Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Colleyville trees were up for debate yet again Tuesday night. For the third time inside of a year, it was new residences from WillowTree Custom Homes vs. old-growth trees in a battle put before the Colleyville City Council

The city council debated and then voted on a revised proposal from a developer who wants to build estate homes on 14 acres located between Pool Road and Wilkes Drive. Its WillowTree Custom Homes versus nearby homeowners and tree preservationists, round three.

And in a four to three vote, the council denied the developers proposal without prejudice for what would be The Bluffs Colleyville. For almost a year, the 14-acre property has been at the center of a debate about whether it should be rezoned from agricultural to single-family residential. Tuesdays vote means the developer can return to the city council for further discussion at a future date.

The ongoing clash centers on a parcel situated between Pool Road and Wilkes Drive in this Northeast Tarrant County suburb. Colleyvilles remaining lots are scarce, making 14 acres look attractive to housing developers, while the plans for this site inspired a group of citizens to organize in opposition. The citizens oppose what they maintain will destroy an urban forest.

The latest vote on Dec. 19 denied the developers latest proposal, which focused on reducing the number of residential lots to nine and placing the primary entrance on Pool Road into the planned, gated development. Voting with the councils majority to oppose the latest revisions were Chuck Kelly, place 5; Brandi Elder, place 1; Scotty Richards, place 3; and Ben Graves, place 4. Voting in the minority were May Bobby Lindamood; Mayor Pro Tem Callie Rigney; and George Bond, place 2.

The council previously voted unanimously in February and June to deny the zoning change that would allow The Bluffs Colleyville to be built. Initially, the plan included 14 lots for luxury homes, and this last plan called for nine. The councils most recent split vote indicates changes were deemed acceptable to some council members.

Meanwhile, the community opponents remain in dissent.

The native, old-growth Eastern cross, Timbers Forest is divinely situated on a steep slope into the Bear Creek watershed, which is prone to flooding, Tim Waterworth messaged after the vote. Waterworth is a leader of a group organized to oppose the development. Save Colleyville Trees It should be conserved as public property into perpetuity as primarily a nature conservation area with limited public access trails. Based on the many conversations Ive had with citizens about this land and the development proposalThats what the people want and will support.

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Houses vs. Trees in Colleyville: Trees Win Against WillowTree Custom Homes For Third Time - CandysDirt.com

Whats so smart about smart thermostats? They not only ensure your homes temperature is comfortable, but they also do that while saving money andnot coincidentallyfighting climate change by better conserving energy resources. And the smartest ones do all that automatically.

Our pick, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, kept the temperature more consistently pleasant year-round than any other model we tested, likely because of its ability to calculate the effects of humidity on comfort. It comes with a remote SmartSensor, which balances temps in your home, and it has a built-in smart speaker for use with Alexa or Siri. Ecobees privacy policy is best in class, and the company still provides support for even its earliest years-old models.

Ecobees top-tier model comes with the best remote sensor weve tested, a built-in microphone and speaker, Alexa for voice control, and an air-quality monitor.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings

Our top pick, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, isnt the absolute easiest model to set up, but its the best overall for eking out every last BTU of efficiency. It provides lots of settings to fine-tune your indoor climate, includes the smartest remote sensor around, can be tweaked by voice commands, and can play audio via a built-in Alexa smart speaker. In our tests, it was the hands-down best performer at keeping the whole house consistently comfortable. (The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced, which has fewer features, works just as well and has a far lower price.)

The smartest thermostat is also the easiest to set up using AI, but those extra brains come at a higher price.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings

For a simpler setup, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat is the best choice because built-in AI does most of the work for you. It doesnt come with a remote sensor (and Nests arent as useful as Ecobees) or have built-in smart-speaker capabilities, which some owners may not need anyway. And some users have found that they sometimes have to override Nests AI to optimize their comfort and energy savings.

