Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

HENDERSON, Ky. Anyone who spends any time driving North Main Street in downtown Henderson no doubt has noticed the home tucked into the corner lot at Fifth Street.

With a well-tended rose garden and a gazebo, the home developed in phases over the years had a colorful history in the years before it finally became a family residence in the late 1940s. It holds a world of memories for the family of the late Raymond B. and Hattie Preston, who lived there for 55 years starting in 1953.

The home, now owned by Kent and Jennifer Preston, experienced a 13-month renovation before they moved in last November with their 4-year-old daughter, Sophia. It will be one of six on this year's Ohio Valley Art League's annual Kitchen Tour Saturday.

It took the ice storm of dramatic proportions in January 2009 to inspire Kent and Jennifer to make the move, however.

The ice falling over the region, knocked out electricity and shut down public services.

The house at 520 N. Main St. was sitting vacant while the Preston estate decided what to do with it, but it had electricity and other amenities during that natural disaster, which Kent discovered during a foray to town to check on business interests.

"I called Jennifer and said '520 has power,'" so they packed up baby Sophia and temporarily moved to town from their home on Tscharner Road.

Eventually they would gather about 20 other storm-stressed powerless visitors, including fellow church members who needed refuge. They had a ball sharing meals and watching a DVD of one of the United Way pantomime shows over and over.

"We realized then how much it felt like home," Jennifer said. "Sophia loved it here, so we knew we belonged here."

As sister Viki Brigham puts it in a memoir of 520 N. Main St., "in 2010, Kent took a gulp and asked to buy the house from the estate."

Go here to see the original:
Ohio Valley Art League's kitchen tour includes North Main Street home in Henderson

Douglas seniors will now have a place to sit and bask in the sun and do a little quilting.

The Marshall County Commission approved the addition of a sunroom for the new senior center that is currently under construction.

According to District 3 Commissioner Richard Kilgore, the addition is estimated to cost $62,000, which falls well within the remaining funds the county had left for the senior center.

Kilgore said if they didnt use the funds for the center, then they would have to return them to the state.

We dont want to send any more back than we have to, Kilgore said.

According to the commissioner, the original cost of the senior center came in at around $260,000, which left about $100,000 left on the grant used to fund the project.

In other business, on a split vote, the commission approved a payment for cost relating to returning a child to Guatemala.

According to Clint Maze, the countys attorney, the commission was ordered to pay for the cost of returning the small child home with his mother because of a state statute.

Maze said the statute requires any expense incurred by foster parents, which is not compensated by the Department of Human Resources, falls to the county treasury.

We understand from the juvenile court that this is a rather isolated incident. The Guardian Ad Litem and court felt this was in the childs best interest, Maze said.

Read the original post:
Senior Center to get sunroom

With spring in the air, building a deck might be on your mind. Building a deck is not as hard as you might think, and if you follow some basic guidelines it can be a great DIY project.

Bit of Advice #1: Build Your DIY Deck Level

Decks are built to add living space to a home and every one of them should be built nice and level. For some home sites this is pretty easy, as many back yards or areas around the home are relatively flat. Here in Colorado, flat is rare my deck starts at ground level near the front door of my home, while the far side of my deck is about 15 feet off the ground.

Bit of Advice #2: Get a Permit before Attempting to Build Your Own Deck

Most municipalities require that decks be approved by the local building dept. Low free-standing decks may not require full permitting, while 2 story complex decks may require fully engineered plans. It is always best to check with your local permit office before you get started.

Bit of Advice #3: Build Your DIY Deck on a Firm Foundation

Over the years I have seen some great deck designs which I would be proud to call my own. But more often than not, many of the deck repairs I do as a Denver-area contractor are due to shortcuts the original builder used during the initial construction. I have done demo on some decks where the decks support columns were simply set on the dirt. Others had been set on rocks, blocks and some wimpy poured footers.

Like with most home builds a sturdy foundation results in a sturdy project. The key to a good start is a solid foundation. The most common base I use is a poured footer in a Sonotube. For this type, a hole is dug to frost depth and a cardboard tube form is installed. Concrete is mixed and then poured into the tube, and then an anchor bolt is then inserted in to the wet concrete. After the concrete has set the form is removed and the hole is back filled and a post bracket is mounted. The anchor bolt/post base provides both compressive and uplift resistance. This is repeated for each of the deck's support columns. Does this sound intimidating? You could always hire a concrete contractor to pour your foundation, even if you are choosing to build the deck yourself.

