Got a Dish to Pass? Davis Neighbors’ Night Out – October 5th

One thing to like about Davis is our friendliness as neighbors.  A few years ago I helped a client with the sale of her home in West Davis, as she had just purchased a home in nearby community.  Within a year, she moved back to Davis. She told me that many of her neighbors drove into their garages, closed the garage door behind them and were rarely seen.  A collection of homes in and of itself does not make a neighborhood, neighbors do.

In 2006 the City of Davis began assisting residents with organizing of neighborhood block parties, held simultaneously throughout town. Many neighbors chose to have potlucks, (cookie exchanges, ice cream socials, etc. are also welcome), and 60 such gatherings took place, a chance for neighbors new and old to introduce one another and visit with friends. Last year 80 events took place and the city is optomistic that over 100 block parties will form this year, on Sunday, October 5th, the Centennial year of UC Davis. 

The city’s staff helps with invitations, and will offer glow sticks, balloons, door hangers, lawn signs and other items for the party at the request of the neighborhood. Also, city staff coordinates efforts to spice up the gatherings with appearances by police cars (including canine units), fire trucks, Unitrans double decker buses, and appearances by the mayor and city council members. City employee Stacey Winton told me that in 2006 Mayor Ruth Asmundsen personnally tried to visit all 60 block parties, (she didn’t quite make it).

If you’re interested in hosting an event this year, want to know which neighborhoods are already planning parties, or simply want to learn more about Davis Neighbors’ Night Out, click on the city’s link below. I look forward to hosting a potluck on my street. Hey, neighbor!

http://www.cityofdavis.org/neighbors/

UC Davis West Village project moves closer to reality

UC Davis has signed a lease with a developer of the West Village neighborhood, and construction of infrastructure for the project will begin shortly. The controversial development had been unsuccessfully fought by a West Davis neighborhood group due to environmental impact concerns, but a judge ruled against the neighbors in 2006, literally paving the way for the project. When complete, the neighborhood, which lies south of Russell Blvd. and west of Hwy. 113, will contain nearly 500 cottage-style homes similar to the smaller Aggie Village neighborhood (adjacent to Borders), and provide housing space for 3,000 students. As with Aggie Village, the The West Village homes will be offered to UC Davis employees at prices below market value with their equity appreciation capped.

Read the latest press release about the project:

http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=8772

UC Davis West Village homepage:

http://www.westvillage.ucdavis.edu/index.html

U.S. Bike Capitol

Davis, CA was the first city in the country awarded with a platinum level of bicycle friendliness from the League of American Bicyclists. The only other city to achieve such a designation is Portland, OR, awarded as a platinum level city this past April. Davis also claims to have more bikes per capita than any city in America. Davis city planners truly go the extra mile in accomodating bikers, from kids to commuters. It’s what helps make Davis an extraordinary place to call home.

I enjoy biking to my downtown Coldwell Banker office, with a variety of easy 3-mile routes to use. My favorite is the scenic Putah Creek bike path which eventually leads me under I-80 and past the eastern edge of the UC Davis arboretum. Another route follows Pole Line Road over I-80, then west on Fifth St. into the heart of downtown. Wherever you live in Davis there are bike lanes, greenbelt bike paths, tunnels, overpasses, and even America’s first bicycle stop light (at the intersection of Russell Blvd. and Sycamore Ln.) to get you where you’re going in comfort and safety.

 

It’s fun to meet my buyers and sellers by bike for home tours, inspections and more. Give me a shout if you want to tour Davis by bicycle with Davis’s only certified EcoBroker and we’ll hit the road on two wheels. Save the planet & stay fit – a win-win. Happy biking!

Enjoy this short video on biking in Davis:

http://www.cityofdavis.org/bicycles/streetfilms.cfm 

Wild About Wildhorse!

I assisted the satisfied buyers at 2803 Bellows Place in the Wildhorse neighborhood of Davis. Listed for $699,000, the home features five bedrooms, three baths and over 2,600 sq. ft. of living area.  The smooth escrow closed yesterday.

If you are considering a purchase or sale in the Davis area, please contact me today at 530.304.5978 for exceptional service.