Its the middle of January. That probably means you are still trying to stick to your New Years resolutions. And if youre like many people, losing weight, eating healthier and getting to the gym more often are probably some of your top 2020 goals.

That appears to be one reason why WW, the company formerly known as Weight Watchers, is off to a hot start this year. Shares of WW are up nearly 10% in the first few weeks of 2020, adding to impressive gains for the stock over the past few months.

WW shares are up nearly 75% in the past six months alone and are not far from their 52-week high.

The company has enjoyed an impressive run under the leadership of CEO Mindy Grossman, who left shopping network HSN in 2017 to take over as WW CEO.

Grossman has worked closely with Oprah Winfrey, who is a WW customer, spokesperson, board member and investor. Winfrey bought $43.5 millions worth of WW shares in October 2015. Winfreys 8% stake in WW is now valued at more than $225 million.

WW unveiled a new wellness program dubbed myWW in November. The program has three different weight loss plans but also emphasizes fitness and other healthy living choices as opposed to just dieting and counting calories and points.

The WW rally is impressive. But its left many on Wall Street wondering if the stock needs to take a breather.

According to data from Refinitiv, the consensus price target for WW from analysts is just under $38 a share. Thats nearly 10% below the stocks current price of around $42.

It may simply be too soon to tell if dieters are really planning to stick to their weight loss plans. Thats the main reason why Linda Bolton Weiser, an analyst with D.A. Davidson, downgraded WW stock in November. Her new price target is $33.

Weiser wrote in a report at the time that there was uncertainty over diet season marketing, She said in another report later in November that the new myWW program, is good but it is certainly not unique, as other weight loss programs (including Nutrisystem) are also focusing on greater personalization.

Concerns about increased competition from keto and paleo diets have also been a problem for WW. But the company is fighting back against these trends.

Everybody on the diet side looks for the quick fix. Weve been through this before and we know that we are the program that works, Grossman said in a conference call with analysts last February.

And Grossman told CNNs Poppy Harlow in April about how WW was adding more zero point foods that were low in carbs to help fight the keto craze, which also focuses on foods that are low in carbohydrates. Grossman also stressed that WW is about eating what you want in moderation as opposed to outright limiting entire categories of food.

That has helped push WW towards the top of Google search rankings for weight loss plans.

WW shares have come in from their December highs, which we believe is in part related to trepidation surrounding competitor weight loss programs and the persistence of keto and paleo, said BofA Global Research analyst Olivia Tong in a report.

But we are encouraged by WWs resilience in searches vs these alternatives. Keto remains king, but its search volume has declined significantly since last year, Tong added. She has a buy rating on WW and price target of $45.

The uncertainty about WW is likely to linger for the next few weeks though. The company should report fourth quarter and full-year earnings (as well as give a first glimpse at 2020 guidance) sometime during the end of February.

More here:
WW gets a New Year's bump, but should investors shed the stock? - KTVZ

Members of the East Hampton Village Zoning Board of Appeals, complaining that Andrew Goldstein was needlessly argumentative in representing his client, voted to adjourn the hearing on Friday.

An acrimonious exchange on Friday between the East Hampton Village Zoning Board of Appeals and an attorney ended in the boards abruptly adjourning a hearing. Members complained to the lawyer, Andrew Goldstein, that his remarks sounded more like an inquisition than a presentation of his clients application.

The contentious back-and-forth came shortly after the board found itself forced to defend a decision to reject one application while minutes later signaling approval of another. Each one, members emphasized, involves unique circumstances that had to be considered in the context of multiple criteria.

The applicant, James Danella of 49 La Forest Lane, was seeking a 654-square-foot variance in order to enlarge a closet in the master bedroom and add a bay window, a stair landing, a home office, a laundry room, and a shower. His house, built before the zoning code took effect, is 6,417 square feet, where the maximum now permitted is 5,679 square feet. Approval of the application would result in a 7,071-square-foot house.

Mr. Danella also needs variances to make alterations that would not comply with required front and side-yard setbacks.

From the street, the house is visible only from the driveway, Mr. Goldstein said; a thick hedge obscures it otherwise. All the requested floor area additions are to the rear of the house, he said, so the additional mass would not be visible from the street. The board has on many occasions said that under those conditions the variance for the gross floor area will not cause undesirable change in the character of the neighborhood or detriment to any nearby property, said Mr. Goldstein, who is a former chairman of the Z.B.A. He displayed a stack of papers that he said was a partial list of prior determinations demonstrating this.

The property is well under its allowable coverage, Mr. Goldstein noted, and has no accessory structures. The house itself has long existed at its excessive size without adverse comment, he said, and the additions, being invisible to neighbors, would not affect them.

I dont agree with that logic, that if you cant see it, its okay, said Lys Marigold, the boards chairwoman. Our code doesnt follow that, either. The difference between the allowable and proposed floor area is 24.5 percent, she said. Under our criteria, thats called substantial.

I would ask you, Mr. Goldstein answered, to tell me how this application is different from the many other applications in which you have said if you cant see it, it doesnt affect neighborhood character. . . . You voted on these applications yourself.

But, said Larry Hillel, a board member, whether or not alterations are visible is only one factor in the boards deliberations. Ms. Marigold repeated the 24.5-percent increase in floor area, suggesting that the additions sought could be made within the houses existing space. Mr. Goldstein countered that part of the 24.5 percent is legally pre-existing and not subject to code, citing another prior determination.

Voices grew louder, and Mr. Goldstein and board members began talking over one another. The attorney was about to cite more prior determinations when the chairwoman cut him off. I dont want to hear it! Ms. Marigold said. Each one . . . has its own set of circumstances. . . . So it doesnt help to quote these things.

Mr. Goldstein referred to one anyway.

Theres also a shift in the feeling of the village, Ms. Marigold said. The feeling in the village is that houses are getting bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger.

Youre deciding this application based on a feeling in the village? Mr. Goldstein, sounding incredulous, asked. No, was the answer, but you can quote determinations from five years ago,10 years ago. Things have definitely changed.

The applicant is a taxpaying resident, Mr. Goldstein protested. The code provides for variances. So Im asking you, in order to depart from these precedents, what fact is different in this case?

Board members reiterated the houses already substantial floor area, reminding Mr. Goldstein that among the criteria by which they judge applications is whether the relief sought can be achieved without a variance.

Youre saying that where theres no effect on the neighborhood, and he has the ability somehow to turn a bedroom into a closet, thats grounds to deny the variance? Mr. Goldstein asked.

This shouldnt be so argumentative, Ms. Marigold finally said, John McGuirk voicing agreement.

Im flabbergasted that youre so willing to depart from your precedents without giving us a fact as to why, Mr. Goldstein objected. I want to understand, how does this affect the character of the neighborhood or any neighbor?

Beth Baldwin, the villages attorney, spoke up. I think the point of this right now is a public hearing, not an inquisition of the zoning board.

And its horrible, Mr. McGuirk said. It really is horrible. . . . Were not on trial. Ms. Marigold suggested adjourning the hearing, and Mr. McGuirk agreed, but Mr. Goldstein continued to press for an explanation.

Youre doing yourself a disservice right now, Ms. Marigold said.

No, Mr. Goldstein answered. I think, frankly, that you have done the village a disservice.

The hearing was adjourned and is to resume at the boards next meeting, on Feb. 14.

