Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, Ncompass Cottage Company, West Seattle’s only contractor specializing in backyard cottage design and construction. As reported here last fall, the city now issues backyard-cottage permits, which allow homeowners to build small dwellings on their property. Ncompass Cottage Company owners Drew Foster (photo, left) and Stefan Hansmire say the current demand for cottages includes people looking to house kids returning from college as well as people creating home-office space or making a place for older parents who want to be near family. Both say that building a cottage allows for a fun, livable dwelling that makes efficient use of the space available. Ncompass has built three cottages; two are in West Seattle — one by the Fauntleroy ferry terminal, the other in the Schmitz Park neighborhood. Overall, they have more than a decade of experience in the remodeling and construction trade, which also gives them experience with the permitting process needed to build a cottage. Drew and Stefan also have partnered with designers who have cottage floorplans on file and with finance people that they recommend to prospective clients. They say that they have streamlined the process to make it easier to get your cottage built. Ncompass Cottage Company belongs to the Better Business Bureau and Built Green Builders Association; Stefan and Drew both live in West Seattle and have kids in neighborhood schools. You’ll find Ncompass Cottage Company online at ncompasscottages.com, with contact information here.

We thank Ncompass Cottage Company for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.

FIRST AS-IT-HAPPENED REPORT, 11:23 AM: Some days just have a theme. Today’s theme is heavy equipment. Our next stop post-totem pole: We’re in the 3200 block of 61st SW, where a house is being installed, in four pieces built offsite. 61st SW is closed in the block immediately south of Admiral as a result, till 3 pm, by the way. We arrived in time for the third of four pieces to be craned into place at the site (video added 1:08 pm):

If you’ve driven past Salty’s on Alki in the past day or so, you probably noticed the sections, which we’re told were brought in by barge. The project’s being overseen by Double Diamond Remodeling, whose owner Dave Farrell says the owners chose to buy a house built offsite – it’s a 2-story house going into a fairly small lot. Homeowners Leonard Jones and Charlie Fink joke that they hope to be settled by Thanksgiving – though their actual moving-in will be a lot sooner:(video added 1:09 pm):

The house itself was built by South King County-based Timberland, which comes in tomorrow to start “matching everything up,” Farrell says. 1:44 PM NOTE: The fourth piece was being trucked in just as we left after the third one was secured. Adding two more photos – a long shot for perspective, from before piece #3 was installed:

And as close as we could get to the house after:

The “no parking” signage on the street is marked until 5 pm, but as noted earlier, the crews were expected to clear 61st SW sooner.

(The all-night moving operation ended at 6:25; below, our coverage as it unfolded from midnight on)

(ADDED 3:19 AM: Video of the 2nd half of the 14-minute process to roll the home off its lot)
ORIGINAL 12:20 AM REPORT: We’re here along 42nd SW, about half a block north of the Junction QFC, where workers are in the early stage of the delicate process of moving an old house – broken down over the past few weeks of work, so that it’s more or less a roofless one-story box – from its original site in The Junction, part of a future development site, to a new location in the Admiral District. Background and photos here. We’ll be posting periodic updates. There’s a dozen-plus spectators out here. Tough photography conditions but we’ll be rolling video when actual action ensues, and photos are likely to be easier once the house is closer to the street lights. The crew’s having a meeting right now, which we can hear from across the street – getting safety reminders from their boss, hearing that traffic controls will be in place at both ends of this block of 42nd as they get started soon.

12:59 AM: The block is now closed from Oregon to Alaska. The crews are placing long wood strips to create ramps for the house, which has been jacked up on wheels, to roll onto the flatbed that’s also standing by.

1:24 AM: The house is rolling down the ramp momentarily.

