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Debt-free church nears completion Our Lady of Guadalupe gets a new ...

Stepping from the 40-year-old Our Lady of Guadalupe church to the new one — which is in the last stages of construction — one sees a striking difference in the light.

The old church is dark even on a sunny afternoon, while light pours into the new building from windows seen and unseen, shimmering on a white tile floor still being laid down.

"The light is wonderful," said the Rev. Roberto Saldivar, the church's pastor, on a recent tour of the construction site. "It just highlights the beauty of everything. ... The chapel is my favorite thing. It has the highest ceiling in the building, and it's so open, so it just brings you into a different prayer atmosphere."

Our Lady of Guadalupe, a Catholic cornerstone in Oxnard's La Colonia neighborhood, is on track to be finished by a self-imposed Feb. 25 deadline. Archbishop Jose Gomez, the new head of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, is scheduled to lead the first Mass there on March 28.

By the time construction ends, the church expects to have raised the last of the $7 million construction budget and cleared the last of its debt on the project, Saldivar said.

The most recent major donation was $100,000 from the Gene Haas Foundation, the charity arm of Haas Automation Inc. in Oxnard that makes computer-controlled machine tools. That brings the Haas Foundation's total contribution to $1.1 million, Saldivar said.

"We were planning to just have concrete floors because that's all we could afford, but that $100,000 grant paid for the tile floor," Saldivar said. "We just had to match it by raising our own $100,000, and we did."

Gene Haas, founder of the company, said former Ventura County Supervisor John Flynn, a member of the church's fundraising committee, approached him about donating years ago when planning was starting for the new church.

"I said I'd be glad to help, and he came up with a round figure of about a million dollars," Haas said.

Haas isn't a parish member but was raised as a Catholic.

"A lot of the workers here (at Haas Automation) go to church there, so it was just kind of a community thing," he said. "Someone asked for help, and we did what we could."

Haas' willingness "to donate whatever amount we needed was truly incredible," Flynn said in a statement.

Most of the money for the project came from parishioners of the church, which is in one of the poorest sections of the city. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which includes Oxnard, loaned the parish the money, but Our Lady of Guadalupe has been paying it back with the donations, Saldivar said.

"This community has generated over $5 million," he said. "We're talking about agricultural workers and these very humble people. ... It's not easy to raise that much money in a poor parish."

When the project ends, parishioners will have a good deal more elbow room. Saldivar said the church now holds about 600 people. To accommodate them, Our Lady of Guadalupe holds 11 Masses every weekend and two on most weekdays.

"It's standing-room-only most of the time," he said.

The new facility is about 17,000 square feet and will hold 1,300 people. Saldivar said he will cut back to nine Masses per weekend.

About 90 percent of church services are conducted in Spanish, Saldivar said. He hopes the new church will prompt some English-speaking people who live nearby to visit.

"We do have a couple of bilingual Masses and one in English, and we would like to do more," he said.

When the new church is done, the old one will be converted into a parish hall for meetings and other events. The existing parish hall will be turned into offices.

Then Our Lady of Guadalupe will focus on its school, which sits in the shadow of the new church. It needs to be renovated, which will cost about $4.5 million. The parish will start fundraising for that project as soon as it's finished with the new church.

"Now we start over and do it again," Saldivar said.

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Oxnard community rallies to pay for $7 million church in La Colonia

ActiveAppliances.com is offering $5 off prepaid service fee for appliance repair service appointments.

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Home Appliance Repair Company ActiveAppliances.com Offers $5 Off Prepaid Service Fee

A four-level, 42-unit apartment building is just too much development on a Sutherland Avenue lot less than an acre in size, according to the owner of adjoining property. But the Metropolitan Planning Commission says the developer has variances in place to allow construction.

MPC has given unanimous approval to a use-on-review review request by Hatcher Hill Properties LLC to build an apartment building on a 0.84-acre lot on the northwest corner of Sutherland Avneue at Concord Street, providing that applicant Tim Hill secures two more variances from the Knoxville Board of Zoning Appeals.