Earlier in the meeting, the board looked unfavorably on Robert and Rosalind Woolcotts application to build a detached garage in the front yard at 55 Toilsome Lane. In the continuation of their hearing, the applicants stressed that the parcel they are redeveloping is just 80 feet wide, rendering an attached garage, which is permitted, or a garage in the rear of the property, impractical.

Based on the boards feedback at a prior meeting, the applicants had reduced the proposed garage from 704 to 598 square feet. The plan mirrors every immediate neighbors garage on Toilsome Lane and in no way harms the look and feel of the village, Mr. Woolcott said.

But Ms. Marigold, referring to a memo from Billy Hajek, the village planner, said the garages on neighboring properties either comply with code or are legally pre-existing. Every time we grant one of these garages in the front of the house we regret it, Mr. McGuirk said. A garage belongs in the back or attached. The hearing was closed.

The circumstances are different at 43 Terbell Lane, the board concluded, where Joseph and Amy Perella want to construct a detached garage in the front yard of their 4.4-acre property. Their house is 152 feet from the street and the proposed garage 97.7 feet away, said Mary Jane Asato, an attorney representing the applicants.

The proposed garage is not in front of the house per se, Ms. Asato said. Its in the definitional front, in the sense that the distance between the house and the street, it is within that area. Frankly, its really a side-yard situation, for visual impact.

A tennis court sits across the street from the Perellas driveway, and the rear of the property, which abuts Hook Pond, is affected by wetlands setbacks.

I believe it is substantially different from the case you had previously, Ms. Asato said, and the board agreed.

See more here:
It's a Zoning Board Hearing, 'Not an Inquisition' - East Hampton Star

WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) -

Save Century II volunteers are still working on their petition to save the building after plans for the new Riverfront showed that it would be demolished.

The petition Facebook pagehas been up for months and the petition itself followed behind. Now that the plans have been revealed, and don't include the five decade old building, supporters of the petition said they are trying to achieve their goal of giving Wichitans a say in if it stays or goes.

"The Kansas constitution guarantees all citizens that all political power is inherent in the people," said Karl Peterjohn, a Save Century II volunteer."And this petition is a way for them to fully express that power. We're askingin the petition that we have a vote."

Under the proposed plan, Century II would be demolished along with the old Hyatt garage and old library. In it's place would be a new performing arts center, Hyatt garage, convention center, public plaza and five mixed-use additions. You can find more details in the plan in the press release here.

Now, after the plan has been revealed, Save Century II supporters like Peterjohn said it could change the Wichita skyline forever.

"This is a representation of Wichita, of what we are as a community and people want to save those symbols," he said. "This building is a symbol of what is valuable and what is cherished in Wichita."

Something else to be aware of are scammers. People said they have received calls about online petitions and sites asking for money to fund the movement for Save Century II. Remember, the only petition that can be presented to the city is the one that organizers are collecting signatures on, at locations in person. Also, any money donated to the historic preservation alliance, is not done online. Only in-person or by mail.

To be put on the November ballot and go to a public vote, the petition needs about 12,500 votes. Right now, Save Century II advocate John Todd said they have around 800 notarized signatures. You can sign the petition at 435 N. Broadway.

See the article here:
Century II supporters still working on petition to save building - KAKE

This post was updated Jan. 13 at 1:57 a.m.

A new Northern Cafe restaurant will open in Westwood Village this year, making it the third within walking distance of UCLA in the Village.

The Northern Cafe franchise includes a dumpling house on Gayley Avenue, a noodle station on Weyburn Avenue and soon a new hot pot joint opening on Broxton Avenue. At a time when the Village is experiencing a high vacancy rate, the success of Northern Cafe stands out.

Lifelong Westwood resident Sam Powell had difficulty tracking down authentic Chinese food locally before the first Northern Cafe opened in 2016. His search included trips all the way to San Gabriel Valley.

The stuff you would see in Westwood Village the past decade (was always) the kind of build-your-own, fast-casual-type restaurants, Powell said.

The restaurants capitalize on foot traffic from UCLA students. Tony Wong, the manager of Northern Cafe on Weyburn Avenue, runs a tight ship from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Normally, it will be very busy, Wong said. All of the meals are very popular.

Just 30 minutes before it closed on Thursday night, Northern Cafe served seven customers. One of them was Peng Teng, a postdoctoral student at UCLA who visits the restaurant twice a week.

Around campus and on campus, (Northern Cafe) is the best Chinese restaurant, Teng said. There are not many choices here.

The third installment of the Northern Cafe franchise seeks to provide a new variety of Chinese delicacies in the area, Teng said.

Andrew Thomas, executive director of the Westwood Village Improvement Association, said he is excited to see the new location open.

I can add that Im always pleased when I see what I would personally call an upgrade in tenanting that fills a vacancy, Thomas said. Considering the success and quality that Northern Cafe brings, I would call their addition to our district an upgrade.

Westwoods vacancy rate is a persistent issue that has seen restaurants such as Ikes Love & Sandwiches, SpireWorks and Nushii close in 2019. Although Westwood has a vacancy rate of over 20%, Thomas said he hopes new additions will enhance local businesses and promote future ventures.

Businesses want to know they have an opportunity to be successful in communities where they open, Thomas said.

In its November meeting, the WVIA addressed the vacancy issue and proposed solutions such as sustaining business traffic, remodeling the Broxton parking garage and updating zoning codes to better allocate properties in the Village to businesses and affordable housing units.

Despite Westwood soon having three Northern Cafes within walking distance of each other, Thomas said that as long as the businesses enhance one another, all tenants are welcome.

Occupancy means activity, energy, pedestrians on our sidewalks, Thomas said. I dont believe microregulating businesses has helped our district. I know its contributed to our vacancy (rate).

Regulars at Northern Cafe are also excited to dine at the new location.

We grew up in Westwood and (have) seen a lot of places come and go, Powell said. Mostly, its just because the rent versus the foot traffic is always skewed toward the expensive side. Its kind of a weird thing to see (Northern Cafes success).

The hot pot restaurant will open sometime in 2020, Wong said. Betty Ren, the owner of Northern Cafe, declined to comment.

Continued here:
While other restaurants close, Northern Cafe to open 3rd Westwood location - Daily Bruin

NUTLEY, NJ - Nutley Commissioner Mauro Tucci presented his White Paper on "The Effect of Multi-Family Housing on Nutley NJ" at the Jan. 15 2019 Board of Commissioners Meeting. As "the apartments" remains one of the major topics of discussion locally, TAPinto Nutley is once again sharing the document.

The paper was the result of collaborative research from Nutley's five municipal departments and the Board of Education.

The paper is available on the Township of Nutley website. TAPinto Nutley was the first news organization to publish a copy of the report:

The Effect of Multi-Family Housing on Nutley NJ.

A White Paper

Mauro G. Tucci

Commissioner Department of Parks and Public Property

January 2019

DEFINITION OF A WHITE PAPER

A WHITE PAPER IS AN AUTHORITATIVE REPORT OR GUIDE THAT INFORMS READERS CONCISELY ABOUT A COMPLEX ISSUE AND PRESENTS THE ISSUING BODY'S PHILOSOPHY ON THE MATTER. IT IS MEANT TO HELP READERS UNDERSTANDAN ISSUE, SOLVE A PROBLEM OR MAKE A DECISION

ADDITIONALLY, THIS WHITE PAPER IS INTENDED TO INITIATE THOUGHT, DISCUSSION AND SOLICIT PUBLIC INPUTRELATIVE TO MEASURING THE IMPACT MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING HAS HAD ON THE TOWNSHIP AND WHAT, IF ANY, ADDITIONAL UNITS CAN BE SUPPORTED FROM A SERVICE,PHYSICAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE.

