Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Majestic Theatre

Boutique property developer 1919 Global Sdn Bhd is set to restore several historical buildings in the UNESCO-listed George Town within the next two years, reported The Business Times.

"Over the next 24 months, we are looking to restore 17 shophouses and a cinema in the UNESCO-listed core zone here," said building owner Jonathan Foo.

The company has recently finished the RM2 million restoration of the 83-year-old Loke Thye Kee building.

In addition, 1919 is targeting to renovate five heritage shophouses in Jalan Penang, a row of 12 shophouses along Jalan Phee Choon, and the former Majestic Theatre(pictured).

According to the company's website, the heritage shophouses are a "unique cluster of five two-storey heritage shop houses, offering high profile commercial shopfronts on the first floor and a collection of boutique homestay suites on the second floor."

Meanwhile, the row of 12 two-storey shophouses is presently dubbed the 'Phee Choon Place'. Upon completion of the renovation, the shophouses will accommodate a number of entertainment and commercial businesses on the ground floor; while the upper floor will feature luxury homestay units.

On the Majestic Theatre, Foo noted that 1919 Global will focus on maintaining the building's heritage attributes and will restore it into a commercial establishment. The building, which was originally built by the late Khoo Sian Ewe, is known among the Chinese as the 'Shanghai Sound Movie Theatre'.

"Currently in the submission phase and once restored, the Majestic Theatre promises to be the prestigious venue for any commercial or corporate venture," noted Foo.

"As a company owning properties in the UNESCO heritage area, we share the same goals as others in wanting to bring back life into George Town's inner city but we need to balance this with projects which are economically viable and businesses which are sustainable."

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Restoration of heritage buildings in George Town

Clockwise from top left: Zachary Quinto, Julie White, Brian Gallivan, and Daryl Stephens

Gay TV Gets Renewed Early for Once

In what critics say is a show of confidence, NBC has renewed three series for the full seasonthat are popular among LGBT viewers: Go On, The New Normal, and Revolution. According to The Wrap,Revolution (a post-apocalyptic series centered around a Hunger Games-style female teen protagonist) and the super queer-friendly The Voice helped NBC emerge as the top-rated network during premiere week.

Go On, the Matthew Perry vehicle centered around a therapy group, features Julie White as a lesbian who lost her wife, while The New Normal has Andrew Ranells from The Book of Mormon playing the flightier half a gay couple having a child with a surrogate,

"Were also very proud of our new comedy block of Go On and The New Normal," NBC entertainment president Jennifer Salke told Tim Molloy. "In partnering with Matthew Perry for Go On, creator Scott Silveri has created a comedy with a highly original voice that deftly combines humor and emotion. And Ryan Murphy and Ali Adler have created a truly unique family in The New Normal that is reflective of the changing dynamics of the world we live in. These shows are both welcome additions to our new lineup! (It helps that Ali Adler (ex-wife of The Talk's Sara Gilbert) is a mom herself, and Ryan Murphy is the king of all things gay. And Ellen Barkin is a costar.)

Says White of Go On's success: "Ive done quite a few pilots, and they just dont get picked up. So this is the first one that Ive done in a while that really has a shot. Ive so got my fingers crossed. I would just so love to get to do it for a few years. This group is amazing.Theyre so darling and funny."

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American Horror Story Gets Better?

Zachary Quinto, star of American Horror Story, talked to Access Hollywood about why the show's second season is even more "innovative" while trying to sidestep any real spoilers.Quinto was at the Emmys Presenters Gift Lounge, where he also talked about one of American Horror Story: Asylum's most notable stars, Voice judge Adam Levine.

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Update, 3.05pm: Train services on the Joondalup line may not return to normal until Friday after a power line crashed onto a city bound train this morning, according to Transport Minister Troy Buswell.

Passengers endured a terrifying few minutes when a downed power line hit the train, slamming against a window and sending people ducking for cover as they feared the windows could smash.

