News 02/22/18 Evening

The Ukiah City Council is leaning toward keeping the Orr Street Bridge traffic-free. While they did not vote about it at their meeting this week, they directed city staff to look into how the bridge could be made structurally sound enough to support vehicles in emergencies or special circumstances. The bridge closed nine years ago when the Orchard Avenue Bridge came into use. The Daily Journal reports since then residents of the Wagenseller Neighborhood say their quality of life has improved significantly with less noise, less pollution, and fewer disruptions and some said they were surprised the Council was even considering reopening it to traffic. While residents and community groups agreed the deteriorating bridge has become attractive for transients to live under, they would like to see it improved for pedestrian and bicycle use.

Real estate was a bit slower in Lake County in January. The Lake County Association of Realtors reports the number of single family residential sales in January was down 32 percent as compared to December with 77 sales were reported in December and 52 in January. Prices were up however, with a median price of $271,450 in January over the $269,000 in December. And from last year, home prices are up over 26%. Statewide, January’s median home price was $527,800, down 4 percent from December but up 7.3 percent from last January.