Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Details Published: 07 June 2017 Written by An-Li Herring - Town Crier Editorial Intern

Eliza Ridgeway/Town Crier A former parking lot abutting Castro Street and St. Josephs Church on Hope Street is being remade into a four-story complex containing office space, 12 condominium units and ground-floor retail.

Hoping to capitalize on the vibrancy of Mountain Views downtown core, developers have shown increasing interest in building out the areas restaurant and retail sites to include office space.

It almost feels like an avalanche of proposals for office space, said Robert Cox, who has served for five years on Mountain Views Environmental Planning Commission, which advises the city council on whether to approve development proposals.

Since January, Castro Street restaurant Fu Lam Mum has been converting its second-floor mezzanine into office space.

More recently, the owners of two popular restaurants on Villa Street, Chez TJ and Tied House, submitted a proposal to replace both of their structures with a four-story building. In a memo to Mountain Views Downtown Committee last month, the citys Planning Division reported that the building would include three floors of office space and a new ground-floor restaurant.

The memo also indicated that the city had received informal applications to construct four-story office buildings with ground-floor commercial space at 701 W. Evelyn Ave., where a Subway sandwich shop is now located, and 756 California Ave., currently Dental Fabulous. Informal application status means the projects remain in an exploratory phase intended merely to gauge the reaction of city officials.

With its proximity to public transit, many dining options and pleasant environment, Cox said, downtown Mountain View is a desirable location for employers.

But, he added, additional office construction threatens to bring more workers to the city at a time when the local labor force far outstrips the supply of housing.

Given the imbalance between jobs and housing, Cox said, we need to think about whats best in the long term.

The demand for more office space coincides with intensified focus among members of the Mountain View City Council on boosting housing construction. According to Planning Division data, the council has approved projects that would increase the local housing supply by 1,566 units. An additional 958 net new units were already under construction as of March.

City officials are also considering rezoning plans to permit the construction of up to 9,850 residential units in the North Bayshore business district and up to 5,000 additional units in the East Whisman area.

As a member of Mountain Views Environmental Planning Commission, Cox has observed an increase in the number of applications for new office projects since 2011, when the economy began to bounce back from the recession.

All development comes in fits and starts, Associate City Planner Eric Anderson said. Were very boom and bust, and were kind of in a boom now.

One project currently under construction will turn a former parking lot at St. Josephs Church into a four-story complex containing office space, 12 condominium units and ground-floor retail.

According to last months Downtown Committee memo, city officials are also negotiating with a developer on a proposal to construct offices and a hotel a block from the Mountain View Transit Center. Two parking lots currently occupy the site, known as the Hope Street Lots.

In March, the city issued permits for the construction of nine condominium units on an adjacent block. The four-story building will replace three apartment units.

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Mtn. View draws "avalanche" of downtown office proposals - Los Altos Town Crier

Gramor Development, Inc. announced on Wednesday that it has secured a $42.5 million construction loan with U.S. Bank for The Waterfront Vancouver development.

Specifically, the loan will support the construction of a seven-story office building and six-story residential structure on The Waterfronts Block 6. The street level of both buildings will feature a row of retail spaces known as the Shops at Waterfront Way.

This is a really exciting time for The Waterfront project, said Barry Cain, Gramor president, in a press release. The transformation is well underway and its unlike anything that currently exists in our area. Were turning what was once an industrial area into a vibrant destination for tourists, businesses and the surrounding community.

On behalf of U.S. Bank, Ann Young, senior vice president, Oregon market manager, said, Gramor is a driving force in revitalizing Vancouvers waterfront and the local community. U.S. Bank is excited to be part of the project and to help bring this vibrant and unique development to life.

Block 6 is expected to be complete in April 2018. Previously announced tenants include M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Cascade Sothebys International Realty and MidiCi The Neapolitan Pizza Company.

Beyond Block 6, other tenants signed on to the 32-acre, $1.5 billion project are WildFin American Grill, Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar (both at Block 9 of the development) and Ghost Runners Brewery (Block 12).

