At a glance
Forest City Ratner Cos. is one of New York?s most successful ? and controversial ? developers, with a string of high-profile residential and commercial projects. Among them:
Atlantic Yards: The $4.9 billion, 22-acre residential and retail development in downtown Brooklyn is expected to be completed in September. It includes the Barclays Center, which will be the new home of the New Jersey Nets, 6 million square feet of residential space, 247,000 square feet of retail space and 336,000 square feet of office space.
Ridge Hill: An $842 million retail and outdoor shopping center in Yonkers. The 81-acre center so far has lured residents and 17 retail tenants and, when fully built, is expected to add 3,900 jobs and generate $22.6 million in sales-tax revenue for the city and Westchester County.
Echo Bay: A proposed development in New Rochelle that would include 250 residential units, retail space, parks and waterfront access.
MetroTech Center: A $1 billion, 3.7-million-square-foot office and academic complex in downtown Brooklyn. Buildings on the campus house the New York Fire Department?s headquarters and corporate offices for several financial companies.
New York by Gehry: Also known as Beekman Tower, the $680 million, 76-story high-rise development in lower Manhattan houses 903 apartments, a 100,000-square foot public school and other features.

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Forest City known for tough political skills around region

HARFORD, Pa. — For more than a decade, Bronson Pinchot has spent much of his downtime in the picture-book Pennsylvania hamlet where he found a dream home far from the stressful clamor of New York or L.A.

Pinchot likely remains best known as the endearingly naive, quasi-Mediterranean immigrant Balki Bartokomous from the TV sitcom "Perfect Strangers."

But unlike Balki, Pinchot is by his own admission "fiercely private" and an "introvert that does a pretty convincing performance as an extrovert."

Still, he has decided to open his doors to America via "The Bronson Pinchot Project," which premiered Feb. 11 on the DIY Network. In all, eight episodes were shot over 13 weeks in Harford, a village founded in 1790 and nestled in the Endless Mountains of Susquehanna County near the New York state line.

Pinchot's filmography includes 1980s hits like "Risky Business" and "Beverly Hills Cop." Since "Perfect Strangers" ended in 1993 after eight seasons, the actor has performed on and Off-Broadway, appeared in touring theatrical productions and done voice-overs and audiobooks.

His new show, though, is different.

First, the designs are his own. "I get a kick out of it because I sit there with a sketchbook and say, 'This is what it should look like when it's done' and in the end it either looks like that or it's better," he said.

"My theater training helps; in theater, it doesn't matter where you're at with your performance; opening night is opening night."

Home base is Pinchot's circa 1840 mansion in the center of Harford, a town of about 1,300 people. It was the home of state Sen. Edward Jones in the early 1900s and had more recently served as office space. Pinchot bought the place in 2000.

"I wanted a Greek Revival house within five driving hours of New York City," Pinchot said. When he first walked in, he knew he would buy it.

When he arrived, the scene couldn't have been better staged by a Hollywood set designer: The house smelled of cinnamon toast, the air outside smelled of fresh manure, a woman pushing a baby carriage paused to admire a neighbor's fuchsia roses across the street.

"I was already sold, but that was like God was hitting me over the head with a sledgehammer," he said. "OK, I get it, I get it!"

He now owns six historic properties in Harford, including what was a burned-out home also from around 1840 and a sweet, blue-shingled building that houses the town's post office. Eventually, he hopes many of the properties will be places for visiting friends to stay.

The first season's architectural stars are his Ionic-columned mansion and Decker House, a smaller home rehabbed with salvaged wood from demolished old buildings, windows from an abandoned farmhouse and floors from a property formerly part of late heiress Doris Duke's estate.

Not only is "The Bronson Pinchot Project" a show about historic restoration, it's a love letter to his adopted hometown.

"Harford is to be seen through my lens, which is that it's heaven on Earth," he said. "None of this big fish in a little pond. No. We're not doing 'Green Acres.' "

Pinchot, 52, an antiques collector and enthusiast of classical art and architecture since childhood, is a hands-on renovator who employs local carpenters and craftspeople. Many are slated to appear in the show.

