Martinez has incredible holiday spirit and our town celebrates with pizzazz.  We might have more fantastic light displays per square mile than anywhere else in the East Bay.  What a wonderful tradition to pile into the family SUV with cookies and hot cocoa and cruise the neighborhoods looking at the wonder exhibitions created by our friends and neighbors. Here is a guide to some of the best Christmas light extravaganzas around Martinez.

• 190 Escondido Dr., Off Morello and Morello Heights at the top of Escondido and Gilrix
• Laurel Ct off of Pleasant Hill Rd East, between Alhambra Way and Nancy Boyd Park.
• 225 Valley Glen Ln.  Off of Alhambra Ave after Forest Hills but before Elderwood. Bring a pair of new socks to donate to the homeless.
• 503 Isabel Drive. Off of Elderwood, which connects Alhambra and Morello. Near the Morello end of Elderwood, turn on BernardWay, then a quick left on Isabel.
• The corner of Castro & Henrietta, next to City Hall, is a beautiful home elegantly lined in blue/green lights, with a hidden creature in lights on the front rail.
• The Grinch house on Forsythia Way. Off Morello take Midhill all the way up to Forsythia.
• Hospice Tree of Lights on Morello between Midhill and Hwy 4.  Stately oak in the center of Morello covered in sponsored lights placed by Hospice commemorating departed loved ones.
• Shell Clubhouse off of Pacheco on your way downtown has a Winter Wonderland of illuminated decorations.

As you are connecting the dots, check out Main Street in all its Christmas livery; the Santa House on Main Street; Center Ave has reports of good holiday cheer; and the neighbors in Westaire try to out do one another every year. For more amazing light displays around the County, check out the Lights of the Valley website.

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And give us a call at SF Bay Appraisal when you need professional real estate valuation anywhere in the Bay Area.

 

 

Though it is not on the market, here is a peek at the newest house in town. It magically appeared overnight last week on the 600 Block of Main St. in the Main Street Plaza. This is an up-and-coming neighborhood in quaint, historic Martinez. The downtown features a blend of retail, residential, and office space. There is a Starbucks just steps away!

• The house seems only 400 square feet from the outside, but is vastly larger once inside.
• It is a charmer with barn red exterior with white trim.
• Very well insulated.
• Wheel chair accessible.
• Top rated Martinez Unified School District for the little elves.
• One level, fantastic stories.
• Smells of peppermint.
• Fireplace with chimney, naturally.
• Nearby ice rink.
• Sleigh parking.
• Includes interior workshop.

APPRAISED VALUE = PRICELESS!

The house is currently occupied by a jolly man in a red suit. He is very kind and invites visitors inside to share their Christmas wishes with him. Nicole DiGiorgio is the head elf and photographer who offers photo services for kids, families, and pets visiting the house.

Hope your family is safe and warm this Holiday season, and that your house does not disappear back to the North Pole in January.  Please keep SF Bay Appraisal in mind if you need your property appraised for any reason.

The English language is pretty universal, and also flexible. There are some words in Martinez that have a special meaning for us that people from out side don’t understand.   Kinda like Soda-Pop-Cola are all terms for the same thing, but not really.  Could Martinez create its own dialect a hundred years from now?  That would be hecka cool.  Here are 9 words that mean one thing to someone from Martinez, and something different to anyone else from outside (like Concord).

We are lucky to live in such a special place as Martinez.  Even if you didn’t grow up here, you have been embraced by our community and are now a Martizian. I am third generation and raising a fourth here. By the way, in case you ever need expert real estate appraisal services, please LIKE the SF Bay Appraisal Fb Page, and visit our website. Enjoy…

Snake

Elsewhere: a legless reptile

Martinez: Once a main traffic route along the Carquinez Straight, the road once connected Martinez to Port Costa. It is officially called Carquinez Scenic Drive, but we just call it Snake Road. After it washed out in the 70s, Snake Road was a hang out spot for teens through out the 80s and 90s. Now after a major refurbishment the road once again connects the two towns. Just not for cars. Walkers and cyclists enjoy the scenic trail.

 

Dogs

Elsewhere:  domesticated canines

Martinez: Alhambra High School’s mascot is the Bulldogs.  For us in Mtz, Dogs refers to the local team. Go Dogs!

