Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The developer of a major project taking over a prominent waterfront spot in downtown Charleston unveiled the name for the property as it broke ground Thursday.

The site, which for decades was the location of the State Ports Authority headquarters, is being converted into a full-service luxury lodging with street-level retail, dining, meeting and event space.

Though the project was introduced at the same time Charleston's mayor was cautioning against rapid hotel development on the peninsula, it was met little resistance and ultimately became an undertaking that deeply involved the city.

That's largely because of a 400-foot stretch of public waterfront access that the developer, Los Angeles-based Lowe, has promised to fund to create an extension of the adjacent Waterfront Park.

Up until now, the project was referred to as the "Waterfront Hotel." But at Thursday's groundbreaking, Lowe revealed that the hotel will be called The Cooper, named for the river that its 225 guest rooms, rooftop lounge and lawn will overlook.

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg speaks before Lowe, a real estate company that is based in Los Angeles, broke ground on a hotel that will have 225 guest rooms, retail spaces, rooftop bar and lawn that will be known as The Cooper. The project also includes an expansion of the citys Waterfront Park. The hotel is being built on the site of the former South Carolina State Ports Authority headquarters. Brad Nettles/Staff

The occasion drew state and local leaders, including Gov. Henry McMaster and former and current Charleston mayors, Joe Riley and John Tecklenburg, to the Concord Street site Thursday.

During Riley's 40-year tenure as mayor, increasing public access to the peninsula's waterfront was one of his prized goals. That led to the opening of Waterfront Park nearly 30 years ago.

The waterfront "belongs" to a city's citizens, Riley said Thursday.

Between the groundbreaking of The Cooper and the now-rising International African American Museum, which will feature a publicly accessible landscaped area next to the Charleston Maritime Center, the city is "two giant steps closer to the fulfillment" of that vision, Explore Charleston CEO Helen Hill said Thursday.

Lowe first presented plans for the hotel to the city about four years ago, shortly after Tecklenburg was elected to his first term.

Reining in hotel development was one of the pillars of Tecklenburg's campaign platform, which likely gave the Lowe team pause, the mayor recalled at the groundbreaking.

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg (left) and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster heat their hands up after a groundbreaking for the new hotel The Cooper. Lowe, a real estate company that is based in Los Angeles, broke ground on a hotel that will have 225 guest rooms, retail spaces, rooftop bar and lawn. The project also includes an expansion of the citys Waterfront Park. The hotel is being built on the site of the former South Carolina State Ports Authority headquarters. Brad Nettles/Staff

But when Tecklenburg learned that the project included an extension of public waterfront access on the harbor and that Lowe was going to pay for it he was on board.

Tecklenburg said the project helped to inform what he asks other developers who are trying to build hotels in Charleston.

"What is the public purpose?" he said he asks.

Dan Battista, Lowe's vice president for development in Charleston, said he's had his eye on that stretch of waterfront since he first came to Charleston about 15 years ago.

Battista acknowledged making frequent calls to State Ports Authority CEO Jim Newsome about the property. The agency had housed its headquarters in a large brick building on the site since the early 1970s.

Lowe bought the parcel from the maritime agency in 2017 for $38 million, still one of the top real estate sales on the peninsula. Last year, the SPA moved to its new building at its Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant, prompting the demolition of the offices and clearing the way for Lowe's hotel.

Rob Lowe, a co-chief executive officer for the California developer, said Thursday that he anticipates The Cooper will be "among (the) company's greatest achievements."

Lowe has had a significant stake in the Charleston area for decades. It has owned Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms for 30 years.

The company has updated and expanded the resort in the years since, and is currently adding a 153-room hotel to the property.

And Lowe's investment in the Lowcountry is growing. During the groundbreaking, the firm announced that the company will establish a Southeast regional office in Charleston, led by Battista, to support current and future projects in the Lowcountry.

Rob Lowe speaks at the groundbreaking of The Cooper Hotel Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. The 225 room waterfront hotel is being Built on the site of the former South Carolina State Ports Authority headquarters. Brad Nettles/ Staff

Lowe expects to open The Cooper in 2022.