Years of trial and error have culminated into the current style viewers will see taking shape — a blend of English regency and American high country along with 19th-century plaster casts of ancient Greek sculpture and architectural flourishes. The goal is for rooms to look like they've taken shape over many decades.

Pinchot's earliest home rehab forays involved getting all the period details and furniture just right. But it felt wrong.

"I looked around and thought, 'Well, now all it's missing is a docent and a leaflet that says where the cafe is,' " he said. "I made a little museum, and that's not what I want."

Things you won't see in Bronson world: kitchen appliances. Refrigerators — which Pinchot calls "unacceptably, unforgivably ugly" — ovens, dishwashers and microwaves are cleverly concealed behind salvaged wainscoting, cupboards and cabinets mounted clandestinely on hinges, like a bookcase hiding a castle's secret passageway.

All of his properties will get the full "Bronsonian" treatment, shaped both by the availability of salvage materials and Pinchot's own improvisational approach.

"I hope we can do this for 10 seasons!" he said. "We could do an episode on every room."

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Picture 'perfect': Bronson Pinchot back on TV — restoring old homes

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Integrated Builders Inc - Video

The No. 7 men opened up an impressive lead while the women hold in a slim margin heading into the final day in Seattle.

Feb. 24, 2012

Complete Results

SEATTLE, Wash. – The Arizona State University men’s and women’s track and field teams established their presence early at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Championships as both teams lead the event after one day of competition at the Dempsey Indoor Center in Seattle.

The No. 7 men used a balanced effort across all event groups to take a commanding lead after day one with 67.50 points through six events – nearly 40 points more than second-place UCLA’s 29 points. 

The Arizona State women hold a slim lead over second-place Arizona after posting 39 points on the first day. Arizona scored 38 points and Stanford is directly behind them in third with 36 points. 

The team’s combined for three conference titles and numbers of point-scoring finishes. 

The MPSF Championships are, in essence, the indoor version of the track and field conference championships.  The MPSF is comprised mainly of teams from the Pac-12 Conference with additions from the Big West and West Coast Conference. 

Complete recaps of both the men’s and women’s section of the events are below. 

MEN’S RECAP

The Arizona State men entered as the favorites to win the indoor MPSF title and showed they were up to the task on the first day.  The men scored 67.50 points on the first day of competition.  Putting that into perspective, ASU only scored 72.50 points total at the 2011 event. 

The team was paced by a dominating effort in the 200-meter dash that saw the Sun Devils post a 1-2-3-4 sweep of the event for a cumulative 29 points. 

Rashad Ross continued his tear through the indoor season in the event after joining the track team at the beginning of the semester following a fall semester with the football team.  Ross earned his first conference title, posting a new career best time of 21.16.

 

 

Teammate Chris Burrows was hot on his tail in 21.19 – also a career best - and the two now rank fourth and fifth, respectively, on ASU’s all-time list.  Senior Daniel Auberry - who hadn’t ran a 200-meter dash all season - was third in 21.36, which was also an indoor career best and the ninth-best indoor time in school history.

Sophomore Ryan Milus rounded out the sweep in the 200-meter dash while also posting the top time in the 60-meter dash preliminary round in 6.61.  Auberry posted the second fastest time in the prelims in 6.68 while Ross also made it into tomorrow’s final with the eighth and final qualifying bid in a time of 6.86 seconds.

Senior transfer Brian Pierre may have been the biggest surprise of the day, winning the MPSF title at 5,000 meters as he obliterated his previous indoor best in the event with a time of 13:50.37 to edge BYU’s Alden Bahr for the victory.

The men’s distance medley relay posted the fourth-best time in school history as the combination of Darius Terry, Will Henry, Mason McHenry and Nick Happe finished third overall in 9:33.48 – a mark that should rank in the top 10 nationally at the conclusion of the weekend.

In the men’s long jump, senior Chris Benard posted a new career best leap of 7.64 (25-00.75) to take runner-up honors and move to No. 7 on ASU’s all-time indoor list.  Teammate Brian McBride also scored a new indoor best of 7.21m (23-08.00).  Both athletes will have more chances to score points tomorrow with Benard the favorite in the triple jump and McBride the top seed in the high jump.

