Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

(Photo submitted) A crane lowers a new commercial HVAC system onto the roof of Ashe Memorial Hospital in February.

FLEETWOOD-No matter how many times theyve seen it, Chad and Randall Scott say they never get tired of watching a crane hoist a giant heating and cooling system into the air.

Its like art to see somebody pick this massive thing up with a crane and place it gently on a roof, Randall Scott, co-owner of Fleetwoods Scott Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning, said. Its fun to watch every time.

And these days, the Scott Brothers are watching more HVAC systems go airborne than ever before thanks to a growing list of commercial clients. Ashe Memorial Hospital, for instance, recently turned to the company to install two new super sized HVAC systems to replace its aging rooftop units. Jobs like that lead the company to believe revenues will grow by some 15 percent this year alone.

Commercial install and maintenance work is a niche Scott Brothers has taken advantage of sporadically since the duo founded the company more than a quarter century ago, but its really only been the last year that its commercial business has picked up in a big way.

Weve done some small commercial stuff over the years, Chad Scott said. But the bigger stuff like the hospital systems have really only started to roll in over the last 12 months or so. Were focusing more on commercial work these days than ever before.

Thats a bit of a departure from the two man shop the Scotts launched in 1991 at the urging of their father. While working as an electrical lineman the elder Scott came to the realization the High Country lacked a solid base of heating and air contractors, and told his sons as much. Turns out he was right, Randall Scott said in previous interviews with the Jefferson Post.

The pair combined their own unique skill sets and have never looked back. Scott Brothers has survived multiple recessions and big shifts in HVAC technology and industry standards since getting their start at the tail end of the George H.W. Bush administration, and for nearly the companys entire history its relied on just two service technicians.

But that number has doubled since 2015, thanks in large part to the companys new emphasis on commercial installs and repairs.

For our first 23 years we basically worked with two service guys, Chad Scott said. Last year we were able to justify adding number three and within a year were adding our fourth. Thats how much weve seen things move.

And while commercial sized heating and cooling systems work in a nearly identical manner to their smaller residential cousins, Randall Scott said the company has to approach their clients in a slightly different manner.

On the commercial side its all about being able to effectively explain exactly what their return on investment will be, Randall Scott said. How will this system affect their bottom line? And they want to be assured that when something does come up, that youve got the manpower to make sure it gets taken care of right then. Thats been the main reason weve added a fourth service tech, to make sure weve got the guys on staff to work through service and repair issues for clients that just cant wait.

The companys second largest growth market? The exploding demand in recent years for new ductless mini-split heat pump systems like those produced by Mitsubishi. The systems relatively small footprint allows homeowners to heat and cool individual rooms without the expense that comes with larger outdoor heat pumps designed for an entire home.

The main application works for something like a bonus room, den or a garage that somebody has decided to finish out and a traditional system doesnt make a lot of sense, Randall Scott said. So you can quickly add a truly quiet, energy efficient mini-split system without a lot of hassle.

Chad Scott said the company may have installed just 10-12 systems a year when mini-split units first hit the market, growing to 25 units in 2015. But sales nearly tripled in 2016 as the company installed upwards of 70 mini-split systems.

And we cant take all the credit for that jump, Randall Scott said. Thats been the trend throughout the entire industry, and we think were going to see much more growth this year.

Mini-split systems are significantly more efficient than their traditional heat pump counterparts, Randall Scott said, and they dont require a homeowner to utilize a backup heating source when temperatures plunge below freezing.

No matter how cold it gets, these things are going to continue to work exactly like they should, Chad Scott said.

Combined with the fact that multiple minisplits can be combined to create a flexible whole home heating and cooling system, and the brothers say theyre not surprised at the systems popularity. Weve even had clients that close off most of their home and heat a single room with a mini-split, Randall Scott said. Thats kind of a no fuss solution, but they allow you that kind of flexibility.

Reach Adam Orr at 336-489-3058.

(Photo submitted) A crane lowers a new commercial HVAC system onto the roof of Ashe Memorial Hospital in February.

http://jeffersonpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_ScottBros-1.jpg(Photo submitted) A crane lowers a new commercial HVAC system onto the roof of Ashe Memorial Hospital in February.

