Forbes | Why California Can Afford Green Energy More Than Your State Forbes One major reason Californians use less electricity is because mild weather limits heating and cooling needs (remember that for heating, electricity is second to natural gas but quickly gaining market share, here). ... less energy-intensive service ... |
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Why California Can Afford Green Energy More Than Your State - Forbes
Homeowners from across the Twin Cities will soon show off their renovated, remodeled and newly constructed homes as part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Home Tour.
Now in its 30th year, the self-guided tour will showcase more than 50 homes around Minneapolis and St. Paul on April 2930. From making room for all the needs of a growing family to finally satisfying a remodelers itch, the homes feature real projects with do-it-yourselfers and local professionals.
A staged renovation gets final act
Beth Harrington didnt stop at just one remodel on her turn-of-the-century home.
The Wedge neighborhood resident recently put the finishing touches on the final phase of her renovations, which span three phases in just as many years. Harrington, a Minneapolis-St. Paul Home Tour veteran, almost didnt move forward with her projects as developers continue to snatch up homes in her neighborhood several neighbors have been approached, she said and develop larger homes.
That kind of stopped me in my tracks, he said. Finally, I just decided that Im here now. Im going to do this remodel.
Harrington forged ahead anyway following several small projects such painting and adding color to the home. The first phase involved converting an original pantry to a mudroom, replacing windows and relocating an entrance. During phase two, Harrington, who has a large private backyard despite living in the bustling Lowry Hill East area, added a large covered porch to the back of her house.
Finally, this past year Harrington created an open entertainers kitchen with tiles from a local ceramicist and bold colors like red, gray and black.
My kitchen is not a cookie-cutter kitchen, she said.
Now that she has several renovation projects under her belt, Harrington recommends that those looking to do the same for their home wait a full year to learn how they live and what their needs are before embarking on a renovation, as someone told her during a previous tour although she estimates working in stages likely ended up costing her more.
You dont have to achieve perfection. There are some things that I would do differently, but thats how life is. It doesnt always come out perfectly, she said.
A classic home in Lynnhurst
Southwest Minneapolis residents Liz Buckingham and John Owens have preserved the style of their 1916 home while combining two previously separated spaces into a large kitchen.
The two Minneapolis-St. Paul Home Tour fans wanted to add function to their home but didnt want to lose the Arts and Crafts style of the century-old home among modern touches and appliances, which could overshadow its wood trim and historic features.
We really wanted ours to fit the original design, Owens said.
Their project involved remodeling the kitchen, bathroom and breakfast nook. The new, integrated main kitchen now features zones for each of the home chefs.
Im the main cook and my wife likes to bake, so we tried to create zones so we could each do our thing so we wouldnt have to cross over each other, Owens said.
On top of the remodel, the two added custom oak cabinetry, hand-made tile, soapstone counters and period-inspired light switches. In order to not take away from the look of the homes wood and Arts and Crafts style, the two added wood panels to kitchen appliances.
I think if we had left the doors alone and the dishwasher door alone it wouldve looked like a lot steel, he said.
To complete the renovation, Owens and Buckingham needed to do something with their breakfast nook, a unique space that couldnt fit a traditional kitchen table. Working with their builder, Owens designed a table and added a custom booth to the nook.
A family gathering space
With three growing kids, Rachel Gueldner and her family recently moved to get more space in their home.
To create the living space they needed, the family pursued a full kitchen remodel, tearing down the walls between the kitchen and dining room to open up the space. Gueldner also added heat to the kitchen, which had been removed, and expanded a new garage with an attached mudroom. They also added a powder room to the main floor.
The kids can do their homework in the kitchen, now a place to be in and connect and be together in the home, she said.
Gueldner recommends homeowners listen to their designers, who can help bring ideas to fruition.
They really can visualize a space that I cant visualize, she said.
Gueldner said its also helpful to decide whats truly necessary and be flexible with everything else. For her family, she said, a bathroom on the main level was crucial so they could host elderly parents.
Pick the one or two things that are non-negotiable, she said.
>>>
Minneapolis-St. Paul Home Tour
Where: Twin Cities homes
When: Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m.5 p.m. and Sunday, April 30 from 1 p.m.5 p.m.
