Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

PORTLAND, Ore. (PORTLAND TRIBUNE) The doors are open, the showers are hot and the outdoor ashtrays are filling up.

The Oregon Harbor of Hope River District Navigation Center has been in business since August 2019. The design won an AIA Portland Merit Award in the Built Category in October, and now it is possible to get an early reaction from staff about how the space works.

Budget dominates the design by Opsis Architecture: the manufactured sprung structure, made of fabric over arched aluminum bents, is cheap and only expected to last 30 years. The central core of offices and nine single-use restrooms are made of plywood. There is no kitchen, just a serving counter where other nonprofits drop off meals.

The Navigation Center intakes people by appointment who are homeless. Usually, outreach workers from Central City Concern or the Portland Police approach them just before ad hoc homeless campsites are cleared. (The center looks first for veterans, the disabled and over 55s.) It can take a week of visiting to gain the trust of a camper before they accept an appointment.

Flow

The navigation center is designed with a simple linear flow. Near the front door is the awake space, a set of tables and a TV where people eat and hang out during the day. At one of three counters, they have their needs assessed, such as work, medical and housing, as well as getting documentation like a new ID. In the middle, they can have any necessary medical help and choose from nine single-use bathrooms and four showers. At the back, they sleep on steel bunk beds, which are heavy and strong, designed to be bed bug resistant and almost impossible to move around. Up to 99 people can stay for up to 90 days, which is not long if they are dealing with the bureaucracy of state services.

Paul Susi manages the center. He has managed five different shelters for Transition Projects, which operates low-barrier shelters ones where you dont have to be religious or sober. The soft-spoken young man hires people with experience being homeless because empathy is one of the staffs most powerful tools.

On a tour of the space one recent November morning, when Portland looked picturesque with its fog and fall colors but felt cold and damp, Susi pointed out some of the things he likes about the new center. One is the climate control the insulated fabric skin makes the temperature easy to keep stable. The stalls are molded plastic, but the shower rooms have real tile on the wall.

Thats one of the flourishes that really gives the place a little more dignity, said Susi. Its not just a warehouse, right?

Susi said there is no PA playing music, so, at night, the sounds are of traffic, trains and snoring. A split foam pool noodle is used to muffle the fire doors slamming.

And then there are the 22 skylights.

The natural light is such a huge, huge asset. Its calming. It feels welcoming. It feels more inclusive. It feels like were in the world, were not hiding away from the street. Especially on a sunny day, it really makes a huge difference. And there are these big windows: a lot of natural light.

A lack of windows and the use of fluorescent light can remind people of institutions, such as other shelters or prisons.

According to architect John Shorb, a partner at Opsis Architecture who worked on the design, Budget is a common constraint, but in this case, it was an even larger constraint. All the funding was coming from private donors, so an effort was made to design an environment that was welcoming and supportive for the residents and respectful of the limited budget.

One example was the plywood core it is cheaper than real wood or drywall. It brought a warmth and life to the interior, Shorb said.

The sprung structure was another obvious cost savings. The fact that it could be erected quickly saved on labor costs.

To get natural light in the building, Shorbs team spent a lot of time modifying the basic sprung structure. Mostly, it was adding skylights and windows to a structure that is traditionally used throughout the world as storage. The skylights track the plywood core, which is where the smallest rooms are, so they are not too dingy.

Shorb said the landscape design, which includes a ridge topped with shrubs at the front of the building, shields residents on the patio from the eyes of passersby.

We did a lot of work with the client group to make sure we were providing a safe space, and it wasnt just the fences. The plantings create a nice buffer from the sidewalk, Shorb said.

The areas with laundry machines, a tiny medical clinic, and a row of computers, are crucial to the programming.

A lot of thought was given with Transition Projects and Harbor of Hope on providing amenities that are going to support residents making a transition, said Shorb. Its a safe place to be and also one of respect, and it connects people to services.

Awake

Residents gather in the awake space to talk or watch movies on the modest TV in the evenings. On a recent morning, many were sitting quietly, a few napping. Only residents with a doctors note can go on bed rest and stay in their beds between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Many residents leave during the day. They have appointments, and 40% of them have jobs, much of it day labor work with agencies. The numbers of a giant clock are marked on the wall, but there are no hands.

Staff member Lilly Hailey was proud that she had just helped someone use the computer to land a job at Subway sandwich. Others she has known, at other Transition Projects shelters, have graduated to the housed life and come back as mentors.

The navigation center is about getting people in the door, assessing their needs and getting them out again, hopefully into housing. The allotted time 90 days is not that long, according to Susi, to navigate the bureaucracies it takes to get documents, benefits, and training and housing.

There are three counters: one near the door for check-ins and general help navigating the homeless system. One for food, and a third near the back for help with laundry, showers and bed issues.

