Belgrade High Schools initial phases of a remodel are completed, and, Principal Paul Lamb said instructors are currently moving into their renovated classrooms located in the basement of the school.

The remodel, so far, moved 10 classes from a west wing building into the basement of the high schools main building, he said. The west wing was demolished during the phase of the construction, Lamb said, and crews are currently working to replace it.

Theyre in full construction mode to construct the new west wing, Lamb said.

The new building will be two stories and house a new cafeteria area, art and business classrooms and 10 math and special education classrooms. In total, the high school will be adding 17 new rooms and additional instructors by the time renovations are completed, Lamb said.

During the construction, Lamb said, 50 parking spots from the west side parking lot would be out of commission. This includes for athletic events, school and other events hosted by the high school.

But, he said, the construction would not impede on the students education, citing there will not be any use of portable classes. Students should expect construction zones when they arrive back from their summer vacation, Lamb said.

Belgrade Superintendent Leland Stocker said he was pleased with the progress of the renovation.

I always find construction to be an exciting time because we are anticipating the final product, Stocker said. We are very pleased with what we are going to provide the students with this year.

Construction crews ran into one hiccup while doing the basement remodel, which school officials said is normal when remodeling. In the basement, under the flooring, construction crews found that the electrical was integrated in the cement of the building.

Even with those surprises, were in a good place, Stocker said. Were still on schedule.

Lamb agreed with Stocker that renovations were still on schedule to hit their completion deadline.

Theres always hiccups in construction, but there has been nothing that has moved our timeline back, Lamb said.

The expansion project comes in light of a forecasted spike in attendance for the high school, Lamb said. The capacity of the school was for 900 students, but the remodel can accommodate about 1,300 students.

The next phases of the remodel include modernizing the entryway of the school. The lobby and cafeteria area will be wide open with a taller ceiling that exposes support beams for a second floor of classrooms, and glass panels to let natural light in the building.

More functional spaces would also be made for the choir and band and the technical education would expand to include three shops. The culinary arts program will also get its own home in two large rooms near the school kitchen.

School officials are predicting that renovations would be completed by 2019, and cost an estimated $25 million.

Read more:
First phase of BHS remodel is complete - Belgrade News

NARI Atlanta, the local chapter of the National Association for the Remodeling Industry, will present its eighth annual Tour of Remodeled Homes Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Four private homes transformed by NARI Atlanta members throughout Atlantas northern suburbs (Buckhead, Dunwoody and Roswell) will be open to the public, with the remodeling teams on hand to discuss each project and answer questions. The tour is self-guided and will be held rain or shine. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the tour, and are available at http://www.atlantaremodelingtour.com.

Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Habitat for Humanity ReStore in metro Atlanta, which accepts donations of used furniture, home improvement items, appliances and surplus building supplies for resale at a deep discount to the public. Funds generated support the work of partnering Habitat affiliates throughout the citys suburban counties.

I am delighted to welcome Habitat ReStore as this years nonprofit partner for the NARI Tour of Remodeled Homes, NARI Atlanta Executive Director Jesse Morado said in a news release. Their metro Atlanta Habitat affiliates bring together skilled remodelers, home builders, volunteers and donors to create high-quality, low-cost homes for working families throughout 12 suburban counties, and the ReStores help fund this important work. NARI Atlanta is proud to support this organization with the proceeds from our annual Tour of Remodeled Homes.

Tour homes include the following:

Distinctive Remodeling Solutions (home in Buckhead): Built in 1956 and with numerous additions and renovations in the following years, this home has been transformed from tired to refreshed. The dated floor plan and disconnected updates were flawlessly brought together for the specific requirements of the current owners. New features include a private entrance to the master suite, which includes an office, bedroom and updated master bath. Unfinished attic space was transformed into a teenagers retreat. A new mudroom entry and expanded laundry area are located off the fully renovated kitchen, while the sunny family room boasts a custom entertainment center, wet bar and direct access to new outdoor living space.

Harbour Towne Construction Inc. (home in Dunwoody): The home had a large, unfinished basement that was ideal for transformation into a multi-functional space. The owners wanted to use the area to entertain family and friends, so Harbour Towne created a home theater with a raised seating platform and acoustic panels; a full-service wet bar with a copper sink, refrigerator, dishwasher, wine chiller and microwave; a fully outfitted exercise room and a guest suite with a bedroom, walk-in closet and a bathroom.

