Rough Waters
by Osman Parvez ---- Looks like the Camera is finally reporting what I told readers about a month ago... From Rough Waters: Nationally, 2007 was a disastrous year in the residential real estate market, with new home sales plunging 26.4 percent, median sales prices barely gaining and foreclosures skyrocketing 75 percent. While it was rough in Boulder and Broomfield counties, as well, things weren't nearly as bad locally as on the national scene. In Boulder County last year, sales of new and existing homes dropped nearly 7 percent and foreclosures jumped 28 percent to hit a record high. Home sales [...]
Lying to Barack Obama – Kash’s Book Corner
by Osman Parvez ---- As you might guess, I'm a insatiable reader. Seems as soon as I could read, I was visiting the local library. I will never forget the little library in the town where I grew up. I still remember the day I got my first library card. As a kid, I spent endless hours in that building, voraciously devouring books on countless subjects. Books will always fill a special place in my life. One of the things I love about our community here in Boulder is the number of strong independent businesses. They run a wide spectrum [...]
Toxic Waste: Mapping Boulder and Beyond
by Osman Parvez ---- When we help you buy a house, we'll advise you to complete your due diligence before purchasing a property. Typical items we recommend include simple steps, like walking nearby streets and talking to neighbors. We'll even walk the streets with you, if you'd like. Some of the check list items we recommend include calculating your commute, distance to grocery stores, and local schools. Articles posted on this blog are one of the ways we help people find the tools to do a better job at investigating the facts. From the list of labels on the right, [...]
Beetle Epidemic
by Osman Parvez ---- Yesterday the Daily Camera had a piece on the Pine beetle epidemic. From the Camera: "It's started to move into the ponderosa pine and forest," said Kevin Zimlinghaus, who works for the Forest Service's Boulder Ranger District. "That could pose a problem. If the beetles do get into the ponderosa pine and continue to move, they could come all the way down to the plains." The tree die-off could have major social and economic impacts on the state. No kidding. How long have we known this? For those following the issue, be sure to read Myths [...]
The Land Grab: What Would You Do?
by Osman Parvez ---- A friend and I had a good discussion this morning over breakfast at Lucile's (highly recommended by the way). Let's say you found yourself in the position of the Boulder couple who won judgement of their neighbor's land using adverse possession. Little did you expect to draw the ire of the community, much less the attention of the nation. Now what? When most people act, they usually think they're doing the right thing. Although it may seem reprehensible to most of us, when Richard Mclean and Edith Stevens took legal action against their neighbor they more [...]
FasTracks Update
by Osman Parvez ---- It appears that a few federal transportation rules have changed, with the potential to add sizable costs to the FasTracks project. Meanwhile Boulder City Council is preparing to lobby for noise mitigation. From the Daily Camera: Some federal transportation rules have changed since voters in 2004 approved the $4.8 billion FasTracks initiative, said Chris Quinn, FasTracks Northwest Rail project manager. And those changes could cost real money by the time the rail line is complete in late 2014, he said. Also, be sure to check out where the proposed stations are in my development map. ---- [...]
Ready to Lose 25% of Your Property Value?
by Osman Parvez ---- Should there be limits on the size of homes in Boulder? How large is too large? Results from an economic study on the issue were released yesterday. From the Daily Camera: The latest version of the proposed house limits would cap houses in the plains at 4,500 square feet above ground and houses in the mountains at 3,000 square feet above ground. The study also presented a "quick and dirty" analysis on how the new program would affect property values and estimated it was possible that some land could lose as much as 25 percent of [...]
A Lot to Lose
by Osman Parvez ---- A quarter of the 9000+ signatures gathered by opponents of Washington Village were not registered to vote in Boulder. The group is just 86 short. With 10 days and their well organized efforts, there's no doubt they'll get the signatures needed to certify their petition. It's a given. So now what? It will first go to City Council, with four new members (of seven total), who can choose to reverse their decision to change zoning to allow the Washington Village project. There's a fair chance that the new members will help the Council's decision. If not, [...]
