Commentary:
Making money
I've been reading Bill McKibben's "Deep Economy," which lauds many community qualities that we already have in Hillsdale. A farmers market is one. Multiple and vibrant networks of communication are another.
But one we don't have is local money, or scrip.
A couple of our schools have experimented with circulating their own currency. The $5 "nickels" you can buy at the Hillsdale Farmers Market with your debit card are a limited form of scrip.
As an example of a full-blown local currency, McKibben cites Burlington, Vermont's "Bread" scrip. Carrying around "Bread" notes encourages customers to buy locally because only local businesses honor the currency.
One of the greatest challenges to any scrip is selling the idea to both businesses and customers. The currency needs to be widely enough accepted to be practical. And even at that, it requires faith that enough people will use it and businesses honor it to make it worthwhile.
I haven't investigated how the system works, but one obvious question is how do you get the local currency in circulation? How do you ensure that it isn't counterfeited? What are the costs associated with administering the system? Is there a way to distribute it that might provide a modest revenue stream for the community at large? Might that money go into a Hillsdale Community Foundation, which, in turn, would benefit the organizations of the Hillsdale Alliance?
The idea is worth exploring. If it ever gets off the ground, I have a name for our money. It's based on a motto the Hillsdale Business and Professional Association has come up with: "Hillsdale Has It!"
Will Hillsdale conduct its business in "hazzits"?
Alliance Meeting
Every three months, representatives from Hillsdale's major institutions (see the list below) gather to assess how, and what, we are doing. We try not to give ourselves extra work. Our main purpose is to inform, but we often volunteer to help each other and offer advice.
The Hillsdale Book Sale, the "Light Up Hillsdale" campaign and this newslettter all evolved out of Alliance discussions. We continue discussions about formalizing a Hillsdale Community Foundation.
The meetings are open and you are welcomed to come to the next one on Wednesday, April 9, at REMAX/Equity Group (Sunset and Capitol) at 7 p.m. It should be fun, if only for the discussion about "hazzits."
Rick Seifert
Editor
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Links to Alliance Members
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Wither the Hillsdale housing market?
Two Realtors to share insights
 Declining home prices, tighter credit requirements, longer selling times, even foreclosures.
You've heard about all of these in today's turbulent real estate world.
But how much of it is true for Hillsdale and surrounding neighborhoods?
How much does all of this affect the value of your own home?
Is it time a good time to buy, sell or hold?
Two veteran real estate agents will answer these questions and others at the Hillsdale Neighborhood Association meeting, Wednesday, April 2, 7 p.m. at St. Barnabas Church, 2201 SW Vermont.
Viola Wax of The Hasson Company and Pam Taylor of REMAX/Equity have sold numerous homes in the Hillsdale Area.
Here is some, but by no means all, of what they plan to say.
Both agree that Hillsdale is an attractive area for buyers. Wax lists its strengths as the Wilson pool, the farmers market, excellent public transit, quality schools, and proximity to downtown, the Southwest Community Center and Gabriel Park. The library, the nearness of Multnomah Village and the short walking distance to town center shops are other pluses.
Taylor mentions many of the same attributes but adds the plethora of good restaurants, proximity to OHSU and the freeway and an active, vibrant neighborhood association.
She also says that the style of houses here have appeal. "They are older and more gracious. We've been calling them 'mid-century classics.'" Most come with the added benefit of large lots, which afford more privacy.
Hillsdale also has a history of "really good appreciation" in values, Taylor says.
But both agree that in the current market, sellers can't expect to see much appreciation, if any, over last year's prices. Many people are deciding it isn't a good time to sell. Those who do put their houses on the market usually are forced to for one reason or another. The two Realtors recommend that sellers price their homes "reasonably." Your agent can help you determine what "reasonable" is, they say.
The days of overpricing and still getting several bids are gone, they agree.
The Hillsdale Neighborhood Association session, which is open to the public, was organized by board member Robert Hamilton. He has more questions:
· What are the options for "down-sizing"?
· What about the condo market?
· What if you are planning to be in Portland for just two or three years? Should you buy or rent?
· What's happening with interest rates?
· Has the urban growth boundary, which prevents urban sprawl, affected housing prices in Hillsdale?
· If you decide to sell your house, how long can you expect it to be on the market?
If you've had the same or similar questions, mark April 2 on your calendar.
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Winter in Spring
On Friday morning, Gabriel Park wore a thin, white cloak of winter. Four hours later, its snow gone, the park was back in spring fashion.
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Rick Seifert
Editor, Hillsdale News
(503) 245-7821
editor@hillsdalenews.org
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