BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is a Mid-Century Home with Puget Sound views from both floors in the Three Tree Point area above Maplewild.

Imagine a home where you can relax and enjoy the view from nearly every room in the house as well as the deck. The carport offers storage above and at the end; plus there is a basement shop.

Here are the details:

WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, March 14th, from 1pm to 4pm.

WHERE: 2923 SW 164th Place • Burien 98166

INFO:

• List Price: $499,000
• Listing#: 19432
• Beds: 3
• Baths: 1.75
• Fireplaces: 2
• Year Built: 1952
• 2 Carport-Attached
• Approximate House SqFt: 2,190
• Lot Square Footage: 14,625

Interior Features:

• Dining Room
• Security System

Site Features:

• Cable TV
• Deck
• Fenced-Partially
• Shop

Marketing Remarks:

View, View, View!

Puget Sound with Ferry Crossing viewed from both floors of this Mid-centry home in the Three Tree Point area above Maplewild!

Imagine a home where you can relax and enjoy the view from nearly every room in the house as well as the deck!

Original owners built this house to take advantage of location & private seclusion.

The carport offers storage above & at the end, plus there is a basement shop.

Now is your opportunity to own this view & update the house to your liking!

DIRECTIONS:

• From Maplewild go east on 29th SW.
• At Y (164th Pl) go Right follow road up & to the left.
• Second house on left.
• To leave-back out of driveway & continue north to complete loop you started.

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.

The League of Women Voters of King County South will be hodling a public forum entitled “Clarifying Landlord/Tenant Issues” on Tuesday, March 16th beginning at 7pm at the Highline ERAC Center, located at 15697 Ambaum Blvd. SW.

This will be a great opportunity for those who have questions about landlords, tenants, property rights and more.

Here are the details:

WHAT: League of Women Voters “Clarifying Landlord/Tenant Issues” forum

WHEN: Tuesday, March 16th beginning at 7pm

WHERE: Highline ERAC, 15697 Ambaum Blvd SW,  Burien, WA (across from Azteca).

INFO: The forum will be preceded by a dessert social at 6:45 pm.

The panelists include a landlord specialist, tenant specialist, dispute resolution specialist and a lawyer dealing with these issues.

BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is an “extremely clean 3 bedroom, 2 full (all new) bath rambler” located near the beach in Hurstwood and priced at $376,950.

This home features newly-refinished hardwoods, new tile in the kitchen and family room, new interior paint, and a 2-car garage with huge attic storage.

Here are the details:

WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, March 7th, from 1pm to 4pm.

WHERE: 13843 17th Ave SW • Burien 98166

INFO:

• List Price: $376,950
• Listing#: 32089
• Beds: 3
• Baths: 2
• Fireplaces: 1
• Year Built: 1966
• 2 Garage-Attached
• Approximate House SqFt: 1,420
• Lot Square Footage: 16,000

Interior Features:

• Bath Off Master
• Dble Pane/Strm Windw

Site Features:

• Cable TV
• Fenced-Partially
• Patio

Marketing Remarks:

Extremely clean 3 bdrm, 2 full (all new) bath rambler.

Newly refinished hardwoods and new tile in kitchen and family rm.

New interior paint. 2 car gar. w/huge attic storage.

Sought after Hurstwood-near the beach.

Get in this one! Furniture negotiable if interested..

Directions:

• Ambaum Blvd. to SW 144th St.
• West to 13th SW.
• Right to stop sign.
• Turn Right then immediate left to 13843 17th SW.

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.

by Lori A. Alden
Prudential Northwest Realty

Thinking about investing in Burien? Now is the Time!

Turn on any financial news program and at some point you’ll hear the experts extolling the virtues of diversification. Real estate, even through the market downturn, has long been considered a conservative, long-term strategy to growing wealth.

In fact, that very downturn has created a historic buying opportunity for potential homebuyers and investors alike. The combination of lower home prices across the Burien and Southwest King County areas and historically low mortgage rates, two essential factors that usually don’t trend in the same direction, have triggered a buyer’s market in many areas of the county. For real estate investors who want to rent their properties, this can make the difference in achieving positive cash flow sooner or right off the bat.

While some seasoned real estate investors make it look easy, to be successful, beginners should follow some basic principles.

Learn all you can. Before committing your cash, you should have a fundamental understanding of real estate. For example, be aware that, in general, investment properties are not liquid investments. Barring exceptional circumstances, real estate does not sell at a moment’s notice. It could take days or months to sell a property, depending on the strength of the market in a particular region.

Consider cash flow. You’ll need to have enough capital on hand to cover any short-term losses due to vacancies between tenants.

Start small. Look into buying a condominium, single-family home or a duplex. Leave large apartment buildings and commercial properties to the pros.
Inquire at the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce about companies relocating into or out of the area. Company movement is one indicator of demand for rental and/or office space.

Find a property that will be in demand. Look for a moderately priced home with three or four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a garage that sits on a quiet street.

Research the property. The most common way first-time investors lose is by failing to investigate a property thoroughly. Look beyond the front door. Investigate the reputation of the school district, the crime rate, and plans for expanding a nearby highway or developing vacant land. Ask a local Prudential Northwest real estate professional about the area, its history, and how fast (or slow) properties are moving.

Inspect the home you’re considering for signs of water damage, such as stains on the ceiling and crinkling or gathering wallpaper; open and close every door and window; and check all electrical sockets by plugging in an appliance. Get an independent home inspection, roof inspection and termite inspection. Unexpected repair costs can eat away your cash flow. Because even the best inspection can’t always predict problems, try to set aside some of the rental income for unexpected repairs.

Spend time driving the streets of the neighborhood noting the condition of other properties. Are lawns maintained? Are roofs in good shape? Are homes kept up?

Be ready to make fixes quickly and respond to the renter’s needs. If you’re not prepared to be a hands-on landlord, consider hiring a property management firm.

See your tax advisor for related planning and laws that can affect your investment decisions.

Remember, investing in a property is much different than living in one, and while emotion and attachment can be prime motivators when it comes to homes, it is return on investment that counts when investing in real estate.

Lori A. Alden can be reached at 206-244-6400, or via email at lorialden@PNWRealty.com.

Prudential Northwest Realty is an independently owned and operated member of The Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity. They’re also a proud sponsor of The B-Town Blog’s Real Estate section.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is a “beautifully restored 1.5 story home, with 3-bedrooms and 1.5-bath home right in the heart of Burien” priced at an affordable $269,999.

This home features an Island kitchen with newer appliances, laminate wood flooring and lots of cupboard space.

Here are the details:

WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, Feb. 28th, from 1pm to 4pm.

WHERE: 119 SW 130th Street • Burien 98146

INFO:

• List Price: $269,999
• Listing#: 27215
• Beds: 3
• Baths: 1.5
• Fireplaces: 1
• Year Built: 1961
• 1 Garage-Attached
• Approximate House SqFt: 2,060
• Lot Square Footage: 7,478

Interior Features:

• Dining Room
• Dble Pane/Strm Windw
• High Tech Cabling,
• Skylights

Site Features:

• Fenced-Fully
• Nat. Gas Available
• RV Parking

Marketing Remarks:

Beautifully restored 1.5 story home, in the heart of Burien.

This home features an Island kitchen with newer appliances, laminate wood flooring and lots of cupboard space.

The living room has large picture windows, wall to wall carpeting and a fireplace.

