Which means treacherous streets and dicey commutes for West Linn residents (remember December 2008, anyone?).

Conveniently, the City of West Linn has published a map of its snow plow routes and potential road closures for the inevitable day that inclement weather rears it’s ugly head.

If snow and ice appear, here are the likely candidates for street closures:

• Summit Street at Rosemont Rd. and at Skyline Dr.
• Hidden Springs Road at Bluegrass Way and at Autumn View Ct.
• Hidden Springs Road at Wilderness Dr.
• Marylhurst Drive at Hillcrest Dr. and at Lower Midhill Dr.
• Skye Parkway at Skye Ct. and at Hillside Dr.
• Pimlico Drive at Palomino Way, Summit St. and Apollo Way

Trust me, you didn’t want to drive down those streets on ice anyway….

For more West Linn real estate coverage by Ron Ares, visit http://www.move2westlinn.com.

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The area will be called the Willamette Falls National Historic District, and it contains a number of historic and architecturally significant sites.

According to a recent West Linn Tidings story:

Three properties are already nationally recognized in West Linn. They include the Willamette Falls Locks, reportedly the country’s oldest continuously operating navigation system of its kind; the Lewthwaite-Moffat house, built in 1896 at 4891 Willamette Falls Drive; and the former home of Nicholas O. Walden, founder of the recently established historic district, built around 1895 and now owned by Charles Awalt.

We’ve touched on the history of West Linn before, and the city has a brief narrative, too. True West Linn history buffs will want to pick up a copy of Cornelia Seigneur’s recent book, Images of America: West Linn.

Here are the rough boundaries of the new historic district:

View Willamette District in a larger map

For more West Linn real estate coverage by Ron Ares, visit http://www.move2westlinn.com.

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The owners believe the slide was due to the uphill neighbor’s yard maintenance. Although it’s not a conclusive finding, for residents of the hilly West Linn area, it’s worth keeping track of your uphill neighbors’ maintenance and water management.

Here’s the accompanying story (I’d link to it, but finding stories on OregonLive is a miserable experience):

LAKE OSWEGO — The story of the $1 million dream home for two Iraqi immigrants wasn’t supposed to end like this.

But there Alan Bazzaz stood, at 7:30 a.m. Monday, as an excavator demolished the hillside house he and his wife, Fatma, had saved for decades to buy and where they planned to live out their retirement.

“It’s a feeling of loss, of memories gone,” Alan Bazzaz said as he stood watching. “It’s a painful feeling.”

In the early hours of Jan. 2, a landslide smashed into the back of the Lake Oswego home the couple shared with their son, Sammy, 24, and daughter, Dahlia, 15. Sammy and his friends, who were inside celebrating the new year, narrowly escaped.

The slide left the house uninhabitable, and the city ordered it demolished to protect surrounding homes. The Bazzazes’ insurance company denied a damage claim in the spring, meaning Bazzaz had to pay “tens of thousands” of dollars for the demolition.

Meanwhile, the couple still have nearly 25 years left to pay on the mortgage.

In hopes of recovering from the loss, they are now seeking at least $2 million from a neighbor who lives above them. They claim the neighbor cleared vegetation and topped trees, leading to the slide.

On Monday, the house refused to go easily. It groaned as the excavator started yanking the horizontal gutters off the roof. An awful crunching sound filled the chilly morning air as the excavator bit into the roof, revealing pink insulation. Cascades of black concrete roof tiles clanged into the growing pile of rubble.

“That’s my daughter’s room,” Bazzaz said wistfully as the excavator relentlessly clawed into a back bedroom.

By midmorning, a snow globe-esque scene greeted curious neighbors as white blow insulation billowed in the gentle breeze. But where a home once stood, where a large extended family once gathered to celebrate life’s occasions, a cavernous space revealed a view of verdant expanses leading to the mountains.

By late morning, the excavator lurched toward the last standing portions of the house. The frame heaved and shuddered.

Then it caved.

Bazzaz videorecorded the demolition, but his wife and children didn’t watch.

“I just told my wife to stay home,” he said. “It’s too painful.”

