Category: Tahoe Design

Top Reasons to Move to Nevada

Over 30 years ago, I started my architectural firm in Lake Tahoe. As time went on, fortune followed as hundreds of my clients decided to leave the city life and head to the High Sierra. Lucky for all of them, and my wife and I, we still love the decision we made so many years ago.

I was reminded of this fate while reading a story in the ‘about why Nevada is such a great place to live. The article was written by Journalist Brett McGuinness is entitled: Why I Am Thankful to be a Nevadan. Here are some of the highlights that we thought you might enjoy reading and/or sharing with your friends and family.

Nevada is a great place to call home. Why? Here’s what Brett had to say, as noted in the italics below.

1) Wide Open Space

More than 3 million people live in the Silver State. That’s slightly fewer residents than Iowa and slightly more than Arkansas, putting us at No. 33 out of 50 states, population-wise. Pre-pandemic numbers ranked Nevada as the third-most-visited state in the country, trailing only California and Florida. Everyone in America knows Nevada. And international tourists know us, too … mainly because of Las Vegas, but still.

2) It can be lonely, and that’s a good thing

If you love personal space, there are few spots on the planet with fewer humans than Nevada: just 28.5 people per square mile… if you were blindfolded, strapped into a parachute, and shoved out of an airplane, and your first thought upon landing is “Where is everybody?” there’s a good chance you’re in Nevada.

3) There’s a lot of ‘horsing around

If you have time, head down to the old south Reno area and poke into the neighborhoods off of NV 341 (on your way to Virginia City). In addition to viewing some of the old architectural designs of homes built in the late 1960s and 1970s, you will likely see horses roaming around in the neighborhoods? As Brett noted:

But how many places have wild horses hanging out on front lawns? It’s worth the occasional cleanup just so we can post horse pictures to social media and astound all our out-of-state friends.

4) Rock stars love it here

You know who’s on stage this weekend in Reno? Multi-platinum rock group Cheap Trick, Emmy-nominated comedy writer Demetri Martin and Grammy-winning comedian Lewis Black. Do you know who’s on stage in Mobile and Huntsville?

5) And there are endless stars to see

Because of the whole no-people-having situation, Nevada also has some of the best stargazing sites in the world. Among them are the International Dark Sky Park in northeastern Nevada’s Great Basin National Park and the Dark Sky Sanctuary at northwestern Nevada’s Massacre Rim. These sites are so free from light pollution, the stars themselves are literally bright enough to cast shadows.

6) We’re friendly, and very tax-friendly as well

The list of reasons why one should move their family OR their business to Nevada is too long for this short news clip. Yet for the full details, visit the Economic Development Authority of Nevada and read on!

So there you are. If you have plans to move to Nevada and build a home, or purchase a home and need an architect to help you remodel your investment, do reach out to our team. Our team at Borelli Architecture in Incline Village and Lake Tahoe has been providing advice about the best reasons to move to Nevada for decades and would be happy to share our insight with you.

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

Real Estate Investors Find New TRPA ADU Program A Big Benefit

Looking for new and creative ways to invest in real estate? This is a concept that is worth reviewing.

Throughout the past few years,and last year in particular, the Lake Tahoe Basin has experienced tremendous growth of full-time residents. For local business owners, one would think that is a good trend. The other side of the story is the fact that a lot of the affordable housing that used to be good rentals for the workforce are now home to our new residents.

Realizing the crunch and need for more affordable options, and to help those businesses retain good employees, the Tahoe Regional Transportation agency has just released a new incentive program to entice investors to remodel their homes in Lake Tahoe or build new affordable housing.

At our architecture firm in Washoe County, based in Incline Village, NV, we applaud the TRPA for stepping up and offering incentives for those who are interested in supporting this new Accessory Dwelling Unit incentive.

For those not a familiar with ADUs, they are usually is a smaller, independent residential dwelling unit located on the same lot as a stand-alone (i.e., detached) single-family home. ADUs go by many different names throughout the U.S., including accessory apartments, secondary suites, and granny flats.

Those who are interested in investing in real estate within the Lake Tahoe Basin may want to consider this program.

The official press announcement from the TRPA follows. And if you have any questions about how to get started to remodel your home to accommodate an ADU, or purchase existing real estate or land to build ADU’s, feel free to contact us at Borelli Architecture in Lake Tahoe, NV.

