Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Donald J. Trump is chairman and president of the Trump Organization.

Over the past year, I have been outspoken in expressing my love for this country and emphasizing the importance of making America great again. One of the reasons I am proud to be a real estate developer is that, for the past several decades, my company has accomplished what many said was impossible.

From building iconic properties from the ground up (such as New Yorks Trump Tower and Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago), to restoring historic landmarks (including 40 Wall Street, the facade of Grand Central Terminal and the legendary Plaza Hotel), to revitalizing and building communities (exemplified by the redevelopments of the Commodore Hotel and the West Side Yards project), we have continued to challenge ourselves to surpass even our own demanding expectations. All that said, in todays marketplace one of the most important responsibilities and goals that I have as a developer and business operator is to create tens of thousands of jobs and bring beauty and life to key cities across the world. I intend to do just that at the Old Post Office building on Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington.

On Feb. 7, the Trump Organization was selected by the General Services Administration (GSA) for the most sought-after hotel redevelopment opportunity in the country. We will serve as sponsor, developer, brand and operator and will shepherd the Old Post Office building through every stage of concept, redevelopment and operations. We are both humbled and honored to have been chosen for this important job and will bring to bear all of our resources and experience to create something that Washingtonians and D.C. visitors alike will be proud of for decades to come.

We recognize that the greatest assets of this beautiful building are its iconic exterior facade, interior cortile and soaring clock tower, and we intend to meticulously preserve these historic elements. We are confident that the hotel, once completed, will become one of the most visited attractions in the city. The clock tower, with its incredible 360-degree views of the District, will continue to be open to the public, and members of the Washington Ringing Society will be able to continue their tradition of ringing the Congress Bells. Working in conjunction with the National Park Service, our goal is to create a more interactive, educational and comprehensive experience for guests and visitors.

We plan to invest more than $200 million in the building, and our 260 suites and penthouses are designed to be the most luxurious in the city. During the redevelopment process (and beyond), we look forward to working closely with the National Capital Planning Commission, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, D.C. Historic Preservation Office, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, National Park Service, D.C. government and the GSA to carefully preserve and rehabilitate each of the Old Post Office buildings historic elements while simultaneously positioning the building for success in its new role.

Our expansive banquet facilities, ballroom and meeting spaces, as well as our sprawling spa and indoor and outdoor gardens, will further enhance our guest experience. A curated museum and exhibition gallery are planned to record and celebrate the Old Post Office buildings long and compelling history. Additionally, world-class restaurants, cafes and a bar and lounge will bring energy to the buildings unrivaled location. Spectacular outdoor-dining experiences will be created on the buildings front and back plazas. All of these amenities, and many others, will be open to the public and will bring new vitality to Pennsylvania Avenue and the District.

Importantly, Trump International Hotel, The Old Post Office Building, Washington, D.C., will create approximately 500 jobs during construction and another 500 permanent jobs once the hotel is operational. In addition to finally allowing this great building to achieve its full potential as a world-class hotel, turning the Old Post Office over to the private sector will provide the District economy with a much-needed boost. Our redevelopment plan will bring increased revenue to Washington and will save the American people millions in taxpayer dollars while providing the federal government with a lucrative financial return.

I look forward to preserving and repositioning this treasured landmark for D.C. residents and visitors to enjoy. When the project is completed in 2016, I feel certain that everybody will be proud of our enhancements to this already great building. We are honored by this opportunity, and we thank the GSA for placing their trust in us. We will not let you down.

The writer is chairman and president of the Trump Organization.

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Greatness for the Old Post Office building

The Berkley Board of Selectmen heard an update from the Town Office Building Committee on Wednesday.

Paul Modlowski, executive secretary of the Board of Selectmen and member of the Town Office Building Committee, said the committee has gone over the final concepts for a new Town Office.

Now its time to bring it to a vote and begin the process, if possible, said Modlowski.

The 10,000-square-foot building designed to last for 50 years will cost an estimated $3,500,000.

Those estimates are based on a certain type of construction, said Modlowski. If we bring the building in under estimate, that would be wonderful.

This is $3,500,000 max, he added.

