If you are not familiar with the Green built lingo, you will have no idea why LEED Platinum is so important. So go ahead and take a look here, at the website from the US Green Building Council and catch up.No time? Well, here is the super abbreviated explanation- LEED (The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) has a checklist to rate the sustainability and green-ness of any building. It is a points based system, where buildings earn points by demonstrating energy conservation, wise water use, recycled materials, etc. The goal is to create a uniform standard for green building practices.The ranking system goes Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum. Platinum is the most difficult to attain. So it is a very big deal for a building owner to make the commitment. And the WPUDA did! The W... 04/10/2008

April 3rd 2008 dawned bright & beautiful, with lovely blue skies. And lots of FROZEN grass. But we don't let a bit of sparkle get in the way of a nice clear spring morning around here, so off to one of our favorite places we went! Nestled in the middle of one of the city's older neighborhoods, Lions Park is located between 7th & 9th and Frederick & Wilson (map here). It is about the size of two city blocks- 3.72 acres according the City of Olympia parks website. If you haven't been to Lions Park, in Olympia's Eastside neighborhood, then you have missed a great part of Olympia. Located in the middle of the city, it has something to offer just about every conceivable user! And since it is just a few blocks from Ralph's Thriftway, it is a perfect place for a picnic. And the city does allow... 04/03/2008

Great View of Capitol from this Nice 3 bedroom townhome in EASTBAY 502 Eastside st NE Olympia Washington $ 1050.00 12 months Call RD House Real Estate & Property Management www.rd-house.com 207-728-6063 Location: Eastbay Great 3 Bedroom Large townhome over looking Bud Inlet and Capitol of OlympiaNew Hardwood Floors in Living room, Dinning and KitchenSQFT 1300+Ceramic tile floors in Bothe downstairs bath and upstairs full bathe with tub Granite counter top in both batheKitchen self-cleaning range, Ref, Maytag dishwasher- washer& dryerOne car garage with opener lots of storage small pets welcome with deposits Under 40lbs please (small hilly back yard not fenced all the way)Rent 1050.00Last month rent case BY CaseSecurity 895.00 Section Eight is ok on of approval of credit application fee ... 04/01/2008

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Do you know how many houses are for sale in your community today or last month?  Do you know how many have sold in your community in the last month?  Do you know the days on market in your community?  Do you know the absorption rate?  If you want to the the real estate expert in your community, this is important!   When you share that information, it really impresses people!  Here's the numbers for Thurston County, the Capitol city in the state of Washington.  Call me if you need any help!  02/25/2008

This morning, I ventured out to the Hand's On Children's Museum in Olympia.  Together with my 3 yr old twin daughters and my mother, we set out for a morning of fun!  Having never been here before, we were all excited to see what the museum had to offer.  The museum is just wonderful!  The staff was very welcoming and friendly, and pointed out where the restrooms were first thing!  With 2 kiddos in the midst of potty training, this is a highly important destination.  The museum is divided into 3 areas - Health, Animals and Building.  I just didn't know what to say during our visit, since I didn't once have to say "Please don't touch that!"  The museum was clean and also had a snack bar if the tummies get the growls.  This museum is highly recommended by my girls, who begged to return ag... 02/21/2008

I just got back from a very fun morning walk with my little dog, at Priest Point Park. This is a real favorite of the Olympia locals, as it is just minutes out of downtown Olympia- easy to walk, bike or drive to. It is set on the muddy tidelands of Budd Bay and there are lots of trails to get down to the water and eel grass and oysters and birds. And because it is a tidelands that reach to some cliffs, every time you visit, you see something new- like big tree trunks scoured by the saltwater and sand!  The Pacific Northwest is, of course, known for the rain- constant dripping moisture that keeps our slugs fat & happy, and the hillsides green. But today was actually pretty dry, just a bit misty. Perfect for a walk. One of my favorite things to do as a child was to turn over things on the... 02/09/2008

