Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Cassandra Vinograd LONDON The Associated Press Published Friday, Apr. 27, 2012 9:03AM EDT Last updated Friday, Apr. 27, 2012 10:16AM EDT

Heavily armed, masked police surrounded a site in central London on Friday after a woman reported that a mentally unstable man had walked into her office threatening to blow himself up.

Scotland Yard said in a statement that police were called to Tottenham Court Road, a busy central London avenue, just before noon and have sent a negotiator to the site. Office supplies, including computer monitors, were being thrown from the building's fifth-floor window.

The area was cordoned off, nearby buildings were evacuated and a police sniper was stationed on a rooftop near the building.

It's unclear if other people (are) in the building, police said in a statement, adding they aren't treating the incident as terror-related.

The Huffington Post, whose offices are just off Tottenham Court Road, said its building was among those evacuated. It quoted one witness as saying that a man had walked into her office strapped up in gasoline cylinders.

Basically he threatened to blow up the office, Abby Baafi, 27, told the website. He said he doesn't care about his life, he doesn't care about anything, he's going to blow up everybody.

Construction worker Martynas Vristiuk, 26, said he was out smoking a cigarette when a window above him was shattered and someone began throwing computer monitors into the street only 3 metres from where he was standing.

He threw 10 computers, Mr. Vristiuk told The Associated Press, adding that one was tossed onto a police car.

Fellow worker Dennis Gorsanenko, 23, said he was at a construction site adjacent the building in question when a police officer ordered everyone out. He said: There's a guy with a bomb on his belt.

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Man 'strapped in gasoline cylinders' threatens to blow up London office building

CLEARWATER County commissioners have approved a change to development rules that clears the way for the construction of a three-story office building in Historic Downtown Palm Harbor.

Though growth in a down economy might normally be celebrated, the 5-1 decision sparked outrage among the standing-room-only audience at Tuesday's County Commission meeting. Most of them had come to object to the change, and many who signed up to speak came from outside Palm Harbor, including St. Petersburg, Seminole and Indian Rocks Beach.

"I find this entire process tonight to be a perversion, an obscenity, to what purports to be a representative republic in Pinellas County," Palm Harbor resident John Treskovich said. "Very poorly done."

The decision also revived interest in incorporating Palm Harbor into a city. Before the commission vote, Palm Harbor fire commission member Norm Atherton said he was neutral about the idea of incorporating.

"After tonight, I'm going to be for it 100 percent," Atherton said. He referred to a petition with 536 signatures opposing the development rule change. If those people "each get 10 people to agree with them, we'll have the city of Palm Harbor," he said.

Commissioner Ken Welch, who was chairing the meeting, said he understood the anger and disappointment.

"I know for a lot of you this was not the decision you wanted or were hoping for," Welch said. "This board has listened to the community for some time. The decision is not what many of you wanted but we have listened."

The furor centered around a request by Geographic Solutions, a software company with 130 employees, to build a three-story building on Georgia Avenue in the Palm Harbor historic district. When the county originally granted approval, the proposed building was slated to have offices on the first two floors and a residential area on the third.

Last year, the company wanted to substitute office space for the residential area on the third floor. That was not permitted by the 2001 Historic Palm Harbor Master Plan. County staff members recommended amending the master plan to include transferable development rights, or TDRs.

A TDR allows an owner to adjust the development density allowed on his property. For example, if the owner has two parcels and each allows 100 units, but the owner wants to build a project with 150 units, he can take 50 units from one piece and add it to the 100 on the other. The remaining parcel would then be limited to 50 units, so that the overall density of the area remains the same even though it changed on one parcel.

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Approval of office building for downtown Palm Harbor sets off a furor

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/rhl8vq/office_building_co) has announced the addition of the "Office Building Construction in South Korea to 2016: Market Databook" report to their offering.

Timetric's, 'Office Building Construction in South Korea to 2016: Market Databook' contains detailed historic and forecast market value data for the office buildings construction industry, including a breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition). The databook provides historical and forecast valuations of the industry using the construction output and value-add methods.