Master Home Remodelers (home in Roswell): The owner of this home is a professional interior designer who wanted her kitchen to boast timeless, classical design. The renovated kitchen now features Linen color painted, furniture-quality beaded inset cabinetry, Calcutta Gold marble countertops with a marble backsplash, a three-inch thick mitered island countertop, fully integrated appliances with matching panels and state-of-the-art-interior accessories. The stately wood hood over the range top, along with brass side sconces create a unique focal point. This kitchen mixes chrome and brass fixtures, varying countertop heights, dark stained wood floors and light painted walls to create a perfect balance of symmetry, textures and color.

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Oneida Builders (home in Dunwoody): This kitchen renovation focuses on mindful design that functions efficiently for the homeowners. Oneida Builders and Mast Cabinetry collaborated to blend visual texture with clean, modern simplicity. The blacksplash was inspired by Italian mosaics and is a custom radiant blend of glass tile. The space features a unique, U-shaped island, a custom heat-resistant wall cabinet to house a TV above the cook top, a relaxing coffee bar and a full bar with a baby grand piano. To create a more open feel to the kitchen/entertaining area, a large fixed-glass window was installed overlooking a beautiful new deck.

Bonus location: Dove Studio Kitchen & Bath, 1570 Holcomb Bridge Road, Suite 740, Roswell. Dove Studio will open its doors to tour ticket holders the day of the tour and will offer indoor and outdoor cooking demonstrations and food tastings every half-hour during the day.

Information and tickets: http://www.atlantaremodelingtour.com

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Tour of Remodeled Homes to include stops in Buckhead, Dunwoody, Roswell - MDJOnline.com

Headquartered in Garner (Raleigh Suburb), North Carolina, Effect Energy provides technical consulting and certification services for residential and commercial construction to builders, architects, developers, and homeowners in North Carolina and the surrounding areas.Effect Energy provides residential clients with a range of services for both new and existing properties. Using energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor air quality, waste and resource management and environmental impact as our guiding principles, we can provide sensible and cost-effective solutions to meet your energy management and sustainability requirements. We offer independent inspection and testing of new or existing homes in order to provide RESNET's home energy rating. Effect Energy provides (as applicable) the following:* Measurements and takeoff of existing homes to ensure accurate input values* Verification of designs on new homes to ensure predefined efficiency standards will be met* Inspection of the initial framing during construction* Thermal enclosure inspection to be performed after insulation and prior to Sheetrock* Final inspection (building envelope leakage test/HVAC system leakage test)* Final product folder, including certificate, diagnostic summary, label, window sticker, maintenance and sustainability information and congratulatory letter We offer independent inspection and testing of new homes in order to meet Energy Star's qualification requirements. Effect Energy provides the following:* Verification of designs to ensure that Energy Star efficiency standards will be met* Marketing material* Training where required* Inspection of the initial framing during construction* Thermal bypass inspection to be performed after insulation and prior to Sheetrock* Final inspection (building envelope leakage test/HVAC system leakage test)* Final certification, including Energy Star certificate, diagnostic summary, label, window sticker, maintenance and sustainability information and congratulatory letter* Data tabulated for display of accountability and continuous improvement We also offer independent inspection and testing of new homes in order to meet NAHBGreen's qualification requirements. Effect Energy provides the following:* Verification of designs to ensure ENERGY STAR efficiency standards will be met (one integral facet of green building)* Marketing material* Training where required* Notification of scheduled rough and final Inspection to NAHBGreen* Inspection of the initial framing during construction* Thermal bypass inspection to be performed after insulation and prior to Sheetrock includes verification and confirmation of points* Final inspection (building envelope leakage test/HVAC system leakage test) and complete the final verification report* Final certification, including NAHBGreen and Energy Star certificate, diagnostic summary, label, window sticker, maintenance and sustainability information and congratulatory letter* Data tabulated for display of accountability and continuous improvement We do comprehensive energy evaluations of existing homes to ensure clients are given an independent expert assessment of their unique situation. Effect Energy provides customized evaluations to meet specific needs that include, but are not limited to, the following:* Building science basics (class is conducted during evaluation)* Building envelope leakage testing (blower door)* HVAC system leakage test (duct tester)* Site evaluation (11-point inspection)* Comprehensive report We do comprehensive energy retrofit of existing homes. Effect Energy provides customized retrofit measures to meet specific needs that include, but are not limited to, the following:* Sealed crawlspace* Radiant barrier* Insulation remediation* Duct sealing/replacement* Duct cleaning* Water heater and pipe insulation* Complete air sealing* Complete lighting remediationOur mission is to promote and provide excellent viable solutions for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability, servicing both residential and commercial industries.

