Happy Holidays from Performance Architects!
The Performance Architects team is thinking of you this time of year, Wishing you good fortune, happiness, laughter and cheer. We no longer send paper cards, you see, Because we want to be...
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Happy Holidays from Performance Architects! - Video
Altoona is on the edge of a commercial development explosion, some of which is on the books and some lurking around the fringes.
Construction will begin next spring on the much-anticipated outlet mall at the Shoppes at Prairie Crossing, a 175-acre retail, entertainment, residential and commercial center south of Bass Pro Shops along the U.S. Highway 65 bypass.
And within the next few months, work should begin on a 12-screen movie theater on 15 acres across from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino on Altoonas northwest side.
The two highly visible projects are attracting attention from businesses interested in joining the development wave.
Everybodys very secretive about what they want to do, but we have development questions coming into our office all the time, said Jeff Mark, Altoonas city administrator. And when both projects are under construction, there will be even more interest.
The city has long been a draw for visitors seeking entertainment at Prairie Meadows, Adventureland amusement park, and the nearby Iowa State Fairgrounds. And the new $300 million Facebook data center on the north side of Interstate Highway 80 has helped put the city in the spotlight.
This is only the tip of the retail iceberg, Mark said.
The Shoppes at Prairie Crossing is being developed by Quad Cities businessman Mike Whalen and his Heart of America Group. The site has been primed for several years with $10 million in streets, water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, street lighting and grading provided by the city. Last summer, Heart of America opened the developments first tenant, Johnnys Italian Steakhouse.
HOA announced last spring that New England Development of Newton, Mass., planned to build a 325,000-square-foot open-air outlet mall on the property starting in 2015. The project will include about 75 retailers in spaces ranging from 800 square feet to 20,000 square feet, said Michael Barelli, vice president of development for New England Development.
The project is on schedule although the price tag is growing. Construction costs are increasing because of all the construction activity in the market, Barelli said.
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Altoona plans for busy retail construction season
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) The childhood home of famed playwright August Wilson, in the Hill District, is being restored.
At the same time, this project is helping to restore the lives of men whod lost their way.
Steve Shelton is founder of the non-profit Trade Institute of Pittsburgh, which has changed the lives of nearly 100 at-risk men. Three of them are working on the August Wilson house.
We give them a hand up, and not a handout, Shelton explains. Theres no monetary price they have to pay to get into the Trade Institute, but I tell them theyre going to pay with the price of change. Sometimes change is difficult. But these guys have learned well.
Apprentice carpenter Chris Wilson says he was out of work and on the streets, before he enrolled in the the Trade Institute.
Im hoping, few years from now, maybe five years, to have my own company, he said. Real estate, contracting business.
Apprentice bricklayer Scott Snyder served nearly 10 years in prison, on gun charges.
Definitely changed my life, he said. Instead of living on the street, trying to get money, now I can depend on a paycheck.
Apprentice bricklayer Duane Green served time on drug charges.
I went to prison for three years, he said. And when I got out, I needed an opportunity to make some money. I had a family, a wife and kids. And the Trade Institute gave me a way out.
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Restoration Of August Wilsons Home Provides Opportunity For At-Risk Men
by The Associated Press Associated Press
Throughout a recent sunny, cool, late fall afternoon, hundreds of Fouke-area residents enjoyed streaming through the two-story vintage Scoggins House as the city's Citizens For a Better Community group held an open house dedication for this near-century-old home.
The local tourists spent time walking up and down the home's sun-bathed pine-wood stairways as they explored the home's nine historically refurbished rooms and two baths while soaking up views of early 20th century furniture, the Texarkana Gazette (http://bit.ly/1sEuYzw ) reported.
The downstairs rooms included a parlor, dining room, kitchen and library (already containing perhaps more than 200 books), while the upstairs quarters consisted of two bedrooms_one converted into a bride's room, the other a groom's room. A third upstairs bedroom is now a reading room, and a fourth is an office. The largest upstairs room is now a fully computerized education center.