New TRPA Incentive A Bonus for Real Estate Investors

[Story courtesy of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency]

Updated rules to encourage more affordable housing options for Tahoe residents and workers have been unanimously approved by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Governing Board, the agency said today.

The approval significantly expands the number of properties in the Tahoe Basin that can add an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and provides further incentives if the ADU is restricted to affordable rates and located near transit or a town center, which reduces vehicle use. Now in most of the region, single-family residential parcels of any size can apply to add or create an ADU, among other changes. The previous rule only allowed ADUs on parcels of 1-acre or more. The amendments maintain the 1-acre size limit in the Washoe and Douglas county portions of the basin, which is consistent with local jurisdiction rules.

Under the new regional rules and under California state law, new ADUs can only be rented for 30 days or more, which addresses concerns that new home apartments or mother-in-law units could be used for short-term rentals. Around the nation, accessory dwelling units are being encouraged as one solution to increasing the supply of workforce housing.

“Lake Tahoe’s sustainability relies on a healthy environment and strong communities and the housing crisis is hurting everyone,” TRPA Executive Director Joanne S. Marchetta said. “These amendments are an important part of a larger, collaborative initiative to solve housing problems in the Lake Tahoe Region. This is a good first step and we will continue to partner with local jurisdictions and housing partners to meet local and regional housing needs.”

Other amendments approved by the TRPA Board allow motel units being redeveloped to change from tourist accommodation use to residential use. Currently, in some cases, this type of redevelopment is limited to tourist accommodation only.

These initial amendments were developed with input from the Tahoe Living Workforce Housing and Community Revitalization Working Group, an advisory group of non-profit, social service, environmental, real estate and local government representatives. The working group will continue to develop recommendations that further incentivize affordable and workforce units.

The new rules take effect 60 days after the July 29^th approval and the application process is under development. More information is available at trpa.gov/adus/.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency leads the cooperative effort to preserve, restore, and enhance the unique natural and human environment of the Lake Tahoe Region, while improving local communities, and people’s interactions with our irreplaceable environment. For additional information, contact Jeff Cowen, Public Information Officer, at (775) 589-5278 or jcowen@trpa.gov.

We look forward to assisting you with any needs/interest you may have in our architectural design services in Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and Carson City, NV.

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

Architectural Design Trends for Today’s Work at Home Environment

Living in Lake Tahoe, NV, we have seen a surge of new residents and second home owners deciding that if they need to be at home, they might as well live in one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

At our architecture firm that designs homes in Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and Carson City, NV, we have been approached by new clients throughout the West who have purchased land and are ready to build. From the prestigious Gray’s Crossing in Truckee, CA, to one of our favorite ski and golf home developments in Nevada – Clear Creek Tahoe, there are more homes being designed and built than we have seen in many years. And with good reason.

For those of us who have yet to retire, we are all well aware of the new “work, live, play’ lifestyle that has become the norm. And with this new world is a whole new appreciation for our homes which have become the cocoon that wraps around our every day life. So what does today’s ‘work at home’ design look like? Here are some highlights that our team at Borelli Architecture in Incline Village, NV are recommending to our clients who have selected our firm to design their mountain estate and golf course homes in Nevada.

Architectural Design Trends for Today’s “Work at Home” Environment

“Zoom”Room – Never before has the space behind and around our desk been so important. With the world having every opportunity to see what your office looks like, and possibly hearing everything going on in your home, the life in which you live most of your life is wide-open for all to see and hear. With this trend there is a high demand to either design a room or two that insures privacy as well as plenty of space to conduct business, or remodel a home to include a brand new office environment.

“Stay-Cation” Concepts – Earlier in this news piece we referred to the live, work, play world that most of us have become very accustomed to this past year. Now, it’s the norm. As such, our architect firm in North Lake Tahoe is designing elements throughout the home that accent the lifestyle that mirror our clients’ preferences – be it work or play. From expansive kitchens where one can entertain while enjoying their family’s company, to ‘great rooms’ which are truly a great escape. i.e. floor to ceiling windows, large fireplaces and pizza ovens, room for a new Pool Table, and then some.