Washington Village Under Fire
by Osman Parvez ---- Neighbors of the Washington Village Cohousing Development filed a lawsuit today. From the Daily Camera: The lawsuit, brought by neighbors who live next to the former Washington School at 1215 Cedar Ave., alleges the Boulder City Council broke the law in changing zoning lines to accommodate a proposal to build homes, condominiums, commercial space and a "co-housing" community. The complaint lists as defendants the city of Boulder, the City Council and the Wonderland Hill Development Company, which brought the plan forward. The suit contends that the zoning change broke the law because it "confers a special [...]
Hey Buddy, Take a Hike
by Osman Parvez ---- Given the balmy weather, here's something you might enjoy this evening. Unwind on a contemplative hike and remind yourself of one of the reasons people choose to live in Boulder. Join city of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Naturalist Jake Davis on a tranquil, introspective hike from 4 to 5 p.m. tonight, Monday, Nov 19. Meet at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage, 900 Baseline Road. The hike will be followed by free hot tea, cocoa and conversation in the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage. For more information, visit the Open Space and Mountain Parks website or call [...]
Adverse Possession Brouhaha
by Osman Parvez ---- The comments I've gotten from on the adverse possession of private land by two legal eagles (see Gimme! A Legal Land Grab) has been startling. This issue really sparks a reaction. Although I can't share their off the record comments, some laced with colorful metaphors, here's a few snippets from letters to the editor of the Daily Camera: November 12: "Gaining ownership under adverse possession can only happen when titled owners exhibit an uninterrupted disregard for another's use of their property for many years." November 14: "Bob Greenlee's column on adverse possession (Nov. 4) was a [...]
Gimme! A Legal Land Grab in Boulder
by Osman Parvez ---- Recently, a judge granted a trespassing Boulder couple ownership of land backing open space. The takers of the land are a former judge and lawyer couple. Obviously, they know the law. Seeing the owner's intent to build, they filed an action to possess the land and maintain their access. According to the defendants, this wasn't about access to open space. It was really about protecting their views. The plaintiff's were given a portion of the land, possibly rendering the full lot unbuildable. The previous owners value the lot (and their loss) at $800,000 to $1,000,000. What's [...]
Boulder Sites You Should Visit
by Osman Parvez ---- Here's a few Boulder blogs and websites that recently caught my eye. I think they're worth a look. Boulder Going Local: A campaign to help build community self-sufficiency and strengthen our local economy. The campaign promotes buying local, eating local, growing local, using local energy, and even a local currency. Boulder Cone Zones: A continually updated list of improvements being undertaken to Boulder's transportation infrastructure. The site includes a map of cone zones. You can also sign up for alerts via email. Martin Acres Life: A blog by Alfred Sawatzky on his experiences in Martin Acres, [...]
The Washington Village Petition
by Osman Parvez ---- They're everywhere. On street corners waving signs, canvassing neighborhoods door to door. Their goal? Collect enough signatures to force a referendum on the Washington Village development. If you're a reader of this blog or participate in a neighborhood email list (highly recommended), you've already heard some of the debate. On Sunday, the developer was granted an audience via an opinion piece in the Daily Camera. I've already presented the views of the neighborhood association. Here's what Jim Leach thinks (an excerpt, trimmed): These neighbors ask you to sign in order to "allow the people to be [...]
Solar Powered (Commercial) Property Workshop
by Osman Parvez ---- Ready to convert your Boulder business to solar? This Tuesday, Nov. 13 the City is offering an informational workshop on solar electricity for commercial facilities. The Office of Environmental Affairs (OEA) is hosting the workshop from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Boulder Chamber of Commerce (2440 Pearl St). This free workshop will review the main aspects of installing solar systems in businesses. "With increasing energy prices and concern about climate change, many businesses are trying to decide if solar electricity is a wise investment for their facility," said Kevin Afflerbaurh, city of Boulder energy sustainability [...]
