Madison Park Times 02-01-21

FEBRUARY 2021

Madison Park Times

Serving East-Central Seattle since 1983

Real Estate

MADISON PARK - WASHINGTON PARK - MADISON VALLEY - DENNY-BLAINE - MADRONA - LESCHI www .M adison P ark T imes . com

Is love in the air for Seattle’s real estate market?

T

he onset of weeks on the market. the COWith new conVID-19 tracts for purchase pandemic disrupted exceeding new much of the sealistings, inventory sonality we rely on levels are markedly in the Seattle real low and contributestate market, and it ing to a steady climb continued to do so as in median home we said goodbye to prices, with Seattle 2020. single-family homes At the end of the rounding out the year Laura Halliday year, when many are at $840,000.

Property Views gathering for the Taking a closer holidays, real estate look at our microactivity has historimarket in the Central cally slowed.

Seattle region (Area 390), we saw But in this unusual year, the an even larger flurry of activity number of single-family homes in Q4-2020, with the number of for sale in Seattle during 2020’s homes sold and pended both up fourth quarter was up 24 percent. over 30 percent.

Buyer activity also remained Despite the disruption in strong, with the number of sales seasonality, some trends we in the final quarter up 28 percent expect in our neighborhoods held year-over-year and a sense of strong. As is typically the case, the urgency in the market, with the median sales price and days on average home spending only three market tend to be slightly higher

Madison Park Homes and Condos Address

(Arboretum, Broadmoor, Denny-Blaine, Leschi, Madison Park, Madison Valley, Washington Park) Bed

Bath 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 2 4 3 3 4 4 5 4

2040 43rd Avenue East #314 2817 South Norman Street 616 29th Avenue East #2 616 29th Avenue East #2 1835 24th Avenue #A 1605 25th Avenue 223 27th Avenue East #C 925 B 28th Avenue South 537 30th Avenue East 2020 42nd Avenue East 456 24th Avenue East 1615 40th Avenue 116 37th Avenue East 2215 40th Avenue East 1649 Shenandoah Drive East 1427 39th Avenue East 1019 39th Avenue East

here than in Seattle at large. In Q4-2020, the median sales price was $980,000, and homes spent an average of one month on the market.

So, what’s ahead?

The enviable market fundamentals of our region will keep

Sq Ft Built Days on Mkt Asking Price Sold Price

1 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.5 1 1.75 3 2 1.75 3 2 3.5 2.25 4 4.75 3

553 720 940 940 893 1,220 1,430 1,825 1,575 1,550 2,620 3,200 3,859 3,040 4,728 4,420 3,930

1961 2003 1988 1988 2007 1918 2020 2020 1954 1985 1908 1947 1947 1964 1928 1926 1995

105 5 50 50 9 73 64 7 4 65 55 8 7 5 263 84 73

$450,000 $499,000 $599,000 $599,000 $599,500 $650,000 $749,999 $879,950 $950,000 $1,325,000 $1,548,750 $1,945,000 $2,600,000 $2,595,000 $3,100,000 $3,998,000 $4,625,000

primary residences here while attracting like-minded followers who will take advantage of the relative home values, lower cost of living and greater prospect for capital appreciation compared with West Coast peer cities.

We also expect to witness

$440,000 $521,500 $599,000 $599,000 $600,000 $635,000 $735,000 $879,950 $1,000,000 $1,240,000 $1,500,000 $1,945,000 $2,600,000 $2,722,000 $2,900,000 $3,800,000 $4,625,000

Asking vs. Sold -2.27% 4.31% 0.00% 0.00% 0.08% -2.36% -2.04% 0.00% 5.00% -6.85% -3.25% 0.00% 0.00% 4.67% -6.90% -5.21% 0.00%

a massive downsizing cycle in the next decade, as Generation X’ers become empty-nesters, and retirees seek a “lock-and-leave” lifestyle and harvest equity for second homes in destination

PROPERTY, PAGE 7

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February 2021

How to get more out of your core

M

ost people have an idea of what it means to do “core training” since we now know how important core performance is for body performance, but many people never come to understand what “core strength” is and how that might be different from “core coordination.”

What most people think is that if they just do the right exercises, and do them enough, that they will develop all that is needed for an effective core.