                                            One of the great, but little known amenities the city of Olympia offers, is the free downtown shuttle service called the Dash. The buses are easily recognized by their cool, colorful designs. The Dash service is quick, easy and free. You simply hop aboard and let it take you to your downtown destination. The shuttle operates weekdays every 12 minutes from 6:45am until 7:15pm. Parking is available at both ends of the shuttle run, at the Olympia Farmers Market and at the Capitol Visitor parking lot at Wheeler Ave. You can park for free for the first two hours and then just pay 50 cents an hour thereafter. For people working in downtown, leased monthly parking is available at the Capitol Visitor parking lot for only $12.50 a month. From your own ... 01/10/2008

Are you been looking for a way to get a bit more involved in Olympia?I have always enjoyed volunteering, thanks to my Mom & Dad and their encouragement in my childhood. But I had a hard time fitting Volunteering in between demands of personal time and a busy work schedule. And I really wanted to find something where I could use the skills I have.So I was quite happy to find the Advisory Boards. A perfect fit for me!These Boards review projects or help formulate plans and give citizen feedback to the Council and the departments that are responsible for that bit of the City.The city of Olympia is currently (until February 25th) accepting Applications to fill the vacancies on the following Boards:Arts Commission - 3 positions Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee - 3 positions Design R... 01/09/2008

According to Sperling's best Places of Portland's security survey, the Olympia area ranked highest nationwide in security for mid-sized towns. The study looked, among other factors, at crime rates, life expectancy, risk of natural disasters and air quality. The people living in the South Sound area already know what a safe place Olympia is. The climate is moderate, the economy is strong, the air is clean and there are plenty of local medical facilities. These quality of life factors are why my  family decided to settle here. Now that the word is out I hope Olympia's appeal will increase for people undecided where to move to in Washington. Sandy NelsonRealtor for Olympia area real estatewww.sandynelsonrealestate.com   01/03/2008

Come in OUT of the Rain!Need a break from the hustle & bustle of the Holidays?Have you been neglecting your puggies exercise needs? (Raindrops are cold!) Then you should join me and my Lilly pug for an afternoon of INDOOR Pug Play! Lilly and I are part of a group that meets up semi-regularly just for the fun of watching our little doglets romp and play. Grateful Dogs Grooming in Olympia (just off Exit 107 on Pacific Ave) has invited us to come by at noon this Sunday and just let the little doglets run around and have fun. Jason, the owner of the shop, will be working on one side,, but the other side will be open for our play date.This Sunday, December 9th from Noon to 1.Directions:From I-5, take Exit 107 and turn towards Downtown Olympia (west).About 8 blocks down, turn Left on Devoe St... 12/07/2007

With the weather getting colder and wetter, it's increasingly difficult to get the kids out of the house and active. To prevent cabin fever and for a way to spend quality time with the kids, I've compiled a local guide of fun destinations.Take a Trip to Westfield Shopping Center"Kids, we're going to the mall!" (No, you're not being schlepped around the house-ware isles at JC Penney)The Olympia mall offers several cool destinations for families of all ages:Play an exciting game of "glow in the dark" miniature golf at Glowgolf, located in the old Mervins store.   http://www.opryglowgolf.com/Create your own unique Teddy Bear at the enchanted Bear Mill. The Bear Mill is also a great place for private birthday parties. http://www.thebearmillinc.com/Catch a family movie at Olympia's newest mu... 11/21/2007

Those pesky impact fees many cities charge for developing a new property are adding up to be quite a large chunk of change. The motivation behind charging impact fees is to recover the cost of added strain of the development on the public facilities, such as schools, roads, parks etc.The city of Olympia is authorized to charge impact fees under the Growth Management Act. The way these fees are calculated is a vague formula based on rate studies. The high cost of impact fees is driving up the price of new construction homes, making it even more difficult for first time home buyers, or low income families to afford a home. On the one hand big retailers like Cabelas are given incentives and tax breaks to come in and develop and build their businesses locally, and on the other hand single f... 11/16/2007

Sharing with those in need has just gotten easier. If you'd like to donate food items to the Thurston County Food Bank and you live on the west-side of Olympia, simply drop your items off at the Riley Jackson Real Estate office building at 1920 Black Lake Blvd. (next to Lumbermens).                                           The Thurston County Food Bank has seen a 34% increase in families who were served from 2005 to 2006 and the number of visits increased by 9%. The Thurston County Food Bank serves over 27,000 individuals annually, and relies on donations and volunteers. The agents, owners and staff of Riley Jackson are committed to supporting the food bank and have made it really easy for anyone wishing to give food to just stop in and deposit the donations in our barrel, located in t... 11/13/2007

