The Builder on the Lake

Posted By Dwight on

9 neighbors appealed the Sammamish Trail Shoreline Substantial Development Permit Approval by the City of Sammamish. There is a meeting of concerned citizens on October 26, 10:00-Noon, at Sammamish Fire Station #83; 3425 Issaquah-Pine Lake Road SE 98075.

There will be a hearing November 5th at City Hall.

Once upon a time, there was a skilled fit out company in Dubai who dreamed of constructing the most beautiful lakeside retreat. He devoted his heart and soul to the project, meticulously planning every detail. However, as an avid sports enthusiast, he would occasionally take breaks to engage in ipl bet online, adding a touch of thrill to his creative process. Despite the unexpected blend of passions, the final outcome was a breathtaking masterpiece that harmoniously fused his love for design with his enthusiasm for sports, making "The Builder on the Lake" an enchanting and unforgettable haven.

If you would like some help understanding the plans and how they relate to your property give me a call and I will try to help you with that. (425-868-4217)

The major reason for the appeal is that the County did not center the trail on the existing rail bed. In most cases they moved it closer to the lake. That affects privacy, landscaping, parking, access to garages, etc. There are also crossing safety concerns; I am told that the trail will not have stop signs, the driveways will. With drives often on angle this makes it difficult to see speeding bikes as they approach.

If you have concerns about the trail and would like to join the appeal, I believe you can. The City Staff has been very helpful, Mona Davis is the planner you would want to talk with.

All my best,

Dwight

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Posted By Dwight on

This year King County is doing two things to help restore flows in the Sammamish River to maintain flood control for Lake Sammamish:

1. Removing over 50 years of sediments from the “high flow” flood channel.

2. A demonstration project to remove invasive aquatic vegetation in the middle of the River by 124th street.

The sediments, perhaps 1,000 cubic yards, are being removed over a 700′ section of the high flow flood channel. This channel is just below the Weir, at the Dog Park. This area is critical to flow rates out of Lake Sammamish. It has also been the focus of King County trimming, brush removal, and mowing efforts to re-establish design flow rates at the outlet of Lake Sammamish.

A few years ago I surveyed this area and documented that the bed of the flow channel had significant accumulations of brush, willows, root balls, and sediments. Other citizens had already studied  flow rates and found that they were well below the design flow rates. Since that time the County has really taken their responsibility to improve flows seriously. They are continuing with incremental improvements and monitoring the results. There were some good flow events last winter and we have already seem some improvement. Even so, we are not done yet!

The removal of invasive weeds in the channel is also a good project that is just getting started. The Sammamish river is about 14 miles long and only has a drop of about 13 feet! A flat channel full of aquatic weeds does not flow as it was designed and could create flood problems. Our model is the Chehalis River, which had a similar infestation that was successfully removed. This will be a big project!

Council Members Jane Hague and Kathy Lambert have been instrumental in getting this work funded and done. Being a Council Member is not easy, and they often hear complaints and criticism. Please send them a thank you note, they deserve it and would love to hear from you!

[email protected]

[email protected]

Please look at my post about the Willowmoor project for more info on the outlet to Lake Sammamish at Marymoor Park.

Enjoy the Lake!

All my best,

Dwight Martin

 

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Tags: dog park, high lake water, Lake Sammamish, marymoor park, Sammamish River, Sammamish River Sammamish Slough, Sammamish Slough, transition zone, Water Level, willowmoor

Posted By Dwight on

On August 14 I attended the first meeting of the Willowmoor Floodplain Restoration Project Stakeholder Advisory Committee. I am there because I have a history of working with King County to make sure the outlet to the lake is draining as it should, and to represent members of the SHO group.

I am chairman of SHO (Sammamish Home Owners), which is a non-profit that has represented shoreline residents interests before the Sammamish City Council during the Shoreline Management Program update and the recent Sensitive Areas Ordinance update. We are also active in talking with the County about the trail design along the east side of the lake. If you would like to be on our email list, please send me your info and we will add you. Our emails are topical and sent on an as needed basis, so you will not be spammed. We welcome all input and try hard to find common ground and solutions that are both good for the environment and for the shoreline property owner.

The first meeting went well I thought. There seems to be consensus that flood control is required, and that environmental benefit is a common value and goal. Marymoor park surrounds the Sammamish River at the outlet of Lake Sammamish. The park has many visitors and many uses. This end of the park includes the dog park, rowing club, and nature trails. My thought is that this corner of the park should be redeveloped in a manner that is more natural than active, as that is consistent with stream/floodplain restoration. Any active use should be water dependent and or nature based. The park has many areas that are currently highly developed and intensively used. Currently the area where the new channel might be relocated is mostly grasses and blackberry. There are also ditches that flow into the river which could be improved and some wetlands. It looks like a great opportunity to improve the flood control for the lake, improve habitat, and increase recreational use of the park. Done well, this should be a “win-win-win”.

