Clairton resident and business owner Miriam Maletta wants to stop a potential rat problem before it gets out of hand again.

Maletta, who lives above Miriam's Beauty Salon in the 500 block of St. Clair Avenue, has had a rat-free home and business for two years.

I've been plagued with rat problems, she told council Tuesday, describing the rodent battle she and her neighbors fought for 15 years. The (Allegheny County) Health Department has been out to help me, and I've done my own baiting over the years. I've had them everywhere.

Maletta described scenarios that made residents and council members cringe grazing her foot along a rodent that she assumed was a fuzzy slipper or finding more than 40 carcasses in a crawl space below her basement closet after an expensive remodeling job.

Those memories returned when she saw a rat scurry past her yard earlier this month.

What can the city do? she asked. It's fall and these rats are looking for a place to go for the winter.

Clairton officials said the city is no longer permitted to bait for rodents and advised Maletta to contact the health department as soon as possible. In the meantime, code enforcement officer George Glagola will inspect the neighborhood for bird feeders, animal feces and garbage that may be attracting a new population of rats.

Rats only show up where there's food. They're not sociable, city manager Howard Bednar said. We're going to have to look at the whole neighborhood. If you clean up your little area, they'll just move on.

Mayor Rich Lattanzi said he experienced a similar problem in recent years because neighbors were putting their dog's feces in a trash can without a lid.

Maletta said she wanted city officials to be aware of the problem before it worsens. She said she plans to contact the health department and reapply peppermint oil as a natural repellent around her home.

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Clairton officials hope to stop potential rat problem

If you have your heart set on traveling to Washington to watch President Obama flip the switch on the National Christmas Tree, you'll need tickets, even if you want to stand. The lottery for 17,000 free tickets to the Dec. 4 lighting starts Friday.

Don't confuse this tree with the indoor White House Christmas tree; the U.S. Capitol's Christmas tree, which comes from a national forest and is transported many miles; or the nation's Christmas Tree, known to many as the General Grant Tree in Sequoia National Park.

The Dec. 4 tree-lighting has been a presidential tradition since 1923, though the actual tree has changed over time. The tall Colorado blue spruce on the Ellipse near the White House makes its official 2014 holiday debut with decorations that include thousands of LED lights and ornaments.

The same species was planted in 1978 after previous trees failed to thrive, the event's website says. It flourished until 2011 when a powerful storm with high winds blew it over. A replacement lasted a year, prompting the National Park Service to plant yet another blue spruce last year.

New blue spruce tree in place, the president and his family will be joined by performers (Mariah Carey and Aretha Franklin appeared last year) though no names have yet been announced.

The lottery starts at 7 a.m. PDT Friday and ends at 7 a.m. Monday. Enter by clicking "ticket lottery" online (it won't be live until Friday) or by calling (877) 444-6777. Three thousand seat tickets and 14,000 standing room tickets will be given away. Winners will be notified by email starting Nov. 3.

Info: National Christmas Tree Lighting

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Lottery for tickets to National Christmas Tree lighting opens Friday

Anyone following the architectural profession at the turn of the millennium might be forgiven for thinking that it was all about splashy icons: Frank Gehry's undulating titanium sails in Bilbao and Los Angeles, Norman Foster's naughty-lookingGherkin in London, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill's super-tall Burj Khalifa,known for being ... super-tall.

But as some were rushing to plant icons all over the planet, a generation of architects and planners in Latin America were focused on other issues: affordable housing, transportation infrastructure, zoning issues, the creation of public amenities, cross-border relations issues that don't necessarily make for sexy buildings, but that are key to creating cities that function well.

British architecture writer Justin McGuirk tracks the phenomenon in his new book, "Radical Cities: Across Latin America in Search of a New Architecture"(Verso; $29.95), which he will present at the MAK Center for Art & Architecturein West Hollywood Friday evening.

Why Latin America?

"The continent has a history of testing radical ideas about architecture," McGuirk says. "We keep hearing that the world is more than 50% urban and that there is this huge shift of human civilization to cities. But Latin America experienced a massive explosion in its urban population long before China, India and Africa. ... Many countries in Latin America are 80% urban. They've been throughthis process. Therefore, there must be lessons."

