Tennis, Anyone?

The Lake Havasu City Parks and Recreation Department and USPTA certified tennis pro, Matthew Scott, have teamed up to offer tennis clinics in September and October. All classes are conducted at the public tennis courts located at Lake Havasu High School, 2675 Palo Verde Boulevard South. Beginners - Players new to the sport or have very little experienceAges: 6 to 9Dates: Tuesdays - September 18 and 25, and October 2 & 9Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.Fee: $40 for all four classesIntermediate - Players with some experienceAges: 9 to 13Dates: Mondays - September 17 and 24, and October 1 & 8Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.Fee: $40 for all four classesHigh School Students - J.V. and Varsity players invitedAges: Varies by skill levelDates: Mondays - September 17 and 24, and October 1 & 8Time: 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.Fee: $40 for all four classesSpace is limited and players are encouraged to register now by calling Matt Scott at 486-9028. Private and semi-private lessons are also available. Contact: Steve Plaza, Lake Havasu City Parks and Recreation, 453-8686.

Who Is It?Havasu's Next “Pioneer?”

LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ - There’s a new special purpose zoning district in Lake Havasu City. The council voted in full agreement last night -- 7-0 showing solidarity for hopeful economic development to revitalize Main Street. (It’s primarily the section of McCulloch Boulevard between Acoma and Smoketree, the original center of the city.) The ordinance allows mixed use development and is expected to offer new opportunities for developers. However, who is stepping forward first? That’s the big question Jim Salscheider, Executive Director of Lake Havasu City Main Street wants answered. He believes the individual or group that takes the initiative will be a true “pioneer” and another Robert McCulloch.This morning, Salscheider told TSN, “the mall will impact downtown,” so he says he’s going to go to Flagstaff and see what lessons it learned from changes 12 years ago that affected the downtown area and the city “managed to revitalize it.” He wants to know what worked and what didn’t. Salscheider believes the city must decide “whether to put every nickel into the sewer or make some investments in our community.” Finally, Salscheider says the first developer who comes with significant plans for revitalizing Main Street must be given concessions by the city. He says it will spur other development and pave the way for the future.

Arizona #2 in Rapid Housing Growth

ARIZONA - The U.S. Census Bureau has just released new stats. At the state level, four of the five states with the most rapid housing growth are in the West: Nevada (with a growth rate of 4.5 %,) Arizona (3.5%,) Idaho (3.4%,) Florida (3.3%,) and Utah (3.1%.). Nevada's rate of growth was more than triple the national average. The South dominated the states adding the highest number of housing units. Florida gained 273,000 homes during the period to lead all states, followed by Texas (198,000), California (181,000), Georgia (101,000) and North Carolina (89,000). Louisiana was the only state to experience a decline, with the number of housing units falling by 110,000, or 5.7%. The estimates are based on Census 2000 counts supplemented by administrative records such as building permits. Pinal County, of the Phoenix metro area, had the highest growth rate of housing units of any county in the nation. Meanwhile, neighboring Maricopa County was the biggest numerical gainer.

Fed to cut rates?

Waiting for the Fed to cut rates There's only one week to go before the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee meets on interest rates.
Investors and the stock markets have been jittery ahead of the Fed meeting, trying to interpret words from various Fed officials as guides to what will happen next week. Will the Fed cut interest rates? If so, by how much? And how many times? With all these questions, there are still days before an answer.
Investors were looking to Fed chief Ben Bernanke's speech in Berlin today for hints, but there wasn't much to glean about what's going to take place next week.

Zoning In On McCulloch Blvd. Decided Tonight

Tonight, the Lake Havasu City Council makes a move to change the direction of the city with a new ordinance that will propose a new “special purpose” zoning district called the “Uptown McCulloch Main Street District.” It is clearly expected to pass and bring new development to the area from Smoketree to Acoma on McCulloch.It is designed to encourage mixed uses, utilizing the conclusions of the recent R/UDAT Report, offering a master plan for streetscape and parking within the area. The plan involves higher structures and is designed to bring much higher economic development to the zone. Among those deciding on the issue is Councilwoman Cindy Aldridge. She says her “primary concern is of the development of the smaller lots - the lots that are 25 feet across with the new parking requirements - it looks like it would be very difficult to develop a small lot. I would be concerned about a Prop. 207 violation if we make a person’s property ‘undevelopable.’ That’s my primary concern.” She also says there must be a comprehensive parking plan in place. If there is indeed both increased height and density in that area. However, she says people have a perception there is a parking problem on McCulloch, but Aldridge says there’s plenty of parking in the back. One thing she would like to get rid of is the diagonal parking. With the increased traffic on the busy boulevard, she believes it is “dangerous.”

Current Colors Update "Tired" Listings

Just as homes become functionally obsolete over time because of building trends and innovations, a home can become "color obsolete." How many listing have you had that weren't at peak marketability because the interior colors were out-of-date? If you want to give your listings a fashion-face lift, here are today's fashionable colors.
By the way, did you know popular colors phase in and out on a sixteen year bell curve? Most colors rise to the top of the bell curve and peak in popularity over eight years, then wane in desirability over more eight years before sliding off the trend radar.
Here are the current color trends:
* Browns continue to be hot--especially chocolate browns. * Watch for brown in combination with soft blues, greens, reds, and even black. * Milk chocolate and gold are a winning combination.
* Blue is moving to the midrange tones like Caribbean and periwinkle. * Blue also shows up in denim and navy.
* Black and white is still a trendy combination. * Off white and white with platinum make a strong luxury statement.
* Purple in the shade of violet red is gaining momentum. * Rose tones will rise to the fore in 2008.* Raspberry is the most important red pink tone.
* Grays keep growing in importance.
* New greens are minty and creamy. Dirty olive is also showing up in Fall fashions.
* Golds in every tone are in demand (combine with red for more fashion punch)
* Beiges are moving more towards taupe tones.
* Oranges from terra cotta to peach to cinnamon are still popular.
You'll see these colors on the fashion runways and in the upscale homes that look the most "current."

Spa Bliss...

Spa bliss at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, California
The next monthly Spa Soirée at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village California is September 19th, www.fourseasons.com. At the August Soirée, dozens of white Pilates balls floated in the outdoor pool, around which sunflower-yellow cabanas were turned into mini treatment rooms, for massages, consultants and even in-your-face Botox (extra - all other treatments are included in the Soirée entrance ticket, as is outstanding food and a full bar). I also met the king of California's orchids, who provides the thousands of glorious blooms around the luxury hotel, which is adjacent to the headquarters of Dole Food Company, also owned by entrepreneur David Murdock. The hotel has a sensational spa and the integral California Well Being Institute, www.experiencecwi.com.