Home Builder Developer, Interior Renovation and Design

SERTAR, CHINA The hills around the revered Larung Gar Tibetan Buddhist academy were once a seamless carpet of vibrant red, dominated by the homes of thousands of monks, nuns and devotees who crowded the remote valley in southwest China to explore their faith.

Today, the landscape is riven with scars, with many houses destroyed and some neighborhoods torn apart after demolition crews were sent in by authorities, who have ordered a mass clear out of the area.

More than 10,000 people including many Han Chinese devotees were living around Larung Gar, the worlds largest and most important institution for Tibetan Buddhist learning, but the government believes the area had become dangerously overcrowded.

Human rights groups, however, see the demolitions as a ploy by the atheist ruling Communist Party to tighten its grip on religious practice in Tibetan regions.

Bulldozers began crushing homes last year but the process has escalated over the past few months. The properties are being razed to make way for tourism infrastructure, parking, and better roads leading down the steep hills to the central monastic buildings.

They tore down so many houses. The government said there were too many people, said Tibetan Buddhist student Gyatso, 26, as he handed freshly sawn planks to a red-robed friend hammering them onto an extension to a house they now share meters from his old one.

Inside, a small tape player quietly chanted mantras repeatedly. Tibetan language books lined the walls next to framed photographs of Jigme Phuntsok, the charismatic lama who founded the academy in the 1980s.

Its freezing here in the winter, but Im used to it and wouldnt live anywhere else, said Gyatso, who came to Larung Gar as a boy with his family of poor nomadic herders.

He received 5,000 yuan ($735) in compensation for his old home.

Edeng, who like Gyatso withheld his full name for security reasons, was not so lucky. He was ordered out of Larung Gar, his home of two decades, last fall, and now rents a room near a monastery two hours away.

Of course I didnt want to move, but when the Khenpos decide something you have to listen. There was nothing I could do, he said, referring to revered Buddhist teachers who manage the encampment and have mediated the government request to reduce numbers.

Departing residents have to sign pledges promising never to return to live at Larung Gar, and some have been subject to intensive political re-education once home, according to Human Rights Watch.

HRW has condemned the evictions as a fundamentally abusive campaign that has prompted suicides, public humiliation and serious disruption to the community.

The European Parliament called on China in December to stop the demolitions and respect freedom of religion.

Six United Nations human rights experts expressed grave concern in a November letter to the government, recalling a previous demolition campaign in 2001, when some 8,000 residents were driven out as homes were destroyed, sometimes with people still inside.

Larung Gar has grown in unprecedented size and influence for a Buddhist academy on the Tibetan plateau.

Authorities said last year its population, estimated at between 10,000 and 20,000, would be cut to 5,000 by this September to improve fire safety and sanitation.

A blaze destroyed around 100 houses in 2014, without causing casualties, according to the International Campaign for Tibet.

Of course fire safety isnt the issue. All they want is to control things very easily, said Lobsang, a monk now living in a neighboring county who studied at Larung Gar for seven years.

The government doesnt like so many people over 10,000 people opening their minds because the school is so good. They think these people are very dangerous, he added.

Some 4,500 nuns and monks had been expelled as of March, according to a senior abbot cited by campaign groups, and over 3,000 homes are thought to have been destroyed as of this spring.

Authorities have made the area nearly inaccessible to foreigners with checkpoints and a heavy security presence, while temporarily limiting flows of Chinese tourists.

In a neighboring valley, nuns have been placed in square rows of blue-roofed temporary housing.

But locals say demolitions cannot take away the strong pride in Tibetan identity, language and religion the academy has instilled.

Villagers in hamlets hours away carry cards and wear pendants distributed by Larung Gar, representing a vow to live by a moral program of 10 virtues espoused by its Khenpos.

For Lhamo, a Tibetan county government employee charged with convincing elderly devotees to leave Larung Gar for retirement homes, imposing the current order has been emotionally taxing.

People would yell and curse at her, she said, but she understood their frustrations.

That little house is their everything. Even though some are very, very crude, they dont have anything else in the world, she said.

When I tell them that there are better living conditions elsewhere, they say they only care about studying Buddhism, not material things. What can you possibly say in return?

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With evictions, demolition of residences, China squeezes revered Buddhist academy - The Japan Times

Kansas City Star

Demolition continues at Metcalf South Shopping Center in Overland ...
Kansas City Star
Metcalf South Shopping Center is being leveled to make way for a Lowe's Home Improvement Center in Overland Park. July 7, 2017.