Newly painted exterior, the roof is only about 5 years old and newer vinyl windows and water heater.

Do not miss out on this turnkey home.

Directions:

• From 1st Avenue South turn West onto 130th
• Home is on the left.

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.

BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is a “Wonderful Rambler looking for new owners” priced at an affordable $274,950.

This is a 3-bedroom, 1-bath home built in 1954 with some recent renovations. It is located in the Gregory Heights neighborhood of Burien.

Here are the details:

WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, Feb. 22nd, from 1pm to 4pm.

WHERE: 16012 10th Ave SW • Burien • 98166

INFO:

• List Price: $274,950
• Listing#: 23869
• Beds: 3
• Baths: 1
• Fireplaces: 1
• Year Built: 1954
• 1 Garage-Attached
• Approximate House SqFt: 1,080
• Lot Square Footage: 7,620

Interior Features:

• Ceiling Fan(s)

Site Features:

• Cable TV
• Fenced-Partially
• Nat. Gas Available
• Outbuildings

Marketing Remarks:

Wonderful rambler looking for new owners.

Kitchen features custom cabinets, new granite countertops & deep stainless sink.

Remodeled ceramic bath, wood burning fireplace, hardwood floors & wood wrapped windows.

1-car garage with tons of extra storage, private yard & Cascade Mtn view.

One Year Home Warranty.

You won’t be disappointed, call me or your Realtor before it’s gone.

Directions:

• From First Ave South, go west on SW 160th, then South on 10th Ave SW.
• Home is on the left(east) side of street.

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.

BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is a one-of-a-kind, classic and chic Seahurst sound view home priced at $449,000.

Here are the details

WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, Feb. 14th, from 1pm to 4pm

WHERE: 15434 22nd Ave SW • Burien • 98166

INFO:

• List Price: $449,000
• Listing#: 10823
• Beds: 3
• Baths: 1.50
• Fireplaces: 1
• Year Built: 1926
• Approximate House SqFt: 1,720
• Lot Square Footage: 7,847

Interior Features:

• Bath Off Master
• Dining Room
• Dble Pane/Strm Windw
• French Doors
• Skylights
• Vaulted Ceilings

Site Features:

• Cable TV
• Deck
• Fenced-Partially
• Outbuildings
• Sprinkler Syste

Marketing Remarks:

Classy, Chic & Charming, this one-of-a-kind sound view home is located on a quiet street in the desirable Seahurst neighborhood.

This home features an absolutely stunning remodeled master bedroom/bath suite that looks out on an exquisite sound and mountain view from its huge sunfilled windows.

The newly remodeled entertainment deck is fabulous for those sunny day barbeques or relaxing with your morning coffee.

This home has amazing street appeal.

Directions: From 1st Avenue South, head West on SW 152nd, then South on 22nd Ave. SW. Home is on the left.
Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses

BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is a newly-remodeled 4-bedroom house in Burien priced at $359,950.

Here are the details

WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, Feb. 7th, from 1pm to 4pm

WHERE: 16409 8th Ave SW in Burien

INFO:

• List Price: $359,950
• Listing#: 29107117
• Beds 4
• Baths 2.00
• Fireplaces 2
• Year Built 1963

Interior Features:

• Bath Off Master
• Ceiling Fan(s)
• French Doors
• Security System

Site Features:

• Cable TV
• Fenced-Fully
• High Speed Internet
• Nat. Gas Available

Marketing Remarks: This home has been newly remodeled, it features 4bdrms, 2.5bths, 2fplcs, hardwood flrs, custom cabinetry, 2007 construction grade metal roof and 2460sqft.

It has a panoramic view of the Olympics and the airport.

Just minutes to downtown and close to schools and the hospital.

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.

Our new Real Estate sponsor Prudential Northwest Featured Open House this week is for a gorgeous house on Lake Burien

Sunday, Jan. 31st from 1pm to 4pm:

1804 SW 156th Street
Burien, WA 98166

• List Price: $750,000
• MLS Number: 29064725
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms:3.50
• Approximate House SqFt: 2,980
• Lot Square Footage: 15,240
• Year Built: 1949



• Gorgeous grounds & pretty home in a super convenient location.
• Close to shops, restaurants of Olde Burien, St.Francis private school, Eagle Landing Park & the Seahurst community beach.
• This unique property has many exceptional spaces including the almost impossible to find level backyard of Waterfront.
• Every detail remains inviting & open while still allowing 4 estate & privacy.
• Home features 4 bed, 3.5 bath have plenty of closet space to keep things spacious & spotless.
• Cottage w/1bed,1bath,& kit.
• Parking Type: Carport-Detached

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.

“Once you’re pre-approved (to buy a home) you’re armed and dangerous,” says Mark Denniston, Senior Loan Consultant at new B-Town Blog Advertiser Northwest Mortgage Alliance LLC. “Pre-approval is as easy as a phone call or email. I will let the buyer know in a very short time,” he added.

You can reach Mark at 206-932-1500, or email him at mdenniston@nwmortgagealliance.com.

Mark feels that there is no better time than now to buy a home.

“With interests rates as low as 5%, home prices at the bottom, and the government tax credit for first time and current homebuyers extended through April, there’s no better time than now to buy a home,” stated Mark.

The First Time Homebuyers credit is up to $8,000 and expires April 30, with closing by June 30. The Current Home Owners credit is up $6,500 with the same expiration and closing.

Northwest Mortgage Alliance (NWMA) has been a trusted leader in home loans in the Northwest since 1998. Mark has been a trusted loan officer with several companies throughout his nearly 40 year career in first the real estate business, and then the mortgage loan industry. Half of his career in mortgages have been spent right here in Burien.

As a mortgage loan consultant for so many years, Mark has learned that counciling prospective buyers on the ins and outs of home buying and ownership is the best way to earn trust and business. He has counseled thousands of buyers over his career. While BTB was interviewing Mark, he had a person call in that had used his services as a mortgage broker 10 years ago. She was downsizing, and called Mark before she even started house-hunting. His council was needed for this customer to start the process.

Knowledge, expertise and council is what Mark brings to customers who choose to finance their biggest purchase of their lives–their home–with Northwest Mortgage Alliance and Mark Denniston.

NWMA has nine offices throughout the Puget Sound, with one right here in Burien at 127 Southwest 156th Street, Suite 100.

So if you’re in the market for a home, be sure and give Mark a call at (206) 932-1500 for that pre-approval before you start looking at houses. He’ll get you pre-approved in minutes, and at no charge, so you can hit the streets, as Mark puts it “armed and dangerous.”

Visit their website here, or call Mark directly at (206) 932-1500.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

Today marks a big day in the just over two-year life (so far) of The B-Town Blog, as we’re proud to introduce our newest section and Advertiser: Real Estate Powered by Prudential Northwest!

This means that you can now access all local real estate listings by clicking on “Real Estate” in the upper navigation menu section between Advertise and Events. We’re happy to be working with the Burien-based Prudential Northwest office, and the entire company consists of six offices throughout the Greater Seattle area.

Techie-types at both PNW and BTB have been working ’round the clock to develop the innovative new “Zero Click House Finding Engine” for real estate listings in the Burien and South Seattle areas. Users will be able to quickly and easily see all of the area’s latest home listings, view by neighborhoods, see open house maps and more just by clicking on “Real Estate” in our top navigation menu. The real estate section will also be available soon on sister sites The Waterland Blog (Des Moines),  The White Center Blog, and soon The Normandy Park Blog.

