In another sign of an improving economy, residential remodeling is picking up in the Bay Area after several lean years, helped along by homeowners who are deciding to fix up places they can't sell because of the housing crunch.

"There is an awakening," said Rick Evans of Bauman Builders in San Jose. Last year "was like a switch that flipped."

Fueling the upward trend is growing confidence in job stability and a booming tech stock market that helps pay for new kitchens, bathrooms and landscaping. Few homeowners are borrowing for the work, builders say.

"It's all cash, nobody's borrowing anything. It's savings or stock money," Evans said. He said his clients "are employed someplace in the tech sector --

The Bay Area and coastal cities up and down the state are having what is "among their better years in the last five," said Mike Winn of the California Building Industry Association.

Jennifer and Julien Schreyer are remodeling the kitchen of their Oakland home, paying cash from savings and investments for the job.

"The economy is getting a little bit more stable, we are feeling a little more secure, and the stock market is going up a little so we could sell some stock," said Jennifer Schreyer, a real estate agent whose husband works for Pixar. "The economy

The Schreyers have been waiting for the right time to redo the kitchen of the home they bought seven years ago.

"It was a little scary to take those steps to do something substantial," Jennifer Schreyer said, but a new kitchen was a lifestyle essential. "I love to cook; my husband is French; our two boys were born in Paris, and they love to cook."

Jim Tibbs of HDR Remodeling in Berkeley, which is doing the Schreyers' kitchen, said some of his clients are remodeling instead of moving up. "People seem to be staying in their homes longer, opting for improving the home they're already in as opposed to selling and taking on a heavier mortgage at a larger home," he said.

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Bay Area home remodeling picks up as economy mends

2 March 2012

Former landmark CBD building set to rise from the rubble

Work will begin this year on a new medium-rise office building on the former landmark BNZ House site in Cathedral Sq.

Concept plans were today unveiled for the 13-level office building designed by Warren and Mahoney.

Owned by Cristo Ltd, a small private company of local investors, 2 Cathedral Sq will rise 50m and contain 11,000m2 of leasable space, including penthouse levels. It will have a similar shape and size to the previous building but incorporate the latest engineering and design features.

Construction is dependent on pre-leasing and availability of insurance but the owners intend to begin this year with completion scheduled for 2015.

Jonathan Lyttle and Ryan Geddes, specialist office leasing agents at Colliers International, said the medium-rise block would have a 5Green Star rating. Clad in glass on three sides, areas of the exterior would bear the same green welsh slate as the former building.

The owners appreciate that they have one of the most important sites in Christchurch on a major intersection and they want the building to help open the south east end of the Square to be a more vibrant and welcoming place.

This design respects the landmark building that anchored that corner of the Square for almost 50 years while signaling a more user friendly approach.

Structural engineer John Hare of Holmes Consulting said the owners are investigating designing the building with deep piles and a steel frame with seismic dampers to give significantly improved performance if there were more large earthquakes.

Originally posted here:
Former landmark CBD building set to rise from the rubble

Work will begin this year on a new medium-rise office building on the former landmark BNZ House site in Cathedral Sq.

Concept plans were today unveiled for the 13-level office building designed by Warren and Mahoney.

Owned by Cristo Ltd, a small private company of local investors, 2 Cathedral Sq will rise 50m and contain 11,000m2 of leasable space, including penthouse levels. It will have a similar shape and size to the previous building but incorporate the latest engineering and design features.

Construction is dependent on pre-leasing and availability of insurance but the owners intend to begin this year with completion scheduled for 2015.

Jonathan Lyttle and Ryan Geddes, specialist office leasing agents at Colliers International, said the medium-rise block would have a 5 Green Star rating. Clad in glass on three sides, areas of the exterior would bear the same green welsh slate as the former building.

"The owners appreciate that they have one of the most important sites in Christchurch on a major intersection and they want the building to help open the south east end of the Square to be a more vibrant and welcoming place.

"This design respects the landmark building that anchored that corner of the Square for almost 50 years while signaling a more user friendly approach."

Structural engineerJohn Hare of Holmes Consulting said the owners are investigating designing the building with deep piles and a steel frame with seismic dampers togive significantly improved performanceif there were morelarge earthquakes.