Many people arrive off the streets, dazed and confused. If they werent already lost when they became homeless, they soon are. The center is to get them to hit the ground running and move on.

There are a lot of advocates in our community, a lot of caseworkers, and not nearly enough housing, not nearly enough programs to send people to, Hailey said. So, theres a lot of folks here who come here with no actual planWe have a system that we work with city-wide. Its a database that tracks who is reserved in which bed for the night. So, we know on a given day to expect about 10 folks to come in, that are placed here by our shelter access coordinator whos working with those outreach teams. And they triage folks based on the traditional priorities. Thats folks over 55, veterans, and the differently-abled. So those are the folks that were prioritized getting back to shelter.

The fences are not here to keep people in theyre to keep people out, added Don Mazziotti of Harbor of Hope. Predators, drug dealers, prostitutes, people come around. Folks have been trying to access the facility without authorization and without reservations.

Taxi!

Potential residents arrive by cab, (friendly) police car, and by the 77 bus. There are outreach workers with buckets of TriMet tickets helping the homeless, says Susi.

The patio is popular, especially with smokers. Well-behaved and housebroken pets are allowed, and there is an astroturf square where they can relieve themselves.

Much of the job consists of talking to the residents in a respectful manner that theyre not used to on the streets.

Transition Projects started as the only agency in Portland that was doing social services work that was not governmental and not faith-based, says Susi. And so for 50 years, thats been our thing. We welcome everybody. It doesnt matter what your nationality or education, city, international status. We use the pronouns that folks give us; we use the names that folks give us. Were not law enforcement and we place a priority on dignity, respect and treating folks as we would want.

Asked if that works, he replied, Its very complicated. It takes a lot of time. It takes a lot of effort. And its not always pretty, but it does work.

Listen

For talks, there are side meeting rooms, and then theres the courtyard.

This morning, a middle-aged man showed up at the front desk with a rolling suitcase and a bad temper. He talked non-stop, agitatedly, and after 10 minutes, Susi steered him out to the patio where he caused less

of a disturbance but kept on talking. Susi stayed with him for 15 minutes more, listening.

Susi explained how he is trained in de-escalation. The first thing is to take a non-confrontational stance, his torso side-on to the person. The second is to find any common ground which could be anything.

We can all agree that Indiana Jones is a great movie, regardless, he says with a smile.

After that, he tries to define the persons issue and work towards a compromise.

What are you working toward? And how can we get you there? And we dont have to go head to head.

Susi knows he is good at it.

Its very rare that Ive had to call the police myself.

Asked what the most reliable thing to switch off another persons anger is, Susi answers instantly: Being heard feeling like theyre being heard. Feeling like, whatever their need is, whatever their issue is, it is a legitimate issue. And theres often legit information there. Often someone was abused or something was incorrectly handled, and we should address that. Absolutely.

The staff keeps the atmosphere mellow. Some neighbors had wondered if it would be a blight on the edge of the Pearl District, but so far there have been no significant incidents, and the fences and electronic doors work.

Residents can only bring in two large bags. There are bike racks, but if they show up with a cart, they have 24 hours to get rid of it before they lose their reservation.

Twenty of the lower bunks are called health connections beds as part of a pilot program. Some are for people in wheelchairs or with oxygen tanks. But space is super tight. The mini-clinic, where costly ailments such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes can be detected early, is just a cube with a chair. It has an autoclave, a sharps box and some cupboards, but its basic.

Doing

Asked what the number one misconception people have about the homeless is,

Hailey answered, That they dont want to do anything. People here are more motivated to find success in their lives than Ive

experienced with my family friends. My family friends might just think of whats

going to work out next. Here people are working 24/7 looking into to meet all of their needs.

Ultimately though, the architecture cant do it all. Eighteen people have been successfully housed since it opened in August. Some of the elderly have gone into assisted living and nursing facilities. They expect 300 people to flow through the doors during the first year. Some people are called back to the streets, some leave in frustration, but even those who are housed might not be ready for it. Paying rent and being inside can be a culture shock.

A lot of folks have been housed then have failed those expectations, so supportive housing, I think, is the next step, Hailey said. Where theres wraparound services co-located at the housing facility: groups, counselors, mental health professionals, maybe a medically supervised setting, maybe its group home living.

Original post:
Harbor of Hope helping Portlanders to live off the streets - KOIN.com

A grade II listed barn and dovecote conversion in a quiet hamlet is for sale with Jon Brambles, of Newark, for 550,000.

Midwinter Cottage, on Town Street, Grassthorpe, is full of character features.

In addition to four bedrooms, the property has four reception rooms, a breakfast kitchen, two en-suites, and a family bathroom.