“To search on a real estate site we wanted to make it easy to use so that every level of user can find what they are looking for,” said PNW Sales Manager Bradley Hawthorne. “Just by clicking on ‘Real Estate,’ you’ll instantly have every listing in all of Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines without having to do anything, hence the ‘Zero Click’ technology moniker.”

Want some real proof? Just click on one of the five areas below and see for yourself:

• South Seattle
• Burien
• Des Moines
• SeaTac
• Tukwila

If you click on any of those five areas, on that page is every listing for that area – and not just Prudential Northwest Realty listings – but everything that is inputted into the Northwest Multiple Listing Services website! Within those five major pages you’ll also find several communities and if you click on a community again just the listings in those communities will be shown without you having to input any search criteria (of course PNW’s standard and advanced searches are still available for the techie searchers, so you can tailor our search site to any criteria that you personally want), but for those of us that need a little help when surfing the web, “This is the simplest sight I have ever seen!”

Hawthorne adds: “Tying into these fast-growing community websites will not only help us showcase the latest listings for these areas, it will also help us serve our communities better. We all love the Southwest King County area and we hope we can help others find out what a hidden gem it is.”

PNW has been a community player since they first set foot in Burien seven years ago. With 56 active Realtors, they outgrew their first location in Olde Burien and they’re now located at 127 SW 156th Street. Broker/Branch Manager Lori Alden-Pense has been managing PNW Burien since they moved here; she’s been with them since 1994.

“It is PNW’s mission to help build a better tomorrow by partnering with our communities today,” Lori said.

She talks the talk and walks the walk when it comes to PNW’s mission of giving back to the community.

Not only is Lori President of the Discover Burien Executive Board, you’ll find PNW sponsoring all of the events that Discover Burien brings to our community including the Farmers Market, Clean Sweep, the Father’s Day Car Show, Lunch-time Concerts (New!), Octoberfest, Winterfest and Empty Bowls.

For the past six years, PNW has held an annual food drive benefiting the Highline Area Food Bank on the first Saturday of October. They are currently hosting a three-month food bank drive at their office, and you can drop by non-perishable food items or money now through March.

Owned by long-time and well known real estate professional Mike Gain, Prudential Northwest Realty Associates has established itself as an industry leader by upholding the principles of the agent-customer relationship. Their combination of real estate expertise and responsive, flexible customer relations has allowed them to continue to grow and become one of the most influential real estate companies within the greater Puget Sound region. Constantly looking for ways to improve their company, PNW remains committed to the very highest standards of professionalism and service. More info is available at http://www.pnwrealty.com.

Prudential Northwest realty has a total of 450 real estate agents in their neighborhood offices, which, in addition to Burien includes Federal Way, Kent, West Seattle, Bellevue and Kirkland.

“We’re very excited to have Prudential Northwest Realty as our newest Advertiser,” said Scott Schaefer, B-Town Blog Founder/Publisher. “This brand new sponsored section will help inform the more than 55,000 monthly Readers of The B-Town Blog, Waterland Blog (Des Moines) and White Center Blog for the latest local news, events, arts, entertainment and now – up-to-the-minute local real estate listings.”

Be sure to stay tuned for another new related feature – “Open House Friday” on our blogs, where we’ll present the weekend’s best Open Houses throughout our coverage area, among other real estate related features.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

The B-Town Blog proudly welcomes back Advertiser Ventana Construction, who wants you to know that with this being a New Year, they’ve got a New Look and Better Pricing.

They’re also holding a special free event: “Building a Better Home: Remodeling and Custom Home Workshop” on Thursday, Jan 14th at 6pm.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Ventana Construction’s “Building a Better Home: Remodeling and Custom Home Workshop”

WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 14th beginning at 6pm

WHERE: Ventana Construction offices, located at 5458 California Ave SW, in West Seattle (98136).

INFO: Ventana says:

“If you are a homeowner considering remodeling your home or building a new custom home, this workshop is an invaluable first step in the process.

Learn from experienced professionals about how to get started, what to expect, and the steps you can take to make your project successful.

This 1 ½ hour workshop is open to the public and seating is limited.

Call 206-932-3009 to reserve your space.”

For more info, visit Ventana Construction’s website here, or call 206-932-3009.

Here’s what they have to say about their new pricing:

New Year, New Look, Better Pricing!

You may have been thinking for a while about remodeling your home—kitchen, bath, new windows or siding, maybe even an addition or dormer. It turns out that 2010 is a great time to do those projects and more.  With lower prices from subcontractors and many material suppliers motivated to provide better pricing, it’s possible to complete high-quality projects with a trusted company like Ventana Construction for less than was possible in the last five years.

Adding to the cost savings, some building materials, like select windows, doors, insulation, and heating equipment, are eligible for a limited-time Federal Tax Credit, up to $1500. The materials have to be installed in 2010 to be eligible.   There’s an even greater credit available for renewable energy products like solar.

Ventana Construction is an award-winning, full-service custom home and remodeling contractor.  We are a family-owned business specializing in whole-house remodels and additions, with a focus on seamlessly blending the new areas with the existing home.  We also do total facelifts on kitchens, baths and basements and build spectacular outdoor gathering places.

We are members of the Better Business Bureau, the Master Builder’s Association, the National Association of Home Builders and the Built Green program.  We are donors to local non-profits and schools, and especially to Westside Baby, which provides essentials to local children in need.

Ventana Construction also offers a monthly workshop in our West Seattle office about the remodeling process.  The Building a Better Home Workshop is held in conjunction with Goforth-Gill Architects and covers a broad range of information for those considering a project for their home.  Our next workshop is January 14 at 6pm—please call to reserve your space.

To help ring in the New Year, Ventana Construction is offering a limited-time 25% discount off our regular markup on projects signed before March 31, 2010.   That discount amounts to thousands of dollars on an average-size project and is an offer not likely to be repeated.

Follow the B-Town Blog link to find us, or call 206-932-3009 to talk with us about what you have in mind for your home in the New Year.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

The B-Town Blog would like to welcome its latest Advertiser: David Frasch, Associate Broker for Coldwell Banker Danforth & Associates, Inc!

David Frasch doesn’t like to wait, and he doesn’t think you should either. He believes his most important mission as your representative is to communicate promptly. Whether it is by phone, email or text you can almost always expect him to answer or reply immediately. If he can’t get to his iPhone when you call, he’ll get back to you as soon as he can.

His clients, friends and neighbors are always calling around newsletter time! David’s newsletter, “Service for Life” is the most passed-around newsletter in town. It is filled with compelling articles, amazing trivia, brain teasers, humor, and consumer information you’ll want to know. Every month people clamor to be the first to answer the trivia question to get the prize! What will it be this month? For your copy of “Service for Life” give David a call at (206) 226-0565 or email him at davidfrasch@msn.com. Maybe you’ll be the winner!

David enjoys real estate and helping people get what they want. His clients say some of the things they like best about David are that he is easy to work with and he cares about their peace of mind. David has been a full time real estate agent since 2000 and has handled almost every type of residential real estate transaction. He knows his clients deserve the very best in confidential, personal, and professional quality service. If you have any real estate questions please don’t hesitate to call David – he is always ready and willing to help out in any way he can.

