Ready to Kick Some Asphalt?

Those who have lived in and around Wallingford for any length of time have probably heard of Willy D’s Photo T’s & NASCAR Collectibles, a racing themed apparel and collectible shop located at 106 South Colony Road in Wallingford. Owners Bill and Barb Doucette are going into their 18th successful year with the store and have recently decided to take their love of NASCAR one step further: to the track!

Having already run a successful indoor go kart track for several years, Bill and Barb began research into the possibility of bringing outdoor performance karting to Wallingford. They were unable to locate any other tracks of that type in Connecticut, so they set out to make plans to open the first one in the state. They secured a location, designed an outdoor track that includes a road course as well as a traditional oval course, and submitted plans for the operation -  to be called CT Motorsport Park – to Wallingford’s Planning & Zoning Board for approval.

One of the criteria for approval was a sound test to ensure that the noise levels from the karts were within acceptable levels. This test was done in early June and passed with flying colors (see a short video of the test here). The P&Z Board then reviewed the proposal in its entirety and about a week or so ago, the proposal got the P&Z stamp of approval.

Situated on nearly 2.5 acres in Wallingford’s Silversmith Park, the track layout will accommodate 4 different courses, including a 1/4 mile oval and a 1/2 mile road course. Bill plans to operate with about 10-15 carts that can negotiate the track in about 50-55 seconds, covering about 4.5 miles in their 9-lap race. There are just some final details to work out, and then the track will be ready to open to the public. More info about CT Motorsport Park can be found at their website, or you can contact Bill Doucette by email at doitoutdoors@ctmotorsportpark.com, or by phone at (203) 269-6802.

Watch for more info about the opening, pre-opening specials and more, and get ready to kick some asphalt!

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Ready to Kick Some Asphalt?

Wallingford Market Update for June 2010

Here’s the way the housing market is shaping up in Wallingford as of June 30, 2010:

There are currently 210 single family homes for sale in Wallingford (virtually unchanged from last month):

• Low list price: $49,900
• High list price: $989,000
• Average list price: $329,385
• Median list price: $299,450
• Average Days on Market: 62 (up 11% from last month)
• Homes sold on average for 96.8% of list price (up slightly from last month)

There are 63 homes currently under contract, priced between $69,900 and $999,900. Based on the number of homes sold in June (31), it would take approximately 7 months to sell the current inventory, down 36% from May.

As for condominiums, there are currently 106 condos for sale (up 4  from last month):

• Low list price: $55,000
• High list price: $574,900
• Average list price: $223,670
• Median list price: $209,900
• Average Days on Market: 62 (down 3% from last month)
• Condos sold on average for 94.9% of list price (down 2.2% from last month)

There is currently 1 condo under contract, priced at $169,000, down 50% from May. Based on the number of condos  in June (20), it would take 5 months to sell the current inventory, unchanged from May.

The following chart shows annual home and condo sales in Wallingford for year-to-date 2010:

Single family home sales rose by 63% in June, from 19 to 31, but condo sales were up by just a single sale. This is encouraging news since the expiration of the tax credit was expected to deflate the sales numbers going into the summer months. Buyer activity is still strong, fueled in part by still low home prices and mortgage rates, but they seem to be more deliberate in their decision making, perhaps due to the state of the economy. July and August’s numbers will hopefully continue the upward trend of the past few months.

The following chart compares average days on market (ADOM), or how many days it took to sell a home or condo during the month, for the first half of the year:

Average days on market for the two categories both rose in June, continuing their trend of alternating up and down months. The trend may stop this month, as there are some indications that some owners are deciding to rent their homes instead of selling. And, with mortgage criteria becoming more strenuous, this trend might continue through the end of Summer.

For more market info or to inquire about our services, please call us at (203) 672-4499!

Data used was provided by the CTMLS (Connecticut Multiple Listing Service), and is considered reliable but not guaranteed.

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Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Wallingford Market Update for June 2010

Wallingford Sonic Drive-In Breaks Sales Records

This past Saturday, July 24th, the Wallingford Sonic Drive-In held a one day Special Grand Opening event from 6 AM to midnight. I figured this event would be well attended, even packed to the gills. It seems I was right.

Today, everyone who is signed up for Sonic’s email newsletter received the following email, and it was also posted on the Sonic of CT web site:

“We would like to thank all of our Sonic Drive-In Fans and Customers  who came out to support our ‘Special Grand Opening Event’ on Saturday the 24th.

Because of you, the Wallingford, CT store broke the record for the highest sales in one day for any Sonic Drive-in across the country!

The CT store beat the record that was previously held by Peabody, MA!

We would like you to know we appreciate all your support and business and are proud to have ‘The Sonic Experience’ a part of CT”

Thank you to all our Fans and supporters!!