Matt Walker, who heads hospitality and resort development for the company, said that, except for the name, plans for the hotel are "almost entirely intact" from what they were four years ago.

The outdoor pool, elevated on an outdoor terrace, will have an infinity edge. A dedicated public elevator will be available to take visitors up from the park to the rooftop lounge, which will have views of the harbor from six stories up.

Lowe is also building a new dock and marina facility where boaters can park their vessels during the day while they visit the hotel for shopping or dining.

As for the food and beverage program, Walker said he couldn't divulge details yet.

"All I can say is, it's going to be great," he said.

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Hotel that broke ground this week will extend Waterfront Park in downtown Charleston - Charleston Post Courier

The Bank Building at 699 14th St. NW integrates an 11-story office tower and the renovated Federal-American National Bank.

A venerable bank building just blocks from the White House is shaping up to become a trophy office asset with an eye-popping set of rooftop balconies and a lobby that will play host to multiple restaurants.

Built in 1926, the former Federal-American National Bank branch has stood vacant on the corner of 14th Street and G Street for almost 25 years. But a plan to renovate the building and to integrate it with a new, 11-story office on a neighboring lot is finally coming to fruition.

The Bank Building, at699 14th St. NW,developed byLincoln Property Co. and owned byCara Real Estate, will rise on what is one of the last pockets of undeveloped land in downtown Washington, D.C.

We felt we had an opportunity to tie together the old and the new, said Adam Biberaj, senior vice president of the D.C. leasing team for Lincoln. We wanted to restore as much as possible and incorporate the historic structure with the ground-up development, making sure to maintain their connectivity.

The new portion of the building will offer 125K SF ofClass-A officespace over11floors. Biberaj said the area is popular with law firms, private equity firms and government affairs firms, all of which appreciate the proximity to bothCapitol Hilland the West Wing, not to mention the property'sone-block walk toMetro Center, where four transit lines converge.

While no leases have yet been executed, Lincoln has been in talks with several potential tenants interested in both partial and full-building uses. The firm is still receiving proposals, and with the building set to deliver in March 2021, Biberaj expects the company to announce the future tenant or tenants this summer.

Unlike many assets in downtown Washington, 699 14th offers floor-to-ceiling windows.

Renovations inside the former bank portion of the building are ongoing, but construction on the new building has just reached the ground level. Because it is being built from the ground up, Biberaj said, The Bank Building offers what many repositioned buildings in D.C. cant, such as 10-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies on every floor, and private and shared terraces atop both the former bank and the new building.

Were seeing record-low unemployment, and many firms are turning to their real estate to attract and retain the best talent, Biberaj said. But with so much new office space being delivered across D.C., we knew we had to go above and beyond in order to deliver the best tenant experience possible.

The Bank Building boasts a shared rooftop terrace on the 11th floor, as well as private tenant terraces on the fifth and 10th floors.

Lincolnsoriginal planwas to turn the five-story bank structure into a plush lobby for the building behind, complete with retail offerings. However, the owners now have proposals out to multiple restaurant groups interested in turning the banks original floor and the vault below into eateries, according to Lincoln Property Co. Senior Vice President Merrill Turnbull. Including the galleries above the two-floor atrium, the former bank building will offer 40K SF of retail space.

No retailers or restaurateurs have been chosen, but several Michelin-starred chefs arereportedlyin the mix to take over the space. Turnbull said the design team has tried to make the best possible use of the space, including turning vaults on the lower level into private dining areas and crafting installation pieces out of found objects like the original safety deposit boxes.

The renovated second-floor interior is being considered as a location for multiple restaurant concepts.

This is not just the coffee and breakfast caf that you might have on the first floor of another building, Turnbull said. We wanted to create a variety of options, from the everyday lunch to the business account lunch to the private dinner.

He added that he sees the retail and dining options as integrated amenities just as crucial to tenants as the buildings fitness center, penthouse conference center and bike room. The projects designers and architects have planned the layout so that office tenants can move seamlessly from their brand-new suites to the historic building next door.

A private dining room built into the bank's former vault.