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Waterfront developer secures $42.5 million loan for construction of mixed-use block - Vancouver Business Journal

Sellers Lis and Rich Dicce

Address 5 Virgil Dr., Brentwood

Asking price $425,000

The basics A three-bedroom, 1-bath high-ranch on a 0.25-acre lot

The competition A three-bedroom Colonial on Riddle Street is listed for $395,000.

Nearest recent sale A high-ranch on nearby Winston Drive sold March 7 for $350,200.

Taxes $8,320 ($7,502 with STAR)

Time on the market Since March 28

Listing agent Kathleen Doerrie, Coach Realtors, Huntington, 631-987-4322.

Why its for sale Lis Dicce, 74, a retired teacher, and Rich Dicce, 75, a retired auto technician, say they want to move to a warmer climate.

The Dicces home has new siding, a new roof and central air-conditioning. Lis Dicce shares:

This property is like an oasis. Its been well maintained, and there are perennial plantings throughout. Theres a waterfall in the backyard that cascades into a pond thats surrounded by slate landscaping, shrubs and perennials. Thats in addition to our 20-foot-by-40-foot inground pool. The whole backyard is great for entertaining and is fenced in with vinyl fencing thats about 10 years old and looks as good as new. We have lower and upper decks made of composite material, which are great for entertaining and theres no maintenance to them.

The large sunroom, which we added in 2013, is off the kitchen, and we use it year-round. It has both heat and air conditioning. All the windows open and have blinds between the glass, and we get a beautiful sunrise in the morning. The kitchen was renovated in 2013 with stainless steel and energy efficient appliances and lots of cabinet space . . . The den and wood-burning stove are downstairs . . . Were going to miss this house. If we could move it to Florida, we would.

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Why buy our high-ranch in Brentwood - Newsday

Teslas strategy for developing and selling innovative solar roofs appears to be trending in the right direction, which is good news for Western New York.

The fortunes of Tesla, led by forward-thinking CEO Elon Musk, will have a direct effect on the fortunes of many in this region.

The companys RiverBend factory in South Buffalo, which is expected to open later this year, will be the largest solar panel factory in the Western Hemisphere. It is expected to bring with it hundreds of jobs. Built with $750 million in state subsidies, it represents the biggest piece of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos Buffalo Billion economic development initiative.

Many eyes those of supporters awaiting the promised economic boost and of opponents objecting to public assistance for a private company are laser-focused on this project. Any prediction about progress on Teslas solar roof is going to gain special attention. That progress, so far, looks decent. As News business reporter David Robinson recently wrote, less than a month after the company started taking orders for its solar roof tiles, Tesla executives informed analysts from RBC Capital Markets that the new product already is sold out well into 2018.

Customers have to be willing to put down a $1,000 deposit to get on the list. For people living in areas that tend to have high electricity costs, this may seem a small bet on a system that could save them a lot of money in the long run.

Tesla is remaining mum on the exact details about the demand for the solar roof but, as Robinson wrote, the disclosure to the RBC analysts indicates that demand is comfortably in line with the companys projections. The companys next step will be to make the solar roof tiles on a pilot basis by the end of this month at its Fremont, Calif., facility. Eventually the company is expected to shift production to its Buffalo gigafactory.

Tesla Motors merged with SolarCity late last year, and then in a smart move brought in experienced solar panel manufacturer Panasonic as a partner. Panasonic is investing $250 million in the process of making solar cells to be installed in the solar roofing tiles and in conventional solar panels built at the Buffalo plant.

Tesla has pledged to create 1,460 direct jobs in the Buffalo Niagara region, and support the creation of 1,440 more jobs at suppliers and service providers here. The workers will be hired over time, because full production wont be reached until 2019.

The company is subject to industry trends, and right now overall growth in residential solar is slowing across the country. Tesla officials are doing what they can to attract new customers by trying to find ways to lower high sign-up costs. Tesla does stand to benefit because it has a unique product: solar roof tiles that look better than traditional solar panels installed on a roof.

