We think of November as just being cloudy and gray. But we have actually had some fantastic sunsets recently so thought I should share the view from Vashon.
I recently found myself at an open house in a charming little beach community on Vashon Island. It was one of those quintessential 1970s island homes, hand-built by some forgotten artisan woodworker with hand-hewn logs. Back then, island property was a steal; today, a similar place goes for well over a million dollars. As the realtor cheerfully walked us through its charms, she dropped a tidbit that really stuck with me: the beach community was banding together to ban Airbnb. She said it with a smile, as if it were just another fantastic selling point, like central air conditioning or a new roof. But the truth of that statement is far more complex than a simple "amenity." On Vashon, Airbnb has become the poster child for the island's housing crisis. It's an easy target, a visible symptom that draws the ire of many residents struggling to find affordable long-term housing. Yet, beneath the surface, a much larger, more pervasive issue quietly persists: the s...
Vashon Island is home to many unique communities, but few are as captivating—or as private—as Spring Beach . Unlike many of the neighborhoods we've explored, Spring Beach is on a private road, making it largely inaccessible to the general public today. To truly understand its charm, you have to look back at its fascinating origins as a bustling vacation resort. A Destination Only Reachable by Steamer Imagine a time when the only way to reach this spot was by water. Spring Beach was initially developed as a summer vacation destination. Its centerpiece was the magnificent Miramar Lodge , a grand log structure built in 1905. Though it’s a private home now, this building once served as the resort's dining hall, general store, and even the local post office for this planned getaway. Back then, the only visitors making the trek were arriving on the wooden steamer Tourist , which would leave from Point Defiance. In the height of the summer s...
The ferry line on any given weekday morning tells a story. Amidst the usual commuters, you'll see a steady stream of trucks, vans, and utility vehicles—each one representing an off-island contractor heading over to Vashon. But why? Recently, a friend building a new home on Vashon had one unwavering stipulation for his project manager: "Absolutely no island contractors!" It sounds harsh, and the truth is, it’s a bit muddy. There are, without a doubt, exceptionally talented and reliable tradespeople who live and work right here on Vashon. Yet, the demand for off-island help remains high. What would drive an islander to make such a blanket statement about their neighbors? Here’s a look at the core reasons why many Vashon homeowners look across the water for their building and repair needs. 1. The Low-Supply, High-Demand Pricing Problem Simply put, competition is the greatest lever for fair pricing, and on Vashon, competition is scarce. Because the...
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