Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

DARTS ace Gerwyn Price has won a battle with a neighbour who claims his boozy pals peed over her wall.

Mary Smith, 89, complained to the council about a practice room the world No3 is having built in his back garden.

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Her son Jeffrey, 59, says she has been crying weekly over rowdy behaviour and 5,000 damage to a retaining wall.

He added: Its not a practice room, its a man cave where he goes with mates to get drunk and celebrate winning."

Theyre there until the early hours. My mother doesnt sleep well and one night shes looked out and theres these two mates peeing over her wall."

"Shes a church-going woman and does not want to see that.

He added: When they started this structure, I told him to stop and he just ploughed on. The retaining wall is now going in different directions.

Price, 34, known as The Iceman, bought the 84,000 semi in Blackwood, South Wales, in 2018.

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He dismissed the Smiths claims as garbage.

He told the council: I said Id replace the wall. As for the issues about noise it is not true. I use this for my livelihood as a practice room.

Caerphilly Council said he could finish the building and put up a 1.8 metre fence.

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Darts ace Gerwin Price wins legal battle with neighbour who claims his boozy pals peed over her wall - The Sun

A homeowners bid to overturn a year-long stop-work order hit a wall Feb. 10 as West Vancouver councillors noted the difference between what was allowed on a waterfront property and what got built.

The district approved a two-storey house on a rectangular site at 3742 Marine Dr. in 2016, as well as subsequent variances.

But during a site inspection, district staff noted an extension to the building and roof, a wing-wall and retaining walls that hadnt been approved.

The owner is asking for four new variances.

If we do approve this, were just asking for other people to sin and beg forgiveness later, said Coun. Craig Cameron.

Requested changes include shrinking the side yard setbacks by a total of nine metres and increasing site coverage from 42 to 58 per cent.

We thought the changes we made to the exterior of the house were minor and did not require staff approval, Pinnacle International senior project manager Carlo Meola wrote in a letter to council. I am asking that you excuse my lack of judgment in not asking staff before I made the changes that I am now proposing.

Stuck between waterfront bedrock and Marine Drive, the property is 55 metres wide and 8.5 metres deep at its narrowest point.

Explaining the lot was likely created prior to the construction of Marine Drive, West Vancouver director of planning Jim Bailey told council that if the owner had asked for those exceptions in advance they would have got what they asked for.

If youre looking for a pound of flesh I think the fact that theyve been inactive ... theres a measure of punishment in that, he said.

Cameron, however, was concerned that granting the variances would encourage other homeowners to push the envelope.

We need to be flexible, but this is playing us for fools, he said.

While questioning Meola as well as landscape architect Peter Kreuk, Coun. Nora Gambioli asked why a patio was built without permits, seemingly intentionally.

The concrete patio was an existing slab, thats where the existing garage used to sit, Meola told her.

Cameron took issue with that explanation.

This wasnt an existing slab. This is a brand new slab, Cameron said.

The walls were existing, Meola replied. The slab was existing but it collapsed.

Cameron seemed unimpressed with that reasoning.

At some point in the construction there was an audible that was called and you decided, Screw it, lets just pour this, he said.

That is a newly poured slab, Kreuk clarified. The idea was to position the slab beneath terraced landscaping on the steeply sloping property, Kreuk told council.

Encouraging her colleagues to support the variances, Mayor Mary-Ann Booth suggested one year spent in development purgatory is quite a penalty.

The year-long stop-work order isnt necessarily the districts fault, Bailey said.

While he didnt realize it had been a year, Bailey noted that variance permits often involve back-and-forth between the applicant and the municipality.

Even so, denying the permit will waste councils, staffs, and the neighbourhoods time, according to Booth.

Personally, I dont want to see a bunch of concrete being jackhammered and put in a landfill, the mayor said.

Jackhammering would be entirely appropriate, Coun. Bill Soprovich countered.

They can jackhammer out the concrete and put in a slope-down landscape. That would satisfy me, Soprovich said. I cant understand why you have professional men going against the bylaw.

