Harold Washington Library Center

As an avid reader, the object of my adoration the past year or so has been the Chicago Public Library. Its Web site has made the retrieval of books, as well as movies and music, accessible in a way I never dreamed possible. From the comfort of my laptop I can peruse the library’s catalog, renew a book, place an item on hold, and select my preferred location for pick up. All at the click of a button and at no cost. A valid Chicago Public Library card is required. When an item has reached its destination I receive an email notification.

Of course, one still has to visit the library to pick up the item…

John Merlo Branch

I frequently walk or ride my bicycle to the Merlo branch on Belmont, my intimate, Lakeview neighborhood library; and I commute easily to the flagship Harold Washington Library Center on State Street between Van Buren and Congress, a couple blocks from my South Loop realty office.

Needless to say, with such a convenient and efficient system, I find myself forever flush with literary companions, contributing to a rich and fulfilling commuter lifestyle. Whether it’s a 10-minute ride to show one of my listings or a 40-minute commute to the office, both translate into chapters read, my mind stimulated—and often inspired! In short: reading makes for a relaxed, content CTA customer. And I have the Chicago Public Library to thank.

But, you may ask, does said satisfaction rise to the level of salvation? The answer: Yes.

But don’t believe me. Try it for yourself! And let me know what you think…

Jill's Fuji "hybrid"

I took his email as a reminder that it’s time to dust off my bicycle for the season and feel the wind against my face…

I bought this 12-speed in 1983 right after selling my car. A couple years later I had the racing handlebars switched out for the touring variety; and got larger wheels, far more practical for city cycling!

In my view, nothing says springtime in the city more than tulips. In fact, one of the rarely mentioned, tangible benefits of car-free living includes tulips. It’s true!

Strolling most anywhere in downtown Chicago during the month of May, well, what can I say? Tulips rule!

This time of year many of the high-rises along Lake Shore Drive conspire to create a floral feast for those of us who favor our daily constitutionals along the Inner Drive.

As a Lakeview resident, my lakefront tulip domain ranges between Belmont and Addison. Ever since my grandson learned to walk we’ve played a fun game of challenging each other to recognize our neighborhood tulips: calling out our favorite colors; pretending that the abundance has come to an end, only to cross yet another street and—surprise surprise—discover even more tulips! All the while singing the quirky tune “Tiptoe Through the Tulips“ made famous by the late Tiny Tim. 

When showing property in the city I’ve noticed that tulips provide a certain curb appeal duly noted by prospective buyers. It’s no coincidence that tulips tend to thrive at the peak of the spring real estate market. Forget about baking cookies to conjure up the comforts of home. Plant tulips!

With their vibrant colors, standing proud and tall, tulips seem to signal a season of promise; sentries ushering in a welcome time for change. And, like autumn leaves in all their glory, tulips herald an exquisite new season like no other force of nature.

With the Cubs home opener upon us, residents of Wrigleyville and beyond brace ourselves for the annual uptick of automobile traffic. While I enjoy an unobstructed view of the ballpark from my Lakeview high-rise, I’m astounded and yes, disconcerted each year, as I witness the never-ending queue of cars along Addison Street in the hours surrounding a home game.

This is also the time of year that real estate agents are sure to feature, as appropriate, ”Walk to Wrigley!” in their listing remarks. Of course, one person’s walk is another person’s cab ride…

When I list a property, I insist on accurate representation of amenities, including proximity to parks, lakefront paths, etc. Prime example: I’m presently listing a gorgeous 2 bed/2 bath condo in North Center. While my sellers tell me they enjoy their walk to the ballpark and I can totally relate, I cannot assume that their healthy two-mile hike would necessarily translate to all prospective buyers. Therefore I do not include Wrigley in my written listing remarks but am certain to mention it at showings.

Other car-free options to the Friendly Confines include riding a bike. Or taking the CTA. Hey, the Addison stop of the Red Line couldn’t be more convenient @Sheffield. For night and weekend games there’s even a special 154 Wrigley Field Express bus from the DeVry University parking lot on Rockwell just south of Addison where baseball fans can leave their car for a nominal fee that includes a round-trip fare.

Go Cubbies!

What was the inspiration behind naming your firm?

I did not want the studio to be about Me (with a capital M); I wanted it to be about a movement toward better design. I would love to see the studio survive after I am gone, so that eliminated Nardella Architects as an option. It had to be something that could tell the story of our design ethic and what kind of work we wanted to specialize in. It also had to be something that would elicit ideas of nature and is native to pristine habitats.