"Radical Cities" looks for these lessons all over the continent, from the slums of Rio de Janeiro to a small canyon along the U.S.-Mexico border, tracking publicly minded architectural and planning projects from the 1960s to the present.

This includes the PREVI project in Lima short for Proyecto Experimental de Vivienda which brought together some of the world's leading architects to create housing solutions flexible enough to be expanded over time (making for some pretty terrific vernacular architecture). But it also includes a case study of the city of Medellin in Colombia, which shows the ways in which architects can collaborate with broader coalitions of politicians and community organizations to help bring together a deeply divided city with strategically placed parks and well-designed libraries.

McGuirk's highly conversational book, blessedly free of architecture-speak, also reflects on the way in which some of today's architects have found ways of working within the informal sector slums, some would say for projects that can bring renewal without requiring the razing of entire communities. This might include surgical additions to a community: a gondola system to get residents up a Caracas hillside or a small block of housing in the Chilean city of Iquique, which provides a basic structure that residents complete on their own.

"One of the lessons of the book is that housing is often not the problem," explains McGuirk. "People can build themselves houses, but they can't build a transport network or a sewage system. This is where I see architects playing a key role. They become the strategic planners that connect the bottom-up impulses of communities with the public resources and strategic planning that sits in the hands of the government."

These "activist architects," as McGuirk calls them figures such as Alejandro Aravena in Chile, the firm Urban-Think Tank of Venezuela and Teddy Cruz in San Diego operate quite differently from designers who go from commission to commission.

Read more:
'Radical Cities': 3 lessons from Latin America's activist architects

The latest crop of luxury residential developments is breaking ground in a whole new way: by hiring interior designers and architects better known for their work in hotels, restaurants and product design along with swanky private homes.

Previously lauded for their smaller-scale commissions, these talents bring a fine eye for architectural and design detail to their first-ever large-scale residential developments. Along the way, theyre imbuing these projects with bespoke features that come from very personal visions.

Andrew Sheinman.

Who knows how to better craft homes than interior architects? says Barbara van Beuren, managing director of Anbau Enterprises, which hired Andrew Sheinman of Pembrooke & Ives for a new Upper East Side development. They have a deeper understanding of lifestyles and needs, and that translates into the design.

People want beautiful design rather than a brand name just for the sake of the name, says Shaun Osher, CEO of Core, which marketed 141 Fifth Ave., one the citys first bespoke developments, in 2008. Something that feels customized to the buyer and feels unique is what theyll put the value on.

Citing the high stakes and high costs of todays market, Jonathan Miller, president and CEO of real estate appraisal firm Miller Samuel, sees this new trend driven by economics.

Theres an extra cost associated with a brand that might not translate into additional returns, he says. Bringing in people who have been successful in their own right [versus a starchitect] but that dont have the brand recognition [is] a cost-effective alternative.

On the Upper East Side, developers are placing a value on reinterpreting history, selecting interior designers who can straddle tradition and trends, and respect the neighborhood context.

155 E. 79th St., from $8.95M: Interior designer Andrew Sheinman mixed modern and traditional design elements at this 14-story building on the UES.Photo: Anbau

Such is the case at 155 E. 79th St., a 14-story building of seven duplexes that broke ground last October. Units range from $8.95 million for a 3,291-square-foot maisonette to $12 million for the remaining duplex. Developer Anbau Enterprises chose Andrew Sheinman, founder of Pembrooke & Ives, an interior design firm known for its private residential work. The choice was driven by Anbau managing director Barbara van Beuren, who grew up a couple of doors down at No. 151, and who envisioned homes that would be as equally personal to buyers.

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Manhattans most-celebrated architects and interior designers go large-scale

Basalt, Colorado (PRWEB) October 15, 2014

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), with its architects, ZGF Architects LLP, and its general contractor, JE Dunn Construction, breaks ground today for RMIs new flagship building its Innovation Center in the Roaring Fork Valley. Encompassing RMIs 32 years of innovation, the new 15,610 square-foot facility will exhibit the principles of integrative design and energy and resource efficiency as the organization seeks to continue its outstanding strategic collaboration in global energy.