Coun. Peter Lambur noted that the homeowner has already paid permit fees for each variance.

I think this is just adding more unnecessary work on top of unnecessary work, Lambur said.

Lambur also suggested deterrence may not be required.

I think the applicant knows what they have done, Lambur said.

The variances probably should have been included in the first application, said Coun. Sharon Thompson.

While the owner is guilty of a misstep, Thompson suggested council approve the application.

We want you to be able to enjoy your home, she said.

Council voted 4-3 to defer approving the variance permit while staff explore deterrents. Cameron, Soprovich, Gambioli, and Coun. Marcus Wong supported the motion while Booth, Thompson and Lambur opposed it.

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West Van withholds building permit; accuses owner of asking forgiveness instead of permission - North Shore News

WHEELING, W. Va. (WTRF) Architect and designer Elena DAngelo, originally of Rome, has brought her old-world style to Wheeling, while creating spaces tailored to modern families.She says in Europe, they never tear down and build new.

We just believe in preservation and restoration so we try to blend in the new with the old, she said.

Shes currently working on a 1937 two-story frame home at 306 Jefferson Avenue, Wheeling, where she loves the woodwork and the clean square lines.

She says Americans watch home renovation shows and believe we can do it ourselves, but thats often not accurate.

Even the professionals get surprised, finding decades and layers of wall coverings and paint.

Elenas company, Advanced Design, and Remodeling discovered one paint with a glassy surface that cant be painted over.

It just dries and peels right back off, said Debbie Wilkinson, painter and creative advisor. So weve had to do some research and weve had to talk and weve had to figure out how to work with tha surface.

Elena leaves one piece of her artwork in every house she rehabs, usually painted on a door.And she says an open floor plan doesnt work in every house.

Like every European woman, I think that the house is the mirror of your personality, so if somebody steps in my house, I dont want that person to see the mess in the sink, she said. So that kitchen needs a door!

She prefers hard floors to carpets all through the house, with one exception.

I do carpet the bedrooms because I believe it brings warmth to the room because, you know, when you wake up in the morning, you dont want to put your feet on the icy floor, she explained.

They say Elena is not a house flipper looking for a quick turnaround.

She walks into a place and she enhances the design of the house, said Wilkinson.

She sees the modern familys desire for extra spaces like a man cave or a home office.

In the house on Jefferson Avenue, she created rooms in a charming unfinished attic.

And we add rooms in the basement that can be used for a gym or a family room, Wilkinson noted.

They believe a house should be hospitable to guests, all the way down to the floor.

I always think its not very nice when people come to visit and the homeowner tells them to take their shoes off so they dont get the carpet dirty, Elena said.

She said the house on Jefferson Avenue will be finished by early March.

Go here to read the rest:
Spring edition of In Wheeling magazine focuses on the renovation of older homes - WTRF

Dublin, Feb. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Lawn Mower Market by Type End User and Fuel Type: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global lawn mower market was valued at $9,746 million in 2018, and is projected to reach $14,595.3 million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.1% from 2019 to 2026.

In 2018, by type, the ride-on mowers segment accrued the largest share in the lawn mower market. In addition, disposable income throughout the world has increased especially in emerging nations such as China and India. China's per capita income increased by 9% from 2016 to 2017. Moreover, India's disposable personal income increased approximately by 9.4% from 2016 to 2017. Therefore, these factors have led to the increase in buying power of people, enabling them to use advanced products, which, in turn, is expected to drive the growth of the market.

Moreover, busy lifestyles due to globalization and longer working hours tend to affect the leisure time and household work. Hence, this has encouraged people to find alternative ways to spare more leisure time by reducing or eliminating the time required to do household work, which is expected to boost the demand for household automation for daily chores such as cleaning, lawn mowing, and many more. Thus, leads to the rise in demand for lawn mower market globally.

Smartphone penetration throughout the world has increased drastically over the years. Rise in number of smartphones and other mobile devices leads to the development of robotic lawn mower and aids the adoption and growth of lawn mowers. However, the utilization of turfs for sports activities and residential lawns hinders the market growth.