If approved by voters at the May Town Elections and the Annual Town Meeting, the project could begin as early as June 5 when requests for proposals (RFPs) would be sent to architects. The building could then be occupied as early as April 2014.

Tax impact

According to Modlowski, the tax impact this building would have on Berkley residents would be $32.87 for a house valued at $100,000.

Modlowski also noted that if the project is completed in 2014, Berkley residents would not have to begin paying back loans until 2015.

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New Berkley Town Office in the works

With a rich home remodeling blog, great deals on home goods, such as kitchen and bathroom fixtures, lighting, home decor and a growing catalog of well priced products, HomeThangs.com opens its doors with a bang.

(PRWEB) March 02, 2012

But the site has other perks, too. The HomeThangs.com blog - http://www.homethangs.com/blog/ - features daily updates on home improvement trends, new products, product reviews, decorating ideas, DIY home improvement tips, as well as seasonal topics. HomeThangs.coms Facebook page and Twitter feed - @HomeThangs offers followers deals and coupons. The site is rich with information about the items it sells, offering consumers detailed overviews of both the item they are looking at and the brand in general on the same page. It also gives consumers the chance to reviews items and reads others reviews. In addition, HomeThangs.com has a physical base in its two showrooms, both located outside of Philadelphia.

2012 will be a big year for HomeThangs.com. The dedicated team behind the site bring in new brands, like Uttermost Home Dcor, Bathroom Vanities by Wyndham Collection, unique exclusive wall art pieces and much more. They also plan to expand the site to sell furniture with which consumers can fill their newly remodeled homes. While expansion will continue throughout the site, there will be particular focus on luxury and designer brands for furniture, lighting, and kitchen and bathroom fixtures. Consumers can expect to be wowed by top-tier products and not feel so bad splurging on a few since HomeThangs.com continues to work diligently to secure better prices on all of its items, bringing discounts and deals to the consumer.

Keep an eye on HomeThangs.com. The site is growing quickly, to the benefit of all consumers looking to spiff up their home with both major and minor improvements.

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Tanya Tymoshuk HomeThangs Home Improvement Store (267) 670-3883 Email Information

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HomeThangs.com: New Home Goods Store Opens Virtual Doors

FORT MILL, S.C. The owners of an incomplete Fort Mill high-rise are threatening to sue York County if county leaders dont accept their proposal for fixing up the towers exterior and completing renovations.

MorningStar Ministries, which since 2007 has had plans to renovate the 21-story tower into a spiritual retirement community, will present the proposal to York County Council on Monday.

If the county rejects their offer, MorningStar Ministries will sue the county for financial damages related to the project, Rick Joyner, the ministrys CEO and spiritual leader, said Thursday at a news conference in Fort Mill.

But the ministry hopes a lawsuit is unnecessary, Joyner said, and that a new agreement will include a new timeline for completing renovations on the tower.

We have no intentions of ever giving up on this project, he said.

It will take about three years to complete the $35 million tower, including getting the deposits from prospective residents needed to secure a construction loan, and getting the lights on and people in there, Joyner said.

But the ministry thinks the countys demand to immediately fix the exterior to near completion is unreasonable. That would cost $6 million, he said, and the ministry would need to start over given that it lost financial backers.

Joyner blamed the county for spreading false information about the ministry regarding its agreement with the county on how and when the tower would be renovated. That information sabotaged the project, grinding it to a halt, he said.

Built by former televangelist and PTL founder Jim Bakker, the tower was part of Bakker's vision for the Christian vacation destination Heritage USA. The project fell apart and the tower was left incomplete in the late 1980s when Bakker left amid a scandal.

Since 2004 MorningStar has been restoring buildings on the property, including the nearby PTL hotel, where the ministry has been renovating some units. The group runs the MorningStar Fellowship Church, camps, a school and a conference center at the former Heritage USA site off U.S. 21 near the state line.

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Church spars with S.C. county about fixing up old PTL site

BY ROMAN J. USCHAK

Deliberations in the case of the proposed expansion of the St. Mary and St. Mercurius Coptic Church at 125 Academy St. will be extended for at least another month.