It doesnt help nor necessarily hurt that the Trump administration decided to pull out of the landmark 2015 Paris climate accord. The pledge by Cuomo to invest up to $1.6 billion in renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects over the next five years, along with similar statements by several other governors to stay the renewable course, should help tamp down any ill effects from the presidents decision.

Tesla has been taking orders for its solar roof, and the high interest shown by homeowners bodes well for this region.

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Editorial: Demand for solar roofing tiles is reassuring news - Buffalo News

HERNDON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. (NASDAQ: BECN), the largest publicly traded distributor of residential and commercial roofing materials and complementary building products, announced today that Paul Isabella, President & Chief Executive Officer, Joseph Nowicki, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, and Christopher Harrison, Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer will participate in the William Blair 37th Annual Growth Stock Conference being held June 13-15 in at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago, Illinois.

A link to the most recent Beacon investor presentation from the second quarter of fiscal year 2017 is available on the Investor Relations page of the Company's website (www.becn.com) under "Events & Presentations."

About Beacon Roofing Supply

Founded in 1928, Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. is the largest publicly traded distributor of residential and commercial roofing materials and complementary building products, operating 385 branches throughout 48 states in the U.S. and 6 provinces in Canada. To learn more about Beacon and its family of regional brands, please visit http://www.becn.com.

BECN-F

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Beacon Roofing Supply to Participate in the William Blair 37 - Business Wire (press release)

With shopping behaviors in flux and the fate of the American mall uncertain, Westfield UTC is fast preparing to unveil its take on the offline shopping experience of the future.

Come October, the 33-year-old La Jolla-adjacent destination will debut its long-awaited second phase of development.

In November 2012, the mall showed off its first transformation, a $180-million makeover complete with ArcLight Cinemas and a revamped food court. This second round, however, is even bigger in scope, encompassing a $600-million bet on the brick-and-mortar property as an upscale, amenity-rich escape from the quotidian.

Tuesday, the center released new renderings of the space, and announced another batch of committed tenants, which include luxury furniture-maker Arhaus, comfy-clothes line Marine Layer and fine-dining establishment Larsens Steakhouse. Other just-revealed additions are crystal jewelry-maker Swarovski, footwear chain ECCO and MAC Cosmetics.

Still an active construction site, Westfield UTC should look and feel noticeably different to guests who enter from the west and north sides when the dust settles. By Oct.12, the grand opening date of a new Nordstrom store, most of the construction will have cleared to feature 250,000 square feet of additional retail and restaurant space. Most of the incoming restaurants will be of the sit-down-and-drink variety, and include outdoor space.

In addition, multiple gardens, an art-walk and outdoor plazas, including one with a Pop Jet water fountain for kids, are meant to be focal points for visitors. Plus, the new Westfield UTC will come with 18,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, as well as a palm-tree lined valet drop-off area.

Perhaps the most noticeable change, however, will be the addition of more than 2,000 parking spaces (5,500 total) and the centers mostly single-level retail strategy. Whereas a mall-goer previously had to navigate between two or three floors to visit retailers on the north end, now theyll find a flattened shopping vibe.

There are still different tiers, but the overhauled section will consist of underground parking on the first tier and a row of retail stores located just above the parking garage, now contiguous with the rest of the malls outdoor space.

Though retail will certainly remain a pivotal part of the equation, Westfield UTC appears to be flipping the brick-and-mortar model to favor dining, and even lounging or playing, over shopping. And, if successful, the costly renovation will make locals and tourists alike rethink where to head to dinner on a Friday night or where to take the kids on the weekend.

And Westfields timing couldnt be better.

A recent report from Credit Suisse projects that 20 percent to 25 percent of U.S. malls will close over the next five years.

But an alternative view is that the American mall can survive if it replaces the beleaguered concept of the every-persons anchor store e.g. Sears, Macys and J.C. Penney with a new type of draw.

Paula Rosenblum, co-founder and Managing Partner at RSR Research, is of the opinion that the overall experience meaning the totality of the malls ambiance and activities will be the new anchor attraction.

The goal is to create an experience that makes it worth your while to go to the mall, she said. There is no doubt that millennials are interested in experience. They prefer experience over things.