Biberaj said it has beengratifying to see a Washington landmark get a new lease on life. The banks limestone facade is in the process of being restored, which is brightening its exterior aspect and curb appeal. Inside, teams are restoring the tiled floor and plaster ceiling of the banking hall to their former glory, and the contractors have resuscitated a massive chandelier that remains in the banks main hall.

This property has always been a hole in the fabric of one of the most dynamic markets in Washington, Biberaj said. Now the building is going to be Washingtonssignature creative trophy office destination, and I believe its really going to invigorate the whole area.

This feature was produced in collaboration between the Bisnow Branded Content Studio and699 14th St. NW. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

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Rooftop Terraces And Michelin Stars: A 100-Year-Old DC Bank Gets A Modern Twist - Bisnow

Published 11:00pm CST, Saturday, February 22, 2020

The entire crew at Amstill Roofing commits to supporting HomeAid and their non-profit homeless care agencies who need roof repairs at no cost to the charites.

The entire crew at Amstill Roofing commits to supporting HomeAid and their non-profit homeless care agencies who need roof repairs at no cost to the charites.

The entire crew at Amstill Roofing commits to supporting HomeAid and their non-profit homeless care agencies who need roof repairs at no cost to the charites.

The entire crew at Amstill Roofing commits to supporting HomeAid and their non-profit homeless care agencies who need roof repairs at no cost to the charites.

Amstill Roofing commits to roof repairs for HomeAid nonprofits

Amstill Roofing, a family owned residential re-roofing and roof repair company has committed their services to HomeAid Houston. Amstill has offered to replace up to five roofs for HomeAids homeless care agencies within their service area. These agencies experience damage and wear and tear just like residential homeowners. The agencies can call Amstill at any time to perform a weather integrity evaluation of the roof. If the roof was damaged by natural means, they will assist the non-profit in filing a claim. Amstill will provide all the resources necessary to make sure that the property can be restored correctly. If the roof has met the end of its life cycle, Amstill will replace up to two of these a year at no cost.

Sam Stilley, the companys second generation owner has taken a personal interest to make sure that HomeAid and our agency partners are not burdened with costly repairs and replacement costs to restore these properties correctly when the time comes, said Jim Muska, president of HomeAid Houston. HomeAid and our agencies are grateful for this commitment, and are honored they want to partner with us to give back to a community that has served them well for nearly 50 years.

Amstill Roofing was started by Frank Stilley in 1974. He and his son Sam have built Amstill Roofing into one of the largest residential re-roofing and roof repair companies in the area, taking care of thousands of homeowners needs.

We believe our success for our staff and our company is directly due to our local communities, said Sam Stilley. Its hard enough living in a world where there are not enough people that wish to do good for others. We are proud to reach out to non-profits that could use assistance. The last thing we want them to worry about is a leaking roof over their heads when they have so many other things on their plate. We are looking forward to working with HomeAid and their agencies when the need arises.

Amstill has already provided services to one of HomeAids newest nonprofit partners, VitaLiving, with a roof in 2020 that was damaged in a storm. VitaLiving is a 37-year-old nonprofit that provides long-term comprehensive care and support for adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Our company has been blessed by so many people whom have chosen us to do their roofing work and we believe in passing that blessing on, added Stilley. We are honored to be a partner in the process of making Houston an even better community.

HomeAid was established in 2003 to work with Houston homeless care providers to build and renovate shelters that transform lives. Since 2003, HomeAid Houston has completed 54 projects that added more than $14 million in real estate to Houstons homeless community.

For more information on HomeAid Houston visit http://www.homeaidhouston.org or call 281-970-8970

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Amstill Roofing commits to roof repairs for HomeAid nonprofits - Chron.com

ZANESVILLE, Ohio Hearth, Home and Away closed its doors on another year at the Colony Square Mall.

At the event was an Columbus founded roofing company. Mathew Mahone for Roof Maxx says the product is the first of its kind.

Roof Maxx is the worlds first all natural roof rejuvenating treatment. Its the first of its kind option aside from roof replacement. The product was actually founded by Mike and Todd Feezle from Feezle Roofing in Columbus, Ohio. So it is a locally funded product. It supports local farmers. It is a USDA bio-preferred product and has been researched by the Ohio State University who has released a research study on it showing Roof Maxx does exactly what it says it does.

