Garden center goes green(er)
The wind used to be a curse to staff at the Mustard Seed Landscaping and Garden Center just west of Chaska on Highway 212. Gusts regularly knocked over the containers of flowers, shrubs and trees, keeping employees busy setting everything upright again. But now, owner Mark Halla hopes to turn that meddlesome wind into a blessing by installing a wind turbine to power his business operations.
'This is a cool thing,' he said. 'It will power our whole facility.'
Halla's been researching wind turbines for the last eight years. 'It was clear we needed to do something [about the wind],' he ex-plained. 'So we thought what can we do to make it better?'
His answer was to try to harness the wind and turn it into energy for the garden center. The final parts for the 160-foot high tur-bine were delivered earlier this week. The windmill should be fully installed by the end of the week with a commissioning event set for 4:30-6:30 p.m. on July 14.
Halla says his turbine should be more productive than the city of Chaska's infamous one just to the east.
'Ours will spin more often,' he said cheekily. 'And it will spin in winter.'
The turbine's 160-foot steel tower is already in place behind the garden center. It sits on a 24-foot by 24-foot pad on top of two feet of concrete and 2,000 pounds of rebar buried seven feet deep. Its three piers are each three feet in diameter.
The 25-foot blades will be among the items delivered and installed this week. When completed, the turbine will spin at wind speeds of just 5 miles per hour. Its capacity will be 40 kilowatts.
That's a quarter of the capacity of Chaska's 160-kilowatt turbine, but Halla noted that sitting at 160 feet high, he'll catch more wind than Chaska's 80-foot high turbine does.
Halla expects to generate 120,000 kilowatt hours per year. His business uses around 100,000 kilowatt hours so he'll have a chance to sell 20,000 kilowatt hours back to the power company at the same rate he pays to buy it.
The turbine cost the business $200,000. Halla applied for and received both a federal grant and a rural electric grant that together covered 55 percent of the cost. He expects that the turbine will pay for itself within four years.
'The real joy is we're doing the right thing with renewable energy,' he said. 'We're setting the bar, leading the way.'
This isn't the Mustard Seed's first green initiative. They previously installed a geothermal heating and cooling system.
For their efforts, the company has been honored with a host of awards including the Minnesota Landscape Association's 2011 Friend of the Environment Award and the Minnesota Environmental Initiative's Partnership of the Year Award.
Halla hopes that their actions will encourage other businesses to do the same. 'If you're going to do things, do them right,' he said.
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Miami Herald
01-05-2025
- Miami Herald
California estate with off-the-chart amenities listed. See its Mediterranean style
A Sacramento area residence owned by a retired high-tech executive has hit the market for $9.85 million — a price that would set the record for the highest publicly recorded residential sale ever in the Sacramento, California, region. Dubbed Casa Paloma, the private Mediterranean estate sits in a gated community on five acres in Loomis with panoramic Sierra foothills views. 'It's amazing. It's absolutely gorgeous,' said listing agent Nick Sadek of Nick Sadek Sotheby's International Realty. Located at 5687 Ridge Park Drive, the signature residence stretches across 13,350 square feet of under-roof living space with eight bedrooms and 12 bathrooms. The custom details that abound throughout the elegant home — soaring ceilings, exposed wood beams, hand-painted finishes, white oak flooring, gourmet kitchen with dual 10- and 13-foot islands — are just the beginning of what makes the property special. 'I really don't feel like there's much missed in the house as far as all the built-in cabinetry, all of the lighting and painting, all the custom finishes,' said co-listing agent Cristie Akers of Showcase Real Estate and Property Management Services. Brian Halla, retired Cisco Systems director and former chairman and CEO of National Semiconductor Corp., and his wife Carolyn purchased the property in 2016 for $3.67 million, according to public property records. Major renovation The couple took on a major renovation and expansion of the home, which Halla often describes as 'perfect.' The home's prior owner was a hunter who built a diorama in the great room displaying dozens of taxidermic animals from trips to Africa. For Halla, who is not a hunter, the space presented a deal breaker — until Akers suggested a transformative remodel of the space. 