Furthermore, the advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology has helped mobile robots to evolve past their limitations and perform their tasks at a greater efficiency. Thus, such greater efficiency coupled with the convenience of applying less human effort has led to widespread adoption of mobile robots such as robotic lawn mowers.

On the basis of end-user, the residential segment dominated the market with the largest share in 2018 and the non-residential segment is expected to exhibit significant growth during the forecast period. Proliferation of new residential and commercial properties in developing countries is expected to propel the demand for landscaping services, which, in turn, is anticipated to fuel the growth of the global lawn mower market. In addition, growth in retail infrastructure across developing nations is anticipated to boost the sales of lawn mowers and other lawn mowing equipment, especially through hypermarkets, specialty stores, and other channels.

In terms of value, North America and Europe collectively contributed around 82.5% in the lawn mower market 2018. For instance, in August 2018, Bosch launched New ProSilence Rotak series of cordless high-performance mowers. These new mowers feature 60% reduction in noise and have three models which have 550 to 750 square meters output. The leading players in the global lawn mower industry have focused on product launch and acquisition as their key strategy to gain a significant robotic lawn mower market share.

The key players profiled in the report include Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG, Deere & Company, Hitachi, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Husqvarna Group, MTD Products, Robert Bosch GmbH, Stiga S.p.A, The Toro Company, and Textron.

Many players have adopted product development as their key developmental strategy to improve their product portfolio. For instance, in February 2019, Husqvarna launched new Automower 435X AWD, the Automower is AI enabled, robotic mower and features all-wheel drive. The mower has smart home connectivity and can work with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and could be integrated with API for smart home applications. It can also be used on rough terrains and slopes with an inclination of up to 70%.

Scope & Key Findings

Key Topics Covered

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Executive Summary

Chapter 3: Market Overview3.1. Market Definition and Scope3.2. Key Findings3.2.1. Top Investment Pockets3.2.2. Top Winning Strategies3.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis3.4. Market Share Analysis of Top Players, 2018 (%)3.5. Market Dynamics3.5.1. Drivers3.5.1.1. Rise in Consumer Interest in Gardening Activities3.5.1.2. Usage of Lawn Mowers Equipment to Maintain Public Facilities3.5.1.3. Increase in Adoption of Cordless Lawn Mowers3.5.2. Restraints3.5.2.1. High Adoption of Artificial Turf3.5.3. Opportunity3.5.3.1. Emergence of Remote-Controlled and GPS-Equipped Products

Chapter 4: Lawn Mowers Market, By Type4.1. Overview4.2. Ride-On Mowers4.3. Push Mowers4.4. Robotic Mowers

Chapter 5: Lawn Mowers Market, By End-user5.1. Overview5.2. Residential5.3. Non-Residential

Chapter 6: Lawn Mowers Market, By Fuel6.1. Overview6.2. Electric Lawn Mowers6.3. Non-Electronic Lawn Mowers

Chapter 7: Lawn Mowers Market, By Region7.1. Overview7.2. North America7.3. Europe7.4. Asia-Pacific7.5. LAMEA

Chapter 8: Company Profiles8.1. Stihl Holding AG & Co. KG8.2. Deere & Company8.3. Hitachi Ltd.8.4. Honda Motor Co. Ltd.8.5. Husqvarna AB8.6. MTD Products Inc.8.7. Robert Bosch GmbH8.8. Stiga Group8.9. Textron Inc.8.10. The Toro Company

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lh4cb2

Story continues

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.comLaura Wood, Senior Press Managerpress@researchandmarkets.comFor E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

Link:
Outlook on the World's $14.5B+ Lawn Mower Market to 2026 - Yahoo Finance

"The current [insect] extinction crisis is deeply worrisome," say experts / Boing Boing

Twenty-five experts have issued a warning about the potentially cataclysmic consequences of the rapidly shrinking insect population, reports The Guardian.