The treatment is a spray made of soybean oil. The oil restores the flexibility of a shingle which will extend its roof life by at least five years.

Most people havent really planned on replacing their roofs. They havent saved up the money. Roof Maxx is about 80% less than a roof replacement and can get you at least five years. And you can do three treatments and get up to another 15 out of most roofs.

Mahone says the oil does not include the allergen found in soybeans.

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Hearth, Home and Away showcases Columbus business - WHIZ

After 18 long months of work, the Buena Vista Historic Preservation Commission has reached the stage where it shared some of its findings with Buena Vista Trustees during a Feb. 11 work session. But the work is not done; the commission will incorporate Trustees edits for re-release by March 20, for public review and comment during an open public meeting. It hopes to deliver the formal draft recommendation document by early April 2020.

The historic roof lines and cupola of the Buena Vista Museum recently went through a historic restoration, returning the cupola to its original appearance. (Photo by Jan Wondra)

The commission was formed in 2018, because of the towns interest in preservation and desire for real guidelines to fulfill the mandate of the Buena Vista Comprehensive Plan.

The goal: to maintain the architectural heritage of the community, protecting sightlines and the integrity of both historic structures, as well as the historic character of the main downtown area.

The process, begun in Sept. 2018 by commission leader Dan Cartwright, has been extensive and transparent. There have been four public hearing sessions, social media and email interaction from the public and input from Main Street property owners.

The boundaries of the historic area covered by the proposed guidelines are East Main, from U.S. 24 to the intersection with South Main, and one block north of Main to include the alleyways. The area roughly overlays the old town zone. The thinking here was to start small, protect the key assets, and protect the old town before going bigger, explain the commission members.

The document presented during the work session compared the proposed architectural design guidelines for the downtown area, against the unified development code (MU-MS). The draft recommendations from the Historic Preservation Commission:

Among the topics during the hour-long discussion, was a healthy debate over building heights of new construction on Main Street. Some members of the public advocated for more height, and others made the case to follow the commissions recommendation to limit building heights for new construction to 30 feet. The rationale for that recommendation; it minimizes the difference between the historic one-story structures along the street, such as the Lobeck Bakery, and new buildings taller than two stories.

Those advocating for at least 35 ft. building heights (with a few asking for a maximum of 40 ft. for front-facing parapets) said that limiting new construction to 30 ft. buildings do not make economic sense for property owners. They pointed out that at that height, it was difficult to place a second-story apartment or condo unit above a retail space, which is important to the business decision to build in the first place.

Proponents of the draft guidelines talk about mass and scale describing it as the human scale of buildings. They raise the feeling of walking down East Main and getting a sense of welcome. Commission members say they have studied building heights in 20 historic municipalities across the state and the scale averages about one and one-half stories tall.

Historically, Buena Vistas building heights on Main Street have been limited to preserve sightlines to the majestic mountains to the west, as well as not to overwhelm the rooflines and cupola of the Buena Vista Museum, which began life as the Chaffee County Courthouse.

At present, say, commission members, the only local landmark buildings on East Main that are protected on historic registries are the old Jail House and Town Hall, the Court House and the old Mothers Building. The only structure that is 100 percent protected is the Jail House.

The Historic Preservation Commission points out that the guidelines concerning existing landmarks intend to provide information to those property owners about accepted best practices, to help preserve their historic asset and its value. The guidelines are not at this time perceived to be mandatory.

Following feedback during the work session with Buena Vista Trustees, the commission is incorporating their comments and plans to have a draft recommendation ready by March 20. At that point, it will be released to the public, and a public meeting and comment period will begin.

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Buena Vista Historic Preservation Commission Presents Draft Protection Guidelines for East Main St. 'Historic Oldtown' Area - by Jan Wondra - The Ark...

Look up basement in the dictionary and youll see cellar, vault even crypt. But with a little effort and some design flair you can make your basement come alive and reclaim valuable living space.