 

Lane

Elsewhere: a quiet, narrow road

Martinez: Your grandpa drank here. The College Lane, a bar established in 1932. Part of the Ferry Street Crawl and Holy Night (see Thanksgiving-eve below).

 

Shell

Elsewhere: the hard outer carapace of a mollusk or crustacean

Martinez: the Refinery.  Shell Oil Refinery Martinez was established in 1915, and has been a central industry for Martinez for over 100 years.

 

Alhambra

Elsewhere: the Moorish castle in Grenada Spain made of red clay.

Martinez: the backbone of Martinez is our central valley running the length of the town, named after the Spanish Arroyo Del Hambre, Valley of Hunger. Alhambra is also the name of our high school.

 

Ranch-hand

Elsewhere: a cowboy helper who tends cattle and chores around the barn.

Martinez: a secret menu item sandwich at Safeway deli consisting of chicken strips, potato wedges, and BBQ sauce.

 

Thanksgiving-Eve

Elsewhere: the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. Netflix and chill.

Martinez: the Holy Night where everyone who grew up in Martinez returns to town to mingle and reminisce along the Ferry Street Crawl, ending at Nu-Rays.

 

Santa

Elsewhere: jolly guy that comes once a year in December

Martinez: jolly guy we see every day.  Martinez native and local fixture Marty Ochoa.

 

Zombie

Elsewhere: an animated undead walking corpse

Martinez: a ball of dough baked with yellow cheese in the middle. Invented at local schools in the late 60s and served in high school cafeterias at brunch recess.

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We are lucky to live in such a special place as Martinez.  Even if you didn’t grow up here, you have been embraced by our community and are now a Martizian. I am third generation and raising a fourth here. By the way, in case you ever need expert real estate appraisal services, please LIKE the SF Bay Appraisal Fb Page, and visit our website. -Mario.

 

The wrong pumpkin on your porch can be a disaster for your property value.  The right or wrong pumpkin can influence how others see your home, and your neighborhood.

But what are the best pumpkins to display to maximize the value of your home?  You might have triple-paned windows, perfect paint palette, landscaped yard, in-ground lighting, and everything else to bump up your curb appeal. BUT, you are missing the perfect pumpkin to push your property value up just one more notch.

We’ve taken our years of experience in real estate valuation in the Bay Area and analyzed the best pumpkins for your porch.  Don’t get stung by the wrong squash.  You don’t need to spend a fortune to pick the perfect pumpkin for your porch and property value.

Howden/Field Pumpkin – This is a medium to large pumpkin that is great for Jack O’lanterns. The Howden has come to define “the look” in big Halloween pumpkins — deep orange color, defined ribs, and good handles. You can’t go wrong with one of these field pumpkins on your porch.

Gourds – Don’t get me started. Gourds are not pumpkins.  They may not even be vegetables. Gourds should be used for interior decor only, and only around Thanksgiving at that. Don’t jeopardize your curb appeal by putting these warty little indoor squash in your yard.

Cinderella Pumpkin – Large, vivid red, magical! Your fairy Godmother will be pleased. The Pilgrims served this variety, an heirloom from France called “Rouge vif d’Etampes”, at their second Thanksgiving. Magic and Mayflower are good tidings for how this pumpkin will transform your porch.

White Pumpkins – You get a maximum of exactly 1 (one) white pumpkin on your porch. Any more and your neighbors will report you to the HOA.

Knuckle Head Pumpkin – Warts?!? Go ahead, put it on your trailer step.

Sugar Pie Pumpkin – If you need a smaller pumpkin to fill in between larger ones, or solo on a small porch, the Sugar Pie is the pumpkin for you. Small, dark orange, with shallow ribbing, it is a smaller version of the classic.  Not as easy to carve, but they do make great pie filling.

Painted Orange Smoothie – I just can’t.

Teal Pumpkin – This is a project launched by the Food Allergy Research & Education organization to help kids with food allergies feel safer at Halloween.  A teal pumpkin on your porch indicates your house is giving out non-food treats. Toys, cash, pencils, stickers, etc.  Parents of kids with nut and other food allergies will really appreciate seeing this on your porch.

