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Canadians Discover Sandpoint
Written December 21, 2011 by Hendricks Architecture: Tom Russell, Architect LEED AP • Filed Under North Idaho, Resort Areas, Sandpoint This past summer in Sandpoint seemed busier than it has been in several years. It seemed like every time I went downtown or to City Beach there were always a lot of people out enjoying the great summer weather, and my sense is that many of them were visitors from elsewhere. Sandpoint’s population is always boosted in the summer by the many lakefront and vacation home owners that claim this area as their “home away from home”, and tourism has been steadily increasing in response to all the good press the area has been getting.
 Sandpoint Evening (Canadian Selkirk Mountains in Far Right Background) Recent examples in a long list of “best of” awards are Sandpoint’s designation as the “Most beautiful small town in America” and Schweitzer Mountain Resort’s selection as Ski Magazine editor’s pick as the “Best Kept Secret”. Sandpoint’s charm has not gone unnoticed, especially among our neighbors to the North. The number of Canadian license plates in town has increased significantly in the last few years, and this trend has been a big benefit to local business owners. Canadians have brought a welcome surge in commerce that has helped many businesses stay afloat in tough economic times.
 The Pend Oreille River from Sandpoint's Long Bridge Apparently some Canadians have recognized that there is a lot of value in the local real estate market. North Idaho has experienced a surge in vacation home and investment property purchases by Canadian citizens, with some choosing North Idaho as a place to retire. It’s no secret that property values are low almost everywhere in the U.S., and there are great deals out there for anyone with a bit of liquidity and a positive vision of the future. In Sandpoint, we are lucky to be less than an hour from the Canadian border and a short days drive from Calgary and other population centers in Southern Alberta. Oil and gas exploration has really taken off in Southern Alberta, and the economy there is much better off than in most areas of the United States.
 Sunrise over Lake Pend Oreille (from an Owner's Lot on Garfield Bay) Canadians visiting the US also benefit from lower prices on goods and services here, most notably gasoline and building materials. Currency exchange rates are also favorable for Canadians, though they are down a bit from a historic high in March of 2009. I remember only about 10 years ago the situation was opposite, and shopping trips or vacations to Canada were a great way to get a lot for the American dollar. Southern B.C., Alberta, and the National Parks of the Canadian Rockies are still very popular vacation spots for North Idaho residents, and most vacations I hear about involve outdoor enthusiasts enjoying Canada’s natural treasures and great skiing.
 Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park In Sandpoint, everyone I know is glad to see that our neighbors to the north are frequenting North Idaho and discovering how much this area has to offer. We are finding that they make great neighbors, clients, and friends. When I visit Canada, I never really feel like I am in a different country, and I suspect Canadians feel the same here. To acknowledge our kinship with Canada, Schweitzer Mountain has adopted Whitewater resort near Nelson, B.C. as its Canadian sister, and is offering Whitewater pass holders free skiing if they stay in any of the resort owned accommodations.
 Whitewater Resort Anyone visiting Sandpoint, Canadian or otherwise, is welcome to stop in and see our portfolio of beautiful mountain homes. We speak fluent Canadian, and would love to talk to you about designing your new mountain home.
Hendricks Architecture specializes in the design of timber mountain style homes and cabins. Most of the homes we’ve completed are in mountain resort areas throughout the West. If you are interested in a mountain home, or you have any other inquiries, please contact us.
Tom Russell, Architect LEED AP
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Schweitzer Opens Early
Written December 3, 2011 by John Hendricks, Architect AIA • Filed Under North Idaho, Resort Areas, Sandpoint Inland Northwest skiers & snowboarders got an early treat this year when Schweitzer Mountain Resort opened the weekend before Thanksgiving. It is considered to be a good year if they are able to open on Thanksgiving weekend, and that happens roughly 50% of the time. This season was looking kind of weak for early season snow, though it was cold enough that the conditions were good for making snow. Everyone had their fingers crossed, and mother nature delivered some mid November storms that made for excellent early season conditions.
 Schweitzer Bowl - The front of the mountain Opening day at Schweitzer was November 19th, and even though the terrain was limited the conditions were great. There was even some fresh snow to get everyone excited! Schweitzer closed again during the week, with a promise to reopen the day after Thanksgiving. The big surprise came a few days before Thanksgiving – a two day storm event that dumped several feet of heavy, wet snow and provided excellent coverage on the entire mountain. A few days later temperatures cooled down, 8” of light snow fell, and the day after Thanksgiving looked like a mid-winter powder day. A lot of the front side was open, conditions were excellent, and everyone was smiling!
