16-02-2012 09:30 http://www.northerlyaspect.com.au Architectural Design | Gold Coast QLD | 07 5564 6348 Northerly Aspect Architects offer specialist services in residential and commercial renovations and extensions unique design and planning solutions for every need. Call Aaron today; Northerly Aspect Architects 4/19 Dominions Rd Ashmore Gold Coast QLD 4214 Ph: 07 5564 6348
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Chuck Badger Construction, Specializing in Kitchen and Bath Remodels, New Construction, and Room Additions, Shares New Trends and Ways to Define Kitchen Space
Inland Empire, CA (PRWEB) February 16, 2012
As America’s economy strengthens, remodeling and home renovation are once again on the rise and kitchens are no exception. According to Kitchen and Bath Business magazine, this year a whopping six million homeowners will remodel their kitchens.
Kitchens have always been the epicenter for cooking, dining, spending family time, and entertaining family and friends. In addition to sheer enjoyment and function, kitchens also capture high resale cachet and can help sell a home. The importance of a kitchen area makes it one of the most critical remodeling projects a homeowner takes on. So where should a homeowner begin when considering a kitchen remodel?
“Many people start by picking out the style of kitchen they like best, but it’s important that you start by determining how you want to use the space,” says Chuck Badger, who has more than 20 years experience in the construction industry and is owner of Chuck Badger Construction. “Consider how your kitchen fits your lifestyle and how you need it to function. Do you have ample space to work efficiently, do you have enough storage, or do you need a space to pay bills or a computer workstation for your child to do homework? Once you know what you need from your new kitchen you can move forward.”
One new emerging kitchen design trend is to move away from an open floor plan with a combined kitchen, dining, and great room in favor of more defined rooms. Open floor planning is great for entertaining and family gatherings, but the combined space can become too noisy, lose a sense of intimacy, and expose kitchen clutter to guests.
In new mid-market to upscale homes, many homeowners are designing specific areas for a family room and a dining room set around a kitchen. When remodeling, there are a number of ways to define spaces such as using lowered ceilings, soffits, built-ins, and cabinetry.
“Remember the design process takes time,” says Chuck, who enjoys staying up-to-date on all the latest trends. “Hire a general contractor who is a careful listener and provide as much upfront information as you can on your ideas and expectations.”
Chuck Badger Construction has been building new homes from the ground up, remodeling, and providing room additions for 20 years. Experienced and skilled, Chuck Badger is able to perform 90 percent of the work himself instead of relying on subcontractors, allowing better overall control of the project and improving lines of communication.
For more information about this company that offers personalized service, please call (951)-306-4295 or check them out on the Web.
About Chuck Badger Construction
Since 1992, Chuck Badger Construction has been providing new construction, remodels, room additions, and home repair and built his excellent reputation by word-of-mouth referrals and repeat customers. His attention to each individual client and timely and superior quality craftsmanship has earned him an impeccable reputation in the Coachella Valley. Chuck Badger Construction serves the Southern California desert community including Palm Springs, Indio, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, and La Quinta.
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Charles Badger
Chuck Badger Construction
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Palm Springs Kitchen Remodeler Chuck Badger Construction Shares New Design Trends for Kitchen Remodels
A roofing company on Thursday agreed to a $500,000 settlement in a lawsuit brought by the family of a worker killed when he fell through Minerva High School’s gym roof.
A Stark County jury was poised to deliberate after two weeks of trial, but Cleveland-based T&F Systems, its insurance company and Ricci Dolph’s family came to an agreement during a break in closing arguments.
Terms of the settlement were confidential but the attorneys placed the dollar amount on the record before court adjourned.
The case was assigned to Common Pleas Judge Frank Forchione.
Attorneys Allen Schulman and Brian Zimmerman said the “bittersweet” resolution allowed Dolph’s family to put the tragic case behind them.
Dolph, 54, of Canton was working at the school with two other men on Aug. 26, 2008, when a roofing panel broke beneath his feet.
Schulman and Zimmerman asked the jury for $4 million in damages, arguing that T&F Systems “played Russian roulette” with workers’ lives by sending them onto a dangerous roof without safety precautions.