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The 10 Best Duct Cleaning Services in Greensboro, NC 2017

If you touch museum interactive screens, wash your hands afterward. Thats what experts say in an era when museum visitors are increasingly encouraged to handle iPads and other interactives. Staffers tend to clean those daily at best, although researchers have found that digital screens may harbor more bacteria than toilet seats.

There are plenty of documented cases of infections likely being transmitted by objects, such as rails, phones and clothing, says Jonathan Eisen, a microbiology and immunology professor at the University of California at Davis School of Medicine.

Many overestimate the risk of contracting germs by touching pathogen-rich communal objects, but it is important to realize it is not zero, Eisen says. After swiping a screen, museum visitors should wash their hands with soap and water before touching their mouths, eyes or noses. They should also avoid touching their organs directly to the screens.

That is, dont lick the museum iPad or screen, Eisen says.

Parents might want to avoid having young children who cant help touching their eyes, noses or mouths touch germy objects. During flu season, maybe museums should wash shared objects more often than otherwise, Eisen says.

Christopher Mason, an associate professor at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York who has studied subways and high-trafficked public spaces in dozens of cities, is less concerned. You are effectively just shaking hands with more people, he says. And Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Healths National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, cautions about driving yourself a little bit to anxiety worrying about things like hotel door knobs.

You can get around all of this by just washing your hands as frequently as you can, Fauci says. Im sure theres a finite risk, probably extremely small.

But even slight risks are scary, notes Neal Johnson, chair of the American Alliance of Museums media and technology professional network and senior digital projects manager at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin.

Nobody wants to be responsible for spreading the next epidemic, he says.

At the Newseum in Washington, everything is wiped down especially the current virtual-reality Berlin Wall interactive display, says Scott Williams, the chief operating officer. Museums know most visitors arent going to want to put something on their ears unless its been insanely cleaned, he says. (Williams keeps wet wipes at his desk and cleans his phone constantly.)

During flu season, the Newseum washes devices that visitors handle on a daily basis, Williams says. Thats also the policy at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, the International Spy Museum and the National Building Museum. At the Smithsonians museums, there is nothing special about the way we wipe screens, spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas says. Its the same as you do at home.

Visitors to the National Museum of Natural History can handle about 50 interactive screens, says Elizabeth Musteen, chief of exhibit production. The museum uses screens where necessary to tell certain stories, as in the ocean chemistry display. If you say the words ocean chemistry visitors are like, Im on vacation! she says.

Musteen, who has worked at the museum for 21 years, often sees parents pull children away from interactives. People cant resist touching a screen, she says. And some are so conditioned to touch screens that she sees them touch non-interactive displays.

About 30percent of the museums 7million visitors each year tend to interact somewhat with touchable screens, she estimates, and about 10 percent use them for long enough to gain significantly meaningful experiences. Thats 700,000 people each year touching screens, which Musteen says are typically cleaned every morning.

We do try to mitigate the germ issue, she says. I think a lot of people dont think about it, like they dont think about trying on a pair of sunglasses at Target.

Musteen has asked her young children not to put their heads in those viewing stations at other museums. But when there was a flu outbreak and she and colleagues worried that theyd have to restock hand sanitizer dispensers regularly at the museum, that proved unfounded.

The cynics among us thought theyd be empty every 30 minutes, but they werent, Musteen says. When the museum opens its May 2018 exhibit Outbreak, there will be touch screens and hand sanitizer dispensers, she says.

