Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Posted:Today Updated: 10:28 AM A 94-unit apartment building, a 26-unit condominium complex and a multi-use building beside the Hampton Inn are proposed.

By Tom Bell tbell@mainetoday.com Staff Writer

The India Street neighborhood is poised for a building boom that was supposed to happen years ago but was stalled by the recession, although some of the projects are not at the same level of opulence that was once envisioned for the area.

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The 94-unit apartment building proposed for the Portland site formerly occupied by the Village Cafe is creating controversy because of its height: 74 feet in an area zoned for 45-foot height limits.

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This is the Middle Street view of the mixed-use building proposed for the former Jordan's Meats site.

Three significant development projects are in the works, each with varying levels of support from the neighborhood. The projects are:

a 94-unit apartment building on the former site of the Village Cafe;

a 26-unit condominium project on Franklin Street; and

Continued here:
Developers try again in India Street neighborhood

CHARLEROI, Pa.

Ten people escaped a burning apartment building in Washington County early Thursday morning thanks to alert neighbors.

Investigators said the blaze started in a building on Washington Avenue in Charleroi around 1:30 a.m.

Derrick Blakey told Channel 11s Vince Sims that he could see the flames coming from the structure and ran to alert the people inside.

Blakey said he threw bricks through the windows of the building trying to wake up the people inside.

Witnesses said they saw two babies dropped out of second floor windows and caught by neighbors on the ground.

I said, Listen. Drop your kids down to me, Ill catch them. Im not going to let your kids fall, Blakey said. So he dropped the kids down to me and I walked them around the corner.

Robert Wright, 26, also told Sims he assisted in the rescue.

There were three trash cans here and I picked up two of them and started throwing them at the windows and door. I also threw little rocks from the construction workers and thats when they woke up, Wright said.

Investigators said they questioned Wright as a suspect because he recently complained about mold in the apartment that made his daughter sick.

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Neighbors help 10 people escape burning Washington County apartment building

ALBANY, New York, May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

New Report Added in ResearchMoz Reports DatabaseChina Plastic Packaging And Container Manufacturing Industry, 2011

"China plastic packaging and container manufacturing Industry, 2011" is valuable for anyone who wants to invest in the plastic packaging and container manufacturing industry, to get Chinese investments; to import into China or export from China, to build factories and take advantage of lower costs in China, to partner with one of the key Chinese corporations, to get market shares as China is boosting its domestic needs; to forecast the future of the world economy as China is leading the way; or to compete in the segment. The report provides in-depth analysis and detailed insight into the plastic packaging and container manufacturing industry, market drivers, key enterprises and their strategies, as well as technologies and investment status, risks and trends.

To Browse Full TOC, Tables & Figures visit:http://www.researchmoz.com/china-plastic-packaging-and-container-manufacturing-industry-2011-report.html

Data sources: Governmental statistics organizations, market research (monitoring) centers, industry associations and institutions, import and export statistics organizations, and others.

This report is divided into 9 parts 19 chapters as follow:

Part 1 Industry Overview 1 Industry definition and development overview 2 Industry macroscopic environment and its influence analysis 3 Industry international market analysis 4 Industry domestic market analysis

Part 2 Basic indices 5 Analysis of the industry's scale and condition: 2006-2010 6 Status analysis of gross assets analysis: 2006-2010

Part 3 Economic operation 7 Analysis of gross industrial output: 2006-2010 8 Industry sales income analysis: 2006-2010 9 Industry gross profit analysis 10 Industry import/export analysis in 2010

Part 4 Competition landscape 11 Industry competition landscape analysis 12 Industry key enterprises' competitive power comparison (top 20)

The rest is here:
ResearchMoz: China Plastic Packaging and Container Manufacturing Industry, 2011 - Market Research Reports

VAN NUYS, CA--(Marketwire -05/17/12)- Caesarstone made a first-time appearance at EuroCucina 2012 in Milan, Italy April 17-22. The world-renowned event, EuroCucina, the International Kitchen Furniture Exhibition, is the only international kitchen tradeshow, and is known for bringing the biggest and best names in kitchen design and innovation together to showcase the latest in kitchen products, furniture, and accessories.

