Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

If you live in a major U.S. city and look out over the skyline, chances are good youll see construction cranes. Lots of them. Only twice in the past 25 years have new apartment buildings been going up as fast as they are right now. Thats not necessarily a good omen. The first time, in February 2000, was right before the dot-com bubble burst. The second time, January 2006, came right before the housing bubble burst. Now we learn that builders broke groundon 423,000 new multifamily units inJuly, right before who knows what?

Monthly building data released earlier this week by the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development showed that new home construction overall posted strong gains in July, with the highest number of new home starts in eight months. The comeback largely manifested in an uptick in apartment buildings with five or more units, which saw an almost 50 percent increase in new starts in July over a year earlier. By comparison, starts on single-family homes were up only about 10 percent over the same period.

Thats part of the reason that the Northeast, with its large, dense cities, saw the biggest monthly increase, up 44 percent from June. That matches the analysis byTrulia (TRLA) Chief Economist Jed Kolko, who found that among metro areas, Boston and New York are building more than in the past.

In the 25 years since 1989, the U.S. has started building at an average annual rate of about 248,000 new multifamily units. By that measure, our current 423,000 is a veritable boom. Still, construction in the the U.S. has come at a far faster pace in the past. During the 25 years leading up to 1989, builders broke ground on 467,000 units each year, on average. In the early 1970s, the rate briefly hit 1 million new units a year.

The recent building spree is a response to the current urban housing crunch. For a good part of the last quarter-century, the suburbs absorbed the growing population. They ran out of steam in the early 2000s, and citieswith mass transit and cultural cachethave made a comeback. As these new apartments come online, rents may ease. Just how much depends on just what kind of omen the figures for July 2014 turn out to be.

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Apartment Construction Ominously Nears 25-Year High

WSIL -- It could soon be harder for smokers to get service on patios and in beer gardens at restaurants and bars.

Health officials are considering tightening the state's smoking ban to protect food service workers. But some wonder how effective the move will be.

Smoking has been banned in Illinois bars and restaurants since 2008, but people can still light up outside as long as they are at least 15 feet away from the building.

Now, a public health panel may tighten that rule, ending tableside service in outdoor smoking areas.

"We want to make sure that we're following the intent of the original smoke free Illinois act and that is to make sure that employees don't have to work in second hand smoke," says Ilinois Department of Public Health spokesperson Melanie Arnold.

This could pose problems for restaurant patios, beer gardens, decks and rooftops. If those outdoor areas allow smoking, they'd have to be self service.

Local businesses question how effective the change would be.

Sarah Switzer, Manager at Von Jakob, says second hand smoke is a hazard that comes with the industry.

"I believe that they know that when they come into this job or at least they should or we should make that apparent to them before they start," she says.

Switzer says her business would never intentionally make a server work the patio, if they felt strongly about it.

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Tableside Service in Smoking Areas Could End

(08-21) 17:25 PDT SACRAMENTO -- Your dog can now join you for dinner out under legislation signed Thursday by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, overturns a ban on pets at restaurants. While many cafes, brew pubs and steak houses have long allowed dogs on their decks and patios, technically it was illegal.

The legislation gives restaurants the option of permitting pooches in outside dining areas. Discretion to allow dogs, though, remains with the eatery.

Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada, D-Davis, pushed the bill to clear up confusion about the legality of pets at restaurants. Many places were flouting the law.

The bill got only one no vote between the Senate and Assembly and may not have been a close call for the governor, who is often sighted with the "First Dog," Sutter Brown.

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New California law allows dogs to dine out

Hunters and collectors: (From left) Matt Fishburn, Hartley Cook and Olivia Kwan at Hartley Cook'??s Grafton Galleries Antiques in Rushcutters Bay, Sydney. Photo: Fiona Morris

White minimalism is making way for interiors of a more opulent, layered style, mixing the modern with the vintage, the precious with the bargain and adding pattern, texture and splashes of saturated colour.

It is by no means a return to the past. Rather, on-trend interior designers highlight just one standout piece of antique furniture, artwork or objet dart in order to make a statement within an otherwise contemporary space.

By paring back and working in select antiques, interiors become more nuanced, imaginative and autobiographical.

Jazz-era glamour: An art deco bronze of Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt with the face modelled on Greta Garbo. Photo: Michael Wearne.

Its an eclectic approach that taps into the zeitgeist for the handmade, the eco-friendly and the upcycled.

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A room that displays a sensuous art deco figurine injects a touch of jazz-era glamour; an 18th-century English or French dining table paired with contemporary chairs warms a space; while a streamlined Danish sideboard imparts a sense of cool cat, mid-century sexiness.

A diversity of fine art and antiques will be showcased during the annual Sydney Antiques Fair, being held at Randwick Racecourses Kensington Room from Wednesday, August 27 to Sunday, August 31. Alongside period furniture will be dealers of rare jewellery, sterling silverware, antique maps, vintage posters, photographs and paintings, candelabra, rugs and figurines. All dealers are members of the Australian Antique and Art Dealers Association (AAADA).

Melbourne dealer-decorator Jamie Allpress uses antique furniture to add personality to the interiors of architect-designed homes. That way we can see an 18th-century English oak dresser base teamed with uber-modern artwork or it can mean adding a pair of 18th-century Gothic-Windsor armchairs to a cutting-edge living room.