Richard Cadmus, who owns property bordering the lot to the west, told MPC last week that jamming the project onto such a small lot will hurt the value of his property, which contains a commercial building.

Cadmus said MPC was allowing what amounted to a rezoning of the property through variances to a higher level of development than its actual zoning allows. However, during the planning commission's meeting Feb. 9, MPC Vice Chairman Bart Carey told him that MPC has to accept variances that developers are able to get through the zoning board.

"Those variances are in place and they are what we have to start with," Carey told Cadmus.

Tom Brechko, an MPC planner who reviewed the proposal, told MPC commissioners that the developer has received four variances so far: Reducing the front yard setback requirement on Concord Street from 25 feet to 17.5 feet, reducing the southwest side yard setback from 12 feet to 9 feet, reducing the front yard setback on Sutherland Avenue from 25 feet to five feet and reducing the minimum parking structure requirement from 58,000 square feet to 35,960 square feet.

However, Hill will need two more variances on other issues before MPC can sign off on the proposal, Brechko said. One is that the building may not cover more than 30 percent of its lot. The proposed building would cover 55 percent. The other issue is that the development would be required to have 16,800 square feet of usable open space but it only has 2,000 square feet.

If Hill is unable to get approval for the two variances, he will have to appear before MPC with a revised plan, Brechko said. Cadmus said he will oppose the variance requests when they come before the Board of Zoning Appeals. Cadmus said that, at one point, he had offered to sell his property to Hill but the two could not agree on a price.

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MPC approves 42 apartments on Sutherland Ave. lot

Wednesday, February 15, 2012    Last updated: Thursday February 16, 2012, 1:59 AM

BY KATHRYN A. BURGER

The Park Ridge Planning Board has approved the construction of a fifth apartment building at the Ridge Manor Apartments located at 71-91 Hawthorne Ave. The approved plan complies with all borough codes, with one exception. A variance was needed to allow the front of the new building to be 23.3 feet from the front of an existing building; the zoning ordinance calls for a minimum of 60 feet.

STAFF PHOTO BY KATHRYN A. BURGER

The Park Ridge Planning Board recently approved the construction of a fifth building at the Ridge Manor Apartments, 71-91 Hawthorne Ave. The four existing buildings, portions of which are pictured here, face west. The new building will be located partially in this open lawn area and will face the existing buildings.

There are currently four, two-story buildings on the site, with a total of 44 apartments. The buildings all face west. The new building, which will have 12 units and be similar in style and appearance to the existing buildings, will face east and be situated adjacent to the existing parking area, located along the westernmost border of the property. According to the minutes of the Nov. 16, 2011 Planning Board, William Hamilton, a New Jersey-licensed planner, speaking on behalf of the applicant, stated "that there would be no negative impact whatsoever resulting from the proposal, since the changes were made to the interior of the site and would not be visible from surrounding properties." The existing buildings are staggered on the property that, the board noted, is nearly twice the size required by code.

There will also be an affordable housing unit created in an existing building.

The plan includes drainage improvements that will reduce the amount of runoff from the site; new fire hydrants; additional handicapped parking spaces, additional sidewalk ramps and other enhancements.

According to Lyn Beer, the borough's land use administrator, the borough recently received the developer's agreement for the project. Once that is executed, the Mayor and Council need to approve it, which she said, was "pro forma" since it will have already been approved by the Planning Board. Beer said the paperwork won't be completed until sometime in March and that there is no timetable as yet for the construction phase of the project.

Email: burger@northjersey.com

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New building approved at Ridge Manor Apartments in Park Ridge

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Birmingham City Council members considering a tough anti-smoking ordinance will evaluate the comments from dozens of people who appeared at a public hearing today before making a recommendation.

The council chamber was nearly filled as the public safety committee listened to residents, business owners and health advocates on both sides of the issue.