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Scott Brothers still breaking new ground after 25 years - Jefferson Post

Converting from fossil fuel heating systems to electric will help meet New York states climate goals and make home heating more affordable, according to a new study. The initial cost of installing electric systems is steep, but the report says there are ways the state could help.

Institute for Energy and Environmental Research President Arjun Makhijani wrote the report that advocates for electric technologies like geothermal and cold climate heat pumps. The heat pumps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using free energy from the ground and the air rather than burning fossil fuels. Makhijani said in the long-term, it will make home heating more affordable.

"When you install a geothermal heat pump, not only will you benefit, your neighbors will be benefiting, because you reduce the peak load on the electric grid during the summer," Makhijani said. "To meet the peak load you have to install gas turbines you have to install transmission and distribution systems. You're benefiting your neighbors and the utility and reducing everybody's costs."

But Makhijani said the challenge is the initial cost of installing these systems.

Part of the difficulty of making really efficient electric heating and cooling systems is that they are more expensive than natural gas and oil systems," Makhijani said. "Over the long term they save you money. How to reduce the cost is a big issue.

Makhijani said there are multiple ways to reduce the costs and the states Energy Research and Development Authority has addressed the issue.

One way to do it is to mandate efficient heating systems for public buildings, for new construction, so you create a market," Makhijani said. "Its a nascent market.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is also proposing a $15 million rebate plan for installing ground-source heat pumps. Makhijani said a state policy limiting energy costs for low-income residents to six percent of their income is another reason to push for the switch to electric.

Then the cost of heating goes down and the amount of public assistance money needed to help low-income households will also go down, Makhijani said.

Plus, Makhijani said New York could be a leader in manufacturing heat pumps and parts, which could lead to new jobs.

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NYS should switch to electric heating systems to save money, environment, reports says - WBFO

MICHIGAN CITY The Home and Lifestyle Expo at Blue Chip Casino and Hotel this weekend features professionals in home building, remodeling, home maintenance, landscaping and more.

And its all in support of the United Way of La Porte County.

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Home and Lifestyle Expo this weekend - News Dispatch

By Grace Coffman, Allied ASID, AKBD, Cabinet Innovations

Photo: Courtesy Of Cabinet Innovations

This clean and classic-style contemporary kitchen includes frameless cabinets.

This clean and classic-style contemporary kitchen includes frameless cabinets.

Know cabinets' style before remodeling kitchen or bath

Many homeowners are once again looking to remodel their kitchens and baths. Among the many decisions to be made is the one involving cabinets, and the choice for many is a manufactured cabinet.

Decisions usually start with the standard list: door style, soft-close hinges, full extension drawer glides, dovetailed drawer boxes, and the ever-expanding array of organizational features. Beyond that, the choice between one cabinet and the next can generate serious angst. Face the task in a systematic manner, and manageable bits of information become the basis for your decision.

Start at the construction of the cabinet box - framed versus frameless. The frameless cabinet, also recognized as European-style, offers full access to the interior of the box. Framed, or traditional cabinet construction, literally has a face frame on the front of the cabinet box. Keep in mind a frameless cabinet does not limit you to a contemporary door. That's a common misunderstanding. Traditional-looking kitchens actually can have frameless-box construction behind those doors.

Related to box construction is door overlay. Think about how the door lays over the front of the cabinet. The full overlay door covers the front of the cabinet with narrow reveals around all edges. Doors with a traditional reveal present wider reveals all around. Inset doors are "set into" the front frame of a cabinet and are flush with the face frame.

Material used in box construction is another consideration. Plywood is often the choice for homeowners, but look to it as an upgrade. The other choice is MDF (medium density fiberboard) also known as engineered wood. The very best of engineered wood is structurally sound material and recommended for its dimensional stability, an especially important characteristic when you're talking about sizing cabinets down to 1/16" of an inch. A finished project in MDF looks just as good as the plywood project and you can't differentiate between the two from the appearance.

The most noticeable parts of your cabinets, the exterior material and the finish vary from company to company. Each has different wood species, laminates, stains, paint colors, glazed finishes, distressing packages, and so on. Whatever the look you're trying to achieve, you'll find the appropriate material and finish.