'Cristie Akers, who is a superstar Realtor, had an idea to remodel the great room and diorama and create two additional ensuites and an office,' Halla said in an email. The mansion is designed for entertaining in a big way, from a jaw-dropping lanai to an entertainment suite. The couple converted an RV garage into a detached game lounge, which is equipped with a Trackman Golf Simulator, shuffleboard, foosball, air hockey and a wet bar. There used to be a slot machine, too, Halla said. 'The game barn was outfitted with every toy you can imagine,' Halla said. 'The slot machine had to be relocated. (It) was too large a temptation for kids and their visitors as it was set to pay real quarters frequently.' The covered living area, or lanai, is a popular spot for gatherings, featuring heating and cooling systems, a wood-burning fireplace, electronic, invisible, roll-down shades and breathtaking views to the west. Halla said the lanai has been the venue for hosting large events such as wedding receptions, a 50th anniversary celebration and Christmas parties for church staff. 'The huge lanai area is a favorite place for beverages and conversation as well as wonderful seating for large dinners, ' Halla said. 'The expanded view ... of the next two hills and valleys over makes for take-your-breath-away lightning shows in the rain and fireworks on the Fourth of July ... from Penryn, Newcastle and Auburn.' Down a set of stairs off the lanai, the property is accentuated by a large pool with waterfalls and fire elements and a spa that seats 14. To one side of the house there's a six-hole chip-and-put green and bocce ball and croquet courts under bistro lighting that are fitted with synthetic grass and a misting system 'usually good for a 20-point drop in temperature' on hot Sacramento Valley days, Halla said. Guests can watch the competition from an oversized elevated deck above the courts. 'The area has a bathroom for minimal long game delays,' Halla said. A basketball, tennis and pickleball court await on the opposite side of the house. Outside entertainment opportunities are further enhanced by the indoor/outdoor bar with pass-through window, a covered outdoor kitchen and fire pit. Akers estimated the entire upgrade may have added up to 5,000 square feet of living space. There's a detached one-bedroom guest house, too. Full-time groundskeepers The property sits in the middle of a mature tree canopy. Full-time groundskeepers maintain the lush estate, which offers natural grass in the front yard. Practical amenities blend with luxury features, such as two sets of washer/dryers in a laundry room conveniently located next to the primary bedroom, solar-energy panels, a power generator, and a central vacuum system. All sound, lights, temperature controls and misters are controlled by remote. The location allows for easy access to freeways and nearby Folsom Lake. The property benefits from both city water and year-round irrigation from the Placer County Water Agency, which keeps the grounds lush. According to Akers, there's a six-year wait for year-round water access. Using the city water source for landscaping could cost a homeowner about $3,000 a month, while irrigation from the PCWA canal is only about $110 a month. There are two wood-burning and two gas fireplaces throughout the home, which is single level except for an upstairs gym. Other thoughtful elements include a crafts room, and the butler pantry and wine closet off the dining room. Halla said he envisioned the Loomis property as a comfortable retreat for a close-knit group of friends consisting of mostly five couples who come together to enjoy golf, swimming, games, food and conversation. The estate's numerous bedrooms and bathrooms were intended to comfortably accommodate friends and family for extended stays, with each person able to enjoy their own private space when needed. 'The numerous visits from the gang earned the property the nickname 'Hotel Hallafornia,'' he said. The sellers decided to move to be closer to their oldest daughter and her husband, who used to live down the street in the same gated community, but moved to Nevada to realize their dream of running a Wagyu beef ranch. 'Our interest is not to sell fast but to sell right, to sell to the right family that with very little modification can make it perfect for themselves, as well,' Halla said. The home is getting attention after just two weeks on the market. Most showings so far have been for home seekers coming from the Sacramento area, Akers said, but extended marketing to the Bay Area, Los Angeles and beyond has just started. The sale price for Casa Paloma may end up topping all residential sales in the four-county region by more than $1.5 million. 'We are in a market of unicorn sales in the Sacramento region,' Sacramento appraiser and housing market expert Ryan Lundquist. 