Sincerely and with Great Appreciation,

The Mesite Family, The Sonic Management Team, Staff and The A-Team Members”

Well, I’d say that’s a pretty good indication of good attendance! It’s saying a lot that the Wallingford store broke a record for ALL Sonic restaurants throughout the United States. That’s over 3,500 locations and counting! But, there is scuttlebutt going around that the record won’t last long, as residents of both the upcoming Manchester and Milford locations are boasting that each will break Wallingford’s record. Will they or won’t they?

I’m betting NO. What do YOU think?

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Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Wallingford Sonic Drive-In Breaks Sales Record

Wallingford’s Sonic Drive-In Open For Business

Mickey D’s arches are sagging a bit. BK’s crown has lost a little of its luster. And Wendy’s? Well, they may be lost in Never Never Land.

After months of negotiation, debate, meetings, planning, studies and construction, Wallingford’s newest eatery opened today with style, fanfare and fantastic food. While I could not be there in person, I did follow some of the festivities on Facebook. After the ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 AM, the drive-in began serving customers in earnest at 10:30 AM. Sonic staff did well to take lots of pictures of the tidal wave of customers who descended on the place to get their first taste of the delectable menu of burgers, hot dogs, fries, tater tots, salads, desserts, and the over 169,000 possible combinations of drinks available.

Traffic Woes

As anticipated by Operations Manager Robert Mesite the traffic volume was considerable, apparently high enough to get people turned away at the entrance as early as 1:30 PM according to some disappointed patrons who posted comments on Sonic of CT’s Facebook page. One person said that they had driven about two hours to attend the grand opening, only to be told that no one else was being admitted. The traffic problem, though unfortunate, should not have come as a surprise to anyone who has been following Sonic’s progress. It was a main sticking point in the approval process, and has been emphasized repeatedly by Robert Mesite on the Sonic web site. Plus, anyone who’s been in Connecticut for any length of time remembers the Krispy Kreme opening on the Berlin Turnpike a few years back. Just remembering how that turned out should have been enough to prepare everyone for today’s heavy attendance, and it will probably continue for several more days at least.

Play Nice in the Sandbox

One last thing I’d like to address before I close is all the Sonic bashers/haters/trolls that have been clogging up Sonic’s Facebook page today. These people were making rude remarks about Sonic, the pictures that were being posted, the poor quality of the food, etc. All I have to say is this: if you disapprove of Sonic, their food or how they conduct business, there are ways to make your feelings known without showing the world how much of a butthead you are by acting like one online. Remember, what happens online, stays online…forever. Sonic is proud of what they’ve accomplished, and well they should be. In a time of rising unemployment and dismal economic forecasts, Sonic has brought 130 new jobs to Wallingford and who knows how much revenue will be generated. Bottom line is, Sonic will be nothing but a boon to the Wallingford economy for years to come.

The last official word I heard is that for the first two weeks they’re open, the hours of operation will be 10 AM to 10 PM; beginning August 1st, the hours will change to 6 AM to 11 PM. These hours may change, and of course if they do I’ll post something here as I receive it. In case you don’t know, the new Sonic is located at 1033 North Colony Road on the site of the former Yankee Silversmith Inn. If you haven’t yet done so, you can sign up to be a TIFOS (The Incredible Friends of Sonic) on the Sonic web site, and there are also four videos by Robert Mesite further explaining the grand opening, the honeymoon period, traffic issues and other important information.

WELCOME TO WALLINGFORD, SONIC!!

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Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Wallingford’s Sonic Drive-in Open For Business

The Connecticut Wine Trail: First Stop

We recently posted about the Passport to Connecticut Farm Wineries program sponsored by the Connecticut Farm Wine Development Council. We discovered this great program, which offers a drawing to win a 13 day trip to Spain for visiting 16 wineries, by visiting our local winery, Gouveia Vineyards.

We happen to love wine, and while, like most wine drinkers, we’re familiar with names like Beringer, Kendall-Jackson, and Robert Mondavi, we thought it would be nice for our local readers (and not so local readers, too!) to get acquainted with the wineries and vineyards right here in our own backyard. The first stop on the Connecticut Wine Trail will be, appropriately enough, Gouveia Vineyards.

Established in 1999 and opened to the public in 2004, Gouveia Vineyards is located at 1339 Whirlwind Hill Road in Wallingford on 140 of the prettiest acres you’ll ever see. On a clear, sunny day, the relaxing outdoor seating gives you a 360 degree view of three counties, over 15 acres of vines carrying 13 varieties of grapes and, of course the inviting winery itself. The interior of the winery is graced by an imposing double sided stone fireplace, and the front portion was built using the post and beam method, meaning there is not a single nail used in its construction. Not one.

