Impressive Lake Tahoe Environmental Restoration Projects In Motion

Throughout our news postings our architecture firm at Lake Tahoe likes to share information about our environmental issues that are impacting the land in which we live.  Today, we want to bring you up to speed on some of the more significant projects that are being funded and organized through TahoeFund.org.

Before we get to the specifics, let me enlighten you about the purpose of this fine organization.  As noted on their website:

“The Tahoe Fund was founded in 2010 as a registered nonprofit in the States of  Nevada and California. The goal of the Tahoe Fund is to become a major source of private funding for environmental projects around the Lake Tahoe Basin with an emphasis on forest health, lake clarity, sustainable recreation, transportation and stewardship. They provide a common vision from which to build a sustainable future for this irreplaceable resource and for those who cherish and enjoy this mountain landscape.

Lake Tahoe lies within two states, five counties and hosts an extensive network of local, state and federal agencies. Tahoe Fund programs directly benefit a population base of 40,000 full-time residents and 20 million visitors to the Basin.”

Per their mission above, right now they are involved some interesting and significant projects.  I’ll show you the highlights and then offer links to their stories so you can read more about the projects at hand.

Tyrolian Mountain Bike Trail Restoration

My wife, Kelly, and I enjoy mountain biking from our home in Incline Village.  One of our favorite trails to test our tenacity is the popular Tyrolian Village trail which is just above a few homes that our architecture firm in Tahoe has remodeled in this quaint European-style community.   There’s a terrific group of organizations that have joined forces to repair, restore, and renovate what used to be quite a challenging mountain bike trek.  We send our appreciation now to those who are investing their time, talent, and treasure to remove the old timbers that caused endless bike enthusiast to take a tumble or two.

Smartest Forest Fund

With our summer wrapped within another wild wildfire season, we are looking forward to seeing the results of this very significant project.  Entitled “Smartest Forest Fund,” this program includes several initiatives to repair, replant, and restore our forests throughout the Lake Tahoe basin.   Highlights from their website note its goals:

-The Smartest Forest will dramatically decrease the time it takes to plan and approve restoration work.

-The Smartest Forest will use technology to enhance wildlife studies and harvesting plans.

-The Smartest Forest will find new outlets for the excess fuel in the forest.

-The Smartest Forest will prepare our community for wildfire evacuation.

-The Smartest Forest will find new financial tools to do more work more quickly.

Drink Tahoe Tap

Did you know that our tap water in Incline was voted as the best tasting water in the country?  True story.  And in an effort for locals and visitors alike to continually drink our tap water, and leave their plastic bottles at bay, the Tahoe Water Supply Association is offering the opportunity for local businesses to install new Water Bottle Refill Stations.

Available on a first-come basis, grants will be offered to Basin businesses who fill out the application, install the water bottle refill stations and submit proof of installation and payment between August 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021.
Here’s the application with all the information you need to get one of these environmentally-friendly devices that offer safe and tasty water to all who visit your establishment.
As always, we encourage you to get involved in our community to help protect our piece of paradise.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

 

How You Can Help to Keep Tahoe, Blue, Within Your Home Design & Remodel

Throughout the summer our team at our architecture firm at Lake Tahoe has been receiving calls from across the USA about moving to Lake Tahoe. And with good reason.  There is no doubt we live in one of the most spectacular places on Earth.

As more people in the West are choosing to permanently move into their ‘vacation’ home at the Lake, we are continually sharing our local insight about how home designs can play a vital part in protecting the environment that surrounds their investment.

The following information provides highlights of a more significant article that you can read in full on the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) website.