While other muscles in the body may respond well to bluntedged repetition and consistency, the core is a different kind of apparatus that must be linked effectively to a life-giving muscle: the diaphragm.

The (thoracic) diaphragm, also known as the “breathing muscle,” is a thin and parachute-shaped muscle that helps pull air into the lungs when we breath in.

When the diaphragm is relaxed, it lengthens upwards toward a partially empty and now smaller set of lungs, and when the diaphragm contracts it draws the lungs down toward the pelvis, helping to expand the lungs and draw air inwards. Your abdominal contents, for the most part, go along for the ride undisturbed.

So then, what does the diaphragm have to do with the core?

As it happens, quite a lot.

Our diaphragm is going more into works with our trunk the chest, or into and pelvic muscles the belly? Check to create stability for to see if there are our spine and pelvis, muscles other than taking the load off the diaphragm (quite literally) of working to bring our spinal joints, as air in, such as the well as reduce tenneck, shoulder and sion in spine- and hip muscles. Can hip-stability muscles you breathe deeply by connecting without using these tension with each muscles?

Dr. Dan Michael other throughout the Step 2: As you Northwest Sports breathe in, can you breathing cycle.

Breathing and manipulate where bracing effectiveness the “air” goes in is one of the first things I check your chest and trunk? With each for in both chronic and acute breath in, try to “push” the air into lower back pain (among other different parts of your chest, trunk conditions) because if one does and spine — front and back, side not have a coordinated breathing to side, top and bottom. and bracing mechanism, spinal While Step 1 is about mindfulbiomechanics quickly deteriorate, ness, Step 2 is about coordination leading to compensation patterns and control of the muscles around and ultimately back pain. your trunk and your diaphragm Much like riding a bike, learnworking together, and how well ing this method is prohibitively they can “push air” around. This difficult to perform alone for step of “core coordination” is often even the most experienced and fit missed before people set out to people, so I will not attempt to perform “core strengthening exerteach you here in this article, but cises,” so be sure to learn this step.

I will share some tips that can get Step 3: Challenge yourself in a you started. variety of positions and activities Step 1: Lay down with your to perform step 1 and 2. knees bent and feet flat on the Caution: Be careful not to floor. Breathe in deeply and breathe too quickly as it can lead become aware of where in your you to become light headed, trunk and chest the “air” seems no more than eight to 10 deep to “go.” Does it feel like the air breaths per minute. Do not

“While other muscles in the body may respond well to bluntedged repetition and consistency, the core is a different kind of apparatus that must be linked effectively to a life-giving muscle: the diaphragm.”

restrict yourself with this number, however; everyone has unique breathing needs.

Start slow and move from laying down on your back to sitting up in a chair, and then, if you feel comfortable, you can try the exercise while standing up, walking, etc.

Take this Step 3 exercise in one- to two-minute segments to start, and slow your breathing down so that you can focus on what you feel.

Step 4: Link your trunk muscles to your breathing muscle. This is where breathing becomes like learning how to ride a bike and where help is often needed. Just like how your diaphragm lengthens and shortens in a coordinated and tensioned fashion, so the

muscles in your core should move in a coordinated and tensioned fashion right alongside and in “contact” with the diaphragm.

Think of it like two ballroom dancers’ lead hands as they press together and stay together, with the diaphragm leading the movement.

If you are having trouble with this, do not worry, almost everyone struggles in the beginning and, as mentioned, this step likely will require a trained clinician’s guidance.

Following these steps and connecting your breathing to your core support is the most important thing you can learn how to do before going straight into a core-training program, or any training program for that matter.

It is also critical to learn if you suffer from chronic injuries because our bodies are so adept at compensating. What may appear to be a hip, shoulder or even an ankle problem may be sourced from an incompetent core.

These steps may be hard to follow, so if any further clarity or discussion is needed, please do write to let me know.

— Dr. Dan Michael is a chiropractic physician at NW Sports Rehab, 1929 43rd Ave. E., in Madison Park. Call 206-3285466 for more information.

WASHINGTON PARK $13,895,000

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February 2021

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PROVEN RESULTS

I

n the aftermath of such a challenging year, the winter issue of RESIDE® Magazine looks ahead at some exciting updates for Realogics Sotheby’s

International Realty. The firm announced an achievement of $2.8 billion in annual sales, a new partnership with Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates as a newly envisioned retail experience in our Kirkland office, and the highly anticipated 2020/2021 annual report. Also, in this edition, Kristin Davis shares her five favorite things, we explore a 21st century take on the Tudor home, and much more. Please reach out to me for a complimentary print or digital copy!

