A Bohemian Heritage http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/10/greathomesanddestinations/10Mark.html
By BETHANY LYTTLE Published: April 9, 2009 ARTISTS, writers and members of the '60s counterculture have long been a part of the fabric of Forestville, Calif., one of several unincorporated hamlets along the Russian River area in central Sonoma County. With a population of less than 2,500, even the wealthiest residents here march to the beat of a bohemian drummer. Among the villages that line the river, the town stands out. "Forestville is the one with lots of wind chimes, tie-dye and clothing made from hemp," said Randy Mack, owner of Domaine Real Estate. In the hamlet, many homes are not visible from the road, and some, perched on stilts, are nestled into the redwood- and fir-covered hills that slope to the river. Birdsong, the wind and river rush are often the only sounds. And residents often spend days kayaking and canoeing, fishing, bird watching and hiking with occasional visits to nearby wineries. Many second-home owners grew up coming to the area and now fondly refer to themselves as "river rats." "They remembered what it was like in the 1950s and '60s when they were little and they wanted to come back, so they bought here," said Susan Packer, a 32-year veteran who is a Realtor associate at Frank Howard Allen Realtors in Guerneville. It was during the 1970s that the Russian River area experienced a slowdown in its second-home market. But then, the area's low prices caught the interest of developers of gay resorts. These offset the decline and by the 1980s, the Forestville area experienced a resurgence. Buyers come from the Bay Area, including San Francisco, which is about 60 miles south. Pricing here is driven less by square footage than by a property's acreage and proximity to the river. There are a significant number of very small uninsulated cabins available in the $200,000 to $300,000 range, but these often need a lot of work. More characteristic of the low end are houses in the mid-$300,000's. These houses tend to be near but not on the river, and small. At the high end, prices from $1 million to $2 million are typical, but rare properties with significant acreage occasionally yield higher prices, too. Sales have slowed in some areas, but conditions for buyers are good, real estate agents said. "It's been a long time since interest rates have been this low," Ms. Packer said. "My parents had a rate like this when I was in third grade," she said. "I'm 60 now." High This 7,000-square-foot house is on 20 acres, of which about one-quarter is devoted to pinot noir grapes, under contract to a winery. Built in 2004, the stone and stucco house has an open layout and many floor-to-ceiling windows. Glass doors lead to a wraparound deck and a pool from which there are vineyard and mountain views. The passive-solar house has two wings: one with the master suite, one with a guest suite. There is a large kitchen with a butler's pantry, hardwood floors and four and a half bathrooms. Taxes: $33,102. Agents: Cindy Brandon and Kaaren Atkin, Artisan Sotheby's International Realty, (707) 284-1111, ext. 220; www.finewinecountryproperty.com. Low Built in 1954 as a 600-square-foot cabin, this two-story house has been remodeled and expanded. Now 1,300 square feet, the house is on a hillside, elevated on stilts and surrounded by forest. The house is in Summerhome Park, a private community with its own river access and a beach. It has large windows on every side, and there are double French doors that lead to one of two large decks. The interior has knotty pine walls and ceilings; the floors are wood parquet and linoleum. Both Forestville and Guerneville are about 10 minutes away by car. Taxes: $4,737. Broker: Mark Stevens, Domaine Real Estate, (707) 824-0200; www.esonomahomes.com. . --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Sixties-L" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sixties-l?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