Be sure to visit his website:

• http://davidfrasch.com

…and become his Facebook friend:

• http://www.new.facebook.com/frasch

…and Facebook fan:

• http://www.facebook.com/pages/Burien-WA/David-Frasch-Coldwell-Banker-Danforth-Associates-Inc/53757468002

Or call him at (206) 226-0565 or via email at davidfrasch@msn.com.

Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, event listing and/or Ad like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 40,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

by Ralph Nichols

With only five of the 124 condominiums at Town Square sold to date, more than five months after the grand opening of this complex in June, prospective buyers and those anticipating future downtown development in Burien wonder if condo prices might be lowered.

This question has been raised in the weeks since Chicago-based Corus Bank – the construction lender for Urban Partners, the private developer of the condo/retail complex in Town Square – was seized by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) on Sept. 11.

Corus Bank’s deposits were sold, then the FDIC conducted a private auction for the remaining assets. Now Starwood Capital Group, TPG Capital, Perry Capital and WLR LaFrak have acquired an equity interest in a limited liability corporation that will hold the construction loans and real estate-owned assets of Corus.

“The $4.5 billion portfolio consists of more than 100 loan and (real estate-owned) assets linked to high-quality condominiums, multi-family housing, office properties, and land representing nearly 23 million square feet,” according to a recent news release from this investment consortium.

Urban Partners, however, has yet to comment publicly on whether it might reduce the prices of its Town Square condos – phase one of the planned Town Square project. A primary reason for this is that it’s not a simple matter of lowering those prices, despite the fact that the investment consortium purchased the construction loans of Urban Partners and others well below their original value.

Two or three or even more banks usually are involved in large construction and real estate loans, notes Burien Economic Development Manager Dick Loman. This, in turn, creates a slow and involved process for a developer to obtain permission from lenders before it can make a corresponding reduction in its housing prices.

In the meantime, Loman says, Urban Partners is “hanging in there. They’re not leaving town. They’re trying to do the right thing. I know that Urban Partners wants to meet the market, but they can’t act until they receive a green light for moving forward. This means that (Town Square condo) prices aren’t going to go down without permission from the bank.”

Burien City Manager Mike Martin emphasizes that “no public money is involved” in the Town Square condo-retail complex. “There is no financial to the taxpayers” because the Urban Partners’ development is privately financed.

But, he adds, “We do want to see them fill up sooner than later.”

On Wednesday, Sept. 9th our sister site The White Center Blog first reported how Burien-based community-service group ACORN is trying to help save resident Maria Morales’ home from foreclosure by staging a phone call bank today (Fri. Sept. 11th) starting at 3pm at their headquarters at 134 SW 153rd St. Suite D.

According to ACORN Head Organizer/Director Alex King, if you’d like to help, you can either just show up at their offices at 3pm, or you can help try and save Maria’s house from the comfort of your own office or home – RIGHT NOW (until 4pm):

1. Call Sen. Margarita Prentice at (360) 786-7616, and ask her to pass mandatory mortgage mediation and to help save Maria’s home.

2. Call Litton at (713) 218-4592 and when asked provide the following information:

Loan #: 0014555239

Name: Maria Morales

“My name is _______and I am calling in support of ACORN member Maria Morales asking you to NOT sell her house and to modify her mortgage NOW.”

[Wait for their response]

“We will continue to call and do actions until Maria’s loan is modified and you start modifying all the other modifications you have. Thank you.”

3. Show up at ACORN’s offices (134 SW 153rd St. Suite D) at 3pm today and volunteer to make some calls right then and there.

We’ll be at the ACORN offices later today, and will post photos and an update later, so stay tuned and let’s see if we can garner up some serious people power to help our neighbor!

by Ralph Nichols

Borrowing a phrase from Mark Twain, reports of the demise of Burien’s Town Square condominiums, which opened for occupancy in June, are vastly exaggerated.

So declares Dan Rosenfeld, principal of Urban Partners, developer of the privately owned condo and retail complex in Town Square at the corner of SW 152nd Street and Sixth Ave SW.

“We are holding on,” Rosenfeld said this week, responding to a rumor that Urban Partners is barely hanging on. “We are very proud of the quality of our project and the effect that it’s having on the revitalization of downtown Burien.”

Together with the public part of the Town Square project, he added, which includes the new King County Library/City Hall building and a downtown park.

“We couldn’t have built a better project,” Rosenfeld continued. “We did this in a very challenging market. We are working buyer by buyer on closing sales. We are making progress. In the long run, I think we will be very successful.”

The Town Square complex includes a mix of one- and two-bedroom condos, two-story Homes on the Park, and live/work lofts. There is 20,000 square feet of ground-level retail space in addition to 122 condos.

None of the retail space has been leased to date. And, said Burien economic development manager Dick Loman, five of the condos have been sold and closed to date, according to the most recent number provided him.

“They’re selling slow for reasons we all understand,” Loman said. “No development company is making money today but they have the resources to hang on.”

Rosenfeld underscored Loman’s assessment, stating that Urban Partners plans “to stay the course … literally 20 potential buyers are having trouble selling their (existing) homes. Everything’s difficult. That is not a reflection on what we have (at Town Square). Quite the contrary. We’ve received many compliments on the project.”

Underwriting standards have been tightened as lending markets adjust to new criteria, he noted. Urban Partners is “fine tuning our lending program and our marketing activities in response to changing circumstances in the capital markets. We are constantly trying to find ways to do it better.”

Burien City Councilman Gordon Shaw quashed another rumor, which suggested Urban Partners was considering renting some of the condos as apartments. The developer is prevented from doing that in their agreement with the city, which states they must be “for sale” units, he said.

But, Shaw said, “It’s concerning to me that more of the residences have not been sold and closed. I’m also distressed about no retail leases … I just don’t know how (Urban Partners) can weather this storm.”

As a councilman, he continued, “I’m just sitting here holding my breath. Urban Partners is telling us nothing about their financial condition.”

For his part, Rosenfeld says they still hope to build the other two condo/retail complexes long-planned for Town Square, “but we have to sell the first phase first. The mortgage markets are challenging, the appraisal markets are challenging. The good news is, there are real signs that a turnaround in housing markets is beginning to appear. Things are edging upwards.”

So…what do YOU think will happen to Burien’s shiny new Town Square? Please take our poll, or leave a Comment below…

Work is progressing on construction of a new north caretaker’s cabin at Camp Schoenwald – a secluded 10-acre wooded facility in Burien, owned by the Highline Kiwanis, just east of Sylvester Junior High School.

The caretaker’s home previously on this site was destroyed by fire in March 2008 (when the Buckleys, the family living there, lost everything they owned – see our previous coverage here and here), and now local Kiwanis members are building the new structure with volunteer labor. Their initial goal was to have the cabin’s walls and roof built before a new rainy season this fall, and on this sunny Thursday (Aug. 20the) they were close to getting that done.

Completion of the cabin – including all interior work on its spacious living room and two bedrooms along with a small deck and carport – will occur as fundraising by the Highline Kiwanis permits, in addition to regular maintenance of the camp.

The Kiwanis hopes to have the home ready to be occupied by spring 2010, but it all depends on how many volunteers they can get (they need drywallers, sheet rock, carpeting, flooring, vinyl, cabinet makers, etc. – contact Frank Weise if you can lend a hand or building materials via email at fwise@nor-pacseating.com) as well as cash donations, which can be made by emailing John Gaston at johngaston@highlinekiwanis.com.