Outdoor is Always “In” at Lake Tahoe – We couldn’t leave this one out of our list. Most of the home designs throughout the High Sierra accent the benefits that come with buying property and building a home in Truckee and Lake Tahoe. No matter where one builds, Mother Nature is at our beckoning call. Think: sliding glass windows that bring the outdoor in, state-of-the-art outdoor kitchens, mud rooms and large storage areas for all our toys, and down in the valley of Carson City, pools are back and one of the hottest features of 2021.

Romper Room – For Boomers, this term may bring back memories of the morning TV show that we were all glued to while the parents enjoyed some peace and quiet. Today, it’s kind of the same concept yet today’s Romper Room is right home and usually down the hall or above the garage. Within this ‘hide-away’ for the kids, we are seeing all sorts of additions that include a full bath, small kitchen, basketball hoops, padded flooring for gymnastics, comfy couches and large screen TV’s. Within this ‘arena’ is an area that depicts a high tech school room with plenty of technology, exceptional lighting, and comfortably-sized desks and chairs.

And that is just the beginning of the new trends for home design. When you are ready to build your new home, or want to chat with us about remodeling your home, we always appreciate the opportunity to share our design ideas that include the new trends for home design in Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and beyond.

Jim Borelli
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com

775 831 3060

Top Tips on How to Decide What Kind of Home You Want to Build (Part One)

One of my friends has recently purchased a lot at Gray’s Crossing in Truckee. And throughout the entire process, he continued to reach out to our architecture firm that designs homes in Truckee and Lake Tahoe for advice on the ‘next steps.’ I thought you might appreciate this blog about the “Top Tips on How to Decide What Kind of Home You Want to Build” as the subject is fresh in my mind.

Research first. Designing and building a home is more than how many bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. that you want or need within this significant investment. As the old saying goes: Your Home is Where Your Heart Is. This classic statement identifies the fact that in addition to yourself, there may be others that have input as to what their desires may be. When all is said and done, it should reflect the lifestyle that works for all involved.

What style do you like? For this particular property, Borelli Architecture certainly will recommend that the home takes advantage of its golf course setting. And with that said, we’ll be sure there is plenty of room for the golf cart in the garage! As Gray’s Crossing is also within a mountain community at a higher elevation, we will include the appropriate standards for heavy and take the weather into consideration as well to take advantage of the sunshine at the same time.

What key attributes does your ‘dream home’ really need? Lots of windows to take in those golf course views? And expanded porch for summertime entertaining? How about ‘open space,’ privacy, and in today’s virtual world, how many ‘office spaces’ or ‘small classroom areas’ do you need? A mud room? We say ‘yes’ to that all the time as when one lives in Truckee, the community just begs for all to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.

Think about the ‘not so obvious.’ What kind and how much storage area do you really need? Does every bathroom need at tub? How about all those skis, snowboards, snowshoes, and golf clubs … do you want a special place within the home or garage to store your year-round toys? And what about boat storage?

Think about the future, a lot! Our friends are just about to retire and plan on living the rest of their life here in the High Sierra. One of their main goals is to build a split-level home that has a lower level that includes a guest suite, small kitchen, and recreation/living area. This concept works well today for extended company and will be ideal when and if they ever choose to have live-in help.

So that is a start. In my next news post I’ll be providing more advice about the steps one needs to take when deciding to build a home. In the meantime, if you are interested in buying a lot at Gray’s Crossing, here are a few nice options. And be sure to click back into my last posts in January to learn more about land and property for sale in Truckee, Lake Tahoe, Carson City and beyond.

Jim and Kelly Borelli
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com

775 831 3060

Where is There Land for Sale to Build a Home in Carson City and Genoa?

(Photo courtesy of Clear Creek Tahoe)

Within our last news article we showcased some of the ideal Lake Tahoe communities and resort developments that still have land and lots for sale in Truckee and North Lake Tahoe. Today, we’re taking a look ‘over the hill’ where there are many new home developments that offer outstanding amenities in addition to spectacular views of the Sierra and vast ranch lands.

We’ll take you on a tour now of the home and golf course communities that offer property for sale.

