Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas obtained a building permit Friday to renovate what appears to be an improperly converted garage at his Leimert Park home by adding a carport and removing a section of the detached building.

The request to approve the work comes after The Times reported that county-paid crews installing a security system last year replaced his garage's interior walls, installed electrical wiring and equipment, and put in appliances without city permits.

The newspaper reported that the detached garage had been converted into an office with a restroom before the work was done, apparently without permits.

Online records show that city building officials issued a permit Friday to add a two-vehicle carport and convert the garage into a recreation room with a half-bathroom. In addition, the permit calls for the removal of a five-by-19-foot section of the building.

Bob Steinbach, a spokesman for the city's Department of Building and Safety, said inspectors have visited the home as part of an investigation into whether Ridley-Thomas' garage had been converted without permits. The probe was launched in response to a complaint after the Times report about the county work performed at the supervisor's home.

Steinbach said city officials still have to perform further inspections of the garage. As part of the permit sought Friday, he said, inspectors would conduct a thorough review of any work previously done without approval. He said inspectors, for example, usually punch holes in drywall to examine unpermitted electrical and plumbing work.

"That will all be part of the permit," he said. "There are a lot of inspections that have to happen."

Lisa Richardson, a spokeswoman for Ridley-Thomas, said the work proposed under Friday's permit "is a private matter and no public employees are involved." The permit lists the contractor as Yor Construction and Investments Inc., a Valley Village-based firm.

Ridley-Thomas has declined repeated requests from The Times to answer questions about last year's work by county-paid crews on his garage.

In an interview last week with radio station KCRW-FM (89.9), he said the garage had been converted before he bought the home more than 20 years ago. A Times check of city building records turned up no permits for the conversion or for last year's work by the county.

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Ridley-Thomas obtains building permit to renovate garage

Old University Ave bridge demolition begins Friday
Old University Ave bridge demolition begins Friday, Lowell.

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Doylestown, PA (PRWEB) January 30, 2014

An expert in the construction industry will help business executives identify potential markets for their products and services in the next five years, while another will present strategies for employee retention and recruitment at the National Demolition Associations 41st Annual Convention February 22-25 at The Mirage in Las Vegas.

Grant Thayer, senior consultant with FMI, the leading provider of research to the construction-related trade industries including demolition will speak on The Current State of the American Construction Industry on Tuesday, February 25 at the gathering. The NDA Convention is the largest exposition of demolition products and services in the world.

Later in the day, Dr. Shirley Ramos, also with FMI, will lead an educational session entitled Building Your Talent Pool for Future Growth. Now that the industry is beginning to heat up, there will be a battle for top talent, according to Dr. Ramos. She will arm attendees with the right strategies to retain and recruit the best employees and also examine training and education trends, and innovations that can maximize employee performance and promote leadership.

The 2014 NDA Convention includes presentations from former US. Secretary of Energy Dr. Stephen Chu who will speak on innovation and energy. There will also be a common sense explanation of the Affordable Care Act and a look at NDAs new member resources program. There will also be a Leadership Training Program for key personnel on Sunday February 23. The day before, the NDA holds it 27th annual Golf Tournament and its Monday night extravaganza will be spectacular, with this years theme NDA in Paradise.

For more information about registering as an attendee, booking a hotel room, or checking on last-minute opportunities for exhibitors, go to the NDA website http://www.demolitionassociation.com and visit the Events section.

About the National Demolition Association

The National Demolition Association is a non-profit trade organization representing approximately 800 U.S. and Canadian companies and many international firms that are involved in the demolition process. Membership includes demolition contractors, general contractors, civil engineering firms, and recycling, landfill, and salvage operations. The associations efforts help members stay abreast of environmental, regulatory and safety matters, keep regulators informed about issues facing the industry, increase public and industry awareness, and provide members with networking opportunities and information on the latest technical advances in equipment and services. The website is http://www.demolitionassociation.com. Follow on Twitter: @ndamakingway and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/DemolitionAssoc.

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Association Puts Spotlight on Business-Building Sessions at Demolition Convention

Published: Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014, 5:18p.m. Updated 9 hours ago

Controlling costs when building a home is a job that often hinges on per-square-foot estimates, allowances for each room, books that list the costs of everything even something like architect-builder-owner master classes.

But then, as builders Dan Meade and Joe Cortes say, the prices go up.

It is more an art than a science, Greensburg architect Lee Calisti says about the method of coming up with a cost for building a home.

Some costs are fairly consistent. If a buyer goes to a development planned by a builder and chooses one of the plans even customizing it to a degree the costs are rather well known.

But a custom design makes matters different. Then, builders, architects, even homeowners say it is important to control the unknown.

Come up with a realistic idea of costs and stick to it. Remember, when one room goes over cost, you probably aren't going to make up for it elsewhere.

Act as your own general contractor and keep a close eye on all the costs.

Get a builder involved early so planning can be discussed from a practical sense.

The secret generally is controlling the variables in design and construction, South Side architect Gerald Lee Morosco says. For instance, he says, is it fairly realistic to estimate a house can be built at $175 per square foot.

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Controlling costs of home construction requires diligence

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