This report is the result of Timetric's extensive market research covering the office buildings construction category in South Korea. It contains detailed historic and forecast market value data for the office buildings construction industry, including a breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition). 'Office Building Construction in South Korea to 2016: Market Databook' provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of the office buildings construction category in South Korea. It is an essential tool for companies active across the South Korea construction value chain and for new players considering entering the market.

Scope

- Overview of the office buildings construction category in South Korea

- Historic and forecast market value for the office buildings construction category by construction output and value-add methods for the period 2007 through to 2016

- Historic and forecast market value by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) across the office buildings construction category for the period 2007 through to 2016

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/rhl8vq/office_building_co

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Research and Markets: Office Building Construction in South Korea to 2016: Market Databook is Essential Reading for ...

Blame last year's unusually wet weather.

In August and September, Philadelphia recorded 29.6 inches of rain - that's 70 percent of the annual rainfall in only two months.

After Tropical Storm Lee in September, city engineers made a disturbing discovery along Monoshone Creek: A century-old stone retaining wall had dropped more than five inches.

Not only that, but it was starting to rotate away from land, and rushing water had carved out gaps underneath the wall.

"The wall was beginning to collapse," Perri said.

The Streets Department knew it had to act fast - but just how fast didn't become clear until engineers started to prepare the wall for repairs in November.

They discovered that Lincoln Drive was not sitting on rock.

It was sitting on soil.

That meant that if the retaining wall had collapsed, it would have taken the road with it, Perri said.

"We needed to move fast," he said.

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Averting a washout on Lincoln Drive

STAMFORD -- As redevelopment of Mill River Park moves into its third year, the Mill River Collaborative this week announced the second installment of a $1.8 million contribution.

Charged with fundraising efforts, the private-public partnership on Thursday presented Mayor Michael Pavia with a ceremonial check at the Government Center. The city is set to receive roughly $800,000, representing the final balance of the group's first significant donation.

Last fall, the collaborative contributed about $1 million to begin the first phase of the park's construction that follows the U.S. Army Corps restoration of the Mill River.

"This is the largest single donation that a private group has ever given to the City of Stamford for a public park," said Arthur Selkowitz, chairman of the collaborative.

The total cost of redeveloping the park is estimated at $60 million. While the bulk of the project is to be financed by the city through the sale of tax increment bonds, the collaborative is aiming to raise $20 million through its capital campaign. Thus far, the group has received $6.6 million in pledges.

"The momentum is definitely growing as people see the park under construction," Selkowitz said. He added that the group hopes to reach the $10 million mark by the summer.

Pavia has touted the park as an engine for the city's economic growth.

"The work of the collaborative is already stimulating downtown real estate development and is bringing many sectors of the city together in support of this legacy undertaking," he said in a press release issued by the collaborative.

The first phase of construction, already well underway, is expected to cost around $11.5 million. Since October 2011, workers have been excavating and laying down infrastructure on a 12-acre portion of the park between Broad and Main streets.

Along the eastern banks of the Mill River, a concrete retaining wall has been installed and will eventually be wrapped in granite, according to Milton Puryear, the collaborative's executive director.

Link:
Mill River Collaborative completes $1.8 million donation

About 11 months ago, we all started posting photographs of the upper decks of FedEx Field, which had started looking different.

That led to the months of on-again off-again party deck reportage; earlier this month, Mike Jones reported that the Redskins were removing 4,000 more seats, and that the Redskins party decks are to feature tables for fans to sit or stand around while watching the game.

And the teams Web site reported earlier this month that the Redskins plan to completethe project that was started last year by installing standing decks on the upper level of the stadium and a video wall on lower level concourse in the west end zone.

Anyhow, the blog Son of Washington posted a bunch of photos this week that shows seat removal has already begun. Quoting the site:

Ill be at FedEx Field for Thursdays draft night party, so I suppose there will be many more pictures to come. For now, see Son of Washington for more.