"The dampers are similar to large shock absorbers which would dissipate energy in the event of an earthquake, reducing the amount of movement felt bytenants, and reducing the damage to their contents," Hare said.

The seismic dampers on the Colombo St end of the building will be a visibledesign feature, encased in glass walls so that tenants can see the engineering in the building.

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Former landmark CBD building to rise from rubble

T he Bay-Waveland Garden Club will present gems from the past and present plus a sneak preview of the Infinity science discovery center on March 10 for this years Bay-Waveland Garden Clubs Spring Pilgrimage. In addition to Infinity, four homes, a bed and breakfast and the garden clubs center will be on tour.

Complimentary tours of Infinity, adjacent to the Mississippi Welcome Center at Exit 2 on Interstate I-10 in Hancock County will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 11 a.m. The tours of the houses and the bed and breakfast will be from 1 to 4 p.m.

Pilgrimage will begin at noon at the Bay-Waveland Garden Center, 541 Main St., Bay St Louis, where visitors will receive a map to and descriptions of all the venues, plus light refreshments and the opportunity to shop the clubs plant sale, which will feature bromeliads and indoor and outdoor plants.

TAMMY SMITH/SUN HERALD The Stouder house, 526 Citizen St., Bay St. Louis, dates to the early 1900s. Except for additions made in the 1940s, the house retains its original character.

Yaupon hedges planted by myself without aid internal or external ..., an entry in the garden journal by Roy H. Turner, a New Orleans physician who bought four acres and a summer home in Bay St. Louis in 1949, inspired this years theme, From Yaupon Hedges to Infinity.

The Bay-Waveland Garden Club Pilgrimage will be held in conjunction with Second Saturday, which begins at 4 p.m. in Bay St. Louis.

The Bay-Waveland Garden Center 541 Main St., Bay St. Louis

The Old Taylor School, a one-room schoolhouse at 114 Leonhard, was the original home of the Bay-Waveland Garden Club. The clubs current home, on Main Street, is a reproduction of the ca. 1915 craftsman-style cottage.

The Benvenutti Home 104 Beverly Drive, Bay St Louis

The home at 104 Beverly Drive is in the Cedar Point area of Bay Saint Louis. This coastal cottage was built in 2007 after the previous home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The house was designed and built by Mark Buszkiewicz. Several features of the home use materials salvaged from the old home, such as the outdoor front porch brick fireplace. The home was designed for a panoramic view of the water. Interior walls and the ceiling are pickled tongue and groove boards. The main floors are stained and etched concrete. The back yard includes an in-ground pool and hot tub, surrounded by gardens that the owners landscaped. The front porch is shaded by a 100-year-old registered oak tree.

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From Yaupon Hedges to Infinity

BRECKSVILLE - The city is accepting bids through 11 a.m. March 14 for the Wiese Road retaining wall repair and replacement project.

According to City Engineer Gerry Wise, it is a six-month contract and the road will likely be closed for up to four months starting in June. Brecksville received a $233,800 State Capital Improvement Program grant and a $233,800 loan in 2011 for the project, which at the time was estimated to cost nearly $1.17 million.

The city currently has $1.2 million budgeted for the project, but an updated estimate now places the expected cost at around $1.32 million.

The reason for the cost increase is additional sewer work on the road that was added to the project.

The project will address two walls. One will be repaired and refinished while the other will be completely replaced, since it was deemed not worth salvaging.

In its place will be a soldier pile wall, similar to a sound barrier along Interstate 77, anchored by I-beams rising 12 feet above the ground. Between the I-beams will be 8-foot to 10-foot concrete structural panels.

The original walls were built in 1938 and 1939 and we would hope for a similar lifetime for this one, Wise said.

A stacked-stone textured pattern, to be chosen by the mayor, will add aesthetic appeal to wall in addition to its structural stability.

The grant and loan come from the Ohio Public Works Commission via the District One Public Works Integrating Committee program which is handled by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission.

Contact this reporter at 216-986-6065 or at rrozboril@sunnews.com

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Brecksville's Wiese Road retaining wall work to begin in June

The city of Adrian is planning to rebuild the retaining wall along one bank of the South Branch of the River Raisin in Comstock Park, possibly as soon as this summer.