Cost: Free
Info: msphometour.com
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Homeowners open their doors for annual tour - Southwest Journal
Due to the continuing construction on the Center 101 mixed use development project, drivers in Downtown Arlington can expect more detours and road closures along Mesquite Street and Abram Street in coming weeks.
Both streets around City Hall and the City's Municipal Office Building will be closed beginning April 20. The closures will impact employees that work downtown, as well as citizens coming to the Municipal Office Building to serve on jury duty, appear in court and pay fines.
The City of Arlington will install Digital Message Signs in downtown to remind drivers about the upcoming closures.
Mesquite Street, from Border to Front streets, will be closed from 5 a.m. to 5 p..m. Thursday, April 20. The section that will be closed will run northbound to just north of the train tracks. Drivers can take West Street, Cooper Street or Collins Street as alternatie routes through downtown.
All lanes of Abram Street between Center and Mesquite streets will be closed from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the same days.
In addition, from April 24 through May 22, Abram from Oak Street to Elm Street, Center from Front Street to South Street, and Mesquite from UTA Boulevard/Border Street to Front Street will all be completely closed.
Drivers can take Division Street to the north or UTA Boulevard/East Border Street to the south to get around the Abram Street area construction.
To learn more about road construction projects in Arlington, please visit the Citys Street Tracker webpage.
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Abram, Mesquite streets to be closed this week for construction - Arlington Voice
Pleasant Grove, UT (PRWEB) April 19, 2017
St. John Properties has commenced construction on its newest office building. The 190,000 square foot Grove Tower is next to I-15 and Pleasant Grove Boulevard (Exit 275). Grove Tower follows on the companys recent completion of two other adjacent single story office buildings within their 60-acre master planned development known as Valley Grove.
"We are thrilled with the investment St. John Properties is making in the gateway of our city, states Mayor Mike Daniels of Pleasant Grove City. The Grove Tower represents the breadth, depth, and quality of their company as much as the development they are building. We are very excited about the economic development impact of St. John Properties investment in our city, adds PG City Councilwoman Dianna Andersen.
Interested persons may watch the buildings construction cam HERE. We are so pleased to be a part of Pleasant Groves rapid growth on Utahs Silicon Slopes, states Daniel Thomas, managing partner for St. John Properties Utah. In the heart of Utah County, Grove Tower offers businesses unmatched connectivity and access to the whole valley, giving employees more time for work and play and not in traffic.
The six-story Grove Tower class-A office space promises breathtaking 360-degree views of Mt. Timpanogos and Utah Lake. Grove Tower is LEED designed to address the air pollution that plagues our valleys, reduce water consumption and lower maintenance costs for tenants.
The Need The state added 42,100 jobs between November 2015 and November 2016, according to the Utah Department of Workforce Services. Utah Valleys tech heavy silicon slopes are pulling the epicenter of population growth south of the state's capitol city as new jobs and new homes dot the Utah County landscape according to the University of Utah's Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. This is driving increased demand for office space in Utah Valley.
Grove Tower anchor tenant Instructure is expanding to Utah Valley. We are excited to expand our engineering and customer success teams in Utah County and look forward to drawing upon the incredible talent base the market provides," said Jeff Weber, SVP of People and Places for Instructure. St. John projects Grove Tower completion in December with tenant occupancy in January 2018.
About St. John Properties Established in 1971 by Edward St. John, St. John Properties has evolved from a developer of commercial buildings into a long-term real estate investment company. Now expanding in Utah, St. John Properties is attracted by the States economic strength, pro-business climate, quality of life, and projected growth. St. Johns new Valley Grove development in Pleasant Grove marks the companys commitment to Utahs quality of life with its 40th LEED certified commercial office building.
