The SMART Train initiative was legally set in motion on January 1, 2003 when California State Assembly Bill 2224, gave a new regional transportation district (rail district) the ownership of 70 miles of railroad Right Of Way (ROW), which is estimated to be worth $1 billion.

OK, so now that we know a few of the facts about how it came to be, what actually is the SMART Train? The SMART Train, is a proposed Rail Line that will run from Larskpur to Cloverdale, about 70 miles. The line will feature 14 stops, allow for north and south travel (via “passing sidings” a small section of track where 2 sets of tracks run side by side, to allow one train to pass another), and also feature an adjacent paved bicycle path, AKA a Greenway. This Greenway will likely see 7,000 – 10,000 bikers, joggers, and walkers daily, and will be a recreational centerpiece of Marin and Sonoma County.

The SMART Train is the backbone of a North Bay transportation system that is a vision at this point. Eventually, it is planned to be a part of a system that incorporates, bikes, trolleys, buses, shuttles, ride share parking lots, and commuter parking lots. SMART Train riders will be able to bring bicycles on the train, and the train will be equipped with wireless Internet, coffee and snack bars, and state of the art design.

To learn even more about the SMART Train, I called their main office, and was referred to their community outreach manager. I asked several questions, and we covered a lot of facts I could not find anywhere else. The average fare is expected to be $4.50 (each direction), which seems pretty low cost to me. The total time from Cloverdale to Larkspur is expected to be 90 minutes (70 miles), with stops, which implies an average speed of 46.67 MPH. There will be a total of 14 trains that run north per day and 14 trains that run south. The times these trains will run are not yet determined, but I am told it will be during morning and evening commute hours, and also at least 1 train will run during mid day in each direction. The trains themselves have yet to be chosen, so the numbers of anticipated riders is not yet known.

So where will the SMART Train have stops and stations? The SMART Train will have stops and stations in the following cities: (From South to North): Marin County: Larskspur, Downtown San Rafael, Marin Civic Center, Novato South, Novato North, Sonoma County: Downtown Petaluma, Corona Road, Cotati, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa Railroad Square, Jennings Avenue, Windsor, Healdsburg, and Cloverdale.

The SMART Train project is expected to cost about $540 Million. The majority of the funding will come from Sonoma County and Marin County residents through a 1/4 percent sales tax increase that was approved by voters in the November 2008 election. The tax increase was approved in a measure known as Measure Q. The tax is planned to be a 20 year tax, and started in April 2009, sunsetting in March of 2029…wow, that seems so far in the future.

So when will the SMART Train be here? A project of this magnitude does not just happen overnight, and the SMART Train project is no exception. Actual construction and earth movement will begin in 2011, with the inaugural train ride set for sometime in 2014.

We have heard so many things about the SMART Train over the past few years, long enough for us to form opinions of the project. We think that the SMART Train will only benefit Marin County and Sonoma County homeowners. With a modest 1/4 percent tax increase, there will be a mass transit option from Cloverdale to Larkspur. From Larkspur, you can ride the Golden Gate Ferry into San Francisco. Not only is the a Green alternative to driving a car, but the SMART Train will allow for more Sonoma County residents to earn the higher salaries in San Francisco, with a reliable transportation alternative. This extra income will help Sonoma County Businesses, as the extra income will likely be spent here.

Last and certainly not least, the SMART Train is also more environmentally friendly than any other alternative. The SMART Train is more GREEN, per passenger, than the passenger cars that flow along 101, is more GREEN and cost effective than buses that travel that 101, and will be equipped with clean diesel technology that will provide an extremely clean mass transit option.

If you have any questions regarding the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART Train), please feel free to contact us and we will do our best to find out.

Does this mean that Green Real Estate features are unimportant to Real Estate buyers? Not necessarily. It does mean that some survey respondents chose other features as more important.

We believe that Green Real Estate is a growing trend not only here in Sonoma County, California, but is also growing nationally. We not only believe this, we have done things to back this up. Yasmeen was the first NAR Green Real Estate Designee. This is the ONLY Green Designation that is recognized by the National Association of Realtors.

Real Estate Buyers found the following aspects of Real Estate important:

• Ample Storage Space – 74%
• Closet Space – 74%
• Updated Kitchen – 67%
• Updated Master Bathroom – 65%
• Eco Friendly Real Estate Features – 22%

Is there any positive news that comes from this article? We think that Eco Friendly Real Estate features have grown in importance over the recent years with buyers. As prices fall for things such as solar power, low VOC paints, etc, we see the trend continuing to rise.

We have written past articles regarding Green Trends, and will continue to do so. From articles such as Sebastopol’s Global Vision to articles on sustainable Bamboo Floors and Green Countertop options. Again…we see Green as a growing trend, one that will be a huge movement is years to come.

The survey was conducted by Better Homes And Gardens, and only asked the questions of the Better Homes And Gardens magazine readers, and there were over 17,000 respondents. Is this an accurate sample size? Maybe? Are Better Homes And Gardens magazine readers representative of Sonoma County Home Buyers? Maybe not.

Our friends invited us over for a small housewarming and dinner, and here is where the joke came in. When they were showing me the kitchen, they told me they went ahead and purchased all new stainless steel appliances. I told them I thought that was a smart idea with prices coming down, Energy Star appliances readily available since they wanted to stay environmental, and they could buy exactly what they wanted.

The appliances really did look great. As we were about to leave the room, they told me to take a closer look at the appliances….I was still missing it. Finally, they showed me close up a small mistake in their painting, and told me they had used the appliance paint…it looked so good I was fooled for 10 minutes or so. I went from skeptic to believer in about 10 seconds.