The property stands in delightful grounds of around 1.25 acres.

A reception hall has oak doors into the drawing room, dining room and cloakroom, and an archway to a snug. It has a flagstone floor and an oak staircase.

The drawing room has French doors to the garden, a feature brick fireplace with inset stove, and beamed ceiling.

The dining room has doors to a patio at the rear, and the snug forms a link between the former dovecote and the barn.

The lounge has two sets of French doors to the garden, and doors to the kitchen.

There is a brick fireplace with inset stove, a beamed ceiling, and exposed brickwork walls.

The large breakfast kitchen has a large central island, a chimney breast with a range cooker. There is also a study, rear hall, utility room and cloakroom.

The principal staircase leads to the galleried landing, three bedrooms and the family bathroom.

Midwinter Cottage stands on a delightful plot and is approached via electrically-operated gates. Twin five bar gates lead on to a driveway that provides parking for numerous vehicles.

There is a sizeable patio area in a courtyard at the front, which is edged with raised beds containingmature shrubs and plants.

At the rear there are two split-level Indian sandstone patios,

There is a summer house, log store, well-maintained lawns, and mature shrubs, plants and trees.

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Property of the Week Grade II listed barn full of character - Newark Advertiser

In L.A. we have to make our own winter sometimes, and one way to do that is to buy a chopped-down tree and prop it up in your living room. There are plenty of artificial options on the market that look great and can be used year after year, but if youre more interested in bringing a living plant straight from the farm to your living room, theres a lot to consider. Roadside stands selling trees are a dime a dozen, but can you be sure of how sustainably the trees were raised or transported? These seven tree farms, shops, and pop-ups promise trees that, in addition to looking great, have been grown and harvested with integrity, making them our top picks for where to buy a Christmas tree in L.A.

From the family behind popular Halloween pumpkin patch Mr. Bones comes holiday destination Mr. Greentrees, opening November 29. A wide variety of sizes will be available, all firs sourced from family-run tree farms in the Pacific Northwest. Other holiday decor needs are met, too, with an assortment of ornaments, decorations, wreaths, and more. 8950 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood.

This year-round family farm (founded in 1940!) goes all-out for the holidays. From November 29 to December 15, you can pick up a tree, stop by a holiday market, and shop a produce stand on grown-on-site seasonal veggies. Take a tour, and pose for pics with Santa or the Snow Queen (who strongly resembles a character from a popular movie that rhymes with Brozen). 5380 3/4 University Dr., Irvine.

Mr. Jingles operates two locations in L.A., in addition to six other locations, so you know youre dealing with a major player in the tree business. You can stop by one of the stands to buy your tree, wreaths, or garlands in person and bundle them up the old-fashioned wayor let the delivery and installation pros on staff handle that part for you. You can even order your tree online if you want the easiest (if less grammable) experience possible, and they can handle pickup and recycling, too. 11852 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. (open November 29); 1841 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood (open from November 28).

Online plant-delivery site Bloomscape wants you to consider a living tree that you can keep all year. They just launched shaggy, rustic Norfolk Pines in 46- to 52-inch ($195) or 14- to 18-inch ($65) sizes. Your selected tree will arrive at your doorstep in a stylish terracotta planter and some orders even include free twinkle lights. Non-toxic, pet-safe poinsettia alternatives are also available.

Shawns trucks six different varietals of firs down from Oregon to stock two L.A. pop-up locations starting on November 29. They offer setup and removal services, as well as California fire marshal-licensed flame retardant treatments. 3443 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Palms; 6020 W. Jefferson Blvd., Culver City.

Mark and Patricia Rohlfs started their own tree farm in Oregon in 1983 and became one of the founding members of the Coalition of Environmentally Conscious Growers. This year, customers can order their tree online, virtually shopping the lot by webcam. Opens November 29. 12901 Burbank Blvd., Valley Glen.

Christmas Tree Ranch is one of the few farms left in Los Angeles County where you can chop down your own tree. The U-Cut options include Monterey Pine, Aleppo Pine, Coast Redwood, Arizona Cypress, and Leyland Cypress. A number of Fir breeds are also stocked as precut trees. A vintage army Jeep ride will take adventurous choppers out in search of the perfect specimen. The ranches opens on November 29. 1586 Pederson Rd., Thousand Oaks; 3800 Cochran St., Simi Valley.

RELATED:Too Early for Christmas Music on the Radio? L.A.s All-Holiday Stations Dont Think So

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Where to Buy a Christmas Tree in LA: 7 Spots to Try in 2019 - LA Magazine

HICKSVILLE, N.Y. With the 40th anniversary year of its USA business now coming to a close, Kalaty Rug Corp. is seizing the opportunity to send a new message in the new year. The company is unveiling two new catalogs one of which marks a first for the company and is re-launching its website.

