Last Wednesday, March 31, the historic Green Park Inn, located at 9239 Valley Boulevard in Blowing Rock, sold for $935,000 cash at a live auction, and the deal will close shortly, said Bracky Rogers, sales manager, auctioneer and founder of Rogers Realty.
Local Firm Selected To Pursue Large-Scale Solar Energy Plant on County’s Closed Landfill
Watauga Solar partners Ray Sinclair, left, and Ged Moody, right, are currently conducting a feasibility study to determine the practicality of constructing a 1- to 2-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) power plant at the county’s closed landfill site that will produce solar energy, create opportunities for local investment and ownership and serve as an educational tool for all ages of students and citizens. Photo by Sam Calhoun
Stunning design and green architecture shouldn’t be reserved just for adults, as showcased by this gorgeous green treehouse built by the architects at Lord, Aeck & Sargent. Constructed as an extension to Camp Twin Lakes, a camp dedicated to kids with special needs, this treehouse is not only beautiful, fun and kid friendly, but green as well!
War and conflict often bring about the destruction of architecture, however these forces can also result in new constructions that define a cultural identity and place. Stressed by China’s growing population, the Hakka people have been confronted with armed warfare for local resources since the 17th century. To remedy their situation the Hakka began building massive structures that could not only stave off intruders, but would also form amazing self-sustaining micro-communities complete with food storage, space for livestock, living quarters, temples, armories and more.
The High Country Association of REALTORS released statistics today for residential homes sold through the end of November. Sales are off from October’s numbers, approaching June’s total residential units sold.
Sales continue to fall below last year’s figures. When comparing year-to-date numbers with the same time period in 2008, the number of residential units sold is down 11.1 percent, and the median sold price for residential property is down 11.3 percent. The total number of new residential listings is down 6.2 percent from 2008.
Mortgage rates are also dropping, which is good news for homebuyers. According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to 4.88 in November, down from 5.06 percent in September. The rate was 6.09 percent in November 2008.
In addition to lower mortgage rates, buyers now have more time to secure big tax savings. On Nov. 6, President Obama signed The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which includes an $8,000 tax credit for qualified first-time buyers and a $6,500 tax credit for qualified existing homeowners. This gives prospective buyers an additional six months to take advantage of the popular tax credits, which have helped boost sagging homes sales.
All of you know Stillwater Dwellings. This new company is indeed very busy these days with an array of orders. They have recently completed their first prefab home in Bend, Oregon. This home was built using the sd231 floor plan and includes 2,950 square feet of space. This house contains three bedrooms, two and halfbathrooms, a laundry room, and 600 square feet of garage space. The cost of construct this house was $175 per square foot which includes the entire site work.
Click here for more from Homedit.com
The Renewable Energy Initiative of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC is holding its official ribbon-cutting event on Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. for the 100KW wind turbine successfully installed at the university-owned Broyhill Inn & Conference Center. The project, installed by Alteris Renewables, was completed this past summer. The turbine is currently the largest wind development in the state of North Carolina.
Story by Celeste von Mangan
Water heating in your home uses a large portion of electricity and is preceded in energy consumption only by air heating and cooling systems. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, using a solar water heating system in conjunction with a backup electric heater can cut costs by 50 percent. Though it may take several years to recoup the initial outlay at the time of purchase, recovery of this cost can be facilitated by taking advantage of a $500 rebate from Blue Ridge Electric, along with progressive tax credits from the federal and state government.
Click here for more from High Country Pres
Click here to learn more about Blue Ridge Electric
Stoneman Slept Here; Author Takes Readers Along the Unions Needless ... Boone Mountain Times With Boone neutralized, Stoneman decided to cross the Blue Ridge Mountains and move to Wilkesboro, about 50 miles away, thus moving out of the High Country. ... |
Coming Soon: High Speed Internet Connections For Skyline Members Boone Mountain Times That award will help provide fiber to the premises access to Ashe and Alleghany counties as well as Shady Valley, Tenn. Skyline Chief Executive Officer ... |
Sweet Treats to Flow from Waterfall Farm Boone Mountain Times While North Carolina isn't the first place you would think of for syrup production, the High Country has something very special that makes the collection of ... |
Notes of Interest Boone Mountain Times The Ashe County Arts Council will sponsor Art on the Mountain on Sept. 25. We invite artists to participate in this sale and show. Join other High Country ... |
Employers are more optimistic Wilkes Journal Patriot Over 22 percent of business owners in Wilkes, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey counties are expecting to hire new workers in ... |
Find more businesses on Boone Mountain Times For more information on the High Country Beer Fest, or to purchase tickets online, visit www.hcbeerfest.com. Carolina Breweries include Boone Brewing Co., ... |
The Kudzu Cometh Boone Mountain Times Roess contacted Meghan Baker, an agent for the North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Watauga County, to find out if kudzu had previously been a problem in ... |
High Country Unemploment Dips Slightly Go Blue Ridge (blog) Watauga's rate dropped two-tenths of a percent to 7.4%, while Avery and Ashe figures showed drops of one-tenth of a percent. Ashe unemployment dropped to ... |
On the Same Page Announces Authors and Events for Fall Literary Festival in ... PR Newswire (press release) Ashe County is located in the High Country of northwestern North Carolina and West Jefferson is its largest town. These websites provide information, ... |
 Appalachian State University | Appalachian's “BIG Sale” draws big crowds Appalachian State University Since then recipients have included Watauga 4-H, Legal Aid of North Carolina, High Country Amigos and Hospice. In later years, funding from the sale ... |
Please choose a county from the map above for township information and county links.
Find more photos like this on the high country dirt.network
© Copyright 2007, 2008, 2009 (MCN: W6E0B-244E3-14308) The McGinn Company, High Country Dirt, if you wish to contact or submit stories to High Country Dirt, please click here.
If you are interested in advertising, click here