 This Schweitzer fan showed up a few days before opening day to avoid the crowds. From what I have seen on other ski area websites, we have about the best conditions in the country right now. The Lake Tahoe region (Kirkwood, Squaw Valley and Heavenly Valley) has very little snow, Alta and Telluride are reporting less than a 30” base, and the central Colorado areas of Vail, Aspen, and Summit County are all hurting for snow. Even further north in Sun Valley and Big Sky, snow depths are thin and the ski resorts are barely open.
Closer to Sandpoint, Whitefish Mountain Resort had to cancel plans to open the first week in December due to lack of snow. 49 Degrees North is open and has almost as much snow as Schweitzer. North of the border, Fernie has a decent amount of snow, as do Red Mountain and Schweitzer’s Canadian sister resort of Whitewater. However, only Fernie is open this early in the season and the terrain is limited.
I have been seeing a lot of Canadian license plates in the parking lot at the ski resort, and also in town. The Canadians I have talked to are coming here from Calgary and other cities in Alberta, as well as from Southern British Columbia. It seems that word is getting out up there that Sandpoint in Northern Idaho is a wonderful place and that the skiing is pretty darn good. It probably doesn’t hurt that property is less expensive here, our taxes are lower, and the exchange rate is favorable too, eh. Whatever the reason, we welcome our visitors from Canada and are glad to be close to Southern B.C. so we can visit there as well.
 A Schweitzer Skier on Opening Day If you’re looking for some great early season skiing, come to Sandpoint and check out Schweitzer Mountain Resort. The entire front side (see trail maps – Schweitzer Bowl) is open now, including some excellent tree skiing for which Schweitzer is famous. You’ll find out why Schweitzer was the Ski Magazine editors pick for the best kept secret, but you have to promise not to tell anybody! Hope to see you there, and while you’re in Sandpoint stop by and see our portfolio of beautiful Mountain Homes.
This post was written by an author at Hendricks Architecture who wishes to remain anonymous. We are mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho. Click to Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture’s Blog.
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A Whimsical Steel Bandshell for Sandpoint’s Farmin Park
Written November 5, 2011 by John Hendricks, Architect AIA • Filed Under Sandpoint, Whimsical Hendricks Architecture, in cooperation with Sandpoint Rotary, has designed a whimsical steel bandshell for the Farmin Park bandstand in Sandpoint, Idaho. The Project will be funded by Sandpoint Rotary and the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency. Rotary members have been donating their time in coordination and fund raising, and will also have a hand in construction.
 The Farmin Park Bandshell The bandshell is designed to emulate other whimsical elements in the park, as well as the existing curved bandstand, and other rustic elements throughout downtown Sandpoint. A curved steel roof structure will be supported by curved steel columns. Two circular struts will enclose custom steel Rotary wheel emblems. All steel will have a pre-rusted “weathered” finish. The underside of the roof will have matching acoustic insulation to help with sound reverberation. Construction is scheduled for Summer of 2012.
Farmin Park is set in the middle of downtown Sandpoint. The Sandpoint Farmer’s Market occurs at the park Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings from May through October. The bandstand is set at the far point of the park and houses a scheduled musician at every event.
The 3D rendering was provided by Tom Russell, an architect at Hendricks Architecture. Special thanks also to the Rotary members who have been donating their time on this project, including Project Chairman Bob Linscott, Project Manager Sean Fitzpatrick, Presidents Jerri Anderson & Matt Kerr, Secretary Pierce Smith, Treasurer Sue Poppino, as well as Kim Woodruff from City Parks and Rec, and Consultants Terry Hecox, Dick Creed, Carlos Suarez and Tom Brunner.
John Hendricks is an AIA architect at Hendricks Architecture. We are a mountain architectural firm in Sandpoint, Idaho. Click to Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture’s Blog
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Sandpoint Mountain Home on the Cover of Timber Home Living
Written July 16, 2011 by John Hendricks, Architect AIA • Filed Under Mountain Architecture, Sandpoint A home Hendricks Architecture designed at The Idaho Club in Sandpoint, Idaho is the cover story in the August 2011 issue of Timber Home Living Magazine. It is a good example of the Mountain Architecture style we design, employing the use of big timbers, rustic siding and indigenous stone to blend mountain homes and cabins into their natural settings. More information and photos on this home can be seen on Mountain Style Home in Sandpoint, a previous post of ours. The cover shot and accompanying photos were taken by Karl Neumann Photography. The contractor was Pucci Construction.