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St. John Properties Begins Construction on 190,000 sq.ft. Grove Tower - PR Web (press release)
New York Times | $1.8 Million Homes in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Minnesota New York Times There are vaulted wood-beamed ceilings, wide-plank wood flooring, decorative moldings and paneling and leaded-glass windows, in addition to six fireplaces. On the main level, a large foyer opens to a spacious formal living room and dining room, each ... |
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$1.8 Million Homes in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Minnesota - New York Times
 BNB Daily (blog) | Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. (BECN) Lifted to "Buy" at Zacks Investment Research The Cerbat Gem Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. logo Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. (NASDAQ:BECN) from a sell rating to a buy rating in a report published on Thursday morning. They currently have $56.00 target price on the stock. 6 Reasons to Add Beacon Roofing (BECN) to Your Portfolio Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. (BECN) Rating Reiterated by William Blair Analyst Activity William Blair Reiterates Outperform on Beacon Roofing Supply (NASDAQ:BECN) |
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Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. (BECN) Lifted to "Buy" at Zacks Investment Research - The Cerbat Gem
FORT SMITH -- State Sen. Jake Files is the subject of a police investigation into an allegation by a city director that Files misspent money paid to him for a roofing job.
The Fort Smith police report dated March 6 was made by City Director Keith Lau and lists the offense as theft by deception of more than $2,500.
In the report, Lau told police that in December he gave Files two checks totaling $33,206 to buy shingles from Home Depot to re-roof seven buildings at the Huntington Chase Apartments at 6400 Massard Road.
One of the seven apartment buildings was roofed with the correct shingles but a second building was roofed with the wrong colored shingles, the police report said.
"We gave him the money and he never gave us the shingles," Lau said Wednesday.
When Lau checked on the progress of the work, he learned the shingles were bought from a discount building supply store, not Home Depot as Files had promised, and that Files paid for the shingles with a check that didn't have sufficient funds to cover it.
When Lau asked Files to return the money, Lau said, Files replied he didn't have it. Lau said in the report to the police that Files gave no explanation.
Lau is the head of KCP Real Estate in Fort Smith and said he was managing the apartment complex for the owner, who lives in California. He said that after reviewing their options, he and the owner decided to file a criminal report rather than a civil lawsuit against Files.
Police detective Sgt. Chad Sutton said the investigation is ongoing but that he hoped to complete it soon. He said he had not interviewed Files as of Wednesday.
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Responding to an email requesting comment, Files, a Republican from Fort Smith who is chairman of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee, said he had not been contacted by the police but would have told them he followed the terms of the contract, provided shingles and delivered them to the apartments.
"My subcontractor roofed two buildings and we were never paid for the work we performed," Files wrote in the email. "The shingles on the second building were a slight shade different from the first and we were going to re-roof the first building at our expense so they would match. We never got that opportunity and were never paid for the work that we did."
Lau said Wednesday that he had worked with Files earlier in the year. He said he hired Files in November to re-roof 13 duplexes damaged by hail. He said Files finished that job with no problems.
In the police report, Lau said Files was the lowest of five bidders for the roofing job with a bid of $64,838. Lau wrote the two checks to Files on Dec. 5. On Feb. 1, when no work had begun, Lau said he asked Files for Home Depot invoices to prove that he had spent the money on shingles.
Files never produced the invoices, the report said.
Lau said Wednesday that there were some legitimate reasons why it took so long for the work to begin, such as the holidays and bad weather. Work on the first building began Feb. 8, according to the police report.
That was the day after the city directors voted to terminate their contract with Files and Lee Webb for failing to meet a deadline to complete construction of a complex of eight tournament-quality ball fields called the River Valley Sports Complex on 63 acres of city property at Chaffee Crossing.
Lau said he abstained from the vote because of his business dealings with Files.
Files and Webb had assured city directors in 2014 that they could build the sports complex, estimated at between $4 million and $6 million, for $1.6 million from the city and the rest from donations of materials and labor.
But by early 2017, city directors had lost patience with the two men and their failure to meet multiple deadlines to finish the work.
City directors haven't decided on the next move. They are waiting for the city's internal auditor to complete an assessment of what work has been completed and what remains to be done. The city spent $1.08 million of the $1.6 million on the project so far, and city directors haven't decided whether to go ahead with the project.
Assistant City Administrator Jeff Dingman said Wednesday that it could be another month before the internal auditor's assessment is completed.