The power line and supporting poles were ripped out as the Joondalup line train continued along the track for about a kilometre after becoming tangled in the line.

Debris showered vehicles travelling along the freeway.

Train transport was in chaos with hundreds of people stranded at stations. The interruptions have extended into this afternoon with replacement buses used to clear the backlog.

Passengers were initially stranded on the disabled train this morning.

Do you have pictures from this morning? Send them in

Trains have been stopped between Whitfords and Leederville and Mr Buswell said the trains may not return to normal until Friday.

Mr Buswell described the incident as significant and said it had caused damage to 1.5km of overhead wire and to some rail infrastructure.

He said all rail crews were working to repair the line and a full investigation was underway to find the cause.

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Power lines down in train chaos

WESTERLY, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Washington Trusts Commercial Real Estate Group recently provided $4,600,000 in commercial mortgage financing to Taurus CD 153 Batterymarch Street Limited Partnership to refinance a six story, 34,521 square foot office building located at 22 Batterymarch Street in Boston, Mass.

The distinctive, historic property is a multi-tenanted office building located in the heart of Bostons Financial District. Built in 1890 by the Episcopal Church of Boston, the building was originally used as a home for sailors. Between 1950 and 1970 the building functioned as the home of the Harvard Club. Taurus Investment Holdings LLCs international office is headquartered at the site.

This is an exceptional property because of its location not only is it situated in Bostons Financial District, but its in close proximity to the State House, Faneuil Hall, Downtown Crossing and the Boston Waterfront, said Joseph J. MarcAurele, Washington Trust Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer.

Washington Trust's Commercial Real Estate Group provides commercial real estate mortgages for the construction, refinancing, or purchasing of investment real estate projects. Financing ranges in size from several hundred thousand dollars up to multi-million dollar projects. For more information, contact Laurel Bowerman, Vice President, Commercial Real Estate Group, 401-654-4847 or 1-800-475-2265 ext. 8247.

Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is one of New Englands premier financial services companies, providing commercial banking, personal banking, mortgage banking, and wealth management services to individuals and institutions throughout the region. Our Commercial Banking Group offers a full line of commercial and industrial lending, commercial real estate, and cash management services to borrowers throughout the Northeast. Our team of experienced professionals are dedicated to providing customized, comprehensive financing and personalized services. The Washington Trust Company is a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ Global Select, symbol: WASH).

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Washington Trust Finances $4.6 Million Boston Property

A global engineering, planning and construction services firm is bringing 160 jobs to the former D&E building near Schaum's Corner.

Parsons Brinckerhoff is shifting the support-staff jobs from its New York City headquarters to cut costs, the company said.

"One always has to look for efficiencies in operations," said George Pierson, president and chief executive officer.

Parsons Brinckerhoff employees were told Tuesday of the impending change.

Pierson said Parsons Brinckerhoff's presence on Oregon Pike could rise beyond the initial wave of employees.

"We would be actively looking to see if we can create greater efficiencies by growing that operation," Pierson said.

"How quickly or how much is not something we're prepared to estimate right now."

The site certainly has the capacity.

The 80,000-square-foot building, which Parsons Brinckerhoff has agreed to lease for 15 years, has a 400-space parking lot.

And the building's owner, Oak Tree Development, has West Earl Township approval to build a 22,000-square-foot addition.

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N.Y. firm will lease former D&E building in Brownstown

YARDLEY Year round outdoor dining could soon be coming to restaurants in the borough, but only if they have permanent covered porches.

The council voted on Sept. 18 to advertise a modification to its outdoor dining ordinance that would allow establishments, like the Continental Tavern and the newly-opened Trattoria Rosa Bianca, with permanently covered dining areas, to serve year round.

The ordinance currently limits outdoor dining in the borough to between April 1 and Nov. 15.

Under the change, eating establishments would be allowed to serve year round if they have a porch that is a permanent structure and attached to a building.

