Celebration of Freedom Planned at Town of Delavan

In a remarkable cooperative effort, the Town of Delavan and City of Delavan are sponsoring a five day Celebration of Freedom June 13-17.

The Celebration’s main feature is an indoor American Veterans Traveling Tribute which includes a scaled replica of the Vietnam Veteran’s Wall.  The Wall, along with tributes to each war that the United States has been involved in, will be exhibited at the Delavan Community Park, located at the intersection of Hwy 50 and South Shore Drive on beautiful Delavan Lake.

Along with the Tribute, which if free of charge, will be a host of other activities in both the town and the city.  A partial list of events include:

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

4pm – Honor Escort Parade from Delavan-Darien High School to Community Park

Thursday, June 14, 2012

3-7pm – Fresh Market in Downtown Delavan

6pm – Grand Opening Ceremony at Community Park

Friday, June 15, 2012

10am-5pm – Flea Market, Craft Fair in Downtown Delavan

3:30 pm – Military re-enactors at Phoenix Park

7pm – Live music at Phoenix Park Bandshell

Saturday, June 16, 2012

10am – Flag Day Ceremony at Community Park

4pm – Echo the Singing Bird show at Community Park

3pm – Live music at Phoenix Park Bankdshell

6pm – Stars and Stripes Dance featuring the Jack Farina Band at Lake Lawn Lodge

Sunday, June 17, 2012

10am – Vietnam Remembrance Presentation at Community Park

Noon – Wall touching ceremony at Community Park

1pm – Army Band performance at Community Park

The free exhibit will be located inside the Community Park Building and the hours will be:

June 14: Noon – 9pm

June 15: 9am – 9pm

June 16: 9am – 9pm

June 17: 9am – 3pm

Delavan Lake Rights at Reduced Prices

     Three homes with Delavan Lake rights took action to reduce their listing prices last week.  Each home represents a unique area of the lake with a variety of access that come along with the property.
     The first is located in historic Assembly Park on the north shore of Delavan Lake.  Assembly Park offers a private beach, boat launch, large park area and social activities.  While residents go on a waiting list for boat slips they can sometimes rent a slip space.  The Assembly Park property is at 1609 Polk Ave., features three bedrooms, two baths and has been reduced from $179,000 to $169,000.

Polk Avenue in Assembly Park

     The second property is located in the Highlands Subdivision at the west end of Delavan Lake.  The Highlands also offer a large private beach, boat launch, volley ball courts, park with pavilion and a waiting list for boat slips.  The Highlands property is located at 4214 Poplar Drive., and features three bedrooms, two baths, a screened in patio and large 2.5 car garage.  The home has been reduced from $181,900 to $176,900.

Newly remodeled Poplar Drive in Delavan Highlands

     The final offering is located near the Delavan Lake Yacht Club off of the North Shore.  This cute two-bedroom home belongs a group of houses that share a lakefront park adjacent to the Yacht Club.  While there is not a boat slip, the proximity to the Yacht Club offers a beach, launch and pier option once membership has been established.  The home is located at 2241 Fleming Drive and has been reduced from $189,000 to $179,000.

Fully furnished two-bedroom on Fleming Drive

Delavan Lake 2012 Fireworks Schedule

     The Town of Delavan has announced the preliminary schedule of events for Independence Day Celebrations.  The events will take place on the Saturday before July 4, which falls on June 30 for 2012.  All events will take place a the Town of Delavan Community Park which is located at the corner of South Shore Drive and Hwy 50 on beautiful Delavan Lake.

     Events for June 30, 2012 include:

9 am – 10 am Boat and Horseshoe Registration (coffee and donuts will be on sale)

10:00 am Horseshoe tournament starts

10:30 am cardboard boat races start

11am-10:45pm Food and beverage sales

12:00 Bingo card sales begin

12:00 outdoor children’s activities start (slide, bounce house, games)

1:00-4:00 Bingo

4:00-6:00 Children’s activities, magician, face painter, balloon maker

(6:00-7:00 band stage setup)

7:00-10:45 music and dancing

9:30-10:00 Fireworks (music break)

Fireworks can be seen by boat on Delavan Lake or on shore at Community Park.

Delavan Home Sales Increase 19 Percent Over Last Year

     Delavan single family homes sales are up 19 percent this year according to the Multiple Listing Service.  Sales for 2011 through the first week of April totaled $4,039,000 while sales for 2012 total $4,802,000.
     Unit sales are also higher. There were only 23 sales in 2011 by this time of the year while for 2012 we have a total of 35 sales.  As a result, the average sale price has fallen from $176,000 in 2012 to $137,000 in 2011.
     These sales include both the city and the town of Delavan. 

Delavan Lake First Quarter 2012 Summary

Delavan Lake property activity is up slightly in the first quarter of 2012 compared to 2011.  While showings have increased, sales have been slow to materialize and foreclosures have seen most of the action.