One catalog is a 400-page tome spotlighting the companys current line of top-shelf heirloom-quality rug collections, spanning traditional to transitional to modern styles, as well as featuring Kalatys three high-end decorative accent pillow collections and its designer-friendly custom-color rug program.

The second catalog represents Kalatys inaugural dedicated catalog for its newer, K-Two program, which comprises mid-tier and mass retail-focused products at more affordable price points. The offering encompasses 15 collections available in a range of design genres, weaves and constructions.

Both catalogs will roll out to customers next month, and print copies will be available for distribution at: Atlanta International Gift, Home & Area Rug Market Jan. 14-21 in Kalatys showroom space, 4-G-14 in Building 1 of the AmericasMart; and Las Vegas Market from Jan. 26-30 in its showroom in B-455 of the World Market Center.

Earlier this year, Kalaty began to oversee a vast website remodeling project. The results are now in, and Kalatys online presence has been retooled to include several new tools and tech features aimed at enhanced user-friendliness. As part of that effort, the company has also updated and added tools to its popular Kalaty app.

Not only is our newly updated Kalaty.com faster but visitors to our website will now find it easier to navigate with such new tools as the ability to click on any rug in the line and be able to see it in a variety of room settings, said Ariel Kalaty, a company spokesperson. And, in addition to updating our website, we have make major updates to our Kalaty app, one of our customers most popular and most often-utilized marketing and business tools.

Available for both Apple and Android devices, the app allows Kalaty dealers to explore the companys rug collections, access and check orders, make payments, track and check shipments, and communicate with the company.

Kalaty celebrated its 40th anniversary in the U.S. with several key milestones:

Not only did our return to High Point help us commemorate this important anniversary year but it also helped us send a strong message to existing and potential customers confirming our commitment to serving them at this all-important market, said Ramin Kalaty, company president. And, at the fall High Point market, Kalaty chose to present more new product than it has ever shown previously at High Point in order to further showcase the depth and breadth of our product line.

Cecile B. Corral is a senior editor with Home Textiles Today and is editor of luxury textiles supplement POSH. She also covers the area rug category for Furniture Today and Home Accents Today.

Read the rest here:
Kalaty caps 40th anniversary with two new catalogs - Furniture Today

The continuation of a yearlong series

My hands are trembling all over this typewriter keyboard as the reaction sets in to a night of almost indescribable horror.

These were the opening words of the breaking news story written by Gardner native and Associated Press staffer Harry C. Glasheen, reporting of the events of 77 years ago this week in Boston one of the most horrific tragedies in the history of the commonwealth.

It was Nov. 28, 1942, the night of the devastating fire at Bostons Cocoanut Grove nightclub where some 492 people lost their lives and hundreds more were injured.

On that Saturday night, the club was jammed with approximately 1,000 occupants, many of whom were soldiers preparing to leave overseas for military duty. According to legend, a lighted match, used by a 16-year-old busboy dispatched to replace a light bulb, was the cause of the tragedy.

History has documented the tragic tale and the chaos that ensued, bodies stacked nearly four and five deep as the panic-stricken throng attempted to wedge through the clogged revolving doors. It was later learned that possibly 300 of those killed could have been saved had the doors been able to swing outward.

Glasheen, a newspaperman who worked previously out of Gardner, Springfield and Lowell, was the son of Henry and Mary Glasheen of Vernon Street and nephew of longtime Gardner High teacher Minnie Glasheen.

He worked in an era when the newspaper man did not just record the events that were happening, rather he became a part of the action as his first-person narrative was documented in the newspaper.

I can still hear the screams of the dying. I can still recall the stories of the living torches running wildly about, trying to get away from the swift-reaching flames and suffocating smoke, Glasheen wrote. I can still see those 30 or more bodies huddled on the floor of a garage, transformed into a morgue, some of them so horribly burned it will be difficult ever to identify them positively, he wrote.

Although the fire occurred some 50 miles east of Greater Gardner, this area did not escape its brushes with the tragic event.

Two former Baldwinville residents 27-year-old Bartlett P. Stuart and 40-year-old Clyde C. Clark both perished in the fire. Stuart was at the Grove attending a farewell dinner for a fellow worker from the Lynn General Electric plant, while Clark and his wife were both enjoying a night out on the town with their daughter, Ann Marie.

Clark and his wife, Mabel, both died from their injuries suffered in the fire, while their daughter was also injured but survived.

The nightclub, a former Prohibition-era speakeasy, was located at 17 Piedmont St. in what is now Bostons Bay Village neighborhood. Prior to the time of the fire, it had been expanded with the addition of a lounge that opened onto an adjacent street.