Fairytale Pumpkin – Classy as heck, those French.  The original name of this Old World beauty is “Musque De Provence”. That alone can round up your resale to the nearest thousand! It has a rich mahagany tone, big deep ribs, and a storybook visage.  Too beautiful to carve, but too smooth and creamy no to eat. We’re not saying Architectural Digest will call because the Fairytale is on your porch…but it can’t hurt.

Real talk, there is no correlation between the type of pumpkin on your porch and the value of your home. Hope you had fun reading this.  If you want to know what really does influence your home value, or to discuss an independent real estate appraisal, give SF Bay Appraisal a call.  Happy Halloween!

 

Here is the link to the PDF and the entire text of the Martinez Dog Park Proposal submitted to the City this week.  I love my dogs and I’d love for there to be a dog park in downtown Martinez.  A local group Martinez Dog Park Group on Facebook have proposed locations and a plan to the City Council and the PRMCC (Parks and Rec Committee).  If the PRMCC approves, it will go to a City Council vote and we can have a dog park started this year! As a real estate appraiser, dog parks do increase the value and happiness of their communities.  They give dogs a park of their own, keeping them out of playgrounds and front lawns.  As a dog lover, I am pleased to host their proposal so all in Martinez can see the ideas and join the conversation. – Mario Mazzamuto

The full proposal is below, and the link to the PDF is here: 

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Martinez Dog Park Group Mission:

“To establish a fenced-in, off-leash dog park where well-behaved canine citizens can exercise in a clean, safe environment without endangering or annoying people, property or wildlife. To develop a beautiful, well-maintained space open to all dog lovers and friends who are willing to uphold the park’s rules and restrictions. To view this park as a community project, in partnership with the City of Martinez, designed to satisfy the needs of dog-owners and non–dog owners alike.”

DATE:           October 19, 2015

TO:                 City of Martinez Parks, Recreation, Marina & Cultural Commission (abbreviated PRMCC)

FROM:           Martinez Dog Park Group

SUBJECT:    Downtown Martinez Dog Park Proposal

The Martinez Dog Park Group is an ad hoc group of citizens that are working together to help Martinez establish a place for humans and canines to socialize and play freely. There are nearly 200 members who actively support the project, and represent the thousands of dogs and their families in Martinez who would benefit from a designated place to run and socialize.

A fenced, secure, maintained dog recreation area will provide a safe place for dog owners to play with their dogs off-leash.  City parks are often busy and surrounded by busy streets, which make them not ideal for dog play.  Open spaces like Briones are too wild and boundless for many dogs to roam safely.  The solution is for a fenced location within Martinez that specifically accommodates dogs and their owners.

The Downtown/Marina area is an ideal place for a dog park.  This will draw dog owners Downtown and to the Marina year round.  Main Street cafés and shops are an easy dog walk from the Marina complex.  By providing a fenced in, off-leash area, the city will divert dogs from the parks and playgrounds, and help keep dogs out of the enticing East Bay Regional Park where dogs are not permitted.

Another upside to a Marina dog park is that the steady patronage will help improve the otherwise un-patrolled areas of the waterfront.  Dog park patrons will deter drugs, loitering, camping, vandalism, dumping, and other unwanted elements that now lurk the edges of the parks.

The ASPCA and the Humane Society both estimate that 44% of American households have dogs.  For Martinez, that means at least 6,500 homes have at least one dog.  That is a lot of people, and a LOT of dogs for our town of 37,500 people. Martinez residents will be well served by a dog park.

Comparable Dog Park usage from our area:

• Albany dog park averages 250 off-leash dogs per day
• Carmel Valley (Monterey) dog park has up to 100 per day
• Novato Community Dog Parks have 50-100 users per day
• Sausalito dog park hosts over 300 dogs per day

Visitor draws by dog parks in comparable cities in our region show that they are well used and in demand. The boost of 100 to 200 daily local patrons through the Downtown Area will contribute to the local economy.  Also, a dog park will draw users from the surrounding area, who then will discover the charms of Downtown Martinez as they visit.  The draw of a downtown dog park is the equivalent of having a sold-out show at the Campbell Theater every day, all year.