1:51 AM: “This seems pretty improbable!” the house’s new owner, Jacques White, laughed nervously in the midst of the first phase of the move – getting the house off the lot and onto the street. That phase is now complete. We rolled video (up later) – it took about 15 minutes, once the tow truck started to pull it down a wide temporary ramp. We’ve been told they won’t start rolling it down the route to its new site until 3:30 am. It’s in the middle of 42nd SW on its trailer now, engines off, while the crew does some cleanup on its now-empty original site. Once it was fully onto the level street, the dozen-plus spectators hooted and cheered. White says the contractor tells him it will take about six months to make the house ready to live in; he and his wife currently live in a house on the same lot, on which they once had hoped to build a new home – that didn’t work out, but the idea of finding a great old home and moving it did. Here he is, in a pullover with the contractor’s logo:

3:15 AM: Heading back to the site after a quick break, since the house should be rolling down the route to its new home shortly. Night owls can watch our Twitter feed for photos along the way, till the next update here. (added later) Here’s video of the house making the turn onto westbound Charlestown from northbound California:

5:15 AM: The house is just yards from its new home. The actual on-the-streets move has taken two full hours, with delicate maneuvering around signs, hydrants, trees.

Owner Jacques says getting it onto the lot will be tricky too.

5:41 AM: They are getting ready to slide it onto the new site.

7:09 AM: Just got back to HQ. As of 6:25 am, the moving operation is over; the house’s owners, Jacques and Beth, popped a bottle of champagne (and were giving another one to Alex Schenkar, their contractor, who hollered up at the end of the move, “We’re within an eighth of an inch – is that good enough?”).

(That’s part of the house behind him, by the way, formerly over the front door, removed for the move, but to be put back into place.) The last few inches were heart-stoppers, as the house, still jacked up on a wheeled trailer, was pushed onto a platform elevated over the hole that will be turned into its foundation over the next few weeks before work on the house itself resumes. The Seattle Times (WSB partner) was the only other media organization covering it from start to finish, though a few others parachuted in and out, so keep an eye out for the Times story and video too. Meantime, we’ll be adding a few more visuals – photos and video – to this narrative over the next hour or so.

That’s Tamea Duckworth, who not only is community sales manager for Sylvan Ridge Townhomes in West Seattle, she lives there too. We’re introducing you to her, because today we welcome Sylvan Ridge Townhomes as one of the newest WSB sponsors. And per WSB tradition, it’s their chance to let you know what they’re about: “Most Sylvan Ridge clients are in the 1st-time-homebuyers category, or moving up from a condo. People visiting Sylvan Ridge find our floor plans very unique because of the openness on the main floor. Our double-sided gas fireplaces with built-in bookshelves act as a room divider between the dining & living room. The upper-level master suite and second bedroom have vaulted ceilings for a spacious and airy feel. We are one of the few townhomes here in West Seattle that have two-car attached garages, and we are our own community, meaning we are in our own little cul-de-sac surrounded by trees, so it’s very quiet. All our homes have two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a powder room.” Tamea adds some information about her personal touch: “I have tried to be not just a friendly & informed sales agent here at Sylvan Ridge but, a good neighbor as well because I do actually live here, so I schedule window washing, dryer vent cleanout, got the community involved with the neighborhood-watch program. I am now working on our upcoming 2nd annual community picnic.”

This month at Sylvan Ridge Townhomes, a new phase with 10 more homes is scheduled to be ready. Our home of the week is priced at $299,950. We have other homes from $314,950 that qualify for our limited-time $8,000 buyer bonus. The Sylvan Ridge sales center and available homes are open Fridays through Tuesdays, 12 to 6 pm, at 2733 SW Sylvan Way, above the Home Depot and down the hill from the junction of 35th and Morgan. Tamea can also be reached by phone at (206) 933-6800 or tduckworth@matrixrealestate.com, and more information is available on our website at www.sylvan-ridge.com.

We thank Sylvan RIdge Townhomes for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.

“Too often, our landmarks are big, grandiose houses,” observed one member of the city Landmarks Board just before their vote moments ago, unanimously agreeing to consider designating West Seattle’s far-from-grandiose “Bloss House” as a landmark. We wrote about it two and a half weeks ago, when the Southwest Seattle Historical Society (Log House Museum) shared the news that Historic Seattle would bring the 1915 North Admiral Craftsman bungalow (4055 SW Holgate) to the board. Most board members noted that its main attribute as a potential landmark is the fact that its interior is virtually unaltered from the original Craftsman-style details, as well as its exterior, so before they agree to officially designate it, they may decide they want the nomination to include its exterior as well – though that is not usually what’s done with private residences. The home’s owner was not able to be at the hearing because of health challenges but several people spoke in support of the nomination, one citing comments on the previous WSB story as evidence of community support. The board also had a full presentation on the nomination document (text here, photos here), which includes information about West Seattle history as well as this home in particular. Next step: June 2nd is set for the hearing and vote on whether to officially declare the “Bloss House” a Seattle landmark.