We are both avid photographers and always seem to return from the same destinations with tons of close-ups of–you guessed it–moss. One day, flipping through images it clicked, and that was it: moss was the name. The final decision was bolstered by a characteristic of moss we found: mosses affect the community in which they live, as they supply shelter for living organisms. Well if that isn’t the very definition of what the studio should be, I don’t know what is! It also didn’t hurt that moss is literally green in color.

The term “green” building is all the rage these days. What makes a building green?

“Green” buildings have a wide array of definitions depending on whom you talk to. Some developers will tell you that their bamboo floors make them green, others will say the CFLs do the trick. This is what is now commonly referred to as “green-washing.”

The most popular regulatory outlets for “green” building include LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) which is a rating system administered by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council) that allows a building to collect credits in five main areas: Sustainable Sites (site design and selection); Water Efficiency; Energy and Atmosphere; Materials and Resources; and Indoor Environmental Quality. After design and construction are complete, the design team submits the information to the USGBC for auditing and they award a level of achievement ranging from certified to platinum.

The other rating system is Energy Star, which is geared toward single family housing, focusing more on energy efficiency and paying less attention to building materials and site selection/design. Even the City of Chicago has entered the fray with its Chicago Green Homes rating system. There are a few other fringe “green” building rating systems but none of them have really taken off and LEED remains the front-runner.

So that is the technical response but, in my opinion, it is much simpler. A building, like a tree, should give more than it takes. That means a truly sustainable building produces more resources than it consumes. To achieve this we need a paradigm shift so that a building becomes a member of the landscape: collecting solar energy from the sun for its electrical needs, while sequestering carbon and producing oxygen; harvesting rainwater for potable uses and maintaining an edible forest; and supplying waste water to on-site wetlands. Since there is no possible way to produce infinite resources in a finite system, this is the way it must be if we expect long-term prosperity.

The beauty of our current predicament is that most sustainable design features are essentially free–given that you design it well–and have been proven by the builders of past civilizations. Too much of the “green” building movement has been about consumer products, forcing you to have to buy your way into the trend. However, this is diametrically opposed to what sustainability is at its core: to use less stuff. With that in mind, you actually should spend less money and effort to become more sustainable.

As for buildings, proper site planning and orientation are crucial to long-term efficiency. For example, instead of installing the most energy efficient, largest and most expensive air conditioner on a traditional, let’s say, tract house; why not reinvent the design of the house so you don’t need as much cooling or any at all? The story I love to tell is of the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings built by the Pueblo natives around 1200. The dwellings were oriented south under the overhang of the cliff above. This would allow the low winter sun to warm the buildings, while in the summer the sun would be shaded by the cliff, helping to keep the dwellings cool.

The same principles could be applied today to any new building at no extra cost. And this is just one design element; there are plenty more which I refer to as the non-consumer’s guide to sustainable design.

What elements of sustainable design might you incorporate into an existing property? And how, in the midst of a recession when up-front dollars really count, would you “market” your design?

Dealing with existing properties is tougher. Often it is not feasible, economically or structurally, to make major changes to a building in the effort of sustainability. However, I think it should start with the passions of whoever is occupying the space. If someone is interested in reducing energy, then installing solar-thermal panels for hot water is an inexpensive start; or replacing windows would have a great impact. If someone is concerned that they are using too much water, they can inexpensively add aerators to plumbing fixtures to reduce flow; or collect rainwater for irrigation. If you like local food, convert your roof or yard into a native, edible landscape, which is something we have done at our office.

We have assisted people with all of these measures and more. You would probably be surprised how much energy is wasted in a typical building and how much could be harnessed. I think the point here is that we all have an incredible ability to vastly curb our impact on the planet through our lifestyle habits. According to “Earth’s Law,” Earth does not care much whether we can afford to make a change or not; it will proceed as it sees fit. We have to be interested in long-term results, not short-term gains.

Three people in different cities reaching out to me. Why?

One is starting a Biking Realtors Group in Chicago and wants to “pick my brain”; another just started an online guide to living car-free in the San Diego area and wants my “advice”; and the guy, well, he and his wife are planning to build a very cool house in Laramie, Wyo., with green features including solar hot water, radiant floor heat, and wind turbine. All excellent reasons to connect with me, since sustainable living is right up my alley! 