Though not as sophisticated as our other picks, this thermostat works with a wide variety of HVAC systems, is dead simple to use, and is inexpensive.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Ring

The Amazon Smart Thermostat may be basic, with simple controls and rudimentary AI, but it does what it does well, and for some people that makes it ideal. It can be configured to run on a timed schedule, or, using Alexa Hunches (Amazons term for Alexas AI-based learning feature), it can eventually learn your patterns and suggest customized settings. The one conspicuous missing feature wed like to see is compatibility with remote sensors, which our top picks have.

One of the few smart thermostats able to control inefficient electric baseboard heaters, the Mysa uses scheduling, geofencing, and an Eco mode to help you save money and energy.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home

If you have electric baseboard heating (or another type of high-voltage resistance heating), the Mysa Smart Thermostat (v2) adds smart control to those inefficient units. (It isnt able to control cooling systems.) To help save money and energyas much as 26% of your annual heating bill, Mysa claimsit makes use of scheduling, geofencing, and an Eco mode that subtly drops the temperature without affecting comfort. As many electric baseboard systems require a thermostat for every room, which can add up to a hefty price tag, for multiroom setups you may want to consider the more affordable Mysa Lite, which performs the same but has more basic controls and fewer features.

See the article here:
The 4 Best Smart Thermostats of 2023 | Reviews by Wirecutter - The New York Times

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Kitchen countertops are equally functional and decorative. A beautiful countertop is a joy to beholdand to use, which makes your choice of material pretty important. Granite remains one of the most popular choices for kitchen countertops for a lot of good reasons: Its durable, beautiful, and easy to keep clean (and not so hard to repair, either). But there is one potential downside to granite countertopsmaintenance.

Granite seems like a solid hunk of impenetrable material, but its actually very penetrable: Granite is a relatively porous stone, and it absorbs water and other liquids easily. That can lead to staining and damage over time, shortening the useful lifespan of your countertops. As a result, most granite counters have to be sealed in some way to prevent those liquids from penetrating. It isnt difficult or expensive, but if you seal an already-sealed countertop youll do more harm than goodit can result in a hazy film that you wont be able to get rid of. So if youre concerned about properly maintaining your granite countertops, how can you tell when they need to be resealed?

Depending on where your granite countertop was bought, who installed it, and the specific type of granite used, your countertops may have been pre-sealed. If you bought them new, you can check the paperwork associated with themmany granite countertops come pre-sealed with a specific guarantee of 10-20 years before the seal will fail you. If thats the case, your countertops probably dont need sealing until after that has expired, at the very earliest. Realistically, though, you probably didn't keep those papers.

If you inherited your countertops or theyre a bit older, one clear sign that they need to be sealed is frequent staining. Its true that even a properly sealed countertop will stain if you leave something like red wine or pizza sauce sitting on it for a long time, but if your counters are easily stained regularly, you probably need to seal them (after a proper cleaning). Just let the water fully evaporate before you do the workthe dark water stain should fade in a day or so.

If youre not sure, there's a simple test you can try. Pour about a quarter cup of water on the counter and track how long it takes to be absorbed. Anything less than half an hour means you should consider sealing your counters sooner rather than later. If the water just soaks right in immediately, you should reseal it as soon as you reasonably can. And if the water never absorbs and just sits there forever, the seal is in great shape and you can leave it be, though you should repeat the test annually. Its also a good idea to perform this test in a few different spots.

You can also perform this test with a small amount of oil (a few drops should be sufficient), just be sure to choose a spot where a stain wont be noticeable. If the oil soaks in within 15 minutes, your countertops need sealing.

The good news is, sealing a granite countertop isnt difficult. After cleaning, just pick up a bottle of high-quality sealant and apply according to instructions. Generally speaking, this is just like cleaning your countersyou spray on the sealer, wipe it off, and then buff your counter with a dry cloth. If your countertops were very porous in your test, repeat the sealing process once or twice more for a good seal. After sealing and following instructions for dry times, repeat the water test to make sure that youve taken care of the problem. Granite countertops dont need much maintenanceas long as you keep them properly sealed.

And stop leaving your sticky wine glasses and pizza boxes lying around.