Note: The original headline of this item said the team is working on party decks; I suppose I dont know that for sure, so I changed it.

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Redskins working on FedEx Field

Echoes of cinematic mutiny on decks of HMS Bounty in St. Augustine

The tall ship that sailed through St. Augustine's Bridge of Lions at noon Wednesday looks quite historic.

But the 50-year-old HMS Bounty has more cinematic history as the three-masted square rigger from the classic movie "Mutiny on the Bounty."

The ship will open for Friday through Sunday tours in America's oldest city to commemorate its 450th anniversary as well as the 223rd anniversary of the real ship's mutiny on April 28, 1789.

Teaming up with St. Augustine's Pirate Museum for the "Mutiny with the Bounty" event, visitors can trod the decks where Marlon Brando, as 1st Lt. Fletcher Christian, mutinied against a cinematic Capt. William Bligh, played by Trevor Howard, in the 1962 MGM film.

"There are other ports we could have gone to, but I liked the charm of the city and knew that the pirate museum was there, a perfect fit," said Tracie Simonin, director of the nonprofit HMS Bounty Organization.

Tall ships abound this week. The Coast Guard's Eagle is at Mayport Friday through Thursday. The French Navy's Etoile and Belle Poule moor near The Jacksonville Landing Monday through Wednesday to celebrate the 450th anniversary of French Capt. Jean Ribault's arrival at the St. Johns River.

As St. Augustine begins its Commemorative Celebration to honor Ponce de Leon's discovery of Florida, the arrival of the Bounty is a great addition, said Dana Ste. Claire, director of the city's Department of Heritage Tourism and Historic Preservation.

"To have that piece of cinematic history is significant in its own right, and for it to be here during the anniversary celebration is fortuitous," Ste. Clair said. "... The Bounty at one level is a prelude to the celebration of our rich maritime history, which will be a principal component of our commemorative celebration through 2015."

The original Bounty sailed to Tahiti in 1787 with Bligh pushing his crew hard to get there quickly. Resenting the living hell on the ship, Christian and the crew led the mutiny that forced Bligh off.

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Echoes of cinematic mutiny on decks of HMS Bounty in St. Augustine

The 34th annual Venice Art Walk & Auctions kicks off Friday with a free community event that includes an exhibition and silent auction of custom skate decks and surfboards embellished by local tattoo artists.

Presented by Quiksilvers new 585 Boardriders concept store, the second annual Surf & Skate Auction event will includelive music, refreshments and meet-and-greets with various artists.

Attendees will also have the chance to bid on one-of-a-kind creations designed from used, recycled and re-created skate decks and custom-shaped and tatted surfboards by more than 70 artists, including surfboard shapers Jeffrey Sudzin, Dan Cobley and Jose Barahona; surfboard tattoo artists (we honestly didn't know this even existed) Charly Reynoso, Big Boy, Juan "Ente" Gollaz, Show, Justin Jakus and Tyoni Aragon; Quiksilver surfboard artist Kristi McKnight; DC Shoes skate designer Mark Winn and DC Shoes photographer and video producer Tobin Yelland.

And don't feel bad opening your wallet for that one-of-a-kind skate or tatted board, the event raises funds for the Venice Family Clinic (as the Venice Art Walk has done for more than three decades), which provides free medical care to approximately 25,000low-income men, women, children, teens, and seniors who lack private health insurance.

Venice Art Walk & Auctions' kickoff Surf & Skate Auction to benefit the Venice Family Clinic, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday at 2525 Michigan Ave., Bldg. C1, Santa Monica.

RELATED:

Launch date: New SoCal trade show set for July 2012

Quiksilver's custom boardshort program taps heritage, technical expertise

Photo ops: Street fashion at the downtown Los Angeles Art Walk

-- Adam Tschorn

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Charity Surf & Skate Auction kicks off Venice Art Walk on Friday

FARMINGTON

Plans to install low-pressure sewer systems in two neighborhoods that currently have environmentally worrisome septic systems is being re-examined by town officials in an attempt to get the project approved in time to get on the November ballot.