WATER UTILITY

The most obvious services that could be impacted in this departmenthave to begin with water capacity and sewage capacity.I have been informed by the licensed water and sewer operator that water consumption in 2018 was less than the previous year due to theextraordinary wet weather we experienced.

Moving forward our current water allotment could prove to be problematic should additional units be constructed. Our current water allotment is 3 million gallons per day. Any substantial new construction project will have an impact on the townships water distribution duringpeak demand times and in emergency situations.

Maintenance of our existing distribution system will in fact require cleaning and relining of water mains along with replacement and/orrefurbishment of existing valves, hydrants and appurtenances.

The cost of water in 2017 as demonstrated on the attached graph, from all of our suppliers, was $1,937,731.30, approximately 1% less than the2018 expenditure of $1,927252.50, which is not typical.

SEWER DIVISION

Sanitary sewer capacity could also be impacted with additional building. I'm told that our present capacity is sufficient at 9.02 million gallons per day. However, there may be a capacity constraint on the conveyance system which could require expansion of existing utilities i.e. Sewerconveyance piping, pumping apparatus etc.

In 2017 the township paid $3,207,649.76 to process waste generated from the sanitary sewer system as opposed to the $3,379,743.86 we paid in 2018, an increase of 5%, 2.02% which is directly attributable toPassaic Valley Sewage Commission processing. Obviously costs will increase commensurate with additional volumeshould we exceed our contracted allotment.

ROAD DIVISION

The impact in this area correlates to a numbers situation; the more people you have, potentially the more cars traversing our roads calling for increased maintenance and reconstruction translating into addedexpense.

NJ COMMUNITY SERVICES ACT

Reimbursement of services required under the State of NJ CommunityServices Act potentially could increase with the additional plowing, lighting, recycling, leaf collection and other services negotiated with anynew complexes.

The culmination of all the aforementioned services and increased costs, which are not offset, could very likely result in higher taxes and usercharges that would be passed on to our citizens.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

The information provided by this department included a comparison of calls for service or services rendered in the police, fire, court, and rescue squad divisions. Some had information that allowed comparisons to be made on a year to year basis and others had information that spannedseveral years.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Police Department compiled information on multi-unit complexesconsisting of eight units or more from 2010 thru 2017. In 2010 there were 417 calls for service as opposed to 2017 where there were 741 calls for service, or 324 more, representing an increase of 44% over the tenyear period.

Overall calls for service which include medical response, alarms, crime,domestics etc. totaled 61,353 for 2017 and 68,948 for 2018.

This comparison represents an increase of 7,595 calls or an 11% totalincrease.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

Likewise, the Fire Department compiled records comparing overall calls for service both year to year and over a nine-year period from 2010 to 2018. The ten-year increase starting with 2010 incidents totaling 1589 and ending in 2018 with 2208 accounted for an increase of 619 incidentsor 28.1%.

The annual increase from 2017 to 2018 was 409 incidents going from 1799 calls in 2017 to 2208 in 2018 representing a 19.6% increase.

MUNICIPAL COURT

In 2018 the municipal court handled 17,950 calls for service for a variety of issues. Information readily available for 2017 included the last quarterof the year and totaled 3290 contacts. Comparing the last three months of 2017 to the last three months of 2018 we experienced a 29% increase.A more detailed analysis would be necessary to ascertain trendinginformation that could be further validated.

RESCUE SQUAD

Our rescue squad responded to 5398 calls in 2017 and 5675 calls in 2018. The absolute increase was 277 additional calls representing a 5%increase.Increased service calls eventually translate into increased costs.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

This department believes that additional multi-family housing in conjunction with the normal turnover of existing housing stock coulddefinitely overwhelm their entire operation. The figures submitted reflect only the first six months of 2018 and have been projected for the entire year. Their belief is, with an ever increasing senior population andthe addition of younger families moving into town with school age children the demand for their services will greatly increase. The generalconsensus is they are reaching an unsustainable breaking point.

The projected amount of services provided for 2018 resulted in 4470contacts with Nutley residents in the following areas:

Veterans Affairs Bureau Health Screenings

Clinics

Transportation General Service calls/referrals Community Gardens

Marriages School Immunization Audits Immunizations Administered

Office Based Clinics Home Based Nursing Visits

Communicable Diseases Childhood Lead Poisoning Cases

Family Nursing Program Health Education & Promotion

Additional resources would be required to sustain this level of service ora reduction in what is offered.

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE FINANCE ANDCODE ENFORCEMENT

Impact on this department should be minimal with the exception of the code enforcement and building divisions which will be reviewing plans, issuing permits, inspecting construction, issuing certificates ofoccupancy and ultimately collecting taxes.

In 2018 this department facilitated 1917 zoning permits including fees,issued 2790 permits and inspected 7169 properties. Should the proliferation of multi-family construction continue, in addition to the normal work flow of granting permits for fences, additions alterations etc. and all the follow up work that is required, additional resourcesand/or personnel may be required.

The potential for additional multi-family units On 3 is great and depending on the number of units approved will surely impact theamount and flow of work in this department.Again, barring any financial arrangements surrounding large construction complexes, such as this, additional resources and staffingmay be necessary, either part time, full time or temporary.

DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND PUBLICPROPERTY

Like the Department of Revenue, Finance and Code Enforcement the Parks Department should realize minimal impact on the approximately 125 programs offered, which for the most part are self-sustaining andpoised for expansion.

Our 110 acres of parkland can easily accommodate additional usage, however, our playgrounds, fields and recreational facilities potentiallywill experience some stresses.Additional maintenance could necessitate the need for additionalresources.

NUTLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

The township presently has 33 multi-family housing complexes which has remained constant for the years of 2016 and 2017. The total number of students generated from all developments in 2016 was 360 out of a total 4104 total district students or 8.8%. The 2017 number of students

generated from the same 33 complexes actually decreased by ten students yielding 350 students out of a total district student population of 4128 or 8.5%. The total amount of district students actually increased bytwenty-four but were not generated from multi-family units.

Apparently the notion that additional multi-family units will produce more students, thus putting an additional strain on the district, is falseaccording to the demographer's data.

The current space situation is directly related to all day kindergarten, our highly successful special needs program and the ever evolvingDepartment of Education regulations.

The district has retained a demographer to compile the 2018 data to beutilized in future planning.

ON3 DEVELOPMENT

The departure of Hoffman LA Roche and the advent of the On 3

development has been a very exciting time here in Nutley. The establishment of the first private medical school in decades, the Seton Hall-Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine along with Seton Hall's College of Nursing and School of Health and Medical Sciences has produced the excitement and activity that we originally anticipated.

Modern Meadow has relocated to the On 3 location in Nutley and utilizes design, biology and engineering for sustainable manufacturing. Bio fabrication enables the company to grow nature's materials using

living cells instead of animals.

Ralph Lauren, the international fashion giant has signed a long term lease that will retain 500 jobs in the State of New Jersey and potentially create 200 additional positions that could be available to Nutley

residents.