Since 1952, the Highline Kiwanis have welcomed thousands of young people to Camp Schoenwald every year. Kiwanis members are proud of the fact that they help young people – especially those who are disadvantaged – experience the outdoors without charging a penny. For many boys and girls who come here, this is their first experience in the outdoor world.

The grounds include trails, a lodge for indoor activities and sleeping quarters, a big tepee with a huge fireplace, and an amphitheater that serve Boy and Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls and many other youth organizations. It is open for both day camps and overnight camping to these groups under adult supervision on a first-come, first-served basis – always free for all.

The Kiwanis want to offer a shout out and big thanks to Powell Homes of Des Moines, who recently sent a crew of four workers for a full day at no charge. The Powell crew helped with one of the project’s more difficult tasks: lifting and nailing in place the prefabricated roof trusses.

For more information, visit the Highline Kiwanis website here.

by Ralph Nichols

As demolition crews prepared this week to tear down the Lora Lake Apartments – long the center of heated controversy over affordable housing in Burien – near Sea-Tac International Airport’s third runway, attention was focused on possible uses for this prime commercial location.

The Port of Seattle, which owns the Lora Lake complex, wants to develop facilities for airport-compatible activities there, such as air cargo, food service and warehouses, and on other property it owns within Burien’s Northeast Planning Area north of the airport.

But the vacant apartment complex is just inside the Burien city limits and several council members hope this location will anchor economic development in the Northeast Planning Area that will generate additional sales tax and other revenue for the city. Possible land uses include an auto mall and a business park.

City Manager Mike Martin said recently that results of a state Department of Transportation study for a new interchange at State Route 518 and Des Moines Memorial Drive now underway might be available by summer’s end. An interchange at that location would increase the value of the Lora Lake site for business development.

Preparation for demolition includes mitigation of toxic contaminants in the ground at Lora Lake, which were discovered in a 2008 environmental study prior to a planned transfer of the property from the Port to the King County Housing Authority.

When the assay found hazardous chemicals in soil samples taken at depths of 7 and 14 feet, the apartment complex was determined to be unsafe for occupancy and the housing authority abandoned plans to reopen its 162 units. The site was used for commercial and industrial purposes from the 1920s to the mid-1980s. In the 1950s, it was an auto wrecking yard.

Despite the fact that Lora Lake is coming down soon, “Burien still has a major hurdle to overcome” before it can develop that location – and other sites in the Northwest Planning Area – for uses compatible with the city’s vision for economic growth, noted Councilman Gordon Shaw.

“Even after Lora Lake is done and gone, the Port of Seattle owns a large amount of the Northeast Planning Area,” Shaw said. “The Port has bought a lot of commercial and residential land under and near airport flight paths.”

That leaves Burien in the position of having to negotiate with the Port for purchase of Lora Lake and several other properties, or for other accommodations for development that conforms to the city’s comprehensive plan.

“I don’t think the Port will need all the land they’ve got, but why should they give it up?” he observed. “It’s going to be a very delicate thing for the city to work through … I don’t know what the path forward is on resolution, but I’ll be upset if all we get is a food service company and a freight handling company, and then they work with Des Moines on a 90-acre business park.”

Should Burien eventually develop an auto mall in the Lora Lake area, this would vacate the city’s existing auto row along First Avenue. Should that happen, said Deputy Mayor Rose Clark, possibilities for redevelopment of those properties might include a hotel or a convention center, or both, catering to air travelers.

Built in the late 1980s, the Lora Lake Apartments – once a 234-unit affordable housing complex – were bought by the Port of Seattle in 1998. The city, the Port and the King County Housing Authority, which managed the apartments, agreed they would remain open until 2005, at which time they would be removed. The apartments are less than 1,000 feet from the third runway.

When construction of the runway was delayed, all parties agreed the apartments would remain open until June 2007. In late March that year, representatives of the city, the Port and the housing authority discussed the scheduled June closure of the apartments. Although housing authority representatives indicated a desire to keep Lora Lake open, they recognized a “contractual obligation” and were ready to begin phasing them out.

But housing authority Executive Director Stephen Norman then sent a letter to federal and state as well as city officials, citing the need for affordable housing in King County and demanding that the apartments remain in use. Both the city and Port challenged the housing authority’s move to renege on the joint contract, and moved forward with plans to demolish Lora Lake. The housing authority countered with a suit to block demolition on the grounds that it had a legal claim to the property.

Before a hearing could be held in early 2008, the Port agreed to sell Lora Lake to the housing authority. But the sale was delayed pending the outcome of environmental testing at the housing complex.

So…what do YOU think of the future of this once-affordable housing complex? Please take our poll, or Comment below…

Navos, an organization devoted to “helping people navigate through troubled waters of great challenges and landing in a state of Recovery and Wellness” will be hosting an open house, program and lunch buffet on Thursday, Aug. 6th to celebrate the completion of Burien Heights, a new housing development designed for low-income  and disabled adults, including veterans.

The event will run from 11:30am to 1pm Thursday at the new housing, located at 1115 SW 134th in Burien.

The construction of the Burien Heights Residences marks the completion of the first phase of Navos’ long-term plan to build a new Mental Health & Wellness Center in Burien on the parcel directly to the south.

Navos will also celebrate the purchase of apartments for 14 more people adjacent to the new construction. This project will eventually be able to provide long term housing and support services for thirty-six adults in recovery.

Providing a community of safe, decent and affordable living for adults succeeding in recovery

Lunch will be provided by Third Runway Cafe & Catering, an employment training program of Navos.

According to their website:

Navos’ implementation of Recovery and Resiliency Services in mental health care is setting a new standard. These new housing units, with the other 260 homes for adults who live in Navos owned or operated housing, demonstrate our success in working with individuals and families affected by serious mental and emotional illness, as well as their successes living fuller and richer lives in the community.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Navos Building 15 Affordable Housing Units On SW 136th

The Department of Ecology and the Port of Seattle on Thursday (July 2nd) reached an agreement on doing a study and subsequent contamination cleanup at the unoccupied Lora Lake apartment complex in Burien.

The Port-owned property, located at 15001 Des Moines Memorial Drive, once housed a barrel-cleaning company in the 1940s and 50s and an auto-wrecking facility from roughly 1960 to 1981. A 22-building apartment complex was built in 1987, then in 2007 the remaining units were vacated before becoming a rallying point for affordable housing and the prevention of homelessness, with legislators and community activists bearing down on Burien.

The Port, which owns Sea-Tac Airport nearby, bought the property in 1998 and demolished six buildings within the airport’s Third Runway protection zone in 2007.

Environmental samples taken in preparation for that demolition showed higher than expected levels of contaminants from the pre-apartment complex activities at the site.  The legal agreement, known as an Agreed Order, lays out a process under which the Port will evaluate the nature and extent of contamination at the site and assess cleanup options.

Pollutants associated with the site’s former activities include petroleum products, dioxin, solvents and other contaminants.

The Port, meanwhile, plans to demolish the remaining 16 structures on the property because they claim that vacant buildings pose public safety hazards from arson, accidental fires and vandalism. Only above-ground portions will be demolished, and the Port will take measures – under Ecology oversight – to not disturb potentially contaminated soil.

The Department of Ecology will be hosting a public meeting about the site and the cleanup at 7pm on Thursday, July 23rd at the Highline School District’s Educational Resource and Administration Center, located at 15675 Ambaum Blvd. SW. The Lora Lake agreement will be available for public comment through Aug. 10th.