There’s a new feature in the next edition of the free workshop that Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) is presenting this Wednesday night – important information about new EPA lead-paint rules starting this month for homes built before 1978. And you might also be interested in learning how to cash in on the energy-tax credits that are ending this year. The “Building a Better Home” workshop offers information for custom-home building as well as remodeling. It’s free, led by Ventana’s owners along with architect Kim Goforth, starting at 6 pm Wednesday and running about an hour and a half. They request that you RSVP ASAP since space is limited – call 206-932-3009.

We’re welcoming the Dakota Condominiums today as a new WSB sponsor. Here’s what they’d like you to know: The Dakota Condominiums are located at 4116 California Ave. SW (map), just two blocks to “The Junction,” West Seattle’s shopping and dining district and home of the year-round West Seattle Farmers’ Market and West Seattle Summer Fest. This is a great neighborhood where homeowners can walk to everything — the bank, the grocery, cafés, shops, the post office — but when they need to drive into downtown Seattle, it’s also very accessible. Priced from $219,950, the collection of 39 studio, one-, and two-bedroom homes is FHA-approved. The developers, Kevin Krout with Paul Cesmat and Steve Butler of Omni Construction, hand-selected quality materials that represent the Northwest’s natural beauty and have a classic, timeless appeal. Interiors feature oak hardwood floors in the main living areas and kitchens, slab granite countertops with full-height backsplashes, maple cabinetry, full-sized washers and dryers and a full stainless steel kitchen appliance package. Many of the homes include mountain and/or sound views and a select few surround a landscaped interior courtyard for added outdoor entertainment possibilities. Additional amenities include a rooftop terrace with seating and 360-degree views, a controlled access parking garage and video-monitored entry. The Northwest Multiple Listing Service recently reported an increase in home sales, and its agents say buyer traffic is up as the April 30th deadline approaches for the federal tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time buyers and $6,500 for existing homeowners who purchase a new residence. Buyers should try to take advantage of the tax credit if they qualify and be aware that historically low interest rates could go up soon. All of the condominium homes at The Dakota are complete and ready for move-in. The community’s model homes are open weekends from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesdays through Thursdays 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For photos and floor plans, visit our website at www.westseattlecondos.info, or call 206-948-6046 with any questions.

We thank the Dakota Condominiums for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.

(Photos republished with permission of Rick Miner)
Thanks to Creighton for spotting this one in the real-estate listings. The house next to the Alki Point Lighthouse (on the northeast side) is for sale, asking $1,300,000. The 2-bedroom, 1-bath house at 3221 Point Place is 92 years old, according to the listing information, which pronounces it a teardown. We dug around to find out more of the backstory – read on to see what we found out:Read More

The mayor’s office announced a change at the top of the city’s Office of Housing – director Adrienne Quinn, a West Seattle resident, is heading east, to join Enterprise Community Partners as vice president for Public Policy and Government Relations. The announcement quotes Quinn as saying, “I decided that now was an important time to spend more time with my elderly parents who live on the East Coast, as well as work on housing policy in DC given the opportunities created by the Obama Administration.” She’s run the Housing Office, which has 43 employees, for five years. A 10-year veteran of the department, deputy director Bill Rumpf, will serve as acting director, according to the mayor’s office. The housing office works closely with agencies like West Seattle-based Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, whose executive director Derek Birnie provided extra info for this story.

Last June, we published that photo with Ron Richardson‘s followup story on the $3.8 million sale of the historic Laurentide estate in Fauntleroy. Today, the folks at Estately flagged us to their list of the 25 biggest Seattle real-estate sales of 2009, and the Laurentide transaction is one of two West Seattle deals on the list. The other is 1114 Sunset, a $2.8 million sale on Estately’s list; we mentioned that property as a $3 million foreclosure last July. See where they ranked, and what else is on the Seattle Top 25, by going here.

(Side note: If you are interested in real estate, two local experts just rejoined the WSB sponsor team this week – Alice Kuder, who’s sponsoring the Crime Watch page, and Roger Steiner.)