Within each section, we have added some of our own insight our about the many services that we provide our clients throughout Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Incline Village, and the Carson Valley.  These include:

  • Personal Architectural Design Services
  • Custom Interior Design
  • Site Planning
  • Space Planning
  • Permit Processing Assistance
  • TRPA Feasibility Studies
  • Contractor Selection and Bidding Assistance
  • Construction Administration Services

10 Ways to Save Lake Tahoe –

(Article courtesy of the TRPA)

1. Implement Fire Defensible Space and Erosion Control Measures.Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Defensible Space work together and whenever possible, wise homeowners choose to combine the work of both to help their properties become a working part of the ecosystem. Impervious surfaces like homes, driveways, and roads abound and many homeowners clear their land to bare soil causing harmful sediment and nutrients to flow into Lake Tahoe each time it rains. BMPs are proven methods of capturing stormwater and are required on all properties in the Region.

For more local insight about how to design a home to meet the regional BMPs, call us at Borelli Architecture or see our “Services” page on our website now.

2. Use Native and Adapted Plants When Landscaping.

It’s important to make the right decisions about landscaping and gardening—don’t disturb native vegetation any more than you have to. Instead, strive for landscaping that is dominated by native or adapted plants as they require considerably less irrigation and fertilizer or pesticides than non-native species. The goal is to have healthy plants with roots that hold topsoil in place. Good planning will result in landscaping that’s useful, attractive, and good for the environment.

When designing a mountain home, we give great care and consideration of the property that will surround your home. For some visual examples of our mountain and lakefront home designs at Lake Tahoe, click into our Projects page, now.

3. Pave Your Driveway

Paving doesn’t always create a negative impact. Sediments from even the most compacted dirt driveway wash into the nearest storm drain, and then into Lake Tahoe during rainfall or snowmelt. Paving your driveway also reduces the amount of dust in the air during the summer months.

When we design homes within the Lake Tahoe Basin, we are keenly aware of the strict regulations about ‘impervious coverage.” Feel free to contact us at any time to learn more about TRPA our County regulations at Lake Tahoe.

4. Replace Old Woodstoves

Wood smoke contributes to air quality problems at Lake Tahoe. If you have an old wood stove, look into purchasing a newer, EPA-certified stove or fireplace insert. These typically use half the wood to generate the same amount of heat as an old stove, so you’ll save money and help the environment.

Our clients throughout the region often call us for estimates on remodeling homes in Lake Tahoe.  You can too at any time. We’d be happy to share our insight about the Lake’s EPA requirements, and then some.

5. Protect Wetlands

Many residential areas have stream environment zones (SEZs) meandering through them. An SEZ is a beautiful, delicate, irreplaceable stream environment that requires care and respect. While SEZs don’t necessarily incorporate a stream or creek, they are highly fragile areas that are extremely important in preserving water quality and fish and wildlife habitat. SEZs are typically located in low-lying areas with spongy soil and support deciduous trees.

Please do your best to help protect our piece of paradise.  And never hesitate to give us a call to discuss your ideas for designing a home in Lake Tahoe, Carson City, Truckee, or right here in our hometown of Incline Village, NV.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

 

When to Purchase A Home and Remodel? Perhaps Now … !

Home remodel in Incline Village, NV
Home remodel in Incline Village, NV by Borelli Architecture

Just this morning I read an article entitled:  We’re Running Out of Homes To Sell” in Lake Tahoe.

With key points in the article noting:

  • Lake Tahoe real estate is getting snapped up at a record pace, as San Francisco tech workers flee the city in search of more space and a healthier lifestyle.
  • Brokers say the inventory of homes for sale has shrunk to about one-fifth to one-tenth of the usual levels.
  • “People are writing all-cash offers for houses, sight unseen,” said Sabrina Belleci, a Lake Tahoe broker with Re/Max.

With more and more families and businesses moving to the state of Nevada to take advantage of its many tax benefits, our architectural firm in Incline Village, NV is fielding a lot of requests for more information about remodeling v/s buying a new home.

Right here in Incline, inventory is as tight as I have ever seen it during my 30 year residency.  With this noted, I thought I’d share some insight about the value of remodeling and some examples of what our architectural firm in Lake Tahoe and Truckee has recreated over our 30+ years of designing and remodeling homes in Washoe County.