One of 150 stringently selected exhibitors, Caesarstone -- who was the only surfacing company in attendance -- showcased a remarkable and fully functional kitchen gleaming white with the embossed, textured surface, White Crocodile -- part of their Motivo line. At the heart of the kitchen, which was the main attraction of Caesarstone's nearly 1,000 square foot booth, was a massive 30-foot long island equipped with touch screen functionality which allowed for the three countertop surfaces and 12 massive drawers to slide open, revealing more space, and other functional aspects of the kitchen. Behind the island was the custom cabinetry made up of nine sliding doors all covered in White Crocodile.

"The kitchen accomplished so much more than simply functional yet elegant design. The technology built into the kitchen was truly innovative. With the press of a button you could reveal the sink and stove, as well as create a bar on the other side. All the drawers and cabinets were covered with 4mm thick Motivo White Crocodile using a technique which involved slicing a 2cm Caesarstone slab to 4mm thick pieces. EuroCucina really gave us a chance to shine. To show how far we've come as a global company and that we are leaders in innovation," said Maggie Amir, Brand Manager, Caesarstone USA, Inc.

Designed by Caesarstone, the kitchen made a lasting impression on the thousands of designers and international industry professionals in attendance. Hundreds stopped by the booth each day for Happy Hour to enjoy food and beverages prepared by top chefs and hosted by representatives of each of the 44 international Caesarstone divisions.

"I think this event really allowed Caesarstone to prove that we are not just a stone company. The kitchen reflected our vision of the company itself: Innovation, sophistication, forward-thinking design, and unique applications. We have always encouraged our customers to be inspired and to create their own extraordinary spaces. Being a part of such an internationally acclaimed event was truly an incredible experience," commented Sagi Cohen -- CEO, Caesarstone USA, Inc.

About Caesarstone USA Caesarstone is the original quartz countertops and surfaces manufacturer. Caesarstone is headquartered in Southern California with sales divisions and major distribution centers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Colorado, Miami, New York, Atlanta, St. Louis and Dallas. Caesarstone's Independent Distributors are located in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Philadelphia, North Carolina, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Arizona and Utah. Caesarstone's premium quartz countertops and surfaces complement any design, from traditional to contemporary, for both home and commercial applications. Caesarstone products are available through kitchen and bath retailers, fabricators, architects, designers, builders and distributors nationwide. Offering a Residential Lifetime Warranty, Caesarstone countertops and surfaces are nonporous, stain, scratch and heat resistant. Caesarstone has earned the respected Good Housekeeping Seal from the Good Housekeeping Research Institute and is in compliance with stringent international environmental standards including ISO 14001 (environmental management system), ISO 9002 (quality management standard), and NSF (public health and safety).

Using only sustainable materials, Caesarstone is GREENGUARD certified and is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). For more information about Caesarstone and its products, please visit the company's website at http://www.caesarstoneus.com, or call toll-free 877-9QUARTZ (877-978-2789).

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Caesarstone Makes a White Hot Debut at EuroCucina 2012

The Thermador MD24JS Built-in MicroDrawer Microwave installs directly into standard-depth cabinetry and slides open at the touch of a button.

The flush installation creates an attractive smooth presentation.

Kitchen countertops are busy landscapes. As with any endeavor, tools of the trade can sometimes clutter the work area. However, cutlery and cutting boards are much easier to store away and out of sight than appliances are. Usually.

The Thermador MD24JS Built-in MicroDrawer Microwave employs a creative use of space that allows it to always be at the ready while not being in the way. Installing directly into standard-depth cabinetry, the 24-inch built-in microwave slides open at a touch (no handle) and features a full-flush front for an attractive aesthetic that blends into the environment of the kitchen. With a MSRP of $1,649, the luxury appliance is designed for high-end home kitchens with a focus on sleek and sophisticated clean lines.