The proposed ordinance bans smoking nearly everywhere in the city besides private residences. Smoking outside is restricted to 30 feet away from buildings.

Several bar owners called the distance requirement too restrictive, saying it essentially bans smoking altogether and puts them at a disadvantage to other nearby cities that continue to allow smoking on patios. Health advocates however urged the committee to maintain its original proposals.

Councilman Johnathan Austin, the committee chairman, said the distance requirement should be reviewed.

"We want to strike a good balance between the business and the citizens," he said. "We know you all have made a big investment and want you to stay here. Hopefully we'll have an ordinance that everyone will be comfortable with."

Birmingham passed its current rules on smoking in 2005, making it illegal to smoke in several public places, including bus stops, elevators and restaurants. Bars, lounges and outdoor restaurant patios are exempt from that ban, but would be included in the new one.

The committee also discussed some changes to the proposed rules, including possible consideration for cigar lounges.

Committee members Jay Roberson and Valerie Abbott also agreed to review their notes before reconvening.

Austin said the committee would meet again March 7 to make recommendation on a draft to present to the full council.

"As we move forward in this process it was very important that we heard from you," Roberson told the group. "We have to compromise and establish good policy. Your voices were heard today on both sides."

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Birmingham council members listen to packed house on proposed smoking ban

The city may have to return more than $2 million it collected from property owners in Golden Hill and South Park after a San Diego County Superior Court judge invalidated a special maintenance district that was formed in 2007.

The Greater Golden Hill Maintenance Assessment District will be dissolved after Judge Richard Whitney signed an order Feb. 9 to confirm a state appeals court ruling. The state 4th District Court of Appeal ruled Sept. 22 in favor of property owners challenging the district, which levied higher taxes in exchange for increased services such as litter removal, sidewalk sweeping, power washing, landscaping services, graffiti removal and trail and canyon beautification.

A maintenance district is a legal mechanism by which property owners can vote to assess themselves to pay for and receive services above and beyond what the city normally provides.

Golden Hill Neighborhood Association Secretary-Treasurer John Kroll said the city has assessed $476,000 a year from property owners over the last five years, a sum that adds up to $2.38 million. City officials could not confirm that figure.

“I’m very pleased with the decision,” Kroll said. “Now is the time for the City Council to retract their error and refund the $2 million they’ve collected from us.”

The city formed the district in August 2007 with the goal of providing improvements for the benefit of the properties in the district. However, property owners immediately challenged it.

When maintenance districts are formed, the voting is weighted based on the assessment that will be charged to an individual property. Part of the district included sections of Balboa Park, and property owners successfully argued that the weight assigned to city-owned land was improperly inflated.

The Golden Hill Neighborhood Association claimed the district would have otherwise been defeated.

Councilman Todd Gloria said Wednesday that the City Council moved toward shutting down the district in closed-session meetings and will not appeal.

However, residents may not see all their money returned because some of it has been spent, he said.

“There’s a disagreement over what should be refunded because services were rendered,” Gloria said. “People supplied these services and were paid. We’re going to do what the law requires us to do. We will do everything that we are required. We will work to make sure that everything the court has ordered is done.”

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Golden Hill maintenance district to dissolve

Q. I bought my house a few years back. The basement ceiling was installed upside-down (pink is facing up). Is this a concern?

JOHN, in Hotton’s chat room

A. Presumably the Kraft paper is showing. They did that because it is easier to staple the paper than hang the insulation with hangers.

While it is wrong, it might not trap moisture in the insulation. Open a bit of the paper and check the insulation for moisture. If it is dry, leave it. The paper does at least keep moisture from entering.

Q. I have had wall-to-wall carpeting for eight or nine years. Now, the carpeting is wrinkling. I have had it stretched and relayed a few times, but the wrinkles continue to come back. What’s wrong? Also, I am getting a slight musty smell in the carpeting upstairs. How can I fix that?