In a two-part article for Biological Conservation, the scientists wrote: The current [insect] extinction crisis is deeply worrisome. Yet, what we know is only the tip of the iceberg.We know enough to act immediately. Solutions are now available we must act upon them.

From The Guardian:

The researchers said solutions were available and must be implemented immediately. These range from bigger nature reserves and a crackdown on harmful pesticides to individual action such as not mowing the lawn and leaving dead wood in gardens. They also said invertebrates must no longer be neglected by conservation efforts, which tend to focus on mammals and birds.

Photo byNeenu VimalkumaronUnsplash

Scientists say 20.75 C logged at Seymour Island is incredible and abnormal

Snowfall in Baghdad, for the second time in a decade. What a strange sight.

Antarcticas hottest temperature ever was recorded this past Thursday: 65 degrees Fahrenheit, or 18.3 degrees Celsius. That is not good. Not good at all.

Everyones got their nose in a phone these days, and that doesnt seem like its going to change anytime soon. With the increase in mobile device and e-commerce reliance comes increased need for developers who can build the apps were all so glued to. In fact, employment of devs is expected to grow up to []

Whether you love cooking at home or you swore this was going to be the year you curbed your DoorDash addiction, you know you cant get the job done well without the proper tools on hand. For all your recipe and meal prep needs, this 3-piece Sukasu Osami Chefs Knife set will do you right []

It may not rank up there with climate change or personal debt, but confessisnt it the worst when youre trying to put a food container in the fridge, but cant find the right lid to fit? Hey, not everything has to be a global crisis to be irritating to the core. But stillits even more []

Originally posted here:
"The current [insect] extinction crisis is deeply worrisome," say experts - Boing Boing

The fates of humans and insects are intertwined, scientists have said, with the huge declines reported in some places only the tip of the iceberg.

The warning has been issued by 25 experts from around the world, who acknowledge that little is known about most of the estimated 5.5 million insect species. However, enough was understood to warrant immediate action, they said, because waiting for better data would risk irreversible damage.

The researchers said solutions were available and must be implemented immediately. These range from bigger nature reserves and a crackdown on harmful pesticides to individual action such as not mowing the lawn and leaving dead wood in gardens. They also said invertebrates must no longer be neglected by conservation efforts, which tend to focus on mammals and birds.

The alert has been published as two articles in the Biological Conservation journal.

The current [insect] extinction crisis is deeply worrisome. Yet, what we know is only the tip of the iceberg, the scientists write. We know enough to act immediately. Solutions are now available we must act upon them.

Insect declines lead to the loss of essential, irreplaceable services to humanity. Human activity is responsible for almost all current insect population declines and extinctions.

Insect population collapses have been reported in Germany, Puerto Rico and elsewhere. The first global scientific review, published in February 2019, said widespread declines threatened to cause a catastrophic collapse of natures ecosystems. Insects pollinate three-quarters of crops, and another recent study showed widespread losses of such insects across Britain.

The report notes that only about a fifth of the worlds insect species have even been named, mostly from only single specimens.

Many insect species are going extinct even before being described, the researchers said. It is likely that insect extinctions since the industrial era are around 5-10%, ie 250,000 to 500,000 species.

This estimate is based on the extinctions of land snails. Prof Pedro Cardoso, at the Finnish Museum of Natural History and the lead author of the latest report, said: It is the best estimate we have. There is no reason to think the trends are different between insects and land snails, but snails leave their shells behind as evidence.

The paper also notes that British butterfly and beetle populations were said to be fast disappearing in the 1870s by the entomologist Archibald Swinton.

Long-term data on insect populations is rare. We dont know everything in fact we know very little but if we wait until we have better information to act it might be too late to recover many species, Cardoso said.

Many species are declining, probably the majority, and overall it seems the trend is for a large decline. But there are of course some species that are benefitting, for example the swarms of locusts currently in east Africa.

Matt Shardlow, the chief executive of the conservation group Buglife, said a key report in 2016 told world governments that declines in wild pollinators presented risks to societies and ecosystems.

However, in a repeat of the failure of politicians to respond to scientific warnings about climate change, the cautious, scientific language used has not produced an appropriate response from governments, he said.

