The Big Winter Fizzle

Last week’s winter warnings turned out to be a ‘nothing burger’ or did it? Down on the valley floors there was little in the way of accumulating snow and many areas had non-sticking flurries most of the week. But one only had to rise up about 500 feet above the valley floor and the snow started to get rather deep. Higher elevation neighborhoods above 1000 feet saw several inches accumulate over each day of the week.

Such is life in the winter here in America’s Vancouver. More often we have a near miss on heavy winter snow rather than a hit. I had just over an inch at my house on the valley floor but it was spread out over two days and didn’t hang around very long on Tuesday or Friday when I had sticking snow.

Looks like we are in for a few weeks of mild winter weather, I enjoyed a lovely afternoon outside with wifey yesterday under sunshiny skies and temps in the low fifties. Sweet! Of course the temps may be up but the rain will be coming through most of this next week so get ready for water. We need some rain we are trailing the averages by a fair bit already this season.

In other Vancouver news, the 2020 outlook is strong for new construction across the whole range from single family homes to to high-rise condos, apartments, and office space. So much going on and some $3 billion in proposed projects across our fair city is great way to start a new decade.

Oh, while out driving along Evergreen Hwy soaking up the rare January sunshine, I spotted an open house sign. As I approached I thought it might be one of those river view condos in Riverpointe. So I followed the signs but as it turns out it was for a home, a rather nice home that I felt was well priced for what it was. Over 6600 SF and excellent attention to fine details this home seems to be value priced at just $1.725 million. I didn’t want to take a bunch of photos, but the house is listed and I looked it up , hey I am a Realtor® after all 🙂

From the upper level the river views are spectacular and from the lower level you are poolside. There is about 1/3 acre and it is walled and gated. I really felt like I was in a more expensive house. There was rather generous use of polished marble and exotic wood finishes. A full length veranda up top and even a large “widows walk” on the roof to really soak up the view.

Ah the ‘Couv’ life; it is good.

SNOW! maybe…

It is that time of year my friends, yes the great Northwest Divide is upon us. No I’m not talking about Republicans and Democrats. I’m talking about Good Snow, Bad Snow! The National Weather Service is showing winter weather warnings for the metro area this week with low elevation snow and that is one of those love-hate scenarios that stops all the politics talk and captures the local attention. Donald who? Nancy who? We don’t have time for this DC crap! It’s about to start snowing… this could be the BIG ONE!

Well relax, this is probably not “The Big One” I don’t see Snowzilla lurking on the horizon, nor is Snowmageddon upon us. This is likely going to be one of those light dusting on the valley floors events. The foothills however are a very different animal. With snow levels well below a 1000 feet any travel into hilly terrain is likely to yield snow covered roads, so be ready for that.

I am one of those people that embraces the big snow events. We don’t get them often enough to be a nuisance so why not soak up some winter? Others however are like my father-in-law who likes to say things like, “ONE snowflake…. is one too many.”

The National Weather Service doesn’t seem too concerned about this setup so I’d imagine that 1-2 inches on the valley floors is about all we’ll see this time. The best chance for that is tonight into tomorrow or perhaps Wednesday.

Ah the ‘Couv’ life; it is good.

Happy New Year, Vancouver!

A new year, a new decade, a new opportunity for good living in the ‘Couv’. I do trust you all had a fabulous New Year, I did and I am looking forward to an exciting 2020.

We have been in a bit of a weather pattern that may seem gloomy and wet, but in reality we are way behind on rainfall/snowfall this season. The wild winter is just getting under way though, so we have plenty of time to get caught up and this weekend may be the first real “winter” weather we have had this year. That snow level is supposed to start sliding down, down, down and by the end of next weekend with might see some snowflakes fluttering in the breeze. It has been a rather dull winter thus far neither warm nor cold just kind of cool and damp. We shall see if old man winter was just waiting for a new decade to light things up a bit.

Meanwhile the Columbian reported recently that despite some reservations by the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission the city has rubber stamped the Aegis project on the Academy grounds. I generally like the HPC and the work they do, but I tend to disagree with them on this project. The money the trustees get for this land in the development deal will pay for much needed maintenance for the historic Academy building. it is a large scale urban project and from the West and North the Academy building will be blocked, but from the south out in front of the building it will be more open and absolutely fully restored to its original glory, perhaps more glorious. This new multi-building mid-rise development will come in two phases the first of which is now cleared to break ground. The project looks nice and is very complimentary to the historic Academy building. It will bring initially 134 units downtown and another 150 plus over the next couple of years. To keep downtown viable we have to bring more people, business, and jobs to the core and that is what the city is doing rather well, actually.

I’m a Libertarian, I don’t throw compliments around at governments lightly, not very often for that matter 😉

On my Urban Living in the ‘Couv’ website and blog you can follow all of Vancouver USAs major urban projects from recently completed, to under construction, and proposals. Recently added to that site is a crane watch map showing the locations of Tower Cranes in Vancouver. We may never catch up to Portland on the number of active crane, but if we get to a half dozen, we are seriously rolling 🙂

Ah the ‘Couv’ life; it is good.