Quest Diagnostics will be building a combination lab and office building along with a 1,000 space parking garage, retaining 754 jobs in the State and will provide an additional 384 jobs which Nutley residents can availthemselves to.

The potential development of multi-family units on his site is stillundecided and will most definitely include affordable units.

The build out of this development will hopefully generate sorely needed tax dollars to the township that someday may equal the amount HoffmanLa Roche paid.

This redevelopment breeds different uses that require special attention, and potentially increased services from all township departments, someof which we are already experiencing.

SYNOPSIS

At the beginning of this paper I provided a definition of what a White Paper is and what it provides. I have presented information as providedby the various Township Departments including the School District, along with my observations of the impact that multi-family housing ishaving on our Township.

The effect that multi-family housing is having on our township is complex. It is multi-faceted and it impacts our physical appearance, our infrastructure, township services and expenses, taxes and an intangible psychological effect on our perception of what our township is and what it is becoming. One of my greatest concerns is the erosion of what I refer to as our deep root commitment to our hometown. We have been as stable and attractive to both our existing residents and those who would be residents because of our enviable rich sense of community which keeps generation after generation of Nutleyites returning to live and raise their families. Our property values are the envy of many of our surrounding communities because of who and what we are. The addition of over 2200 multi-family units concerns me not because of who our new neighbors are but rather because they are renters and as such may not ever establish the Deep Roots that many of us have.

The nature and character of our township, in my opinion, should never substantially change. Change is not necessarily a bad thing or something I'm opposed to but it needs to be managed and planned properly.

Our recipe for success has been one of our many constants due to the commitment and foresight of our town leaders and professionals.

We agree and disagree on many issues, which I'm sure will include some of the findings and opinions noted in this paper, but at the end of the day the future of our township must always come first.

Additional study is required and should be done immediately. The additional units that have been built, and those in the pipeline, are already having effects, some obvious and others not so obvious, that need to be measured and managed.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONERS, BOE REPRESENTATIVES AND OUR PROFESSIONALS.

TAPinto Nutleywill help you build your brand, improve your online presence and reach thousands of people in Nutley and beyond. Packages include social media promotion, native content, clickable banner ads and D.I.Y. publication of events, press releases and more. Become a TAPinto Nutley advertiser! Call (908) 279-0303, or clickhere.

Continue reading here:
#ThrowbackThursday: Commissioner Tucci presents White Paper on Multi-Family Housing on Nutley at BOC Meeting - TAPinto.net

Many business owners on Dougherty and Whiskey roads are expressing concernswith the possibility of having another affordable housing complex built on Aiken's Southside, too close to roads they say have too many problems already.

On Monday, Aiken City Council will consider final approval of an ordinance to annex, rezone and approve the concept plan for the Woodford Trace apartments development, a 48-unit multifamily development containing two- and three-bedroom units on 4.56 acres near Owens Street.

A public hearing will be held prior to City Council's vote at the 7 p.m. meeting in the Aiken Municipal Building.

Pamela Ely, owner of Woods Farm Market on Dougherty Road, is concerned that the apartments on top of the addition of Taco Bell will add more congestion on the intersection of Dougherty and Whiskey.

This road is a mess, the traffic is awful," Ely said. "Theres been wrecks, and now theyre putting a Taco Bell and (Woodford Trace apartments) up right behind Aiken Motorcycle. This is the worst road and intersection. Another drive-thru place is just going to add more problems."

Ely noted Whiskey Road's"severe" lack ofsidewalks and walkways, where she has seen individuals nearly get hit walking down the road and across it.

The traffic that eases on to Dougherty Road off of Whiskey has put her customers and employees in danger on several occasions.

"All you hear all day is tires screeching and horns honking," Ely said. "Three of our farmers have been hit on the road, as well as about six of our customers during the last few years," Ely said.

Businesses owners say the planned development so close to Whiskey and Dougherty may add additional footwork and automobile congestion in an area that is already not safe for pedestrians and drivers.

Marsha Hopkins, owner of Aiken Motorcycle on Whiskey Road, has followed the housing project since its announcement. Aiken Motorcycle is located in front of Palmetto Crossing, where Hopkins said there has been litter and vandalism on her property.

"There is a tremendous amount of foot traffic from the existing apartments, Palmetto Crossing," Hopkins wrote in the letter to Ryan Bland, the City of Aiken's planning director, laying out why she opposes having the additional apartment complex.

"The impact of this foot traffic has resulted in my land being used by pedestrians daily."

Hopkins added that since Palmetto Crossing's opening, her garage has been vandalized and broken into. She included photos with her letter.

The pictures Hopkins produced with her letter showed the vandalized garage, as well as upturned Walmart shopping carts and other litter scattered on her property.

Hopkins said she is concerned that the issues she has had with Palmetto Crossing may transfer over to theWoodford Trace.

"I keep my property clean, but I don't go back there to clean theirs," Hopkins pointed out. "I think that if they're going to put in a residential area, then there needs to be measures in place, in addition to infrastructure, to where the residents aren't going to pollute the land of their neighbors. I don't think that's too much to ask."

Business owner Brian Briggs, of Dixie Lock & Safe on Owens Street, and Patrick Donovan, of Bravefriend Apparel and Design on Whiskey Road, submitted similar letters to City Council stating foot traffic as a primary reason to not build the apartment complex so close to Whiskey Road.

"Not only do we have the impact of many more cars on the road, but there is a tremendous amount of foot traffic from the existing apartments, Palmetto Crossing," PatrickDonovan said in his letter. "The impact of this foot traffic has resulted in so much more litter, attempted breaks-ins to the back and front of our buildings. There is not enough room for more automobile traffic."

Donovan also noted that the traffic problem should be addressed first before any additional infrastructure is added along Whiskey Road.

The plans for the Woodford Trace were originally proposed at the Oct. 12 City Council meeting, only to be turned down by the Aiken Planning Commission at its Oct. 15 meeting.

Planning Commission members pointed outwhat they deemed "a lack of suitable infrastructure in the area."

During that hearing, the commission chairman,Jack Hunter, described the area as "a nightmare" an observation informed by his many trips down Dougherty Road, he explained.

On Dec. 9, City Council voted to advance the development 5-2, taking into consideration Planning Commission's recommendation of denying the project, after a back-and-forth work session and a lengthy public hearing. City Council members Ed Woltz and Kay Biermann Brohl dissented.

The location for the new apartments would be off Owens Street, an L-shaped connector tying together Whiskey and Dougherty roads between Walmart and Publix and along Dougherty Road.

Those in favor of the Woodford Trace development have cited the city's lack of affordable housing and the need to quickly, and smartly, address the problem.

"The community has an excellent location with easy access to employment, retail, parks, public transportation and community services," reads a project narrative provided to City Council.

The narrative also states that "residents (are anticipated) to work within one mile of the community."

The initial qualifying income for the proposed Woodford Trace apartments is $22,000-$40,740, according to documents submitted to the city.

"These are working class people," said City Council member Lessie Price during the Dec. 9 meeting. "We should not ... prematurely determine that these are reckless people coming in and their children are going to run wild. These are people that care about their families."

Economic Development PartnershipPresident and CEO Will Williams, speaking directly to City Council on Dec. 9, said the need for apartments in the city is certainly there. The Economic Development Partnership is a nonprofit that works to improve the business landscape in Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick and Saluda counties.