Still, anchor stores arent entirely extinct at the coming-soon Westfield UTC. While Sears is on its way out with no announced replacement, Nordstrom is set to debut a new Westfield UTC location, a two-story venue that spans 145,000 square feet, which is 15,000 square feet greater than the current spot.

The new store will trade carpet-lined sections for a single tile-lined floor and artificial light for much more of the natural variety. Nordstrom will also introduce a contemporary restaurant named Brazille with a full bar and patio overlooking the mall. Eventually, the location will even incorporate curbside pickup for ship-to-store Nordstrom shoppers.

The spruced-up venue should mesh nicely with the revitalized Westfield UTC, which still isnt quite complete.

The property expects to break ground on construction of a 22-story high-end residential tower, featuring 300 units, in 2018.

jennifer.vangrove@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1840 Twitter: @jbruin

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Here's what you can expect to find at Westfield UTC this October - The San Diego Union-Tribune

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Everything You Need To Know About Today's Pokmon Announcements - Forbes

The Golden State Warriors made a huge splash last offseason, signing Kevin Durant to a two year deal that offers an option to opt out after the first year. They had split the last two NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and coming off a brutal Finals loss in 2016, the Warriors wanted to emphatically set themselves up for the 2017 NBA Finals.

There has been plenty of criticism by people outside of the Warriors sphere. Weve heard people say the Warriors are too good, and weve heard people criticize Durant for going to his rival to try and win a championship.

Fans of the San Francisco 49ers know a thing or two about whats going on. Former 49ers executive Carmen Policy took some time to chat with Matt Maiocco about the 49ers of the mid-90s, and offered up some fantastic insight. Well have a time stamp post Wednesday morning, but the Policy interview starts about 20 minutes in.

Policy has some great anecdotes from the 90s. He talked about how after the second straight NFC title game loss to the Dallas Cowboys led the team to go all-in leading up to the 1994 season. The team loaded up their defense, acquiring Deion Sanders, Ken Norton, Gary Plummer, and Rickey Jackson. Policy has a fantastic story about the recruiting process with Deion Sanders, and his meeting with George Seifert. It involves Eddie DeBartolo and then defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes having some cocktails to get through the stress of waiting on Deions decision.

Policy and Maiocco talked about the addition of Durant as similar in fashion to the 49ers addition of Deion. A year ago, when Durant made his decision, I wrote something about it and discussed the potential comparison with Sanders.

This is not exactly like when Deion Sanders signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 1994, but it is certainly something at least worth considering. The top free agent on the market is joining a team that was already built well, and is adding a little more to take them back over the top. One notable difference is this Warriors team won a title in 2015, and went to the Finals this year. The 49ers of the mid-90s could not get over the hump against the Dallas Cowboys. Deion was not the only notable addition that year, but he was a big one.

I did not mention the 49ers extensive additions that offseason. Well never know whether or not the 49ers would have won the Super Bowl that year without Sanders, but they made a lot of big acquisitions. The Warriors made some other additions, but last offseason was all about adding Durant.

There is a certain putting them over the top element, so it is still an interesting comparison to be made. The Warriors still have two more games to win in this series. And while they have dominated the second half of the first two games, lets not forget that they dominated the first two games last year as well. This year, the Warriors won the first two games by a combined 41 points. Last year, they won the first two games by a combined 48 points. The big difference of course is that they have Kevin Durant. I dont think theyll sweep the Cavaliers, but theyre in prime position to put this series away sooner rather than later.

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Carmen Policy likes Warriors-Kevin Durant comparison to 49ers-Deion Sanders in 1994 - Niners Nation

The Wolf Pack had plenty of highlights during its most recent athletic campaign. Wochit

Hunter Fralick smiles after scoring on a touchdown off a fake field goal during a game at San Diego State in 2015.(Photo: USA Today Sports)

The Wolf Pack football teams returning players are back on campus this week forsummer weights and speed work but the roster isnt quite as robust as it was for Aprils spring camp.