Their award winning wines range from the spice-tinged crispness of the Whirlwind Rose, to the velvety smoothness of their Epiphany Reserve dessert wine. The day of our visit, we partook of a bottle of their fine Stone House White, a perfect blend of Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc and Vignoles grapes expertly aged in stainless steel and oak. Sipped outside under the setting sun, it was the perfect end to the day.

Gouveia Vineyards is open year round, including most holidays. Their operating hours are Fridays and Saturdays, 11am – 8pm and Sundays from 11am – 6pm. Owner Joe Gouveia might even be prevailed upon to give you a tour of the wine cellar!

Next stop on the Trail: Bishop’s Orchards Winery & Farm Market

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Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

The Connecticut Wine Trail: First Stop

Wallingford Market Update for May 2010

Here’s the way the housing market is shaping up in Wallingford as of May 31, 2010:

There are currently 211 single family homes for sale in Wallingford (up 7% from last month):

• Low list price: $59,900
• High list price: $895,000
• Average list price: $333,926
• Median list price: $309,900
• Average Days on Market: 56 (down 27% from last month)
• Homes sold on average for 96.6% of list price (up 2% from last month)

There are 63 homes currently under contract, priced between $130,000 and $999,900. Based on the number of homes sold in May (19), it would take approximately 11 months to sell the current inventory, up 83% from April.

As for condominiums, there are currently 102 condos for sale (down 1 from last month):

• Low list price: $55,000
• High list price: $574,900
• Average list price: $238,818
• Median list price: $214,900
• Average Days on Market: 64 (down 27% from last month)
• Condos sold on average for 97.1% of list price (up 1.5% from last month)

There are currently 2 condos under contract, priced between $169,000 and $189,900, down 60% from April. Based on the number of condos sold in May (19), it would take 5 months to sell the current inventory, down 44% from April.

The following chart shows annual home and condo sales in Wallingford for year-to-date 2010:

Single family home sales fell by 44% in May, from 34 to 19. The expiration of the First Time Home Buyer’s Tax Credit seems to have taken the wind out of the sails of the market somewhat, even though it was extended for qualified military personnel. There was good news, however, as homes sold quicker, for a higher price and closer to their listing price than last month, the first month this year where all three criteria all improved together. The best news might possibly be that, of the 211 homes for sale, only 9 of them are short sales, according to MLS statistics. The tax credit bill that was introduced by Ron Paul appears to have been voted down by a vote of 57 to 41, with 60 votes needed to pass, but there is still a chance that it could be brought to the table again after the July 4th holiday. It remains unclear if the required 60 votes can be reached, however, as 1 Democrat and 3 moderate Republicans who usually vote with Democrats all voted NO on this bill. In addition, there remains the question as to the wisdom of extending the tax credit once again. On the one hand, it will help those whose sales met the requirements for the credit but have been held up by the banks; on the other hand, it will add to the already huge deficit created in part by the original credit and added to by the extensions already passed.  This scenario will be watched intently over the next few weeks.

The following chart compares average days on market (ADOM), or how many days it took to sell a home or condo during the month, for the first four months of the year:

Average days on market for the two categories both dropped significantly in May, surely an encouraging sign. It will be interesting to see if this is maintained going into the post-tax credit period. There is some signs that it might, as the number of short sales seems to be remaining low, but foreclosures are still an unknown quantity.

For more market info or to inquire about our services, please call us at (203) 672-4499!

Data used was provided by the CTMLS (Connecticut Multiple Listing Service), and is considered reliable but not guaranteed.

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Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Wallingford Market Update May 2010

I just wanted to post a little update regarding the progress of the Wallingford Sonic Drive-In construction. Back on May 17th I attended the ground breaking ceremony for the new restaurant, and at that time the site looked like this:

Lots of bare ground and nothing really going on. So, yesterday I drove by and took a few shots of what’s been done so far:

I know, still not much to look at, but it shows some progress being made in erecting the building and supports for the canopy. As far as we have heard, Sonic of CT is still shooting for a grand opening during the 4th of July weekend, but I have a gut feeling that deadline won’t be met, judging by the level of completion and that the 4th of July is only 12 days away, but I guess we’ll see!

Sonic recently had a couple of job fairs to interview for managerial, carhop, and crew positions on June 15th and 17th at the Villa Capri Restaurant, and comments left on their Facebook page indicated they had received well over 1200 applications for what are probably well under 100 positions! A few people commented that they had been hired, so I guess they weren’t messing around sifting through those applications!

We’ll post again when more information about the opening is made public. See you guys soon for a Cherry Limeade!