Decorated in tropical style, the restaurant, bars and lounges were adorned with flammable paper palm trees. It was learned after the tragedy that the place was a virtual fire trap. Cloth draperies covered the ceiling and other festive decorations obscured the exit signs.

Men and women were reported to have clawed through the smoke in an effort to get out of the building. Another exits panic bar had been welded shut while a large plate glass window, that could have provided another access out, was boarded up.

In the aftermath, bodies were found piled up behind the welded exit door. Still another exit was hidden by draperies. Autopsies indicated that, in addition to the fire itself, the leak of the refrigerant methyl chloride (also called xhloromethane) may have also contributed to the high death toll.

It was impossible to get through the entrance immediately because firemen and volunteers were coming out of the building in a staggering stream with the dead and dying, Glasheen continued. At first there was a shortage of stretchers and it was necessary to use overcoats to carry out the victims.

Former Gardner City Councilor William S. Tappin, a call member of the Gardner Fire Department, was one of the volunteer workers at the tragic scene. He and his wife had accompanied another couple to the Boston College-Holy Cross football game earlier that day. They were staying at the nearby Bradford Hotel when the fire alarm sounded.

Tappin and the other man left their wives at the hotel and rushed over to the Cocoanut Grove when the second alarm sounded, to help firemen pull hose lines from fire trucks.

The longtime veteran of many years with Engine 2 of the Gardner Fire Department said that the entire experience was the worst sight he had ever seen.

I half leaned over into the building to grasp bodies dragged to the window by firemen. These were hoisted through the window and onto waiting stretchers, Glasheen noted in his story. One Catholic priest asked me to notify him of any of the living. Of the 20 or more which I helped take out at this point I saw signs of life in only two. We covered one man who looked to be dead and as the blanket was pulled up over his face he shouted, Dont smother me.

However, in the face of this unspeakable tragedy there was also a miracle of sorts. That miracle came earlier in the day, although at the time it hung over Boston like an ominous cloud.

The nations No. 1-ranked college football team, Boston College, faced lowly Holy Cross in their annual rival game at Fenway Park. A victory by the unbeaten Eagles over the 4-4-1 Crusaders would send them to the Sugar Bowl game.

However, the gods did not smile down on B.C. that day or so it had appeared as Holy Cross came away with an improbable 55-12 victory; a real old-fashioned whipping.

As a result of that devastating loss, a disconsolate Boston College team canceled plans they had for a victory party. A large horseshoe table in the middle of the first-floor room of the Cocoanut Grove had been reserved for the expected victorious gathering.

Among the players on that Boston College team was Gardners John Dubzinski, captain of the 1939 Wildcat football team, whose life was spared that night. In addition, Johns brother, Walter, and his wife, Ruth, were in town for the game. B.C. alum Walt would have likely also joined in the proceedings had the Eagles been victorious.

Instead, the Boston College players opted to lick their wounds at a smaller venue, booking a rather sedate gathering at the Park Plaza Hotel.

From nearby East Templeton, Leon Fredette also attended the Boston College game that day and hoped to also celebrate the victory at the Grove. However, at the last minute the disappointed Eagles fan also canceled his reservation and decided to head for home.

When the last body was reported out, I looked around the room of the ground floor. It was shambles, Glasheen further reported. Chairs and tables were upended, crockery and glassware were strewn everywhere, the same as if a tornado had whistled through the room.

In the years following the fire, a reform of fire codes and safety standards across the country were enforced.

Laws were immediately enacted in public establishments to ban flammable decorations and inward-swinging exit doors. In addition, exit signs had to be visible at all times, and all revolving doors used for egress had to be flanked by at least one normal, outward-swinging door.

In 1993, in the Bay Village Neighborhood where the Cocoanut Grove once stood, a bronze memorial was set into the brick ground on Piedmont Street and dedicated where the club formerly existed.

It is a mute reminder of a very dark day in our states history and a sad chapter of one of the most tragic events ever experienced in these parts.

Next week: Pearl Harbor bombed (December 1941).

Comments and suggestions can be sent to Mike Richard at mikerichard0725@gmail.com or in writing to Mike Richard, 92 Boardley Road, Sandwich, MA 02563.

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Headlines of the Past - Nov. 30, 1942: Cocoanut Grove fire, local residents perish - Worcester Telegram

A

meristar East Chicago, which in spring 2018 invested $6 million to move its high-limit room into a dedicated land-based position, now introduced live table games and slots into the pavilion.

Citing an increase in customer traffic in the pavilion in the wake of the opening of the sportsbook in September, Ameristars Vice President and General Manager, Matt Schuffert, said that it made sense to bring traditional casino gaming closer to sports bettors.