A. Alas, the carpeting is inexpensive (read that as cheap) and has absorbed moisture and expanded. There is no cure for such a product. Replace the carpeting with a top-quality product. For the upstairs musty smell, water vapor rises and has entered the carpeting. Ventilate those rooms or have the carpeting de-molded or replaced.

If you live in a spec house (one that is built for speculation), or in a remodeled condo, you will see the cute tricks builders use to save money. Much of everything brought into the house except the structure is as cheap as possible: Carpeting, appliances, boiler or furnace, plumbing, even roofing shingles, and they all might fail in less than their warranty period. Even the manufacturers put their names on the cheap products.

Another trick performed by these people is instead of installing hardwood floors and then the wall-to-wall carpeting, they install the carpeting on plywood floors. This is OK but the carpeting can fail after 15 years.

Q. I have some bathtubs I believe are enameled cast iron. They have several chips in four different places. Can I have the tubs refinished? What can I do myself?

By the way, the tubs are white, and I have kept some of the chips.

A. You have the best tubs in history: porcelain-enameled cast iron. You can’t get any better.

Do not refinish the entire tub; besides, the reglazing technique is not porcelain, but an epoxy, and you still have a superior finish. You can try putting in the chip with glue, if it fills the space. Then sand smooth and paint. For the others, it is best to use a filler paint. You can do it yourself, one chip at a time, easily enough to make a nearly invisible repair. Buy an appliance repair kit, a small bottle of thick oil paint with the brush in the cap. Apply a coat to cover and partly fill the chip’s space. Let dry for two or three days. Sand lightly and apply another coat to fill the space. Let dry and try a third, fourth, or fifth coat, or at least until the paint is above the old surface. Then sand smooth with emery cloth. If it’s almost perfect, be happy with that. No one will notice.

Q. My new granite kitchen tops are showing terrible stains, and no one seems to know what to do. I asked the dealer, who suggested I replace them with new granite. What do they need to look good again?

A. The problem with granite and most other natural stones is that they are absorbent. Marble is the biggest culprit, and will stain if you look at it. Granite is one of the hardest and densest of stones, but still absorbs water and stains. When granite became popular, many got on the bandwagon and became dealers, with little or no experience.

So, what you can do is clean the granite with soap and water. If it seems clean, seal it with a high-quality sealer. If it does not come clean, rub hard with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Or, have it polished by a professional, who will abrade it with finer and finer abrasives. Then seal it. If you have to replace it, (heaven forbid!), replace it with Corian.

Globe Handyman on Call Peter Hotton also appears in the Sunday Real Estate section. He is available 1-6 p.m. Tuesdays to answer questions on house repair. Call 617-929-2930. Hotton (photton@globe.com) also chats online about house matters 2-3 p.m. Thursdays. Go to http://www.boston.com.

© Copyright 2012 Globe Newspaper Company.

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Upside-down ceiling concern

Industry insiders help you select the best surface for your bathroom countertop:

Granite

Long-lasting, stain-resistant and beautiful, granite is the Rolls-Royce of countertops. It is the most durable and easiest to care for of any of the natural stone materials. While relatively expensive, it provides an elegant look that is incomparable. Tip: Tammy Crosby, CEO of thehousedesigners.com, suggests comparing prices at local stone shops. You'll save even more if you can use leftovers from another homeowner's project.

Maintenance: Granite countertops need to be sealed every six months to a year. Clean countertops with warm water and a liquid detergent. Avoid abrasive cleaners; they'll scratch and dull the finish. Small chips and scratches can be polished down.

Cost: From $75 to $200 a linear foot, installed.

Manufactured Quartz

Manufactured quartz imitates the look of limestone, granite or marble, but is more resistant to scratches and stains. Made up of 90 percent quartz particles, this synthetic composite comes in a wide variety of colors and thicknesses.

Maintenance: Practical for the bathroom, quartz is durable, easy to clean and doesn't require sealing.

Cost: From $110 to $250 a linear foot, installed.