The Taco Bell currently under construction at the intersection of Whiskey and Dougherty roads is scheduled to be complete by March.

Additionally,the Whiskey-Dougherty intersection will have two right turn-only lanes and one left turn-only lane, which are meant to help alleviate the traffic in the area. The additions are part of the city's Intersection Improvement Project, which will end with the added lanes.

The new lanes are set to be completed by March as well.

According to statistics provided byLt. Jennifer Hayes,records manager for the Aiken Department of Public Safety, there were 24 accidents on Whiskey Road between 2017 to 2019.

An additional 24 accidents have occurred on Neilson Street, Owens Street, Spaulding Drive, Spencer Drive and Silver Bluff Road, where 18 of the 24 accidents have occurred.

None of the accidents were fatal.

The city has previously reviewed options to relieve some of the issues on Whiskey Road. In August 2018, the city discussed the concept, the Whiskey Road Corridor Congestion Relief Project, with consultant Rick Toole, the president of W.R. Toole Engineers.

The project,previously estimated at $120 million, consists of several smaller infrastructure ventures that involvestormwater and road improvements along Whiskey Roaditself; a reformattedDougherty Roadcorridor, including traffic circles; and more.

The project is in its preliminary stage, said City ManagerStuart Bedenbaugh.

The City Council will additionally review a concept plan for a new road that will incorporate the Woodford Trace apartments driveway at its Monday night meeting.

The proposed road will come off of the Pawnee-Neilson connector, which parallels Whiskey Road, and should "alleviate, but not eliminate" additional footwork and traffic off Whiskey and Dougherty roads.

The road, if constructed, would be built simultaneouslywith the Woodford Trace apartments.

Residents will be allowed to share their opinion about the planned development at a public hearing at City Council on Monday evening.

Planned amenities in the new development include a playground, picnic area, business center, community room and a laundry facility, according to agenda documents.

Thirty of the pitched apartments there would be two-bedroom units. The other 18 would feature three bedrooms.

The concept plan depicts nearly 100 parking spots, more than what's required by city rules.

Flatiron Partners and Classic Development Company are listed as the developers for Woodford Trace.

Examples of previous projects handled by Flatiron Partners are included in City Council meeting packet for the Monday meeting.

Woodford Trace SC is registered to a Columbia address.

Staff writer Colin Demarest and news editor Holly Kemp contributed to this article.

much to ask."

Read the rest here:
Business owners disagree with housing complex planned for Dougherty-Whiskey area - Aiken Standard

Certain renovations and additions can increase the value of your home. (Pixabay)

With the South African economy taking a beating in recent years many homeowners have taken to converting available space into a granny flat.

This seems like a great idea to being in a bit of extra cash, but just where do you start?

Setting a realistic budget is key. Put together a guideline estimate of what the costs will be.

ALSO READ : Maintenance more popular than renovations among homeowners

Planning approval is critical if you are looking to undertake additions to current structures on the property, whether it be to the main building, garage or outbuildings that you have earmarked to turn into an income generator.

This means you need to engage an architectural draughtsman or designer to draw up plans for submission to your local planning department

Ensure youve planned where doors, windows, electrical sockets, lights, cupboards and wardrobes and plumbing will go before you start. It is easier to change at the planning stage than to change your mind later on.

Independent bathroom facilities are essential and a bathroom en suite is possibly the best way to go. No prospective tenant wants to share bathroom facilities with the residents of the main house.

Ensure the space is appealing with a clear layout of designated living spaces such as the living area, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom.

Stick to painting the walls in neutral colours and ensure you have planned for adequate light. A dark dingy environment will give the impression of poor quality.

Designated parking for the person living in the granny flat is a must. A parking bay guarantees them a safe and convenient space for their vehicle.

Defining an independent method for entry and exiting the property offers the tenant the freedom to come and go as they please, without causing a disturbance to anyone else.

All it will take to make your extra space work for you is a little bit of planning and good execution.

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Make that extra space work for you - South Coast Herald

With the increasing expenditure on quality life by Indian urbanites and their rising exposure to exotic destinations in the global village, the need for interior designers is going all-time high at present times. On the other hand, due to rising population and a paradigm shift in family structures; joint to nuclear families, the per capita land consumption is decreasing day by day.

Therefore, effective and efficient use of the limited space is not just the choice, but the need of the people. With all these developments, interior designing is emerging as a booming career option for people with a creative bent of mind.

But, before making any final decision, below is some information about the industry that every aspiring candidate must know in advance.

Truly, anyone can become an interior decorator if s/he has a creative mindset and attributes discussed below.

A person who likes playing with colours, fabrics and textiles can become a decorator by merely printing business cards and promoting themselves to clients.

Therefore it becomes important to know what a person should actually be pursuing.

Interior design does not necessarily mean designing and planning residence interiors and other living spaces.

There are several career opportunities in interior designing from which one can choose, such as furniture designers, exhibition designer, lighting designers, kitchen designer, architect, architectural technologist, product designer textile designer, stylist, production designer.

For an entry-level for interior designer, average pay is around 4 lakh per annum, while a senior interior designer could earn up to a 30 lakh per annum.

Receiving a proper salary depends on a lot of factors, such as education, location, work experience and size of the company.

More importantly, one needs to win the favour of the potential employer by impressing him/her with the exposure and experience one cherishes.

1. Knack for apt design: It is understood that to become an interior designer, one should have a knack for colour, spatial arrangements, architecture and textiles, there is a wide range of skills which is needed since a designer also works with builders, architects, government agencies and business owners.

2. Communication skills: In order to become a successful interior designer, one needs to be educated and well-rounded.

Apart from technical skills such as space design, furniture design, technical drawing, material knowledge, and familiarisation with interior design tools, one must develop a great harmony between interpersonal and communication skills, to maintain a good network with the clients, contractors and suppliers.

Of course, one must have the brains to send it to the market and the designing service and update them regularly.

3. Detailed information: Some of the details may be boring, but to work on a particular project, knowledge of these details is quintessential for interior designers.

4. Keeping up with the trend: Interior design has become a competitive business. One needs to grab the attention of people towards the design in order to gain success.

The future trends involving population growth, designing for the elderly, modern architecture and green design can help in gaining the upper hand in the job market.

It is necessary to keep on the tab with the latest design trends by reading design publications and websites, communicating with fellow designers and following a mentor.

- Article by Rishabh Sarpal, Concept Architect and Founder of Rishabh Sarpal Atelier

Read: Career in Interior Designing: Skills needed, job opportunities, salary and where to study

Read: Skills to become an interior designer that you cannot learn in college

Read: Career opportunities in Business Interiors

Read this article:
Interior Designing as career: Specialisations, salary and skills needed - India Today

PINELLAS PARK Kris Creque had gotten used to the pilgrimage to Jollibee in Jacksonville, the one place in Florida she wanted to go when she was homesick for the Philippines. Shed rally her family, endure five hours in the car, order six buckets of crispy Chickenjoy and 10 sides of gravy and ferry the food five hours back to Port Charlotte. Whatever she didnt finish, she froze.

Early on Friday, the 33-year-old Publix cake decorator stood No. 138 in a line that had been building since 4:30 p.m. the day before, with a Sharpied sign that said #NOMOREDRIVINGTOJACKSONVILLE.

At 9 a.m., confetti cannons blazing, the double doors of Jollibee Pinellas Park would swing open, with the promise of Palabok Fiesta just ahead.