Since the opening of our sportsbook in the pavilion on Sept. 1, we have seen a lot of new guests who spend time in the pavilion, Schuffert said, as reported by The Times of Northwest Indiana. It was another opportunity for us to bring gaming on land and put us in a better position to utilize our real estate.

The grand opening of the new addition took place Oct. 31 and was celebrated in a Halloween-themed setting. Four blackjack tables and one roulette table were brought in, along with 35 slot machines, which are positioned along the streetscape of the pavilion. The development capitalizes on the hub of activity in Ameristars pavilion, created not only by the addition of the sportsbook, but also Stadium Sports Bar & Grill and Burger Brothers restaurant.

We have been receiving positive feedback from our guests, who seem to appreciate bringing gaming closer to our sports bettors, Schuffert said. With our sportsbook located in the pavilion, there was a convenience perspective to take into account.

Under the present schedule, the table games open at 9 a.m. Friday through Sunday, the three biggest days for sports book traffic. Monday through Thursday theyll open later in the day at 5:30 p.m., however Schuffert did acknowledge that the times are flexible based upon demand. The tables will open with $10 and $15 minimum wagers.

There is room for expansion, Schuffert said. It has been in operation for less than a month, so well see how it performs and move forward from there.

Sports betting has been a boom for Ameristar. Of the total of $91.7 million wagered at the 10 sports betting locations in Indiana during the month of October, $46.17 million was generated by the East Chicago property.

Excerpt from:
Ameristar East Chicago adds live table games and slots to its sportsbook pavilion - Yogonet International

The Cleveland Browns are in the midst of the playoff hunt. That fact alone is something I am thankful for this Thanksgiving. We have not had many Thanksgivings lately where we were in this position. So, there are a lot of things to be thankful for with the Browns. In this weeks film room, I will showcase some of the things I am thankful for on this Browns team.

Nick Chubbs Contact Balance

I am thankful for Browns running back Nick Chubbs contact balance. His ability to take on contact and continue to churn for more yards is at an elite level. There are not many in the NFL with this sort of ability. He is able to break tackles and gain more yardage after first, second or even third contact. The clip above is an example of this ability. Chubb catches the pass in the screenplay and runs upfield breaking two tackles and then carrying another defender for ten or so yards.

Jarvis Landrys Hands

I am thankful for wide receiver Jarvis Landrys hands. Landry has great hands to catch contested passes in close quarters. According to Pro Football Focus, Landry has three drops over the course of 92 targets this season. Landry has been the most productive and consistent receiver for the Browns this season. His hands are what make him a valued target. In the clips above, quarterback Baker Mayfield throws a back-shoulder pass to Landry on the sideline. The coverage is very tight, but Landry is able to catch the pass over the cornerbacks head and then hold onto the ball while the corner tries to knock it away.

Kareem Hunts Versatility

I am thankful for the versatility of running back Kareem Hunt. In three games, Hunt has 18 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown, while also catching 15 passes for 99 yards. He has been used all over the field as a running back, receiver and even a blocker. His versatility has allowed him to be used alongside Chubb. Hunt is a do-it-all back for the Browns right now. The video above shows this versatility. In the first play, Hunt is in the backfield for a handoff. He gets the handoff and almost immediately cuts to the outside to the right where he sees the edge open. He uses his speed to beat the entire defense around the edge for a touchdown. In the second play, Hunt is lined up in the left slotback spot. When the ball is snapped, Hunt crosses the formation and runs into the right flat to be a receiver in the pass play. He gets the pass from Mayfield and then uses his running ability to churn upfield for a nice gain.

Baker Mayfields Accuracy

I am thankful for quarterback Baker Mayfields accuracy. After an up and down beginning of the season, Mayfield has had a completion percentage of 64% or higher in every game since Week 8, except one game. He is completing accurate passes to every level of the field. He can throw open receivers with his accuracy. The clip above shows this ability. The first play sees Mayfield is rolling out of the pocket after he is unable to find a receiver early on in the play. He rolls to the sideline and sees Landry coming open toward the sideline. Mayfield is able to accurately throw the pass downfield while moving toward the sideline. The pass does not sail too far toward the sideline. It is thrown right in stride to Landry for a big completion. In the second play, Mayfield makes his best throw of the game. Mayfield does a play-action roll out to the left and sees Landry running an out route to the sideline. Mayfield is able to get rid of the ball right when Landry makes his break. He throws the pass while a rusher bears down on him and gets the ball over the underneath defender and into the perfect spot where only Landry can catch it.

Sheldon Richardsons Emergence

I am thankful for the emergence of defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. Over the last several weeks, Richardson has been outstanding. As Cody Suek noted in his Wednesday post, Richardson has graded out as the second-best defensive tackle in the NFL from Weeks 9-12, according to Pro Football Focus. He has emerged on the defensive line in a time the line needed it with Myles Garrett out for the year. The video above shows his strong play versus Miami.