However, restaurants with outdoor dining on the sidewalk would not be permitted to serve outdoors between Nov. 15 and April 1 due to winter weather conditions.

Councilman Mike Ruttle, who chairs the councils community development committee, said when he proposed the modification he was thinking about sitting on the porch of the Continental and watching the ice skaters at Lake Afton.

Thats going to be an attractive place for people who bring their kids, he continued. They can sit there and get a cup of hot chocolate, Irish coffee, mulled wine whatever it is.

Ruttle said people can sit there and enjoy a winter ice skating scene and be able to do it in a very comfortable and relaxed setting.

He said that businesses like to think that government is in their way. Why should the borough care whether an owner of a restaurant is serving on a covered porch between Nov. 15 and April 1?

It really doesnt matter, Ruttle said. If its on a sidewalk and we have to keep the pedestrian way open and free from ice and slush and all of the rest in the winter -- that makes sense. Thats a public safety issue. Continued...

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Yardley Borough Council considers loosening outdoor dining restrictions

One Monday afternoon, construction workers were firing nails into the framework of what will be another new apartment building on the south edge of San Diego State. Between these new units and many others near Alvarado Hospital, there's been a boom in University-area housing.

Photo by Tom Fudge

Above: One new apartment building, and one under construction on Lindo Paseo, are an example of the increase in rental housing, aimed at San Diego State students.

"It's probably right around 2,000 beds that have either been recently delivered or will be very soon," said San Diego State architect Bob Schulz, who describes housing in terms of numbers of "beds" rather than apartment units.

A flurry of construction around the San Diego State campus seems to be transforming the long-time commuter campus into a very different campus community: One in which students live within walking distance of campus and find shopping and services they need nearby.

Schulz points out the university had no hand in planning or building the housing that's recently gone up. It's just the private sector responding to demand.

The San Diego State housing boom is driven by several trends and factors. One is a university master plan that aims to increase the student body to 35,000. There is also a growing number of students who aren't from San Diego, and a general desire to make SDSU less of a commuter campus.

Investment in housing, aimed at students, is happening all over the country. At the University of San Diego, 533 units are now being built on Linda Vista Road.

Following the collapse of single-family home prices, builders looked more and more to attached rental housing as their most valuable product.

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Housing Construction Boom Transforms San Diego State

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San Rafael strengthened smoking laws on Monday.

San Rafael officials approved the county's toughest anti-tobacco ordinance to date on Monday, banning smoking from all apartments and condominiums, in addition to parks, bus stops, restaurant patios and many other outdoor spaces.

The measure is aimed at protecting people from secondhand smoke, officials said.

"What we are really considering is the impact of others," Mayor Gary Phillips said Monday before voting with his four city council colleagues to approve the ordinance.

The ordinance includes special restrictions for the downtown area, banning smoking from sidewalks and plazas except while smokers are "actively passing on the way to another destination."

The new rules are similar to those adopted by the city of Larkspur, the county Board of Supervisors and other Marin agencies. However, San Rafael is the first to ban smoking in all apartments and condos; others allow designation of some units for smoking.

In San Rafael, landlords, condo boards, employers, public event organizers and the city manager could still designate some outdoor smoking areas, with restrictions. The areas would have to be 20 feet away from places where smoking is banned and 100 feet away from children's areas or recreation areas such as playgrounds and swimming pools.

The San Rafael ordinance spells out some indoor areas where smoking would still be allowed including single-family houses, vehicles, up to 20 percent of hotel rooms and tobacco shops

Several members of the meeting spoke in favor of the ordinance at the city council's meeting Monday.

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San Rafael officials approve tough new smoking rules

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -

This is WBTV Community Web Producer Jessica. I'm on a mission tofind fun or quirky places on my lunch break, after work, on the weekends any time is a good time toaddsome seasonal spice to life.