Create the workout room you always wanted. A dramatic home theater. Or a spacious office, playroom or craft area. If you can re-imagine your basement, you can remodel it. Here are hints on how:

Like the look of wood? Check out Armstrong WoodHaven Ceiling Planks. Theyre available in a variety of finishes, although WoodHaven Classic White planks is the do-it-yourself favorite. These wood-look ceiling planks can install over drywall, plaster or joists and can even cover an existing drop ceiling grid.

Creating a playroom or cozy retreat? If moisture isnt a worry, add warmth and softness underfoot with carpeting or an area rug.

If your subfloor is smooth and even, vinyl is hard to beat. Whether in tile, sheet or plank form, the styles are versatile and the material is water-resistant or waterproof.

If youre adding a basement gym, consider rubber interlocking tiles. They absorb shock and you can install them yourself.

Youll discover abundant wall-covering options, too, such as wainscoting, paneling and beadboard. Subtle grass cloth wallpapers add sophistication. Peel-and-stick cork wall tiles create design interest and absorb sound.

Whatever your choice, be sure to waterproof the walls before you cover them.

Display cubes or built-in shelving with lighting are great options for showing off your trophies, baskets, pottery or collectibles. For color and warmth, mix and match a variety of pillows and plush throws.

To personalize your walls, without making a permanent design commitment, consider wall decals. Their elegant patterns and bold images add instant interest. You can even make your mark with an inspiring, oversized quote.

Use every type of lighting general, task and accent to bring your basement out of the shadows. Mirrors are another great way to add light, and the illusion of space.

DIYers have never had more versatile design tools and materials to choose from. So dont let your lower level go unloved and unused any longer. Let the transformation begin.

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Create the workout room you always wanted | Home - Reading Eagle

Dear Ken: For the first time last year, we had fleas at our house. Even our dog got them. Naturally, I dont want them again this year. I suspect they are coming from rabbits living under our deck. Any relief for this? Janet

Answer: I think there is a possible connection between wild rabbits and a flea infestation. And yes, if your dog lies around on the deck hell become a home for them also.

There seem to be a lot of more rabbits around, dont there? Apparently its at least partially due to the decline of the fox population from mange. Theres really no effective way to trap rabbits; you can only discourage them. Coyote urine spray is one deterrent. But I like the commercial repellents better. The Bonide company makes Repels All Spray (full disclosure, they advertise with me). I have used it with great success to keep the deer away from my perennial flower garden, but I know it also works for rabbits and other critters, plus it lasts about a month.

But of course your first line of defense is to put lattice, chicken wire or some other barricade around the edges of your deck to discourage nesting rabbits. One good resource that can help you with this is the Colorado State Extension Service at extension.colostate.edu

Dear Ken: Is there a building code regarding the distance of a microwave mounted over a cooktop? I have heard there is a manufacturers recommendation and am wondering if there is a code requirement. Bill

Answer: Usually the appliance companies specify that the top of the microwave be no lower than 66 inches off the floor. That gives a fixed distance between the cooktop and the bottom of the microwave, since ranges are all at the same countertop height.

The building code authorities almost always defer to the manufacturers recommendations. So thats what I would do. Besides, if you violate that separation distance, youre going to void the warranty on your new microwave.

Dear Ken: Id like to paint over my old, dark paneling somehow. Youve mentioned a primer and sealer before. What are the steps? Jackie

Answer: Old paneling can, indeed, be painted. But itll end up looking like guess what? painted paneling. The grooves and fake distress marks will show through with a vengeance. And if you try to remove the sheets, youll probably damage the underlying drywall surface. That will require taping, floating and texturing, which will make you wish you had the paneling back. Its much better to switch to some other material like wallpaper.

Scuff sand the entire surface to degloss it, then fill in the grooves with a couple of applications of some drywall taping compound applied with a plastic putty knife; lightly sand between each coat.

Then paint on a couple of layers of a good interior wallpaper prep material or interior latex primer. That will make a good surface for wallpaper to cling to. If you use a heavy-ish vinyl, you can glue it directly over the wood. For thin papers, apply a liner paper first. If you use a muted and undecorated pattern like you see in many office buildings the walls will then pretty much resemble ordinary, textured drywall. Youll be surprised at how much bigger and more inviting the room becomes, and your home wont seem nearly as dated.