'In recent years, we've seen an explosion of luxury homes as prices have risen and an appetite for luxury has blatantly emerged.' About 74% of all MLS sales above $3 million in the past 25 years have taken place since 2020, Lundquist said. The first quarter of 2025 is the second-highest quarter ever for $3 million sales. 'While so much of the rest of the market has had much lower volume, luxury prices are doing so much better as these buyers are less sensitive to affordability and 7% (interest) rates at these prices,' he added. Granite Bay is the luxury front runner with 23% of all sales there above $3 million, but Loomis isn't far behind, at 21.6%. 'However, when looking at the past five years, Loomis has 42 sales above $3 million compared to Granite Bay at 30, so in recent times Loomis has actually overtaken Granite Bay as the top spot. It's just not the all-time leader,' Lundquist noted. Highest home sale ever There was an $8.25 million sale last year at 2000 Creekside Lane, which is the current all-time highest residential sale on record in the region. A property in Davis closed at $8.39 million a few months ago, Lundquist said, but it doesn't fit the criteria for a true single-family residential since it boasts 91 acres containing 80 acres of pistachio trees. Sadek, who also brokered the record-setting Creekside Lane property, said there are several reasons for the luxury market boom, including an Influx of out-of-area buyers. 'We are getting a lot of people from outside the area, from the Bay Area, Southern California, where this pricing is nothing over there,' he said. 'Our market is still ... undiscovered, and slowly people are discovering it.' Sadek also portrayed the Sacramento luxury market as an emerging, attractive destination for buyers seeking value, quality of life and unique properties, driven by out-of-area buyers and favorable local conditions. 'The cost of construction is super expensive right now,' he said. 'If somebody sees something that is going to check a lot of their boxes, they're gonna jump on it.' Halla came up with another reason a family might be interested in buying the home. 'It's also a perfect home for kids of all ages, including teenagers, who quite often prefer the property's toys and sports to a date at a drive-in theater,' he said.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
California estate with off-the-chart amenities listed. See its Mediterranean style
Inside Look is a Sacramento Bee series where we take readers behind the scenes at restaurants, new businesses, local landmarks and news stories. A Sacramento area residence owned by a retired high-tech executive has hit the market for $9.85 million — a price that would set the record for the highest publicly recorded residential sale ever in the Sacramento, California, region. Dubbed Casa Paloma, the private Mediterranean estate sits in a gated community on five acres in Loomis with panoramic Sierra foothills views. 'It's amazing. It's absolutely gorgeous,' said listing agent Nick Sadek of Nick Sadek Sotheby's International Realty. Located at 5686 Ridge Park Drive, the signature residence stretches across 13,350 square feet of under-roof living space with eight bedrooms and 12 bathrooms. The custom details that abound throughout the elegant home — soaring ceilings, exposed wood beams, hand-painted finishes, white oak flooring, gourmet kitchen with dual 10- and 13-foot islands — are just the beginning of what makes the property special. 'I really don't feel like there's much missed in the house as far as all the built-in cabinetry, all of the lighting and painting, all the custom finishes,' said co-listing agent Cristie Akers of Showcase Real Estate and Property Management Services. Brian Halla, retired Cisco Systems director and former chairman and CEO of National Semiconductor Corp., and his wife Carolyn purchased the property in 2016 for $3.67 million, according to public property records. The couple took on a major renovation and expansion of the home, which Halla often describes as 'perfect.' The home's prior owner was a hunter who built a diorama in the great room displaying dozens of taxidermic animals from trips to Africa. For Halla, who is not a hunter, the space presented a deal breaker — until Akers suggested a transformative remodel of the space. 'Cristie Akers, who is a superstar Realtor, had an idea to remodel the great room and diorama and create two additional ensuites and an office,' Halla said in an email. The mansion is designed for entertaining in a big way, from a jaw-dropping lanai to an entertainment suite. The couple converted an RV garage into a detached game lounge, which is equipped with a Trackman Golf Simulator, shuffleboard, foosball, air hockey and a wet bar. There used to be a slot machine, too, Halla said. 'The game barn was outfitted with every toy you can imagine,' Halla said. 