Clear Creek Tahoe

At the top of the list is Clear Creek Tahoe which we have talked about throughout the past two years. Lots are continuing to sell and with homes being built year-round throughout their golf community. At Borelli Architecture, firm in Lake Tahoe and Carson City and representing Clear Creek Tahoe, we spend a lot of time with our clients on site, so if you would like a personal tour, please contact us at anytime.

Canyon Creek Estates

Located at the base of the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Range, Canyon Creek Estates is just off of the Genoa Lakes Resort Golf Course. Each lot provides 360 degree views of the Carson Valley and beyond. All offer plenty of privacy and room to spread-out and enjoy life in this burgeoning community.

Douglas County Land for Sale

If you picture your dream home wrapped with lots of acreage and privacy, and positioned in the state of Nevada, the Carson Valley may be your next home sweet home. Those who are already leaving the fast pace of city life and seeking a quieter pace are finding the communities of Minden and Gardnerville, NV, an ideal spot to raise a family or retire.

Silver Oak Golf Community

On the north side of Carson Valley, Silver Oak Golf Course and community continues to expand with lots of property available on which to build your new home in our tax friendly state of Nevada. This is a very convenient area to build a home as it’s a short, scenic, 20 minute drive to the south end of Reno and just a few more minutes to the Reno/Tahoe International Airport. Throughout the expansive development are opportunities to hop on your mountain bike and head into the hills through the very popular Ash Canyon biking trails.

And that is just the beginning of the property and lots for sale in the Eastern Sierra. When you are ready to investigate what it takes to build a home in Lake Tahoe, Truckee, or the Carson Valley, please reach out. At Borelli Architecture, have been designing and remodeling homes throughout the Truckee and Lake Tahoe area for decades and look forward to doing the same for you.

Jim and Kelly Borelli
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com

775 831 3060

Where is There Land for Sale to Build A Home in Lake Tahoe?

With all the interest in moving out of the city and settling into a more peaceful environment, our architect firm in Lake Tahoe and Carson City is fielding calls everyday from new clients who want to build their dream home. As a family who has lived in the High Sierra for over 30 years, we understand the draw of moving to the mountains.

To get you started, we are offering this two-part series that highlights our favorite resort developments that still have land and lots for sale in Truckee, North Lake Tahoe, and Carson City.

Throughout the Lake Tahoe basin there are many lovely mountain communities that offer all the amenities one needs to live a good life. Within these communities are resort developments that do have lots for sale. Here’s the start to our two-part series. Just click into each neighborhood to find out more about home developments in Lake Tahoe.

In our next blog, we will include information on the popular Clear Creek Development, and other Nevada home developments (which offer excellent tax advantages) located just over the hill on the eastern side of the Sierra .

Martis Camp, Truckee, CA

Forbes magazine once quoted that Martis Camp “May be the best private four-season community in the USA.” Check it out their own description.

“Located midway between historic Truckee, California and North Lake Tahoe, Martis Camp is a 2,177-acre private, luxury community, which Barron’s ranked as Tahoe’s Best Place to Own a Second Home. Nice praise. But even more impressive are the plaudits of those critics whose opinions carry a lot more weight: your family.”

Lahontan, Truckee, CA

The developers say it best: “Casual elegance finds its home at Lahontan.” Their website does a nice job of describing what may be your next backyard.

“Every one of Lahontan’s 906 acres is a spectacle of natural beauty. Your palette for creating a home here is made up of rock-faced ridges, springfed meadows, tall jeffrey, lodgepole and ponderosa pines, ridge tops with incredible panoramic views, green velvet valleys, and a breathtaking Tom Weiskopf golf course. There is also a reservoir that is the “town center” for Canadian geese, water fowl, and other wildlife. Beauty steals every scene here – and your heart. “

Northstar California

Located halfway between North America’s largest alpine lake, and the historic town of Truckee, California, Northstar still shines as another option for year-round recreation right out your backdoor. Here’s a very brief description from their website.

