became the first person to raise fruits and vegetables in the Boulder Colorado area and the first farmer to dig irrigation ditches.
The area of Martin Acres in South Boulder was originally owned by William “Billy” Martin. He was the discoverer of Caribou Mine, a silver mine. He sold his land at Caribou and 1876 and bought and developed a showcase farm SE of Boulder in 1872 which he expanded to 250 acres in 1879, which later was known as Martin Acres. Billy Martin died of heart disease Dec 1860.
One of the better know madams of Boulder in the late 1880’s and 1890’s, Mary Etta Kingsley, born Dec 1860 came to Boulder in 1882. Upon her death July 1902, there was quite a controversy over the distribution of her belongings: Real Estate (River Street, now known as Canyon St), gold necklace, earrings, breast pin, 17 bottles of beer, 4 cuspadors. Attorney Junius Berkley apparently thought one should not refer to her “profession” and he wrote the court that her “houses which had been used and occupied and known as houses of ________ situated in a part of the city of Boulder where some of the neighboring houses are used as houses of ________. Therefore it was necessary to have a caretaker to protect said property. According to the administrator, both dwellings are so circumstanced that it has been and will be practically impossible to let the same to desirable tenants.”
George Farrell Fonda was one of Boulder’s best athletes which was a pre-requisite for membership on a hose team. He became a member of the volunteer fire department at age 16 in 1874. He served in many directorship positions such as the Colorado Pharmaceutical Assoc., Boulder Milling and Elevator Co. and the First National Bank. He was chief of the fire department, a tuba player in the Boulder band, member of its hose-racing and baseball teams as well as a member of civic committees promoting street car lines, industry, hotels and many other areas meant to improve the city. His home which he built at 8th and Pine St (now known as the Historic Mapleton district) is one of the historic landmark homes still in use in Boulder City. He died Nov 1858 from Uremia and arterial sclerosis.
Eben G. Fine was a prominent business leader, conservationist, mountaineer, photographer and an avid promoter of Boulder City. Born Nov 1865, Mr. Fine moved to Boulder at the age of 21 to work as a pharmacist. He was an originator of Chautauqua in the late 1890’s and served on the board for more than 50 years. He was the first president of the Rocky Mountain Climbers Club, served as secretary of the Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in building the Hotel Boulderado which opened New Years Eve 1909. He served on the semi-centennial board committee in 1909 and invited 16 Ute Indians to participate as “Boulder’s First Citizens”. Eben Fine Park as we know it today began as an “auto park” where visitors to Boulder could stop and camp. After his death in April 1957 from “falling out of a window on his head” the park was dedicated to his memory in 1959.
Pioneer and financier Andrew J. Macky was known as Boulder’s “richest citizen” and was highly esteemed. Born Nov 1834, he came to Colorado’s gold fields in 1858. During his profession of being a carpenter, he built the first frame house in Boulder at 14th and Pearl in 1860. He owned the first brick building in Boulder at 12th and Pearl. He organized the first National Bank and became it’s president in 1877. He bought the first car here in 1902. He left $300,000-$400,000 to the University of Colorado for an auditorium or main building and $50,000 for the windows and orphans home - and you wonder why the University of Colorado named their auditorium after him - Macky Auditorium.
One of the most recognized headstones in the cemetery is for Paula Barchilin who died from pneumonia at the age of 2 in May of 1964. Her parents made her tombstone out of fiberglass to represent a lollipop. Legend has is that she died from a lollipop stuck in her throat, but I think that’s just what they tell the school children when they take them on a field trip!
Eccentric felon, Ellen Deardoff was known for her bad behavior and her body is buried in a plot of anatomical parts from the University of Colorado’s med school.
Boarded on the north by Pleasant St, on the East by 9th St., to the south; College St., and to the west 8th St., Columbia Cemetery’s (also known as Pioneer Park, Masonic, Old, Boulder and City Cemetery) 10.5 acres was purchased by the Columbia Lodge #14 (Ancient Free and Accepted Masons) from one of their members after they had determined that Boulder really needed a cemetery. It’s first burial was Anna Eggleston who died on May 16, 1870. In December of 1870, the Masons sold 1/4th of the cemetery to Boulder Lodge #9 (Independent Order of Odd Fellows). After realizing financial difficulties the City of Boulder took over the ownership in 1966. Since then it’ s been managed by the Boulder Parks and Recreation. The city approved a landmark designation for the cemetery in 1977 and Historic Boulder spearheaded an effort to be good stewards of this historic cemetery which includes walking tours and the biennial “Meet the Spirits” costumed event to educate the public.