Thursday night's meeting of the Belleville Zoning Board of Adjustment was largely reserved for testimony from members of the audience regarding the expansion, which calls for the construction of a large domed parking structure with underground parking, along with a chapel, a Sunday school, and a multipurpose room. The project would also necessitate the demolition of three homes on Academy Street.

Board chairman A.J. Del Guercio said that April's meeting of the zoning board would entail cross-examination of the planners involved in the case.

"Hopefully we can conclude this next month," said Del Guercio of the case, which has been going on since last year.

Several residents of Academy Street and nearby Rutgers Court expressed their dismay with the application, officially labeled ZB-2011-03. They hoped that the board would eventually turn it down, as they believed it would severely impact their quality of life and also their property values.

"This project will result in irreparable harm to the community," said Rutgers Court resident James Jones.

There were also fears that the church congregation would swell in size if the church itself physically expanded, and further complicate perceived traffic and parking difficulties on Academy Street and nearby areas.

"The street doesn't have a parking problem," said Academy Street resident Alex Gasbarro. "The church does."

A youth leader for the church, Mark Tanfit, later said that the church definitely needed additional space.

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Church expansion case to continue for zoning board

You know all those design shows that feature the newest, latest, most marvelous materials for kitchen countertops? Dont look for that here.

When it comes to kitchens, in this area we go for the tried and true.

Sure, well step out once in awhile with a bold move toward butcher block, but mostly we stick with laminate, high-definition laminate, solid surface/Corian or granite and quartz.

There are other surfaces out there that we dont do much with, like concrete, stainless steel and recycled glass, said Judy Mills, kitchen and bath design specialist for Wisconsin Building Supply in La Crosse. We dont have a call for them.

Because its the least expensive, laminate is still in demand in standard colors and edges.

The hot newcomer to the market is high-definition laminate because it does a good job of mimicking the more expensive granite and quartz. It can also come with custom edges and integral sinks.

Butcher block tops are also popular, Mills said, but not usually for the entire kitchen. It may be used on an island or at a chopping station.

Some even do wood countertops, though not so many.

If they can spend a bit more, customers opt for solid surface/Corian. And at the top of the price pyramid are granite and quartz.

With granite, youll always see the seams, Mills said. Because its actual stone, matching wont be perfect.

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Homeowners opt for smarter materials in kitchen countertops

OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- The selection of Texas and Mississippi architects to design the new Marine Education Center was announced Thursday in news release from Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.

Lake Flato Architects of San Antonio, Texas, and their local partner, Unabridged Architecture of Bay St. Louis, are to team with University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory staff to create the building, the news release stated.

The new center replaces the J.L. Scott Marine Education Center and Aquarium, which was located at Cadet Point in Biloxi and lost during Hurricane Katrina.

"We want this facility to be a model for building in this region," said Jeff Lotz, interim director of GCRL. "We want to be energy efficient, storm resistant, and appropriate to the landscape."

The new center is to be located on 224 acres at Cedar Point, which has access to marshes, Davis Bayou and the Mississippi Sound.

The Marine Education Center proposal is for a 32,000 square foot complex with a mix of public exhibits, classrooms, laboratories, meeting spaces and administrative offices. A system of trails, boardwalks and outdoor classrooms, already under construction, will take the learning experiences beyond the building to make it a true nature center.

The Thad Cochran Aquaculture Center is located at Cedar Point.

Two key research groups, microbiology and genetics, have moved from GCRL's Halstead Road location to the new Aquaculture Research Building at the site.

Also located at the site is the Aquaculture Visitor Center.

Robert Harris, principal designer for Lake Flato, states, "For over 25 years, Lake Flato has employed practical and thoughtful sustainable strategies that conserve resources, engage nature and promote healthful living. We are excited to work with GCRL to build an environmentally sustainable facility for science education in South Mississippi."

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Architects selected for GCRL's Marine Education Center

Architects have produced preliminary designs for Flathead Valley Community Colleges $5 million Rebecca Chaney Broussard Nursing and Health Sciences Center.

The designs were presented to the board of trustees on Tuesday.

College President Jane Karas introduced Corey Johnson of CTA Architects, who said the firm has produced about 50 percent of the construction documents.