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Demolition continues at Metcalf South Shopping Center in Overland ... - Kansas City Star

The decision to remodel a kitchen or bath is not a spur of the moment epiphany. Most of our clients spend considerable time researching, investigating options and imagining the tremendous joy that will come with a completely remodeled space. Inspiration comes from varied sources ranging from home improvement television shows to a neighbor's made over home.

Step 1: Dream The best place to start your kitchen remodel is to identify the features, benefits, looks and feelings that you want to achieve with your remodel. Visit online resources such as Houzz.com, Pinterest, Dcor and Architectural Digest magazine among others to collect ideas.

When presented with color schemes, textures and looks that you want to achieve, a professional designer can develop a plan that fits almost any budget. Determine what your goals are, the functionality you are looking for and how you want your new kitchen to look and feel. If you had an unlimited budget, what would your new kitchen or bath look like and how would it perform?

Step 2: Establish priorities The first step in establishing priorities is to develop a realistic budget. This is an area where a professional showroom consultant can be a trusted advisor. We help our clients determine renovation budgets that are not only realistic, but also in keeping with goals, aspirations and dreams. How much should you budget? That depends on the nature and scope of your renovation.

On average, homeowners report that a kitchen remodel costs close to $20,000. A smaller project, one that includes cabinet re-facing, sink replacement, installation of a tile backsplash and a fresh coat of paint can range from $10,000 to $25,000.

A $30,000 or larger renovation may include semi-custom cabinets, hardwood floors, granite counters and higher-end appliances. You may spend more than $100,000 on a complete overhaul with structural changes, custom cabinets, stone countertops, top-of-the-line appliances, etc. Pricing guides you find online are based on averages and sometimes can be misleading. That's why establishing priorities is essential to develop a realistic budget.

Step 3: What you should expect from a professional showroom When selecting a showroom to partner with, make sure that the showroom is experienced with the type of renovation that you want. Ensure that the installation crews and subcontractors involved on the project are licensed and insured and that the showroom has a performance record of staying within time frames and budgets.

Ask for references you can call to determine firsthand the quality and level of service that a showroom provides. Also when you do move forward with a professional, be sure that terms, conditions and payment obligations are detailed in a written and signed contract. All of the above mentioned Country Cabinets takes pride in.

If you are interested in learning how to better plan a kitchen or bath renovation, give Country Cabinets Etc. a call at (603) 356-5766 or visit their showroom at 95 East Conway Road, Center Conway. You can also email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit http://www.countrycabinetsetc.com.

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Home Front: A step-by-step guide to planning your kitchen remodel - Conway Daily Sun

1973 SCENIC HILLS, WASHINGTON TWP.

3-bedroom home has finished lower level

With no hallways or square rooms, this brick ranch has a floor plan that allows for open space and useful nooks.

Listed for $539,000 by Irongate Inc. Realtors, the home at 1973 Scenic Hills has about 4,930 square feet of living space, including a finished lower level and hidden loft room. The house sits at the end of a cul-de-sac with mature trees, creek and nearby common areas within a gated community in Washington Twp.

A double-door entry opens into a circular foyer with tongue-and-groove dome ceiling. Arched walkways spoke from the foyer into various parts of the main-level floor plan. Two separate guest rooms have double-door entry from opposite sides of the foyer. One guest room has a private full bath.

Going clockwise from the front doors, there is a short entrance way that leads to a full bathroom and laundry room, which has access to the three-car, heated garage.

Double doors open to the main bedroom, which has patio doors that open to a rear balcony deck, a gas fireplace, built-in bookcase and a wall of closets. A walk-in closet has a wall of storage drawers, a shoe rack, make-up desk and a staircase that leads to a loft office. The office has a cathedral ceiling with two skylights, exposed beams, windows, closets and a raised sitting or sofa area.

Double doors from the walk-in closet lead to the private bath room with a soaking tub, walk-in shower and tall double-sink vanity.

Double archways from the foyer open to a great room with dome ceiling, gas fireplace, patio doors that open to the rear deck and arched artwork nooks. Tucked off into one corner is a four-seat peninsula bar with wine cooler and cabinetry along the wall. This nook opens into the kitchen with an island with copper countertop. A sink is below a window and cabinetry includes an appliance garage. A peninsula counter divides the kitchen from the family room which has a corner gas fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a built-in entertainment center.