'The slot machine had to be relocated. (It) was too large a temptation for kids and their visitors as it was set to pay real quarters frequently.' The covered living area, or lanai, is a popular spot for gatherings, featuring heating and cooling systems, a wood-burning fireplace, electronic, invisible, roll-down shades and breathtaking views to the west. Halla said the lanai has been the venue for hosting large events such as wedding receptions, a 50th anniversary celebration and Christmas parties for church staff. 'The huge lanai area is a favorite place for beverages and conversation as well as wonderful seating for large dinners, ' Halla said. 'The expanded view ... of the next two hills and valleys over makes for take-your-breath-away lightning shows in the rain and fireworks on the Fourth of July ... from Penryn, Newcastle and Auburn.' Down a set of stairs off the lanai, the property is accentuated by a large pool with waterfalls and fire elements and a spa that seats 14. To one side of the house there's a six-hole chip-and-put green and bocce ball and croquet courts under bistro lighting that are fitted with synthetic grass and a misting system 'usually good for a 20-point drop in temperature' on hot Sacramento Valley days, Halla said. Guests can watch the competition from an oversized elevated deck above the courts. 'The area has a bathroom for minimal long game delays,' Halla said. A basketball, tennis and pickleball court await on the opposite side of the house. Outside entertainment opportunities are further enhanced by the indoor/outdoor bar with pass-through window, a covered outdoor kitchen and fire pit. Akers estimated the entire upgrade may have added up to 5,000 square feet of living space. If the eight ensuite bedrooms inside aren't enough, there's a detached one-bedroom guest house, too. The property sits in the middle of a mature tree canopy. Full-time groundskeepers maintain the lush estate, which offers natural grass in the front yard. Practical amenities blend with luxury features, such as two sets of washer/dryers in a laundry room conveniently located next to the primary bedroom, solar-energy panels, a power generator, and a central vacuum system. All sound, lights, temperature controls and misters are controlled by remote. The location allows for easy access to freeways and nearby Folsom Lake. The property benefits from both city water and year-round irrigation from the Placer County Water Agency, which keeps the grounds lush. According to Akers, there's a six-year wait for year-round water access. Using the city water source for landscaping could cost a homeowner about $3,000 a month, while irrigation from the PCWA canal is only about $110 a month. There are two wood-burning and two gas fireplaces throughout the home, which is single level except for an upstairs gym. Other thoughtful elements include a crafts room, and the butler pantry and wine closet off the dining room. Halla said he envisioned the Loomis property as a comfortable retreat for a close-knit group of friends consisting of mostly five couples who come together to enjoy golf, swimming, games, food and conversation. The estate's numerous bedrooms and bathrooms were intended to comfortably accommodate friends and family for extended stays, with each person able to enjoy their own private space when needed. 'The numerous visits from the gang earned the property the nickname 'Hotel Hallafornia,'' he said. The sellers decided to move to be closer to their oldest daughter and her husband, who used to live down the street in the same gated community, but moved to Nevada to realize their dream of running a Wagyu beef ranch. 'Our interest is not to sell fast but to sell right, to sell to the right family that with very little modification can make it perfect for themselves, as well,' Halla said. The home is getting attention after just two weeks on the market. Most showings so far have been for home seekers coming from the Sacramento area, Akers said, but extended marketing to the Bay Area, Los Angeles and beyond has just started. The sale price for Casa Paloma may end up topping all residential sales in the four-county region by more than $1.5 million. 'We are in a market of unicorn sales in the Sacramento region,' Sacramento appraiser and housing market expert Ryan Lundquist. 'In recent years, we've seen an explosion of luxury homes as prices have risen and an appetite for luxury has blatantly emerged.' About 74% of all MLS sales above $3 million in the past 25 years have taken place since 2020, Lundquist said. The first quarter of 2025 is the second-highest quarter ever for $3 million sales. 'While so much of the rest of the market has had much lower volume, luxury prices are doing so much better as these buyers are less sensitive to affordability and 7% (interest) rates at these prices,' he added. Granite Bay is the luxury front runner with 23% of all sales there above $3 million, but Loomis isn't far behind, at 21.6%. 