The wall, which holds up the steep embankment on the southeast side of the river, is starting to deteriorate, city parks and recreation director Mark Gasche said.

Its showing signs of failure, Gasche said.

The wall was built in 1974 and the city has been monitoring it for about five years, knowing it would need to be replaced, Gasche said.

There is $500,000 in the upcoming fiscal year capital budget to replace the wall, Gasche said.

The existing wall is about 460 feet long and is constructed of horizontal timbers held in place by steel H beams driven deep into the river bank. The wall ranges in height from about 12 feet to 15 feet, Gasche said.

The city would be satisfied to have the new wall built the same way as the existing wall, or possibly have a concrete or block wall, Gasche said.

For aesthetic reasons, the city would prefer not to have a wall of steel sheets driven into the ground, or to have terraced rocks held in place by heavy wire such as now exists on the opposite bank of the river, Gasche said. The terraced rocks probably would require too much space, he said.

At its Feb. 20 meeting, the Adrian City Commission approved a $29,815 bid by Rowe Professional Services Co. of Flint to do design engineering for the new wall.

Rowe already has contacted the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality about permits for the work, Gasche said. MDEQ has jurisdiction because the project involves the river.

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City to rebuild Comstock Park retaining wall

MK Remodeling, which has built hundreds of decks, says choosing the right contractor for a project is the most important consideration.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) March 01, 2012

According to Mike Krakovitz, owner of MK Remodeling, Inc., in Philadelphia, the average lifespan of a wood deck thats been maintained properly is more than 20 years. And composite decks, which require little maintenance, last even longer. Nevertheless, it is estimated that there are millions of decks in the U.S. that are beyond their lifespan and could, in fact, be dangerous.

Krakovitz says the most important consideration when adding or replacing a deck is the hiring of a good contractor. Its critical that people use licensed and insured contractors, he says. And having a contractor who, for example, is factory certified by the manufacturer should also be a consideration. Krakovitzs company is factory certified by a number of composite wood decking manufacturers, such as Trex, TimberTech, and many others.

While Krakovitz installs both wood and composite decks, he says that more and more, people are choosing composites. There are pros and cons to both, he says. Some people, for example, really want the natural, earthy appearance of traditional wood decks. Others like the environmentally friendly idea of composites, which are made from a combination of recycled wood and recycled plastic. And, in fact, some composites come in finishes that mimic wood surfaces.

While composites are generally more expensive than wood, says Krakovitz, They offer significant advantages in many instances. They dont require any special treatments and are relatively easy to maintain.

In sum, whatever type of deck a customer chooses, they should always ask for references and insist on a detailed quote specifying exactly what the contractor is going to do. MK Remodeling has been in business since 2000. But Mike, himself, has been in the construction business for more than 40 years and says he has built upwards of 500 to 600 decks. A customer may be able to get a lower quote, says Krakovitz. But theres usually a reason for that.

To find out more about MK Remodeling, please visit http://www.mksremodeling.com.

About MK Remodeling, Inc.

MK Remodeling, Inc., is a family owned and operated remodeling and restoration company with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. They offer design-build services for additions, kitchens, bathrooms, decks, along with insurance restoration and emergency services for water, fire, and wind damage, and much more. Mike Krakovits, Sr., has more than 40 years experience and has received numerous awards and commendations for his work. He is partners with his son, Michael, who gave up a career as a teacher to become involved in the construction business. His other son, Dan, plans to join the familys business after graduating college. MK Remodeling proudly serves Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery Counties.

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Top Philadelphia Deck Builder, MK Remodeling, Announces Tips for Contemporary Deck Construction

ROBBINSVILLE The Township Council voted down a $1.6 million project to bring sewer lines to 30 homes in the Buckley Lane area after many of the affected residents balked at the special sewer assessments they would have to pay.

The ordinance unanimously rejected by the council on Feb. 23 would have paid for the project by issuing $1.52 million in bonds, along with an $80,000 township appropriation as the down payment for the borrowing.

The $1.52 million in borrowed money plus interest would have had to be repaid through a special sewer assessment on the 31 affected property owners. (One lot is vacant township-owned land and the rest are private homes on Buckley Lane and Robbinsville-Edinburg Road near the high school). The assessment worked out to about $50,000 per home payable over 20 years.