Dear Ken: My furnace in my new home is actually in the attic. I have a hard time getting someone to change the filters. Is there somewhere else I can install them thats easier to get to? John

Answer: An HVAC contractor may be able to modify the return air grill down in the living area by adding a hinged cover, which would then accept a standard-size filter.

Otherwise, you can buy rolls of filter media at the hardware store that you can size to fit the space behind that same return air opening. After its installed, remove the traditional filter in the furnace and throw it away. This method actually reduces the load on the blower motor, so the house will heat quicker, and youll be able to change the filters whenever you like.

Dear Ken: I have one bathroom bulb that flickers. It doesnt help to put a new one in or to tighten it. Any ideas? Barb

Answer: Turn the electricity off at the breaker box and remove the bulb. Shine a flashlight into the socket and youll see a little tab sitting in the center at the bottom. This is the hot side of the circuit and touches a little spot on the bottom of the bulb base. Use the end of an emery file to pull it towards you a bit, and then try to sand off as much of the surface of the tab as you can to remove built up oxidation. Its an awkward maneuver, but youll get the hang of it.

Finally, rub a tiny bit of petroleum jelly onto the outside threads of the bulb to make it easier to remove the next time. Chances are, when you reenergize the light it wont flicker.

Moon is a home inspector in the Pikes Peak region. His radio show airs at 4 pm Saturdays on KRDO, FM 105.5 and AM 1240. Visit a roundthehouse.com

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Around the House: To keep fleas away, keep rabbits away - Colorado Springs Gazette

His family finished out the school year in Jeff City, which gave him four months to work on renovations. Nearly all his time outside of a demanding day job as a news editor was spent working on home repairs. Within the first year, they had refloored 2,300 square feet, gutted the kitchen, added a wall on the main level and redid two of the four bathrooms. The others have been renovated since.

With more and more paintings accumulating it made sense to give over an entire basement wall from baseboard to ceiling to what the Francks now regard as a single art installation.

Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com

Theyve taught themselves how to do fairly complex home repairs from trial and error, YouTube videos and by asking friends from church. Their children get roped into the home improvement project mostly out of necessity for an extra set of hands. When they were replacing the sheetrock on the ceiling of their kitchen, they recruited two of their children to help hold it up. The kids climbed the ladders with pillows tied to their heads, so the sheetrock could rest there while Matt drilled it into place.

They were in 4th and 7th grade at the time.

Once he ran out of projects around the house theres only so many coats of paint you can put on a room, Matt discovered a new hobby, Christine said.

About five years ago, a damaged reproduction print of an 18th century maiden caught his eye at a thrift shop. He altered it by wrapping a tentacle around her neck.

From that humble start, he joined the growing ranks of thrift store painting artists in pioneering the kitschy art form. He searches for dated paintings at thrift stores and estate sales and adds a Franck flourish a gigantic Cyclops eye, a literal beehive hairdo, a series of seven tombstones outside a rustic cottage that resembles a dystopian version of Disneys Snow White, with a nod to the #MeToo movement. The headstones, one for each dwarf, are labeled Creepy, Horny and Weinstein, among others, with Snow White walking away with a shovel.

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At home: It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world in this South County home - STLtoday.com

It appears like Apple has plans to present the MacBook Professional 13-inch a substantial energy increase in 2020. And, its about darn time, particularly since Eighth-generation Intel Core processors are ageing at this level, particularly on a premium laptop computer.

A 3DMark Time Spy benchmark, not too long ago leaked by @_rogame on Twitter, exhibits a brand new 13-inch MacBook Professional boasting marked efficiency enhancements over 2019s second highest configuration. In the event youre not acquainted with this serial leaker, he was answerable for uncovering a Geekbench 4 benchmark of the 16-inch MacBook Professional boasting the Radeon 5500M graphics card earlier than it got here out. So, you realize that is coming from a dependable supply.