'However, when looking at the past five years, Loomis has 42 sales above $3 million compared to Granite Bay at 30, so in recent times Loomis has actually overtaken Granite Bay as the top spot. It's just not the all-time leader,' Lundquist noted. There was an $8.25 million sale last year at 2000 Creekside Lane, which is the current all-time highest residential sale on record in the region. A property in Davis closed at $8.39 million a few months ago, Lundquist said, but it doesn't fit the criteria for a true single-family residential since it boasts 91 acres containing 80 acres of pistachio trees. Sadek, who also brokered the record-setting Creekside Lane property, said there are several reasons for the luxury market boom, including an Influx of out-of-area buyers. 'We are getting a lot of people from outside the area, from the Bay Area, Southern California, where this pricing is nothing over there,' he said. 'Our market is still ... undiscovered, and slowly people are discovering it.' Sadek also portrayed the Sacramento luxury market as an emerging, attractive destination for buyers seeking value, quality of life and unique properties, driven by out-of-area buyers and favorable local conditions. 'The cost of construction is super expensive right now,' he said. 'If somebody sees something that is going to check a lot of their boxes, they're gonna jump on it.' Halla came up with another reason a family might be interested in buying the home. 'It's also a perfect home for kids of all ages, including teenagers, who quite often prefer the property's toys and sports to a date at a drive-in theater,' he said. See Sacramento home's beautiful indoor basketball court, one of many stunning features Buyer snaps up 'slice of heaven' in Sacramento home market. Are luxury prices on the rise?
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Yahoo
Garden center goes green(er)
The wind used to be a curse to staff at the Mustard Seed Landscaping and Garden Center just west of Chaska on Highway 212. Gusts regularly knocked over the containers of flowers, shrubs and trees, keeping employees busy setting everything upright again. But now, owner Mark Halla hopes to turn that meddlesome wind into a blessing by installing a wind turbine to power his business operations. 'This is a cool thing,' he said. 'It will power our whole facility.' Halla's been researching wind turbines for the last eight years. 'It was clear we needed to do something [about the wind],' he ex-plained. 'So we thought what can we do to make it better?' His answer was to try to harness the wind and turn it into energy for the garden center. The final parts for the 160-foot high tur-bine were delivered earlier this week. The windmill should be fully installed by the end of the week with a commissioning event set for 4:30-6:30 p.m. on July 14. Halla says his turbine should be more productive than the city of Chaska's infamous one just to the east. 'Ours will spin more often,' he said cheekily. 'And it will spin in winter.' The turbine's 160-foot steel tower is already in place behind the garden center. It sits on a 24-foot by 24-foot pad on top of two feet of concrete and 2,000 pounds of rebar buried seven feet deep. Its three piers are each three feet in diameter. The 25-foot blades will be among the items delivered and installed this week. When completed, the turbine will spin at wind speeds of just 5 miles per hour. Its capacity will be 40 kilowatts. That's a quarter of the capacity of Chaska's 160-kilowatt turbine, but Halla noted that sitting at 160 feet high, he'll catch more wind than Chaska's 80-foot high turbine does. Halla expects to generate 120,000 kilowatt hours per year. His business uses around 100,000 kilowatt hours so he'll have a chance to sell 20,000 kilowatt hours back to the power company at the same rate he pays to buy it. The turbine cost the business $200,000. Halla applied for and received both a federal grant and a rural electric grant that together covered 55 percent of the cost. He expects that the turbine will pay for itself within four years. 'The real joy is we're doing the right thing with renewable energy,' he said. 'We're setting the bar, leading the way.' This isn't the Mustard Seed's first green initiative. They previously installed a geothermal heating and cooling system. For their efforts, the company has been honored with a host of awards including the Minnesota Landscape Association's 2011 Friend of the Environment Award and the Minnesota Environmental Initiative's Partnership of the Year Award. Halla hopes that their actions will encourage other businesses to do the same. 'If you're going to do things, do them right,' he said.