See more here:
How to Tell When Your Granite Countertop Needs to Be Resealed - Lifehacker

Aside from the risks, using your countertop as a bottle opener is a relatively straightforward process, which you can master with a bit of practice and finesse. First and foremost, you need to check that your countercomes to a sharp edgeso that the bottle cap can catch on the corner. Then, situate the edge under the lip of the cap, and you're ready to start smacking.

Once your bottle is in position, make sure that you have a good grasp on its body. You wouldn't want to drop your drink, and a good grip will improve your leverage with the countertop. Then, it's simply a matter of firmly hitting the top of the bottle with the palm of your hand. Your smack should separate the bottle from its cap, and voil you have yourself an open drink. However, before you start routinely opening your bottles on the countertop, you should be aware of some potential pitfalls.

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You Can Use Your Countertop To Open Bottles, But Be Careful - Daily Meal

I keep seeing lava stone countertops everywhere and I'm obsessed with the look. Its smooth surface has a subtle sheen and the nature of the material lends itself to being cut and molded to whatever shape you want. It's the perfect countertop material, not least because it's also a great way to bring natural stone to your kitchen, but lava stone offers a huge variety of colors and varying palettes you can play around with in the kitchen.

Marble and granite have long reined as king of the kitchen, with its beautiful veining bringing luxury to the space, but its environmental credentials leave a void for new material to take the kitchen crown. I think lava stone might just be it. Convinced? We speak to the designers to find out the merits and drawbacks of this interior design trend.

(Image credit: Hauvette Madani)

So what exactly is lava stone, well it's pretty much exactly how it sounds. It is extracted from natural volcanic rocks, mostly in continental Europe. Lava stone's geographical home means it's not quite reached the States yet, but we think it's on the up and predict it will be crossing the pond soon.

Lava is finished with an enamel glaze and fired at high heat for that characteristically smooth finish, available in a kaleidoscope of beautiful colors, perfect for any style of modern kitchen.In the kiln, the glazing fuses with the natural stone, creating little tonality differences according to the noble metals inside the natural stone,' says Roberta Cederholm of lava stone specialists, Made a Mano. 'So no two tabletops are the same.'

Their ability to stand such high temperatures stems from the 2,200 degree Fahrenheit climate its used to, so it's super durable when used in the kitchen. The overall look is sleek, with a subtle sheen that helps light bounce around the room.

'Additionally, lava stone requires minimal maintenance and does not need to be sealed, making it a practical choice for those who want a beautiful worktop without the hassle of extensive upkeep,' adds Olga Alexeeva from interior design studio, Black & Milk. 'With proper care, lava stone can last for decades, making it a long-lasting investment for homeowners.'

Outside of the aesthetic, lava stone is also believed to have magical properties, absorbing negative energy and bringing about calmness. They are often used in hot stone massages for this exact reason.

(Image credit: Paul Raeside. Design: K&H)

First up, and important for the kitchen, lava stone is resistant to heat (which doesn't come as much of a surprise given it starts life in a volcano). But it's also resistant to cold and any dramatic temperature changes - so hot pans placed straight on the surface won't change the patina. It's so resiliant that it doesnt scratch either, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be using chopping boards.

'We only use natural materials in our furniture making and interior design and therefore often choose natural stone,' says Frdric Collette of Copenhagen-based furniture and kitchen makers, Kbenhavns Mbelsnedkeri.

There really arent any drawbacks; it is almost impossible to damage, adds Roberta. 'The glazed lava withstands knives, heat, pots, pans as opposed to most other glazed products that can break.'

Color is a huge factor as to why we are currently loving lava stone. The finish is beautiful and available in all kinds of pops and more subtle tones too, perfect for a colorful kitchen. 'On top of being one of the strongest and most easy-to-maintain natural stone for flooring, tabletops and glazed lava stone can be made in a wide pallet of colors and glaze structures, enabling us more freedom to design sustainable interiors with color,' says Frdric. However, be aware that once it's done, it's done, and you can refinish the material or change the color later down the line.