More double doors off the foyer open to the stairwell that leads to the finished lower level. A recreation room has a buffet counter and patio doors that open to an enclosed patio with terra-cotta flooring. The enclosed patio is currently used as an exercise room and opens out to a deck with gas grill.

Back inside, the centerpiece is an eight-seat island bar with sink, wine cooler and cabinetry filling the wall space behind. The family room has a built-in entertainment center and patio door access to the exercise room. There is a step-saver kitchen, which is fully equipped and has counter space and contemporary cabinetry. A half bath has room for expansion and access to walk-in storage.

Open house: July 9, 1-3 p.m.

Directions: Mad River to east on Hunters Creek to Scenic Hills

Home highlights: About 4,930 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 1 half bath, 3 gas fireplaces, 2 wet bars, 2 kitchens, walk-out lower level, multi-level decks, bonus loft room, dome ceilings, 3-car garage, homeowners association

(937) 436-2700 or 438-7772

In each incident, suspects entered through unlocked doors or windows; in two cases, homeowners scared them off

Lake Oswego residents are being urged not to leave their windows and doors unlocked after burglars struck four homes in the city on July 4 and July 5.

LOPD Lt. Darryl Wrisley said Thursday that police aren't sure if all of the burglaries are related, but the suspects in each of the cases entered the homes two on Wembley Park Road, one on Egan Way and one on Dover Way through unlocked doors or windows.

Two of the residences were occupied at the time of the burglaries, Wrisley said, and the suspect or suspects were scared off. Items taken from the four homes ranged from a laptop and passport to plumbing supplies, Wrisley said.

One suspect is described as a white woman between the ages of 20 and 30. She is 5-feet-5-inches tall, weighs around 130 pounds and has long brown hair and severe acne. She left the scene in a white, newer-model Acura sedan with Washington plates that was being driven by an unknown man, Wrisley said.

The second suspect is described as a Hispanic man, about 5-feet-7-inches tall and 140 pounds, with a pencil-thin mustache. He may be associated with a newer gray Chevy pickup truck that was seen speeding away from the area after a homeowner confronted one of the suspects.

"This time of year can increase the number of opportunist burglaries, where criminals take advantage of homeowners who have left windows, patio doors and doors ajar," Wrisley said. "It may be tempting to leave windows or doors open to keep cool, but it is also important that people remember to secure their property."

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call the Lake Oswego Police Department at 503-635-0238.

The Review

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Burglars strike four Lake Oswego homes in two days - Portland Tribune

COVER HOUSE

10825 LOCHARD ROAD, SIDNEY

2.4-acre setting surrounds 3-bedroom ranch

Contributing writer

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever was never a truer statement than when describing the ranch home in its country setting at 10825 Lochard Road in Sidney.

According to one current owner, you can see across open fields to buildings about 3.5 miles away, and for most city dwellers that would seem like forever.

We moved from Cleveland and we thought we would like to try country living, said the other owner. We wanted a ranch home with a basement. (This one) was being built when we found it.

Because the home was not yet finished, they were able to make a few changes in the floor plan, such as adding skylights and enlisting the help of a kitchen designer to incorporate desired amenities.

Set on an open lot of 2.4 acres, this ranch home offers about 1,790 square feet of living space, plus a full, unfinished basement.

Patty Murphy of Galbreath Realtors lists this home for $189,900.

Cool breezes flow across the front porch, where a wooden swing invites sitting in the shade surrounded by a matching wood railing. Protected by a storm door, the six-paneled front door opens into an entry with ceramic-tile flooring.

Oak casings frame the opening into the living room and the triple window that faces the front porch.

Neutral carpet extends into the open dining room, which has built-in curio shelves recessed into the wall at one corner.

At the end of the entry a skylight recessed into a deep well provides natural light at the entrance to the family room, which enjoys a gas log fireplace with ceramic-tile facing and an oak mantel with fluted posts. Wood-framed sliding glass doors open to the raised deck from which the open view can be enjoyed. Flat stones edge the landscaped flowerbeds around the deck. A short distance away from the house, another wood deck creates an easy entry to the above-ground swimming pool. Nearby is a barn-style storage shed. A fire pit sits about center of the deep green space, which ends at an open field with pines and maple trees at the edge.