The Agreed Order is available for public review at:

• http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/loraLakesAps/loraLakesAps_hp.html
• Burien Public Library 400 SW 152nd St., 206-243-3490
• Dept. of Ecology’s regional office in Bellevue – by appointment, 425-649-7190 – 3190 160th Ave. SE.

For technical questions or to comment on the plan, please contact David South, Ecology Site Manager, 425-649-7200; e-mail dsou461@ecy.wa.gov.  A fact sheet on Lora Lake Apartments site is available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0909175.pdf.

We’re proud here at The B-Town Blog to welcome aboard as our latest Advertiser: custom home remodelers Powell Renovations!

Their friendly home office is located just down the road in the heart of Des Moines on Marine View Drive.

Started by their grandfather, Powell Renovations, a fourth generation family business, has been providing homes in our neighborhoods for 100 years. They began swinging hammers in 1909!

Led by brothers Todd and Brooks Powell, the whole team at Powell Renovations is very involved in their local community. For example, this spring they participated in the Master Builders Association Rampathon, a free service where access ramps are constructed by contractors for disabled people in the Puget Sound area.

The Powell family has built thousands of quality homes at affordable prices. They’re dedicated to working with the customer through the entire renovation process.

Their long history and dedication to quality have earned them their slogan: “Our Tradition of Excellence is evident in every detail.”

Todd and Brooks point out: “Starting with Powell Renovations early in the design process helps you save money. We can give direction on costs so you design upgrades to your home you can ultimately afford.”

Powell Renovations emphasizes the Built Green approach to building and renovating.

Here just a few of the Built Green features inside and around a Powell Home:

• They use non-toxic and low-toxic outdoor materials for landscaping, helping to build biodiversity and increase soil nutrient reserves without contaminating waterways
• They install thermostats with an On-Switch for the furnace fan to circulate air allowing warm air to circulate throughout the house without running the furnace
• They clean furnace and air ducts thoroughly before residents move in providing better air quality
• They verify seals at doors, windows, plumbing and electrical penetrations against moisture and air leaks

Click here to see just a small sample of the impressive accomplishments of Powell Renovations and the quality craftsmanship that goes into every Powell-built home.

Todd and Brooks Powell have recently written the hardback book: “Building a Quality Custom Home. What You Need to Know.” This is a terrific step-by-step guide to making the necessary informed decisions, whether renovating or building from the ground up.

To order a copy or discuss a renovation or new construction in your life, contact Powell Renovations here:

Phone:

• 206-824-8001

Fax:

• 206-824-9030

Email:

• brooks@powell-homes.com

Street Address:

22211 Marine View Drive South
Des Moines, WA 98198

Hours:

• Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:00pm

Website:

• www.PowellRenovates.com

[Would you like to have a "Blogvertorial" story like this for your Business, along with an Ad on every page seen by thousands of interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

Jeffrey C. Sullivan, US Attorney for the Western District of Washington announced Wednesday (June 3rd) that five people have been arrested in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme that allegedly cheated area banks and property sellers out of more than $18 million.

The five arrested include:

• HUMBERTO A. REYES-RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a Tony Reyes, 42, of Federal Way, Washington
• ALEXIS IKILIKYAN, a/k/a Haikanush Ikilikyan, 29, of Auburn, Washington
• WILLIAM S. POFF, 37, of Marshall, Michigan
• MICKI S. THOMPSON, 54, of Tacoma, Washington
• MARIO A. MARROQUIN, 38, of Kent, Washington

All have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Commit Bank and Wire Fraud and Money Laundering. The conspirators obtained financing from banks and, in some cases, also from sellers who were convinced to extend private loans for a portion of the purchase price. These private loans, which were not disclosed to the banks, as well as a web of fictitious rental companies, allowed the conspirators to obtain loan proceeds far beyond the value of the assets securing those loans, and beyond their ability to pay.

“This complex investigation uncovered a group of real estate professionals who manipulated home sales for pure profit while some of the properties went into foreclosure and innocent private citizens were defrauded,” said Leigh Winchell, Special Agent in Charge of ICE’s Office of Investigations. ICE will continue to use its unique investigative authority to uncover illegal financial transactions in an effort to stop this type of fraudulent activity.”

According to the detailed indictment, both REYES-RODRIGUEZ and ALEXIS IKILIKYAN worked as both licensed real estate agents and mortgage loan originators. ALEXIS IKILIKYAN’s ex-husband, WILLIAM S. POFF was a licensed notary and worked as a loan originator.

MICKI S. THOMPSON was an employee of Great American Escrow who acted as the closing officer for many of the fraudulent sales. Between 2005 and 2008, the conspirators used straw buyers to purchase and resell properties, obtaining more than 80 loans totaling more than $18 million. The conspirators submitted a variety of false information to the banks such as employment, income, citizenship status, assets and liabilities. The conspirators also submitted false appraisals and created fictitious companies that were allegedly doing repair work on the properties. Money at closing would go to these entities that, in reality, had done no work on the property. Defendant MARIO A. MARROQUIN headed fictitious repair companies and acted as a straw buyer.

In this scheme, the conspirators did not just damage banks and financial institutions. Innocent sellers were harmed when they agreed to loan the buyer a portion of the purchase price, to be paid back over time. The sellers did not know that the conspirators had already obtained 100 percent financing from commercial lenders. When payments were not made and properties fell into foreclosure, and then were sold for less than the total of all loans secured by the property, the sellers holding private notes were left with nothing.

The indictment alleges there were fraudulent mortgage transactions in communities across the Puget Sound region:

• Des Moines
• SeaTac
• Tacoma
• Seattle
• Puyallup
• Spanaway
• Auburn
• Bellevue
• Renton
• Lakewood
• Fircrest
• Kent
• Pacific
• Issaquah

Those arrested in the Seattle area were scheduled to make their initial appearances in federal court Friday afternoon at 2:30pm.

The conspiracy and money laundering charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Vogel and Darwin Roberts.

More information available at the DOJ website here.

Despite tough economic times, interest rates are low, you can get tax credits, and home prices continue to drop, so believe it or not – now is a good time to buy a home, and this Saturday, April 18th there will be a free Home Buying Class at the Burien Library from 10am to 11am.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Opportunity Knocks: A Home Buying Class”

WHEN: Saturday, April 18th from 10am — 11am

WHERE: Burien Library, located at 14700 6th Avenue SW

INFO: In this class you’ll learn:

• Current market conditions
• Steps in the home buying process
• How to negotiate price, terms & conditions
• What’s in a credit report
• How to improve a credit report
• Loan approval process

RSVP: Pre-registration required; call 206-419-6950. More info at this meetup website.

The innovative low-income helping newspaper Real Change has an interesting article on how a Burien family avoided foreclosure on their home through the Burien-based ACORN office.

Definitely worth a read if you like to start your week with positive, uplifting news about local folks making it through tough times with help from others:

After being unable to meet their mortgage payments, Georgene Monday, with her brother, Jesse Bake, expected to lose their Burien home to foreclosure. But after contacting ACORN, the mortgage was rewritten.

In an amazing, 11th-hour save that Monday attributes to contacting legislators, friends writing the lender for her and, most importantly, finding ACORN, a grassroots group that was negotiating loans for distressed homeowners nationwide before the housing bubble burst.

Monday, 62, got a referral to the Seattle-area chapter of ACORN – the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now – after contacting the state attorney general’s office for help.

Read the full article here.