(Image credit: Made a Mano)

Another huge benefit is that it's sustainable and environmentally friendly. We're all aware of the dwindling resources of marble and granite, but lava stone is naturally occurring, so it's environmentally friendly (whereas marble kitchens involve chipping away at beautiful Italian mountainside).

We also use solar energy for the kilns and collect and recycle the water for the machines that cut the stone too, says Roberta. Apart from the eco-friendly production, the life expectancy of Made a Mano product far surpasses that of most other glazed products, which in itself makes it more sustainable.

(Image credit: Kbenhavns Mbelsnedkeri)

Unfortunately, the major drawback to lava stone is that it comes at a price of around $300 per square foot up to $3,000 per square foot and glazed. It's one of the more expensive kitchen countertop materials, similar to that of marble, mostly because of the shipping costs from Europe.

This means there are only a handful of suppliers who work with lava stone, and so you're paying for the experts who know a thing or two about the glazing process. But if you have the budget between marble and lava stone, you might be more drawn to the latter because of its environmental credentials.

Its top of the table range and neither cheap to make nor to buy,' points out Roberta. 'It should be considered a long-term investment. A Made a Mano tabletop will last you for generations, and we accordingly offer a lifetime guarantee on our products.'

(Image credit: Kobenhavns Mobelsnedkeri)

When it comes to cleaning, you'll be glad to know that water poses no threat to the material, and no matter how hard you scrub, your chosen color won't fade. This is because the lava stone provides a non-porous surface, so you shouldn't be wary of stains or damage from chemicals either.

Really, all you need is your cleaning spray, cloth, and a bit of elbow grease. With proper care, your lava stone countertop can last for decades.

Lava Stone Mortar and Pestle

French kitchen marble butter keeper

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I'm obsessed with this new kitchen countertop trend - LivingEtc

It was very exciting to see it finally coming down, Cinquanti said. It's a milestone weve accomplished.

Contractors hired by the city for up to $304,500 to perform the grant-funded demolition reduced the westernmost corner to rubble within about 20 minutes of starting the operation. Officials estimate site work could be complete within as little as two weeks depending on the weather.

The building and stone slab it stands on will be knocked down before all debris is hauled from the property for proper disposal. The site will subsequently be covered with six inches of sand.

Christopher Carpenter, a neighborhood resident and 4th Ward alderman-elect, said removing the blighted building at one of the main entryways to the city marks a turning point for the area.

Thousands of people drive in and out of our city along Church Street daily and that dilapidated plaza is one of the eyesores they see. I want their impression of our city to be more than what's there now, Carpenter said.

City officials agree removing the crumbling building that was abandoned over a decade ago will immediately improve the appearance of the highly visible property.

It's a huge step just getting it down, cleaning up the site and leveling it out, Cinquanti said. It's going to be a positive thing for our city and for the neighborhood.

Demolition was originally expected to be completed last month, but the project faced a brief bureaucratic delay.

To proceed, the city was awaiting final review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of environmental testing conducted at the site. The unexpected death of the assigned federal staffer prevented the review from being completed by the statutory 30 day deadline on Oct. 26.

Conducting the demolition without authorization from the EPA could have jeopardized the $2 million Restore New York Communities Initiative grant awarded to the city for the project roughly one year ago.

The city worked with the state to proceed with the work as an emergency demolition of an unsafe structure without risking the grant funds. Cinquanti added final steps with the EPA will be completed in the coming days, enabling Amsterdam to take full title to the property.

Getting it down is one thing, now weve got to develop it, Cinquanti said.

Following the demolition, the city is expected to launch full marketing efforts seeking developers interested in the site. Previously conducted environmental testing will inform developers of any contaminants identified at the site requiring remediation as part of redevelopment plans.

It's going to be an ongoing process, Cinquanti said. We do have interest from a number of different developers.

The former strip mall was built on top of Kellogg Pond after it was used as an open pit landfill from the 1930s to the 1960s. Lumber ash, brick, household waste and sheens and odors from petroleum were among the materials previously discovered during site testing.

