Good morning. Issue five of the Kirkland Dispatch: five minutes on what moved in Kirkland this week, one item for your own neighborhood, the market in three numbers, and one practical thing for the house.
Kirkland this week
The average utility bill would rise 8.40% in 2027 and 8.35% in 2028. Final rates were on Tuesday's agenda for adoption: about $284 a month for a typical house in 2027, up $22.03. King County's sewage-treatment share rises 13.29%. Water and sewer change December 1, the rest January 1. Staff memo
Middle housing: quick fixes first. State law now allows at least four homes on every residential lot, but they follow single-family size rules. Staff gave council four options: simplify the code, let lots with more units build more, reward keeping existing homes, or wait for the larger 2028 review. Staff memo
Ballot drop boxes are open. Three boxes in Kirkland take ballots around the clock until 8 PM on Tuesday, November 3: the Wester Lot downtown, Big Finn Hill Park and Kingsgate Library. City of Kirkland
Budget dates. Council's budget work session is Thursday, October 29, at 3 PM. On Wednesday, November 4, the first public hearings on the 2027–28 budget, the six-year capital plan and the 2027 property tax levy. Council calendar
Shared scooters and e-bikes, a second look. Three councilmembers asked staff to scope a program; every city around Kirkland already has one. A companion request looks at requiring helmets on e-bikes and scooters. Staff memo
Your neighborhood
Central Houghton. The Cross Kirkland Corridor stays closed between NE 52nd Street and 108th Avenue NE for King County's culvert and retaining-wall work, on the three-month schedule from September 8. Expect weekday work 7 AM to 8 PM, generator noise from the pumps, and possible odors at the sewer diversion. Questions: Emanuel da Silva, 206-406-3058. King County
Sold near you: 17 homes closed within 0.8 mile of the neighborhood center in the last 45 days, median $1.59M (range $253K to $7.30M); the fastest went from listing to closing in 19 days.
Everest. A city program puts $350,000 a year into walking and biking fixes residents propose: crosswalks, traffic circles, sidewalks, signs. It has finished 89 projects since 2014. Ideas go in through your neighborhood association or the Our Kirkland portal. City of Kirkland
Sold near you: 36 homes closed within 0.8 mile of the neighborhood center in the last 45 days, median $1.52M (range $253K to $4.29M); the fastest went from listing to closing in 9 days.
Evergreen Hill. One of Kirkland's three ballot drop boxes is on the west side of Kingsgate Library, 12315 NE 143rd Street, open around the clock until 8 PM on November 3. City of Kirkland
Sold near you: 16 homes closed within 0.8 mile of the neighborhood center in the last 45 days, median $958K (range $250K to $1.27M); the fastest went from listing to closing in 24 days.
Finn Hill. The Green Loop now has a measured route: about 13.7 miles around Finn Hill, 6.3 of them already on the ground in some form. The rest needs new trail or easements, and private landowners would take part only if they choose to. The plan is due in January 2027. Big Finn Hill Park, 8106 NE 138th Street, also has a ballot drop box. Staff memo
Sold near you: 14 homes closed within 0.8 mile of the neighborhood center in the last 45 days, median $923K (range $326K to $1.83M); the fastest went from listing to closing in 32 days.
Highlands. Cedar View Park, 11401 NE 90th Street, is a 0.2-acre pocket park with a playground, swings and a picnic table, open 5 AM to 10 PM. Street parking only, no restroom. City of Kirkland
Sold near you: 22 homes closed within 0.8 mile of the neighborhood center in the last 45 days, median $1.63M (range $675K to $4.29M); the fastest went from listing to closing in 22 days.
Juanita. Two dates on council's calendar: the Juanita Pathway Feasibility Study on Tuesday, November 17, and the Juanita High School development plan amendment, a quasi-judicial item, on January 5. Council calendar
Sold near you: 19 homes closed within 0.8 mile of the neighborhood center in the last 45 days, median $950K (range $275K to $2.80M); the fastest went from listing to closing in 26 days.