And if you’re in a similar situation, please don’t hesitate to contact ACORN – they’re headquartered right here in Burien:

ACORN
134 SW 153rd Street, # A
Burien, WA 98166
(206) 241-9242
www.acorn.org/?15113

BTB Advertiser El Dorado West Retirement Community and Village Concepts Inc. have partnered with Kiel Mortgage for a FREE seminar on creative mortgage and home sale plans this coming Monday, Feb. 9th at 3pm.

Here’s some info from a press release:

Kiel Mortgage and El Dorado West understand that in these tough economic times making the transition into retirement living can be stressful and confusing.

El Dorado West invites you to a FREE SEMINAR with our partners at Kiel to explore creative mortgage or home sale plans which may help answer your financial questions.

Please join us at El Dorado West, located at 1010 SW 134th Street (map below) Monday February 9th at 3pm to learn more about this exciting partnership.

View Larger Map

by Scott Schaefer

Since we first posted this story (on Monday, Nov. 24th) regarding area residents complaints about increased noise from Sea-Tac Airports newly-opened third runway, we’ve received numerous emails, comments and even phone calls about it.

We can safely say that the third runway noise problem is not fading away.

In fact, it only seems to be getting LOUDER, which means that we’ll be covering this story for as long as it’s a story.

We will be meeting with a representative of the Port of Seattle next week, so stay tuned for their viewpoint.

We’ll also be interviewing other residents and experts, which will include videotaping, photographing and doing our own decibel level checks as well, then continuing to post new updates as they come in.

And as always, if you have an opinion, complaint, anecdote, factoid or hot tip, please email us directly, call us during business hours at (206) 248-2565, or post a Comment below this story.

In the meantime, here are some letters we received from some of the people being affected first-hand:

We live in South Park and are definitely experiencing increased noise from planes which now pass much closer to our home since the 3rd runway opened. The noise is problematic now in terms of waking us up at times, and in making it difficult to talk on the phone or listen to the radio–and it’s not even windows-open season yet.

What are the implications of particulate and other emissions for those of us now experiencing low-altitude flights directly overhead?

Thanks,
Alan Puckett

I used to live off of 128th and des moines memorial blvd, right under the flight path.  If you were in the yard, you could hear the planes flying over.  If you were watching TV late at night with the volume low so everyone else in the house could sleep, you could hear the planes (and often times, not the TV).  But it was under the flight path.  So we got used to it.

Now, I live just south of Five Corners.  Planes were NEVER audible.  Yesterday we were watching TV at like, six o clock at night, and the planes were loud enough to drown out the sound of regular volume TV, not 2 am volume.  It is ridiculous.  I am not the home owner.  But the home owner is UPSET.  Like, pissed off, upset.

But, I remember a friend of mine saying that back in the day, the Port installed sound proof windows for everyone who lived near the airport (well, flight path, but whatever).  The house off 128th had them.  Are they gonna do that again now?  They need to.  I am sure home values dropped significantly because of the new noise.  That is not good news in an already failing economy.

So, in conclusion, I be like, F the new third runway.

peace
dean p.

Hello,

Thank you for bringing this subject to attention. I live on the 800 block of 143rd St SW and last week I started hearing a heavy amount of airplane noise. In the past it was quiet and I only occasionally heard a plane or two. Now it’s noisy all the time and I don’t like it one bit. The least the airport could have done is notify the community of the flight path changes ahead of time. This will hurt our growing city; in recent Seattle magazine articles Burien has been praised for being conveniently located near the airport but not affected by the noise of flight traffic as it was out of the flight path area. I suppose I will get used to the noise but I am afraid others will decide Burien is too noisy and choose other places to live and conduct business instead.

Thank you,
Jessica Dobson

I live between 128 and 136th on 10th Ave S- The noise is awful.  In fact planes were landing every 5 mins on that 3rd runway last night (Sun. Nov. 30th) until after 12 am. I have no soundproofing as live in a mobile and the Port deems that not worth doing the soundproofing.  ( I have attached the e-mail I received from them) as you can see they have no plans on addressing the problem until the end of 2009.  I had gotten use to the minor noise from runway 1 and 2, but now the planes are less then a mile above my place, and the 3rd runway is almost being used exclusively now, so there is no relief, cannot imagine what it will be like in the summer time.

My question is the approaches on the other 2 runways for the most part go over either property the port purchased and tore down houses or in businesses areas, so why did they not come to us and offer the same or at least tell us how it was going to be so we could make an informed decision in whether to remain living there or sell.  Now you can bet there isn’t going to be anyone wanting to by my piece of property.  Even the neighbors with all their sound proofing and in regular homes are complaining.

The port and/or FAA could care less.  They got what they wanted.

Kathy E Anderson

YES!!!  In early November we found a cute house in north Burien (near 128th and 12th)- we were slightly bothered by the nearby airport noise, but the reason we bought the house was because it was NOT under a flight path.  The house also has a “port package” and we were assured that we could not hear the planes inside the house.  We had heard about the third runway, but had assurances that it would not be over our home, and used rarely.

NOW we closed on the house and are set to move in- and went to the house to do some repairs and found that the airplanes are frequently and daily flying DIRECTLY over our home, and the noise is deafening both outside and INSIDE the home.  We are heartbroken, we can’t back out of the house now, and we anticipate losing money on the house since property values will surely go down due to this.

This situation is untenable, and something needs to be done about  this, fast.

Thanks,
Miriam L. Bearse

Courtesy Reader/Letter Writer Miriam Bearse comes this info:

Airplane noise isn’t just a nuisance!

What do we know about the effects of consistent airplane noise on health?

Airplane noise in a community can lead to:

• Increased stress, including higher levels of cortisol (stress hormone)
• Cardiovascular (heart) problems and hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Sleep disturbances
• A higher rate of premature birth of babies
• Cognitive impairment in children; including lower reading levels, impaired reading comprehension, and impaired recognition memory
• Mental health disorders and negative psychosomatic effects
• Higher levels of psychiatric hospital admissions due to severe mental health disorders
• Asthma and related health problems due to increased levels of airborne pollutants

Partial list of reports and studies on these issues:

• Davies, P. et al (2008) “Project 19: Health Effects of Aircraft Noise,” Massachusetts Institute of Technology, ongoing study: http://www.web.mit.edu/aeroastro/partner/projects/project19.html
• BBC News “Aircraft Noise Affects Learning,” 6/2/05, based on a British and Spanish study of 2,500 children living near airports: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/health/4603189.stm” http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/health/4603189.stm
• Health Canada “Healthy Living: Aircraft Noise in the Vicinity of Airports,” 11/5/07, Health Canada Publications, Ottawa ON
• Black et al “Aircraft noise exposure and resident’s stress and hypertension: A public health perspective for airport environmental management,” 11/07, Journal of Air Transport Management, volume 13, issue 5
• Morrell, S. et al “A review of health effects of aircraft noise,” Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 1997: 21(2): 221-36
• Hiramatsu et al “Population-Based Questionnaire Survey on Health Effects of Aircraft Noise on Residents Living Around US Airfields…” 2/7/02, Journal of Sound and Vibration, Volume 250, issue 1
• Hiramatsu et al “A Survey on Health Effects due to Aircraft Noise on Residents Living Aroudn Kadena Air Base in the Ryukyus” 8/28/97, Journal of Sound and Vibration, Volume 205 issue 4
• Stansfeld et al “Aircraft and road traffic noise and children’s cognition and health: a cross-national study,” 6/4/05, The Lancet, Volume 365, Issue 9475
• Franssen et al “Assessing Health Consequences in an Environmental Impact Assessment: The case of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol” 11/02, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, volume 22, issue 6
• Rehm et al “Aircraft Noise and Premature Birth,” 7/8/78, Journal of Sound and Vibration, volume 59, issue 1
• Wickrama et al “Mental Health Admissions and Aircraft Noise,” 12/13/69, The Lancet, volume 294, issue 7

So…what are your thoughts on the third runway?