Asbestos and lead paint were also confirmed to be present in the building. All demolition debris will be disposed of in compliance with state and federal standards based on the known presence of the hazardous materials.

It's an amazing start to a new beginning for the 4th Ward. It shows progress and an opportunity for neighborhood revitalization, Carpenter said. The memories will always be there, but so looking forward to what's next.

Since the demolition contract cost much less than anticipated, Cinquanti said the city is seeking authorization from Empire State Development to use the nearly $1.7 million that will be leftover from the grant toward additional studies or remediation projects at the site. He said preliminary discussions have been positive.

Were looking forward to what the future brings to that site. It's been an eyesore for too long and I'm thrilled we were able to get it down, Cinquanti said. Were hoping there is a really positive ending to this story.

Watch the demolition video below:

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Demolition of former Five Corners strip mall underway | therecorder - The Daily Gazette

United Kingdom-based contractor Forshaw Demolition has added two HD Hyundai crawler excavators to its growing fleet of equipment.

The family-owned business, which specialises in all forms of demolition and deconstruction, including industrial decommissioning, asbestos removal and land remediation, is based in Lancashire and operates across the North-West of the country.

The company recently expanded its equipment fleet, which already included an HX520, an HX300A, an HX140A and two HX380A models, with two HD Hyundai HX330A crawlers.

Part of HD Hyundais A-Series product line, the HX330A model has an operating weight of 33 tonnes and is fitted with a 242 kW Stage V-compliant engine from Cummins. It offers a digging depth of 8.2 m, 70% gradeability and has maximum travel speed of 6.4 km per hour.

Chris Forshaw, Director at Forshaw Demolition, said: The 33-tonne machines are just the right size to tackle most demolition projects. From 30-40 tonnes is the main machine for most of our contracts.

Forshaws excavators were provided by Hyundai equipment dealer HES with protective side skirts and additional safety handrails to the upper structure. A full cab protection frame was also included, while rebar cutters were added to the track frames to protect the undercarriage and the upperstructure of the machine.

The company also invested in OilQuick and Steelwrist quick couplers for the excavators, as they enable operators to switch between attachment tools without leaving the cab.

With a busy order book stretching well into next year and a number of major projects starting over the coming months, Forshaws new HD Hyundai will be in use along with a wide range of attachments, including breakers, shears, selector grabs, pulverisers and a magnet.

Excerpt from:
Forshaw Demolition grows crawler fleet - Demolition & Recycling International

Coming up on December 27th, demolition will begin on nine old buildings in Hoopeston. Mayor Jeff Wise says this is mostly concentrated in the 200 block of East Main Street; with six of the buildings pretty much altogether, and three others that are separate. As Wise recently told Laura Williams on 1490 WDANs Community Connection program, the idea is to give incoming businesses a chance to start fresh and create their own structures, rather than needing to put something like $200,000 into rehabbing old structures.

AUDIO: The number of hours it took us to gain possession of these buildings, and to get out the bids, work with the engineers and architects, and get everything together; but this is, honestly, probably one of the biggest projects that Hoopeston has done in decades.

Mayor Wise stated that, no, the railroad world is not what it used to be, and Hoopeston is not located right along an interstate. But at the same time, he sees Hoopeston as a place for unique businesses, and hes got some ideas for the downtown space where these buildings are coming down.

AUDIO: Were going to create one small area of greenspace. Wed love to see, like a stage or something; so if somebody wanted to have like a small, outdoor concert or revival or something downtown, theyd be able to do that. But were going to put the rest of them up for development. We really want to see downtown grow again.

This all comes after the news in early November that Vermilion County plans to provide $600,000 in ARPA COVID relief money for road improvements that will help bring a hotel to Hoopeston.

To hear all of Laura Williams interview with Hoopestons Mayor Jeff Wise, which aired on December 13th, please go to https://vermilioncountyfirst.com/the-community-connection/

PREVIOUS STORY:

Hoopeston Development Plans Clear Big Hurdle

The rest is here:
Hoopeston's Mayor Wise Eyeing the Future; Demolition of Nine Old Buildings Begins Dec 27th - Vermilion County First

By Mike Lednovich

The Fernandina Beach Building Department slapped a stop work order on the demolition of three downtown neighborhood homes because asbestos was being removed without the required permits. Work on the homes has been idled for more than a month.

