Millie Legenhausen, CRS, GRI, CIPS, MBA

On Sunday morning I looked out of a second story window at home and saw something sparkling in the distance, where Quinnipiac University is building the new 250 acre York Hill Campus in Hamden. The sparkles were coming from the new "windmills" which the university has erected to generate power for the campus. On Monday, I decided to check things out. A few months ago there was only one windmill, and now it looks like there are a dozen or more.

As you can see, there are no blades on these structures. They are verticle axis turbines, manufactured by Mariah Power. Not only do they have a distinctive look, their design allows them to run silently. There will eventually be 42 of these 40' turbines at the site, adding architectural interest to a garden below. It should be a fascinating gathering spot for students and visitors alike. And an example of what new energy can look and sound like. Eventually this campus will be one of the "greenest" in the United States.

We neighbors of Quinnipiac U. watch with fascination as the university continues to gobble up and develop large tracts of land. There are now three campuses - two in Hamden and one in North Haven. Quinnipiac University is known for its excellent health science majors. The school is well positioned to meet the growing demand for health professionals. Graduates with majors in physical therapy have their pick of jobs anywhere in the country.

Hamden enjoys many benefits being a college town. Quinnipiac U. is the largest employer in town. The school hosts cultural events open to the public, and thousands of students bring life to the many small business in town that cater to their needs.

It is worth a trip to see the York Hill campus, which currently boasts two stadiums, dormatories and a parking garage. The views of the surrounding countryside and New Haven harbor are magical. It will be fascinating to see this campus develop over the years.

There is a spot on New Road that has been a favorite with locals for centuries. It's Clark's Pond, a calm oasis in a busy part of town. Today the Pond is bordered by Quinnipiac University. Its beauty offers students and town folk alike a respite from the quick pace of life. As you can see, the surrounding foliage is putting on its show for Fall. The colors should be at peak in about one week.

Visitors to our area of often struck by the variety of landscapes in town. The northern part of Hamden is rural and rugged. There are horse farms and large estates for those favoring privacy. Most of the town, however, is made up of neighborhoods which reflect the era in which they were constructed. We have neighborhoods built at the turn of the last century, which feature multi-family homes and houses with rich woodwork trim. There are the mid-century suburban prototype neighborhoods such as Spring Glen, with its three bedroom, one and one half bath colonials which were so innovative in their day. As the town has grown, subdivisions have come in, with each featuring larger and larger homes, peaking with the mini mansions of the last decade. There is something here for everyone, and a pleasant lifestyle to go along with it.

If you know someone transferring to the area to work at one of the universities or in the growing health care industry here, please let me know. I would be happy to help them relocate to our town.

Early Fall in Hamden is a magical time. Nature provides the perfect backdrop for our town. We all feel energized by the cool, crisp air. Trees are giving their first hints of the blaze of color that is to follow. (October 15th is peak leaf-peeping time in Hamden). Now is the time to visit the local farms for fresh apples and produce. Hamdenites can also take advantage of two weekly Farmers Markets. In my neighborhood of Whitneyville, there is a new "pocket park" overlooking Lake Whitney. This idyllic spot is sure to please anyone who visits our corner of town.

The spot was made possible by the design of a local architect, Kari Nordstrom working with Town Of Hamden Designer Vince Conte, and Sharron Mitchell. It is located on Lake Street, just behind Books & Company. Pedestrians can grab a cup of coffee and a book, then pick a spot on a bench in the park. The lake and pines provide a soothing and relaxing environment.

This project is an example of how communities can work with their local governments to create open spaces to benefit all. There isn't much land involved here, just a corner with a beautiful view. Hamden is an old town, by American standards, incorporated in 1786. It is fully developed with almost no land available for additional open space. Thanks to people with vision, this spot can become a cherished part of the neighborhood.

Let's face it folks, this has been a frustrating year in real estate. There are hints (stock market) and even signs of an improving economy, but the turn around seems so slow sometimes. We need job creation in Connecticut and a State Budget to work with. Despite all the delays, however, we seem to holding our own with the real estate market.

As we know, all real estate is local. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Here in Connecticut, and particularly in Hamden, our housing inventory is stable. Right now we have 251 active single family listings in our town of 62,000. Of these 39 are on "show status". We agents are so nervous about these contracts, that we don't put our houses "on deposit" status until the mortgage is just about approved. 291 homes have sold year to date versus 330 in 2008, down 9%. Interestingly, the ratio of Sale Price to Listing Price (SP/LP) has held steady at 95%. Homes that are properly priced and in selling condition are getting close to asking price.

.....which brings up to the topic of lending. We have buyers out there ready and willing to buy. The problem with getting them in their homes has more to do with slow lending, than a lack of qualifications. It seems to take forever to close these loans. I know money is flowing into the banking system, but it is pooling somewhere, rather than flowing out to the consumer. Once this happens, we are going to see real stabilization in the market. Speculation is all but over in the real estate market. Now we await a return to more traditional real estate and banking. In the meantime, I'll continue jogging around town.

After a long and trying winter, this breath of warm, fresh air is most invigorating. It is wonderful to feel good and positive again, if only for a day. Now let's try to keep this feeling going. There is another big headline today that may impact Hamden in a positive way. The Economic Stimulus bill finally was passed by Congress. If this opens the spigot of money for municipalities and consumers, we may soon be singing a happier tune.

Before we get too ahead of ourselves, winter is by no means over, and neither is this recession. There are, however, signs of change in the air. In the macro economic picture, the distressed real estate market in southern California may be bottoming. Money is starting to flow through our banking system, if slowly. That's the positive side. On the negative side, the shoe has yet to drop on the commercial real estate market and on consumer loans and credit cards. That could slow the recovery. This uncertainty and insecurity was reflected in gold closing at $943 per ounce today, nearing a record high. All is not lost, however. We are thinking creatively about how to turn this economy around. There will be hits and misses, but it will happen eventually.

Locally, I am seeing a glimmer of hope in that the bank owned properties are starting to sell. This will have an immediate positive effect on our neighborhoods. Our inventory is low, only 227 single family homes for sale in a town of nearly 60,000 people. According to our local Greater New Haven Association of Realtors, 201 homes sold in the past six months at an average sale price of $257,350. It took an average of 71 days to sell a home. Let's see what $789 Billion does for our economy. Wise use of these funds will go a long way towards restoring faith in our economy and raising our spirits.