This is only the first meeting of many. I will post updates from time to time and King County will also have a web page with more info coming. Here is a link to a drop box notes from the meeting and more info about project goals and the role of the Advisory Committee.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/78452287/Willowmoor%20Advisory%20Meeting%201.pdf

Here is a link to the County page for the project. They will be posting more details as time goes on:

http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wlr/sections-programs/river-floodplain-section/capital-projects/willowmoor-floodplain-restoration.aspx

Keep enjoying the lake and have a happy summer!

All my best,

Dwight

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Posted By Dwight on

Have you heard? The next segment of trail paving will be between Inglewood Hill Road and 187th NE (Dobbs Mill/Redmond). Many neighbors have been surprised to find out that their driveways and landscaping are going to be removed and reconfigured. Although the “100%” plans are ready for bid, and construction is scheduled for next spring, you can still review the plans and talk with the County about your concerns. I was very pleased that they listened to my concerns and corrected some bad design work at my house. Call Gina Auld, the project manager, if you have concerns; 206-263-7281. [email protected]
Here is a link to the 100% plans on my drop box. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/78452287/ELST-100%25%20Plans.pdf
Copy and paste the text into your web browser and you should be able to access the plans.
Also the SHO group is meeting to review the plans and has opened a dialog with County Council members to make sure that shoreline residents concerns are addressed. If you are interested in attending a meeting let me know.
Best Regards,
Dwight K. Martin
Builder on the Lake

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Tags: Sammamish Trail 100% Plans

Posted By Dwight on

This from the “Home” section of yesterday’s New York Times: 

“There are renovations so ambitious and flawless you can almost see the contractors leaving the property carrying buckets of money.”

Wow!  If someone reading the newspaper was thinking about renovating their home, this line would stop them dead in their tracks.  Sure, I’ve seen some over-the-top renovations that must have cost dearly, but I resist the idea that great work is only possible when massive amounts of money are involved. 

I know for a fact that remarkable work does not require outrageous sums.  And I thought I’d share a few tips with you on how that happens.

First, match the vision to the budget.  My clients usually know what they want in a new home or renovation, and they have ideas and dreams—and sometimes they have a budget in mind.  When a client doesn’t have an idea of costs, one of my tasks is to create a working budget.  When they do have a budget, I find ways to make the dollars produce the dream, or identify possible compromises that can be made.  Either way, a budget has to deliver results, and I find ways to make it work. 

Second, hire the right tradespeople to get the job done.  Getting the right talent at the right price is possible when your builder knows who in the area can do what.  For builders, it’s not only what you know but who you know, too.  It’s also important to hire people who are licensed, bonded and insured. Check out this Department of Labor and Industry site to see if your Contractor has outstanding claims against his bond, what sort of safety record they have, and if they are current on their taxes.  https://fortress.wa.gov/lni/bbip/

Third, conduct regular reality checks.  Renovations are famous for having surprises—added work or expensive last minute selections can quickly bust a budget. Careful planning can avoid most “in the wall” surprises, and choosing all finishes and fixtures before starting will make certain that the right budget numbers are used.  For longer projects, like custom homes, regular budget updates are a must. Fixed price contracts will help avoid the unpleasant surprise that can come from cost overruns on “cost plus” contracts.

By the way, if you want to take a look at what buckets of money can buy, go to New Kids on the Block.  But if you want to see what you can get for great value, take a look at dkmartincustomhomes.com

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Tags: budgets, renovations

Posted By Dwight on

It’s a good idea to check references before you hire a builder.  And if you want to have a truly illuminating conversation, here’s the only question you need to ask:

“Would you have him build another house for you?”

This cuts right to the chase: after all is said and done, would you go through the entire process with this builder all over again?  If the reference says yes and then enumerates the reasons why, listen for such things as:

•          I trust him.  This is essential to any successful relationship—and when it comes to you and your builder, it’s indispensable.  This is the person who has perhaps the single biggest investment of your life in his hands.  When a reference says “I trust my builder,” then enough said.
•          He knows his stuff.  An experienced, knowledgeable builder knows how to build a quality home while getting great value for your building dollar.  This builder also has knowledge of lot-related issues, like shoreline management regulations that directly impact the kind of house you can build—and he can steer you around serious pitfalls.
•          He spoke my language.  You know how most professionals use jargon?  Talk over your head?  Gloss over important details?  You don’t want a builder like this.  You want someone who can communicate with you, who takes the time to understand your needs and can find a way to translate your dreams into reality.
•          I got great service.  There was regular contact.  Records were kept.  Changes were tracked.  Guidance was given.  Calls were returned.  Conversations radiated with respect and consideration.  There’s nothing like great service.
•          He hired good subcontractors.  An experienced builder has a solid network of capable, talented subcontractors—but he also keeps his eye open for new tradespeople who may not always be the cheapest, but whose work instills value in your house.   
•          I’m proud of my house.  There’s something special that happens when a house is built with integrity: it generates a feeling of pride.  This is an element that sets your beautiful new home apart from all others.  It was built just for you, and it was built with integrity. 