The family now lives in a 1,600-square-foot home in West Linn that they normally rent out. The Bazzazes also have an adult son in Camas, Wash., where they stayed for a month after the slide hit.

Neighbors have created the Bazzaz Family Fund to help with finances. To donate to the fund, visit any Umpqua Bank branch.

Alan Bazzaz, who retired in 2006 after years running a computer automation business in Eugene, is now thinking of going back to work, as the effects of the slide wiped out “tens of thousands” in the family’s savings.

By the end of the week, when the excavation trucks finish hauling away the remains of their house, it will have wiped out their dream as well.

“It’s like tearing your heart down,” Bazzaz said of the demolition. “But at the same time, it’s a relief.”

For more West Linn real estate coverage by Ron Ares, visit http://www.move2westlinn.com.

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According to an article in the West Linn Tidings, the city has issued stop-work orders on a handful of houses under construction in the Parker Crest neighborhood. Apparently, foundations were poured and houses framed too close to the front lot line. Homes affected are in the D.R. Horton Parker Crest subdivision, a 31-unit project.

“Their structures are encroaching into the front setback,” acting Planning Director Chris Kerr said. “It appears they made a mistake.”

City code outlines building standards. In Parker Crest’s case, Kerr said houses should be set back at least 20 feet from the front lot line.

“In this case, it’s very clear,” he said. “They’re encroaching into it.”

Assistant to the city manager Kirsten Wyatt said the developer now has two choices: to move the houses or to apply for a variance to city code.

She wasn’t sure whether the city would impose fines for any violations.

But the article also mentions some inconsistencies with how the city has managed its project reviews. Sounds like there could be some finger-pointing coming.

More details at the West Linn Tidings.

For more West Linn real estate coverage by Ron Ares, visit http://www.move2westlinn.com.

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I’ll be the roundabout
The words will make you out ‘n’ out
We spend the day your way
Call it morning driving thru the sound and
In and out the valley

I have no idea what the words to Yes’ 1971 epic Roundabout actually mean, but if they cryptically imply that the roundabout project at the intersection of Borland and Stafford roads will improve, then I’m all for ‘em.

The county has begun the traffic revision at what has become over the years a heavily used intersection, funneling traffic on and off I-205 from West Linn, Stafford, and Lake Oswego. Traffic from daily rush hour commutes, two schools, cheap taco nights and Harley gatherings, plus five major churches make for serious congestion, and the county is pouring $4 million into resolving what will only get worse without attention.

The county describes roundabouts:

…circular intersections with specific design and traffic control features that eliminate the need for traffic signals. These features include yield control of all entering traffic, channelized approaches with raised splitter islands, and geometric curvature to ensure slow travel speeds for vehicles entering into and traveling within the roundabout.

The county expects an improvement of 30-50% in traffic throughput–handling between 3,500 to 5,000 vehicles per hour, negating the need for expensive signals and multiple turn lanes. Traffic should flow through and around most of the work, but through the summer, be prepared for occasional delays.

More information can be found here.

For more West Linn real estate coverage by Ron Ares, visit http://www.move2westlinn.com.

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A little history, courtesy of Wikipedia:

It was named after Senator Dr. Lewis Fields Linn of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, who had advocated the American occupation of Oregon as a counterclaim to the British.

Major Robert Moore arrived in 1839 having been the senior member of the first attempt to create an American colony in Oregon, the Peoria Party. His title stems from his military service in the War of 1812, where he served in the Pennsylvania militia, possibly as a battlefield surgeon.

Sometime after journeying around the Willamette Valley and Columbia Basin, Moore bought title to approx. 1,000 acres (4 km²) on the west side of Willamette Falls, across the Willamette River from Oregon City, from a local Native American chief named Wanax-ha, on which he platted a town known as the “Robin’s Nest” in early 1843. He also filed a provisional claim with the then government of the Oregon Country, not knowing if his unique transaction would be honored by the eventual governing laws.