“Hidden among the trees in the majestic Martis Valley in North Lake Tahoe, Northstar California welcomes friends and families looking to get more our of their mountain getaway. We invite you to discover what makes our resort unforgettable …”

Gray’s Crossing

If you love to play golf, you will love this home and resort development. Our team at Borelli Architecture that designs homes in Truckee, CA, appreciates all that this development has to offer. Here is how they describe the experience;

“Imagine a place to build that honors your wish list as well as your budget. A bright, airy spot with spectacular views. One that’s close to the trails, the slopes, and Lake Tahoe with a golf course, restaurant, and on-site fitness and pool facility. A neighborhood that offers beautiful aesthetics and thoughtful logistics. With values that still reflect a market over-correction, there has never been a more fortuitous time to invest. You could definitely call Gray’s Crossing “home.”

If you would like a personal tour of any of these resort home developments in Lake Tahoe, and others that I will be showcasing in my next News article, please feel free to reach out to Borelli Architecture. We have been designing and remodeling homes throughout the Truckee and Lake Tahoe area for decades and always welcome the opportunity to share our insight.

Jim and Kelly Borelli
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775 831 3060

Do I Need an Architect to Design My Home?

There’s no question that more and more families are moving from the hectic city life to design and build a mountain home in Lake Tahoe and Truckee. as Such, our architectural firm in Lake Tahoe is certainly fielding a lot of questions.Specifically: if one really needs a professional architect to build a home in Washoe County, Placer County, or Carson City.

With all the environmental and building regulations that one must adhere to when building a home in the High Sierra, you certainly should seek the advice of a professional architect to design your home.

To help our clients to better understand just exactly what they will receive when they seek our advice and architectural services, we thought this news article would be of interest to you.

~ The Process of Architectural Design ~

Although an architect may initially seem like someone you will hire to design your home or commercial building, there is an extensive list of skills – including a good sense of ingenuity – that come with this time-honored profession that involves far more than a structure’s appearance.

At Borelli Architecture the ‘look’ of the structure starts long before we put our pencil to paper – or these days, sit down at the computer.

First, we meet with our client and listen to what they have envisioned either for their new home, remodel or commercial building in the Lake Tahoe and Truckee region. Throughout our conversations, we strive to capture what it is they want to do so we can not only meet, yet exceed, our clients’ expectations.

During this initial meeting, we identify our client’s key desires, all of the “pieces of the design puzzle”. These elements may include the standard questions of how many bedrooms and bathrooms are needed, do they want more open space or a new kitchen, attached or detached guest quarters, outdoor living area complete with a kitchen, or media room complete with the latest and greatest technology features. Budgetary requirements are also discussed at this time to ensure that the Project Program and budget are in sync.

Once we have identified those key pieces to the puzzle, we develop a Fee Proposal that includes all of the client’s initial desires – and summarize them into a Project Program. This also includes the phases and costs of services that will be provided from start to finish.

The client then reviews and approves the Project Program and then we are ready to get started on the project.

The next step is to begin the Design Phase; this includes coming to an architectural solution that addresses the Project Program – which is by far the most critical part of an architect’s role.

The design then evolves from the information that we have gathered together and then collaborate to produce a final solution.

Upon completion of the Design Phase, we then move on to the preparation of the Construction Documents; these include a site plan, floor plans, elevations, cross sections and other detailed drawings of the structure.

When the Construction Documents are completed, they are submitted to local regulatory agencies for review which leads to issuance of the building permit. Once the permit is issued, we work with the client to select the general contractor. The Construction Documents also provide the contractor with all the information required to actually build the project.

From that point forward, we will act as a liaison for our client and represent them on the construction site, meet with local authorities, and oversee the construction to ensure consistency with the plans and that the end result is exactly what our client expected.

If you ever have any questions about what an architect can, should, or could do for your next project, feel free to call me, James P. Borelli, at any time. I’d appreciate every opportunity to share my personal experience and insight with you.

Jim and Kelly Borelli
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

Where to Find Holiday Dinners to Go in Lake Tahoe

Luxury Tahoe Home Thanksgiving Meal by Borelli Architecture in Incline Village, Nevada

Every once in awhile we stray from our standard blog updates about trends in Lake Tahoe mountain home design, the new golf and ski developments at Lake Tahoe and Carson City, and architectural remodeling ideas for homes in the North Shore of Lake Tahoe to bring you some local community news.

With the holidays now in full swing, we thought you would enjoy a little insight as to where to find a gourmet meal to go to enjoy at home this year. Thankfully, there are more options than ever before to reserve your Thanksgiving dinner to go which was prepared for you by one of our many top restaurants at Lake Tahoe.