Buyers usually want something they can move into – especially during the prime buying season – which is summer in Tahoe.  With the region’s limited inventory, and the demand to live an active life in the High Sierra, we do suggest our clients take a good look at the property’s overall assets.

Up here at 6,000+ elevation, that usually includes the views of the Lake and surrounding forest and mountain views.

If the home is rather new, a fresh coat of paint usually does the trick for a little facelift.

If the home is established, we like to look at the entire structure – evaluating its windows to ensure they are Low E, HVAC capabilities, and overall design.  The latter of which is very important when it comes to snow load – and where the snow UNLOADS when the spring thaw arrives; this past winter we’ve seen our share of broken porch railings and buried driveways due to poor design.

One also wants to review the home’s ‘new owners’ and how the design may or may not be ideal for either a large family moving in or a large home that now belongs to empty-nesters.  Our team at Borelli Architecture enjoys the opportunity to review our clients’ new purchase and offer solutions to best fit their lifestyle.  Some of the options may include the expansion of the kitchen, combining two guest rooms into an en-suite Master, refining the layout to move a downstairs bedroom to the main floor, or removing a pony wall to gain more space for a Great Room or brand new office.

In addition to the most urgent need to remodel a room into an office (see my recent post), another remodeling idea for mountain homes is to recreate the existing patio into an outdoor kitchen and dining environment.

And that is just the beginning of what one could or could not do to remodel a mountain home in Truckee or Lake Tahoe.

Another option of course, is to build a brand-new home.  There’s a beautiful golf course community in Carson City – which is just over the hill from the Lake – which also offers access to a private facility on the edge of Lake Tahoe. You can check it out at ClearCreekTahoe.com.  If you’d like a personal tour, I’ll be more than happy to show you some of the ideas for mountain golf course home designs.

Please never hesitate to give us a call to discuss your ideas for designing a home in Lake Tahoe, Carson City, Truckee, or right here in our hometown of Incline Village, NV.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

 

Tips on How to Remodel a Room into the Perfect Office Space

Luxury Tahoe Home Design by Borelli Architecture in Incline Village, Nevada - Tahoe Truckee Martis Camp Lahontan Clear Creek Architect

With most of the USA working at home these days, our architectural firm in Lake Tahoe, NV has received quite a few calls about our remodeling services in Incline Village, Truckee, and throughout the Lake.   What is enjoyable for us, is the opportunity to seize the moment to help our clients live a more well-balanced life – at home.

As this is a hot topic, we are taking this time to give you some tips on how to remodel a room or unused space in your home into a comfortable environment in which to continue your career.

Take an inventory of your home’s ‘space’.   Do you have a room that is used just for clutter-keeping?  What about a spot just off the porch?  Maybe you have become empty-nesters and have a room or two that would be ideal for your new office?

Get Professional Advice.  Once you have established the options, give us a call at Borelli Architecture.  We are happy to offer a complimentary visit to discuss the ideal use, and remodeling, of your home to accommodate your new world.  And, as a bonus, we offer interior design services as well through Kelly Borelli Interiors.

Establish The Best Option.  Working as a team, we will review the options with you and provide our advice according to the preferred room’s location.  In many instances, our clients need space for not just one office, yet two or more.  Take a look at the photo above; it’s a prime example of how adding a wall, or removing a few walls, can achieve many objectives.

Assess the structural design.  Sometimes what seems to be the best option is not the best at all.  Within the decision-making process, we will review the room’s structure, HVAC and electrical capabilities, window opportunities (to enjoy that fresh Sierra air), and safe egress and access.

Review Other Opportunities.  In addition to remodeling a room for an office, what about taking the opportunity to add additional features that you have always wanted in your home.  How about a library or large shelving to display some of your favorite memories or awards?  Maybe it would be nice to have a kitchenette with room for a coffee pot,  mini-fridge, or sink?  Some of our clients have also requested our office remodel design to include space for a Murphy bed – to accommodate guests.