Bit of Advice #4: Choose the Right Framing Material

The framing of a deck is what the decking is mounted to and it provides the skeleton of the design. Some types of decking can span long distances while others require a tighter spacing of the joists. Your local climate will also dictate some of these parameters. Snow and wind loads vary from place to place and the material choices will also affect the design. I like to use pressure treated wood for all of my framing, as in my experience it provides the best long-term durability.

Go here to see the original:
Build Your Own Deck

MARION -- A historical marker in front of the Old Marion Baptist Church notes that the area is the geographic center of Georgia.

On Sunday, the church itself was the center of attention in Twiggs County, with about 500 people filling the newly constructed building for a dedication service.

The new church replaces the former building on the same site, which was destroyed April 5, 2007, in a fire that took place just days before Easter Sunday.

The fire was believed to have been electrical in nature, though an official ruling was never made, said Twiggs County Fire Chief and EMA Director Sammy Stokes. Without a nearby hydrant or sufficient water supply, firefighters could only watch as the church burned, leaving only brick and ash. The church was completely engulfed, destroying historical records, photos and other items in addition to the building itself.

Church officials broke ground in January 2011 for the new building.

God giveth, and God taketh away, church mother Mary Sampson said during the dedication service. We lost everything we had. But (the community) gave us money and they gave us love. We want to thank yall for helping us. ... God has blessed us with a new building. Thank God everybody has come out and help us celebrate.

The service started with a processional from the churchs auxiliary building across the street, which has been a temporary home to the congregation. The Rev. Hillmon Graves, the churchs pastor, led those marching in the hymn Weve Come This Far By Faith.

Graves noted before the service that it took awhile for the church membership to come together on a single vision as to what the new church should be.

The biggest struggle was getting all of the hearts and minds to be of the same accord, he said. We had to focus on a single vision. We all came together. This church has many members, but were one body.

Freddie Riggins Jr. served as the project manager for the church. He said the new church cost about $825,000 to build.

Read the original:
Congregation celebrates opening, dedication of new church

Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walkertown has run afoul of government authorities because it hasn't built the required sidewalks on roads bordering its property in an area where there are no adjacent sidewalks.

The church has been told since 2010 that it must build the sidewalks, but the church has balked because the sidewalks won't go anywhere. The town hasn't yet built sidewalks in that area surrounding the church.

Church officials say they will comply with a town ordinance and will build the sidewalks, and Town Manager Scott Snow said the town likely will accept the church's plans.

"The town doesn't have any intention of imposing the fines unless there is further noncompliance," Snow said.

In a letter dated April 10, the City-County Inspections Division said the church was violating the town's ordinance requiring it to build sidewalks by April 1 on Walkertown-Guthrie and Gospel Light Church roads, bordering the church. The letter said the division could fine the church $100 a day beginning 10 days after the church received the letter.

Church officials also could be charged with a misdemeanor, punishable with a fine up to $500 and 30 days in jail, the letter says.

The Rev. Bobby Roberson, the pastor of Gospel Light, asked the town's planning board at recent meeting why the church was required to build the sidewalks because no church member walks to the church.

Sidewalks are required for the project under the town's unified development ordinance, which guides land use and development within Walkertown.

The council approved the ordinance's provision for sidewalks in 2007 to encourage walking, improve safety and reduce traffic, Snow said. Sidewalks are being built in the Robin's Walk housing subdivision near the church in southeastern Walkertown.

Kevin Winemiller, a longtime church member, said the town's ordinance requiring the church to build the sidewalks is unnecessary.

Read the original:
Gospel Light Baptist Church in tussle with Walkertown over building sidewalks

KITCHENER Renters, have you longed to live in a nice, modern apartment building free of stinky, poisonous second-hand smoke?

Well, youll be able to by late summer or early fall. Drewlo Holdings is building Kitcheners first non-smoking rental apartment tower.

The building on 161 Fallowfield Dr. is one of four highrises planned for the site. Its possible a second building could be designated smoke-free if theres enough interest, said Allan Drewlo, vice-president of Drewlo Holdings.

Drewlo built southern Ontarios first non-smoking apartment building in London. It began taking tenants just over a year ago and was quickly filled.

It proved so successful that Drewlo launched a second smoke-free highrise in London, and also built one in Burlington.