 Sandpoint Mountain Home on the Cover of Timber Home Living
John Hendricks, AIA Architect
Hendricks Architecture is a mountain architecture firm located in Sandpoint, Idaho. Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture’s Blog. Cover photo used with permission.
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Sandpoint’s Lost in the 50′s Parade
Written May 20, 2011 by John Hendricks, Architect AIA • Filed Under Sandpoint Sandpoint, Idaho has a great tradition during a weekend every May called Lost in the 50′s. A regional staple since 1986, it kicks off Friday night with the Lost in the 50′s Parade. Showcase vehicles come from all over the western USA and Canada. Although it may not be for everybody, it’s generally a lot of fun. Kids enjoy it for the glitter and noise, while the adults get taken back to earlier days – and probably enjoy the nostalgia of the noisy cars as well! Here are some photos from recent years. These are taken on Church Street where they first enter town. There are also special guests who come to town for the parade, dances, and car show. One of the guests last year was Bowzer from Sha Na Na.
 - Chevy Caprice
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 The Flame Car is a big hit. *
 - More than just 50′s cars
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 Police Car *
 The Flintstones Car *
 50's Suburban *
 Traffic jam from the past *
 School Bus *
 Into the Rainbow John Hendricks, AIA, Architect
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Mountain Living’s Top Mountain Architects
Written September 10, 2010 by John Hendricks, Architect AIA • Filed Under Architecture, Mountain Architecture, Sandpoint Hendricks Architecture has recently been named to Mountain Living Magazine’s Top Mountain Architects and Interior Designers. Mountain Living is the premier magazine on mountain architecture.
This has been a busy summer in publications for us, with also having a private residence at The Idaho Club featured in Sandpoint Magazine (pages 84-88), along with John as a featured architect in Green Building & Design (page 25). We will also have a residence featured in Cabin Life Magazine in December.
We feel truly blessed and honored to be a part of these publications.
John Hendricks, AIA Architect
 Private mountain style residence at The Idaho Club featured in Sandpoint Magazine. Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects in Sandpoint, Idaho. For other photos, please see previous mountain architecture projects.
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Mountainside at Schweitzer
Written November 24, 2009 by John Hendricks, Architect AIA • Filed Under Resort Areas, Sandpoint A new residential development, Mountainside at Schweitzer, is starting to take shape at Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, just in time for the start of the ski season in Sandpoint, Idaho. Mountainside at Schweitzer is located just above the base of the Basin Express Quad and the Selkirk Lodge, close enough to the slopes that calling it ski-in/ski-out is almost redundant. Four homes are currently being built by Baker Construction in this new development, one of them will be a private residence and the other three are being offered for fractional ownership.
A unique feature of the fractional ownership will be a concierge type service where someone will completely customize the home to each owner’s preferences prior to their arrival so that everything will be ready for them when they arrive. This service will include filling the refrigerator with food as ordered and getting gear out of storage so owners are ready for action as soon as they arrive.
The new homes that are being built at Mountainside at Schweitzer are employing some green building technologies, and plans call for them to attain some level of LEED certification. Some of the green strategies they will be using include:
- Geothermal hydronic heating and snowmelt
- Structural insulated panels on the Roof
- Reclaimed wood interior finishes
- High Efficiency windows
- Walking distance to the Schweitzer Village and all resort amenities
- Increased development density to maximize open space
The homes in Mountainside at Schweitzer will have excellent views of Lake Pend Oreille and the Cabinet Mountains beyond. They also look out on Schweitzer’s South Bowl, the Sunnyside lift area, and have exterior decks that look down to the village. The design style of the homes being built at mountainside currently is Modern Mountain Rustic, a subdivision of Mountain Architecture. Some of the features include large rough sawn timbers, stone veneer, predominantly shed or flat roofs, and lots of windows. All of the homes have garages and indoor gear storage, virtual necessities given the amount of snow that Schweitzer gets.
There are more ski-in/ski-out building lots available at Mountainside at Schweitzer, and also at other desirable subdivisions around Schweitzer, including The Ridge at Schweitzer and The Spires.
John Hendricks, AIA Architect and Tom Russell, LEED AP
Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects in Sandpoint, Idaho. For other photos, please see previous mountain architecture projects.