                           In February 2007, Riley Jackson Real Estate Inc. officially opened for business as a new brokerage in Olympia. It has differentiated itself through its dedication to exceptional service and outstanding business practices. Riley Jackson is home to 25 agents and has recently completed its brand new office building on Olympia's west side.Last week, we, the Key Group agents of Riley Jackson (Sandy Nelson, Al Stickland and Rob Chrisler) celebrated the completion of the new building with a Grand Opening Party for our clients. We had good food and music, plenty of wine, and great people. We handed out over $20,000 in gift certificates that evening. Our guests enjoyed a tour of the new, state of the art facility and we received comments like "...this is a first rate o... 11/02/2007

Will the ever changing Westfield Mall lose it's prized retail core status of Olympia within the next 10 years?Short answer - YESWith new developments along the I-5 corridor approximately 10 miles North in the Hawks Prairie area, national retailers will begin making choices as to which location optimizes their visibility.  Sure West Olympia still has the population and good demographics, but Hawks Prairie is growing, has Fort Lewis troop increases and an ever rising household income.I believe all these items combined will cause the "new downtown" of Lacey to emerge as the new retail capitol of the Olympia area.  The next few years will allow the mall to input new retailers such as Designer Shoe Warehouse and Dick's Sporting Goods into the old Mervyn's location, but the next 10 years may ... 10/29/2007

The City of Olympia has a wonderful urban forestry program called NeighborWoods.  The goal is to have more tree lines streets, which add more appeal, provide shade and habitat. In exchange for planting and caring for the trees (watering, pruning, mulching), the city provides the trees for free. The only prerequisites are that the applicants reside within the city of Olympia, that the trees are planted on the green strips between the street and the sidewalks, and that the applicants attend a four-hour training workshop. The workshop is also free, so it's really a sweet deal. I've applied for the program and found the application process very simple and the workshop was fun, with hands-on training on how to correctly plant a tree.The best part is selecting the kinds of trees you'd like to... 10/28/2007

 This is the time of year when gargantuan spiders may take over your home and feed on your visitors...          When ghosts and witches descend on your neighborhood,...       and gory monsters inhabit the front yards,...    turning them into grave yards.   In my Olympia neighborhood, many residents like to go all out with their Halloween efforts. That is part of the reason the neighborhood is so popular with Trick-or-Treaters. It's spooky, the homes are close together and there are safe sidewalks throughout the neighborhood. Some home-owners are so dedicated to the "Spook" they invite visitors to tour their haunted yards in exchange for donations to the local food bank.This home at 520 North St. in Olympia is open every evening from now until Halloween for a haunted yard tour. Visitors ... 10/27/2007

The 137 acre master planned community is getting closer and closer as each day passes to realizing the dream that the Briggs Family began back in 1991.  Architects NBBJ initiated the first drawings of the master planned community in 1996 and finally with road improvements and the infrastructure in we are seeing some dramatic changes.Even more exciting is the possible announcement of an anchor and identification of some of the retail components that will be added to the Village within the next year.  As the Development team continues their progress with the Central Phase and the final platting required to move forward the announcement of the retail segment looms ever closer.Congratulations to the Briggs Family and all of those involved!!!!It has not gone unnoticed and the 6.5 acre park t... 10/19/2007

 Join your friends and neighbors and help out with the newest part of the Woodland Trail!  Volunteers are needed to plant the 10,000 plants along the Fones Rd crossing. Planting days are scheduled from 9:30 to 2 pm on Saturday November 17th and Saturday December 1st. Rain or Shine! As long as the dirt is delivered and the rain doesn't wash it away first. Seriously!You will need to wear your rain clothes and good gloves, and bring your planting tools, including shovels.Take a look here at the website of the Woodland Trail Greenway Association for updates, as well as maps of the different phases of the project. Really it is just an excellent resource to learn about this great addition to Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater's trails and parks systems.You can also Download a flyer about the event h... 10/17/2007