At the National Gallery of Art, acoustiguides are cleaned after each use, and the media team cleans exhibition touch screens during daily rounds, with thorough cleanings weekly as needed, spokeswoman Anabeth Guthrie says.

Building Museum staffers clean iPads daily with wipes we get from Staples, spokeswoman Emma Filar says. Workers are directed to keep an eye on surfaces like iPads to clean as needed during the day and they talk to materials manufacturers about how to clean objects in exhibitions, such as its 2015 installation The Beach and its current Wright on the Walls show.

At the Capitol Visitor Center, the maintenance staff cleans screens every evening, and we have Purell stations around the building, says Laura Trivers, a spokeswoman.

The Spy Museum staff hasnt had great luck with iPads and recently retired a display, says youth education director Jacqueline Eyl. People want an experience thats unparalleled in everything they do today in their leisure time, especially with ticket prices, she says.

Eyl is skeptical of virtual reality interactives in museums due to germs. I dont want to have to clean the goggles, she says. The headphones are kind of use at your own [risk]. ... Theres a certain grodiness that you have to think about with high visitation and germs.

Changes in cleaning routines during flu season havent come up at the museum, which has an enclosed air vent through which visitors crawl. I suppose maybe they should, Eyl says.

Johnson, of the Austin museum, is less concerned about VR displays. When he goes to trade shows, Johnson often sees the people running virtual reality stations conspicuously wipe helmets after each use. Ive never heard anybody else worry about it until now, he says.

At this years South by Southwest conference, which was dominated by virtual reality, that wasnt the case. I didnt see a single wipe down in between uses, and I didnt see anybody who cared, he says.

But germs have the Newseums Williams wondering if museums should encourage visitors when possible to download extra content onto their phones. That way, theyre using their own devices, he says.

Several museums staffers questioned the practicality of cleaning screens after each use, but thats just what happens with bleach-free Lysol or Clorox wipes with the iPads that the Detroit Institute of Arts staffers hand out to visitors at the museums Rivera Court. And with other tools, spokeswoman Christine Kloostra says, attending staff is known to periodically clean those devices in the midmorning or afternoon downtime.

Read more:
Can high culture make you sick? - Washington Post

Signs are pointing toward an upcoming renovation of the long-vacant Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge building at 2115 Cass Ave. in downtown Detroit.

A document that the Ilitch family's Olympia Development of Michigan filed with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality last week shows some asbestos cleanup is scheduled to take place over a few days next week, with Detroit-based Qualified Abatement Services Inc. as the contractor.

In addition, there has been parking lot work around the building at Cass Avenue and Elizabeth Street across from Bookie's Bar and Grill recently, as well as some painting done on plywood on window coverings.

Seems to me that historic renovation is in the works. But Olympia is remaining mum to me about any details of a renovation.

I asked Ed Saenz, director of communications for the Detroit-based company, for information Thursday about what's in store for the property, but he only said Olympia has "not announced future plans yet."

The DEQ document lists Detroit-based Olympia as the owner and says the building is 30,000 square feet (although Washington, D.C.-based real estate information service CoStar Group Inc. says it's about 45,000 square feet).

Olympia is spearheading the 45- to 50-block District Detroit project anchored by Little Caesars Arena for the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons that is set to open next month.

In May, the company announced plans to renovate four other long-vacant buildings around the arena for residential use:

Historic Detroit, which tracks the city's buildings and architecture history, says the Moose Lodge building opened in 1922 and was designed by Baxter, O'Dell & Halpin. Curbed Detroit reported on some minor repair work taking place there in 2013.

There were plans as far back as 1994 to turn the vacant building into a nightclub, Crain's reported at the time.

Olympia paid $1.5 million for it in February 2007, according to city records.

Link:
Is long-vacant Moose Lodge building inching toward renovation? - Crain's Detroit Business (blog)

Photo: Richard Webner /Express-News

A $17 million parking garage next to the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts is expected to wrap up construction next month.

A $17 million parking garage next to the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts is expected to wrap up construction next month.

The garage will add 521 spaces to parking-starved downtown.

The garage will add 521 spaces to parking-starved downtown.

The garage includes a meeting area for First Baptist Church of San Antonio, which owns the land.