Jordan Clarke participated in the weight throw for the first time this season and posted a third-place finish with a throw of 19.04m (62-05.75) for a new career best. 

Derick Hinch and Jeremy Marcinko rounded out the day one scoring for the Sun Devils, finishing fifth and seventh, respectively, in the pole vault competition.  

WOMEN’S RECAP

Junior Keia Pinnick won her first career conference title as she scored 3,975 point to hold off Arizona’s Liana Fuentes and for the women’s pentathlon crown. 

Pinnick used a solid final two events to jump from third to first to take her first championship.  The junior posted the top long jump of the day with a leap of 5.89, (19-04.00) before smoking the field in the 800-meter run in a time of 2:19.45 to seal the pentathlon victory. 

Senior Kayla Sanchez had a solid day of competition, setting a new season’s best in the 200-meter dash in 23.99.  Sanchez would also match her season’s best in the 60-meter dash with the fourth-fastest time of the preliminary rounds in 7.51 to advance to tomorrow’s final.  Teammate Asiah Gooden had the sixth-best time in 7.55 and will also advance to tomorrow’s final. 

Senior Lindsay Prescott picked up some addition points in the 5000-meter run, clocking a new career best – both indoors and outdoors – of 16:46.78 to finish seventh overall and move to ninth in ASU’s indoor history in the event. 

Christabel Nettey continued her strong season in the long jump, setting another season’s best in a runner-up finish in Friday’s event with a leap of 6.27m (20-07.00).  Constance Ezugha had the redemption story of the day, bouncing back from a leg injury sustained last year that required surgery to finish eighth on Friday and earn All-MPSF honors.

In the women’s weight throw, seniors Cj Navarro and Ashley Lampley finished fifth and sixth, respectively, to add seven points to ASU’s total.

Events are scheduled to results at 10:30 a.m. PST tomorrow as both the men and women will look to hold on to their leads and earn MPSF crowns.

 

ASU POINT SCORERS – Day One

Men:

200 meters

Rashad Ross, 21.16, First

Chris Burrows, 21.19, Second

Daniel Auberry, 21.36, Third

Ryan Milus, 21.41, Fourth

5,000 meters

Brian Pierre, 13:50.37, First 

Pole Vault

Derick Hunch, 5.08m, Fifth

Jeremy Marcinko, J5.08m, Seventh

Long Jump

Chris Benard, 7.64m, Second

Bryan McBride, 7.21m, Sixth 

Weight Throw

Jordan Clarke, 19.04m, Sixth

 

Women:

200 meters

Kayla Sanchez, 23.99, Second

Alycia Herring, 24.57, Eighth 

5,000 meters

Lindsay Prescott, 16:46.78, Seventh

Long Jump

Christabel Nettey, 7.27m, Second

Constance Ezugha, 5.96m, Eighth

Weight Throw

Cj Navarro, 17.89m, Fifth

Ashley Lampley, 17.85m, Sixth 

Pentathlon

Keia Pinnick, 3,975, First

More:
Track. ASU Track & Field Teams Lead After Day One at MPSF Championships

Jim Abraham is building a new house in Springfield and Joe and Helen Swaar want to make some improvements to their home in Mason City.

All three were at the Springfield Area Home Builders Association’s 2012 Home Expo Friday to get ideas for their upcoming projects. The Swaars checked out window replacement companies, and Abraham was looking for suggestions for both for inside and outside.

“We’re looking for some landscaping ideas, paint and closet organizing systems. We’ve gotten some great ideas,” Abraham said.

This year’s expo runs through Sunday at the Prairie Capital Convention Center. There are 140 exhibitors that specialize in everything from banking, building, and landscaping to flooring, garages and cabinetry.

Misty Buscher, director of the expo, said the show was set up for people just like Abraham and the Swaars.

“It’s very low pressure. People can come out and browse what’s new in the remodeling and building industry and not feel like they are being pressured to buy anything,” Buscher said.

It’s not uncommon for people building a new house to bring their plans to the show and talk to exhibitors, she said.

“On the remodeling side, we see people come out, and then come back the next day with measurements of their kitchen or bathroom,” Buscher said.