Creque had grown up eating Chickenjoy in the Philippines, where Jollibees dominate McDonalds, but married an American and moved here in 2016. On Friday morning, she made it to Pinellas Park before sunrise.

First in line was Angelo Honculada, 21, a University of South Florida senior studying cellular and molecular biology. While he waited with a blanket, his Filipina mom called and asked if he was doing his principles of immunology homework. Honculada passed the phone to the stranger behind him. No. 2 Arlene Bonifacio, 54, vouched for Honculada, even though she had just met him and he kept bragging about beating her by five minutes.

Nobody got much sleep, what with the mosquitoes and anticipation and drive-through pavement for a bed. Instead, they shared McDonalds snacks, camp chairs and blankets. By morning, a DJ had arrived, spinning Justin Bieber as Jollibee videographers roved the lines edges, taking in the homemade signs with glitter stick-ons and mini Philippine flags.

Near the front, Pinellas Park resident Melinda Schramm, 42, held her green No. 10 ticket along with her order form (2 Yumburgers, 1 Palabok, 6-pc. Bucket, plenty of rice). She moved to the U.S. 10 years ago from Manila after meeting her husband online. She, too, has caravaned to Jacksonville for Jollibee. Thursday night, she and her Filipina friends played cards and dreamed of Peach-Mango Pies and her favorite, peppery, garlicky adobo rice.

Schramm posed for photos, hunger building. Those first few years had been so hard, she said. She still remembers the first time she ate Jollibee stateside. It was Seattle, 2013, and she ordered more than she could possibly eat.

It tasted like home, she said, like home.

***

The day before, to inaugurate Floridas second Jollibee, the chain invited a roster of local VIPs for a morning of jolly fanfare. Pinellas Park city staffers mingled, sipping free Pineapple Quenchers, while a remix of Cardi Bs Bodak Yellow pulsed in the spotless, blond wood interior.

There were traditions to uphold: A reverend, in a humble brown cassock, crossed himself before speaking of the dignity of labor. While friers sizzled, Jollibee executives read from Genesis and led a responsorial psalm, the crowd echoing: Lord, give success to the work of our hands. The VIPs held red votive candles while Father Vijaya walked the kitchen, sprinkling its every corner with holy water.

They tossed lucky coins and candies to bless the space. There were speeches about Jollibees humble beginnings, two ice cream parlors in the Philippines opened by a new college graduate trying to feed his family. Beth Dela Cruz, president of Jollibee Foods Corporation North America, Philippine Brands Group, cited stats that show the fast-food chains seemingly indomitable, global growth, but admitted even she is sometimes surprised by the fervor.

In Canada and Arizona, people have camped out for days in punishing temperatures. Fans have burned gas driving across state lines. The menu is relatively small, a billboard of reliable favorites, mass-market comfort. At Jollibee, the ice cream flavor is ube, purple yam. Spaghetti is sweet, and Burger Steaks come with rice.

Jacksonvilles Jollibee saw 3,000 customers on opening day in 2017, when it became the first in the Southeast. Placards on the door there still warn, years later, that pricey orders might take extra time.

This Jollibee hired its manager from Jacksonville, Dela Cruz said, and sent some newly minted employees to train there, so theyd be ready.

Jollibee landed in Pinellas Park after pleas from Tampa Bay area Filipinos, who number 22,000, with 4,000 in Pinellas Park alone. Plus, Dela Cruz said, the corporation keyed in on blogs that boasted Pinellas Parks diverse, affordable food scene as a best-kept secret.

For months, eager fans had been driving by, posting forlorn photos of the empty building on Facebook pages like Pilipino Sa Tampa Bay, speculating about opening dates. As Friday approached, one fan wrote, isang tulog nalang only one more sleep.

The opening marked the 40th Jollibee in the U.S., with goals for 150 by 2023.

We cant do a champagne toast in here, Dela Cruz said Thursday, so out of the kitchen came a monster, waist-high bucket of Chickenjoy on wheels, still hot to the touch. She plucked a drumstick and held it up for a cheers.

***

Basking in the spotlight, first-place Honculada sounded like a Jollibee spokesman himself on Friday, praising the mascot for being hardworking, happy and sweet like his beloved sugary, hot-dog-studded Jolly Spaghetti, the first food he ate after getting his wisdom teeth out.

In a red and blue jacket embroidered with a map of the Philippines, he danced without reservation, dropping to the sidewalk to perform a stiff worm.

Have a nice day, he said to reporters, shaking hands. Stay jolly.

Were less than 10 minutes out, the emcee shouted.

Its our turn! yelled a fan.

The people with the best 50 signs would get a mini Jollibee doll wearing a traditional Filipino barong, a formal shirt. The first 50 in line would get free Chickenjoy for a year.

Thats a bucket every month, folks! the emcee yelled.

Finally 9 a.m. neared, and the dancing bee burst out, Jollibee himself, bouncing to the chirpy theme song. His eyes blinked, and he wiggled his striped bum to the words: Im your friend! Jollibee! Jolly, friendly Jollibee!

Melinda Schramm wiped the corners of her eyes. The cannons fired, and a hot breeze blew eddies of red-and-white confetti around the fans feet. The first customers bounded inside, while Schramm and her friends were held back.

Oh my god, hes coming! Schramm squealed as Jollibee neared and All I Do Is Win blared from the speakers.

An 8-year-old held his own in a dance-off with the mascot.

The wait stretched on, 15 minutes feeling like hours. Finally, No. 10 got the all-clear. Schramm scrambled inside, waving, Hi, hello! at the cashiers, high-fiving one of her friends.

Have a jolly day! the cashier said, ringing Schramm up for $48.64. She took her receipt, then paused. Her friends stood waiting with bags to go. Her shoulders sank a little as she realized they didnt plan to slide into a red booth and dig in. Well, she already had plans to come back with more friends for a 7 p.m. Jolly Spaghetti dinner. She made a phone call.

Twenty minutes later, another friend pulled into the crowded lot. Irene Rutter, a fellow Filipina, had wanted to stand in line, but shes three months pregnant and had worked late. The music was still pulsing, lunchtime traffic rushing by, but Rutters smile was tired and soft. Schramm handed her a sack heavy with palabok, burgers, peach-mango pies and small cups of rice. It was still warm.

Contact Claire McNeill at cmcneill@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8321.

Continued here:
The rush is on for Jollibee, a taste of home for Filipinos living in Tampa Bay - Tampa Bay Times

You know him, right? Shiny-suited prog traitor. Ruined Led Zeppelin. Wife ran off with the decorator. All true. But theres way more to the man who nearly joined The Who, once considered suicide and is, in all honesty, a Thoroughly Misunderstood Chap.

Ancient tape machines clutter the upper corridors of Abbey Road Studios. Theyre the clunky old contraptions, with big metal spools, that would have been pressed into service for his first recordings. At the age of 18, in 1969, he was in a rock band that had elaborate songs about the moon landing. A year later he was in a room downstairs in this very building, playing on a George Harrison album.

He started early, Phil Collins, and hes crammed a lot in. When still only 20, he signed up as the denim-dungareed drummer with Genesis. He ended his tenure with them as their satin-jacketed singer, and went on to release the eight solo albums now resurfacing in extended and remastered versions in a reissue project called Take A Look At Me Now. There was also a sideline in production, working with everyone from John Martyn and the Four Tops to Adam Ant and Tears For Fears.

