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February 2009 Newsletter | 02/01/2009
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Click on the link to view our February Newsletter.
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January 2009 E-flyer | 01/01/2009
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Click on the link to view our January E-flyer.
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November 2008 Newsletter | 11/19/2008
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Click on the link to view our November Newsletter.
riverstonecda.com/newsletter/november/news.html
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October 2008 Newsletter | 10/27/2008
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Click on the link to view our October Newsletter.
riverstonecda.com/eflyer/october08/
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Life on Vacation: Dive in to divine weather in Idaho | 10/06/2008
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By Larry Olmsted, Special for USA TODAY
Weather is not the first criterion most people consider when shopping for a vacation home, but maybe it should be. Weather is something that needs to be dealt with every single day — and in Coeur d'Alene, they deal with it by boating, biking, hiking and playing golf.
Winter is not a highlight, but the other three seasons are not only good, they're great. Almost every day from early spring to late fall is sunny and warm. It rarely rains, but droughts are no worry, thanks to ample winter snowpack in the mountains. Moreover, biting insects are remarkably absent, something virtually unheard of in lake communities.
"A lot of second-home owners come for the three seasons, and winter someplace else," says Sandi Bloem, mayor of Coeur d'Alene and owner of a downtown jewelry store. "We have plenty of sun, but no extremes, no hurricanes, no tornadoes, no bugs, but very clean air and very clean water.
"Second-home activity has definitely increased," she adds. "We've been discovered, I think, and I'm fourth-generation here."
Located in the panhandle of northwestern Idaho, just minutes from the Washington state border, Lake Coeur d'Alene resembles a small Lake Tahoe. But not too small. It's more than 25 miles long, 1 to 3 miles wide, with about 135 miles of shoreline.
The town of Coeur d'Alene sits at the northern end of the lake, a quaint village with a large downtown waterfront park, a few blocks of shops and restaurants, and the Coeur d'Alene Resort, a large complex of lakefront buildings, shops and marinas.
The rest of the lake is lined with homes, small coves boasting boat-accessed restaurants, large patches of undeveloped open space, and a few new golf-centric residential developments.
Like Minnesota or the shores of the Great Lakes, many lakefront properties are vacation cottages that have been in families for generations. Most of the second-home activity is in new homes and condos in town or in large developments.
A look at three Coeur d'Alene neighborhoods:
•Downtown. The heart of Coeur d'Alene is small but features a mix of properties. Older cottages and small homes sell for as little as $165,000. New, larger townhouses sell in the mid- to high $300,000s. And condos in the luxurious 30-unit lakefront Terraces building run from $3.4 million (unfinished) to $5.9 million (finished and furnished).
•Black Rock. The premier residential development outside of town, Black Rock (blackrockidaho.com), is a full-service, second-home community where most residents come for the entire summer. It is anchored by a golf course that was rated by Golf Digest as the best new course in the nation when it opened three years ago; a second course by Tom Weiskopf opens next summer. Other facilities include a children's club, tennis, equestrian center, marina and two clubhouses. The community encompasses 1,800 acres and has 726 home-sites planned, with about 200 built and occupied. Lots run from $150,000 to $2.5 million. Finished, two- to four-bedroom homes go for $850,000 to $1.25 million.
•Bellerive. Coeur d'Alene's newest waterfront community, Bellerive (belleriveidaho.com), is on the edge of town, and mixes in-town and lakefront lifestyles. The development has a blend of residences and commercial space, including shops and restaurants. The 70 residential units include condos, lofts and single-family houses, priced from the $400,000s to about $1.5 million.
www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/secondhomes/2008-09-04-coeur-d-alene_N.htm
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Report: Cd'A great place to buy 'right now' | 09/22/2008
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Magazine lists Lake City among top five in U.S. for second home, investment
By BILL BULEY Monday, Sep 22, 2008
Staff writer
COEUR d'ALENE -- Forget the reports of a slow real estate market in North Idaho. Throw out those charts of shrinking sales and declining prices. What you should do, according to a story in the new issue of the Robb Report Vacation Homes that comes out today, is buy a house in Coeur d'Alene. Right here, right now.
The story in the October/November issue results from research that investigated more than 50 international locations before narrowing it down to "Ten great places where the best time to buy is now." "The results of this research pointed to three distinct sectors within the global real estate market: places that are perennially strong; those that have yet to peak and are seemingly undiscovered; and those that offer investment opportunities because their values have dropped," says Robb Report Vacation Homes Senior Editor Samantha Brooks in a press release. The five U.S.-based locations identified by the editors of Robb Report Vacation Homes are Las Vegas, Miami, Aspen, Maui and, yes, Coeur d'Alene.
"We're in good company," said Jonathan Coe, president and general manager of the Coeur d'Alene Area Chamber of Commerce, He cited two reasons for Coeur d'Alene's continued national recognition -- it was featured in USA Today on Sept. 5 -- as a great place to own a second home. "All the marketing and hard work are paying off," he said. "And we've been discovered out there by a broad range of people looking for a second place to live. We now have here in our community a terrific second home product."