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Mountain Style Home in Sandpoint, Idaho
Written September 15, 2009 by John Hendricks, Architect AIA • Filed Under Mountain Architecture, Sandpoint This custom mountain lodge residence in Sandpoint will be featured in Big Sky Journal Magazine. The recently completed Idaho mountain style home is a great example of the nature themed, mountain architecture designs of John Hendricks AIA, architect and owner of Hendricks Architecture in Sandpoint. The home was built by Pucci Construction of Sandpoint.
 Mountain Residence overlooking Lake Pend Oreille Elements of wood, stone, and natural light flow from the rugged exterior into the interior, adding a sense of connection with nature. The exterior materials consist of western red cedar horizontal beveled siding, Montana stone with tight joints, and copper accents. The interior is rustic contemporary, with douglas fir trusses, beams and columns, along with other wood and stone accents. The home is 5,600 square feet on five steep acres. The house is perched near the top of a nob, yet the profile is kept low to blend into the site.
 Great Room The home is designed to take advantage of the beautiful mountain and lake views, including Lake Pend Oreille and the Monarch Mountains to the southeast. The Pend Oreille River, the City of Sandpoint, and the two mile Long Bridge can be seen to the southwest. To the west and northwest are Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort and the Selkirk Mountains. The owners are avid snowboarders, and their master bedroom suite is angled forty-five degrees from the rest of the home to look directly at Schweitzer. On winter mornings a slight raise of the head is all that’s needed to check the snow or weather on the mountain.
 The bar is one of many rooms with great views. The home has four bedroom suites, and includes four and a half baths. Also included are a home theater, study, game room, bar, wine room, a great room, a circular staircase and a bridge, along with covered and open decks. Hydronic floor heating heats the residence. The owners opted for gas appliance fireplaces rather than wood burning. Large overhangs and trellises minimize the summer solar heat gain, and the south and west facing windows have a higher low-E rating of low-E3 glazing. The exterior has layered flagstone patios and includes a built-in spa and barbecue. Storm water is managed by retaining swales.
 Wine Room For further information on mountain architecture, please see our previous posts Mountain Architecture and Origins of Mountain Architecture in America.
John Hendricks, AIA Architect, NCARB
Hendricks Architecture, Idaho mountain home architects in Sandpoint. We specialize in the design of luxury mountain style homes, cabins and other structures.
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 Porch - photos by Karl Neumann
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Mountain Biking Around Sandpoint
Written August 14, 2009 by John Hendricks, Architect AIA • Filed Under North Idaho, Resort Areas, Sandpoint Mountain Biking in and around Sandpoint, Idaho, as described by Tom Russell, project architect at Hendricks Architecture.
I love summers in Sandpoint. The weather is great, the lakes are warm, and the local events calendar is jam packed with enough festivities to keep everybody busy and active. One of my favorite activities in the summer is mountain biking, and I feel lucky to live in a place that has so much great riding. There is a great variety of mountain bike trails here, and a healthy population of mountain bike enthusiasts to enjoy them. A local cycling club/ advocacy group called the Pend Oreille Pedalers is actively building new trails, so the opportunities for great riding keep expanding. There are lots of trail guides and they are always looking for new members or people to help with trail building.
 Lake Pend Oreille from the Monarchs, with Mineral Point in center background When I go out riding I am always surprised at how uncrowded and well maintained the trails are. If you have ever ridden in places like Moab or Colorado’s front range, you’ll appreciate the quality conditions and solitude that can be found here, even on the most popular rides. I was in Bend , Oregon a few weeks ago and did a ride that was loose, dusty and rutted from overuse. It was a great trail, but I kept thinking how much more enjoyable it would have been if it was in North Idaho.
From the town of Sandpoint, there are several great rides you can do without ever getting in your car. There is a network of high quality single track trails just west of town in the hills between Pine Street and the town of Dover. Known as Syringa Ridge or Sherwood Forest, the trails there are not well documented, and it is a bit of a local’s secret. Efforts are being made to map it, but I haven’t seen anything public yet. When I first moved here , I enjoyed the adventure of finding my way around there without a map and checking out trails I had never been on. I won’t deprive anyone of the same opportunity by giving away too much about it. If you do go exploring in that area, be aware that there is a lot of private land and access is an issue, so please read the signs and obey parking restrictions.
 Gold Hill Trail #3 Gold Hill trail #3 is my favorite. It is a thrilling ride with a sustained 3 mile climb, spectacular views, and a smooth, fast descent on the return trip. There is an expanding complex of trails above the gravel quarry on Bottle Bay Road (another local’s secret area) that connects to the Gold Hill trail #3 and offers a variety of alternatives to explore.
