Rachel\’s Real Estate Blog

Duke Energy is giving away up to 15 free CFL bulbs per address. The signup is fairly painless.

https://www.duke-energy.com/freecfls/default.asp

Did you know that the US home of the author of one of my favorite books “Under The Tuscan Sun” (Frances Mayes) is here in Durham? It is located on the Tom Fazio signature golf course in Treyburn and of course has some Tucsan “touches”. It is for sale for $960,000.

www.UnderTheTreyburnSun.com

Durham just named #1 place to retire by CNN’s Money Magazine! Read the article here:

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/real_estate/1009/gallery.best_places_retire.moneymag/index.html

Durham Begins West Village Street Improvements Project
West Main Street to Become More Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Overall Transportation Friendly; Construction to Last One Year

CITY OF DURHAM, Office of Public Affairs, 101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701
 
News Release
For Details, Contact: Amy C. Blalock, Senior Public Affairs Specialist
(919) 560-4123 x 253, (919) 475-7735 (cell), Amy.Blalock@durhamnc.gov
 
For Immediate Release:   March 18, 2009  

Durham, N.C. “ Durham residents and visitors traveling down West Main Street will now notice a streetscape improvement project underway.   This City of Durham project will make West Main Street more pedestrian, bicycle, and overall transportation friendly and serve as a vital connection between downtown Durham and Bright Leaf Square.
 
The West Village Street Improvements Project on West Main Street consists of installing underground power infrastructure as well as street improvements and streetscaping on Main Street between Ramseur and Duke Streets. The West Village Street Improvements will have a similar appearance to the Downtown Streetscape Project, completed by the City in June 2007.
 
West Main Street will be reconstructed using a combination of standard paving and decorative pavements.   Sidewalks along this street will also be reconstructed and landscaping incorporated into the design. New lighting for vehicles on the street and for pedestrians on the sidewalks is included, as well as installing the underground infrastructure to move the overhead power underground.
 
The City™s contractor, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., will maintain traffic throughout construction when it can be safely maintained; however at times, traffic will have to be detoured, especially when the contractor is installing the underground power vaults.   In this instance, the traffic will be switched to œlocal traffic only or detoured for a period of time. The construction will take approximately one year to complete.
 
For more information on this project, contact Todd Ireland with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. at (919) 677-2042 or via e-mail at todd.ireland@kimley-horn.com.     Residents may also visit the City™s Web site at www.durhamnc.gov/departments/works/project_main_st_streetscape.cfm for more detailed information about this project.

Durham Announces œFix-a-Leak Week March 16-20

Home Leak Repair Can Save Water and Money

CITY OF DURHAM Office of Public Affairs News Release  
City of Durham, 101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701
For Details, Contact: Amy C. Blalock, Senior Public Affairs Specialist
(919) 560-4123 x 253 (919) 475-7735 (cell) Amy.Blalock@durhamnc.gov
 
Durham, N.C. – Water lost through drips and leaks can be significant, but is often overlooked in homes and businesses. To raise awareness of these losses, the City of Durham is partnering with the Environmental Protection Agency™s (EPA) WaterSense Program by designating March 16 – 20, 2009, as œFix-a-Leak Week, and reminding residents to check plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks.

œLeaks may account for up to 11,000 gallons of water wasted in the home every year.   That™s enough water to fill a backyard swimming pool, said Vicki Westbrook, deputy director of the City™s Department of Water Management. œFixing leaks not only saves water, but it can also save homeowners more than 10 percent on their water bills.

To help consumers across the country save water, WaterSense is promoting ways to identify and repair dripping faucets, running toilets, and leaky showerheads.  In most cases, fixture replacement parts can be installed by do-it-yourselfers and pay for themselves in no time.

Following are a few water-saving tips from the City and WaterSense:

·                 Reduce faucet leaks by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and, if necessary, replace the faucet with a WaterSense labeled model.

·                 Leaky toilets are most often the result of a worn toilet flapper. Replacing the rubber flapper is a quick fix that could save a home up to 200 gallons of water per day.

·                 For a leaky garden hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.

·                 Landscape irrigation systems should be checked each spring before use to make sure they are not damaged by frost or freezing.

If homeowners have to replace a plumbing fixture, the City reminds them to look for the WaterSense label.  WaterSense labeled toilets and faucets have been independently tested and certified to save water and perform as well as, or better than, standard models.

Durham is also currently offering a $100 rebate on the purchase and installation of a WaterSense labeled high-efficiency toilet.   In many cases, this can cover a significant portion of the purchase price of the toilet.   Additionally, Durham residents can purchase water-efficient showerheads from the cashier counter at City Hall for just $3.   The City can also assist water customers with identifying leaks.   For a $10 fee, a conservation specialist can help identify leaks, review water usage history and habits, and make suggestions on additional ways to save water and lower the water bill.