Ready. Set. Go.  Once you have confirmed your desires, you can move forward with confidence to confirm the costs, timeline, and estimated “Grand Opening” of your new office!

Please never hesitate to give us a call to discuss your ideas for remodeling your home. We’d be happy to help design a new and inspirational setting for your new office space in your home.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

 

A Perfect Gift for Your Valentine …

(Photo of “Twin Pines Lake and Ski House” courtesy of Clear Creek Development, NV)

With all the new snow at Lake Tahoe, we’ve turned into a winter wonderland filled with romance – just in time for Valentine’s Day.  From sunny days on the slopes to cozy nights by the fire, we have a perfect setting for this special day – and for many days to come this year.

And while you’re romancing by the fireplace, you might want to let your Valentine know about another ‘perfect setting’ that is getting underway on the edge of the Lake and just over the hill from our architectural firm in Incline Village.

It’s part of the golf resort development called Clear Creek that we’ve noted in former news articles and its taken the world by storm for those who seek a new place to call home in Nevada – that happens to have its own 18-hole golf course, community center, and … a very private lakeside retreat:  The “Twin Pines Lake and Ski House.”

Right next door to the prestigious Edgewood Golf Course, Twin Pines offers the residents of Clear Creek Development with one of the most spectacular settings on the edge of the lake and unmatched amenities that every Valentine could ask for when enjoying the lifestyle that comes with a brand new home at Clear Creek.

As its website notes:

“The joy of Twin Pines … is that you will never lift a finger as you gaze out over the 180 feet of sandy shoreline from this exquisite lakefront estate.”

“Twin Pines is the loving work of famed California architect Julia Morgan. Credited with some 800 buildings, among them Hearst Castle and countless Bay Area landmarks, her work on the shore of Lake Tahoe is a wonder of simplicity and craftsmanship. Twin Pines will be as she intended – a vibrant home to families savoring long, languid, carefree summer days and warm après ski gatherings around the fire. In her honor, we have preserved and protected this jewel beside the lake.”

Your Valentine really needs to see this as it’s a ‘see it to believe it’ showcase.

Did I mention this is all in Nevada?  Gotta love the tax advantages that come with a home site purchase!

When you want a private tour, just give me a call.  I’m in the Clear Creek neighborhood in Carson City, NV all the time showing my clients some suggested architectural designs for their next piece of paradise in my home state of Nevada.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

 

PS.  You can read more about this project through the numerous articles that have been published in the likes of the Robb Report, Golf Magazine, Money Magazine, The Wall Street Journal and other prestigious publications.  See a full list here:

Lake Tahoe To Improve ADA Access to the Great Outdoors

Every time I turn around there seems to be yet another great story about what our local organizations are doing to improve the lifestyle that comes with designing, building, and owning a home in the Lake Tahoe, Truckee and Carson City regions.  And this story is one to add to those that I have shared over the years.

It got my attention as I have been working on new ideas and watching the trends for ADA architectural home designs and remodels for my clients in Nevada and California.

The California Tahoe Conservancy opened up a public comment period at the end of 2018 to review their new draft plan to improve recreation access for those with disabilities at five regional conservancy properties.

According to Conservancy Board Chair Brooke Laine, “Recreation and public access have always been a core priority for the Conservancy We’re anxious to explore how we can improve access for all who wish to enjoy all of Lake Tahoe’s natural wonders.”

You can review the  Draft Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan right here.

The specific targets for ADA improvements include:

  • Carnelian West / Gar Woods
  • Carnelian East / Patton Landing
  • Kings Beach Plaza
  • North Tahoe Beach,
  • California side of Van Sickle Bi-State Park

The article noted that under the new plan, the Conservancy will:

  • put management of its nearly 4,700 properties, which total more than 6,500 acres, at the center of its work,
  • increase the Lake Tahoe Basin’s resilience to climate change impacts,
  • use large-scale initiatives—such as the Lake Tahoe West Restoration Partnership and the Tahoe-Central Sierra Initiative—to address such large-scale threats as climate change and catastrophic wildfire,
  • fulfill the vision provided by Proposition 68 of ensuring the Conservancy’s recreation opportunities are welcoming and accessible for California’s diverse communities, and
  • align the Conservancy’s workforce and partnerships with the new Strategic Plan.