• Too noisy?
• No difference?
• Buncha whining?

Please let us know via email, phone (206-248-2565) or if you’re feeling kinda shy, just vote in our unscientific poll on the right sidebar.

A couple of weeks ago, we received this email inquiry from a BTB Reader:

There is a lot of dirt piling up at the old senior center by the corner of 136th and Ambaum, by the Arco quick mart station there. I’ve heard it might be a large complex of apartments, or it might be a mental health hospital.

I see a sign that says “Abbott” which makes me think it might be related more to a medical facility than an apartment complex.

I live close by, so I’m very interested in what goes into my neighborhood.

If you could comment in the blog, I would be much appreciative!

So, being the conscientious local bloggers that we are, we went out and took the following photos of the construction in question:

We also asked folks at the City, who lead us to Navos, a non-profit organization formerly called Highline/West Seattle Mental Health, who provided this answer:

The property behind the glass business on Ambaum at 136th is owned by Navos. On that site, Navos is building fifteen units of safe and affordable housing for twenty two people, including three beds reserved for Veterans. The former senior center property that your reader referred to has been leased by Navos from the Highline School District. We plan to raze the current buildings and build a new building where we will continue to provide effective outpatient services (no hospital is planned for that site). Our current facility in Burien is located under the new third runway and we will have to move when our lease expires in 2012.

A community meeting regarding plans for the property was held for nearby neighbors late last year, and Navos has also been in touch with neighbors via letter.

Navos is a non-profit organization founded in 1966 with locations in Burien and West Seattle. We are one of the three largest providers of mental health services in the state. Last year we helped over 5,500 people in King County. Our programs help low income children and adults with emotional and mental illnesses. Navos is a leader in developing innovative programs focused on helping each individual achieve their greatest potential for recovery and resiliency. In addition to specialized inpatient and outpatient services, we provide housing and support services to over 200 people in locations around South King County.

So…now you know what the heck’s being built on SW 136th:

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According to the Redfin Blog, home sales prices in Burien are at 100.4%, higher than 75 other Seattle-area neighborhoods.

Condo sales prices in B-Town are at 100.5%, higher than 25 other neighborhoods.

In fact, Burien’s sales prices are higher than all but Boulevard Park, Skyway and Delridge area homes.

Redfin speculates on the reason:

But Burien. Really.

Could it be the evangelism of the B-Town blog?

Or is it just a fluke?

Nope Redfin, it ain’t no fluke.

The B-Town Blog is not only responsible for the higher sales price average, it’s also responsible for the recent area reduction in crime, increase in productivity and overall satisfaction with life (which is surprising in these difficult times).

The real reason?

(sex) (cash) (sex) (cash) (sex) (cash) (sex) (cash) (sex) (cash) (sex) (cash) (sex) (cash) (sex) (cash) (sex) (cash)

SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES!

(sex) (cash) (sex) (cash) (nothing to worry about) (all is well) (obey the b-town blog) (sex) (cash) (sex) (cash)

BURIEN – The Port of Seattle and the King County Housing Authority (KCHA) have mutually agreed to rescind their agreement for the sale of the 162-unit Lora Lake Apartments to the KCHA following the completion of environmental testing that revealed significant soil contamination at the Burien property.

The estimated cost to remove and dispose of contaminants and restore the site to the residential standard could potentially reach $8 million.  Cleanup standards for residential use are much more stringent than standards for industrial use.

“Despite everyone’s considerable efforts to preserve Lora Lake as much-needed affordable housing for the region, given these findings it is not in the community’s best interest to continue forward with this project,” said King County Housing Authority Executive Director Stephen Norman.  “We appreciate the Port’s cooperation in rescinding an agreement to purchase an apartment complex that would have been financially infeasible to operate as housing.”

Because the price tag to restore the property for use as affordable housing is prohibitively high, the Port and KCHA have mutually agreed to rescind their agreement obligating KCHA to purchase the apartment complex. The Port will also refund the initial $1 million payment for the property to KCHA.

“The primary concern of the Port Commission with Lora Lake has always been the need to find regional solutions to regional problems in the best interests of our community’s most vulnerable families,” said John Creighton, Port of Seattle Commission President. “The Port regrets this site is no longer the best investment to help address our region’s desperate need for affordable housing.  The Port is committed to returning this site to a productive use for our community, and stands ready to help our region respond to important housing issues.”

Earlier this year, the Port and the Housing Authority suspended the transfer of Lora Lake Apartments pending the outcome of further environmental testing at the site.  Prior to the Port and KCHA transfer agreement, the Port initiated the original testing of the property to inform future developers about site conditions.

The property, which is situated atop a former barrel cleaning facility that became an auto wrecking yard around 1950, showed soil contamination in just completed tests that are consistent with its historical uses. The site underwent a soils investigation and cleanup in 1987 in consultation with the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) prior to the construction of the Lora Lake Apartments by a private developer.

However, since that time, testing and clean-up standards have been made more stringent.  Results of the recent environmental analysis revealed soil contamination of dioxins and other contaminants that exceed current standards for residential use.

Though remediation will still be necessary, the lower environmental standard required for industrial purposes means eventual redevelopment for an industrial use, rather than a residential use, likely remains financially feasible.

What this basically means is that:

• There’s no way that anyone will ever live there again
• This entire thing started when 72 units were torn down the for the 3rd Runway
  
• The future of the site is…unknown? (Yeah, right – from what we understand, the main intention has always been to tear down the affordable housing and build either a megastore or industrial/cargo facility)

MORE INFO:

• The apartments have been vacant since July 2007.
• The apartment site was used for commercial and industrial purposes from the 1940s to the mid-1980s.
• The site was mitigated and the apartments were constructed and owned by a private developer in 1988.
• In 1998, the Port purchased the property because one-third of the apartment complex was located within the runway protection zone of the new third runway at Sea-Tac Airport and would need to be demolished.  The Port provided relocation assistance to residents in 1999.
• With delays in the airport project, the City of Burien, the Port, and KCHA entered into an agreement transferring the ownership of the apartment complex to KCHA and allowing the apartments to be reoccupied on a temporary basis.  The agreement called for the complex to revert to the Port by mid-2005.
• In 2004, the agreement with KCHA was extended for another two years, with the apartments to be returned to the Port in July 2007, when residents were required to vacate the apartments.
• In August 2007, KCHA was granted an injunction against the demolition of the apartments.
• The Port and KCHA have been working since late 2007 to transfer the property back to KCHA.

SOURCE:

• City of Burien

What do YOU think of this news? Please leave your comments below…

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Photo of the new housing development above Three Tree Point, where the streets have no name.

Yet.

Ever wonder how street names get their, um…names?

We do too, so here are some suggestions we’ve come up with (make your own suggestions in the “Leave A Reply” section below):

• Impending Slide Street
• Wiped Out Woods Blvd.
• SW Deforestation Drive
• Raplewild Ave SW