The PROs of a Downtown Dog Park:

• Bring hundreds of people a week to downtown Martinez
• Increase downtown and city-wide commerce
• Reduce crime and loitering; Improve property values in the community
• Allows dogs to exercise and socialize safely.
• Promotes responsible dog ownership
• Provides an outlet for dog owners to socialize
• Promotes health and safety by giving dogs a designated play spot

 

FUNDING THE DOG PARK
There are many established pathways to funding community dog parks.  The Martinez Dog Park Group has researched many, and is willing to work with the City to help gain the financial support needed to cover what the City cannot afford to spend on this needed recreational space.  There are other sources in the region to help build this project.  Community support, corporate donations, civic groups, regional monies, and dog park memebership dues are all strategies that we can employ together.

Unfortunately, the park bond Measure H funds are not available for use for this project.

On the upside, there is existing Measure WW bond funding that this project qualifies for.  The WW bond was passed by East Bay communities to provide recreational funding via the East Bay Regional park District based on a per capita division.  The allocation for the City of Martinez was about $1.6MIL.   These funds are approved, collected, and ready to be spend on Martinez park projects.

The City Council has spent some of our WW allocation.  They voted to spend $262,500 to buy the West Hills Farm property outside of Martinez for the Muir Land Trust give to the Federal Government.

There is a remaining balance of WW funds, $1,389,461 available to the City.  It is currently part of an application for a Waterfront Park Renovation Project.  This application can be amended to include or carve out a small fraction to cover the development of a dog park at the Marina or Downtown.

POTENTIAL SITES

Members of the Martinez Dog Park Group have spoken with many members of the community, government staff, and experts about possible locations for a dog park.  A downtown location is preferred for many reasons, but we considered every location that was presented to us.  There are three viable locations in the downtown/marina area.  Also, there are two locations that have previously been considered that have been ruled out for various reasons. All are presented below.

The AKC and our research have found that the ideal dog park location has most or all of the following attributes:

• Safe and convenient access by car, paw, and foot
• Available parking with ADA compliant ramps and curbs
• Electricity, water, and amenities
• Mostly flat or even terrain
• A neighborhood tolerant of a dog park

Site A – Cannery Sports Complex

This location is part of the recently developed sports complex across from the Amtrak station in the old cannery buildings.  The parking lot is paved, illuminated, and is in a well trafficked and accessible area.  The site can readily be filled, fenced, plumbed, and made ready for dogs to play.  The area is about .4 acres, which is on the small end of a good size for a dog park. But the readiness and location make this spot worthy of top consideration.

Site B – Yacht Club Adjacent

Located at the waterfront on City property, along a paved parking lot with power and water, this large area is well suited to becoming a dog park.  It can be up to two acres, and has room for both large dog area, and a smaller small dog fenced off area.  The lot is currently housing dumpsters, containers, and illegally dumped rubbish.  It is often frequented by drug dealers and users due to the seclusion.  A dog park here would drive away crime, camping, and loitering. There MAY be plans to use this lot as part of the larger Waterfront Plan, but until that Plan is available we should maximize the potential of this lot and let the dogs enjoy it.  If a hotel or convention center is eventually planned for the Marina, the dog park can be relocated.

Site C –Triangular Park at Alhambra/Marina Vista

This site offers the opportunity to kill several birds with one stone.  The triangular park known as “People’s Park” or “Needle Park” to locals is overrun with homeless campers, drug dealers and users, and vagrant misuse.  A dog park in this location would push out the negative elements encamped in the park, and bring families and urban professionals to the block.  Crime hates an audience. The fence-able area is about half an acre, and already has the amenities needed of a park.  Plus it has ready access and parking downtown.  The cost to convert this spot will be little more than a fence and signage.

  

 

REJECTED SITES

Alhambra Avenue Detention Basin
The PRMCC has previously evaluated and proposed the Alhambra Avenue Detention Basin as a site for dog park construction.  This proposal is not considering that location for the reasons identified by the committee that made it unfit for dog park development.  These included the high cost of building Alhambra Ave. frontage for parking and access; improvements to the basin to make it operable as a park; proximity to Briones and the Pleasant Hill Dog Park; and the fact that the basin is submerged during the rainy season.

