August 2008 
There are 12 blog entries for August 2008.
National Real Estate Market Report
Monday, August 25th, 2008 at 10:58pm. 109 Views, 0 Comments.
According to a report released by the National Association of Realtors on Monday, sales of existing homes rose in July much further than expected as buyers snapped up deeply discounted properties. The number of unsold properties, however, also hit an all-time high, an indication that the housing slump is far from over. Prices nationwide are not expected to hit bottom until early next year.
Home sales rose 3.1% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5 million units, up from June's downwardly revised rate of 4.85 million units. Sales had been expected to rise by only 1.6%. Though its the third monthly sales increase this year, the number of unsold single-family homes and condominiums rose to 4.67 million, the highest number since the NAR began tracking…
Minnesota State Fair Eco House
Friday, August 22nd, 2008 at 8:53pm. 143 Views, 0 Comments.
The 2,000-square-foot flat-roofed Minnesota State Fair Eco House was designed by SALA Architects. It showcases green building features such as a solar water-heating system, passive heating and cooling features, rain screen system and energy-efficient fixtures and appliances.
The home, furnished by Natural Built Home, will be open for tours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 21 through Sept. 1 as part of the Eco Experience in the Progress Center Building, at the corner of Cosgrove Street and Randall Avenue.
Fair admission: $11 adults, $9 seniors, $8 ages 5-12. 651-288-4400.
Buried Treasure for a Later Generation
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008 at 10:26pm. 119 Views, 0 Comments.
On Tuesday, a time capsule was installed in the lobby of the newly renovated Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. District Courthouse in downtown St. Paul. The building will reopen to the public on September 15 after a three-year, $70 million renovation project.
Among the items interred include:
- A BlackBerry smartphone
- 2008 election paraphernalia
- Biographies of federal judges and other noteworthy Minnesotans
- Photographs
- News stories
- A map of Great Britain hand-drawn by former U.S. Supreme Court chief justice Warren Burger
The building's nine federal courtrooms have been remodeled and four new courtrooms have been added. The heating and air conditioning systems were replaced. The building's exterior and interior…
The Great Minnesota Get-Together
Monday, August 18th, 2008 at 11:25pm. 126 Views, 0 Comments.
This week on Thursday begins an event which many people wait for all year. It’s commonly called the Minnesota State Fair and often referred to as the Great Minnesota Get-Together but I think most people can agree it’s the 12 Best Days of Summer. Beginning August 21 and going through September 1, you can get all manner of foods on a stick, music concerts and entertainment, exhibits, and more. Last year the Minnesota State Fair was attended by nearly 1.7 million people. Each year it seems to grow as one of the largest attended state fairs in the nation!
Entertainment at the 2008 Minnesota State Fair includes more than 100 acts at eight free venues, and a lineup of top stars that includes Toby Keith, the Backstreet Boys, and the Black Crowes. The Great…
The Sunray-Battlecreek-Highwood Neighborhoods of Saint Paul
Friday, August 15th, 2008 at 11:22pm. 143 Views, 0 Comments.
The neighborhoods of Battle Creek, Highwood and Sunray make up the southeast corner of St. Paul. The neighborhoods' borders are Minnehaha Avenue to the north, McKnight Road to the east, the Mississippi River to the south, and the western border is comprised of Hazelwood Street, Birmingham Street and Warner Road.
Due to the steep and heavily wooded bluffs east of Highway 61, not to mention the vast stretches of marsh land surrounding Pig’s Eye Lake, the Sunray-Battlecreek area remained undeveloped until after World W II. That is with the exception of Highwood, where an unsuccessful attempt was made in the late 1880’s to develop a commuter suburb. Some unique Queen Anne and shingle style homes from this time period can be found along Point Douglas Road…
Saint Paul Real Estate Market Analysis for July 2008
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008 at 11:04pm. 155 Views, 0 Comments.
Once again, new listings for homes fell in Saint Paul, Minnesota, during the month of July, according to the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors’ Market Update for 100 Twin Cities Communities. During July of 2008, there were 599 new listings in the City of Saint Paul. In July of 2007, there were 692 new listings, which is a drop of about -13.4%, a bit worse than June's drop of 8.9%. The Mac-Groveland neighborhood of St. Paul experienced the greatest decline in new listings this month at -56.9%. The West Side/Cherokee neighborhoods experienced the greatest increase in new listings over last year at 41, a whopping 86.4% more listings when compared to July 2007’s statistics.
Looking at Saint Paul’s posted new listing for the 2008 year-to-date, from…
Lowertown Market and Condo Project on Hold
Monday, August 11th, 2008 at 9:23am. 122 Views, 0 Comments.
The Farmer's Market Flats project at Fifth and Wall streets in St. Paul's Lowertown is on hold once again. The proposed 15,000-square-foot indoor market and housing complex has been going in fits and starts over the years. The latest delay seems to be that developer Brian Sweeney has withdrawn from the project.
I won’t really get into the specific of the situations, but for the past few months the project has been stalled due to several lawsuits and countersuits. At the moment, the future of the Farmer’s Market Flats project is unclear, but Mayor Chris Coleman and other city officials say that they're committed to seeing the project through to completion. The city and HRA have pledged up to $1.4 million in financing on the $13.5 million project.
The…
Saint Paul Trees Need Your Help
Friday, August 8th, 2008 at 12:59pm. 148 Views, 0 Comments.
The benefit of trees provide to society, particularly in densely populated and upwardly developed communities such as St. Paul, are far-reaching. They lower heating and air conditioning costs, prevent erosion, provide wildlife habitats, increase property values, provide shade shade on hot sunny days, and are visually appealing against the hard surfaces found in the city. Whether you realize it at first or not, trees make our lives better.
Publicly owned trees which create St. Paul’s urban forest are essential to the vitality of a city as any other component of community infrastructure. Like streets, sidewalks, public buildings, and recreational facilities, trees are a major capital asset. They gain value over the years as they mature and grow. …
Irish Fair of Minnesota
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 at 10:19pm. 125 Views, 0 Comments.
St. Paul is a city famous for its Irish heritage, with about 12 percent of residents claiming roots in Ireland, it’s no surprise that it’s the location of the largest free celebration of Irish heritage in the Upper Midwest. The three-day Irish Fair of Minnesota, now in its 30th year, opens this Friday on Harriet Island in St. Paul. This event attracts well beyond the "heritage circle," though, as last year it drew an estimated 100,000 people, about 35 percent of whom have no Irish blood at all.
The weekend is a celebration of all aspects of Irish culture. It show a reverence for Irish immigrant settlers in Minnesota and at the same time, it recognizes the impact immigrants are making today. Additionally, the Irish Fair Legacy Fund awards grants to…
Saint Paul's Six Point Plan
Monday, August 4th, 2008 at 11:16pm. 129 Views, 0 Comments.
Mayor Chris Coleman has releases a six-point economic development plan for the City of Saint Paul. It was devised in conjunction with major St. Paul business organizations and states goals and responsibilities for improving commerce.
Acknowledging that St. Paul can do more to attract new businesses and keep the ones it has, the plan outlines common-sense ways for the city to:
• Cut through some of the red tape.
• Retain businesses and recruit new ones.
• Revitalize downtown as well as neighborhoods
• Ensure the schools are doing their part to build an educated and skilled workforce.
If St. Paul is going to become a better place to do business, it's going to take teamwork. But it's not the city that creates jobs and wealth, according to the plan…
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