Sotheby’s Auction House Presents Open Roads, a range of high-quality motor cars and a selection of automobilia spanning a multitude of segments of the market.

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BROADMOOR | $1,995,000 1927 Blenheim Drive East — Smart and sophisticated one-level home, privately nestled behind a handsome hedge in the middle of Broadmoor! Generous living and dining rooms flank a slate entry.

French doors off the living room lead to a charming side patio. Perfect for those seeking that lock-and-leave lifestyle.

A CONTINUED LEGACY RSIR ranks amongst the largest, most productive and fastestgrowing real estate companies in Washington with access to 23,000 brokers in 70 countries that generate global sales of $114 billion annually.

WHAT MY CLIENTS ARE SAYING

DENNY-BLAINE | $1,795,000 111 34th Avenue East — The Treehouse, a sought-after address and intelligent design guided by creative inspiration—rare is the home that brings these elements together at one time. Modern design is wildly popular right now and so are fresh rooms, smartly conceived.

At once: practical, dramatic, and timeless.

We were first-time homebuyers who had no idea what they were doing. Laura was patient, extremely professional, and went above and beyond to make the home buying process a seamless one. On top of her local knowledge and expertise of the Seattle housing market, Laura takes the time to actually get to know her clients to ensure they are going after homes that fit them and their family’s needs. She is a consummate professional and allout wonderful person.

- Pat & Tana Chiarelli

Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Seller reserves the right change the product offering without notice.

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I

February 2021

The great seed-starting game

ditions. Some like t’s the time of to be planted on year when, if the the surface, some sun peeks out for deep, and some more than an hour, with just a dusting gardeners’ fingers start of soil welcoming twitching, reaching diffuse streams for their trowels. of light. So, you There are things to need to know what be done, from sweepyou’re growing and ing squishy, brown give it precisely former plants off your what it likes and paths, to planting any when. new potted plants.

Erica Grivas Don’t forget the There’s a lot that Get Growing Seattle spring wild shouldn’t be done yet, card! Seattle’s cool like most pruning. springs mean that if What you want your timing is off, you could have to be thinking about is planplants bursting their shelves inside ning your garden on paper and while it’s still too chilly to put any indoor seed-starting you are them outside. contemplating.

For the highest survival rate, This week, because you might you have to make a good bet as to need to order some things before our average last frost date. The key you can play, we’ll discuss seedword there is “average.” No one starting. If you’re not doing any seeds this year, grab a good garden really knows when frost will hit, especially with the erratic weather book or start doodling where patterns trending in recent years. you can add some evergreens and The first week of May is a timeflowers for winter interest. honored guess, hosting plant sales Indoor seed-starting is a fascinating and exacting game, es- throughout the state every year — but even that is often too cool for pecially here in Seattle. It’s a little plants that like the soil toasty, like like cake baking and a little like tomatoes, basil, peppers, melons betting on racehorses. You need and sunflowers. The last frost date a lot of specific knowledge and a only considers the air temperature, big pinch of faith. not the soil temperature.

Each type of plant you can sow Seasoned players will have has its preferred germination heat already procured heated greenand light conditions, as well as houses, frost fabric covering their ideal growing and flowering con-

raised beds, and/or red plastic on their soil to hedge their bets when the little plantlings first hit the cold world.

If you want to get your nerd out and do the research, check out the National Garden Association’s last frost date charts and planting guide (https://garden.org/apps/ frost-dates/Seattle,%20Washington/) and WSU soil temperature maps (https://weather.wsu. edu/?p=89750) online. Feeling lucky and ready to gamble on putting the plants out in May? Err on the late side for starting your seeds. Count back the seed packet’s specified weeks from your chosen planting-out date, say May 5.

You can try seeds from anywhere, but regional growers like Territorial Seeds, Ed Hume Seeds or Seattle Urban Seed Co., will select and choose plants that grow well here or that have been acclimated to our conditions. Home growers do the same.