A final, very important feature to consider is the warranty. Is the manufacturer going to be there to care for you in the future and how far into the future? Two years, five years or lifetime? Every cabinet product looks wonderful at the beginning. All the hinges and drawer glides operate as intended. But after a period of time, under normal conditions, will the manufacturer be there to remedy a failed door hinge or drawer glide?

Being aware of these cabinet basics arms you with added knowledge which should make the selection process easier for you. You now have parameters in which to compare one cabinet to another so you can make the most ideal choice for your project.

This article was provided by a member of the Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Association. The Remodelers Council is dedicated to promoting professionalism and public awareness of the remodeling profession through education, certification and service to the Houston community. For information on this article, please contact Lorraine Hart at lorraine@idealconsulting.net. To join the council or to find a professional remodeler in your area, please visit http://www.ghba.org.

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Know cabinets' style before remodeling kitchen or bath - mySanAntonio.com

Mark Worley, Guest columnist 7:48 p.m. ET March 3, 2017

Spacious additions, self-indulgent/aging-in-place master suites, entertaining and master cooking kitchens are on the upswing in Tallahassee.

I see more and more people calling and telling me they want to stay in their home for the long run and are willing to invest in amenities that truly make it their space.

Our team has noticed consistent trends emerging when it comes to home renovations for 2017. This also includes a movement toward selecting man-made materials and kitchen remodels.

Kitchen remodels remain king in the home, and remodeling them continues to be the most in-demand home update as people look for timeless design and low-maintenance options.

Painted cabinets continue to dominate, but wood grains are gaining ground, especially in more modern designs. It used to be when I said painted cabinets people would immediately think white cabinets but now you have a dozen color options available that are considered standard from most manufacturers.

As for the style, craftsman/shaker seems to be in most demand on the jobs we have completed over the last five years. People like the clean lines; also the ease of cleaning is another benefit.

I see clients selecting more and more quartz countertops these days, as that they want a product that does not require maintenance while taking more abuse than natural stone. Corian seems to be a thing of the past as that it has creative limitations and durability issues.

Man-made means low maintenance thanks to new technologies, it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between natural and man-made materials. Currently, there are tile options that look like hardwood flooring as well as engineered stones closely resembling marble. These man-made options require much less maintenance than a living finish and are also more durable, making them less likely to stain or chip.

Whats up with subway tile? I see it on almost every job. They are classic and timeless. Subway tiles never go out of style and I see so many options now, as related to texture and color that compliment the counters.

Youre definitely always safe with a subway tile backsplash. Like white cabinets, they are traditional and a long running favorite.

The kitchen is the hub, as we all know. But getting creative and making yours inviting is not as difficult as you might think. Pair painted cabinets with creative textures along with professional appliances and you will be surprised at the wow factor, as it becomes a magnet for entertainment and just hanging out with family and friends during daily use.

Home additions ideal for families who want to remain in their current home but could benefit from some extra square footage. There are plenty of options when it comes to expanding, whether building up, over or out. If you need more square footage and love your neighborhood but dont want to move, bump out your kitchen for an island or add a bedroom, bathroom, or master suite.

I am finding more and more people who are staying in their homes for the long haul and willing to invest with extensive renovations while making the home more luxurious as well as comfortable and being prepared for the later years by incorporating aging-in-place design.

Master suites are always in demand creating a private refuge for relaxation and rest has led to a renewed emphasis on the master suite. A combination of the master bedroom, master bathroom, and master closet; these spaces can recreate the feeling of a high-end retreat.

I am currently designing two master suite additions where the existing master suite is being converted into an in-law space. The owners will get a completely new space while offering guests their own private retreat, complete with coffee bar and wide screen TV.

What are you ideas for 2017?

Write and let me know, or for any ideas for future articles contact me through my website http://www.worleyconst.com

Mark Worley is the only Graduate Master Builder in Tallahassee and holds a Certified Aging-in-Place and Green Building Professional designation by the National Association of Home Builders. You can reach him through his website at http://www.worleyconst.com or at 850-668-3438 for help with your construction problems.

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Kitchens still king for home improvements - Tallahassee.com

A smooth kitchen remodel

By Sherry Vogel

Here in Montana, for various reasons, the best season to find contractors to do that kitchen remodel job is in the winter.