HOME SALES
     For the first quarter, there were two lakefront properties sold and three lake access property sold.  Last year, there were two lakefronts sold in the first quarter and no lake access sold.  The sales ranged from a $550,199 foreclosure on the South Shore to a $41,000 foreclosed cottage on South Shore Drive.   Six properties have accepted offers compared to 12 that had accepted offers this time last year.

CONDO SALES
     There have been three condo sales with lake rights in the first quarter.  This compares to only one last year.  The sales ranged from a Lake Lawn Condo/Hotel foreclosure at $30,000 to a three bedroom, three bath Geneva Landings Garden unit which sold for $224,200.  Three condos with lake access currently have accepted offers.

CURRENTLY LISTED HOMES
     There are 97 single family homes on the market with lakefront or lake access on Delavan Lake.  This is up from 94 last year.  The lake access properties start at $44,500 for a two-bedroom cottage and increase to $499,000 for a three bedroom home with no lake views and a boat slip.  Lakefront homes start at $319,000 for a two-bedroom home on Delavan Inlet and progress to $2,199,900 for a six-bedroom home with 132 feet of frontage on North Shore Drive.  The latter has been on the market since 2008 when it was listed for $2,700,000.

CURRENTLY LISTED CONDOS
     There are 46 condo units for sale, which is down from 56 last year.  The properties range from a $31,900 one-bedroom condo/hotel to $334,900 for a three-bedroom unit with a pier, boat lift and boat launch.

BEST VALUE LAKE ACCESS
     The best value for a lake access property on Delavan is located at 4214 Poplar Street.  Listed at
$181,500, this new construction three-bedroom home has a boat launch, park, and beach area along with 2-car garage and screened in patio.

New construction with stone fireplace.

Association beach with great lake views.

BEST VALUE LAKEFRONT
     The best value for a Delavan lakefront is 2229 South Shore Drive.  This five bedroom, four bath home has 75 feet of lakefront, excellent views, and a detached three car garage.  It is currently listed for $849,000 compared to the assessed value of $1,128,000.

Open deck and screened in deck to enjoy the summer.

Lake views from 75 feet of private South Shore frontage.

Delavan Lake Water Quality Monitoring Resumes

     The water quality monitoring program instituted in1983 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been reinstated by the Town of Delavan.  In February, the Town approved a proposal from the USGS to restart the program after a two year hiatus.   On  Thursday, March 15, USGS employee, Ben Siebers, undertook the initial sampling called for in the new agreement.

     The monitoring program calls for testing for some 25 physical, chemical, and biological parameters.  Samples will be taken from three Lake locations.  These locations will be identified by GIS technology and use advanced sampling and testing equipment.  The samples will be collected from three different depths at each site using rigorous USGS testing protocols.

     The overall in-lake water quality monitoring program was designed by USGS Chief Hydrologist Dale Robertson with input from Mr. Peter Berrini of HDR Inc.  HDR is the firm retained by the Town of Delavan to provide advice and guidance on Lake questions and was also instrumental in the recent Inlet dredging project.  Both Mr. Berrini and Mr. Robertson worked in conjuction with the Town's Lake Committee to create a cost effective and reliable program.

     The testing will be conducted monthly from March to November.  Samples will analyzed by the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene. The results will be analyzed in such a way so that they will mirror those which the USGS has collected over the last 20 years and will provide "diagnostic"  information on long-term changes to the Lake's ecology.   

     Accurate diagnostic information is predicated on the thoughtful, systematic, long-term data which, the Town of Delavan Lake Committee is convinced the USGS's monitoring  program will produce. Detailing and understanding these changes will guide the Lake Committee and the Town's future efforts to take actions which promise to keep Delavan Lake clean and healthy.

     The effort will cost a total of $20,000 annually.  The Town will provide $15,000 and the USGS will contribute to that investment with an additional $5,000.  The results will be posted, as the information becomes available, at the USGS site  http://wi.water.usgs.gov/lakes/9kb22/index.html

Affordable Delavan Lake Get Away

     Here is the opportunity to own a lakefront cottage with spectacular views and a boat slip right out the front door.  Located in the Viewcrest Subdivision at Delavan Lake's northwest end, this carefree home offers an open concept living area with wood floors in the kitchen and dining area, one full bath, and a large great room/sleeping area. 

     Listed as "open concept", we really mean "open".  It is more of a studio apartment feel with the bedroom morphed into part of the living room.  The home does need a little sprucing up, although it has newer windows and the wood floors are in good condition.
     But that's not the point.  You get great lake views, a private boat slip, two-car garage and a private back patio all for less than $180,000.
     Viewcrest is a well run association and offers a boat launch, swim pier and beach area for residents as well.
    For a couple or single individual looking for that lakefront deal.   It just arrived.