The company denied that it deliberately intended to injure Dolph or acted with the belief that injury or death was substantially certain to occur, said T&F’s attorney, Carolyn Cappel, citing the legal standard in the case.
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Settlement reached over worker’s roof death in 2008
Written By: Kristianne Fusilero
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Category: Economy
The Office of City Building Official has approved three high-rise projects worth P184.868 million since January 2012.
Acting city building official Jaime G. Adalin said two of the projects are commercial while the other one is institutional. The office approved their applications for building permits, signaling the start of the construction of the projects.
Among the projects are the five-storey commercial building of AFP Mutual Benefits Association Inc. in Maya St., Ecoland; six-storey project of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Bolton Street, and six-storey commercial building of Edsa 1 Real Estate Corp. in CM Recto St.
The biggest project in terms of cost is the proposal of BIR which amounts to P92.893 million.
Adalin said there are still more high-rise projects that are up for approval in the office. At present, the FTC Group of Companies Corp. has signified to construct 34-storey condominium with a leisure hotel dubbed as Aeon Towers along J. P. Laurel Ave.
“But the firm is yet to secure a building permit, pending the go signal from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Phils. on how many storeys are only allowed in the area where the project will be constructed,” he said.
Last year, the office approved 19 high rise projects.
Some of the approved projects last year were the 11-storey commercial building of Communities Davao Inc., eight-storey hotel of SM Investments Corp. in Lanang and 10-storey boutique hotel of Southcrest Hotel Ventures along the mixed-use Abreeza project in J.P. Laurel Ave.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Downtown developer/architect Steve Emerson is investing at least $5.4 million in a new downtown office building now going up on the former site of the People’s Church, 600 Third Ave. SE.
As is commonplace, Emerson is seeking economic development assistance from City Hall in exchange for his investment. Only this time, the City Council is raising questions about just how generous it wants to be.
“There ought to be something in here for us,” council member Justin Shields said this week.
The current incentive proposal put together by the city’s planning staff and Emerson calls for the city to return to Emerson’s company, Progression LC, 75 percent of the new property-tax revenue that will come in from the site over 10 years as a result of the company’s minimum investment of $5.4 million in the new building.
The city estimates that the new investment will generate $1.366 million in new property-tax revenue for the city over 10 years, and under the incentive proposal, $1.024 million would go back to Emerson with the city keeping $342,000.
The new building will retain the jobs of 106 employees and result in the creation of 9 new jobs, according to the proposal.
City Council member Scott Olson, a commercial Realtor who said he supported the Emerson project, nonetheless, wondered why the council was being asked to approve economic incentives now with a building that is already under construction. Olson said, too, that the city needed to pay attention to incentives in the downtown and how that might impact owners of other buildings vying for tenants. The city needed to be careful it wasn’t simply shuffling tenants from one owner’s building to another owner’s, he said.
Council members Monica Vernon, Chuck Swore and Justin Shields wondered why the city couldn’t make some requests of a developer as part of a development agreement in which the city is providing financial incentives.
Swore and Shields said they wanted some way to know if Emerson or other developers seeking incentives are using local contractors and local suppliers while Vernon wondered what design review the city might be allowed to have to ensure that a developer isn’t building “a pole building” in the downtown.
“We ought to have some say,” Shields said. “What do you get for a million dollars?”
In response to the council’s questions, Mayor Ron Corbett asked Jim Flitz, the city attorney, to provide the council with an analysis of what the council may or may not ask of developers.
The council then moved the incentive package ahead for further negotiations between the city and Emerson before the council votes on a final development agreement for the project later this month.
On Wednesday, Emerson said he is not alone among developers in beginning a project even as City Hall is working on an incentive package with the developer. The package now under review by the City Council has been in the works for some time, he said.
Emerson said he needed to start building the new building, which should be open in September, to meet the deadlines of his new tenants.
In terms of the amount of his request, Emerson said he has presented a financial plan to the city that shows the size of the property-tax help he needs in order for the project to “financially make sense.”
“If I don’t get the money, I’m still building the building,” Emerson said. “But if I lose that money out of the project, it will just prevent me from doing developments for the next eight years in downtown Cedar Rapids. Which is not my intent. I intend to keep doing developments down there.”