Whether you have hired a contractor, or you are brave and skilled enough to carry out an arduous do-it-yourself project is up to you. Either way, it is not wise to dive into a kitchen-remodeling project or any other interior remodel without some planning before the demolition begins.

Here are a few tips to make a kitchen remodel run more smoothly.

#1. Timing is important. Be sure to consider whether you can tolerate a remodel during the holidays, family events, or if you have children, whether to remodel when they arent in school.

#2. Functioning during the remodel. Give some thought to what other convenient area would work to move your refrigerator, microwave and coffee pot. You will still want to be able to function during the project

#3. Prepare and freeze meals ahead of time. It will be convenient to have meals you can just pop into the microwave. Takeout every night can be pricey.

#4. Sheeting off areas. Protect furniture and other sections of the home by placing large plastic sheeting to minimize and contain dirt and dust during construction.

#5. Protect furniture and valuables. Help by covering furniture with sheets and removing pictures from adjacent walls. Safely bubble-wrap glass and other breakables and remove to out of the way areas.

#6. Keep pets safe. With doors opening and closing it is easy for pets to roam outside and perhaps get lost. Also, power tools can be hazardous and loud. Protect pets by crating them in a far off room or take them to a friends home while the remodel is underway.

Fallon County Timely-TipsKitchenRemodelTImely Tips

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Fallon County Timely-Tips - Fallon County Extra

If 2016 was the year of embracing minimalism, sourcesNAHB, online residential design platform Houzz, and design firmsindicate 2017 is taking the contemporary trend a step further by incorporating individualism, comfort, and health.

Clean lines, minimal but impactful accessorization, healthy lifestyle, and technology are driving merchandising right now, says Joe Duffus, CEO of Maryland-based interior design group Builders Design. Manufacturers are focusing on ways to accommodate healthy-at-home concepts such as air purification and indoor herb gardens.

Looking to the winners of this years NAHB Best in American Living Awards, the projects showcase myriad prominent design trends that NAHB predicts will appear in homes and communities over the next several years.

Many of the winning homes and communities incorporated metal roofing and repurposed wood beams as interior design details, which is evidence that the modern farmhouse style is here to stay. Oversized farmhouse sinks and barn doorsevolving to suit a more contemporary aesthetic with glass, white tints, and mixed-metal hardwarewere other popular features. Many architects and designers opted for dark brown or black frames around windows and doors to make them pop against light siding, and well-placed benches and nooks within small spaces appeared in many plans.

While a white-on-white interior palette appears universally across projects, the hue is most prominently showcased in kitchens, where white cabinets and countertops continue to dominate. According to the Houzz 2017 U.S. Kitchen Trends Survey, kitchens are becoming healthier and more customized. The survey polled 2,700 Houzz-active homeowners that are in the middle of, are planning, or have recently completed a kitchen renovation project. One-third (33%) of respondents who have updated their kitchens report a healthier lifestyle post-renovation, and although the majority of homeowners (72%) chose stainless steel appliances in 2016, 7% opted for a more recent trend: black stainless steel.

The report found that millennial homeowners are more likely to choose a modern or farmhouse-style aesthetic in the kitchen, while boomers tend to opt for traditional finishes. Overall, contemporary just surpassed transitional as the most frequently picked kitchen style, with 22% and 19%, respectively.

Nino Sitchinava, principal economist at Houzz, notes that today, many people are renovating their kitchen space to suit their needs and lifestyle rather than to improve a homes resale value. With the growing trend of homeowners choosing to stay in their home for the long-term, she says in a release, the return on investment from a kitchen remodel is less tangible, measured in healthier habits and more face time with family and friends instead of dollars.

Read more coverage on Houzz's Kitchen Trends Survey here.

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Trend Tracking: Healthy Living is Driving Interior Design - Builder Magazine

In 1916, New York City instituted the first-ever American zoning regulation in direct response to the construction of the Equitable Building, a hulking, sun-blocking high-rise that positively loomed over the streets of Lower Manhattan. Under the landmark 1916 Zoning Ordinance, skyscrapers which were being erected fast and furiously during the first half of the 20th century in New York, Chicago and other quick-growing urban areas were required to be designed in such a way that they didnt block sunlight and air from reaching the city streets below, much like the Equitable Building rather rudely did. In turn, the game-changing code gave way to now-ubiquitous setback-style skyscrapers like the Empire State Building, which tapers as it gets taller as to not to cast permanent shadows on the man-made canyons below.