The city directors' Feb. 7 resolution terminating the contract also called for Webb and Files to return $26,945 of a $46,500 grant that was given to contractor Dianna Gonzalez, who was affiliated with Files, to extend utilities to the complex site. That grant money came from a General Improvement Fund allocation supported by Files in his position as a state senator.
That money had not been returned as of Wednesday, Dingman said.
With the elimination of Webb and Files from the sports complex project, companies that have done work on the complex have turned to the city for payment. City Administrator Carl Geffken told contractors for the sports complex that the city's agreement was with River Valley Sports Complex and not with them.
Last month four contractors -- B&A Electric Inc., Megehee Fence Contracting LLC., Grimes Dozer Service Inc. and James Griffith -- filed suit in Sebastian County Circuit Court saying that Files and Webb, as the River Valley Sports Complex, were agents of the city and that the sports complex's debt to them of more than $200,000 should revert to the city.
State Desk on 04/13/2017
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Arkansas senator's roofing job faces police scrutiny - Arkansas Online
North Coast Roofing to give away new roof for free Sandusky Register SANDUSKY For nearly two decades, North Coast Roofing has been serving the Firelands region of Ohio and surrounding area. Using their collective experience of more than 50 years in the industry, the locally owned and operated company believes in ... |
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North Coast Roofing to give away new roof for free - Sandusky Register
Duro-Last Inc. recently honored B&M Roofing Contractors of Rocky Mount during Duro-Last's National Sales Seminar in Loews Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando, Fla.
In recognition of outstanding achievement in quality workmanship, customer satisfaction and 2016 sales excellence, Duro-Last presented B&M Rooting Contractors, a Duro-Last Platinum Contractor,with the Chairman Award, which honors contractors who achieve more than $1 million in sales.
"Every year at the Duro-Last Sales Seminar I am reminded of how our contractors are 'Best in Class, and B & M Roofing Contractors is a perfect example of that,' said Duro-Last Chairman of the Board Jack Burl. B&M Roofing Contractors has been consistently going above and beyond for their customers with high-quality work and integrity.
Founded in 1988 in Rocky Mount,B&M Roofing Contractors offers a wide array of roofing services, from new or replacement commercial roofs to emergency roof repairs, maintenance agreements and inspections.
We accept the Chairman Award with honor and excitement, said Alton Rogerson, operations manager of B&M Roofing Contractors We are very excited about the terrific growth of our business and our ability to effectively serve commercial customers throughout the country. We attribute our accomplishments both to our strong relationship with Duro-Last and to the dedication of our entire team at B & M Roofing Contractors.
We are confident that the years ahead will continue to be successful ones for our business."
Owned byJerry and Christina Barfield,B&M Roofing Contractors is located at 2841 N. Church St.
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B&M Roofing honored for outstanding achievement - Rocky Mount Telegram
Photo Provided A Tri-State Roofing & Sheet Metal Company training session focused on hoist safety. When evaluating contractors for safety awards, the CAWV stated that special attention was given to the quality of each companys safety training. Moving large, heavy loads safely is crucial to the roofing and specialty construction industry.
PARKERSBURG Tri-State Roofing & Sheet Metal Company earned two safety awards from Contractors Association of West Virginia.
The Contractors Association of West Virginia (CAWV) recognized Tri-State Roofing and Sheet Metal Company for safety excellence in the workplace.
The Parkersburg location received the CAWV 2016 Safety Award Specialty Contractor Division.
The Charleston division of Tri-State received the CAWV 2016 Safety Award Industrial Division.
The association presented the awards to Tri-State at the 2017 CAWV State Meeting held in conjunction with the West Virginia Construction and Design EXPO held recently at the Charleston Civic Center.
CAWV scores contractors participating in the program on their documented safety policies and procedures, commitment and approach to safety and health, and recorded statistical data for the year. Special attention is given to the quality of safety training provided to employees and members who demand active employee involvement in their safety process.
Tri-State Roofing and Sheet Metal Company is a full-service commercial and industrial roofing, sheet metal, heating, ventilation and air conditioning business, supplying area businesses, industrial plants and institutions with on-site and on-call services. The company marks its 94th anniversary this year.
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Tri-State Roofing earns safety awards - Parkersburg News