In answer to Olson’s comments, Emerson said his new building will not simply result in shuffling existing downtown tenants into a new building. One of the new building’s tenants had intended to leave the downtown, one is outside of downtown now and one had left downtown after the 2008 flood and is coming back, he said.
He added that the city’s incentive will be used to pay off the extra upfront costs that have come with building the building. The incentive will not be used to lower tenants’ rents. They will pay “market-rate” rents, he said.
Emerson said all the contractors working on the project are local ones and many of the suppliers are in the downtown already.
“I’m a downtown freak,” he said. “I will use anybody associated with downtown if I can. … I don’t have contractors or suppliers coming from out of town. That’s not at all what I’m trying to do.”
Emerson said the city’s development staff has seen the design of the building, which he called a “very high-end, class A building,” and he said he would be glad to show council member’s what it will look like.
“But I don’t’ think the City Council wants to get into dictating design elements and telling architects what is good or not,” he said.
Emerson’s other projects in the downtown include the Town Centre building, the Paramount office building, the building that houses Principal and the Blue Strawberry coffee shop, the building that houses.
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New Office Building Coming to Downtown Cedar Rapids
NANUET, N.Y., Feb. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, the tri-state area's leading fire and water damage remediation experts at Total Environmental Restoration Services, Inc. (TERS) were called upon by a major New York State government agency to handle full smoke mitigation of a 13-floor government building in New York City.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120216/NY54891LOGO 😉
TERS responded immediately by deploying their in-house team of specialists and state-of-the-art equipment to the scene.
TERS was chosen for the job based on a successful 20-year reputation in fire and smoke remediation, water damage restoration, flood repair, air quality restoration, and mold removal, throughout New York (NY), New York City (NYC), New Jersey (NJ), Connecticut (CT), and as far reaching as Rhode Island (RI), Pennsylvania (PA), Delaware (DE), and Maryland (MD).
Loss Description
As the result of an underground fire, smoke infiltrated the basement and all thirteen floors of a major government agency building in New York City causing significant air quality damage. The restoration project required immediate and swift attention to minimize loss of productivity and taxpayer expense, and maximize safety.
"The officials managing this cleanup did the right thing by introducing experts right away. We were able to collaborate with local fire officials, customize our approach, and quickly implement solutions," said TERS Environmental Analyst, Gary Shaked.
Unique Issues
Once the fire was fully extinguished, building owners and government officials required an urgent assessment of the microscopic damage to air quality, removal of all pollutants, and prevention of the spread of smoke damage.
Based on the importance of this particular government body, the in-house TERS team worked around-the-clock to provide complete smoke damage remediation. The building was closed for only 24-hours, during a weekend, to ensure that employees could swiftly and safely reoccupy the space. Remediation and mitigation projects of this magnitude typically require 7-10 days of cleanup and restoration; TERS completed the project in just 36 hours.
Job Elements
TERS technicians began the effort with a thorough air quality analysis using state-of-the-art laser particle meters and indoor air quality (IAQ) monitors to accurately measure contamination concentrations. Their testing also confirmed the absence of asbestos or other dangers that can be aggravated by fire and smoke. Immediate steps were taken to isolate the affected areas of the building and begin remediation.
Using their organic, non-chemical and low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) approach to air filtration TERS eliminated all microscopic air contamination and deodorized the building without adding new toxic substances. As a result, employees returned to a smoke-free, toxin-free work environment.
"We're an environmentally-focused, science-based company," said Shaked, "our primary goal is to purify affected areas, not introduce new toxins."
Job Recognition
After the 36-hour cleanup period, TERS provided full documentation to the building owner, the employees' union, and all pertinent state and local government officials to certify full remediation. The Department of Health verified their work and the safety of the air quality, commending TERS for their strict adherence to EPA and other regulatory guidelines, while exceeding expectations for the smoke cleanup.
"Our in-house team is poised to handle everything from smaller, homeowner jobs to large-scale projects such as this," added Shaked. "Our techs are regularly trained in the latest technology and environmentally-sound remediation techniques and can respond instantly to your needs."