In the first clip, Richardson is on the right edge against this run play. He is able to make the run stop by avoiding the block and then tracking the running back inside where he is able to tackle the runner for a minimal gain. The second play shows his pass-rush ability, along with his playmaking ability and awareness. He starts by rushing from the center to the left guard, but he then sees the quarterback try to escape to the left. Richardson closes on the quarterback, forcing him back in the pocket, but before he does, Richardson gets a hand on the ball and causes the quarterback to drop it, causing the play to end in a sack. In the third play, Richardson again shows off his pass-rushing ability and awareness. After the snap, he is able to get some good push on his blocker, pushing him into the pocket. The quarterback decides to try to run, but Richardson sees it and is able to get off his block to make the tackle.

Also, Richardson is making a difference even when it doesnt show up on the stat sheet. In the fourth play, he is able to get in the passing lane of the quarterback, causing the quarterback to halt his intentions and then rush his actions to find another pass. This causes an incompletion. In the final play, Richardson is rushing up the middle, penetrating the middle of the protection. The rush causes the quarterback to rush his pass and throw the ball inaccurately for an incompletion.

Joe Schoberts Playmaking

I am thankful for linebacker Joe Schoberts playmaking ability. Schobert has been really good this season, especially over the last couple of games. In a defense that needed playmakers, Schobert has shown to be one for the unit. In 2019, he has 97 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, nine passes defended and four interceptions. He has had those four interceptions over the course of the past two games. He is seemingly always around the ball and in the right place to make the play. He is making game-changing plays for this defense and it doesnt always have to be a turnover forced. In the video above, Schobert shows off his playmaking ability. Both plays are interceptions where Schobert was able to make the pick because he was in the right spot. He is in the right spot to make the plays.

Olivier Vernons Soon-to-be Return

I am thankful for the soon-to-be return of edge rusher Olivier Vernon. Vernon has been out injured over the past three weeks. With the loss of edge rusher Myles Garrett to suspension for the rest of the season, Vernon is very much needed to come back and be a game-changer on the edge in Garretts absence. Vernon has not filled the stat sheet like Garrett, but he has still been good this season. His return will be a huge addition to the defensive line. The clip above is an example of what Vernon can do. In the play, he is able to quickly beat the tackle around the left edge and then show good bend to get to the quarterback for the sack.

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What I'm thankful for on the Browns: Browns Film Room - Waiting For Next Year

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Friday to help streamline recovery efforts in the five counties where 13 wildfires burned in October.

The fires destroyed houses, mobile homes, manufactured homes and other structures and left debris, forced closure of highways and roads and destroyed or damaged infrastructure.

Newsom's executive order helps displaced residents with housing needs by facilitating manufactured homes and mobile home parks, and waiving fees to replace driver's licenses and birth certificates of residents affected by the fires.

The order, which contains a dozen sections, includes a three-year suspension of planning and zoning requirements that pertain to recreational vehicles, mobile homes, manufactured homes mobile home parks and special occupancy parks that were damaged or destroyed as a result of wind events and fires.

Many residents face a challenging recovery, and strict compliance with various statutes and regulations addressed in the order would prevent, hinder or delay the mitigation of the effects of the fires, Newsom said.

Newsom issued proclamations of a state of emergency on Oct. 11 for Riverside and Los Angeles counties, where five fires burned, on Oct. 25 in Sonoma and Los Angeles counties, where two fires burned, and on Oct. 27 for severe fire weather conditions that began on Oct. 26.

During the severe fire weather, six fires began burning in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, Newsom said.

All orders and provisions in proclamations dated Oct. 11, 25 and 27 shall remain in force and effect, the executive order states.

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Gov. Newsom Issues Executive Order to Help Wildfire Areas Recover - NBC Bay Area

If you shop on Black Friday theres a decent chance the parking lot youre in wont be full. Across the United States, there are about500 million surface-lot parking spacesfor the272.48 million registered vehicles. There are far more parking spots than there are carswhich means theres a lot of underutilized land throughout the countryin parking lots at malls, strip malls, Walmarts, Targets, hardware stores, as well as in urban parking garages. Why not use the space to allow more Americans to own homes?

Housing is a commodity whose value has greatly outpaced the rate of inflation in the United States; from 1997 to 2006 (the Housing Bubble) average home prices increased by 124 percent,according to The Economist; even though the bubble eventually burst, home pricescontinue rising. Many young Americans have enormous student loan debt (Americans carry $1.6 trillion of it). Pair that with rising housing costs, unaffordable health care and a birth rate which is already sub-replacement level, and there could bedire consequencesfor the nation.