Today the Columbia Cemetery is a historic, cultural and artistic resource for Boulder in the historic University Hill neighborhood. There are aprox. 6500 persons buried in Columbia Cemetery with generally less than 5 burials a year. There are over 700 persons who are believed to be buried in Columbia but their specific burial location in the Cemetery is still unknown. It is a favorite strolling place to people to enjoy the quiet serentiy and to visit the “living dead”.
Written by Karen Cifala | Discussion: 1 Comment »
Boulder Colorado Gets Artsy!
October 19th, 2008 Categories: Boulder Subdivisions and Neighborhoods, Colorado Round Up, Focus on Boulder
Ever heard of Open Studios in Boulder Colorado? It is a collaboration of private studios in various neighborhoods that welcome anyone to view their creations of art. Many of the artists have studios in their homes and last weekend, they opened their studios to the public. Perhaps you saw the Open Studio signs as you were driving around north or south Boulder. This was a fun activity to do with the family and friends and many of the studios were in my neighborhood – Dakota Ridge Village and Wonderland Lake. How convenient! This only happens once a year so if you missed it, I’ll summarize the event for you. And look forward to next year when you can see for yourself.
The annual Boulder Open Studios Tour gives people a chance to see some of the amazing things local artists can do with horsehair and garbage, not to mention wood, metal, paint and photographic techniques. 
But behind the art is a production you aren’t likely to notice as you stroll through an artist’s workspace. Originating in 1995, the preparation for this takes the whole year. Because Open Studiosis a juried event, the artists must submit samples of their work to a panel of judges before being asked to join the tour. Each year, 20 or so applicants don’t make the cut. The multi-page electronic application process can be daunting, and there’s no guarantee that being part of the Boulder County tour will boost an artist’s sales enough to justify sprucing up the studio and manning it through two consecutive weekends.
So why do well over 100 Boulder artists participate every year? Some artists state that they earn a large percentage of their annual commission from this event and gain customers that come back during the year. Jerry Wingren, a sculptor in wood and stone, seldom makes any sales from Open Studios, but finds it worthwhile for other reasons. “For me, one of the real pleasures of participating is when you get people who are genuinely interested in the process—in how the art comes together, the concept behind a piece.” Some of the artists actually demonstrate how a piece comes together. 
It’s very hands-on and a great learning experience.
In 2006, the guestbook was 73,000 people who came through!
The best way to support the organization is to buy the Guidebook for $15.95, but you can pretty much do without it if you drive around and look for the signs –balloons attached. Full Cycle bike shop, even offers a guide for riding your bike to each studio –after all, this is Boulder. And, the guidebook highlights family-friendly studios, those that are handicapped-accessible and ones along bike paths. Art is a vital contribution to our community in Boulder Colorado. Don’t forget to take the tour next year, the second weekend in October. See you there!
Written by Julie Johnson | Discussion: No Comments »
Mork from Ork?
October 14th, 2008 Categories: Boulder Subdivisions and Neighborhoods, Colorado Round Up, Focus on Boulder, Real Estate Tales
Who is that couple? Look familiar, yes, a young Robin Williams and is tv co-star Pam Dawber.
Stroll down Pine Street in Boulder, Colorado and you will stumble on the “Mork & Mindy” house. In the late 1970’s, “Mork & Mindy” was a fairly popular tv show, where Mork, Robin Williams, was sent to Earth to study our culture since Orkans didn’t have any. Boulder is a good place for that!
The Mork & Mindy show launched the careers of Robin Williams and his co-star Pam Dawber. Miss Dawber played “Mindy”, a college student at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Many exterior scenes were also filmed in and around Boulder, Colorado, for t
he opening and closing credits, and some other shots , such as an exterior of Mindy’s apartment house, the downtown Boulder Mall on Pearl St. where Mindy’s father owned a record store, and the campus of CU itself.
This house is currently a private residence. The residents are used to the attention so please respect their privacy.
Okay, now for a bit of trivia; did Mork marry Mindy and honeymoon on Ork? Did they have a 225 lb baby, played by? And why was the baby 225 lbs?
I often drive relocating buyers down Pine Street in Boulder to see if they recognize the home. Care to comment?
”Nanoo, Nanoo”
Written by Ro Troia | Discussion: 1 Comment »
The Boulder Tour Of Solar And Green Homes
October 12th, 2008 Categories: Boulder Subdivisions and Neighborhoods, Buyer's Corner, Focus on Boulder, Selling Thoughts, Trends
Last week, was the Boulder Tour of Solar and Green Homes and I was reminded of how lucky I am to live in Boulder Colorado. Where else can you tour green built or re-modeled homes all in one day - I was in heaven! You never would have found something like this in the town I grew up in. The morning of the event, I went downtown to register and pay the reasonable $10 fee, then I walked along the vendors booths checking out the eco-friendly companies of Boulder. As a real estate agent, I found great resources for my clients before I even left for the tour. Click here to get an overview of what I learned.