TERS remediation and mitigation experts are available 24/7 through their emergency hotline, 877-777-3117. A complete overview of their emergency remediation services is available at http://www.TERS.com.
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Successful and Swift Smoke Cleanup for New York City Government Office with Total Environmental Restoration Services ...
Construction of the planned new Westport Weston Family Y will be completed in phases, starting with the construction of the main building set to begin in October.
Photo credit: Contributed
WESTPORT, Conn. – Now that a construction company has been hired, the Westport Weston Family Y can move forward with its plans to construct a new facility at its Mahackeno Outdoor Center, the Y announced Thursday.
Turner Construction Co., which worked on several Westport projects, including Bedford Middle School, the Senior Center, reconstruction of Staples High School, and renovation of the Westport Country Playhouse, was recently hired for the project.
Construction is expected to break ground in October. But instead of constructing the planned 102,000-square-foot facility all at once, the Y’s volunteer Board of Directors and Board of Trustees voted to tackle the project in phases.
“While we regret that we can’t construct the whole facility at the same time, we are convinced that it is the most fiscally responsible thing to do,” Jim Marpe, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said in a statement.
“As we explored our options going forward, including a thorough review of several recently built Y facilities in the Northeast, we realized that a ‘phased’ construction process is common. Not only does it make sense economically, it also gives us greater flexibility going forward to meet the evolving needs of the community we’ve served for nearly a century.”
The first phase of construction will begin with a 55,000-square-foot main building that will include a competitive lap pool and family/teaching pool; wellness center; gymnasium; three fitness studios; child watch area; five locker rooms and other amenities.
Building the facility in phases will also allow the Y to keep pace with fundraising for the facility, Bonnie Strittmatter, president of the Board of Directors, said.
“As more dollars are given, we’ll be able to expand our new Family Y and add the rest of the features envisioned in the original design for our Mahackeno campus,” she said.
In moving forward with construction, the Y has filed an application to connect the planned new facility to the town’s municipal sanitary sewer system. The Family Y had previously gained local and state approval to install and operate a septic system that would safely treat wastewater from the new Y facility on site.
“Given the previously stated support of the Conservation Commission and that of First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff, we are confident that our application to connect to the town’s sewer system will be received favorably and approved by the appropriate local bodies without undue delay,” Family Y CEO Rob Reeves said in the statement.
Family Y officials and its development partners believe utilizing the town’s municipal sewer system will preserve 1.5 acres of Mahackeno’s woodlands, further protect the Saugatuck River, reduce construction and ongoing operational costs, and dispel public concern about the size and location of the septic system.
Family Y members and the public are invited to review plans and designs for the phased-in facility at an informational meeting beginning at 7 p.m. on Feb. 22. The meeting will be held at the Y, 59 Post Road E.
Article Attachment: revised_site_plan.2.2012.pdf
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Construction on New Westport Y to Begin in October
FAITH IN QUESTION: Citilife Church senior pastor Jonathan Oastler says the dispute over the Masters hardware store development on Hume St has him questioning his faith in Toowoomba Regional Council.
Nev Madsen
Should all development applications be publicly notified and open to public objection?
COMMUNITY church and school officials claim their objections to a massive Masters hardware store development were ignored by Toowoomba Regional Council.
A public meeting will be held on Sunday in an attempt to rally support before the matter is be heard in the Planning and Environment Court in Brisbane on March 7 and 8.
The Christian Outreach Centre, which owns the Christian Outreach College and Citilife Church, was notified in 2009 that there were plans to develop the vacant lot next to the college.
Senior pastor Jonathan Oastler said the centre had co-operated with the developer McNab and Toowoomba Regional Council in the early stages of the development.
However, senior pastor Oastler claims issues arose when McNab lodged changed plans with council last year.
Despite lodging an objection, senior pastor Oastler claims Toowoomba Regional Council ignored the concerns, which centred on traffic and noise impacts.
The development was approved in November last year.
Senior pastor Oastler said he had lost confidence in Toowoomba Regional Council's development approval process.
"We found out before it was approved, we objected and yet council approved it anyway," he said.
"We believe the court case in March will result in a positive outcome for us."
Senior pastor Oastler said the issues were compounded when Toowoomba Regional Council moved to resume a strip of land along the college's northern boundary.