The garage includes a meeting area for First Baptist Church of San Antonio, which owns the land.

Parking has been a problem for the Tobin Center since it opened in 2014.

Parking has been a problem for the Tobin Center since it opened in 2014.

The parking garage will be open to the public when there are no events at the Tobin Center.

The parking garage will be open to the public when there are no events at the Tobin Center.

The Tobin Center contributed $7 million to the garages construction, while the city of San Antonio and Bexar County both chipped in $5 million.

The Tobin Center contributed $7 million to the garages construction, while the city of San Antonio and Bexar County both chipped in $5 million.

Parking will likely become even more scarce in the area after construction projects such as CPS Energys new headquarters and the Arts Residences hotel and condo tower are completed nearby.

Parking will likely become even more scarce in the area after construction projects such as CPS Energys new headquarters and the Arts Residences hotel and condo tower are completed nearby.

The garage also includes 5,600 square feet of retail space.

The garage also includes 5,600 square feet of retail space.

This rendering shows the appearance of Alamo Plaza under a master plan that would include an interpretation of the south wall and historic main gate of the mission and 1836 battle compound, made of structural glass. Other features include a 135,000-square-foot museum; historic footings of the historic walls displayed under structural glass; and interpretation of an acequia, or water canal, on the west end of the plaza.

This rendering shows the appearance of Alamo Plaza under a master plan that would include an interpretation

Mixed-Use Development at Hemisfair$200 million

Mixed-Use Development at Hemisfair$200 million

San Pedro Creek Rehabilitation$175 million

San Pedro Creek Rehabilitation$175 million

Essex Modern City mixed-use development$150 million

Frost Tower$142 million

Frost Tower$142 million

Federal Courthouse$142 million

Federal Courthouse$142 million

CPS Energys new headquarters $100 million

CPS Energys new headquarters$100 million

EPICenter innovation center$74 million

EPICenter innovation center$74 million

Encore River Walk apartment complex $60 million

Encore River Walk apartment complex$60 million

Hemisfairs Civic Park$58 million

Hemisfairs Civic Park$58 million

Broadway corridor infrastructure improvements$56 million

Broadway corridor infrastructure improvements$56 million

Canopy by Hilton hotel$39 million

Canopy by Hilton hotel$39 million

Alameda Theater renovations$26 million

Alameda Theater renovations$26 million

Tobin Center parking garage nearing end of construction

A $17 million parking garage next to the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts is expected to wrap up construction next month, adding 521 spaces to parking-starved downtown.

The garage, which broke ground in November, also includes 5,600 square feet of retail space and a meeting area for First Baptist Church of San Antonio, which owns the land. With a brick and tile exterior, it was designed by local architecture firm Marmon Mok Architects.

Parking has been a problem for the Tobin Center since it opened in 2014, said Jack Freeman, its vice president of facilities and operations. It will likely become even more scarce in the area after construction projects such as CPS Energys new headquarters and the Arts Residences hotel and condo tower are completed nearby.

That was the biggest question all the time where can I park? Freeman said.

Parking spots will cost $15 for regular spaces and $25 for reserved spaces, Tobin Center spokeswoman Kelley Kendall said.

The garage will be open to the public when there are no events at the Tobin Center, Freeman said. Those who are attending events at the venue will be able to reserve some spaces online.

The Tobin Center contributed $7 million to the garages construction, while the city of San Antonio and Bexar County both chipped in $5 million.

RWebner@express-news.net

@rwebner

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Tobin Center parking garage nearing end of construction - mySanAntonio.com

Dallas Business Journal

High-profile parcel in Plano's Legacy Business Park getting high-rise office, hotel Dallas Business Journal The plans for the 37-acre tract include three office buildings ranging from eight- to 10-stories, totaling up to 2 million square feet with a 200-room boutique hotel and up to 100,000 square feet of retail space. Construction on the initial phase is ...

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High-profile parcel in Plano's Legacy Business Park getting high-rise office, hotel - Dallas Business Journal

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -

The landscape of Youngstown State University continues to transform as University leaders joined city officials Friday for a ceremony to mark the start of construction on another major campus project.