Over the years, zoning laws have changed radically as has skyscraper design. However, the precedent set by a century-old building code remains: dont hog all the fresh air and sunlight.

The area around and directly along the High Line you know, Manhattans tourist-snaring linear park located on a defunct elevated railway that has prompted numerous rail-to-trail park projects in cities across the globe since first opening in 2009 has given way to several high-profile high-rise buildings that breathe new life into the traditional setback skyscraper. One notable example is Bjarke Ingels Groups The Spiral, a planned 65-story office tower perched at the northern terminus of the High Line that not only tapers to allow sunlight to pass below but is also wrapped in a cascading ribbon of lushly planted terraces and hanging gardens a continuous green pathway all the way to the top.

While nowhere near as imposing as The Spiral, Solar Carve Tower is a 12-story mixed-use building nestled between the High Line and the Hudson River at 10th Avenue and 14th Street that really goes out of its way to not impose. In fact, politeness and an assertive need to not loom over the High Line and the surrounding streets is the towers raison d'tre, an element firmly embedded in the mid-rise structures DNA.

Studio Carve Tower initially faced opposition that it would cast shadow above its famous neighbor, the High Line. Through innovative design strategies, Studio Gang has ensured it will do nothing of the sort. (Rendering: Studio Gang)

Designed by Studio Gang, the eponymous Chicago-based firm of architect and MacArthur fellow Jeanne Gang, Solar Carve Tower has been in the works for several years now. In 2015, the project, after a handful of false starts and some community opposition, was officially given the go-ahead. Earlier this week, new renderings of the under-construction tower were released to the public, further generating interest in its unusually thoughtful and highly environmentally sustainable futuristic design.

The 213-foot-tall Solar Carve Tower is a showcase of sorts that demonstrates the firms groundbreaking work in solar carving, a design strategy in which tall buildings are sculpted by the angles of the sun as a means of dramatically minimizing blocked light and views.

MacArthur fellow Jeanne Gang is best known for Aqua Tower, a sustainable skyscraper in Chicago. Solar Carve Tower, a smart, sensitive office building rising next to Manhattan's High Line Park, is pictured above. (Rendering: Studio Gang)

Specifically designed to avoid obstruction of light and air flow by all means possible (and not irk its lower-slung Meatpacking District neighbors), Solar Carve was designed in a similar vein as NBBJs conceptual No Shadow Tower for London. As Studio Gang explains, this integrated response allows the building to benefit the important public green space of the High Line privileging light, fresh air, and river views to the public park while also becoming a new iconic silhouette on the New York skyline.

Elaborates Gang in a 2016 interview with ArchDaily: We noticed that new buildings around our site were beginning to crowd the High Liness solar access and that if we were to follow traditional zoning requirements, we would be contributing to that kind of destruction of the public realm. So we sculpted our building using the angles of the sun. We treated the High Line as public space to be protected by not blocking its sunlight.

A diagram explaining how Solar Carve Tower's form was 'sculpted' according to the angles of the sun. (Rendering: Studio Gang)

Boasting a distinctive chiseled form and a faceted, gem-like faade, Gangs solar ray-sculpted tower is developed by Aurora Capital and William Gottlieb Real Estate and will include over 165,000 square feet of commercial space including 17,000 square feet of dedicated retail space on the ground floor. All but one floor of the tower is equipped with a private terrace while the roof will be topped with a massive (10,000 square foot) communal green space complete with a variety of shrubs and trees. Offering a seamless connection to nature, the towers second floor will also include a lushly planted oversized terrace positioned at the same height as its also lushly planted neighbor just across the street, the High Line.

Per the New York Post, the tower is aiming for LEED Silver designation and, as such, incorporates numerous sustainable design elements and eco-friendly features including a bike storage facility (and adjacent locker room for bike commuters) and, of course, ample natural daylighting that reduces energy use. The vegetated roof and terraces also help to naturally insulate the building and keep it cool during sweltering NYC summers.

Despite facing some hiccups in its early stages, Solar Carve Tower has emerged as a shining example of how to masterfully design a mid-rise building in a dense urban area thats stunning as it is sensitive; a showstopping edifice from an acclaimed American architect that sticks out while also striving not to offend the neighbors.