The unreleased 13-inch MacBook Professional mannequin is fitted with an Intel Core i7-1068NG7 processor with a 2.3GHz base clock, Turbo Enhance as much as four.1GHz clocks and a TDP of 28W. Primarily based on an earlier tweet, it additionally boasts 32GB of reminiscence and 2TB of storage (SSD).

Its price noting that the i7-1068NG7 could possibly be a variant of the i7-1068G7, which Wccftech.com praises as the very best performing cell chip within the Ice Lake U household.

If we had been to go by this leak, we could possibly be taking a look at a 13-inch MacBook Professional with a decent increase in energy.

The benchmark pitted the i7 mannequin towards a 2019 MacBook Professional 13-inch with an Eighth-generation Intel Core i5-8279U with 2.4GHz base, most Turbo frequency of four.1GHz and a TDP of 28W. And, it exhibits the i7 having a 12% lead over the i5 in CPU testing and a couple of 29% enhance in graphics efficiency.

Its unclear whether or not it has the identical Iris Plus 655 graphics or is armed with a extra highly effective next-generation GPU. Nonetheless, the presence of 32GB RAM might point out that there is perhaps extra choices for the 13-inch MacBook Professional 2020 when it comes to reminiscence. At the moment, youll be able to solely improve to 16GB from 8GB. That is nice information for people who want extra energy, however need one thing extra transportable than the 16-inch MacBook Professional, nonetheless spectacular it might be.

Theres one different factor to notice right here: the i5 mannequin is simply the second highest configuration within the 2019 mannequin. So, were questioning why this benchmark isnt pitting the 10th-generation i7 with the very best one, which boasts Eighth-generation i7 chip. Its one thing to consider, particularly if rumors a couple of 14-inch MacBook Professional with suitably slim bezels however solely barely larger chassis are literally true.

On the very least, were hoping that the 2020 entry-level MacBook Professional will, the truth is, drop the terrible Butterfly switches and undertake the 16-inchs Scissor switches, that are by far the finest keyboard weve used on a MacBook.

We receivedt have to attend lengthy to seek out out. If we had been to go by Apples current EEC filings and the truth that the 2019 MacBook Professional 13-inch was refreshed again in July 2019, well be seeing the 2020 mannequin quickly.

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New MacBook Pro 13-inch spotted with 10th-generation Ice Lake - Best gaming pro

Designer Rebecca Taylor storeproject by Sweeten contractor David

Opening a physical brick-and-mortar store is a bold and energizing step. Its a chance to create a walk-in version ofa business youve beengrowing, ora tangiblerealization of a long-awaited vision to be your own boss.

The cost of opening a retail location for, say, a clothing, beauty boutique, or art gallery can slide from pricey to economicaldepending on what you want. Chain Store Ages annual survey of retail build-outs put the average cost at $56.53 per square foot. If you use that formula, then it will cost $280,000 for a 5,000-square-foot store build-out. In another example, an entrepreneur in Austin, Texas, only spent $7,650 on a build-out for Little Green Beans, a childrens consignment store for clothing and toys, according to Inc.(The business owners breakdown of costs were: $4,000 construction to customize the space, $3,500 for shelves, racks, etc., and a mere $150 for a handyman).

Dont be too overwhelmed by this figure. As the name suggests, theabove survey takes into account bigger stores that are more commonly found in malls than a Main Street space in an older building. A simple build-out for a smaller storeminor construction, a coat of paint, shelves, and rackscan cost under $10,000. It all depends on the scope of work and what finishes you want.

To figure out this wide world of retail build-out budgets for your project, Sweeten, a free service matching business owners with vetted general contractors, offers a few areas to consider.

Design

If you choose to hire a designer or architect (not everyone does), expect that to take 20 percent of your renovation budget, according to Sweeten architect Carla. That could mean $40,000 in a $200,000 budget.

Retail projects can be as small as custom shelving for storing product, using existing electrical wiring, andapplyinga fresh coat of paint. With a build-out that basic, you might avoid the need for permits, thus eliminating the need for blueprints to be approved by an architect. However, if youre serious about optimizing the size of your space and carefully planning the customer experience, then its best to bring in the big guns. What do you want the customers to experience? What do you want them to see when they first walk in? said Carla. Then there are the more technical design elements like handicap accessibility and whether or not you need a bathroom. These are best handled by an architect.