The council introduced the ordinance in January under the apparent mistaken impression that they were doing what residents, many of whom have failing septic systems, wanted. But 11 affected homeowners who met with Council President Chris Ciaccio and Township Administrator/Engineer Tim McGough on Feb. 21, and then turned out two nights later at the council meeting, complained a $50,000 per home assessment, even if was payable over two decades, was too high.

That is a financial burden that most of us cannot keep up with, Justin Kinne, of Buckley Lane, told the council during the public hearing, which was held in the Senior Center to accommodate the crowd.

Sam Campi, another Buckley Lane resident, also spoke against the ordinance. Mr. Campi noted that only his septic tank was in need of replacement, not his entire septic system, so all he needed to spend was about $5,000.

If I was to change my tank, I can expect 25 years out of it, Mr. Campi said. Im 71 years old ... I dont need to spend $50,000.

The residents who spoke at the meeting said they would rather wait for the developer of the proposed Edinburg Village tract on Robbinsville-Edinburg Road to install sewer lines that the existing homes in the Buckley Lane area neighborhood could tap into without having to pay for sewer construction costs. The downside to this solution, however, is that Edinburg Village is probably not going to break ground for at least two or three years, perhaps longer.

Township Attorney Mark Roselli said at the council meeting the developer of the project is amenable to allowing Buckley Lane area homes to tie into the new sewer lines for free because he wants to be granted a housing density bonus.

A 2009 demographers report on projected housing starts in Robbinsville, which was prepared for the school district using data from the towns construction, planning and zoning offices, lists Edinburg Village as 49 single-family homes on Robbinsville-Edinburg Road and Meadowbrook Road. It was not clear how much of a density bonus the developer was seeking or how much the town might allow.

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ROBBINSVILLE: Buckley Lane area sewer project dumped

Beast feast, community festivals further church presence & Gospel in Morriston

We have to let the community know who we are, and that we love them and we want them to come hear about Jesus, Stewart said.

The church recently hosted its largest Beast Feast and Outdoorsmans

Extravaganza when more than 550 Levy County residents visited the church property. It is only one large event through which the church hopes to make its presence known in the community.

The outdoorsmans event featured an archery derby in which the targets were animal mannequins; hunting and fishing simulators; trophy animals with which to pose; and prizes of compound bows and a muzzle loader. Guests feasted on a myriad of wild game dishes and heard Robert Bradow of Cross Heir Outfitters. His message was well received in an area where horse and cattle ranching provide income, and hunting and fishing provide entertainment, Stewart said.

Out of more than 75 decisions made during the event, 23 were professions of faith. Morriston Baptist members are following up on each decision with letters and visits, their pastor said.

Along with the annual outdoorsman event, the church also hosts a fall

festival that about 600 area residents visit annually. The festival has people lining up down the road to get into. They come for the games and booths, cake walks and fish fry, but they also get to hear the Gospel, Steward said. Visitors enter the Fall Festival through the church sanctuary where there is singing and a short Gospel message.

The children may come for the inflatables and games, but the elderly come for the fish fry, he said. They all get to hear the Gospel.

Festival, the volunteers in the church booth hand out replacement batteries for smoke detectors. The batteries are fastened to a card with the plan of salvation and church information.

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Beast feast, community festivals, further church presence & Gospel in Morriston

Published: 6:26PM Thursday March 01, 2012 Source: ONE News

Senior Tongan church ministers are calling for a freeze on big donations and new church buildings as concern grows over spending.

It follows news that a new church in Australia has folded, owing $27 million.

The Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in Sydney was opened by King George Tupou V three years ago, but is reported to be in voluntary administration and receivership.

According to reports it owes money to Westpac Bank and an industrial paint company which gave the church a loan.

See the full story on TV One's Targata Pasifika tonight at 11.10pm.

The Tongan community raised funds for the building and treasurer Sione Pinomi hopes they will help again.

"Of course it comes with a cost but that's all beyond the point. The most important thing for us is to accomplish our mission here, which is to bring Tonga to Australia," Reverend Pinomi said.

"I'm pretty sure this debt will be finished in the near future with the help of God and help of the people."

However, Mohenoa Puloka, a senior figure who trains ministers, has suggested a freeze on big projects in the wake of the church's collapse.

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Tongan church urges moderation in donations