That’s where most of our seed varieties come from: generations of farmers and gardeners saving the tastiest, tallest, earliest plants they grew. This only works with “open-pollinated” seed, by the way, not “F-1 hybrids.” Check your packet or do your research on a variety before you save seed. Many grocery produce varieties will not

SEE SEEDING, PAGE 7

Photo courtesy Erica Grivas Each type of plant you can sow has its preferred germination heat and light conditions, as well as ideal growing and flowering conditions. So you need to know what you’re growing and give it what it likes and when.

With over 31 years of real estate experience, we would love be your real estate experts when it comes to marketing your home and purchasing a new home . We are excited to talk with you about your options!

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TAYLOR HINDS Windermere Madison Park 206•434•5102 TAYLORHINDS@WINDERMERE.COM TAYLORHINDS.WTHWRE.COM

Pacific Publishing Company – Queen Anne & Magnolia News • Madison Park Times • City Living Seattle

February 2021

A Trusted Legacy A brand delivering the highest standard of service since 1744.

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4031 East Madison Street | Visit RSIR.com or call 206.466.2409

*Photo taken February 2020

MARKET REPORT

LEADING THE MARKET

VA L E N T I N E ' S DAY

In past years, the real estate market has slowed as the holidays approach—but 2020 was different. Low inventory and high demand created a seller’s market.

Request a copy and view the report at RSIR.com/quarterly.

Congratulations to the brokers and employees who propelled RSIR’s trajectory as the region’s global leader in real estate—their extraordinary efforts achieved $2.8 billion in total sales volume in 2020.

Treat your Valentine to an extra special day this year! We’re sharing the ideal spots to safely spend a date night out with your partner as well as delicious options for take-out so you can dine-in. From wine tasting to igloo dinners, explore the options at RSIR.com/myValentine.

RSIR.COM * REAL Trends has been The Trusted Source of news, analysis, and information on the residential brokerage industry since 1987. REAL Trends is owned and operated by HW Media.

RSIR.com was one of 400 residential real estate websites evaluated ranked solely based on their excellence in the following categories: Best Overall, Best Design, Best Video Strategy, Best Mobile Experience, Best Property Detail Pages, and Best Community Pages.

Each office is Independently owned and operated.

Seller reserves the right to change product offering without notice.

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February 2021

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Ryder Fasse Sales Broker 206.351.0923

Curt Weese Sales Broker 206.454.9638

Megan Bassetti Marketing Manager

Chris@KingCountyEstates.com 206-799-2244 KingCountyEstates.com

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Seattle Symphony’s Community Stages Fund opens Benaroya Hall stage to local organizations

THERESA TRUEX

Subject to terms, conditions and availability. © 2015 Allstate Insurance Co.

February 2021

The Seattle Symphony is launching the Community Stages Fund, which aims to support nonprofit organizations by providing fully sponsored or heavily subsidized use of the performance and backstage spaces of Benaroya Hall and access to digital streaming equipment and production crew.

The initiative will serve organizations within the Pacific Northwest who do not have access to technology or spaces of their own to produce digital content, which impacts not only their ability to connect with audiences but also their ability to fundraise.

Additionally, as the systemic inequities that impact BIPOC communities have been made even more apparent by the pandemic, the Symphony’s fund seeks to bridge these gaps and support the organizations of the Pacific Northwest region by providing a digital platform and live stage to share their work.

Organizations interested in a Community Stages Fund grant can apply at seattlesymphony.org/ communitystages. First round applications are due by Feb. 8, with additional applications accepted on a rolling basis. Initial

SEEDING, FROM PAGE 4

“There is nothing like the magic of watching a little nugget, which appears as hard and inert as a pebble, transform into a sprout, a seedling and, finally, a stout plant, and then feeling the satisfaction of saving your best-performing seeds and growing them next year.”

come true from seed.

This year, I’ll be growing seeds saved from my favorite blossoms on the variable calendula Bronze Beauty, in which each flower offers its own riff combining buff, gold, champagne and burgundy.

If I did that selectively for six or seven years until my seeds reliably produced the same flower, I could create “Erica’s Bronze Beauty.”

Luckily there’s time to think of a better name.

It’s possible not all seeds in your packet will germinate. I like to pre-germinate my seeds to save time and space and prevent watering any duds. It’s also a good way to test the viability of older seeds you may have. I put the seeds in a damp paper towel in a labeled/ dated Tupperware or Ziploc bag.