Hes weathered every storm imaginable; one minute the revered godhead of atmospheric popsoul, the next lambasted as a mawkish balladeer, his two-continent appearance at Live Aid pouring petrol on the critical flames. But in the typically cyclical nature of fashion, a raft of American rock and R&B stars are now sampling and loudly applauding the very records that were supposedly over-processed and disagreeable 30 years ago.

Today Phil Collins is in a little side-room that contains only two chairs, a small table, him and his can of Red Bull. He has the thickest, most muscular arms imaginable, and two main emotional gears: when we talk about music and the people hes worked with, he lights up like a pinball machine I havent thought about this for years!; when we touch on that famous critical pasting or the sad recent events of his private life, he seems to shrink in size, so crestfallen and preoccupied that hes like a completely different person.

You ask it, he says, raising his Red Bull, and Ill answer it.

I can remember everything about seeing Genesis at Farnborough Tech on May 29, 1972, including a stupendous version of The Return Of The Giant Hogweed. Can you remember anything about it?

Yeah. It was good times. We played Farnborough quite often. It was always friendly, as some of the guys were from that neck of the woods. We did the Great Western Festival in Lincoln two days later, and I remember meeting the promoter, Stanley Baker, on the Embankment somewhere. He had a lovely penthouse overlooking the river. Hed been in Zulu with Michael Caine, so that was a real star.

Theres an elite club of former child actors who played the Artful Dodger in Oliver! when they were kids and went on to be rock stars: you, Steve Marriott, Davy Jones of The Monkees and Robbie Williams. Do you think you had anything in common?*

My manager once said Robbie Williams was a new version of me, a cheeky chappie. Stevie Marriott and Davy Jones, yes it was a great part if you were a precocious kid.

How did you get to be in The Beatles film A Hard Days Night?

Well I was in it, but not in it. Walter Shenson [the producer] asked me to narrate a Making Of DVD for its 30th anniversary in 1994. And I said: I was in it but they cut me out. And he gave me the outtakes of the concert scene at the end and I went through it frame by frame and I found myself! And on the DVD I circle myself on the screen. I was thirteen. I was also in Ive Got A Horse, a Billy Fury movie which has the Small Faces in it, but I didnt finish up in the film. And I was edited out of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. So yes, theres pattern here.

But I did Buster later on. And I played Uncle Ernie in Tommy, which I loved doing though it was very politically incorrect playing a paedophile. But it was great cos I was with The Who. I was working with Townshend just after Moon died, and I said to him: Have you got anybody to play the drums? Cos Id love to do it. Ill leave Genesis. And Pete said: Fuck, weve just asked Kenney Jones. Cos Kenney Jones, unbeknown to most people, played on stuff when Keith was too out of it. He was far too polite for The Who. But I would have done the job. I would have joined them.

The band you joined when you were nineteen, Hickory, made a concept album about the moon landing. You couldnt make it up. How 1969 is that?

Yeah, it was. I remember it all. We were called Hickory, and then became Flaming Youth. Ken Howard and Alan Blakely were the writers they wrote for The Herd and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. And, being a gay couple, theyd taken a shine to our keyboard player, who drank at this club in Warren Street. And they were looking for a band to do this concept album theyd written. I said: Im in a band. And they came to see us at Eel Pie Island, and they liked us so we did it.

How did you get to play on George Harrisons All Things Must Pass?

That was when I was in Flaming Youth. Our manager got a call from Ringo Starrs chauffeur, who said they needed a percussionist, and he suggested me. So I went down to Abbey Road and Harrison was there and Ringo and Billy Preston and Klaus Voormann and Phil Spector, and we started routining the song. No one told me what to play, and every time they started the song, Phil Spector would say: Lets hear guitar and drums, or Lets hear bass and drums. And Im not a conga player, so my hands are starting to bleed. And Im cadging cigarettes off Ringo I dont even smoke, I just felt nervous.

Anyway, after about two hours of this, Phil Spector says: Okay congas, you play this time. And Id had my mic off, so everybody laughed, but my hands were shot. And just after that they all disappeared someone said they were watching TV or something and I was told I could go. A few months later I buy the album from my local record shop, look at the sleeve notes and Im not there. And Im thinking: There must be some mistake! But its a different version of the song, and Im not on it.

Edited out yet again.

Yeah but worse theres more! Cut to years later. I bought [former F1 driver] Jackie Stewarts house. And Harrison was a friend of Jackies, and Jackie told me George was remixing All Things Must Pass. And he said: You were on it, werent you? And I said: Well I was there. Two days later a tapes delivered from George Harrison with a note saying: Could this be you?

I rush off and listen to it, and straight away I recognise it. Suddenly the congas come in too loud and just awful. And at the end of the tape you hear George Harrison saying: Hey, Phil, can we try another without the conga player? So now I know, they didnt go off to watch TV, they went somewhere and said: Get rid of him, cos I was playing so badly. And then Jackie rings and says: Ive got someone here to speak to you, and puts George on and he says: Did you get the tape? And I said: I now realise I was fired by a Beatle. And he says: Dont worry, it was a piss-take. I got Ray Cooper to play really badly and we dubbed it on. Thought youd like it! I said: You fucking bastard!

All that effort for one little gag. Wonderful!

It was lovely, wasnt it? [laughs]

On that bill in 1972, Genesis played with Atomic Rooster, Vinegar Joe, Humble Pie and Wishbone Ash. I always imagined the rock underground were all in it together. Was there any sense of rivalry?

We were in it together, yeah. You didnt feel threatened by anybody. It was the days when youd bump into people at Watford Gap [service station on the M1]. We did the Six Bob Tour six shillings to see three bands: us, Lindisfarne and Van der Graaf Generator. We went on first, then Lindisfarne brought the house down every night Newcastle band, singalongs and then Van der Graaf came on and it all went very dark. We shared a coach together and we all got on very well. Its funny to think about [smiles fondly]. I dont often think of those days.

How did it feel to be suddenly out front in Genesis?

I felt exposed. Id lived all my life behind the security blanket of a drum kit, and suddenly there was nothing except a microphone stand. And the band sounds different from out front. You hear a different kind of balance out front, and it isnt comfortable. And I didnt want the job, frankly.

Why not?

I wanted to stay the drummer. We had people down every Monday [auditioning], five or six people, and I would teach them what they had to do. We were writing A Trick Of The Tail and I would teach them some old songs Firth Of Fifth or whatever and I ended up sounding better than anyone else. And this [Genesis] was kind of a family. Do we want this person in our family? Will he fit in with the way we do things? Anyway, we didnt find anybody and ended up with me.

Youd grown up listening to pop music and Motown, but I remember people being surprised when you released In The Air Tonight in 1981: Phil Collins is rock musician, but isnt this a pop ballad with synthesizers?

Face Value had a huge variety of songs on it. I was listening to The Beatles, Count Basie, Weather Report, Earth Wind & Fire, Neil Young They all featured in my life, so I kind of wrote songs like them. I remember doing In The Air Tonight at Live Aid and Townshend saying: Are you going to do that fucking song again? as it was the only one I ever played.

Why did so many people connect with Face Value?

Well, it was a very personal album, and I said it like it was. The romantic songs were heart-on-sleeve. The lyrics of the songs were real. I didnt hide it Youve taken everything else. You know what I mean?

So they identified with the heartbreak, the divorce?