Lakeview. Marsh Park, 6605 Lake Washington Boulevard, is 4.1 acres on the water with a dock, a hand-carried launch for kayaks and paddleboards, an interpretive trail and year-round restrooms, open sunrise to 10 PM. The land was given by Louis Marsh, a Boeing engineer. City of Kirkland
Sold near you: 15 homes closed within 0.8 mile of the neighborhood center in the last 45 days, median $1.27M (range $253K to $7.30M); the fastest went from listing to closing in 19 days.
Market. Heritage Park, 111 Waverly Way, covers 10.1 acres: Heritage Hall and the Centennial Gardens, two drop-in tennis courts, a playground and an interpretive path, with parking for about 50 cars. The Kirkland Heritage Society works from the hall's basement. City of Kirkland
Sold near you: 27 homes closed within 0.8 mile of the neighborhood center in the last 45 days, median $1.95M (range $960K to $7.50M); the fastest went from listing to closing in 20 days.
Moss Bay. Día de los Muertos is this Saturday, October 24, 2 to 4 PM at the Peter Kirk Community Center, 352 Kirkland Avenue: music and dance from Baile Folklore Colibri, Danza Monarca and the Gema Choir, pan de muerto and aguas frescas. No registration. Parking is tight, so the city suggests carpooling, biking or transit. City of Kirkland
Sold near you: 29 homes closed within 0.8 mile of the neighborhood center in the last 45 days, median $1.70M (range $470K to $3.60M); the fastest went from listing to closing in 9 days.
Norkirk. The drive-up ballot drop box is in the Wester Lot, 120 3rd Avenue, south of City Hall, entered from 1st Street. Open around the clock until 8 PM on November 3. City of Kirkland
Sold near you: 31 homes closed within 0.8 mile of the neighborhood center in the last 45 days, median $1.75M (range $470K to $4.29M); the fastest went from listing to closing in 20 days.
North Rose Hill. NE 112th Street at 132nd Avenue NE remains closed, local access only, for sewer work at the Trend Lift Station. City traffic alerts
Sold near you: 20 homes closed within 0.8 mile of the neighborhood center in the last 45 days, median $1.54M (range $485K to $3.60M); the fastest went from listing to closing in 28 days.
South Rose Hill / Bridle Trails. Bridle Trails State Park, 5300 116th Avenue NE, has 28 miles of trail for riders, hikers and runners, and four horse arenas. Winter hours are 8 AM to dusk, and a Discover Pass is required ($10 a day, $45 a year). Washington State Parks
Sold near you: 16 homes closed within 0.8 mile of the neighborhood center in the last 45 days, median $1.54M (range $935K to $2.80M); the fastest went from listing to closing in 19 days.
Totem Lake. Overnight work at the NE 132nd Street roundabouts over I-405 starts Monday, October 26, 10 PM to 5 AM, for about a week, weather permitting: speed cushions, new striping and signs. By the hospital, the NE 128th Street rebuild moved to phase 3 on October 15; follow the posted detours. City traffic alerts · Hospital road project
Sold near you: 12 homes closed within 0.8 mile of the neighborhood center in the last 45 days, median $1.03M (range $235K to $1.60M); the fastest went from listing to closing in 24 days.
The market in 60 seconds
Across Kirkland ZIPs 98033 and 98034, the median home sold for $1.27M over the last 30 days (116 closings). The median home took 53 days from listing to closing, and there are 4.0 months of inventory on the market.
Inventory held at 4.0 months for a second week: active listings slipped from 475 to 460 while closings eased from 119 to 116. Homes moved faster, 53 days against 58 a week ago. Single-family homes are tighter, at 3.3 months. Still balanced territory: under three months favors sellers, above six favors buyers. For a buyer, 6% of homes closed above asking, so most deals still leave room to negotiate.
One useful thing: Alarms and a way out, before the clocks change
Clocks fall back Sunday, November 1, an easy moment for a household fire check. Kirkland's guidance: smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of the home, inside and outside every sleeping area; test the batteries every month and change them every six months. Walk through a fire escape plan with at least two ways out of every room, windows included, and sleep with bedroom doors closed. City of Kirkland: Building Fires
That's the week. Reply with anything you want tracked in Kirkland. Next Thursday: what council decided on October 20, from utility rates to scooters, and what the October 29 budget work session put on the table.
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The Kirkland Dispatch is a RexMont Real Estate publication. Adriano Tori, Designated Broker. Reply to this email and a person reads it.