Usually you’ll see sprouting in two or three days.

You will want to sow your seeds in “Seedling Mix,” which is far lighter and easier for plantlings to push through than potting soil or mix.

How close to plant your seeds?

Depends on your tolerance for thinning (removing runty seedlings), accidental or otherwise.

Many people only put two or three seeds in a cell, but tomato expert Craig Lehoullier plants thousands of tomato starts every year by planting densely, say 10 seeds in a cell, and transplanting into bigger pots as needed. There could be some attrition in that process.

A grow light or three is smart, because even a lovely south-facing windowsill may offer weak light

PROPERTY, FROM PAGE 1 markets with a return to travel post-pandemic.

In the short term, the first three weeks of January 2021 have proven to be slightly busier than in past years. In our neighborhood, we’ve seen one condominium sale at $440,000 and three pending condos ranging in list price from $474,950 to $769,950. Six single-family homes went under contract, priced from $1,995,000 to $8,950,000, with another four homes sold ranging from $1,240,000 to $4,625,000.

participants will be announced

by March 1. The selection committee will consist of Symphony leadership and partners within the Symphony’s Community Connections program. Selection will be prioritized based on demonstrated need of the organization as well as service to racially diverse communities.

The Seattle Symphony’s Community Stages Fund is underwritten by the Tagney Jones Family Fund at Seattle Foundation.

For questions about the application process, contact community. stages@seattlesymphony.org.

in Seattle in winter. To be effective, the lights need to be close to the plants, like within 4 inches, and you’ll need to adjust as the plant grows — that’s why “shop lights” on chains are popular, though for smaller operations, you can use a grow-light bulb in a gooseneck lamp.

Tomatoes and peppers will germinate best in hot temperatures, so a heat mat is helpful for them.

I’ve also heard of people putting them on top of their refrigerator for the heat, but that one didn’t work for me.

As always inside, getting the balance of humidity for plants is tricky. Not enough, your seed tray looks like concrete, too much, and you get the mysterious “damping off ” disease, where precious seedlings just kind of melt away.

Covering the planting tray with one of those shallow kit lids a.) only works for a minute once the seeds grow, and b.) may be too wet and not allow enough air circulation. A soaking at planting followed by misting the surface a couple of times a day will help.

As to outdoor seeds, a handful of half-hardy annuals (they can take a little cold) can be sown outside in either autumn or early spring, but I would recommend

dedicating a protected sunny spot with well-draining soil. Some of these are: calendula, sweet peas, bachelors’ buttons, larkspur and breadseed poppies. Local Floret Farms has some tips, https:// www.floretflowers.com/easy-togrow-hardy-annuals/. Cool-season veggies like arugula, lettuce, chard, spinach and kale are best sown under some cover (such as under hoop houses). Again, check the soil and air temperature needs of your seeds.

All this is not to discourage, but to ensure the best experience growing your first seeds.

Yes, you may have to experiment a bit before you hit your stride, but that’s part of the fun of gardening. There is nothing like the magic of watching a little nugget, which appears as hard and inert as a pebble, transform into a sprout, a seedling and, finally, a stout plant, and then feeling the satisfaction of saving your bestperforming seeds and growing them next year.

At the time of this writing, there are seven condominiums listed for sale in Madison Park, ranging in price from $310,000 to $3.5 million. There are nine single-family residences currently on the market in Broadmoor, Madison Park, Washington Park and Denny-Blaine, priced from just $950,000 to $14.7 million.

Overall, inventory in our city is down an unbelievable 47 percent from last year. Month-to-date stats comparing the current year with one year ago also reveal that, while inventory is sharply down, pending sales are up 14.5

percent and sold properties are up 16.4 percent — spelling out that demand is far outstripping supply.

If you are looking to sell this year, your timing could not be better.

I’d love to connect with you to discuss how these market trends are impacting homes in your neighborhood. Here’s to a wonderful year ahead!

— Erica Browne Grivas is a Seattle resident and avid gardener with a certificate in landscape design and a national regional director for Garden Communicators International.

— Laura Halliday Managing Broker, Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty Laura.Halliday@rsir.com 206-399-5842 LauraHalliday.com

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February 2021