Scientists are now turning up the heat on insect declines in the hope that politicians will understand the urgency and the link to human survival, and will take action before it is too late.

The key causes of insect losses, according to the scientists, are the destruction of natural habitat for farming and buildings; the intensive use of pesticides; industrial pollution and light pollution; and invasive alien species; and the climate crisis.

As well as large-scale solutions, Cardoso said insect-friendly gardens could help halt the decline. When lots of people implement these small solutions, it can make a big difference to many insect populations. Even a couple of gardens could be a big thing for a species.

He said a change of mindset was also needed because many people had learned to dislike insects. Ive never seen any small children two, three or four years old who were afraid of insects or spiders. It is cultural.

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Fates of humans and insects intertwined, warn scientists - The Guardian

Cambridge, MA Urban Spaces and StoneRiver Properties, two Cambridge-based commercial real estate development companies that focus on mid-sized, transit-oriented projects, have leased the entire first floor retail space at the Rand to Rock and Roll Daycare.

The daycare center is a music-based, Montessori-inspired school that provides a high-end childcare experience to infant, toddler, and preschool-aged children. The Rand, located adjacent to the Porter Square MBTA Red Line station at 1975 Massachusetts Avenue, is a mixed-use condominium development featuring 19 one and two-bedroom units and a three-bedroom detached single-family townhouse as well as the 3,500 square foot retail space now leased to Rock and Roll Daycare (RRDC).

We have had significant interest and been in talks with a number of retail operators since the space became available, said Paul Ognibene, CEO of Urban Spaces. We ultimately leased to Rock and Roll Daycare which we think is an ideal choice for the neighborhood given the need for high-quality daycare close to public transportation.

Voted Best of Boston by Boston Magazine in 2017, RRDC currently operates five daycare centers in Cambridge and is expanding rapidly, with five more (including the Rand) scheduled to open in 2020. RRDC is now offering franchising opportunities across America. Im thrilled about our new location at the Rand, said Chris Vuk, founder and CEO of RRDC. This is an incredible flagship location for Rock and Roll Daycare, and we are excited to share the magic of music-based learning with the Porter and Davis Square communities.

Designed by the award-winning architectural firm Prellwitz Chilinski Associates, the Rand was built by Urban Spaces Construction using modular technology and was entirely pre-sold prior to completion in 2017. Urban Spaces continues to develop mixed-use multifamily projects including Kendall East, a 136-unit apartment development with 15,000 sf of retail located along the First Street Corridor in East Cambridge, and BRIX, a 61-unit condominium with 3,000 sf of retail in downtown Salem.

We are very excited to have Rock and Roll Day Care coming to The Rand, said George H. Katis, Principal of StoneRiver Properties. RRDCs philosophy and approach to early childhood education will be a great addition to the Porter Square neighborhood.

The Rock and Roll Daycare lease was brokered by the Conviser Property Group and Horizon Capital Realty.

Related

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Urban Spaces and StoneRiver Properties Bring Rock and Roll Daycare to Porter Square - Boston Real Estate Times

Exterior work is moving along at The Dime, a23-story mixed-use buildingin Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Located at 209 Havemeyer Street, the 350,000-square-foot project includes the refurbishment and incorporation of the 112-year-old landmarked Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh. The topped-out structure is designed by Fogarty Finger Architectureand developed by Charney Companies (formerly Charney Construction & Development)andTavros Holdings. Douglas Elliman is handling leasing for The Dimes 177 rental units, JLL is the commercial broker, and Ripco is in charge of the retail component. Grain Collectiveis the landscape architect, and1 Oak Contracting is the general contractor.

Photos from the elevated Marcy Avenue subway station and from street level show the white terracotta faade nearly complete, with work mostly concentrated on the western elevation. The paneling, which is manufactured byBoston Valley, features a variety of concave texturing that creates a play of light and shadow as the sun moves through the sky.