I’m thrilled to be hearing from such a wide array of readers: real estate agents, mortgage lenders, buyers, sellers, attorneys, writers, editors, doctors, nurses, artists, stockbrokers, accountants, teachers, designers, inspectors, technicians, musicians, yoga students, parents…

An ever-expanding community is blossoming beyond my wildest expectations. Like-minded people linked by mutual interests, shared priorities, and so much more… As I celebrate the one-month anniversary of my blog, let me hear from you, too!

Thank you to my son, Dylan, who took the photo that accompanies the interview by Lee Crandell of Carfree Chicago. Thank you, Lee!

After launching my maiden blog last week, I received a number of phone and email queries about all things yoga. I’m glad to jump-start a discussion for anyone wondering if yoga might be a good fit for them; as well as for seasoned practitioners who might like to share their yoga stories.

For the record, I commute once a week to Yoga Circle in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.

The rigorous 90-minute class sets the tone each week for my daily practice at home. Yes, I practice yoga everyday for at least one hour.

But how do you find the time? You’re a busy real estate agent. Exactly! Focus is key to time management. Ask any realtor…

Yoga is the most efficient way I’ve found to help balance all facets of my well-being. Consistent yoga practice heightens awareness, relieves stress, builds strength, increases flexibility, and quiets the mind; all the while improving focus.

And those are merely the obvious benefits! More on the subtleties of yoga another time…

I once overheard an instructor tell a student, “Attending class is no substitute for daily practice.” And she was right.

I reach the studio a variety of ways on CTA from the North Side as well as from the South Loop. Located at 401 W. Ontario, 2nd floor, Yoga Circle is a short walk from the Chicago Avenue stop of the Brown Line as well as the #66 Chicago Avenue bus.

If you have a favorite yoga venue, I’d love to hear. If you have a favorite asana, by all means: share!

Namaste!

Below-zero wind-chills at my heels, I hopped a 146 Express to the South Loop last Wednesday evening. Why? They promised to ask the tough questions and candidly discuss the market and they did!

For over an hour, veteran real estate attorney Greg Braun of McCormick Braun and Friman moderated a panel comprising Rubloff agents Steve Breinling and Maria Sabatini along with Rubloff Wells Fargo loan officer Brian Cumpton.

Greg, a self-described poster child for realtors, introduced the discussion with a backdrop of the 10,000 hour rule from the bestseller The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Greg says, though he is an experienced real estate attorney, he has always relied on a realtor for the four homes he has bought in the past 14 years: “I believe in the 10,000 hour rule that says to be expert in anything you need at least 10,000 hours working, practicing in your field. And that is what I look for in a realtor.”

Questions ranged from the basic:

• At what point in the process should a buyer retain an attorney?
• How low are interest rates and how long will they remain low?

To the more probing:

• What features are buyers looking for to maximize resale value?
• How do you help buyers determine if a condo is financially sound?

To the frank:

• What increased lending restrictions are buyers up against?
• Why can’t realtors tell buyers about crime rates in any given area?

Interesting tips and tidbits were scattered throughout the discussion:

• FHA loans are back in the forefront with market share doubling in the past 18 months.
• Look at the big picture and choose a property that is both functional and flexible to meet your needs for 5-7 years.

Brian cited dramatic pre-sale requirements for new construction hiking upward to 70%; juxtaposed with interest rates hovering at 40-year lows! And just when we thought we were on information overload someone in the audience asked: what is the difference between a short sale and a foreclosure? Greg provided a succinct definition of each, helping us understand the risks involved.

Want answers? Free Buyer Coaching events are held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month at Rubloff Residential Properties, 80 West Harrison in Chicago. For public transportation options to the South Loop, check out the CTA‘s handy trip planner. Hope to see you!

Happily car-free since 1983, I’m eager to share my passion for public transportation, bicycling, and daily yoga practice; observing how these self-sustaining activities may inspire my buyers and sellers and family and friends, resulting in an enriched transaction for all!

A writer and former PR consultant, my essays have aired nationwide on public radio. An arsenal of quirky anecdotes combined with an extensive marketing background and finely tuned organizational skills have served me well since embarking on a residential real estate career in 1997.

As a long-time lakefront high-rise dweller in Chicago, I trust that my unique perspective on navigating city neighborhoods will not only enlighten and entertain, but will provide a blueprint of sorts: gently challenging you to examine your relationship with Planet Earth, with the ultimate goal of enhancing your sense of well-being. Along the way, you are sure to discover how I do real estate without a car…

All this AND I’m an avid listener, I welcome your viewpoint; let me hear from you!