There is a good article in the Tahoe Daily Tribune which offers a nice selection from the North Shore to the South and in Incline Village, home to Borelli Architecture.

We do expect most of these establishments to continue to offer meals to go throughout the end of the year. So enjoy a few days out of the kitchen and a safe and memorable night at home.

Here it their list and for more details, feel free to read the story that we’ve noted above.

NORTH SHORE

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino

The Thanksgiving dinner to-go is $560 which includes tax and gratuity. A larger 20- to 22-pound turkey option is available for $615 plus tax. The meal can be purchased by visiting https://hyattlaketahoe.ticketleap.com/thanksgiving2020/.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows

Each meal will be hot, ready to eat and packaged for transportation. Orders must be placed by Saturday, Nov. 21. Dinner for two is $95, and dinner for four is $180, with optional wine pairings for $25 per bottle. Pick up time is 3:30-5 p.m. on Nov. 26 in the Olympic House. To order click, here.

For questions, email banquetsSVAM@squawalpine.com.

Lone Eagle Grille

In lieu of their annual Thanksgiving Buffet, Lone Eagle Grille will be offering a Thanksgiving takeaway option that will have a contactless pick up from the front drive of the main building.

Prices are inclusive of all taxes and gratuities and includes a bottle of Canvas Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Wine. Turkeys range in price depending on size, a 16-18 pound turkey will all sides is $560, a 20 to 22 pound turkey with sides is $615. For more information visit http://www.loneeaglegrille.com.

EAST SHORE

Zephyr Cove Resort

Thanksgiving take-out orders must be received by noon on Monday, Nov. 23. The take-out meal is $30 per person. Guests can place their orders by calling 775-589-4927.

For more information, visit http://www.zephyrcove.com

SOUTH SHORE

Riva Grill will be offering a traditional thanksgiving meal for takeaway this year in addition to their regular menu.

For more information, visit http://www.rivagrill.com.

Ten Crows BBQ

Ten Crows BBQ will be serving up their own 4th annual turkey day special for those opting not to cook. They will be offering a to-go family of four package for $150 with a bottle of wine (Boeger Barbera).

For more information visit http://www.10crows.com.

Finally, during the holiday season, our thoughts turn to you with gratitude and appreciation for your support. Through these challenging times, there is no time more appropriate to say ‘Thank You.”

May this Thanksgiving and Christmas season to come be filled with traditions that remind you of all the good things in life.

Jim and Kelly Borelli
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

What to Do When Your Home is Haunted!

As an architect firm that has been designing and remodeling homes in the Lake Tahoe and Truckee region for over 30 years, we always look forward to hearing about clients’ homes, or property, that may be haunted! And as the area overflows with beautiful old homes in particular along the lake, why wouldn’t some of them still be occupied by residents gone-by?

In addition, many of the shoreline properties were the summer grounds and burial grounds of the Washoe (Native American) tribes. In fact, history notes that their heritage within the High Sierra dates back over 90,000 years.

With Halloween around the corner, we thought it would certainly be appropriate to lend some insight to our fans about haunted homes – and what to do, or not to do, if your home is indeed ‘occupied’ by spirits unknown.

In a recent article posted by RIS Media, entitled Home Haunted? they shared some interesting insight that we are sending along to you right now.

“Among the more than 2,000 U.S. homeowners that were surveyed by realtor.com®, 13 percent said they believe they live in a haunted house currently and, among them, more than half (56 percent) say they have not considered moving.

“Haunted houses typically draw big crowds this time of year, but we wanted to see how many people actually believe they live in one,” said Lexie Holbert, realtor.com® housing and lifestyle expert. “Although only a small percentage of respondents indicated they believe their home is haunted, it was surprising to see how many are comfortable sharing their space with spirits.”

Another interesting takeaway from the survey is the fact that among the respondents who believe they currently live in a home that’s haunted, Northeasterners were the most comfortable living with spirits (76 percent), followed by those in the West (57 percent), the South (51 percent) and the Midwest (35 percent).”

What to do if your home is haunted?

Click into this link from ISoldMyHouse.com. It will take you to a page that will tell you all about their partnership with and exorcist who can rid your home of those spirits that share your space!

Boo!

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

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