The stop work orders were posted on Nov. 11 and the homes have not been touched since then.

The homes at 123, 124, and 119 S. Fourth St. are part of the Tringali property development and are future sites for new townhouses.

There are strict state and local requirements for asbestos removal to minimize the release of asbestos fibers during demolition activities involving the removal, handling and disposal of asbestos-containing material.

According to Angie Lester, CRS administrator for the building department, asbestos affidavits have been submitted but not paid for. Jensafe Environmental was doing the work.

Officials at Jensafe Environmental did not respond for comment on the situation.

Its important to note that the contractor has hired Jensafe Environmental who is very aware of the methods to remove and report on asbestos. It appears they are using the wet method for removal, Lester wrote in a Nov. 21 email to City Manager Ty Ross.

She said the buildings were draped and they have removed siding from two structures.

According to local resident Taina Christner, workers were seen in hazmat suits last month removing what appeared to be house siding containing asbestos.

Approximately two weeks ago, my neighbors and I noticed the removal of what appeared to be asbestos shingles from three of the homes on the property. Despite the workers donning hazmat suits and facemasks, none of us observed asbestos safety measures such as wetting down the shingles with water or the use of plastic sheets to contain airborne particles, Christner said. At that time, I assumed the contractors were carrying out the task under city supervision, adhering to all necessary rules and regulations.

Original post:
Tringali Demolition Halted Owing to Missing Asbestos Permits - Fernandina Observer

Emergency demolition work is underway on the portion of the Bronx building that partially collapsed earlier this week.

Crews are working to remove pieces of the buildings floors and ceilings that were left dangling as high as seven stories in the air.

Work on the building, located at 915 Billingsley Terrace, started around 10 a.m. Thursday morning and is expected to take multiple days to complete.

The Department of Buildings said Thursday afternoon that demolition work will be paused at some point later Thursday to allow for residents who live in the south wing of the building to retrieve some of their belongings.

Some tenants will not be able to retrieve their belongings. That includes the Zavaleta family, who lived at apartment 53 inside of 1915 Billingsley Terrace.

For the last four decades, the apartment was a safe haven for the Zavaletas.

Over the years, several family members have called it home. But after Mondays partial building collapse, it is now a danger zone, and therefore being demolished.

So when tenants are allowed to return to their apartments Thursday to get some of their belongings, Diana Vargas and her family will not.

My mother is no longer with us, and I have, we all have specific items to remember by her, and I'm just not getting that back, Diana Vargas said.

Vargas was at work during the time of the partial collapse. The clothes she wore and her work bag are all she has from her apartment.

She said the material items are replaceable, but the thought of never wearing her late mothers jewelry or flipping through old photos of her makes her emotional.

They told us no, like, we can't go back in. And I wish I could get my photos album with her, her perfume, her rings that I had of her. We had a blanket that she left behind. And I am not getting none of that back, she said.

Vargas sister and nephew were home at the time of the collapse. Her nephew was on his way into his bedroom as the floor began falling through.

Though they feel lucky they were able to get out safely, Vargas said they lost everything, and that the landlord and city are to blame.

If that building has so many violations, why do we get bypassed? Like, why was nothing being done? And all the complaints that we made to 311, like what happened there? she said.

Vargas, her family and some of her neighbors have been put up in a Brooklyn hotel by the Red Cross, but they have to check out by 11 a.m. Friday.

She said they have submitted all their paperwork to the city to get placement in a shelter.

We dont got no details. We dont know where were being placed, how far out, Vargos said.

Vargas has reached out to her local elected officials, asking if she can direct emergency personnel to find some of those sentimental items before everything is demolished.

She said she is holding out hope, but doesnt know if that is going to be possible.

Read more:
Demolition work on partially collapsed Bronx building underway - Spectrum News NY1