Another skylight adds daylight to the kitchens U-shaped workspace, which is framed by oak cabinets, most with slide-out shelves. An appliance garage is installed at the end of the peninsular counter, which provides a separation from the breakfast room.

Conventional and microwave wall ovens are stacked together near the side-by-side refrigerator. The four-burner gas cooktop and the dishwasher were replaced about three years ago.

A boxed bay window enjoys the backyard view from the breakfast area, which has a buffet station set on the back wall with a pantry cabinet and upper glass-door display cabinets.

The half-bath is adjacent the mudroom, which offers washer/dryer hookups and access to the oversized, two-car garage, where there is a pull-down ladder to reach the upper storage space.

On the opposite side of the entry, a hallway leads to sleeping quarters and a hall bath with a tub-and-shower combination.

Another full bath with tub and shower is in a private corner of the main bedroom suite, which offers a walk-in closet and double windows with the rear nature view. All three bedrooms have paddle fans.

The full, unfinished basement offers a second set of washer/dryer hookups, a deep laundry tub and built-in storage shelves. A well expansion tank was added early this year. The sump pump, patio door and carpeting were replaced in 2015; furnace and water softener in 2014; and a new roof was installed in 2012.

This location is in the Sidney school district. Shelby Oaks Golf Course is about a mile away.

For current owners, the experiment in country living worked they have enjoyed the home for 23 years.

Its a peaceful and relaxing place to come home to, said one owner.

The other added, When our family comes to visit, they love it.

SIDNEY

Price: $189,900

Directions: Country Road 25A to Sharp Road, left on Lochard Road

Highlights: About 1,790 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 full and 1 half baths, ranch, brick facade, full unfinished basement, built 1994, oak kitchen with pull-out cabinet shelves, updated furnace and other equipment, deck, porch, above-ground swimming pool, 2.4 acres, attached 2-car garage, storage shed

For more details:

Galbreath Realtors

Patty Murphy

(937) 418-0450

http://www.pattymurphyhomes.com

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Peaceful country view - MyDaytonDailyNews

By Alex Maxwell, Herald Democrat

With a Tudor-like exterior and a rustic Texan interior, a 5,476-square-foot home outside Sherman offers spacious, comfortable living.

Inside the quiet, gated Woodland Hills neighborhood, the house at 42 Red Oak Court is situated on a secluded sloping lot of just under six acres. The house sits behind a tree line, and a short bridge leads to the long drive that circles in front and winds to the garages on the side. The house features four bedrooms in the main house, each with a full bathroom, and a garage apartment with two bedrooms and one full bathroom. The back of the house overlooks a luxurious pool and hot tub with a fenced-in green pasture behind.

Walking through the front, oversized, wooden door, past a front, covered patio, a grand entry room with tall ceilings greets visitors. An office is situated to the right of the staircase, and a formal dining room is on the left. A hallway next to the staircase leads past the dining room and connected bar featuring a wine cooler to the kitchen and main living room.

The kitchen, which opens to the living room, features a long bar with seating, a commercial-grade gas stove placed between stonework and a large island with a deep drawer to hold pots and pans. The kitchen also contains a built-in refrigerator, a built-in microwave, an ice maker, a trash compactor and a dishwasher.

The main living room with wooden beams running across the ceiling has a stone, gas fireplace in the corner. Homeowner Brenda Rose said the fireplace is currently outfitted with a wood-burning stove, which can be easily removed so the gas fireplace can be used. A built-in bookcase and media center is next to the stove.

On the side of the kitchen is the guest bedroom suite. The suite contains a large closet, a full-size bathroom and a separate front door that accesses the porch. On the other side of the kitchen, a mudroom and second office with a built-in desk connects to the garage.

Donna Johnson-Nora, the listing real estate agent with Virginia Cook Realtors, noted the house has plenty of storage, which is evidenced by the many closets and tucked away spaces, like the coat closet in the mudroom and the cellar under the staircase that doubles as a storm shelter.

On the south section of the house, a hallway near the entry area leads to the master bedroom suite. Off this hallway, a large laundry room thats also accessible from the master bedroom features countertop space, a full-sized sink, a cedar-lined closet and a laundry chute from the second floor.

The master bedroom has a second connected room thats currently used as an exercise room, but Johnson-Nora noted the space could make for a sitting area, study or a nursery. The room also has access to the back patio and pool area. The master bathroom features double sinks, a large walk-in shower and an oversized jetted bathtub.