The Dime. Photo by Michael Young

The Dime. Photo by Michael Young

The Dime. Photo by Michael Young

The Dime. Photo by Michael Young

A large banner above the roof parapet around the mechanical units displays the name of the project and that leasing is available.

The Dime. Photo by Michael Young

The Dime looking west. Photo by Michael Young

The 19-story residential section rises above the four-story podium, which will feature 50,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, over 100,000 square feet of commercial office space, and below-grade parking for 300 vehicles. Approximately 23,000 square feet of outdoor seating area for office tenants and future residents sits on top of the podium, along with amenities such as a basketball court, a yoga room and fitness center, a residential lounge, and a roof deck garden.

Leasing is set to begin in the spring with model apartments ready for showings on March 1st. The Dime will be completed by summer.

Subscribeto YIMBYs daily e-mailFollowthe YIMBYgram for real-time photo updatesLikeYIMBY on FacebookFollowYIMBYs Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews

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White Terracotta Facade Nearly Complete for The Dime in Williamsburg, Brooklyn - New York YIMBY

Rendering of the project

Time Equities released details of its mixed-use project near downtown West Palm Beach.

The New York-based firm began construction of CasaMara, an apartment and retail development at 3111 South Dixie Highway. Its the site of a recently demolished office building.

The project is south of downtown West Palm Beach, in the El Cid neighborhood. As planned, CasaMara will have 300 Class A apartments with a 16,000-square-foot clubhouse and 16,000 square feet of retail space along South Dixie Highway. The retail portion will be called The Plaza at CasaMara, according to a press release.

Records show that a Time Equities affiliate paid $17.5 million for the property in 2006. M&T Bank is financing the project.

The 10-acre property will have seven low-rise buildings designed by MSA Architects with interiors by ID & Design International. The Plaza will have on-street parking, landscaping and a corner park.

Apartments will range from studios to three-bedroom units, and the amenities will include a resort-style pool with cabanas, a pool pavilion building with grilling stations and a water wall, a Jacuzzi, co-working lounge, fitness center, dog park, game room, club room, and childrens amenities.

Lincoln Property Company will handle leasing and marketing of the apartments, while Avison Young is the leasing brokerage for the retail. Don DeWoody of Avison Young said in the release that the firm is looking for retailers of wine, furniture, design, coffee and more.

The retail component is expected to open in the spring of next year.

In 2015, Time Equities planned to build five 15-story condominium buildings on the site. But the planned condo development drew opposition, and Time Equities halted work on the project last year before West Palm Beach city commissioners could consider whether to approve or reject it.

More:
Time Equities plans apartments, retail on former office site in West Palm - The Real Deal

By David Mullen, Staff Writer dmullen@amestrib.com

TuesdayFeb18,2020at2:31PMFeb18,2020at8:16PM

The future of the former Kmart location in Ames is starting to take shape as several retailers have submitted building permits, city officials said Tuesday.

HomeGoods, Ulta Beauty, PetSmart, Five Below and an interior storage facility all submitted building permits to the city prior to the end of 2019, Ames City Planner Julie Gould said.

Even though the interior storage facility has submitted a permit to the city, a name or brand was not listed on the permit.

The Ames City Council approved the final plat in July to divide the deserted building, located at 1405 Buckeye Ave., into a multi-retail space location.

The Kmart location shut its doors for the last time in December of 2014, and since that time there has been a lot of speculation about what the space would be used for due to its proximity to South Duff Avenue, one of the busiest streets in the city.

The building that is owned by a California holdings company submitted a Major Site Development plan for the property and preliminary plat at a city council meeting in 2018.

The City Council approved the plan, but on a condition that the developers would make the building more appealing to the public by adding design features to the sides of the building that face the street.

Although city officials know what the future residents of the building will be, there is currently no estimated date of when construction will be finished.

Were talking to (the developers), so we know that the total project is moving forward, but the timing of it is unknown, Gould said.

Besides adding new retail stores in the building, the construction of multiple new buildings and improvements to the parking lot are also a part of the project, Gould said.

More:
Multiple retailers have submitted building permits for the former K-Mart location - Ames Tribune