As a kitchen essential, the microwave is a central hub that is integral to meal-making and with a 1.2-cubic-feet capacity, the appliance is large enough to fulfill the demands common to everyday use. The full-featured microwave offers convenience as well as control with 10 cooking modes. In addition to popular one-touch settings like popcorn and defrost, the luxury appliance also includes sensor-based cooking programs that monitor humidity and adjust cooking time and power accordingly. And with all that open counter space up on top for food preparation, there will be plenty of room to explore all that it can do.

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Thermador microwave goes under the countertop

The actress was spotted furniture shopping at Beverly Hills' exclusive Kreiss showroom on Tuesday (15May12) with in-demand interior decorator Kathryn Ireland and a camera crew - and now reports suggest her spending spree will feature on reality TV show Million Dollar Decorator later this year (12).

An insider tells HollyScoop.com, "The show will air in America this coming fall."

Ireland is not new to celebrity demands - her clients have included Steve Martin, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and director/playwright David Mamet.

The website reports Lohan's shopping spree at Kreiss was a big hit and the actress went home with two St. Regis sofas, two St. Regis armchairs, a pair of Venetian table lamps and two cast bronze candlestick lamps and an array of outdoor furniture.

Lohan is currently prepping her new Beverly Hills home after moving out of her former pad in Venice, California, where she spent a period under house arrest last year (11).

More: John Oliver on Lindsay Lohan's Correspondents' Dinner Invite: 'We've All Let America Down' Lindsay Lohan: 'I Know I'm Great' as Liz Taylor Woody Allen: A Pimp inFading GigoloWith Sofia Vergara

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Lindsay Lohan recruits top TV decorator for home revamp

New home construction in Franklin County is holding steady through the first four months of 2012.

The county building department issued 10 permits for new single-family dwellings last month, down from 11 issued in April 2011.

The county issued 57 permits total in April out of 59 applications received.

On the year, 32 single-family home permits have been issued. Through the first four months of 2011, 29 permits had been issued.

The county estimated an average construction cost of $212,500 for the homes issued permits last month.

On the year, the average is $181,831.25. The same average, for slightly fewer homes, from January through April of 2011 was $207,001.90.

The 10 permits issued is the lowest for the month since 2010, when only eight were issued. In 2009, 14 permits were issued in April. In 2008, the number was 11. In 2007, two dozen single-family home permits were issued.

Other permits issued by the county in April and the estimated construction cost estimates were:

Other nonresidential buildings, three permits, $85,500;

Structures other than buildings, one permit, $8,000;

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County Up on New Home Construction So Far This Year

Between putting out the fire that destroyed a century-old warehouse early Wednesday morning and returning Thursday when it rekindled, firefighters went to the factory across the street to put out a fire they say the warehouse fire likely caused.

The cause of the initial fire remained undetermined, Alliance Fire Inspector Guy Aumend said.

Firefighters from at least 10 departments were called to the Alliance Wholesalers building at 321 Rush St. at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.

They were still dousing hot spots at 5 p.m. Wednesday in what had been three large brick buildings that stretched at least a block. The fire did about $200,000 damage to the building, which was mostly vacant.

A pest control business was leasing the office area with four trucks and a car parked in a nearby fenced area outside the building, and a Sebring man was storing a pickup, a motorcycle and a car in the buildings nearby garage.

While parts of a few walls remained standing, most of the structures were reduced to rubble.

The blaze also damaged PTC Alliance, a factory across the alley, Aumend said. Dozens of employees were evacuated from the factory, which manufactures steel tubing.

SPREADS TO NEARBY FACTORY

The Alliance Wholesalers fire was so hot it melted the blue or gray paint from the aluminum siding on the PTC buildings.

Hot embers carried far enough, Aumend said, that they landed on PTCs rubber roofing. The PTC factory is located at 640 E. Keystone St. but its buildings stretch from Keystone to Webb.

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Warehouse fire spread to roof of PTC Alliance

Suzanne Thompson/Special to The Commercial Appeal

The Byrd House, at the corner of York Avenue and Rozelle Street in Central Gardens, has been home to four generations of Elizabeth Byrd's family.