The later Territorial Legislature of Oregon voted to rename it Linn City on December 22, 1845 as a memorial to Senator Dr. Lewis Fields Linn after whom Linn County is also named. Dr. Linn was a neighbor and family friend of the Moores from their time as settlers in the early Missouri Territory.

For many years Linn City was an intense political and commercial rival to the adjacent town of Oregon City, but it suffered a series of natural and manmade setbacks, including Moore’s death in September of 1857. A great flood put an end to the pioneer settlement in November, 1861, dispersing many of the surviving family members throughout the Pacific Northwest. Decades later, however, the seminal village site was redeveloped as a locked canal and industrial complex; the descendant companies still function to this day.

The current West Linn, incorporated in 1913 and merged with the adjacent town of Willamette in 1916, includes the former townsites/developments of Bolton, Multnomah City, Sunset City, and West Oregon City.

Now you know.

Read the rest about West Linn at Wikipedia.

For more West Linn real estate coverage by Ron Ares, visit http://www.move2westlinn.com.

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National builder D.R. Horton is pulling out the stops for a one-day sell-a-thon to bolster their year-end numbers at the Parker Crest development in West Linn.

Here’s an excerpt from their note to buyers’ brokers:

If you are still in the market for a new home, this is the best time to purchase at Parker Crest in West Linn!

As D.R. Horton comes to the end of their first fiscal quarter, the Portland Division is holding a one day “Bring Your Best Offer” event on Saturday, December 29th, 2007. With a focus on both reducing finished inventory & starting new homes, they will be looking at all reasonable offers and are making the process incredibly easy.

On this day only, buyers simply make an appointment and submit a one page offer. While you wait at the Sales Office, the offer will be considered and within minutes either accepted, rejected or countered. You will be able to complete the negotiation process immediately. Once the offer is mutually accepted, we will set an appointment to sit down and complete a full contract! NO earnest money will be due until that time.

What type of offer will be considered? Every D.R. Horton community will feel the effects differently. Communities with finished or started homes will expect offers negotiating price (ex. Parker Lot 2: San Mateo), while those newer communities with homes yet to be built (like Parker Crest) will expect offers negotiating structural options & finish upgrades at no cost.

That being said, during this time I would not hesitate to submit ANY “reasonable offer.”

During this one-day event, the Portland Division is allowing increased flexibility when entertaining offers…more so than anytime in the past!

I am a little ambivalent about this effort, based on the recent auction in the Portland area. While other West Linn builders like Arbor, Legend, and Renaissance have offered incentives, they’ve been more protective of their pricing publicly.

Nevertheless, if you are considering a new home in the West Linn area, you apparently have unparalleled negotiation power in this development and you should take advantage of a slow market to at least check it out.

If you would like additional information, please give us a shout, and we’ll be happy to take you up to the design center, discuss your options, and walk you through the paperwork to negotiate a smooth transaction on your behalf.

[tags] West Linn, real estate, D.R. Horton, housing, development, incentives, negotiation [/tags]

For more West Linn real estate coverage by Ron Ares, visit http://www.move2westlinn.com.

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We’ve compiled a list of school performance report cards by the Oregon Department of Education for the past 5 years, sorted by school below. Note how many “Exceptional” and “Strong” ratings that WL schools receive:
West Linn-Wilsonville SD 3J

Please note we left the Wilsonville schools in the list, since they are a part of the district.

The Oregonian also provides some demographic, financial, staffing, and test score information for West Linn, too.

Visit the Oregon Department of Education site for more information about scores and other districts.

[tags] West Linn, Oregon, schools, education, primary, elementary, middle, high school, scores, grades, standards, homes, houses [/tags]

For more West Linn real estate coverage by Ron Ares, visit http://www.move2westlinn.com.

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Apparently, West Linn homebuilders did not get that memo.

Nearly 200 new home starts now underway by a handful of local builders (and one national outfit) as well as some pending land transactions will keep West Linn afloat in new homes for some time.

The map below shows the location of these new home sites. Three are located on the top of the hill off Rosemont and Parker Roads. The others can be found overlooking Tanner Basin or near the Willamette district.