Waterfront Road Open Space
Members of the community mentioned this location during our online discussions of possible sites.  It is a wonderful setting that was improved as a park in 2006, after being recapped with clean fill dirt in 2002. This site was the City dump until 1957, and an auto wrecker after that.  As a former landfill that was capped, further contaminated, and capped again, the site is encumbered with restrictions from Bay Conservation and Development Commission’s (BCDC) Settlement and Stipulated Cease and Desist and Civil Penalty Order.  The Order allows “public access for walking, sitting, viewing and related public trust purposes.” Contra Costa County Health Services conducts annual inspections due to the site being a closed land fill.  Per the City Engineer, a dog park would not be allowed on this site.

CONCLUSION

The upsides for a downtown dog park benefit more than just the thousands of dog owners in Martinez.  A dog park will draw people and their spending money downtown.  It will discourage crime and vagrancy in the area. It will increase property values in the community. And most importantly, it will give dogs a safe place to run free in a setting made for them.  Consider the park an investment in the community that will pay off in health and happiness for all.

Curb appeal is very important to the sales price of your home.  Even if you are not putting your house on the market, a great curb-side presentation is good for your neighborhood, and for you.  It is a great feeling to pull up to your house and be welcomed home every time.

An easy way to plus up the curb appeal of your real estate is to paint your front door.  It is an easy project that takes less than a day, and costs only a can of paint.

Consider a pop of color that complements your exterior, yet makes your home distinct.  A few of your neighbors already have red doors.  Those still look great, but who needs ANOTHER red door? Aubergine is a favorite door color of mine (think eggplant purple). Orange says I’M HERE, and yellow retains class with a touch of whimsy.  A color that suits your style, adds contrast to your frontage, and doesn’t look toooooo tacky are the best guidelines.  Do consider your Home Owner’s Association or town rules before painting.  Some places demand conformity.

My family recently painted out front door blue.  And while it was off the hinges, we painted in interior with a slate chalk paint so we can write notes and messages to one another on the way out.

Steps:

• Take your door off the hinges, and remove any knobs and hardware.  Tape the edges and any hardware you could not remove.
• Use an outdoor paint that will stand up to the sun and elements.  We used Rust-o-leum spray paint for our door, which is metal base with a plastic window frame.
• Apply at least two coats, with a few hours in between.
• See if a new knob or knocker in a different material will enhance your new look.
• Our entire project took a few hours. Started before lunch and was done before dinner.

Now we can tell guests to “look for the house with the blue door!”

Tackling a few Do It Yourself projects a month can greatly improve the appraisal value of your home.  A little bit here and a little bit there can add thousands to your home’s price.  And if you are selling your home, a bit of uniqueness, especially in a hot market like here in the San Francisco Bay Area, can help draw buyers, help stick in their memory, and maybe move your house more quickly.  Besides, they can paint the door any color THEY like once they move in!

For more tips on Bay Area real estate prices and appraisals, please follow us on Facebook.

 

I was browsing the MLS recently looking at homes for sale in Martinez and stumbled across this house.  It is located at the foot of Vine Hill Way, just off of Alhambra Ave., across from Forest Hills. The thing that caught my eye was that the house was listed at ALMOST FIVE MILLION DOLLARS!  I thought for sure it was a mistake. Or some super mansion on a vineyard out in the Valley halfway to Lafayette or Orinda, with room for horses and a helicopter pad.  Nope, just a tiny run-down house we all drive past ten times a week.

Of course the house is not the real value here.  The MILLIONS are in the huge lot covering 48.17 acres of Alhambra Hills that can be developed into much more.

Per the real estate listing:

This is a Beautiful Parcel suitable for one large mansion at top or single family homes per density survey. Gorgeous Panoramic Views of Benicia Bridge, Alhambra Valley & Mt. Diablo. AS-IS

For the record, I did not appraise this property, nor do I have a stake in it.  I was simply amazed at numbers that large showing up in property listings for our sleepy little town. The picture on top is of the house, and below that is the entire hill which is part of the property.

Though, someday I’d love for Martinez properties to be as high-end and sought after as those in Danville, Moraga, or Alamo.  The odds of that are the same as those for a snowball’s chance in Shell.  Please keep in touch and follow us on Facebook.