Emily Adams Keplinger/The Commercial Appeal

The charming history of The Byrd House is available for passersby to see, spelled out in modified Old English letters on a metal sign commissioned by Elizabeth Bonita Byrd for her family's "nest."

Nestled, or nesting, as the owner might say, in the Central Gardens Historic District, Elizabeth Bonita Byrd's home at the corner of York Avenue and Rozelle Street has a rich family history that spans four generations.

It's something that Byrd is proud of, and she has erected a historic marker-like sign in the corner of her yard, which lists the names of the generations of the Byrd family who have owned the home throughout the years.

Recently, Byrd dubbed the quaint cottage-style home "The Byrd House."

On the interior she has had to make many renovations, such as installing central heating

and air conditioning, but other than adding a white picket fence around the exterior of the house, it remains true to its original architecture.

"I love the house. I have done things as I could to maintain the character of the house," she said.

Excerpt from:
Byrds of a feather

MONTREAL and BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire -05/17/12)- Lumenpulse Inc., a leading innovator and manufacturer of high performance, architectural LED-based lighting solutions for commercial, institutional, and urban environments, today announced it has received U.S. Patent 8,179,058, issued May 15, 2012. The patent, the first of seven pending for the company's Lumentalk technology, provides a method of intuitively reading a traditional analog TRIAC dimmer in a digital fashion, which enables digital control of LED lighting over existing AC power lines, to maximize cost and energy savings.

The Lumentalk technology turns existing electrical wiring into a stable, noise-free high-speed communications link for data, enabling LED fixtures to be reliably controlled without additional wiring. The technology eliminates the cost and disruption of having to open up walls and ceilings to install additional data cabling as part of a retrofit project -- enabling a dramatic 30% reduction in total installation costs.

"Lumentalk is a ground breaking technology that uses a proprietary communications protocol to control lighting fixtures digitally using analog dimming platforms and infrastructure," said Greg Campbell, Lumenpulse Executive Vice President and CTO. "This is the first patent secured by Lumenpulse and is a validation of our vision for turning standard analog environments into intelligent, digital networks."

The recipient of a Product Innovation Award (PIA) in March, 2012, Lumentalk enables LED fixtures from any manufacturer to be dimmed and controlled over existing power lines, and works with most control or dimming standards (TRIAC, ELV, 0-10V, DALI, or DMX). Lumentalk uses AC voltage (100V - 277V) and operates within frequency bands allocated by worldwide regulations (FCC, CENELEC, ARIB).

"LED systems offer a fantastic energy saving opportunity. As well as being efficient, they can be controlled and dimmed to maximize savings," said Franois-Xavier Souvay, Lumenpulse Founder, President and CEO. "But, because they are semiconductors, they have the ability to do more; to communicate. Until now the challenge has been the cost and complexity of installing a data line to enable that communication. Lumentalk is able to address that challenge by using existing infrastructure, which removes the main obstacles and opens the door to countless energy saving projects."

Lumenpulse currently has 26 patents pending for innovations resulting from the company's intensive investment in its R&D strategy. Lumentalk is one of a number of innovations developed to accelerate the adoption of controllable LED lighting systems by enabling energy savings.

Other recently released solutions include Lumenline, a system of indoor linear LED luminaires introducing the benefits of high-quality LED illumination to offices and educational facilities, seeking lower energy and maintenance costs, including a 100,000 hours lifetime that is four times longer than fluorescent.

About Lumenpulse Inc.Founded in 2006, Lumenpulse develops and manufactures high performance, sustainable architectural LED-based fixtures and solutions for commercial, institutional, and urban environments. Attention to detail in mechanical, optical and fixture design has positioned Lumenpulse as a leader in the global LED lighting marketplace for indoor and outdoor uses. Lumenpulse has a global presence through its Corporate Headquarters in Montreal, Canada, US Headquarters and Global Technology Development Center in Boston, Massachusetts and EMEA Headquarters in London, UK.

For more information, please visit: http://www.lumenpulse.com.

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Lumenpulse Receives U.S. Patent on Technology That Converts Analog to Digital Signals Allowing Lighting Control Over ...