At four and a half months to be at 50 percent is a pretty good clip, he said. We are right on target to hit a summer construction schedule.

Johnson said the schedule calls for going to bid in mid-April and awarding a construction contract in mid-May.

David Koel, senior design architect, went over preliminary drawings of exterior and interior features. He said the firm began by identifying unifying elements of campus buildings as concrete, metal and glass along with maroon colors.

Koel said the architects worked to create a really nice appearance that a major donation building requires while making it blend in with the other buildings on campus such as the nearby Arts and Technology building. His exterior design uses concrete columns, metal and a lot of glass for a modernistic look for the 30,000 square-foot, one-level building.

The project is largely funded by a $4 million gift the largest in the colleges history from the Broussard family. The family made the gift as a memorial to the late Rebecca Broussard, who was formerly a nurse and deeply committed to education.

They gave the donation with the proviso that the community give an additional $1 million for the center that will house allied health programs as well as a student health clinic. Karas said the match fund has now reached $610,000.

The college chose an area on the south end of the original campus buildings. Karas said earlier that it may displace some parking.

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Architects working on FVCC health center design

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 1, 2012) - Primaris Retail REIT (TSX:PMZ-UN.TO - News) is pleased to report positive operating results for the fourth quarter of 2011.These results have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS").Prior year's results have been restated to conform to this change.

President and CEO, John Morrison, commented "We are very pleased with our results for 2011.Funds from Operations for the fourth quarter were 16% stronger than our previous quarterly record. We completed a significant $572 million dollar acquisition during the year, establishing Primaris as the third largest and only public enclosed shopping centre owners in the country. In addition to the property acquisitions we added many strong people to our team, both at the property level and at our corporate offices.The strong financial results resulted from acquisitions, strict expense controls at the G&A level, and from seasonal occupancy gains during the fourth quarter.With a prudent financial structure and strong liquidity, Primaris is well positioned for the future."

Highlights

Funds from Operations (FFO)

Net Operating Income (NOI)

Same Properties - Net Operating Income

Net Income

Operations

Liquidity

Financial Results

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Primaris Retail REIT Announces Record Fourth Quarter and Annual Financial Results

OGDEN, UT--(Marketwire -03/01/12)- TAB Bank is pleased to announce that it has provided a $6 million asset-based lending facility through a multi-year agreement for Coral Industries, Inc. of Tuscaloosa, AL.

Coral Industries was founded in 1976 and has grown to be one of the largest independent manufacturers of bath and shower enclosures in North America. Coral also fabricates and distributes tempered and decorative glass products. Another division of Coral manufactures and distributes architectural aluminum and all glass systems including entrance doors, storefronts, curtain walls, window walls, and glass handrails. Coral employs over 300 workers in its 250,000 square foot manufacturing facility. Coral is dedicated to a high level of service, commitment to customer's needs, and production of quality products.

"I am very pleased with our new lending relationship with TAB Bank. Everything went very smoothly as we discussed the necessary steps to finalize the new credit arrangement. I am looking forward to working with TAB as our lending partner as we move forward," commented D. Grant McAllister, CFO of Coral Industries.

Jonathan Molayem, Regional Vice President of Transact AOCP, exclusively advised Coral Industries with the debt financing. Transact AOCP is headquartered in Richmond, VA and provides financial advisory services including business planning for start-ups, strategic growth consulting, and succession/exit planning.

The commercial lending professionals at TAB Bank and Transact AOCP worked closely together and took the necessary time to set up a customized lending facility that would meet the specific financing needs of Coral Industries. "The teams at Coral and Transact AOCP have been a real pleasure to work with. We are excited that Coral has chosen TAB Bank to be their new lending partner. We look forward to a strong and mutually beneficial relationship for both companies," stated Paul Durosko, Vice President of Underwriting for TAB Bank.

TAB Bank (@TABBank) provides custom working capital solutions to transportation and non-transportation companies in all stages of business life cycles during any economic conditions. TAB Bank does this through Accounts Receivable Financing, Lines of Credit, Equipment Loans, Asset Based Loans, Business Accounts, and Commercial Banking Services.

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TAB Bank Provides Coral Industries With a $6 Million Asset-Based Lending Facility