In addition to abutting the High Line, Solar Carve Tower is located directly opposite Pier55, a controversial public-private offshore park project under construction in the Hudson River. (Photo: Studio Gang)

Directly across the way from the Solar Carve Tower on the banks of Hudson River, another big-name project has faced even greater opposition: Pier55.

Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, Pier55 takes the form of a performing arts-centric floating pier-park that, according to critics, will disturb marine life in the river while serving more or less as a vanity project for its founders (and primary funders), billionaire media mogul Barry Diller and his wife, the fashion icon, Diane von Furstenberg. The lawsuit-riddled Pier55 has drawn numerous comparisons to another highly divisive, majority privately funded floating river park, Londons Thames-straddling Garden Bridge, which is also designed by Heatherwick. Following a temporarily halt in construction brought on by a headline-garnering court battle, work on the $130 million park is moving ahead ... for now.

As for Studio Gang, the firm's New York-area projects outside of Solar Carve Tower are decidedly far less controversial including an innovative FDNY fire station and training center in the Bronx and a simply breathtaking expansion at the Museum of Natural History.

Matt Hickman ( @mattyhick ) writes about design, architecture and the intersection between the natural world and the built environment.

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This stunning Manhattan office building is also unfailingly polite - Mother Nature Network (blog)

A plan to build a state-funded $108 million school in Bloomfield for Two Rivers Magnet High School has been scrapped amid budget concerns, the Capitol Region Education Council said Friday.

The 400-student, environmental-themed Two Rivers High in Hartford will also cease to exist next school year and students will instead be shuttled to New Britain to attend CREC's Academy of Science and Innovation, school officials said Friday.

CREC leaders blamed Connecticut's fiscal uncertainty and state enrollment caps for the shake-up. At an afternoon press conference, Executive Director Greg Florio said the state Department of Education and state construction officials confirmed to CREC this week that the Bloomfield project would be pulled.

A stunned Two Rivers High community was informed of the plans Thursday. The school is the first full-day magnet program that CREC plans to close and consolidate.

At least $8 million had already been spent on the Bloomfield construction project, including money to buy the land, according to CREC, a taxpayer-funded regional education agency that operates 17 magnet schools under the state's Sheff v. O'Neill desegregation agreement.

Town of Bloomfield records show that CREC planned to build a 880-student high school on 29 acres at 29 Griffin Road North, near the Farmington River and Farmington River Park. CREC bought the property in 2013 for $3.8 million; now the agency is working with the state to decide what to do with the land.

Martha Stone, an attorney for the Sheff plaintiffs, said she heard late in the week that the state was axing the Two Rivers High project. "You've broken promises to kids who have already had broken promises," Stone said. "You're closing schools in the face of thousands of students clamoring to get in? ...That is just wrong."

Two Rivers high school opened in 2012 and has been temporarily housed in an office building in the Colt Armory complex near CREC's Hartford headquarters. The agency renovated that U-shaped building for $6 million to house Two Rivers High, and CREC officials said Friday they were unsure what will happen with that space.

The $108 million price tag for Two Rivers' permanent home was pricey even for Sheff magnet-school standards. State lawmakers approved the project in 2013.

Hartford Rep. Angel Arce, whose district includes the school neighborhood, chastized CREC leadership for the abrupt notice on Two Rivers' demise. Arce interrupted the press conference to question Florio, saying that he and another Hartford state lawmaker just heard the news two hours earlier.

"My biggest concern is those students don't lose their seats," Arce said.

About one-third of Two Rivers' magnet high school students are from Hartford. The rest are suburban students. CREC also operates the gleaming Two Rivers Magnet Middle School in East Hartford, which attracts about 650 students from across the region.

Families that recently applied for admission to the high school through the state-run magnet school lottery will be able to re-submit their applications with new choices, CREC Superintendent of Schools Dina Crowl said. The regular deadline for the 2017-18 lottery already passed.

Florio talked about mounting financial pressures from the state. Between 2008 and 2010, he said, the state asked CREC to open 11 magnet schools to meet integration goals under the Sheff settlement. Hartford Public Schools is another major operator of the region's magnet schools.