The international locations identified by Robb Report Vacation Homes as best places to buy are Abu Dhabi, Belize, Croatia, Curacao, and St. Kitts and Nevis. The Robb Report Vacation Homes describes itself as "the authoritative resource for ultra-affluent homeowners, buyers and sellers. The magazine addresses the unique needs and interests of this audience with comprehensive coverage of the world's most exquisite and sought-after vacation properties."
The article on Coeur d'Alene points out Idaho's thriving economy due to growth in technology, tourism and construction, Coeur d'Alene's natural beauty and recreational activities, and a median price of $250,000 for a single-family home in northern Kootenai County as a rock solid combination. It also highlights the Club at Black Rock, a 650-acre property overlooking Lake Coeur d'Alene.
Mayor Sandi Bloem said she's not surprised another national organization's spotlight has fallen on Coeur d'Alene. "I think why is pretty evident. We all love it here," she said. Bloem said the local economy is strong and Coeur d'Alene is gaining a reputation as a good place to do business. While the increase in attention can help promote growth, it can also create challenges as more people buy a second home here, she said. "We have to make sure we reach out and engage the new people so we continue the sense of community we've had in the past," Bloem said. "People say they like it here for the people. It's important we do our best to make sure it stays that way."
Kim Cooper, spokesman for the Coeur d'Alene Association of Realtors, said there are many reasons for the Robb Report focusing on Coeur d'Alene, including the area's medical field. "People moving to the area know they will be well cared for," he said. He also said the real estate in Coeur d'Alene is some of the most affordable in the West and unemployment is lower than in neighboring states. The benefits of being in the Robb Report, Cooper said, are many. It gives Coeur d'Alene more exposure, which combined with the USA Today article earlier this month, "gives us momentum that attributes to our real estate prices maintaining their integrity where other markets with nothing but cityscapes, traffic and pollution are falling." "The scenic beauty of our geography is memorable to visitors and when they return home, they are excited to spread the word," he said.
www.cdapress.com/articles/2008/09/23/news/news04.txt
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Coeur d’Alene ranks No.2 in best-performing small cities | 09/12/2008
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POSTED: 11:02 MDT Friday, September 12, 2008
by IBR Staff Report
In a study that ranked 125 small cities, the Milken Institute placed Coeur d’Alene as the No. 2 best performer. The study, released this week, looked at wage and salary growth, job growth and high-tech sector growth. Coeur d’Alene rose from a No. 6 ranking last year, surpassing last year’s No. 1 small city, Bend, Ore. This year’s best-performing small city was Midland, Texas.
The study reported Coeur d’Alene outperformed the national average in job and wage growth (rising 18.8 and 21.8 percent, respectively, between 2002 and 2007). It cited the growth in the tourism industry as an engine of growth, adding 1,800 new jobs in 2007, and called the area an emerging health-care hub.
The study also ranked the best-performing large metro areas. Boise came in at No. 27, falling from its No. 19 finish last year. Its negative job growth between March 2007 and March 2008 (down 1.65 percent), placed it in the bottom 10 of the 200 metro areas in that category. Boise performed well in the one-year wage growth category – ranking No. 2 – though it didn’t do as well in the five-year wage growth category – it fell to No. 28.
The top three best-performing large metro areas were Provo-Orem, Utah; Raleigh-Cary, N.C.; and Salt Lake City.
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Where Are the Best Cities to Do Business? | 07/01/2008
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Our comprehensive annual guide to which places are thriving -- even in an economy many consider in recession.
By: Joel Kotkin and Michael Shires
Published July 2008
What a difference a year and a deflated housing bubble makes. Inc.com's 2008 list of the Best Cities for Doing Business, created in conjunction with Newgeography.com, uncovered some of the most dramatic changes since we started this ranking back in 2004. Five major trends were immediately revealed; trends that are shaping the business environment right now across the country and will continue to over the next several years.
The list focuses on short- and long-term job growth. It tells us precisely not just where jobs are being created -- a sure sign of economic vitality -- but where the momentum is shifting. For entrepreneurs, this suggests what may be the best places to locate or expand your business.
The Pacific Northwest-Intermountain West Surge Continues
Like last year, the northwestern quarter of the country did very well. Three of the top 11 big metro areas in the region between the foggy West Coast and the high mountains, including Salt Lake City (No. 3), Seattle (No. 10) and Portland, Ore. (No. 11), all gained ground. This ascendancy was even more evident at the midsize level, with the success of cities such as Provo-Orem, Utah (No. 1); Tacoma, Wash. (No. 2); Ogden, Utah (No. 8); Boise, Idaho (No. 12); and Spokane, Wash. (No. 14). Small cities, including St. George, Utah (No. 2), Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (No. 3), Bend, Ore. (No. 7) and Grand Junction, Colo. (No. 9), also saw gains.