Hosted by the Center for ReSource Conservation, the Tour of Homes ranged from newly-built and remodeled net-zero-energy homes to a community that collectively financed 32 of 40 homes with solar, and a 1902 home originally designated the most inefficient home in Colorado, which was remodeled to be 28% more efficient than a new home built to code in the city of Boulder. 
One of my favorites was the Home Energy Makeover House because it demonstrates how to turn an older home into a more energy efficient one. Many homes in Boulder are older and this home is a great example of what we can do. Some of their makeover included energy efficient window replacement, duct cleanings, natural shading, ceiling and wall insulation, and a high-energy tankless water heater.
Another great home on the tour was the Garland Tree House which was a extensive remodel from the 1960 ranch it once was. Following the USGBC LEED for Homes program, they installed active and passive solar, widening of walls to incorporate installation, and a heat recovery ventilator with an air filter to provide fresh air during the winter.
Ever heard of a retrofit? If homes were retrofitted to consume net zero energy, greenhouse gas emission would be greatly reduced. The Zero-Energy Retrofit was part of the tour and after an Energy Audit, they decided to install a flat-plate solar collector for domestic water heating with tankless high-efficiency electric boiler for backup. By replacing the domestic hot water, the home’s energy consumption reduced. Get this - to cover costs, Sean Geiger received a “green” home equity loan which covered most upfront purchases!
The Boulder Tour of Solar and Green Homes was just a small part of Solar Week, which was sponsored by Lighthouse Solar and Astralux. Solar Week also included a week full of workshops including Home Energy Improvements Made Easy, which my husband attended. So, this weekend he is busy weatherizing our home. Adding insulation around exposed pipes, sealing holes, and caulking around our windows are just a few of the helpful ideas he got from the workshop. I’m hopeful that this will help reduce our energy bill during the winter.
Buyers, builders, sellers, real estate agents, and environmentalists all could learn something during Boulder Solar Week and the Tour of Solar and Green Homes. Boulder is indeed a progressive town and I feel proud of my earth conscientious community. Luckily, Boulder isn’t the only community involved in the American Solar Energy Society’s National Tour of Solar Homes. It is one out of 422 communities in 44 states that participate. Check out one near you and be a part of this vital, global movement.
Written by Julie Johnson | Discussion: 1 Comment »
Boulder Colorado always ahead of the curve
October 8th, 2008 Categories: Boulder Subdivisions and Neighborhoods, Focus on Boulder
Whether you are a worldwide athlete training for your next marathon, or you’ve decided to save on gas and ride your bicycle to work or run down to the grocery store, you will feel right at home in Boulder Colorado. Everyday you see people riding to work in work clothes and dresses, all decked out with baskets on the front and trailers on the back. Families ride together on tandem bikes or with infants tagging along in attached bicycle trailers. As a driver, you must be very alert and always look twice before making a turn. I myself have spent many Sundays riding my bike around to Open Houses.
Boulder Colorado’s street bikeways are an intregal part of the Boulder Transporation system. The Boulder County Transporation Department adds shoulders for bike use to all roads receiving a pavement overlay if that road has historically experienced significent bike use in the past. In additon to their aproximate $3 million transporation budget for their roadways, their imporvements and additions of on-street bikeways is made possible by taxes specifcally approved by the voters to specifically improve alternative methods. Just recently Boulder County won a grant of $150,000 received in the state lottery to connect Boulder to Superior (a neighborhood south of Boulder off of Rt.36). The finalization of the Marshall-Superior-Coalton Trail system will connect the city of Boulder to the town of Superior, adding 1.5 miles of natural-surfaced trail extending from Boulder’s Cowdrey Draw Trail on the northwest to Superior’s Mayhoffer/Singletree Trail at the southeast.
OK, we all know the bicycling is healthy for you, which is so Boulder, but you actually can get somewhere in Boulder faster by riding your bike. If the cars make you nervous (they always make me nervous and for good reasons too! ) you can ride any of the paved mulit-use paths such as the beautiful Boulder Creek Path that runs East to West and follows the middle Boulder Creek from Fourmile Canyon on the western end to Arapahoe Rd. near Cherryvale Rd. on the east just past Flatirons Golf Course.
Bear Creek Trail runs Southwest to Northeast and follows Bear Creek from CU Research Park (Foothills and Colorado Ave.) to the corner of Table Mese Dr and Broadway.