He said the resumption of that land would block the college's plans to build a childcare centre and grandstands.
"We communicated with council about the massive impact this would have, but council went ahead anyway."
A Toowoomba Regional Council spokesman said the matter was "a complex one" and declined to comment in detail because it was before the Planning and Environment Court.
"On the one hand there is a developer who has a legal right to develop his or her land, and on the other a neighbouring property owner with the legal right to protect his or her interests," the spokesman said.
"Adding to that complexity there is a need for an essential infrastructure easement to service both properties, as well as potential further development in the area into the future.
"Council is trying to facilitate a without-prejudice discussion between all parties in an attempt to reach a fair and reasonable outcome."
McNab also declined to comment in detail because the matter was before the Planning and Environment Court.
However, the company did inform The Chronicle that it had "all the relevant development permits for a material change of use, operational works and building works to commence and complete the construction works on the Hume St site'.
The public rally will be held at 2pm this Sunday at the Christian Outreach College's multipurpose hall.
Continued here:
Church angry at council decision
About 15 years ago, the historic Grace Episcopal Church on High Street faced the possibility of closing its doors to parishioners for good. Church attendance dwindled, maintenance problems mounted and the Episcopal Diocese deemed it a “troubled parish.”
Without the resources to maintain the 143-year-old building, rainwater began seeping in through the roof and between the field-cut stones that make up the exterior, damaging walls inside the sanctuary.
A dramatic shift occurred in the last few years, however, because last spring the church managed to raise $700,000 in just four months for its capital campaign to restore the historic building.
“We spent years going after grants,” said the Rev. Noah H. Evans. “There was not a lot of money in state grants so the parish had to pull together and raise the money ourselves.”
With the first phase of renovations now complete, Evans points to the lay leadership’s active persistence as the impetus behind the church’s rejuvenation.
“The parish became invigorated in its mission,” Evans said. “Lay leadership became strong, reached out to the diverse families of Medford and embraced a radical welcome of all people.”
While Evans credits parish members for the positive changes, parishioners like Wes Foot, who chairs the church’s building committee, turn the blame back on their pastor, who assumed the post in March 2008.
“I think our current rector is just the kind of man to inspire this kind of stewardship and taking care of our building,” said Foot. “I think that’s the biggest thing that’s happened.”
Over the last 15 years, average Sunday attendance more than tripled, increasing 25 percent in the last two years. Annual giving grew more than 30 percent in the last three years under Evans’ leadership, despite the economic downturn.
Phase 1 complete
The Grace Church restoration project encompasses three phases: sealing the exterior and replacing damaged inner walls, restoring the bell tower and “greening” the church with new environmental features like LED lighting and solar panels.
The first phase, which just wrapped up, took on the most pressing issues facing the church, namely leaks and water damage.
“We had a lot of water leakage either through the walls by rain or from the roof leaking at the upper level and it damaged the interior walls,” said parishioner Warren Ramirez. “Interior walls were stained and plaster was damaged. Our primary concern is finding a way to waterproof the outside of the building.”
The contactor assigned to the project, The Architectural Team, “repointed” stones, or reapplied mortar around the original outer stonework, to prevent water from seeping back into the church.
Architect Michael Fontaine said the biggest challenge with a project like this is making sure the appearance stays the same while using newer materials that provide a longer lasting structural lifespan.
The church is the oldest standing building designed by Henry Hobson Richardson, the famed 19th century architect who also designed Trinity Episcopal Church in Copley Square, Boston. That’s one reason why it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
For the first time in decades, Grace Episcopal parishioners got a peak at the church’s exposed back wall where waterlogged plaster was torn down and replaced.
Tiles were also replaced on the roof with shiny copper flashing, and an ice and water shield was reapplied beneath part of the roof to prevent future leaks.
The second phase of the project, which consists of restoring the 90-foot-tall bell tower, will take place in the spring of 2012. Parish historian Allison Andrews pointed out how the tower, dating back to the 1880s, remains one of the largest in the city.
“It was meant to be used as a fire bell for the city of Medford, but for some unknown reason it was never used,” Andrews said.