In many ways, the gains here parallel those in the Carolinas. Places like Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Portland, according to the Praxis Strategy Group analysis, all continue to gain educated residents from other parts of the country. The lure, in many cases, lies with strong and diverse job growth and low housing prices compared to coastal California and the Northeast.
Seattle continued its strong growth, notes economist Paul Sommers, due largely to the success of two companies -- Microsoft and Boeing. These companies have been expanding, providing high-wage jobs, and attracting skilled talent to the area. Another key advantage in this high energy cost environment: the Northwest's prodigious supplies of cheap and clean hydroelectric power. This helps everyone, from people building airplane parts to dot-com firms sucking copious amounts of electricity to run their servers.
Some of the other areas in this vast region benefit from what might be called "grey power." Older, often more educated and affluent, baby boomers are flocking to the smaller towns and cities in this region, bringing capital and, in some cases, entrepreneurial know-how. Like the Carolinas, the area between the foggy Pacific Coast and the Rockies seems poised for sustained growth.
Inc.com: Top Cities For Doing Business in America 2008 - Best Locations for Growth
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Kirkland's new | 06/27/2008
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seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008017965_google26m.html
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June Newsletter | 06/24/2008
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Click on the link to view our June Newsletter.
riverstonecda.com/eflyer/june/index.htm
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Sheltered from the Storm | 05/01/2008
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Consultant says cities like Coeur d'Alene, Olympia are well-positioned to weather a national recession.
www.spokesmanreview.com/tools/story_pf.asp?ID=242625
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Riverstone Developer wins NAHB award for Merrill Gardens | 12/10/2007
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July 17, 2007
Merrill Gardens wins NAHB award
By JOURNAL STAFF
Runberg Architecture Group of Seattle won a silver award from the National Association of Home Builders 50+ Housing Council for having a “best of the best” project in the 50-and-over senior housing category. The award was for Merrill Gardens at Queen Anne at 800 and 805 Fourth Ave. N., an assisted-living community designed to create a safe, communal environment. It was the only entrant from Washington to receive one of 87 awards. Merrill Gardens LLC was the contractor. Merrill Gardens is built on a tight urban site with two heritage elm trees, which the building's design incorporated and preserved. The design draws from local architectural styles and includes gabled roofs, wood brackets, wood trellises and wide windows. The seven structures are connected by pedestrian bridges around a grand courtyard that opens to the Queen Anne neighborhood. The corridors have resting spaces that assist in orientation and are lit by natural light. Exposed wood columns and beams delineate programmatic areas, along with low planters and differentiated floor treatments. Parking is below-grade. The NAHB 50+ Council presents gold and silver awards in 58 categories nationally. For more information about the awards, see www.nahb.org/50plushousingawards.
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Riverstone Trolley Preview | 09/20/2007
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In just a few short months the condos will be complete and residents will begin moving into the Village at Riverstone. The Village of Riverstone plans to use the trolley system to transport people down Northwest Boulevard to downtown Coeur d’Alene and back to Riverstone. The route has not yet been set, but it should go through downtown and near to the library. The Trolley system is expected to be operational next spring time and run through the summer.
The trolley system has been a success in other cities and soon will be for Coeur d’Alene.
Click below to see a new preview of the Riverstone Trolley.
Click here to play
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Developer Foresees Big Future | 07/27/2007
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John Stone, Developer of Riverstone, Foresees Riverstone Park.
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Couer d'Alene Trolley on KREM | 06/22/2007
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Couer d'Alene Trolley on KREM
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Couer d'Alene Trolley on KHQ | 06/22/2007
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Couer d'Alene Trolley on KHQ
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CdA trolley could connect development, downtown | 06/13/2007
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Coeur d'Alene may get a rubber-tired trolley this summer to haul people between the Riverstone development and downtown – a 3.2 mile loop that could decrease traffic, provide relief from skyrocketing gas prices and make the city more accessible.
"It's really important when you think about lifestyle," Riverstone developer John Stone said. "You don't have to get in the car. That's the whole purpose."
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Renewal changing face of CdA | 06/13/2007
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Ten years ago, Coeur d’Alene’s downtown was drifting into decay. Behind a brave front of decorative streetlights, storefronts stood empty and brick facades crumbled. Merchants complained about lackluster sales and graffiti.
To the north, boarded-up buildings dotted Coeur d’Alene’s midtown district.
To the west, a vacant sawmill site along the Spokane River sprouted brilliant blooms of purple knapweed.
Concerned city leaders formed an urban renewal agency, the Lake City Development Corp. Its goal was straightforward: Use public dollars to attract private investment to Coeur d’Alene’s stagnant core.
A decade later, the agency has committed nearly $18 million to projects. And the long-awaited private development has arrived.
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SRM Development selected as a finalist in the 2007 Best of 50+ Housing Awards! | 06/05/2007
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SRM Development's Merril Queen Anne Assisted Living Building has been selected as a finalist for the National Homebuilders Association 2007 Best of 50+ Housing Award. The development will be featured at the Awards Gala in Denver, CO as well as the International Builder's Show in Orlando, FL.
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