"The people here in Fouke are so willing to do anything to make things better," said Roxie Coker, a local resident. "I'm proud of my community."
The historic domicile is now on the cusp of a new life as a public library, education center and social event center. Local residents will be able to hold musical programs, bridal showers and baby showers, as well as conduct genealogy research, local historical research, budgeting, book review presentations, seminars and parenting and various other workshops in the building.
The education center, known as the Vera and Lawrence Huff Education Center, is named in honor of two local educators. Last year, the late couple's daughter, Mary Elizabeth Huff Haile, who now lives in Urbana, Illinois, donated $50,000 to the historic home's restoration.
The center also received grants from an anonymous donor, the Jerry Roberson estate and the Texarkana Area Community Foundation.
Fouke's Citizens For a Better Community Inc. started renovation work on the home in July 2011 after this nonprofit community volunteer civic organization bought the house for $45,000 when the most recent occupants were faced with foreclosure.
The Scoggins home, about a block north of U.S. Highway 71 behind Fouke City Hall, was originally modeled after a house from a Sears and Roebuck catalog.
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Fouke historic home converted into public library
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New Mexico Tourism Secretary Monique Jacobson was appointed secretary of the Children, Youth and Families Department on Monday by Gov. Susana Martinez. She will replace Yolanda Deines, who has held the post since Martinez took office in 2011. (Roberto E. Rosales/Journal)
SANTA FE Gov. Susana Martinez made more changes to her Cabinet on Monday, including shifting the states tourism chief to the helm of the Children, Youth and Families Department. One Democratic legislative leader reacted with skepticism, while another praised the appointees management skills.
Preparing to begin her second term, the Republican governor said Tourism Secretary Monique Jacobson will bring a strong management background to CYFD, an agency that has faced criticism in recent years for its handling of high-profile child abuse cases.
Her strong intellect and impeccable management skills will serve the agency well, and she is a leader who is well-known for producing results, Martinez said in a statement.
Jacobson is a Taos native who worked in corporate marketing before taking a state government job. She will take the CYFD reins from Yolanda Deines, who had held the job since Martinez took office in 2011.
Senate Democratic Whip Michael Padilla of Albuquerque called the announcement a shocker and predicted Jacobson will face questions during the Senate confirmation process about relevant work experience.
I wasnt aware that she had a background in child protective services or any of the other duties of the department, said Padilla, who praised Jacobsons work at the Tourism Department. Its absolutely vital, and I think thats going to be one of her biggest challenges.
Padilla has sponsored several CYFD-related bills in recent years and said he plans to introduce legislation during the coming 60-day session that would make the department a standalone agency.
However, Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, said Jacobsons management skills likely outweigh her social work rsum, or lack of one.
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Governor picks tourism secretary to run CYFD
The January transfer window is just around the corner, and as one might expect, the rumour mill is working overtime busting out countless stories linking Manchester United with a host of star players every single day.
The busy summer window at Old Trafford illustrated the Red Devils' immense financial power and appeal to players all over the world, but fans expecting a similar story in January might be left disappointed.
The midseason window traditionally serves as an opportunity to strengthen key areas, not chase high-priced stars who have just invested half a season in their current clubs.
Let's dissect the latest rumours coming from Old Trafford.
United in for Fabio CoentraoAgain
Real Madrid bench-warmer Fabio Coentrao is seemingly linked with every Premier League club every time a new transfer window opens, and according to the Daily Express' Anthony Chapman, this January will be no exception.
Liverpool, Arsenal and United are all reportedly chasing the Portugal international, who is "surplus to requirements" and "looks set to leave Carlo Ancelotti's side in the upcoming January transfer window."
Chapman quotes a 25 million transfer fee, fairly substantial for someone who has only started one La Liga match all season, per WhoScored.com. The 26-year-old may not be as available as Chapman thinks, however.