All the trails have links to other paths and city parks. The Broadway Boogie Trail which travels North-South follows Broadway from Greenbriar Blvd in the south to its connection with Boulder Creek Path near Boulder High School (Arapahoe and 17th) which gives you access to the areas of Table Mesa, CU, The Hill and downtown Boulder.
A great commuter path called Centennial Trail that goes East-West connects CU to the intersection of Baseline and Cherryvale with a branch that leads off of Foothills Parkway north to Jay Road where it hits the Cottonwood Trail.
Boulder Colorado also has awesome off road trails (unpaved) to ride, although, all cyclists must yield to hikers and equestrians and stay on the established trails marked with the international bike symbol. All Boulder Mountain Park trails are closed to cyclists. Please visit the Boulder County Open Space and Mountain Parks website: www.ci.boulder.co.us/openspace for more information on these trails.
And if you get too tired, you can always get back on the bus because they all carry bike racks on the front of the buses.
Written by Karen Cifala | Discussion: No Comments »
HOA’s… The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly!!
October 7th, 2008 Categories: Boulder Subdivisions and Neighborhoods, Buyer's Corner, Colorado Round Up, First Time Buyers, Real Estate Tales, Relocating
Where do you even begin when talking about Home Owners Associations? I have been wanting to write something about them for quite some time now, but where to start? And, do I really want to write a novel about HOA’s? I could. I have a lot to say about them, both good and bad. There was an article that came up earlier this week, which made me decide it was time to say something NOW!
There is a couple in Longmont, Colorado who is suing their HOA for being to relaxed with their rules. Generally, when you see lawsuits against home owners associations, they are due to the HOA’s over-bearance and strict enforcement of the rules. This time, the couple is suing Hammersmith Management Inc. for not enforcing the bylaws, which in my experience is never an issue. I have dealt with Hammersmith on multiple occasions in multiple subdivisions, between Denver and Longmont. I have never know them to be “lax” about anything. Quite the
contrary, actually.
They came down hard on one of our listings, in the same subdivision last year, which was vacant. Nobody was watering the yard, because the water was turned off, and they fined the seller a lot of money. The seller was a bank and didn’t care, but Hammersmith was calling and posting letters nonstop, upping the fine every week or so.
This couple in Starwood at Fox Meadow says that the home values are declining due to the associations failure to enforce their guidelines, as far as keeping up with the aesthetic value of the neighborhood. Longmont has seen some tough times over the past several years, as far as real estate values are concerned. So, not only have values dropped significantly over the years, but the HOA’s are having a tough time. A lot of foreclosures have flooded Longmonts’ subdivisions, which makes it hard for HOA’s to remain financially stable. The bank does not care about how many times they get fined or what the yards look like. They usually negotiate any lien’s with the HOA management companies, which really hurts the HOA’s reserves and makes upkeep of the common areas hard to pay for.
This couple says their home’s value has been reduced by over $200,000, because of Hammersmith’s failure to enforce the rules. Their home is currently listed for sale, and with so many homes surrounding them, many are new construction, they are having a difficult time selling. Most of the time, developers do not landscape the yards which affects the aesthetic value of the neighborhood and can drive prices down in an area where new construction is not selling. Builders will usually offer some credit for the buyer to do what they want with the yard and with these million-dollar homes not selling, many yards are left as just graded dirt until the buyers move in. In the case of foreclosures, the banks will almost never do anything to maintain the yards.
With HOA’s, you can almost always count on them being very strict. If you are going to buy a home with an HOA, I would go to one of their meetings before closing on the home, so you can see who is running them. The board members will dictate how the HOA is governed and some are lax and some are the extreme opposite. so much so, that you will get a fine if you don’t bring your garbage can in, instantly after trash pick-up. Or, if you have an ugly car in the driveway, they could give you a fine. Some are very tough. I have seen some very harsh HOA’s and I know if I am ever thinking of buying any property that has a homeowners association, I will most certainly do my research.
I guess now, not only do you have to worry about the tough laws of the HOA, but the strength of the HOA and the number of foreclosures and vacancies in your subdivision. Especially if you think you might want to sell at some point. Foreclosed property can definitely hurt the aesthetics of a neighborhood. I am seeing it all up and down the front range of Colorado; subdivisions that have been ripped apart due to foreclosures, or builders running out of funding, or HOA’s that can no longer pay for upkeep of the common amenities due to lack of reserves. Do your research. Read the HOA documents very carefully before you decide whether or not you actually want to close on the new home in the new subdivision. Just do what we in the real estate business like to call “Your Due Diligence”. It will save you from a lot of trouble and money and potential lawsuits.
Written by Brody Stinson | Discussion: 3 Comments »