Joe and Helen Swaar said the window project has a sentimental side.

They lived in the same house outside Mason City for 47 years while Joe farmed. The house had a bow window that they enjoyed, but when they moved into Mason City eight years ago, their new house didn’t have such a window.

Bow windows protrude outward from the house. Inside, there often is a bench in the window.

“We decided that the thing to do was come down here to the home show and see if we can take the windows out and put a new one in. We’ve gotten several good ideas,” Joe said.

About 6,000 people attended last year’s home show.

Buscher a loan officer at Security Bank,  said she has noticed an increase in the last two months in the number of people coming in to get loans for new construction.

“Interest rates are low, and people are starting to feel comfortable spending money again. Everybody was holding back for awhile,” Buscher said.

***

Want to go?

What: Springfield Area Home Builders Association’s 2012 Home Expo

Where: Prairie Capital Convention Center

When: Today, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission: $6; children 12 and under enter free. Today, $1 off admission for firefighters, police officers, EMTs and military personnel. On Sunday, $1 off admission for people 65 and older.

People can also get $1 off admission each day by bringing canned goods to the expo. The items will will be donated to the St. Martin de Porres Center.

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Builders expo offers ideas to homeowners

Duke asks to modify energy-saving incentives

Duke Energy this week asked for state approval to launch or tweak three energy-saving programs for residential customers.

The changes, which need approval by the N.C. Utilities Commission, include:

An appliance-recycling plan would offer customers $30 and free pick-up if they give up old, inefficient refrigerators or freezers.

Additions to Duke's Smart $aver program would offer customers incentives to make their homes more energy-efficient. The program would offer up to $400 to homeowners who install attic insulation, $200 for duct sealing, $350 for duct insulation, $60 for a central air-conditioner tuneup and $125 for a heat pump tuneup.

The program already offers $200 incentives to customers who install higher-efficiency heating and cooling systems.

Under a new free program, Duke would proactively seek out customers in low-income neighborhoods. Based on energy-saving needs, it would offer a menu of conservation measures such as weather-stripping and compact fluorescent bulbs.

Costs of the programs would be paid for by an existing energy-efficiency rider, which adds $2.35 a month to typical residential bills. Bruce Henderson

Pisgah Community Bank gets orders from FDIC

The FDIC has ordered Asheville-based Pisgah Community Bank to raise capital or find a buyer as its capital levels "continue to deteriorate," according to a directive released Friday.

The bank, classified as "significantly undercapitalized," has been under an agreement with the FDIC since August 2010, but the capital plans the bank's management team has submitted have not been adequate, the FDIC said.

In the fourth quarter, the bank lost $3 million and its Tier 1 capital ratio remained below 3 percent, according to data from the FDIC.

The bank is now ordered to either find a buyer, sell new common stock, sell preferred stock, or receive direct contributions from the bank's directors or shareholders. Andrew Dunn

Political funds disclosure has support on SEC

The Securities and Exchange Commission should require corporations to disclose their political spending so that shareholders can see how their money is being used, one of the agency's five commissioners said Friday.

Commissioner Luis Aguilar, a Democrat, urged the agency to address the fallout from the 2010 Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case, lifting restrictions on corporate expenditures.

Without mandatory disclosures, "it is impossible to have any corporate accountability or oversight," Aguilar said in a speech prepared for a conference in Washington.

Aguilar has a history of criticizing what he sees as the agency's shortcomings. Addressing the same conference last year, he said he wished for a world in which SEC enforcement actions had obvious deterrent value. Washington Post

New data, adjusted data show trouble in home sales

Sales of new homes dipped in January, but the final quarter of 2011 was stronger than first estimated.

The government said Friday that new-home sales fell 0.9 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 321,000 homes.

The gains came after the government upwardly revised October, November and December's figures. December's annual sales pace of 324,000 was the highest in a year.

Even with more sales, only 304,000 new homes were sold in 2011 - the fewest on record dating back to 1963. AP

New pricing strategy adds to loss at J.C. Penney

J.C. Penney Co. reported a loss of $87 million in the fourth quarter in part because of costs related to its new pricing strategy that involves ditching sales for everyday low prices.