As shared by La Liga Time, Los Blancos' regular starter at the left-back position, Marcelo, is expected to miss the bulk of January after pulling up during the Club World Cup final. That stretch includes pivotal matches against Valencia and Real Madrid:
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Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Fabio Coentrao and Paul Pogba Rumours
Yelp Wilmington Kitchen Remodeling Room Additions Contractor Shafran Construction 310-295-1960
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Yelp Wilmington Kitchen Remodeling Room Additions Contractor Shafran Construction 310-295-1960 - Video
Yelp Pacific Palisades Kitchen Remodeling Contractor Shafran Construction 310-295-1960
We can help you with your home remodeling project today. Our company is known for quality/ professional work for an affordable cost. Call us today to schedul...
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Yelp Pacific Palisades Kitchen Remodeling Contractor Shafran Construction 310-295-1960 - Video
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES -The Dec. 8 fire in City West engulfed one of the two buildings in the under-construction Da Vinci apartment complex. While an investigation into the cause of the blaze continues, developer Geoff Palmer isnt the only one dealing with the repercussions of the devastation.
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The fire damaged the nearby building at 221 N. Figueroa St.as well. Although the 16-story city-owned property didnt go up in flames, intense heat blew out windows facing the conflagration and set off sprinklers inside the building.
The result is that a number of tenants in the building, including several city departments, have had to move, even as Angelenos demand that service continues as usual.
It was pretty crippling, said Mike Shull, general manager of the Department of Recreation and Parks, which had 150 employees on four floors of the building.
Other tenants in the building include the law firm Lewis Brisbois, and the citys departments of Animal Services and Aging.
Shull said his employees are now working at several locations, including City Hall and a service yard in Los Feliz. Some are even based at the rangers station in Griffith Park.
The department is gearing up to relocate scores of employees to the Garland Building on Seventh Street in City West, where the city secured a 60-day lease. If the clean-up and repair takes longer, said Shull, they may have to move again.
While that throws a wrench in operations, Shull notes it could have been worse. Although some computers sustained water damage, the servers were protected and copious records had been backed up electronically.
Its still very disruptive, Shull said. Many employees still are not connected; they dont have access to computers. Until were all reconnected, its not a very efficient way to work, but we are making do with what weve got.
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After Fire, Some Businesses Scramble
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES -The Dec. 8 fire in City West engulfed one of the two buildings in the under-construction Da Vinci apartment complex. While an investigation into the cause of the blaze continues, developer Geoff Palmer isnt the only one dealing with the repercussions of the devastation.
BE THE FIRST TO READ THE LATEST DOWNTOWN NEWS, FOOD AND CULTURE STORIES. CLICK HERE AND SIGN UP FOR OUR DAILY HEADLINES NEWSLETTER.
The fire damaged the nearby building at 221 N. Figueroa St.as well. Although the 16-story city-owned property didnt go up in flames, intense heat blew out windows facing the conflagration and set off sprinklers inside the building.
The result is that a number of tenants in the building, including several city departments, have had to move, even as Angelenos demand that service continues as usual.
It was pretty crippling, said Mike Shull, general manager of the Department of Recreation and Parks, which had 150 employees on four floors of the building.
Other tenants in the building include the law firm Lewis Brisbois, and the citys departments of Animal Services and Aging.
Shull said his employees are now working at several locations, including City Hall and a service yard in Los Feliz. Some are even based at the rangers station in Griffith Park.
The department is gearing up to relocate scores of employees to the Garland Building on Seventh Street in City West, where the city secured a 60-day lease. If the clean-up and repair takes longer, said Shull, they may have to move again.
While that throws a wrench in operations, Shull notes it could have been worse. Although some computers sustained water damage, the servers were protected and copious records had been backed up electronically.
Its still very disruptive, Shull said. Many employees still are not connected; they dont have access to computers. Until were all reconnected, its not a very efficient way to work, but we are making do with what weve got.
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After Fire, Same Business Scramble