Mineral point has some great trails not unlike Gold Hill in quality and scenery, but noticeably easier on the legs and lungs. My favorite ride there is a 10 mile loop that starts and ends at the fabulous Green Bay beach.
 One of the views from Mineral Point Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort also has some great biking, both lift served and self-serve. Ambitious pedalers can get to the resort trails by climbing the 9 +/- miles to the ski area on a fun single track trail that is accessed from several of the even numbered switchbacks on the Schweitzer road. My favorite rides at Schweitzer are cross country ski trails in the winter. For those who like to compete, Schweitzer has a mountain bike race series every Wednesday evening in August.
 New Schweitzer Mountain Resort Trail Priest Lake is about an hour from Sandpoint, and has some great trials on both the upper and lower lake. Spectacular views, lots of berries, and nice beaches with crystal clear water are all highlights of mountain biking around Priest Lake and Upper Priest Lake.
 Upper Priest Lake Faragut State Park between Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene has a lot of mostly moderate mountain bike trails, and it is also a nice place to camp on the lake. It is a good spot for a family outing, especially if cycling is not the only activity you have in mind. One ambitious ride here worth checking out is Bernard Peak. I think you will agree – the views are well worth the effort. All About Adventures hosts a mountain bike race series at Faragut every Wednesday in July.
 Partial View of the Southern End of Lake Pend Oreille There a many more great rides in the Sandpoint area, including some big, epic rides in the Cabinet and Selkirk Mountain Ranges. Information on many of these can be found with a quick internet search. There is currently a Falcon guide to mountain biking in the Spokane Coeur d’Alene area that covers some of the Sandpoint area rides. While there is no formal guide to Sandpoint yet, rumor has it a comprehensive guide is in the works.
Tom Russell, LEED AP, Project Architect
Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.
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Real Estate Market Statistics for Sandpoint, Idaho
Written May 21, 2009 by John Hendricks, Architect AIA • Filed Under Sandpoint Rick Evans, Associate Broker at Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby’s International Realty, provided this recent real estate information on Sandpoint:
There are some interesting real estate statistics over the first few months of 2009 in the Selkirk MLS, which includes Sandpoint and all Bonner County.
Year to date through April 20, 2009 there have been a total of 157 closed real estate transactions for a total volume of $41.5 million (includes selling and listing side). This gives an average closing price of just $132,000. Of the 130 residential (non-land) sales during this time, 120 of these were less than $350,000. Only 10 sales in just under four months that were above $350k! That makes me feel pretty good considering I’ve had closings at $675k, with a pending at $850k and another at $450k.
For the month of March there were 29 residential closings, 10 land, and 1 multi-family. Only one of these 29 residential listings closed above $300,000! The numbers definitely indicate that the first time home buyer and entry level buyers are the ones actually buying homes right now. These numbers really start to show why the few buyers at the mid to higher price points are truly in the drivers seat. I think the real sweet spot in the market (from a standpoint of value for buyers) is in the $400 to $900 price range, where many sellers are extremely motivated. The lower price point has enough demand that prices have not had to adjust as significantly. The million and up properties also have not had to adjust as much, simply because many of these property owners own their homes outright and are in a different economic bracket altogether. They simply do not have the same pressures to sell quickly.
Another interesting statistic is that the average sale price as a percentage of FINAL list price is 94%. Average price per ORIGINAL list price is 87%.
This should indicate that once a Seller gets real on listing price, Buyers are not getting a significant price reduction beyond this point. A perfect example is a listing at Schweitzer that started at $1 million a year ago (certainly an aggressive price point), then reduced to $899k, then $799k, and finally to $699k. I learned of this final price drop the day before it hit the MLS, and my Buyer jumped on it and closed at $675k. There were suddenly multiple showings over a few days, and the Seller did not have to reduce significantly beyond the final list price. The message here for Buyers is to work with a good Agent to identify the true values in this market, and when the value is found for a place that fits your needs, be ready to move forward. Don’t expect to necessarily negotiate yet another steep discount if the home is already priced below the market (although it doesn’t hurt to try if you aren’t set on buying that property).
If you find these stats interesting, please let me know. I’d be interested in any insight that others might garner from these figures.
If you are a Seller looking for a real market analysis, I’m happy to provide the figures for you to make an informed decision. If you are a Buyer looking for a ‘deal’, I’m happy to help you locate it.
Visit www.SandpointResortRealty.com/propertyfinder.html.
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