Under new CEO Ron Johnson, a former Apple Inc. executive, the retailer is overhauling just about every aspect of its business, including pricing.

Penney is eliminating hundreds of discounts a year in favor of a three-tier strategy: everyday prices that are about 40 percent less than what they were a year ago, monthlong sales on select items and clearance events during the first and third Friday of each month. AP

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Duke asks to modify energy-saving incentives

If funds are tight, consider hiring a contractor to build just the exterior "shell" of your addition and then you can complete the interior finishes as funds become available.

Brent Murray

Enlarge photo»

Busting the budget is everyone's biggest fear when it comes to home renovation, and with good reason.

Even if you follow the essential advice we've been doling out for years — build in a 10 percent cushion to cover the nasty surprises, get contractor references and check them, banish the words "while you're at it" from your vocabulary — it's hard not to end up spending more than you want to.

We feel that the most realistic goal is to get the largest portion of your dream at a price you can afford, rather than getting the entire dream and ending up house poor with regrets that haunt you for years.

With the aid of savvy design professionals helping you with strategic design choices, material selection and timing, there are opportunities to cut costs without cutting corners.

While it takes big changes to save big money, the little things add up, too.

Increase efficiency, not size

When you need more space, the first thought is to add on. While some design solutions may actually need more square footage, many problems can be solved by reconfiguring the layout to make the space feel bigger and function better.

Additions cost by the square foot. An addition means incurring the cost of a foundation, exterior walls and roof, which means more labor, more materials and more expensive permits.

Moving interior walls and strategically reconfiguring existing space to accommodate your family functions will save money while potentially providing comparable results.

Take storage for example. Many families struggle with storage issues and think they need to add more space. Sometimes all they really need is some creative, more efficient storage options.

When you see the storage space you gain by replacing kitchen cabinets with fixed shelves with cabinets with fully-extending pullout drawers or shelves, you may change your mind about needing to expand the kitchen.

We have found smaller additions and bump-outs can dramatically change the look and feel of a home without the expensive cost of a larger addition. The key is to work with a professional architect to help you clearly define the problems and to optimize your existing space.

Do your remodel in phases

One way to save upfront costs is by doing your home remodel in phases. Many clients do one project a year working toward their dream home.

Read more from the original source:
Tips to cut remodeling costs without cutting any corners

Despite the economic downturn, homeowners are still remodeling, according to vendors at the Adams County Home Show.

The 28th annual show features 50-plus vendors that are within about a 50-mile radius of Adams County. And most of those who have remodeling services say that business has not been faltering.

"It's definitely more affordable than buying a house," Jocelyn Wywadis, with Basement Finishing Company in Mount Carmel, said of a minor home makeover.

And the remodeling being done in homes is unique to the times, some vendors said.

"It's kind of strange," Les Hegarty said. "But with the economy, I've been seeing things I've never seen before."

Like mini-kitchens built onto homes,

Shoppers at the Adams County Home Show browse the vendors Friday night. The 28th annual show will continue Saturday. (THE EVENING SUN BRETT BERWAGER)

said Hegarty, who has been in the remodeling business for about 30 years. Or a basement converted into a tiny apartment.

And with college graduates moving back home with their mothers and fathers, Hegarty said homeowners have also been adding on so their children can still have that sense of independence.

Carol Caba, with Pennsylvania Home Solutions in Harrisburg, said when people contact her company for a bathroom remodel, it's not just for curiosity. They almost always end up having a remodel done.

A lot of homeowners have wanted to move from a bathtub to a shower, usually one complete with seat and railing. And maybe that's a sign of an aging population, she said.

Michele Reecher, of Gettysburg, attended the show Friday

night with a motive. She and her husband have lived in their home for 11 years, and they need new kitchen counters.

But that's an easy fix, said Jim Pickard, with Kitchen Saver in Lewisburg. And by just remodeling the counters or cabinets, homeowners save about a third of what a full kitchen remodel costs, Pickard said.