The house wraps around a nearly enclosed, covered patio. The patio has a vaulted wooden ceiling that extends past the second floor and a stone fireplace is situated on the side between a built-in grill and countertop space, which can be concealed by large folding doors. The patio is just feet from the pool, which has built-in water features and well-manicured flower beds next to it. A half bathroom is also accessible from the pool area.

Going upstairs, a long landing has a series of windows overlooking the patio. The landing connects the two upstairs bedrooms, a game room and the media room. The game room has a bar in a back nook with a dumbwaiter that connects to the kitchen. The space also has a small balcony overlooking the back covered patio. Off the game room is the media/home theater room with elevated seating and a large screen and projector. A staircase on the second floor leads to a third-story deck overlooking the backyard.

The deck upstairs is beautiful you can view fireworks from it, Rose said. Its just gorgeous.

The house has two separate garages with space to park five vehicles inside. The second garage, detached from the house but connected by a covered walkway, has a full bathroom inside and workshop space with a sink. A staircase leads to an upstairs apartment with a full kitchen, a bathroom, two bedrooms and a washer and dryer. Rose noted her parents currently live in the space. Behind the second garage is a small storage building next to a vegetable garden.

It has good garage space; I have a big truck and most garages wont accommodate my truck, Rose said.

Rose said the house provides a relaxing atmosphere and plenty of privacy. With its many entertaining spaces, she said the property is perfect for a family.

Were the favorite home out of my sons friends, Rose said. All the boys come ever here; its the hangout house.

Although the neighborhood is quiet and upscale, Rose said its friendly. She said when they moved into the house in 2010, their neighbors welcomed them and brought food and gifts over. The neighborhood also holds holiday gatherings and has a community environment.

The neighborhood is extremely quiet, very friendly, Rose said. When you go into a gated subdivision, a lot of people think of it as being keeping up with the Joneses its not that way at all.

The property is listed for sale for $1.15 million.

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Spacious rustic house outside Sherman suited for entertaining - Nueces County Record Star

Photo: Noah Berger, Special To The Chronicle

A massive fire at a downtown Oakland construction site as seen from the Oakland Hills on July 7, 2017 at approximately 5:25 am PST.

Firefighters battle a building fire at Valdez and 23rd Streets in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, July 7, 2017.

A huge fire was burning at a construction site at Valdez and 23rd streets in Oakland Friday morning.

The Fire Department, above, douses the smoldering remains of the seven-story building under construction that burned in Oakland on Friday morning as construc tion crews, left, begin to clean up.

An excavator rips down pieces of the smoldering remains of a seven-story building that was under construction in Oakland that went up in flames on Friday morning.

A person in safety gear walks past an evacuated apartment building across the street from the smoldering remains of a seven-story building destroyed in a massive fire in Oakland on Friday.

Greg Williams watches construction crews remove debris after a seven-story building under construction in Oakland burned across the street from his bakery, Gregorys Gourmet Desserts.

The Oakland Fire Department douses hot spots from Fridays fire, top, as crews begin to clean up the remains of the seven-story build ing under construction, above.

Workers look up at the wreckage of a downed construction crane at the Alta Waverly mixed use building that was badly damaged in a major fire, in Oakland, CA, on Saturday July 8, 2017.

People at an adjacent building watch the removal of a damaged construction crane at the Alta Waverly mixed use building that was badly damaged in a major fire, in Oakland, CA, on Saturday July 8, 2017.

Workers attach a cable to the front of a damaged construction crane at the Alta Waverly mixed use building that was badly damaged in a major fire, in Oakland, CA, on Saturday July 8, 2017.

Secondary cranes rise up along side a fire damaged construction crane at the Alta Waverly mixed use building that was badly damaged in a major fire, in Oakland, CA, on Saturday July 8, 2017.

An excavator pulls down a fire damaged construction crane at the Alta Waverly mixed use building that was badly damaged in a major fire, in Oakland, CA, on Saturday July 8, 2017.

Some residents return to homes following massive Oakland blaze

Residents of one apartment building evacuated due to the massive fire in Oakland on Friday were allowed to return their homes late Saturday after crews toppled a giant fire-wrecked construction crane, officials said.

Oakland Fire Battalion Chief Erik Logan announced the reopening of the Grand Apartments at 100 Grand Ave. shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday.