But as school operating costs have increased over the years, the state's annual aid to CREC has remained a flat $10,443 per student. CREC and Hartford school officials have been worried that state magnet aid will be reduced this year. Cities and towns whose students attend CREC magnets are required to pay tuition to fill the gap, a growing burden for districts that are already anxious about their budgets.

And the state has capped CREC's enrollment at 8,240 students, with minor adjustments expected to accommodate new grades at a couple of existing schools, CREC said.

An enrollment cap means that Two Rivers' high school would be stuck with only 400 or so students for the foreseeable future, far short of plans to fill the 880-student Bloomfield building, Florio said.

Donald Harris, chairman of the CREC Council and the Bloomfield board of education, said he wasn't surprised when he heard the Two Rivers high school project was canceled. "For me," he said, "it's too bad. It's really too bad."

The decision was "a tough choice during a very tough budget season," Florio said. "Although consolidating the two schools is not the road we envisioned, it is the most cost-effective way of addressing these budgetary challenges without hurting the quality of education that CREC proudly provides."

Abbe Smith, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Education, said in a statement Friday that CREC informed the state last month that they were considering merging Two Rivers High with another magnet program "to address the system's fiscal challenges."

CREC Academy of Science and Innovation, formerly known as the Medical Professions and Teacher Preparation Academy, "offers a strong, rigorous STEM-themed education in a brand-new state-of-the-art facility," Smith said.

Two Rivers Principal Robert McCain will become the principal of that consolidated school in New Britain, which will continue to focus on science, technology, engineering and math in the 2017-18 year. With the influx of Two Rivers students, CREC expects to fill the New Britain school to capacity with about 770 students, said Tim Sullivan, CREC's assistant superintendent for operations.

Students in a prekindergarten program at the Academy of Science and Innovation will be moved to other schools, Sullivan said.

Staff cuts are possible as details of the merger are figured out, Florio said.

See the article here:
CREC: State Cancels $108 Million Construction Project; Two Magnet Schools To Merge - Hartford Courant

In 2007, Nancy Crabill asked to have her house designated historic by the City of Coronado. Ten years later, that designation has come back to haunt her family as they try to fix up the long-neglected home.

In February, the city council voted to order Crabill to uninstall the modern sliding aluminum windows and to reinstall the old ones or pay to have new, historically accurate windows built and installed. The city fined her $400, but the estimated cost of putting in windows, removing them, and restoring them comes in at around $60,000.

Nancy Crabill doesn't know about that. At 98, she has severe dementia and lives with her daughter who takes care of her. Crabill's daughter, Carol Clark, has been overseeing the repairs to the home in the past year and a half, including a $16,000 roof, a bathroom remodel, and replacing the leaking windows. The family's plan is to rent the house for now.

"The casement windows were not secure," she explained. "We thought it would be better to have windows that would let people feel safe." But she ran afoul of past and current members of the Historic Resource Commission, who fought her down to the last window. Clark proposed to restore the street-facing windows and on both sides of the house but to leave the modern windows in the back of the house.

The windows included leaded glass in diamond patterns on casement windows and wood that had rotted so badly that the windows leaked water and cold air, said Clark. Crabill's neighbors include past historic commission members who wrote letters that began the investigation.

Calling the replacement windows "ugly," Ann Parish Boston a past member of the historic commission wrote to city officials, saying one of her neighbors had reported the new windows to the city. "Those timeless, beautiful windows were really the beauty and the highlight of the front of the home," she wrote.

A member of the historic commission who met with or called all but one member of the city council on the matter said that Crabill's parents had built the house. "My grandmother owned the house next door," said commission member Susan Keith. "If you allow the appeal to go through, you are setting such a bad example everyone else is going to do it."

But one past member, John O'Brien, says the city's order to undo and redo means enormous costs to Crabill's family after they spent $20,000 to $30,000 for the new windows that will be removed.

"I don't think there was any intent to break the rules," O'Brien said. "When I was on the commission, we saw our role as helping people take care of historic homes. We didn't take the role of policing people."

It was the first time the city had a code enforcement on a historically designated property, mayor Richard Bailey noted. The Crabill family was given a year to get proper permits and complete the work.

See the rest here:
"Ugly" windows replace historic in Coronado - San Diego Reader