The ground breaking wassymbolic as work is already underway on the Enclave, a first class student housing and retail project at Wick and Lincoln Avenues.

As construction begins on this new project,the first students are moving in at the Edge, another newly completed housing complex. Sharon Sanders says students like the idea of apartment style housing.

"My main thing was Iwas going to have my own bathroom and Ididn't have to share it with about 40 other girls on a floor. So that's what really attracted me to the Edge," Sanders said.

Both the Edge and Enclave are projects that YSU President Jim Tressel outlined in 2016 in a presentation called, Next YSU:A New Look for a New Era. Contracting with private developers for housing is a win win for the university.

"Itmakes a whole lot of sense, itshifts a lot of risk from the university to a private developer. So we still get the benefit of having a larger inventory of beds for our students on campus," Neal McNally, V.P. of Finance and Business Operations.

The state of the art housing units, coupled with on campus retail space are attractive to potential students.

"We're trying to make YSU more of a a destination campus for students. We want them to be able to stay on campus, to have a positive student experience and along with that comes a growing demand for those types of amenities, restaurants and so forth," said McNally.

The 2016 plan also called for a new bookstore, and Barnes & Nobel just recently opened its new stand-alone store. Renovations are underway at Jones Hall, where a new Student Success Center will be connected to the Maag Library.

President Tressel says an active and growing university attracts more students and benefits the entire community. "It's going to do nothing but create activity downtown, forMill Creek Park, the Butler, you name it.So it's all part of what we need to do to keep getting better every day, " Tressel said.

The Enclave project also represents a YSU success story. The private developer is LRC Realty, and it's President is Frank Licata, a Youngstown native, and Youngstown State graduate.

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YSU marks new housing construction - WFMJ

Rendering Credit: Marchetto Higgins Stieve

As reported recently, the area of Jersey Citys west side along the Hackensack River known as Bayfront has been mired in cleanup, controversy, and leadership quicksandno one has emerged as a front-runner to advance the development beyond the rendering stage. However, directly across Route 440, another development is well underwayand already bringing to this neighborhood what Bayfront up to now has only proposed.

University Place is a $400 million, 22-acre development with four mixed-use projects in the works as well as a new ShopRite, parking garage, and housing for New Jersey City University (NJCU) students.

The first mixed-use building, developed by Claremont Companies, is about to top out, bringing 163 rental units and 12,000 square feet of retail to market. Leasing is slated to begin next year for May 2018 move-ins. Claremont Companies second mixed-use building will break ground in April 2018.

GRID Real Estate was tapped to market the first phase of retail space at the project. Available is over 10,000 square feet of space including a restaurant opportunity that will sit at the gateway of University Place. With very little options to choose from on the west side of Jersey City, University Places restaurants will cater to the university along with the outside public who now have to hop in their car and head downtown to grab a bite to eat. Said Bobby Antonicello Jr. of GRID Real Estate.

KKF University Enterprises is developing the other two mixed-use buildings, set to break ground in August of this year and December 2018. The four buildings will total 630 luxury rental apartments and 30,000 square feet of retail space. The developments have been staggered to minimize leasing competition.

The new ShopRite will be 70,000 square feet and 1,000 vehicles will be able to park in the new parking garage. The new dorm for NJCU has been up and running since August 2016 and houses 430 students. And the entire development is built around a tree-lined, brick-paved boulevard, anchored by a public plaza with enough space to host outdoor performances. New Jersey City Universitys new Center for Music, Dance, and Theater also plans to build its home here, possibly opening as early as 2019.

Like Bayfront, University Places parcel of land on the east side of Route 440, bounded by West Side Avenue, was also owned by Honeywell whose predecessor contaminated the soil to the point of mandatory remediation which was completed years ago.

Unlike Bayfront, what was called the West Campus of New Jersey City University was reimagined, redeveloped, and rebranded as University Place at a breakneck pace. Mr. Anthony Bastardi, CEO of Strategic Development Group, calls this project his passion for the last three years, wanting to develop a place, in the urban planning sense, where people live, work, and play.

Involving the community, NJCU, Jersey City officials, and professional experts as key stakeholders from the very beginning certainly helped to drive the project forward. University Place was imagined, embraced, and contracted all in one year, said Mr. Bastardi. Incredibly, all development up to this point, from concept to construction, has taken only three years.