In the event the removal of the crane is successful you will be able to return to your homes today, management of the Grand Apartments at 100 Grand Ave wrote in a letter to residents earlier in the day.

Residents of 100 Grand Ave. were back inside by 10 p.m., several said on Twitter.

On Sunday, Oakland Fire Department officials expect to enter the burnt-out husk of what was supposed to be the Alta Waverly apartment complex 196 market-rate units with ground floor retail.

They will be joined Monday by federal investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which is dispatching personnel from around the country to help.

On Saturday, fire crews continued to shoot water at hot spots in the charred wreckage of the building, which caught fire around 4:30 a.m. Friday, sending flames and smoke above downtown Oakland before being contained a few hours later. No one was injured.

Workers knocked down much of the scaffolding surrounding the building as people watched from nearby streets.

The teetering crane, which was damaged in the fire and in danger of collapsing, caused fire officials to order the evacuation of residents in the surrounding areas. Officials worked Saturday morning on plans to remove the crane.

The developers of the burned building, along with their contractor, rotated the crane and pulled it down into an empty parking lot on Valdez Street on Saturday evening, according to Oakland Fire Department officials. Though the plan had been designed to avoid hitting any buildings, police officers went through the evacuated buildings to make sure all civilians were out of the buildings Saturday afternoon, officials said.

The crane was toppled safely shortly after 7:30 p.m.

City inspectors had not been able to enter nearby buildings to evaluate whether they remained structurally sound Saturday, said Sean Maher, a spokesman for the city of Oakland. Once the crane was removed, the plan was to fast-track those inspections.

Our goal is to return residents to their homes as swiftly as possible, but only once we've conducted these inspections to confirm it is safe for them to do so, he said.

Some neighboring buildings were damaged by the high heat, smoke and water, according to fire officials.

Residents such as Hernan Carrillo, a 50-year-old AT&T technician who lives in an apartment building next door to the charred construction site on Waverly Street with his wife and young son, are staying with friends as work at the fire site continues.

Carrillo was able to return to his apartment for a few minutes Friday night to gather belongings and assess the damage.

The roof has a bunch of holes, theres water damage in the bedrooms our bed is ruined, he said.

I was lucky to have a friend who had a space, he said. Otherwise Id be really worried about the housing situation. I wouldnt be able to afford anything at this time.

Carrillo has lived in his rent-controlled apartment for 12 years.

The seven-story Alta Waverly development was set to open next spring at 23rd and Valdez streets, according to a project website.

The Oakland architectural firm Pyatok designed the building for the Wood Partners development firm, and the construction was being done by Andersen Construction.

A group of displaced residents met with Angela Robinson Pion, a spokeswoman with the Oakland Fire Department, at the St. Vincent de Paul center Saturday afternoon to discuss future assistance and when they could potentially return to their homes. The center opened as a shelter for those who had been evacuated.

Samantha Pham, 55, was part of the group watching Pion on Saturday afternoon. Pham lives in an apartment building next door to the construction site with her husband and 14-year-old son. They had stayed at a motel Friday night, but their future housing plans were unclear.

I dont know whats coming next or where Im going to go, she said. Where do I stay? I have no answer.

Chronicle staff writer Rachel Swan contributed to this report.

Hamed Aleaziz is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: haleaziz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Haleaziz

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Some residents return to homes following massive Oakland blaze - SFGate

Miami Herald

Miami is getting lots of new apartments, but you may not be able to afford them
Miami Herald
Several new studies show that despite the number of new multifamily (i.e. apartment) buildings under construction and condo towers that have been converted to rentals, there still won't be enough inventory to meet snowballing demand over the next 10 ...

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Miami is getting lots of new apartments, but you may not be able to afford them - Miami Herald

If you want an idea of how justice works or maybe doesnt consider the saga of the neighborhood transient repeatedly charged with harassing members of Mark Zuckerbergs security detail outside the Facebook moguls San Francisco home.

One case went up in smoke after questions were raised about some of the details members. It turns out that three of the Zuckerberg guards who were due to testify had checkered records from their days as Oakland cops, which prosecutors worried could be damaging to the case.

And the latest case has the ring of deja vu but first, the backstory.

Facebook lawyers sought a restraining order in 2015 on behalf of 15 guards working round the clock outside the Dolores Heights home where Zuckerberg lives with his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan. The guards said William Gordon Kinzer, a transient living in his car down the street, had repeatedly threatened them and made racist rants.