WaterSense also partners with certified landscape irrigation auditors, designers, installers, and maintenance professionals with water-efficiency knowledge.  Visit www.epa.gov/watersense to find a WaterSense irrigation partner in the area.

For more information on œFix-a-Leak Week, visit www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak.   For more information on saving water in Durham, the toilet rebate program, and other conservation efforts, visit www.DurhamSavesWater.org.

About the Department of Water Management

The City™s Department of Water Management is responsible for the operation and maintenance of Durham’s water supply, water treatment and water reclamation (wastewater treatment) facilities, the collection and distribution systems (including meter reading) and customer billing services.   For more information, visit www.durhamnc.gov/departments/wm.    

Habitat for Humanity ReStore’s

Building Materials Warehouse Sale

Saturday, March 14, 2009

8 am to 2 pm  

1400 East Geer Street, Durham

Phone:   day of the sale only 418-6862

Look for our map on the website “ ReStoreDurhamOrange.org

And if you like what you see at the warehouse, you should come to our regular retail location at 3710 Shannon Road, Durham.   Store hours are 10-6 Tues-Fri, and 10-5 Saturdays.   We carry building materials (not quite the selection we have at the warehouse but it is a smaller location), furniture, appliances, and household goods.   And best of all, on the 10 ^th, 20^th, and 30^th of each month, everything in the store is 20 percent off.

CITY OF DURHAM
Office of Public Affairs
Durham Golden Leaf Awards Nominations Due Soon

News Release  
City of Durham, 101 City Hall Plaza
Durham, NC 27701
For Details, Contact:
Amy C. Blalock
Senior Public Affairs Specialist
(919) 560-4123 x 253
(919) 475-7735 (cell)
Amy.Blalock@durhamnc.gov
For Immediate Release:   March 12, 2009

Durham Golden Leaf Award Nominations Due Soon
Deadline to Submit Nominations Friday, March 20th

Durham, N.C. “ Durham residents and property owners who think their properties have curb appeal are encouraged to send in nominations for the 7th Annual Golden Leaf Awards by next Friday™s deadline.

The Durham City-County Appearance Commission and Keep Durham Beautiful, Inc. are currently seeking nominations from the community for this year™s award ceremony.   The Golden Leaf will be given in the following categories: Community Properties, Commercial Properties, Residential Properties, Landscaping and Maintenance, Sustainable Properties, and Keep Durham Beautiful.

Nominated projects must be located within Durham County.   The nomination deadline is Friday, March 20, 2009, and winners will be announced at a public ceremony in May.    

First awarded in 2003, the Golden Leaf Awards recognize the best visual contributions to the Durham community.   The goal of the awards program is to encourage better designed and better maintained properties in Durham.   Selection criteria include excellence in design of a new development and/or improvement of an existing structure; raising community awareness of the value of good appearance and stewardship; improving the character, environment, or livability of an area; and a commitment to ongoing property maintenance in landscaping, signage and general upkeep.

This event is co-sponsored by the Durham City-County Appearance Commission and Keep Durham Beautiful, Inc.   The Durham City-County Appearance Commission is a 15-member volunteer advisory board that provides leadership, expertise, and oversight in the promotion of design excellence, visionary planning, and preservation of the best and most livable community standards.   Keep Durham Beautiful is a non-profit, volunteer organization working in partnership with the City and County of Durham to engage and inspire individuals to take greater responsibility for their community environment.

To fill out an online entry form or for information on eligibility requirements, visit www.durhamnc.gov/departments/planning/gold_leaf.cfm or contact Lisa Miller, planner/urban designer with the Durham City/County Planning Department, at (919) 560-4137, extension 270 or via e-mail at lisa.miller@durhamnc.gov.
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This great new website has inspired me to follow one of their “Perfect Day” walking tours of Carrboro:

www.WalkCarrboro.com  

George’s Place Animal Sanctuary will be holding a
LOW COST VACCINATION CLINIC
Sunday, March 1st from 2pm – 4pm
at the Animal Protection Society of Durham!

During these difficult economic times some pet owners are struggling to give their animal companions their necessary vaccinations.   This Sunday March 1st from 2-4 pm George™s Place Animal Sanctuary is holding a low cost vaccination clinic here at the Durham County Animal Shelter.   A range of vaccinations will be offered for $10 as well as deworming for $10 and heartworm and FeLV tests for $15.   Low cost Heartguard and Frontline will be offered as well.   If you know someone who may be able to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity for low cost vaccinations please let them know.

Please note, only cash is accepted.
 
For more information call 1-888-622-7729

Animal Protection Society of Durham

2117 E. Club Blvd.

Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-0640

www.apsofdurham.org

The National Assocation of Home Builders has created an excellent website to explain the new & improved first-time homebuyer tax credit:

www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com

Note that for the purposes of this tax credit, a “first-time homebuyer” is defined as anyone who has not owned a principal residence in the past 3 years.

It’s a great time to buy!