Its been successful for us in London and Burlington, Drewlo said Thursday. We know theres a demand for it. People want to have a smoke-free environment.

They know about the bad effect of (second-hand smoke). They dont want to have their neighbours smoke.

He said the company got emails from Kitchener residents when Drewlo was constructing the smoke-free highrise in London.

People in Kitchener wanted us to bring it there, too. They were saying, When are you bringing it to Kitchener?

Its perfectly legal to have smoke-free buildings and its enforceable, he said.

Read the original post:
Smoke-free apartment coming Kitchener

Rifle Seventh Day Adventist Church Elder Ron Cloninger shows off the energy efficiency improvements the church has done over the past year. Energy efficient indoor lighting combined with solar energy panels mounted on the church roof, seen here, dramatically cut the building's energy bills.

Cam Burns Special to The Citizen Telegram

Seeking to save money on their utility bills, church board members contacted Garfield Clean Energy and signed up for the Garfield Clean Energy Challenge.

As a participant in that program, they received energy coaching services, which helped them get lined up with a free lighting audit from Franklin Energy, the company that manages Xcel Energy's Small Business Lighting program.

The church also took advantage of a low-cost full-building audit that Xcel Energy provides its customers. The two reports indicated the church could significantly reduce its power consumption by turning down their programmable thermostats even more and installing more efficient lighting.

Unfortunately, the thermostat idea was a nonstarter, said Elder Ron Cloninger.

We would turn down the temperature if it weren't for the piano, he explained. Below 60, it goes out of tune.

That left lighting as the preferred target. And the church took the advice to heart, spending $5,404 on a building-wide overhaul.

In the sanctuary, energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs replaced the old incandescent lights. In the building's hallways, classrooms and restrooms, energy-saving T-8 electronic ballast lights replaced the old, power-hungry T-12 magnetic ballast lights.

Motion sensors in the restrooms now ensure that the lights come on only when needed. The church also upgraded its exit signs to LED models.

More here:
Church sees new kind of light with energy upgrades

By LOIS PUGLIONESI Times Correspondent

HAVERFORD After 30 years as a reclamation site, the former Llanerch Quarry officially became a construction site on Wednesday, when the upcoming Quarry Center broke ground.

Standing amid 30 acres of bare brown earth with a bulldozer in the background, the property owners and developers, staff from IMC Construction, and commissioners President Bill Wechsler gathered to dig the first shovelfuls of dirt.

If all goes well the townships largest shopping center will open for business in time for Christmas. Located at Township Line Road and West Chester Pike, adjacent to Kohls, the Quarry Center will provide 250,000 square feet of retail space, including a 46,400-square-foot Giant Food Store and 150,000-square-foot Lowes home and garden center. Panera Bread, Supercuts, Visionworks and Chipotle Mexican Grill will occupy retail spaces between the two anchor stores. Negotiations continue with prospective tenants for two remaining pad sites.

With stone facades indicative of the area and an arts-and-crafts style, the center will sport an upscale architectural theme and provide shoppers a pleasant environment to conduct their everyday shopping, said Eric Mallory, principal of Eureka Ventures and partner in Quarry Center LP.

The conversion of this property from an operating quarry to a landfill, then to a first-class shopping environment, is a prime example of urban in-fill development, Mallory added, noting that its central location is good for the community and the environment.

A new connector roadway that provides alternate access through West Chester Pike will also improve the immediate road network, Mallory said.

Owner David Crockett Jr. said he hopes to have infrastructure installed and turn site pads over to large tenants in August.

With landfill operations under way since 1984, its been a long time coming, Crockett said.

Its a great day for the township, Wechsler said about developing a property that has lain fallow and caused controversy for years. Its been a hole in the ground and its going to be a shopping center, a tax revenue generator and generate employment.

Read more from the original source:
Officials break ground for Quarry Center in Haverford

22-04-2012 09:07 Steve Dutton and Emily give a brief introduction, to spotlight our latest antique home restoration in Wilmington North Carolina, with 11-year-old daughter, Sophie, performing camera-person duty.

Link:
621 Tennessee Ave., Wilmington North Carolina Introduction - Video

22-04-2012 09:26 With my Daughter, Sophie, having way too much fun filming my clunky walkaraound, we try to give you a flavor for this abslutely GORGEOUS antique home we just restored.

See the original post:
Curb appeal 101: Outside 621 Tennessee Ave., Wilmington, North Carolina - Video