When Kinzer violated the order, he was sent to jail for three months. Once out, he continued to mix it up with Zuckerbergs security crew, authorities alleged. He was arrested in September and charged with felonies that included stalking, making criminal threats and violating his earlier stay-away order.

When lawyers from the public defenders office representing Kinzer started poring over the prosecutions witness list, they discovered that three of the guards were ex-Oakland cops with disciplinary records including for excessive force.

Prosecutors, fearing the ex-cops testimony might do more harm than good, responded by dropping them from the case. They wanted Kinzer to take a plea deal that would put him into counseling.

Kinzers lawyers rejected the deal, and in April, prosecutors blinked and dropped the charges. Kinzer, who had spent seven months in jail, went free.

End of story?

Hardly because on June 14, Kinzer, now 65, was arrested again this time after he allegedly drove his car menacingly toward Zucherbergs protective detail, then sideswiped a moving vehicle before speeding off. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail on suspicion of a series of misdemeanors that include disobeying a stay-away order, hit-and-run and driving without a license.

Guards in sport utility vehicles patrol outside the home of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Dr. Priscilla Chan in San Franciscos Dolores Heights in 2015.

Guards in sport utility vehicles patrol outside the home of...

Two of the former Oakland cops with troubled records are still providing security for Zuckerberg. And as luck would have it, they were on duty when the latest incident took place, according to authorities.

As a result, just like last time, were told they wont be asked to testify if the case goes to trial. Prosecutors hint that other witnesses will be called to describe what happened.

But then, we know how that worked out the last time.

Incidentally, Zuckerberg spokesman Ben LaBolt said information about the security detail was confidential and that the Facebook boss had no comment.

Smoldering: Fridays fire at a seven-story apartment and retail complex under construction near downtown Oakland has put the spotlight on the expanded use of wood-frame construction in residential buildings.

In 2008, the states codes were rewritten to allow buildings under eight stories tall to use wood framing, over two floors of concrete. The construction method generally is much cheaper than the old way, which required noncombustible exterior walls typically, concrete and steel studs from top to bottom.

But experts tell us all that wood makes the buildings especially vulnerable during construction, before sprinklers and flame-resistant drywall are in place.

That proved to be the case in 2014, when a six-story, 124-unit apartment complex under construction in San Franciscos Mission Bay went went up in flames. The fire was later ruled an accident.

Similarly, a five-story apartment building under construction in downtown Emeryville, on the Oakland border, burned twice in the past year though in both those cases, investigators have concluded it was arson.

Nadia Lockyer could face battery charges in Tuolumne County.

Sad saga: The roller-coaster marriage of former state Treasurer Bill Lockyer and wife Nadia whose sex and drug scandal cost her her job as an Alameda County supervisor has taken another downward plunge.

Nadia Lockyer, 46, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of misdemeanor battery of a spouse after she allegedly went on a drunken rage inside a vacation home in the Sierra foothills town of Twain Harte, according to Tuolumne County sheriffs officials.

Bill Lockyer suffered an undisclosed minor injury in the incident, authorities said. Sheriffs officials say they received a call from the house at about 10:55 a.m. about an intoxicated woman yelling and throwing things, though they did not identify the caller.

Authorities said Nadia Lockyer had a blood alcohol level of 0.22 percent when she was arrested well over the legal limit for driving. She was held for several hours before she was released on $5,000 bail, a Sheriffs Department spokeswoman said.

This is obviously an extremely difficult time for the family, and as they work through it, privacy is imperative, said Tom Dresslar, a spokesman for Bill Lockyer. Bill is focused on his kids well-being and his wifes health.

Nadia Lockyer resigned as an Alameda County supervisor in 2012 after a meth-fueled affair with a South Bay man, who allegedly assaulted her in a motel room and tried to blackmail her with an X-rated tape he had shot of the two.

Nadia Lockyer subsequently was in and out of drug rehab, and the couple appeared headed for certain divorce. That is, until two years ago when they reconciled and began making a new life for themselves in Southern California capped off when Nadia Lockyer proudly announced on her Facebook page that she had given birth to twin boys. The couple have one other son.

But just a couple days before her arrest, Nadia Lockyer sent out a more ominous Facebook message a complaint about the state of her 14-year marriage in which she declared, With a huge broken heart and bruises, Im filing for legal separation.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross

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