"RMI has huge ambitionsnothing short of changing the way the world produces and consumes energy," said RMI Managing Director and General Counsel Marty Pickett. "RMI's Innovation Center in Basalt, Colorado, not far from where RMI was founded 32 years ago, will provide offices for 50 staff and offer a convening venue for collaboration with the community, industry stakeholders and global leaders."

RMIs Innovation Center will embrace the following unique features:

As part of RMIs ongoing commitment to increase impact and share best practices for energy efficiency, RMI will publish updates about the successes and challenges of the project for others to learn from throughout the projects design and completion. Approximately 90 percent of buildings in this country are similar in size to RMIs new building (under 25,000 SF) and commercial is the largest use type. The results of RMIs design, contracting, construction and operations process and the buildings aggressive performance are applicable to owners, occupants and investors across the U.S.

From reinventing the design process to creating a new definition of occupant comfort, the building team has continually explored the edge of what is possible. If every commercial building in the U.S. increased its energy efficiency to this level, enough energy could be saved in one month to power New York City for an entire year, said Kathy Berg, partner at ZGF Architects LLP.

The partnership among JE Dunn, RMI, and ZGF Architects is a perfect blend of expertise in energy, construction, technology and design,"said Mike Tilbury, project executive for JE Dunn Construction."JE Dunn has built numerous projects throughout the U.S. that have the highest energy efficient standards. This project takes that excellence to the next level and will showcase JE Dunn's use of the latest technologies in energy efficient construction.

Construction of RMIs Innovation Center is estimated to take between 12-14 months and will cost $7.5 million for the buildings core and shell plus tenant finishes. This is comparable to other recently built, small, class A office spaces in the Colorado mountain region. Having raised significant funds for the building in a quiet phase, RMI will launch a public capital campaign to complete funding.

RMI has a rich history of collaboration and innovation in the Roaring Fork Valley, said Basalt Mayor Jacque Whitsitt. The Town of Basalt has been an enthusiastic partner in this development project since day one. RMIs innovation center will anchor the long-term plan to enhancethe town economically and culturally.

For more information on the Innovation Center, please visit http://www.rmi.org/rmi_innovation_center.

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Rocky Mountain Institute, ZGF Architects and JE Dunn Construction Break Ground on New RMI Innovation Center

Leasing retail space at Willits Town Center remains a tough sell despite the success and allure of Whole Foods Market, according to the president of the company that owns and is developing the project.

Ryan Anderson of Mariner Real Estate Management said Tuesday he hopes that the construction of a 112-room hotel at Willits will help ease the challenge of signing tenants.

Mariner and Silverwest Hotel Partners LLC teamed to build an Element by Westin, which is part of the Starwood Hotels and Resorts brand. An official groundbreaking was held in frigid temperatures Tuesday morning although work started on the foundation roughly a month ago.

Ed Mace, a partner in Silverwest Hotel Partners, said the Element Basalt will open by Thanksgiving 2015 to take advantage of bookings during ski season.

The one-bedroom suites that will dominate the mix of rooms are intended for extended stays, Mace said. He and his partner, Charlie Peck, estimated the average stay of their customers will be slightly more than three days. Single-night stays will also be accepted, but the idea is to target customers such as families coming for a ski vacation or couples coming to the Roaring Fork Valley for special events.

Room rates havent been set yet but Mace said prices will likely top $200 per night during ski season and in the $150-range at other times. An earlier design had the hotel at 113 rooms.

The rooms will have dining areas but not full kitchens, Mace said. That will encourage customers to eat at Basalts restaurants and pick up food at nearby Whole Foods. Thats how we do room service, Mace quipped while addressing a crowd of about 40 at the groundbreaking.

In an interview with The Aspen Times following the ceremony, Mace said Starwood and the hotel partners decided they needed to use the Aspen name as part of their marketing efforts. Basalt doesnt have name recognition yet, he said, and the hotel needs to be positioned so Internet users looking for lodging in Aspen can find it. Thus, the hotels full name will be Element Basalt Aspen Valley.

We appreciate that locals might not recognize it, Mace said diplomatically. He noted its not unique for the use of Aspen Valley. Theres Aspen Valley Hospital, Aspen Valley Land Trust and Aspen Valley Ski Club.

