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In this issue:
Kings Beach ... the next big thing
New Orleans, Katrina and the Lake Tahoe Basin ... what is the lesson and are we paying attention
Market Notes:The Myth of Franchise Real Estate Companies
What's Up with the Kings Beach Commercial Core Improvement Project?
Currently a ambitious project to rehabilitate the Kings Beach commercial corridor is going through the Environmental Review Process. The Environmental Impact Report for the Kings Beach Commercial Core Improvement Project (KBCCIP) is looking at four different alternatives for what Main Street, Kings Beach will look like. These alternatives are:
1. Two lanes in each direction with left turn lanes at major intersections. This includes signalized intersections at Bear, Coon, and 267. Five foot bike lanes, parking lane, and five foot sidewalks.
2. One lane in each direction with a center two-way left turn lane and seasonal ‘no parking’. This plan includes roundabouts; nine foot sidewalks and five foot bike lanes.
3. One lane in each direction with a center two-way left turn lane and no parking. This plan includes roundabouts … the roadway is narrower with ten foot sidewalks and a five foot bike lane.
4. Two lanes westbound with year round parking and one lane eastbound with no parking. This alternative includes a center two way left turn lane and includes roundabouts, eight foot sidewalks, and a five foot bike lane.
“The EIR is projected to be completed in spring/beginning of summer 2005. At this time the public is invited to review the document and make comments. There will be a series of public workshops hosted by Placer County Department of Public Works in which they present the results of the report and invite comments. The NTBA plans to host community workshops also so people can work together digesting this document and decide what's best for the community” … this is the ‘company line’ but the rest of the story is that, while the project is being served by the best and brightest of the local community serving in committees working under a national consulting group called Main Street; the rub is that the community is contentiously divided over the idea of reducing the current four lane road to anything less than that, especially if on-street parking is compromised. It has become a very emotional issue pitting the those who see short-term economic dislocation in tampering with traffic flow and parking against those who see a potential long-term revitalization of the Kings Beach community.
There is some good news in the sense that the application process is being uncluttered. The application no longer involves fish habitat designations; nor are the applications going to be subject to the complicated scenic review regulations.
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New Orleans, Katrina and the Lake Tahoe Basin: What is the lesson and are we paying attention ?
In my youth I worked my way through college and law school as a merchant seaman. My usual run was from Philadelphia to the Mississippi River delta ports. I experienced Hurricane Camile, the last devastating storm to strike the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast. I lived and worked with the coastal natives of the area. The ‘inevitability’ of this kind of catastrophe in New Orleans was well-accepted among people who knew the Gulf weather and water. Below-sea-level New Orleans has always “been aware” that a devastating hurricane was bound to happen. Now the lack of preparation and foresight is being roundly criticized.
The Lake Tahoe Basin has been identified as one of the most endangered fire areas in California.
Some facts:
Wildfires in California are becoming larger and more destructive than anything we have ever seen before… the average California fire today is twice the size of the average fire in 1980.
“Monster fires”, like the San Bernadino and San Diego fires in 2003, are something very different than the smaller, beneficial fires that occur in ’healthy ’ forests.
The overcrowding of Tahoe’s forests have been greatly accelerated and worsened by bark beetle infestation.
A healthy forest has apprx 66 trees per acre … our forests are clogged with 450 to 500 per acre.
John Muir wrote that in a Sierra forest “you can gallop a horse without hitting a tree” … it is now difficult to even walk through a Tahoe forest.
A crown fire on a scale very likely in the Tahoe Basin would create an erosion catastrophe. These ‘monster’ fires sterilize soil and leave behind water-resistant hard pack clay that could undo years of clarity projects in a few days; brushland, not forest, grows back in such a devasted environment.
Dr Thomas Bonnicksen, a renown forest management consultant and a team of 21 experts were commissioned to make recommendations to San Bernandino and San Diego Counties. They were ignored. Wildfires are predictable and preventable Dr. Bonnicksen is offering solutions that could protect Lake Tahoe.
This story is continued in a fascinating DVD that is offered as a free rental in the Video Stop (Tahoe City) and Video Maniacs (Incline Village) … it is called “Solving the Wildfire Crisis” or ask me in the reply card and I’ll get you a loaner.
Are you interested in selling your commercial real estate or business opportunity?
I will suggest approaches that have been effective in dozens of business and commercial real estate transactions in future newsletters ... or, please do not hesitate to contact Michael Willette at 530-583-2912 or michaelw@northtahoe.net
Michael Willette
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Market Notes ...
THE MYTHS OF REAL ESTATE FRANCHISE COMPANIES
THE SALES LEADER MYTH
… you have read typical puffery from the chain real estate franchises. “We sold 65.9% of the single family homes sales in 2000.” “We are the sales leaders …” And so on. The question that should come to mind is … so what? What exactly do volume sales figures mean to the client trying to sell a home. The fact is that the chain franchises are in the ‘numbers game’ and agent recruitment is the name of that game. Fill an office with cubicles and as many bodies to fill them as possible. It is also a fact that sales volume and agent recruitment results are top shelf corporate priorities. But what does that mean for your listing ? A prospect’s call from an ad or a sign is going to be fielded by one of forty agents in an office with hundreds of listings . How likely is it that the floor agent has even seen your home, let alone be in a position to present a coherent sales presentation.
THE EXPERIENCE MYTH
It is a fact that franchise real estate companies are training facilities for new licensees … once again it’s about ‘numbers’. New licensees naturally seek the support of corporate identity and training. There are many fine salespeople in every office, of course; but in a real estate market growing ever more complicated and litigious, experience is a primary concern for any homeowner considering listing their home. Is the person representing you a ‘broker’ or simply licensed salesperson—a huge distinction ?
THE BRAND NAME MYTH
When you consider hanging a corporate logo on your home, it is important to know that all franchises are individually owned and operated; in most cases, they were local brokerages before affiliating with the franchise. A corporate identity offers few distinctions; but one might be philosophy. Part of a sales volume philosophy is focusing on ‘listing inventory’. Corporate philosophy preaches that an agent’s time management should primarily be focused on acquiring ‘new business’ (ie; more listings). Good business ? At O’Neal Brokers of Lake Tahoe, we believe business grows through successful long-term relationships. We take the listing agreement seriously; and, in this agreement, we promise to apply all of our time, effort and money to sell our client’s property … not just ‘drop’ the listing in MLS and move on to the next appointment. We are the largest independent real estate brokerage in North Lake Tahoe, true. In our downtown general brokerage office sits eight top producing brokers—only eight and only brokers— each of whom have more than 20 years experience in the Lake Tahoe real estate market. It is our goal to be the real estate brokerage most closely identified with Lake Tahoe. It is of no consequence to us that we do not also sell homes in North Carolina. Talk to us, you’ll be glad you did.
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Michael Willette
Office - (530) 583-2912
Home - (530) 583-1561
Cell - (530) 448-6813
Toll Free - (800) 222-5202
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