Andrews also pointed out how the field cut stones that make up the exterior climb all the way to the top of the tower, unlike the rest of the building. Andrews regards the stones as one of the church’s most fascinating historical and architectural features.
“It’s built with uncut filed stones and natural boulders,” Andrews said. “They jut out at various angles and some stick out more than others, giving a very textural effect.”
Andrews added the church’s most famous parishioner was Amelia Earhart, who moved to Medford with her mother and sister in the 1920s.
Another significant historical feature of the church includes a famous piece of stained glass in the sanctuary called “Rebecca at the Well,” which was created by American artist John LaFarge.
With parishioners like Jonathan and Alicia Hunt, who have organized “green up/cleans ups” at Medford parks and supported other green initiatives around the city, adding an environmental component to the historic renovation seemed almost inevitable.
Jonathan Hunt said the church currently uses two commercial-scale boilers that are about 40 years old. Replacing them with two similarly sized, high-efficiency boilers will save the church 10 to 15 percent on its energy consumption.
The church will take other steps to increase efficiency as well by installing interior storm windows to help insulate the building. Hunt also worked in concert with Andrews to find appropriate, higher-efficiency lighting for the church.
“The lighting levels are not where we want them to be, especially for aging members of the parish,” Hunt said. “People won’t see the direct light. It will increase the ambient light levels and make the stained glass more visible, but it won’t be obvious as to the light fixtures in the historic place.”
The church will also lease part of its roof space in the newer wing for solar panels, which will offset 25 percent of the building’s electricity usage. Hunt said the solar panels not only save electricity but will also include a monitoring station to get more parishioners and community members interested in renewable energy.
“It’s about doing what we can to meet our needs now and in the future, but it also helps our parishioners be better stewards of the environment,” he said.
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Medford church receives much needed face lift
by DEREK KRAVITZ - Feb. 16, 2012 07:00 AM
AP Real Estate Writer
WASHINGTON - -- Construction of single-family homes cooled off slightly in January after surging in the final month last year. But a rebound in volatile apartment construction kept builders busy and pushed housing starts to their highest level in more than three years.
The Commerce Department said Thursday that builders broke ground on a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 699,000 homes in January. That's up 1.5 percent from December and the highest level since October 2008.
Construction began on 508,000 single-family homes last month. That's a 1 percent drop from December and the first decline in four months.
Still, December single-family homes were revised up strongly to show builders started 513,000 homes -- a 12 percent gain from November.
Apartment building, a more volatile category, jumped 14.4 percent. Building permits, a gauge of future construction, rose 0.7 percent.
Single-family home construction rose in each of the final three months of last year, bringing the pace of those starts to the highest level since April 2010. The modest but steady gains helped boost confidence among builders after the worst year for single-family home construction on record.
Still, the critical gauge of the housing market's health has a long way to go before most declare a full recovery is under way. The current pace is less than half the rate in which those homes went up during the 1990s. And it's only one-quarter of the 1.82 million single-family homes that builders started in January 2006, at the peak of the housing boom.
Most analysts say it could be years before the industry is fully recovered from the damage caused by the housing bust.
Builders are starting to see some signs of progress.
A measure of builder sentiment has risen for five straight months and is now at its highest level in nearly five years. Many builders are seeing more people express interest in buying a home, leading them to believe 2012 could be a turn-around year for the market. Mortgage rates have never been cheaper. And home sales started to rise at the end of last year.
Yet for all their optimism, builders began only 428,600 single-family homes last year. It was the fewest on records dating back a half-century. And home prices are still falling.
Though new homes represent just 20 percent of the overall home market, they have an outsize impact on the economy. Each home built creates an average of three jobs for a year and generates about $90,000 in taxes, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
Builders are struggling to compete with deeply discounted foreclosures and short sales -- when lenders allow homes to be sold for less than what's owed on the mortgage.
After previous recessions, housing accounted for at least 15 percent of U.S. economic growth. Since the recession officially ended in June 2009, it has contributed just 4 percent.
Another reason sales have fallen is that previously occupied homes have become a better deal than new homes. The median price of a new home is about 30 percent higher than the median price for a re-sale. That's nearly twice the markup typical in a healthy housing market.
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US housing starts rise modestly to start new year