Sixteen players who were on the spring camp roster, including nine who were on scholarship, wont return to the team, first-year coach Jay Norvell told the Reno Gazette-Journal on Tuesday. Among those players is junior quarterback Hunter Fralick, the former Spanish Springs High star who competed for the starting job in 2015.

In addition to Fralick, quarterback Dante Mayes, cornerback Cameron Turner, defensive end Nakita Lealao, receiver Victor Gonzalez, receiver David Harvey, defensive end Jarid Joseph, offensive lineman Daren Echeveria and tight end Evan Faunce, all of whom were on scholarship last season, wont return.

Mayes, Lealao and Echeveria have graduated and decided to stop playing football. Gonzalez, Harvey, Joseph and Faunce were all medically disqualified with concussions. Turner will transfer to FCS school Tennessee Chattanooga.

In addition to those scholarship players, seven walk-ons wont return: offensive linemen Reece Backman, Ilya Lopez and Tyler Rosentreter; receivers Joe Pyle, from Fallon, and Jason Elenberger, formerly of Air Force; kicker Evan Rios; and punter Fernando Pujals, which leaves the Wolf Pack with only one kicker and no punters on its roster.

Norvell said he and his staff had some frank discussions with players during and after spring camp.

The whole spring was an evaluation period for us, trying to get the kids to learn how we want to practice, Norvell said. It was a transition period. I was really disappointed with the first three weeks of practice. We really challenged our players. We had several players who werent improving, who werent getting any better. I challenged them. Itold them, If you arent getting better every day, theres something wrong. Youre either not listening to the coaches, not focused in what we were trying to accomplish or you're really not into it. We evaluated a lot of kids and talked to them after spring practice.

Players who decided against continuing to play will remain on scholarship, Norvell said, under a recent NCAA provision that allows players who gave up the sport following a coaching change to remain on scholarship. Among the departures, Joseph, Lealao, Echeveria and Gonzalez logged the most playing time last season.

Echeveria, who was entering his junior season, started four games and appeared in 17 during his first two years at Nevada. Joseph, also a junior-to-be, played in all 12 games last season, posting 15 tackles and three sacks. Lealao, a senior-to-be, started seven games in 2017 and had 15 tackles. Gonzalez, a speedster plagued by injuries, caught three passes for 86 yards during his two seasons with the Wolf Pack.

Turner, who was entering his sophomore season, is the only departing scholarship player expected to transfer to another school, Norvell said. Turner, a native of Alabama, recently announced on his Twitter page he was headed to Tennessee Chattanooga. As a freshman, Turner had two tackles in nine games.

The biggest name to leave the program is Fralick, thelocal product who set a number of records at Spanish Springs. When Fralick signed with Nevada in 2014, rebuking offers from San Diego State, UNLV and Northern Colorado, he became just the fourth local quarterback to earn an FBS scholarship since 1970. After redshirting in 2014, Fralick battled Tyler Stewart for the starting job in 2015, with the gig ultimately going to Stewart.

Fralick finished his Nevada career 0-for-3 all in mop-up duty in a season-opening win over Cal Poly in 2015 but he did score in the regular-season finale that season on a 4-yard run off a fake field goal against San Diego State. Fralick fell to third on the depth chart last season and was with the fourth string this spring.

Norvell, who was hired in December and signed his first recruiting class in February, said improving at quarterback, along the front seven defensively and on the offensive line have been areas of focus as he rebuilds Nevada's roster.

Were in a transition, Norvell said. We feel like we really have some major improvements we need to make defensively. We dont have the physicality or strength in the front seven that we need. You look at the statistics from last season and where we were in rush defense (last in the FBS), we need to improve our personnel. We need more physical players and we need more speed. We need to get in the weight room and get stronger. The kids that we bring in need to be physical, hard-nosed kids who like to play and can run.

Nevada has filled its 2017 recruiting class but continues to add scholarship players for next season.

The Wolf Pack received commitments from a pair of junior-college linebackers last weekend who will join the team for this season but count against Nevadas 2018 scholarship allotment. Those players are Dymund Richardson, whose father and brother both played in the NFL, as well as Kyle Adams. Both players have three seasons of eligibility remaining and add depth to a position that remains thin.