[Theatrical mock-sorrow] Oh please, dont mention that! Yeah, people identified with it.

Did they identify with you playing In The Air Tonight on Top Of The Pops with a paint pot and brush on your drum machine as a message to your wife, whod gone off with your interior decorator?

All these stories come up and theres never enough time to talk about them properly. What happened was I didnt know what to do on Top Of The Pops. I didnt want to just stand there and sing cos of all that insecurity, so I thought: Ill play the keyboard. But I didnt want one of those poncey Duran Duran things on a stand. So I got a Black & Decker Workmate, and a drum machine on a tea chest. So there was a theme there.

So people just assumed it was about the bloke who went off with your wife?

Well she certainly did. I improvised the lyrics to In The Air Tonight and wrote them on a sheet of paper. And when I turned it over, weirdly, it was the letter-headed notepaper from the painter and decorator. She took great umbrage, my ex-wife, at me writing about anything like this. She didnt like the way I was giving people my side of the story. But I didnt colour it any way.

Musicians respected you but the press werent always as kind. One critic said: Phil Collins has been guilty of placing the bullseye on his own forehead a reference to the Concorde caper at Live Aid and after Another Day In Paradise he was a purveyor of tortured romantic ballads for the middle-income world. How did you react to things like that at the time?

I didnt understand it. I know what I meant with Another Day In Paradise, but people took offence to it because I was rich. What I was saying is that we should all be very appreciative of whatever weve got, as were all doing better than that. But they all took offence at it.

With Concorde it looked like I was showing off. Id played on Robert Plants solo records and he said: Are you doing this Live Aid thing? And I said: Yeah. And he said: Can you get me on it? [US promoter] Bill Graham doesnt like me and he doesnt like Zeppelin. Maybe you, me and Jimmy can do something? And I said: Great, yeah. And then Sting called me and said: Can we do something together? [UK promoter] Harvey Goldsmith said: You can get Concorde and play both. I said: Well, okay, if it can be done. I didnt think Id be showing off.

By the time I got there, me and Robert and Jimmy playing together had become The Second Coming Of Led Zeppelin John Paul Jones was there too. Jimmy says: We need to rehearse. And I said: Cant we just go on stage and have a play? So I didnt rehearse when I got there, but I listened to Stairway To Heaven on Concorde. I arrived and went to the caravans, and Robert said: Jimmy Page is belligerent. Page says: Weve been rehearsing! And I said: I saw your first gig in London, I know the stuff! He says: Alright, how does it go, then?

So I sort of [mimes the Stairway To Heaven drum part], and Page says: No, it doesnt! It doesnt go like that! So I had a word with [co-drummer] Tony Thompson cos Ive played as two drummers a lot and it can be a train wreck and I say: Lets stay out of each others way and play simple.

Thompson, rest his soul, had rehearsed for a week, and Im about to steal his thunder the famous drummers arrived! and he kind of did what he wanted to do. Robert wasnt match-fit. And if I could have walked off, I would have done, cos I wasnt needed and I felt like a spare part.

So you could tell it was going badly?

Yeah, frankly. But wed all have been talking for thirty years about why I walked off stage if Id done it, so I stayed there. Anyway, we came off, and we got interviewed by MTV. And Robert is a diamond, but when those guys get together a black cloud appears. Then Page says: One drummer was halfway across the Atlantic and didnt know the stuff. And I got pissed off. Maybe I didnt know it as well as hed like me to have done, but I became the flagship, and it looked like I was showing off.

Why did you let this kind of criticism affect you so much?

Because you tend to beat yourself up. You start to think you are the things people say you are. Things like that review you just read me of Another Day In Paradise [shakes his head]. I should be over that by now, but it still puts the hackles up occasionally.

Youve worked with such a variety of great people Thin Lizzy, Adam Ant, Tears For Fears, Anni-Frid from ABBA, to name just four. Why did you go for those four?

I kind of knew Phil Lynott. He lived with one of our tour managers, thats how I got the call. Adam Ant funny guy, lovely guy! Tears For Fears just wanted me to do that big drum thing from In The Air Tonight on Woman In Chains We want you to come in here in a big way. Frida flew over to the Genesis studio to meet me its so interesting for me to talk about this sort of stuff! and she was ever so nice.

She thought I was a kindred spirit as she was going through this painful divorce, and she liked Face Value and she thought Id understand her. I picked the songs with her or for her, actually. That whole Somethings Going On album is great.

Only Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson have sold more records than you as a solo artist, so it must have been impossibly hard to choose material. Dont you end up thinking this will sell, rather than this is good as your main concern must be to maintain your success?

You cant help it. You cant help but judge it by what position it gets to. Both Sides fell through the cracks a bit I mean, it still sold eleven million copies. But I was very aware that everyone wanted me to go back to doing You Cant Hurry Love and Sussudio, and here I was being serious and dark. People were saying: Youve lost your sense of humour, Phil. People didnt know what to make of it.

You were deeply unfashionable for a while, so how did it feel when you started getting support from the hippest quarter imaginable Kelis, Ol Dirty Bastard and the Wu-Tang Clan?

I felt good about it my people! Those R&B artists didnt have all that conditioning, they didnt have the rock critic backstory, and its refreshing. Whats written in The Sun goes everywhere; whats written in the Philadelphia Inquirer stays in Philadelphia. So theyre not as aware of it. They dont have the conditioning and the bias.

And Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters wrote you a note

He wrote me a lovely email: Us in the Foo Fighters, we think the world of you. Please dont feel bad about anything. Id done a thing in Rolling Stone which echoed round the world. Id spent three days with this journalist, and we started talking about things They were saying: When three marriages have gone wrong and youre not living with your kids, then sometimes its a dangerous word to use, but have you ever felt suicidal? Yeah, I have.

And people rang me up and said: Dont say that! What are your kids going to say at school? There was a picture of me with Davy Crocketts rifle and an axe. I thought it was lovely that hed taken the time to write.

You said you were going to retire, and did so for a while, and now youre not. What happened?

You say something one day and it goes around the world. I retired so I could be at home with the kids. Then my wife left me and took the kids they moved to Miami so I found myself in a void with no work. But I didnt really want to work, and the kids werent there.

That sounds terrible.

It wasnt particularly nice. I had a big hole in my life and I started drinking. And I wanted to stop so I could be with my kids. I also wanted to stop so that I could maybe do something else I didnt know what though I felt l deserved the right to do nothing. All this stuff happened. The ear thing was in 2000 I lost my hearing in my left ear and then [waves arm painfully] the arm [a spinal injury affected his nerves in 2009, making it impossible for him to play the drums]. I had various operations. I still cant play, but its better than it was.

Did you stop drinking?

Oh yeah. I havent had a drink for over three years. I nearly died from the damage, organs starting to break down. It was a series of things and I just kind of felt I want to be someone else. Im a man of my word but, at the same time, theres a hole where that used to be and I might as well do something.

Any regrets?

Not really. The serious things would be: Would you try a bit harder at a marriage? But things lead to other things. Theres a few people Id love to have worked with Miles Davis would have been nice, Aretha Franklin would have been nice. My daughter told me it was dangerous to stop working Its part of what you are, youre a writer and I realised it was important. Whats nice is I now realise people miss me.

This feature originally appeared in Classic Rock 2017.

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Phil Collins interview: the Live Aid fiasco, going solo, and coping with criticism - Louder