The hotel will create 25 to 30 full-time equivalent jobs, Mace said. There will be more workers than that on the payroll, but some will work part-time and seasonal hours.

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Addition of hotel expected to boost vibrancy at Willits

A developer is proposing a $55 million project of 230 luxury apartments and retail space next to Brown Shoe Co.s headquarters in downtown Clayton.

The plan by Covington Development is the latest proposal of a major residential development in the area.

Covingtons project, called Clayton Vanguard, has two levels of garage parking for 355 vehicles and five floors of apartments on 2.5 acres at 8500 Maryland Avenue.

A vacant two-story office building is on the site. Brown Shoe owns the building, erected in 1975, and the adjacent parking lot. Brian Kennedy, a partner at Covingtons office in Clayton, said Tuesday the company has the site under contract.

Covington hopes to begin construction by the middle of next year and complete the project in 2017. Kennedy said the downtown Clayton location, proximity to Clayton High School and Shaw Park, plus nearness to Interstate 170 will help Vanguard attract tenants.

We feel theres a strong need for new luxury rental housing, he said.

Covingtons other apartment developments in the St. Louis area include Vanguard Creve Coeur and Vanguard Crossing in University City. Covington Development, based in Clayton, is the development division of Covington Realty Partners of Chicago.

This spring, the company dropped plans for a 14-story apartment building at 4490 Lindell Boulevard in St. Louis, after it was unable to get tax abatement from the city for the $50 million project. Kennedy said Vanguard Clayton is not a substitute for the project in the city.

This is really an independent project weve been working on for a while, he said.

Claytons Architectural Review Board is scheduled to consider the Vanguard project at its meeting Monday. Covington is proposing an exterior of red and buff brick with stucco accents.

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More luxury apartments proposed for Clayton

Hartford will press ahead with a sweeping development plan to bring housing, retail, a brewery and a 9,000-spectator minor league ballpark to long-vacant land north of downtown.

The city council approved the $350 million project Tuesday, capping four months of public debate. Six members voted in favor of the plan; three abstained.

"The redevelopment of Downtown North is going to create jobs, encourage new businesses, strengthen existing ones and help grow Hartford's grand list, all things that are absolutely vital to create a healthy vibrant city," Mayor Pedro Segarra said in a statement Tuesday night. "Over the last few months, support for the project has grown exponentially and it's exciting to see everyone invested in the future of our city."

Some council members hailed the project, which would bring the New Britain Rock Cats to Hartford, as a step forward for a city in need of additional revenue and a shot of vibrancy in an area that has been empty for decades.

"It is exactly a road map to how we move forward as a city," council President Shawn Wooden said at the meeting Tuesday. "There is no reward, there is no benefit, without some level of risk. ... It's appropriately risky for the return."

He noted that during recent budget cycles, the council had made deep cuts to city spending. The project offers an opportunity to capture new revenue, Wooden said.

"It's a lot more than a lot of other people have done at city hall and in state government for a long, long time," he added.

Others said they support developing the land, but had issues with the proposal.

Councilman David MacDonald, who along with Larry Deutsch and Raul DeJesus abstained during Tuesday's vote, raised concerns about the speed at which the project has moved.

"I understand the time constraints we're under, but that's not something we did to ourselves," MacDonald said. "It's something imposed on us."

Read this article:
Hartford Council OKs Stadium Plan

18 Million Workers Produced More Than One-fifth of U.S. Gross Domestic Product in 2012

KTI industries have a particularly strong link to science and technology and perform three-fourths of U.S. business research and development, an important source of innovation and economic growth.

Employment in KTI industries represented 15 percent of the U.S. workforce in 2012, with workers performing activities such as manufacturing, computer systems design, architectural and engineering, data processing, radio and television broadcasting hosting and other related services. A complete list can be found in the NCSES report.

The report also finds wages for U.S. commercial KTI industries workers are much higher than they are in other industries. In 2011, the average salaries of KI services industries and HT manufacturing industries were more than $20,000 higher than the private-sector average. However, average salaries vary widely among individual commercial KI services and HT manufacturing industries.

Related Link report

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18 Million Workers Produced More Than One-fifth of U.S. Gross Domestic Product in 2012

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