Richardson is a 6-foot-4, 215-pounder who also had offers from Purdue and San Jose State. He had 15 tackles, one forced fumble and one pass breakup for El Camino (Calif.) College in 2016. Richardsons father, Paul, played in 1993 for the Eagles. His brother, Paul Jr., was a 2014 second-round pick by Seattle. Both were receivers. Richardson was a defensive back at the JC level but will move to linebacker at Nevada.

Adams is a 6-foot, 225-pound linebacker who had 54 tackles, including five for loss, one sack and blocked two kicks as a freshman last season for Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif.. Nevadas linebacker corps included only one returning starter (Gabe Sewell) as well as nine freshmen, leaving the position green.

Those additions give Nevada five players who will join the team in 2017 but count toward the 2018 recruiting class. The others are JC quarterback Griffin Dahn and prep recruits Daiyan Henley, who will play receiver at Nevada, and Marquette Jackson, who is expected to play linebacker.

Nevadas junior-college transfers are expected to join the team later this week for a summer session while the freshmenclass will arrive June 25.

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QB Hunter Fralick among 16 players leaving Wolf Pack - Reno Gazette Journal

Offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin works with Will Holden and John Wetzel during Arizona Cardinals OTAs Tuesday, May 16. (Photo by Adam Green/Arizona Sports)

For the Arizona Cardinals to reach their lofty 2017 goals, one thing they will need to do is keep their 37-year-old quarterback upright.

Last season, Carson Palmer was sacked41 times, the second-most in his career.

With multiple ACL surgeries in his past, the play of the offensive lineand the health of Palmer will be a major key to the Cardinals success next season.

[Were] still trying to search for the starting five, Cardinals offensive coordinator Harold Goodwintold Dougand WolfTuesday on 98.7 FM, Arizonas Sports Station. Obviously were missing A.Q. Shipley a little bit, but the young guys have come along. Cole Toner has done a good job this offseason and Evan Boehm is coming along.

This season, the O-line will see some changesas D.J. Humphries is headingto left tackle and veteran Jared Veldheer will make the switch to right tackle.

We still have a ways to go, theyre both still getting comfortable, Goodwin said. The thing with D.J. is he needs to turn it on every day, right now hes a coaster and we told him this last week that he needs to turn it on every day.

I just want to make sure that he doesnt think hes made it, so every day its going to be my foot in his butt, and hes always going to be knee deep. I dont care what happens in his career, hes going to be knee deep as long as hes around me and BA [head coach Bruce Arians] and [assistant line coach] Larry Zierlein.

Humphries is heading into his third seasonafter being drafted by the Cardinals 24th in 2015.

Hehas just 13 games under his belt, all of which came last season. His limited NFL experience at left tackle wasdue to an injury suffered to Veldheer in October.

Veldheer has expressed wanting to stay at left tackle, a position hes been at for all seven of his NFL seasons, but Goodwin and the Cardinals coaches believe it will ultimately benefit the team.

Hes a team player, obviously he said he didnt want to do it, Goodwin said. But at the end of the day its about team, and were giving ourselves the best chance to win and get ourselves in the dance at the end, and so hes been about it, and hes done a good job.

The Cardinals also added O-line depth in the draft with the additions of Pittsburgh guard Dorian Johnson and Vanderbilt tackle Will Holden.

Johnson could possibly compete for a starting job, but as a rookie hehas a steep learning curve when it comes to the playbook.

In college, Goodwin said Johnson may have had to worry about four runs. In Arizona, he may need to know 20 on a given week, Goodwin said.

Hes coming along, I think he would tell you himself that hes struggling a little bit from the terminology to trying to learn everything, Goodwin said. But the kid has talent, hes got a ways to go and hes coming along nicely.

Rookie or veteran, whoever is blocking for Palmer in 2017 will have to improve upon last season and keep him off the ground.

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Decisions still remain when it comes to Cardinals starting offensive line - Arizona Sports