Former President George W. Bushattempted to fix this issueat the federal level to increase minority support for the GOP and to help some of his big bank donors. It didnt work. Fortunately, housings an issue that can primarily be addressed at the local levelby relaxing stringent zoning laws. In many communities, zoning is bad not only for businesses, but also those who want affordable places to live, either as buyers or renters. In the Greater Boston Area, the limousine liberals who run many communities have made the minimum lot size to construct a house in parts of their towns at least one acre. In many communities, multi-family housing is not allowed, according toBoston Fair Housing.

There are many cases where the land a house is built on is worth more than the building itself. Putting up barriers like minimum lot sizes and spacing between developments artificially raises housing costs. This makes people buy more than they need and decreases the total number of houses that can be built. Surely, theres a market for big houses with big lots placed far away from each other. Thats great for those who want it. Conversely, theres a market for people who dont need much space, cant afford it or are willing to suck it up because they want to build equity instead of renting.

These giant underused parking lots offer that potential if developers could build bungalows, manufactured homes (cheaper building costs and good for the domestic manufacturing industry), cottages, tiny houses, or another affordable style packed in together without yards. The averageparking space is 180 square feet; the averagestudio apartment is 500 to 600 square feet; and three parking spaces are 540 square feet.

It would require multi-use zoning in these lots to build housing. Ideally, there would be no minimum space requirement between buildings to maximize efficiency. If that makes NIMBYs mad, too bad. Theystrangle our countrys GDP with their protectionism.The lots would still have parking spaces for customers and residents to use. The property tax on these cheap houses would be significantly lower than a house with more land; theres even the idea that housing could be built within parking garages within cities thats worth exploring. However, with these low-to-the-ground types of housing, there wouldnt be a need to change height regulations for new building projects.

This wouldnt be a magic solution to cure the death of shopping malls. Fortunereported in 2017that 20 to 25 percent of them could close in the next five years. Although not the main intention, the shift in zoning could soften the blow. If those stores are the closest to where someone lives, then the odds of them patronizing the store increase. Theres a reason whyWalmart allows RVs to park overnight in its lots. Its an issue where the limited government crowd should be able to find support in urban communities because they have an opportunity to help the working class cost-effectively; they can find common ground with progressives and populists against the red tape hurting millions of Americans.

Its also a place where people have an opportunity to make a difference by getting involved with local government by running for office or appealing to their local zoning board instead of letting some weirdly statist townies make up the rules.

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A Lot of Parking - Splice Today

If you want to submit a bid to tear down a long abandoned industrial site on Eastons South Side, youre running out of time.

Bids are due Friday, Nov. 29, to tear down the Black Diamond Enterprises site at 430 W. Lincoln St. It once manufactured metal surfaces and tabletops for restaurants. Before that the plant was the Stewart Silk Mill.

By 2007 it was the repository for graffiti and in 2012 it made the citys blight list.

Now a developer plans to raze it and replace it with an affordable housing community. Lara Schwager said Nov. 29 is the deadline to submit bids to demolish the site. Shes the vice president of development with PIRHL, or Partners in Residential Housing Leadership of Cleveland, Ohio.

We hope to make an award mid-December and start construction soon thereafter, she said.

PIRHL is partnering with developer Tim Harrison. They plan to put in 55 homes and 27,000 square feet of commercial space.

Since the project is financed in part through tax credits, the homes must be rented to individuals who earn between 30 and 80 percent of the neighborhoods average median income, Schwager said.

The city has struggled for years and dangled economic incentives to get the property cleaned up and developed. The city secured $2 million in grants to help fund the cleanup.

The property caught fire in 2016 and has been crumbling steadily ever since.

Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com

Photo of the Black Diamond site, formerly the Stewart Silk Mill at 430 W. Lincoln St. in Easton on Nov. 21, 2019.

Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com

Photo of the Black Diamond site, formerly the Stewart Silk Mill at 430 W. Lincoln St. in Easton on Nov. 21, 2019.

Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com

Photo of the Black Diamond site, formerly the Stewart Silk Mill at 430 W. Lincoln St. in Easton on Nov. 21, 2019.

Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com

Photo of the Black Diamond site, formerly the Stewart Silk Mill at 430 W. Lincoln St. in Easton on Nov. 21, 2019.

Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com

Photo of the Black Diamond site, formerly the Stewart Silk Mill at 430 W. Lincoln St. in Easton on Nov. 21, 2019.

Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com

Photo of the Black Diamond site, formerly the Stewart Silk Mill at 430 W. Lincoln St. in Easton on Nov. 21, 2019.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.

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Deadline Friday to bid on clean-up of long-abandoned Easton industrial site - lehighvalleylive.com