Within the various meetings over the past month or so, the Tahoe Conservancy board also authorized the investment of $484,250 to three key projects focused on reducing fire risk and improving forest health.

So there’s some good news to share with you and those in particular who are disabled yet still have a passion to enjoy the great outdoors – right here in the heart of the High Sierra.

If you happen to know of anyone who needs to remodel their home or design a new home to meet ADA standards, please reach out to Borelli Architecture as we are familiar with the requirements and always here to share our insight.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

Record Number of Tech Companies Moving to Northern Nevada

With this being our last blog of the year, we thought we’d follow the trends to do a recap of some of the biggest highlights of the region.  Hands-down is the explosive interest in businesses and families moving to Northern Nevada.

And that’s all good news for our architect firm in Incline Village, NV on Lake Tahoe’s North Shore that offers architectural services for residential and commercial properties.

To pull the whole year together in a short blog (we know you’re busy) I’ve taken some excerpts from a recent article re:  “Record Number of Tech Companies Relocate to Reno/Sparks” as published in NORTHERN NEVADA BUSINESS VIEW

Go ahead and read on … and when you’re ready to purchase some land in Nevada and need a seasoned, local, Lake Tahoe architect to design your new mountain home or lakefront estate, reach out at any time.

RECORD NUMBER OF TECH COMPANIES RELOCATING TO NEVADA

It’s no secret the greater Reno-Sparks economy saw a surge of tech companies plug into the region in 2018.

That was no more apparent than at the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada’s “New and Expanded Companies” welcome reception Thursday, Dec. 6, at the Peppermill in Reno.

This year saw a record number of tech companies (11) and corporate headquarters (15) stake flags in the region. Technology-related businesses made up the largest segment of companies assisted by EDAWN, according to a press release.

One of those tech companies honored Dec. 6 was Talage , a software firm that provides a digital marketplace for small business insurance. Over the summer, the company set up its headquarters on South Wells Avenue in Reno.

“All the things EDAWN’s been striving to do the past few years, I think they’re backing it up,” Adam Kiefer, Talage CEO and cofounder, told the NNBV. “And Reno is making that shift from essentially a transportation, warehousing hub to a legitimate tech player. And I think we’re starting to make moves. We’ve got a long way to go. I think the more people that can move real headquarters and build real startups here … I think it’s big steps in the right direction.”

In closing, Mike Kazmierski, president, and CEO of EDAWN, said in a statement:

“The new opportunities this creates for our workforce are sure to have a positive impact for generations to come and I couldn’t be more excited.”

Our team at Borelli Architecture and Kelly Borelli Interior Design couldn’t have said it better!

Here’s to a very healthy and prosperous new year!

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

Clear Creek Tahoe Praised as “A New State of Luxury”

 

(Illustration courtesy of Clear Creek Development)

My last blog about the new Clear Creek Development in Carson City, NV – just over the hill from Lake Tahoe  – had such great response that I thought I’d share some insight from another view of what is becoming THE place to build and call ‘home sweet home.’

I’ve borrowed this insight from an April, 2018 article in Tahoe Quarterly magazine which is by far one of the most respected and read publications for those who appreciate and seek quality of life.

Here’s a preview of the article …

Clear Creek Tahoe has long held a grand vision for its 2,136 acres of prime mountain real estate. With each progress-filled day on the heels of a busy winter, that dream is quickly becoming a reality.

“Clear Creek has a lot going on,” says Mark Tanner, owner of Truckee’s Mark Tanner Construction. “We’re excited about Clear Creek. It’s the next Martis Camp as far as I see it.”

