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already rented a small beach bungalow where I plan to set up as my home base in a neighboring small town, Cannon Beach.
On the recommendation of a business associate, I hire myself a contractor with an impressive resume. Karl Halverson. He immediately informed me that this project would come with a hefty price tag with all of the geological studies, zoning, permits, materials and sub contractors. I’m not sure if he was trying to scare me or simply attempting to up the price. I challenged him back with keeping on schedule and budget and he will be the recipient of a generous bonus upon completion. That must have done the trick as over the next two years he not only worked hard to stay on budget. There were some significant overages in the structural framing budget, we managed to stay on track in other areas. The project only exceeded the original completion date by three months. It is almost unheard of to be so close to deadlines. I feel like I am on a high that nothing can match, nothing.
During my time away from the construction site, I took up surfing. The Oregon coast has excellent waves but the water temperature is like an arctic freeze even during the summer. Like a complete rookie or kook as the surf shop owner called me, I bought a board and then headed straight out to the water wearing only my swim trunks. With no prior experience wielding a surfboard, I was in for a complete shock to the system with ample shrinkage. It was straight out of a Seinfeld episode. Talk about being a fish out of water. I did not even get past the break before I couldn’t feel my fingers or toes anymore. There was no way I would ever learn to surf under those conditions. After my body thawed out, I headed back to the surf shop with my head hung low. I took the shopkeeper up on two things, outfitting me with wet suit gear and then I signed up for his expert instruction. Over the duration of the construction project, I became pretty good at surfing…for a kook .
Toward the end of the construction project, I went into Portland and looked at more property for purchase. More reclaimed property that I had discussed with my broker, Olivia Castor. She has been a broker in the Portland market for over twenty years with a reputation that precedes her. I hired her over the phone hoping she would perform for me. She has exceeded my expectations in finding me property within the Portland Metro area that doesn’t fall under problematic zoning and geological issues. With urban growth boundaries an ongoing issue, it is not a small order to fill.
Lady luck has been smiling on me for quite some time. In early 2004, I manage to purchase properties in three separate locations that are within a five-mile radius of downtown Portland with the fourth property being located smack in the middle of town. An old derelict building that has just gotten new zoning which allows for hotel use. We will do a complete tear down but will save the front to retain the historical façade. The building has been condemned for over nine years prior and had become a cesspool of vermin and vagrants. I have the vision of turning it into a boutique hotel with an international flare. I project completion on this project to be sometime within the next year. I hired Karl Halverson to oversee the project. It is likely that I will continue to use him for the future work providing he carries on with sticking to deadlines and budgets.
The other land I purchased will have to wait. I have a large piece of land that I plan to develop into a small upscale subdivision. Olivia suggested I open it up as a Street of Luxury Homes and pattern it after the already existing Street of Dreams. I figure why not. It will only give my company Towers Holdings more clout. I don’t plan to break ground on that project for another few years. I am unsure as to what I am going to do with the riverfront property I also purchased. Previously viewed as wasteland, city developers made the
On the recommendation of a business associate, I hire myself a contractor with an impressive resume. Karl Halverson. He immediately informed me that this project would come with a hefty price tag with all of the geological studies, zoning, permits, materials and sub contractors. I’m not sure if he was trying to scare me or simply attempting to up the price. I challenged him back with keeping on schedule and budget and he will be the recipient of a generous bonus upon completion. That must have done the trick as over the next two years he not only worked hard to stay on budget. There were some significant overages in the structural framing budget, we managed to stay on track in other areas. The project only exceeded the original completion date by three months. It is almost unheard of to be so close to deadlines. I feel like I am on a high that nothing can match, nothing.
During my time away from the construction site, I took up surfing. The Oregon coast has excellent waves but the water temperature is like an arctic freeze even during the summer. Like a complete rookie or kook as the surf shop owner called me, I bought a board and then headed straight out to the water wearing only my swim trunks. With no prior experience wielding a surfboard, I was in for a complete shock to the system with ample shrinkage. It was straight out of a Seinfeld episode. Talk about being a fish out of water. I did not even get past the break before I couldn’t feel my fingers or toes anymore. There was no way I would ever learn to surf under those conditions. After my body thawed out, I headed back to the surf shop with my head hung low. I took the shopkeeper up on two things, outfitting me with wet suit gear and then I signed up for his expert instruction. Over the duration of the construction project, I became pretty good at surfing…for a kook .
Toward the end of the construction project, I went into Portland and looked at more property for purchase. More reclaimed property that I had discussed with my broker, Olivia Castor. She has been a broker in the Portland market for over twenty years with a reputation that precedes her. I hired her over the phone hoping she would perform for me. She has exceeded my expectations in finding me property within the Portland Metro area that doesn’t fall under problematic zoning and geological issues. With urban growth boundaries an ongoing issue, it is not a small order to fill.
Lady luck has been smiling on me for quite some time. In early 2004, I manage to purchase properties in three separate locations that are within a five-mile radius of downtown Portland with the fourth property being located smack in the middle of town. An old derelict building that has just gotten new zoning which allows for hotel use. We will do a complete tear down but will save the front to retain the historical façade. The building has been condemned for over nine years prior and had become a cesspool of vermin and vagrants. I have the vision of turning it into a boutique hotel with an international flare. I project completion on this project to be sometime within the next year. I hired Karl Halverson to oversee the project. It is likely that I will continue to use him for the future work providing he carries on with sticking to deadlines and budgets.
The other land I purchased will have to wait. I have a large piece of land that I plan to develop into a small upscale subdivision. Olivia suggested I open it up as a Street of Luxury Homes and pattern it after the already existing Street of Dreams. I figure why not. It will only give my company Towers Holdings more clout. I don’t plan to break ground on that project for another few years. I am unsure as to what I am going to do with the riverfront property I also purchased. Previously viewed as wasteland, city developers made the
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