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Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Update on Construction of Wallingford Sonic

Wallingford Market Update for April 2010

Here’s the way the housing market is shaping up in Wallingford as of April 30, 2010:

There are currently 198 single family homes for sale in Wallingford (up 17% from March):

• Low list price: $59,900
• High list price: $895,000
• Average list price: $330,615
• Median list price: $299,900
• Average Days on Market: 71 (down 26% from March)
• Homes sold on average for 94.9% of list price (down 3% from March)

There are 66 homes currently under contract, priced between $74,900 and $999,900. Based on the number of homes sold in April (34), it would take approximately 6 months to sell the current inventory, down 25% from March.

As for condominiums, there are currently 103 condos for sale (up 5 from March):

• Low list price: $55,000
• High list price: $569,900
• Average list price: $241,957
• Median list price: $211,500
• Average Days on Market: 88 (up 63% from March)
• Condos sold on average for 95.7% of list price (down less than 1% from March)

There are currently 5 condos under contract, priced between $124,600 and $308,900, unchanged from March. Based on the number of condos sold in April (12), it would take 9 months to sell the current inventory, down 44% from March.

The following chart shows annual home and condo sales in Wallingford for year-to-date 2010:

Single family home sales almost doubled in April, from 20 to 34.  This was not a huge surprise considering that the First Time Homebuyer’s Tax Credit expired at the end of April, and many people were, rightly or wrongly, trying to get a home under deposit before the credit expired. The inventory levels have continued to rise, and now that the tax credit has expired many people are wondering if they will go even higher without that extra incentive to buy. But all is not lost for people who missed the tax credit: Congressman Ron Paul recently introduced legislation to PERMANENTLY extend the tax credit, and expand it to include people who have lost there homes due to natural disasters. Considering the state of the U.S. debt we can’t see this bill being passed, but the provision for aiding victims of natural disaster may garner a strong following. Plus, Congress is looking to extend the bill for national unemployment benefits without regard for the national debt, so don’t count Rep. Paul out just yet.

The following chart compares average days on market (ADOM), or how many days it took to sell a home or condo during the month, for the first four months of the year:

Average days on market for the two categories flip-flopped this month, with condos now selling slower than single family homes. Condo sell time shot up 63% in April, while single family homes dropped by 26% to its lowest level of the year. Some of that most likely be attributed to the rush for the tax credit, but condos have been in far less demand than SFH all year, despite lower selling prices. The next few months will be interesting to watch to see if this trend continues or if more buyers opt for condo living now that the tax credit is gone.

For more market info or to inquire about our services, please call us at (203) 672-4499!

Data used was provided by the CTMLS (Connecticut Multiple Listing Service), and is considered reliable but not guaranteed.

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Wallingford Market Update April 2010

This beautiful home in the desirable Fieldstone Farm complex offers an amazing open floor plan and quality features throughout, including granite counters, cathedral ceilings, crown molding, 1st floor MBR with 2 walk-in closets and full bath with jacuzzi tub. Finished basement with family/rec room and separate office.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call Pat at (203) 672-4499 today!

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Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

New Listing: 6 Broadmeadow Rd., Wallingford CT $524,900

Sonic of CT Breaks Ground for New Wallingford Drive-In

Well, whatever speculation there might have been about the coming of Sonic to Wallingford is officially over. At 3PM Monday afternoon, dignitaries from Sonic, the Mesite family and local government gathered together for a ground breaking ceremony to herald the coming of the long-awaited eatery.

Robert Mesite, his brother Ralph, sister Gina and mother Rosalie were all on hand, as well as his wife and children, several Sonic officials, Wallingford Mayor William Dickinson, Senator Len Fasano and Representative Mary Fritz. Gina made some opening remarks, followed by Robert and Ralph. Then the mike was turned over to the politicos who offered congratulations and well wishes.

The family then took the ceremonial spades and dug into the pile of earth in front of them, tossing it on the pile and  marking the construction site officially open as cameras from the major news channels recorded the event. As you all know, this is the first Sonic drive-in for the state, but it won’t be the last. Robert Mesite stated that there are plans to open an additional seven restaurants in Connecticut, with the next one scheduled for Manchester. He said that Sonic moves “at the speed of sound”, and plans to prove it: the Wallingford drive-in is scheduled to open during the first week of July, a scant seven weeks away.

We know we can’t wait for it to open, and there are scores more who feel the same way. We took some pictures of the ceremony, some of which are included in this post. If you’d like to see the entire set of photos, please head over to my Facebook page. We also took some video, which I have included here. I shot it with my Flip camera, so try to look past the slight shakiness!

All in all, it was a fitting launch to Wallingford’s chapter of the Sonic experience, and I hope to see you all at the Grand Opening in July! Keep checking back here regularly, as I’ll be posting more info regarding the opening as it becomes available.

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Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Sonic of CT Breaks Ground for New Wallingford Drive-In