Tanner is among a growing number of high-end builders and designers with projects underway in the emerging private community, which broke ground on new homes this past year and unveils its new Pro Shop & Provisions and Summit Camp amenities this spring.

“We recently started our fifth custom home, and we have another 10 or 12 in the design stage. We’re starting to be able to show what the early products are going to look like,” says Keith Franke, Clear Creek’s director of development and design. “And by all accounts, the quality is superlative.”

These milestones are significant as the private golf club becomes a full-amenity, four-season destination that attracts custom homebuyers from across the globe.

Our goal is to set the stage for magnificent life experiences,” says Leisha Ehlert of Castle Hill Partners, Clear Creek’s capital and operational partner.

The Clear Creek dream arose more than a decade ago from a promising land purchase on the eastern slope of the Carson Range.

Tucked off of Highway 50 just east of the Tahoe Basin, the scenic valley provided an ideal setting for a golf course community—panoramic views from the Carson Valley to Spooner Summit, healthy conifer forests, rugged rock outcroppings, a lush meadow and Clear Creek itself, which winds 1.5 miles through the property on its way to the Carson River.

But with Tahoe’s housing market gripped by the Great Recession in the late 2000s, the timing was poor to launch an ambitious residential project. The Clear Creek team put the real estate development on hold but hired acclaimed golf course architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw to design a world-class course.

Meanwhile, the club developed on-site hiking and mountain biking trails and placed 853 acres of its land into a permanent conservation easement with The Nature Conservancy. The club then added to its appeal by purchasing the historic Julia Morgan-designed Twin Pines Estate in South Lake Tahoe in 2016. The estate, located 20 minutes from Clear Creek, provides members access to a pier and over 180 feet of sandy beachfront, as well as shuttle service to nearby Heavenly in the winter.

With the Coore & Crenshaw golf course a hit among the initial members, and Tahoe’s housing market thriving, the club moved forward with its real estate plans early last year.

Clear Creek’s homesites are now a hot commodity…

And with that said, Borelli Architecture is very familiar with the Clear Creek team and the extensive project so if you’d like a tour of the property, or want to discuss the  many homesites that offer views of the flourishing Carson Valley to Spooner Summit, give me a call at 775-831-3060 or send me an email at jim@borelliarchitecture.com.

As our Nevada-based architecture firm in Incline Village is a short drive from the development, it’s easy for me to line everything up for you so your time is focused on your particular needs and dreams.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

The West’s Newest Tax Friendly Mountain/Golf/Lake Community Is Here …

As a long-time architectural firm on Lake Tahoe’s Nevada Side, we’re excited to bring you up to date on Lake Tahoe’s newest mountain golf community that is a short 20 minute drive from our Nevada-based architecture and interior design offices in Incline Village, NV.

Let me introduce you to the Clear Creek Development that is seeing impressive interest from the West Coast, and around the country.  And for those who are familiar with the new Clear Creek mountain golf community just over the hill from Lake Tahoe that comes as no surprise.

Picture if you will … the mountain setting and impressive amenities that come to those who live in the popular Martis Creek community in Truckee, CA … are now mirrored in the tax-friendly state of Nevada, with a nationally-acclaimed golf course designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, PLUS a private beach house and pier on the edge of Lake Tahoe.

(Photos courtesy of Clear Creek Mountain Development in Nevada)

All combined, the Clear Creek home development in Nevada has earned its status of the finest new golf and mountain community in the West.

Just a quick glimpse at their website introduction and it’s hard not to want to pack up and head to Nevada …

“Clear Creek is on the eastern slope of the Carson Range, conveniently just about 20 minutes from both Incline Village and the ski slopes of Heavenly. Yet it is spectacularly unspoiled – 2,136 acres surrounded by the six million acres of the largest national forest in the lower 48. Your home will be a natural refuge … forever. Clear Creek is also reassuringly private – a private community and club since inception.”