October 1: the start of my "fall flavor" mission. I know fall started September 22, but it feels official now.

There are lots of reasons to be excited in October: the crisp fall air, leaves turning, hot apple cider on a cool night, patios that will soon be abandoned until springtime, Halloween looming ever closerand pumpkins.

Who doesn't love a good pumpkin patch?

Monday,I went by the Dilworth Pumpkin Patch. It's right at the corner of East Boulevard and Scott Avenuenext to Jersey Mike's, across from Brixx and catty-corner to Starbucks. (You can't miss it!)

The pumpkin patch has popped up around this time of year for the last four years. It's actually part of Holiday Trees, LLC, run by James Dixon. He's a banker in Charlotte by day, but he started his tree farm in college, and it stuck. The farm is just across the state line in Virginia and Dixon goes up there at least once a month to check on his farm.

Here's the really cool thing I learned while talking to Dixon: he doesn't just sell pumpkins and trees for a profit. He does a lot with local nonprofits donating the proceeds, helping them set up fundraisers, and using his farming gift as a helping hand for those in need. This year, he's working with several local churches, and Hoskins Park Ministries an organization that works to help homeless men in the Charlotte area. They are still firming up the details for their fundraising efforts this year, but I'll pass them on when I learn more.

I had fun wandering around the pumpkin patchin the chilly afternoon air- though it was difficult to stay away from the coffee just a few steps across the street. (I resisted!) There are oodles of pumpkins there, just begging to be taken home.

If you're looking for a fun excursion for the family or if you just need to get out of the office for a few minutes, the Dilworth Pumpkin Patch is worth it. Sure, you can pick up a pumpkin at the grocery store but why not make it an adventure instead?

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Seasonal Spice: Dilworth Pumpkin Patch

Looking to clear kitchen countertops of wine bottles? Wine Logic smart wine racks install inside kitchen cabinets in less than five minutes.

House Springs, MO (PRWEB) October 02, 2012

Ty Pennington, the quirky host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition says, For peace of mind, get rid of clutter. For wine lovers, the simple solution is in-cabinet wine shelving. This type of wine storage solution keeps bottles out of sight but within reach.

Unfortunately for the budget-conscience homeowner, hiring a contractor to retrofit an existing cabinet isnt an option. Force-fitting a wooden kit isnt ideal either.

Introducing Wine Logic, an innovative new wine storage product. Wine Logic stores 18 bottles on three gliding shelves. The system fits securely into any kitchen or bar cabinet for a custom look--all in five minutes or less.

It doesn't seem possible that a wine rack that holds 18 bottles could be installed into a kitchen cabinet in minutes. However, each unit includes instructions that only require a Phillips-Head screwdriver to do just that. When compared to the time it takes to put together a clunky wine cabinet, it is hard to believe this is the first such product that has been crafted.

How much is reduced stress and a clear kitchen worth? Some contractors charge thousands to install shelves and custom cabinets. Wine Logic smart wine racks come in at under $300 dollars. This makes them a great gift idea for the young professional or parent who does not have a lot of space in their kitchen.

Wine Logic features full extension, ball-bearing slides. This allows each tray to glide smoothly in and out for easy viewing of each label without having to touch a bottle. The horizontal design ensures corks remain moist and swelled. Experts agree this prevents wine from unwanted contact with the air and keeps sediment far enough away from the cork end of the bottle to prevent spoilage. The shelter of being in a cabinet also keeps light from affecting your wine.

Wine Logic in-cabinet wine racks are constructed from high-quality, solid wood, holding 18 standard bottles of wine and occupying only 12" x 15" of cabinet space. Each unit is handcrafted by career woodworkers in the United States. The bottom tray has a sturdy, 75 lb capacity, while the top two trays max out at 100 lbs each. For more information, visit http://www.wine-logic.com.

Tom Zak Wine Logic 636.674.5076 Email Information

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In-Cabinet Wine Racks Install in Five Minutes