Electrical

The Chain Store Age survey put the cost of interior lighting at $3.30 a square foot. As mentioned above, electrical can be kept simple by using existing wiring and even fixtures to keep these costs down.

Scott, another Sweeten contractor, has worked on retail build-outs where electrical has been as low as $10,000 or as high as $100,000. Splurges in lighting often come from a client wanting specific light fixtures that are in line with their brand. Altering the position of each light to highlight store product or fixing up existing, decrepit wiring could increase your budget for electrical. Once you get into more serious work, your project might also require the additional cost of applying for permits that could also delay your timeline, Scott said.

And it isnt just lighting that needs to be considered. If your business has additional power needs, such as a salon or a dog groomer with equipment like hair dryers, it is best to assess what power burden your ideal store location can handle before signing a lease. That way, you can either find another location or factor in an electrical upgrade into your budget if necessary.

Plumbing

This area of the budget will largely depend on:

A. Is there is a bathroom?

B. If no, then would you like a bathroom?

C. If you have one, will it stay in the same place?

If there is a bathroom, then it is possible to freshen it up with a coat of paint. If there is no bathroom, you should consider if it will help your business and your staff (otherwise they might have to close the store whenever they need to use a restroom). You want to keep customers in your store rather than give them a reason to leave, said Scott, on why a bathroom might help.

A very basic bathroom could set you back $3,000 to $6,000, according to Cost Helper. It could attract additional costs if the location is far from water and sewage lines and if you need the help from a structural engineer. A plumbing permit will also be needed. Moving a bathroom will gather similar costs with the added line item of demolition. If your business has unique needs like a washing station for a hair salon, that will be another cost to factor in.

Flooring and ceiling

In a retail build-out, flooring on average takes up $2.76 per square foot in a budget and ceilings take $1.81, according to Chain Store Age. If there are no structural issues with the flooring (again, check your lease to ensure the landlord is responsible for these costs), then what you do to the floors will likely just be cosmetic. If that is the caseyoure re-varnishing existing floors or laying some tilesthen the project likely wont require a permit, according to Colin,a Sweeten contractor.

HVAC

The cost of either fixing, replacing or installing an HVAC system costs on average about $2.61 per square foot or about $13,000 for a 5,000-square-foot space. Like everything else, this average can swing in either direction based on what you have, what you want, and what you can afford.

One way to avoid this cost entirely is to negotiate a lease that puts the responsibility of the HVAC system onto the landlord, according to Colin. As an alternative, you can volunteer to take care of the HVAC system and request that the landlord give you three months of free rent. If it is a simple step of replacing the air conditioning unit with something modern, it likely wont require a permit, said Scott.

Millwork

On average, retail build-outs spend almost $10 a square foot on display fixtures or millwork, according to the Chain Store Age survey. Thats roughly 20 percent of an average budget. But of course, it all depends on your vision for your store.

The three factors that determine how expensive your displays will be are material, quantity, and what space they need to fit into, Scott said. The cost of simple wood from Home Depot will pale in comparison to teak from Brazil. Spaces, especially older ones, can also have quirks in them that need to be incorporated into the design of your shelving. There can be a lot of bends and cuts that you have to fit the wood to, said Scott. That can consume a lot of time and add more to the cost.

Paint

Getting to the paint stage means you are close to the finish line. Your walls need to be prepared first, which might be your priciest point, according to Bill, a Sweeten contractor. Another element that will affect your paint budget is if the color is flat, which is generally a better value than a semi-gloss. Also, the darker the color, the more coats of paint you will need, Bill said.

Real-world retail example

To put things in perspective, here is an actual retail renovation budget for a New York beauty salon from Sweeten contractor Paul:

Opening a physical store is an exciting moment for a business. Whether its a simple build-out or one with more moving parts, theres a path for you to bring your storefront into the spotlight.

If you have an office thats in need of a renovation, whether you want to update an existing space or move somewhere new, weve got an office renovation cost guide thatll help you plan for the future of your business.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each projects location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when youre ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

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Commercial Guide: Your Retail Renovation Budget