TAX FRIENDLY NEVADA

In addition to offering some of the most spectacular settings for a home or vacation retreat, a golf course and private access to Lake Tahoe, Clear Creek touts the tax advantages that come with Nevada residency as one of its top selling points

There are two sides to every coin, as there are to Lake Tahoe: The California side features nearly the highest income tax rate in the country. The Nevada side, with its pristine eastern shore, is a natural wonderland with the equally wondrous advantages of a Nevada residency – no state income or inheritance tax. We’ll let you do the math.

(Photo courtesy of Clear Creek Golf and Lake Home Development, Nevada)

At Borelli Architecture in Incline Village, NV we’re excited about the Clear Creek project and are very impressed at the developer’s mission and vision:  “Each property represents our vision of sustainability – protected and preserved for future generations.“

One more thing, this is not just another golf and lake resort development at Lake Tahoe or in the state of Nevada, these folks are local and deeply involved and interested in preserving the land today, and in decades to come – as their website notes:

We are guided by an enduring respect for the land and a view of the natural world as a place to be shared not conquered.

Here’s a list of their ‘like-minded and spirited collaborators’ in preservation and sustainability:

We’re so impressed with what is happening in and around the Clear Creek home Development in Nevada that our Nevada-based architecture firm in Lake Tahoe welcomes every opportunity to take you on a personal tour, or connect you with the Clear Creek real estate team.  Until then, take some time to view their website and then contact me when you are ready to see it for yourself!

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

Hows Creative Minds Help Solve Housing Shortage in Truckee, CA

(Photo courtesy of Nancy Holliday)

It never ceases to amaze me to read about new innovations and the incredible amount of professional talent that continues to choose the Truckee and Lake Tahoe region as their home sweet home – and this story will show that this is no exception.

For many years, the region has struggled with housing for all the Lake Tahoe ski resort employees that dream of ‘living the dream’ and working at a ski resort.  The jobs are certainly available and pay well – in addition to offering food, rentals, lessons at greatly reduced costs or free, what doesn’t come with the job offer is an affordable home in which to live out that dream.

New “Building Blocks” Bring Affordable Housing to Truckee, CA

In a recent story Moonshine Ink, one of my favorite local independent newspapers, I saw a story that I just had to share in my news section to you today.

Long story short, a group of local businesses “couldn’t take it anymore” and decided to reach out to resources across the country to help lessen the burden on its resort employees and do something about the housing shortage.

As the story goes …

“This December  an initial wave of 12-by-60-foot flatbed trucks carrying Truckee housing will roll into town. The homes, stacked like 20-ton Lego blocks, will be bound for the community’s newest housing development, Coburn Crossing, bringing 137 much needed rentals to the market. Closely following will be a second round of homes on wheels headed for the 90-unit affordable housing Artist Lofts project at the Truckee Railyard.”

What’s fascinating about all of this is that this whole idea of doing something ‘outside of the box” started with a grassroots effort by local business men and women.

Today, three hours from Truckee, the affordable housing units are being built inside – not a box – yet an old converted submarine manufacturing site (in Vallejo, CA) from the middle of the last century!  And they are being built at a rate of “a unit a day!”

Wrapping this up to keep things short and sweet, here’s another snip-it from the story that tells the rest of the story …

A good fit for Truckee/Tahoe

“Here in Truckee/Tahoe the benefits of modular have the potential to count double. According to Pat Davison, governmental affairs director at the Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe, the local building industry is strong, but the workforce never fully bounced back from the last recession. She said an influx of modular building, as long as providers savvy to our regional codes and practices, would be “welcomed with open arms.” She also echoed Bradshaw’s sentiments about the changing industry.

“It’s about … being open-minded, being able to evolve, and grow as an industry and that means embracing some of these new ideas and new ways of doing things,” said Davison.

Gotta love living in a place where creative minds work together for all the right reasons!

If you ever want to know what’s going on within the home design and building business in Truckee or Lake Tahoe, feel free to reach out.  I’ve been watching the market for over 30 years and would love to share the history that is apparently being made every day!

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Truckee / Lake Tahoe
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060