Tile

Tile has always been a popular material for bathroom countertops, but homeowners often complain about the need to clean the grout.

These days, however, tiles are coming out in much larger sizes, which eliminate the need for numerous grout lines. Through-body (unglazed) porcelain tiles are stronger than granite and about a third of the price.

Maintenance: Grout lines need regular maintenance and cleaning. The tiles can be easily cleaned with any household detergent.

Cost: For plain-colored tiles, $2 to $40 per tile. For hand-painted tiles, $5 to $75 per tile.

Solid-Surface Materials

Designed to look like natural stone, solid-surface is one of the most popular countertop options available. Known by brand names such as Corian, Staron, Gilbraltar and Avonite, this easy-to-maintain synthetic product can be molded to fit any design specification.

Maintenance: Being nonporous, it's easy to clean.

Cost: $75 to $150 a linear foot, installed.

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Choose apt bathroom countertops

Last Updated: 12:07 AM, February 16, 2012

Posted: 11:49 PM, February 15, 2012

Stunning Heidi Klum spent Valentine’s Day with her decorator. The “Project Runway” host was spotted walking in alone at Hollywood’s Soho House, but her rep said she was there for interior designer Michael Ostrow’s 50th birthday. Klum partied with her three children, who surprised Ostrow with a birthday song and dance they planned for him. Klum announced she was splitting from husband Seal last month after seven years of marriage and three children. Klum was in New York for an annual amfAR gala to kick off Fashion Week, but she then headed back to LA to film “Germany’s Next Top Model.” Seal is in Australia appearing as a judge on Down Under’s version of singing competition “The Voice.”

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Model Heidi Klum

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Heidi Klum spends Valentine’s Day with decorator Michael Ostrow at Soho House LA

The Elsie S. Hogan Library will be temporarily closed at the end of this month during part of its long-awaited renovation.

The library is scheduled for closure from Monday, Feb. 27 through Wednesday, March 7; re-opening on Thursday, March 8, said Library Director Tom Miner.

The renovation project continues to move forward after recent City Council approval of new flooring.

The council voted unanimously Jan. 17 to award a $7,905.97 contract to Safford Floor Covering for installation of carpet and tile.

This vote also authorized rental of bookshelf moving equipment with which the Safford company would then move book shelves for an additional $1,000.

Miner had found a company that has equipment "specifically designed to move library bookshelves with the books on the shelves," said Dave Bonner, director of the city's Department of Public Services and Works.

The $3,200 cost to rent the equipment included shipping, he said in his Jan. 17 letter to council.

"This would allow the carpet to be installed completely and the shelves would be moved back and placed in the correct location," said Bonner.

The library would need to be closed up to four days while the carpet and tile are being installed "to allow the installer to efficiently complete the job," he said.

Unfortunately, Miner learned Feb. 8 that the Chicago- based company from which he planned to rent the equipment had raised shipping costs to the point the city could no longer afford it.

Instead, moving of the stacks will be completed by prison labor, under the supervision of the librarians, Miner told the Range News.

The city's Department of Public Services and Works solicited bids from several companies.

"Three companies responded with quotes to provide carpet which is the same brand, color, and pattern as the carpet installed during the initial phase of the library renovation," said Bonner.

Tile will be installed from the front entrance to the front desk, which is "the highest traffic area which receives the most wear," he said.

"Placing tile in this area will prevent unnecessary wear on a carpeted surface," Bonner said.

In addition to Safford Floor Coverings, the companies that provided quotes were fellow Safford-based company "Carpet, Tile & More," with a quote of $12,540.15; and "Farnsworth Tile & Carpet" of Benson, who quoted $13,533.75.

None of the prices included moving furniture and bookshelves, Bonner said.

Funded by a USDA Rural Development Grant, the total cost of the project is $12,105.97.

Bonner said the budget for the carpet was $9,000, with the additional $3,105.97 coming from the project's $10,000 contingency line.

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Library to be closed for nine days