I thought that other people may want to try this at home project themselves, and have embedded a video that can show the seemingly easy process. I have not personally tried it, but I was told it was easy. I can attest the outcome was actually impressive. This video is pretty “commercially” (Is that a word?) but I thought it served a good purpose.

I found more information on the Internet, however the video above is the most thorough. There were spray epoxy options available, different colors, and all seemed to have a relatively easy process.

Please let us know if anyone else has some experience with this type of project.

I believe this comes from the oxygen mask theory in planes…you must put your oxygen mask on first before you can help others. This seems pretty obvious to me because you must help yourself before you are able to help others. If you do not put your oxygen mask on, it will be a very short time before you are unable to help others. This does not mean that you should be selfish, but you must be able to help before you can truly help. This may seem selfish to some, but it is actually very selfless…after all, we are talking about helping others.

Sebastopol has their own slogan that is starting to spread throughout the whole North Bay. “Local Flavor Global Vision.” As you stroll through the streets of Sebastopol, you will likely see this logo in the windows of many of the local shops. It is great that all of the local Businesses are supporting this movement, and in turn supporting each others. We have also noticed the “shop local” trends at Oliver’s Market in Cotati, The Petaluma Market in Petaluma, Pacific Market in Rohnert Park, and the entire Downtown Petaluma Business district.

The logo is truly Sebastopol…a world shaped as an apple, a throwback to the Sebastopol apple orchard heritage. I suppose this is the Local Flavor part of the new campaign.

In this economy where the unemployment rate is in the double digits, and disposable income is lower than in years past, we need this type of call to action for the community. We need to support ourselves before we can help others; this is the oxygen mask reference from above. We need to support local Wine Country Businesses that celebrate the uniqueness of this wonderful area. By shopping at locally owned Businesses and using locally owned service provider, this will help our local economy, our local employment rates, and in turn ourselves.

We hope all of our readers are going to join us and put on their oxygen masks and shop locally. If you are a local Business owner and would like us to feature your Business, please contact us. We always welcome reader feedback.

There are certainly good reasons to choose bamboo, and also some things that to make sure you understand before you buy bamboo flooring. We have found that different aspects of bamboo flooring are important to each buyer, and we wanted to summarize the list or PROs and CONs of each buyer here.

PROs

• Sustainability and Eco Friendly Material – Bamboos (all varieties) grow relatively quickly in relation to other hardwoods that are typically used in flooring. Bamboo also attains maturity quickly, allowing for quick cultivation.
• Price – Bamboo prices are relatively cheap compared to most hardwood floors, and even comparable to higher end carpet. There are still cheaper alternatives (cork floors, carpet) but the price relative to other hardwood floors is seen as an advantage.
• High Moisture Resistance – Bamboo resists spills very well, and is really easy to clean, making is a good choice not only for family and living rooms, but also for kitchens and bathrooms.
• Durability – Bamboo is quite hard, and stands up well against would be dents and scratches. Bamboo has been found to be as hard as some traditional hardwoods. We have also noticed that bamboo is being used increasingly in the commercial setting, offices, boutiques, etc that have high foot traffic.
• Choice – Bamboo comes in a wide variety of color choices.
• Beauty – Bamboo is a really pretty flooring choice. I still remember the first time I saw bamboo floors…it was in Manhattan Beach, CA when I was looking for a home in 2002. I did not end up purchasing that home, however the floors still stand out in my mind. This is a big PRO, but we listed this last because form follows function.

CONs

• Some have reported that bamboo, in some instances, can be brittle. This has not been proven according to a flooring wholesaler I spoke to, and they thought this may be an issue with climate, care, or maybe an issue in manufacturing of that particular lot or species of bamboo. I cannot give better information on this currently, but this should be explored by anyone who plans to make a bamboo flooring purchase.
• Locally sourced? – Bamboo is not currently locally sourced on a large level.
• Exposure to direct sunlight can bleach the color in bamboo. This can also happen with wood floors. This is most evident in areas where a piece of furniture or rug was moved…the wood where the rug or funiture used to be is darker than the rest of the floor that received direct sunlight exposure.
• Staining – I know I know…in the PROs section I said it was moisture resistant…it is, if sealed properly. If not sealed properly, bamboo as well as other flooring types, can stain. Make sure your bamboo floors are sealed properly.

Bamboo floors are worth considering for various reasons; sustainability, eco-friendly, price, durability, beauty. We hope you find this article informative and useful. If you have anything to add, please comment on this blog.

I am a big fan of granite counters and I actually have them in my own home. Nothing really has the beauty of a stone counter. With that said, I must admit that I was amazed at how beautiful these IceStone kitchen counters were. The IceStone counters had me thinking of a counter redo…at least in a bathroom or laundry room…but a redo project just for style and color would not really be environmentally friendly.

I did not have a camera with me, so you will have to take my word for it or visit the IceStone Kitchen Counters website to see all of the beautiful colors. I chose a few different IceStone colors and put pictures of them below for this article. There are many more colors to choose from than the four that I listed below.

Our clients had chosen the Green Tea Color…after looking at the website, we felt that in addition to the Green Tea color, Mocha Ice would also be a great choice for most home color schemes. We tend to find that people are drawn to more conservative colors…I suppose it is because the colors appeal to more people.

IceStone Kitchen Counters Green Tea

IceStone Kitchen Counters Mocha Ice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are many colors from which to choose and we think the Purple Haze and Persimmon would be good choses for more adventurous tastes. The adventurous colors are nice, however when you sell your home you have to find someone who loves the same colors as much as you do.

 

IceStone Kitchen Counters Purple Haze

IceStone Kitchen Counters Persimmon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you are undertaking a kitchen remodel, be sure to consider green alternatives. If you do choose to redo your counters, and choose the IceStone product, we would like to know how the project turns out, and how you like the environmentally friendly counters.