Renaissance Homes is farthest along with their Rosemont Pointe project, a community of 76 homes between 2,150 and 5,200 sq. ft. Prices range from $670,000 to $1.2 million. Most homes are found on 7,000 to 15,000 sq. ft. lots, many of which are flat (rare for West Linn these days!). As expected, the finishes and designs are top-notch for a production builder. Renaissance also has an option to purchase a sizeable chunk of land between Willamette Falls Dr. and Dollar Street, but closing has been delayed for the time being.

D.R. Horton and Legend Homes have both opened up sales offices at their respective sites, which are literally side-by-side off Parker Road. D.R. Horton is a national builder that has been active in Happy Valley, Bethany, and even Sellwood. Their Parker Crest development features 11 different floorplans (including one single-level) on 31 home sites, priced from $510,000 to $705,000 for 2,420 to 4,223 sq. ft. Lots here range from 7,000 to 10,000 sq. ft.

Legend Homes, a local builder, has opened its sales office at Maxfield, featuring 42 home sites, and Legend is featuring a large number of master-on-the-main floorplans. Prices range from $546,000 to $645,000 for base models. Thirteen floorplans from 2,040 to 3,500 sq. ft. are available.

Arbor Homes opened its sales office for Arbor Cove on Willamette Falls Drive last week. Around 70 homes will be built on this former mobile home park, starting at $395,000 and ranging up to $560,000 in their first phase. Owners can choose between cottage-style homes (smaller floorplans and prices) or full-size homes up to 2,900+ sq. ft. This site is walking distance from Fields Park along the Tualatin River. Homes here are 6 months from completion, and some sites have already sold.

ICON Construction is building its second phase of homes in the Willamette district at Fields Park II. Homes here range from $679,000 to $729,000. They are also breaking ground on Douglas Park, up the hill off Salamo Rd. in Tanner Basin, where you can find 32 homes between 2,500 and 3,500 sq. ft. on 7,000 sq. ft. lots.

There are also a number of custom builders providing smaller development, infill homes throughout West Linn, but they are too numerous to highlight here.

Note, too, that the prices provided by the builders do not include lot premiums (additional charges for bigger or well-positioned lots) or the inevitable lighting, flooring, paint, and kitchen upgrades to you will likely want.

If you are in the market for a new home and want experienced representation and advice, Jody or I can guide you through the process of choosing a site, home plan, upgrades, the builder’s sales contract, and escrow. Just call us at (503) 557-9299. Our services give you a local agent advocate at no additional cost.

[tags] West Linn, Oregon, homes, new, construction, homebuilders, Icon Construction, Renaissance Homes, Legend Homes, Arbor Homes, D.R. Horton, real estate [/tags]

For more West Linn real estate coverage by Ron Ares, visit http://www.move2westlinn.com.

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Developed by online real estate listings site Trulia, this new application, called Hindsight plots a sampling of an area’s home construction dates on top of a Microsoft Virtual Earth map. A timeline automatically starts scrolling from around the turn of the 20th century and as homes were built over time, they ‘bloom’ on the map.

Here is a view of the West Linn timeline:

The screen image shown above doesn’t do it justice. Click on the image or here to see it in its full glory.

As you might expect, the Willamette, Sunset, and Bolton neighborhoods are the first to appear on the map, but the bulk of West Linn home building took place after the ’70′s–with a healthy boom in the 1990′s.

The best way to view this is to stare at the middle of the screen and let your peripheral vision absorb the data as the timeline scrolls. Zoom in for a little more detail, or zoom out to see the Portland metropolitan area.

How helpful is this? If you’re not from West Linn or familiar with the area, you can pause, then slowly advance the scrollbar on the timeline to see where the homes of vintage construction have been built or where newer homes can be found.

Link to Trulia Hindsight.

If nothing else, it’s fun….this coming from a real estate/mapping junkie

[tags] West Linn, Oregon, real estate, homes, housing, construction, history, Trulia, Hindsight, maps [/tags]

For more West Linn real estate coverage by Ron Ares, visit http://www.move2westlinn.com.

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