The 2012 Adams County Home Show is organized by the Builders Association of Adams County. Proceeds from the home show benefit the Builders Association of Adams County

Doug Beal, of Dog Guard, looks at some of the other stands on display before the opening of the Adams County Home Show on Friday night. More than 50 vendors were at the annual show. (THE EVENING SUN BRETT BERWAGER)

scholarship program. The group awards $2,000 each year to each of the seven Adams County schools. The scholarships are available to students interested in pursuing a higher education or training to enter the building trades and professions.

The home show is the group's biggest event of the year, and typically funds the scholarships completely, according to Kelly Crist, an executive officer.

jpalochko@eveningsun.com; 717-637-3736, ext. 151 IF YOU GO:

What: Adams County Home Show

When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today

Where: Allstar Events Complex, 2638 Emmitsburg Road, Gettysburg

Details: Admission is $4 for ages 17 and up; 16 and under are free.

Link:
Home show offers budget-friendly upgrades

February 24, 2012

By Sharon Ko and Jessica Cox

 

 

MEDFORD, Ore. -- The Medford post office is moving its location to the former Dollar GMC showroom on south Riverside Avenue.

Earlier this year, Jackson County bought the federal office building that housed the current post office in downtown. Over at the new building, construction crews have already begun tearing down the walls, ceiling and floors.

Crews say the postal office plans to make its move to the new building around Memorial Weekend. Also, the U.S. Postal Service says processing operations done in Eureka, California will be moved to Medford. By consolidating, it could save the service close to 2 million dollars.

As Medford's distributing center prepares for more deliveries, the United State Postal Service says it plans to close four mail-sorting centers in Oregon.

The agency announced it will close processing and distribution facilities in Salem, Eugene, Bend and Pendleton and move operations to a facility in Portland. Letters mailed across those towns will now take two days instead of one, but longer distance deliveries will still be made in three days.

164 jobs will be eliminated from the Oregon closures, saving the agency nearly 13 million dollars. Due to a 25% drop in first class mail, the postal service is closing more than 260 processing centers nationwide, which is projected to eliminate 35,000 jobs.

 

Link:
Oregon Post Office Locations Change

Restaurateurs along Main Street have less than a month to decide whether they want to join the smorgasbord of dining decks on the street.

City Hall has set a March 23 deadline for restaurants to file applications to be allowed to set up a dining deck. The deadline applies to restaurants that have not had decks before and those that are renewing permits.

At most, officials will approve 12 dining decks in 2012. Permits were issued last year to nine restaurants covering the 2011 and 2012 seasons, lasting from May 1 until Oct. 30 each year.

If all nine of the restaurants already holding permits build dining decks this year, City Hall would have three permits available to newcomers. Only eight dining decks will be allowed to remain standing during the Park City Kimball Arts Festival, however, meaning that some would need to be removed during the early August event.

Staffers must approve a permit allowing the deck itself while the Park City Council must agree to a lease that allows a deck to occupy space on a public roadway.

Francisco Astorga, the City Hall planner who is handling the applications, said midweek he had not heard chatter that there will be additional restaurants seeking approvals to set up dining decks.

The 2012 season will be the third in which City Hall allows the dining decks, which are built atop the street and jut out a few feet from the sidewalk.

"I think they were successful last year, using a space that was underutilized," Astorga said, adding, "People enjoy dining outdoors. They will look for restaurants that offer such amenities."

Main Street leaders lobbied City Hall to allow the decks as Park City continued to suffer amid the recession. Main Street sees the decks as an enticement for diners and as a means to keep the street competitive with other shopping, dining and entertainment districts. The decks are oftentimes packed.

Alison Butz, the executive director of the Historic Park City Alliance, a business group that represents Main Street and nearby streets, said she planned to send the City Hall application for the decks to restaurants this week. Butz said she does not anticipate each of the 12 permits will be taken this year.

Butz said the decks have become popular in the two years they have been on Main Street, mentioning that diners like to people watch as they eat their meals.

"You're seeing more people outside of the buildings," she said, adding, "To see more people on the street adds to that vibrant nature."

For more information, contact Astorga at City Hall. His phone number is 615-5064. His e-mail address is fastorga@parkcity.org.

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Main Street dining decks: up to 12 will be approved this year