University Place Boulevard is nearly complete and landscaped while surrounding roads are also being built. Mr. Bastardi estimates that one year from now, in the summer of 2018, all the roads will be in, 160 families will have moved into the first building where there will be a restaurant for us to have lunch, and three more buildings will be under construction.

University Place will activate 1,080 permanent jobs and $12 million in state and local taxes annually. Plus the 30-year PILOT negotiated with Jersey City will result in $93 million in payments to Jersey City.

--

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University Place Moves Full Steam Ahead While Bayfront Languishes - Jersey Digs

By Dave Pasquantonio, Correspondent

Capes are the quintessential New England home style. Towns throughout Massachusetts, including Walpole, have neighborhoods peppered with capes, many springing up during the post-WWII housing boom. Theyre reassuringly familiar even in places where they werent built in large numbers. When kids learn to draw a house, they draw a cape. And those green Monopoly houses? Theyre capes, too, down to the customary center chimney.

Early traditional capes, designed with Yankee practicality to combat the regions harsh climate, shared several common design features. They were side gabled, with steep roofs to quickly shed water and snow, and had small roof overhangs. A center front door was flanked with either one or two pairs of windows, depending on the homes footprint. Center chimneys provided heat and light to the first floor, which often consisted of simply a cooking and gathering space and a bedroom separate spaces for the kitchen, dining room, living room and bedroom came later. The smaller second level was accessed by a steep, narrow staircase to maximize the first-floor living space, and was either unused or turned into two small (and often unheated) rooms for children or guests. The homes were finished with cedar shingles or clapboard.

Most modern-day cape owners need more space and function than those original homes could provide. Upgraded and more recently built capes feature gable dormer windows, shed dormers or Nantucket dormers (two gable dormer windows joined by a shed dormer) to increase living space vertically. Where theres room to expand horizontally, capes are outfitted with wing, extension or bump-out additions. Basements are easily finished due to the simplicity of the original foundation. Common exterior add-ons include sunrooms, porches, and garages, either attached directly to the home or accessed through a breezeway.

Though its rare to see a newly-built conventional cape in an age of ever-more-enormous homes, some recently-constructed houses take the essence of a traditional cape and add a larger footprint, multi-level flooring, dormers, and higher first-floor ceilings, giving the home the square footage and feel of a colonial, but with a unique style.

Here are a few examples of capes currently for sale in Walpole.

Built in 1942, the traditional cape at 82 Norfolk St. eschews a second floor in favor of a single level of living space, along with a walk-out basement ripe for finishing. A half-acre of land and a modern interior, coupled with the potential for vertical expansion, make this a great home for the buyer with an eye on the future. ($360,000; agent Thomas Blount; 781-417-5256).

At 324 Coney St. in East Walpole is a 1939 cape that received a two-story addition in 2009, and now boasts almost 2,200 square feet of living space. With three bedrooms and three baths, this 10-room beauty is a great example of an older home taken to new heights with smart improvements. ($499,900; agent Jen Conley; 508-265-3824).

The 1980s-built Gambrel cape at 7 Deerfield Drive retains traditional features while adding a shed dormer in the rear and three gable dormer windows and a gambrel roof in the front, along with an attached garage connected by additional living space. With over 2,500 square feet of living space, its an excellent example of a cape crossing into colonial-feel territory. ($635,000; agent Robin Wish; 508-944-1967).

The home at 7 Jessie Way also has three gable dormer windows and a shed dormer, and a front-gabled attached garage. It, too, was constructed in the 1980s, well after the initial wave of smaller capes, and thus has more pizzazz than its forebears. With about two acres of land and an 1,800 square-foot basement ready for finishing, this home provides living space on par with many homes found in executive developments, but without a cookie-cutter feel. ($719,900; agent Tony Ruggiero; 508-648-7393).

Its not difficult to spot capes during a drive through Walpole. Our town has plenty of these rugged little homes, which are easy to live in, easy to upgrade and easy to draw.

Original post:
Walpole Homefront: A primer on the quintessential cape - Wicked Local Walpole