Presented by Town Engineer Russell Arnold Jr. at Tuesday's town council meeting, the project will go back to the town's water pollution control authority for consideration at its May 9 meeting. A timeline introduced to the council showed two public hearings on the project tentatively scheduled at the June 13 WPCA meeting and the July 12 town council meeting.

Town council members were unanimous in their desire to try to get the project to voters in November, though there was no official vote.

Residents at a referendum last fall rejected the proposal as presented, citing cost concerns and fears that a pump system, which pushes the waste to a central sewer main line, could fail during a power outage. Many were instead in favor of the traditional gravity sewer system, which operates exclusively under the influence of gravity.

Since the project went to referendum, it has not changed, Arnold said. He asked that the town council consider recommending the low-pressure sewer option again, arguing that it is more economical and less intrusive to install than a gravity-based system.

Additionally, Arnold said that because of the elevation and the topography of the neighborhoods to be affected, at least 20 percent of the homes will require a low-pressure system no matter what. If the town does nothing, the septic systems in the majority of all the homes in the affected area will likely fail in the short term.

"How many more times do you want to deal with this?" Arnold said. "That's the question."

If approved, the low-pressure sewer plan will affect 95 homes in the area of Blue Ridge and Ridgeview drives, Shady Lane and Woodpond Road.

It will require each property owner to pay for the installation and maintenance of a grinder pump and service lines. Property owners will also have to hire a contractor to install the pumps, reroute their sewers, crush and fill their existing septic tanks and connect to the sewer hub at the street.

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Questions Linger Over Appropriate Sewer System For Farmington Neighborhoods

Good Morning America co-anchor Lara Spencer and her husband, David Haffenreffer (a former CNN anchor now in real estate), recall finding their unusual home. It was 2005, and they were searching in Connecticut. We happened upon this little part of Greenwich called Riverside, Spencer says, and we knew this was the place to raise a family.

The house, a basic 1920s New England farmhouse, had been reconfigured and added onto over the years until it became, Haffenreffer says, endearingly quirky.

Porches were converted into oddly shaped rooms. More porches were added and then more rooms, too. We loved the neighborhood, and we loved the feel of the house, Spencer says. From the minute we stepped inside, we knew it was right.

Elizabeth Lippman

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: Lara Spencer, husband David Haffenreffer, daughter Kate and son Duff enjoy hanging out on the front porch of their 4,200-square-foot Connecticut home.

In its 4,200 square feet are four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a dining room, a 20-by-40-foot kitchen, a playroom for the kids (son Duff, 10, and daughter Kate, 8), Spencers reading room (once another bedroom), Haffenreffers office (formerly a maids room) and a sun porch.

The kitchen is so large that, in addition to a marble cooking island and a table and chairs, theres a seating area with a couch, a steamer trunk for a coffee table, a working fireplace and a TV. Its so nice to be able to cook while the kids are sitting there watching TV or doing their homework, Spencer says. The kitchen is the hub of our house.

As for the homes decor, Spencer who does all her own decorating approaches it like an adventure. She believes in the three Rs: rescue, recycle and reinvent. She hits up flea market, auctions, yard sales and sometimes even dumpsters, mixing her finds with new designer pieces. To me, she says, its not about whether you can afford to shop at antique stores or order up entire rooms from a catalog. Its so much more fun to do it this way. If I wasnt doing what I do for my day job, Id certainly be trying to figure out a way to do this full-time.

Sometimes, what Spencer does comes close to treasure-hunting. There are two numbered Picasso lithographs from the 1960s that she discovered at a Salvation Army store. They were $35 for the pair, and theyre worth about $3,500, she says. Id thought they were posters, but when I took them in for framing, the framer recognized the paper and verified that they were the real thing.

I think that helped me get the job when I was hosting Antiques Roadshow in 2004. I told them that story, and they could see I was serious about finding antiques.

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