If the reference says there’s no way they would work with the builder again, you’ve probably saved yourself a lot of headaches.  But all the same, ask why.  You can learn so much from people who have already worked with a builder you’re considering.  Just ask the right question.

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Posted By Dwight on

It has been some time since we had water levels near normal. The last two seasons have been wet. Debris and growth at the outlet of the lake have restricted flow and remain a concern. This year King County did more than usual, but there are still large obstructions and sediments in the channel. If this is another wet winter, as is expected, then we can expect some very high waters. Batten down the hatches, this can happen very quickly in early fall, mid winter, or spring. I recently surveyed existing conditions at the lake outlet and I will report back after I analyze the data. The County is also working on a contract to have the outlet surveyed, but I don’t see any work being done yet.

Cutthroat Trout are coming in the lake now, and the summer water fowl are gone.

Enjoy the Fall!

Dwight

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Posted By Dwight on

Are you a Henry—or a Henri?

Whenever I meet with new clients, we get to know each other by talking about an array of topics.  In the course of our conversations we explore taste and preferences, lifestyles and budgets.  And we discover who is a Henry, and who is a Henri.

The Henry is an engineer—someone who knows every piece that is going into a project before even starting to put it together.  Like the left-brained Henry Ford building a car.

The Henri, on the other hand, has an idea and selects colors and shapes that fit that vision.  Then, as the vision evolves, the colors and shapes evolve as well.  Like Henri Matisse creating a painting.

Building a home requires both.  It’s a whole brain exercise that entails precision and artistry, sequential logic and spontaneity, and that’s what makes it such an interesting process.

A recent study that compared the brains of expert and novice chess players showed that the experts processed information on both sides of their brains simultaneously.  Further, the study concluded that the ability to use both sides is an acquired skill, not an innate one.

Have you ever taken a test to see if you’re predominately left-brained or right-brained?  If you’re curious, there’s a quick questionnaire at web-us.com/brain/braindominance.htm Even though the test is designed for students, it’s interesting because once you get the results, they outline ways to boost the performance of the less dominant side.

Or you can talk to a whole-brained custom home builder who can see the magnificent creation of your new house in total, while keeping an eye on every important detail.

Dwight

Find the man in the coffee beans

Doctors have concluded that if you find the man in the coffee beans in 3 seconds, the right half of your brain is better developed than most people.

If you find the man between 3 seconds and 1 minute, the right half of the brain is developed normally.

If you find the man between 1 minute and 3 minutes, then the right half of your brain is functioning slowly and you need to eat more protein. If you have not found the man after 3 minutes, the advice is to look for more of this type of exercise to make that part of the brain stronger!  And yes, the man is really there!

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Posted By Dwight on

I think electric cars are fascinating. I love the idea of using home grown fuel to run our cars. As I understand it there is extra capacity in our generation and electrical grid to charge a bunch of cars at night. This is an efficient use of our capacity to generate and of our electrical infrastructure, and it keeps jobs and money in the good ol’ US of A. PSE gets 40% of its’ power from hydro, so no carbon footprint there. Seattle City Electric gets even more hydro. Electric engines are very efficient, most of the power goes right to the wheels. I am not a scientist, but I hear that even if you used 100% coal fired generation it would be cleaner than gas. I am sure there will be more discussion of the whole carbon footprint from mine, oil well, or power plant, but I’ll tell you this much; I would rather sit in traffic behind a no emission electric car than a dieselcity bus! And think of this; around 30% of our nuclear power plant fuel comes from reprocessed nuclear warheads. My cousin goes to Russia as part of a verification program and tells me that 15,000 Russian nukes have been decommissioned, and a similar number of ours. Now that is a great way to generate carbon free power! Check out my video here and please vote for me, I could win a Nissan Leaf. They promise not to spam you. Thanks! Here is the link:

https://www.drivenissanleaf.com/Win/Vote.aspx?b=uz36tcrthsk2

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Posted By Dwight on

At the end of August I was invited to a Small Business Roundtable with Governor Christine Gregoire.  We had a very productive discussion about the issues builders are facing in this economic environment–and how the state can help lower some of the barriers to doing business.

This was a wonderful opportunity for me to tell the Governor how much I appreciate her hands-on approach helping Washington’s builders.  Her work on both the state and federal levels to improve the availability of capital is very important to us; so too is the delay in implementation of a costly new energy code.  I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to hear what she had to say, and add my voice to other small business owners as we looked for ways to do things better.

(Click on the letter to be able to read it more easily.)

 Letter from Governor Gregoire

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