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White minimalism makes way for opulent interiors

El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles provides County Judge Veronica Escobar, background, and commissioners with information on costs associated with operating the Downtown Jail during a special meeting Thursday. (Rudy Gutierrez El Paso Times)

The County Commissioners Court on Thursday ended negotiations with MNK Architects and authorized county staff to start negotiating a contract with another firm to conduct a study to see if the Downtown Jail has to be replaced.

MNK Architects of El Paso was selected over Wiginton Hooker Jeffry, PC. of Plano, Texas, to perform a study on whether the 30-year-old Downtown Jail can be fixed or a new one has to be built.

But after two months of negotiations, the county and MNK Architects could not reach an agreement.

MNK Architects was charging the county a much higher price than what Commissioners Court had expected almost double, Commissioner Vince Perez said last week. Last year, County Commissioners set aside $250,000 to pay for the study.

Kennie Downing, the county's purchasing agent, now will contact Wiginton Hooker Jeffry, PC to begin negotiations.

Both MNK Architects and Wiginton Hooker Jeffry, PC were the top finalists in the bidding process and their proposals were rated as equal by the county's evaluation committee. Commissioners initially supported MNK Architects because it's a local company and it participated in the construction of the jail.

Downing said new negotiations will start soon, "hopefully next week."

"We are hoping that the company (Wiginton Hooker Jeffry) would negotiate in good faith with us," she said. The budgeted amount, $250,000, was based on an estimate given to Downing by a "very reputable" architect who does a lot of jail designs, she said.

That architect did not participate in the bidding process, Downing said.

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El Paso County to begin talks with new company on jail study

PAXTON The Paxton-Buckley-Loda school board may decide to renovate or replace the district's oldest learning facility, PBL Eastlawn School, as part of more than $23 million in potential projects being considered for over the next 10 years.

At 90 years old, the building on East Center Street is in need of some "major repairs" and is considered outdated for today's learning needs, Superintendent Cliff McClure said.

Addressing the future of Eastlawn has been on the minds of school board members for several years. So when the board hired architects and engineers to prepare the district's required 10-year health/life safety study, it decided to also have them help with planning for the district's long-term future, McClure said.

The board heard a presentation from Gorski Reifsteck Architects in Champaign and the DLR Group of Chicago. Three options were suggested for Eastlawn:

Complete an extensive renovation, building a 6,600-square-foot addition and continuing to keep students in third through fifth grades there.

Tear it down and build a two-story addition for students in grades 3-5 at Paxton's Clara Peterson Elementary, currently a facility for pre-kindergarten through second grade.

Tear it down and build a new school for grades two through five in the grassy area the district already owns north of the junior high/high school complex. Under that option, Clara Peterson would only serve pre-K through first grade.

According to architects, it could cost more than $11 million to renovate Eastlawn, build an addition to the school and complete a long list of work at that facility. And it could cost even more around $19 million to tear down Eastlawn and convert Clara Peterson into a school for pre-K through fifth grade.

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Architects offer Eastlawn options

HARTFORD An advisory panel appointed by the city's development director on Thursday heard presentations from the three bidders seeking to develop land north of Hartford's downtown, a project that would include housing, retail space and a minor league ballpark.

Three developers have bid on the project, though only two have broad plans for the area.

A group led by New York-based LeylandAlliance and Middletown-based Centerplan has proposed building a ballpark, more than 210,000 square feet of municipal office space, more than 600 residential units, and retail space that features a supermarket with covered parking.

JCJ Architecture, Sports Contracting Group, Urban Design Associates, Freeman Companies, BETA, McDowell Jewett, and Greenskies Renewable Energy also are part of the development team. The plan would cost $350 million, city officials said Thursday.

Boston-based CV Properties LLC submitted a plan that includes a new municipal office building, a ballpark and a garage. The company said it would partner with other interested developers "to advance the housing and retail components of the project."

The CV Properties' team also includes Gilbane Inc., Kage Growth Strategies, and HFF Inc. The development would cost $217 million.

A third proposal was submitted by Bloomfield-based Thomas Hooker Brewing Co. The owner, Curt Cameron, has said he intends to build a 40,000-square-foot brewery, restaurant and beer garden on North Main Street, across from the proposed stadium. Cameron's plan would cost $16 million.

Centerplan's bid included letters of intent from two "prominent supermarket operators." City officials on Thursday declined to reveal the operators, but sources with knowledge of the project said ShopRite and Balducci's had submitted the letters.

The proposals from Centerplan and CV Properties both include Hooker Brewery as part of the overall development.

"We want this development to be the catalyst for economic growth and accelerate the creation of a new neighborhood Downtown North," Mayor Pedro Segarra said in a statement Thursday. "We believed that this could be achieved without burdening taxpayers and that opportunity is before us."

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Hartford Panel Hears Plans For Baseball Stadium Development

FAIRFIELD, N.J., -- Designed as a family of architectural slim-line recessed and pendant mounted luminaires common in quality, efficiency and aperture size, Amerlux introduces the Linea 1.5 pendant and the GRUV 1.5 recessed family of LED linear luminaires that can transition nicely from walls to ceiling, to open ceiling applications, with an equally high level of aesthetics and performance. These miniature LED linear luminaires interact from multiple mounting applications in offices, conference rooms, classrooms and other institutional and commercial interiors.

"Our new Linea and GRUV 1.5 family delivers robust illumination while offering clean understated aesthetics and design continuity from discreet linear profiles," explained Amerlux CEO/President Chuck Campagna. "This system unveils a special combination of unobtrusive light sourcing with various mounting capabilities, superior performance, high-quality extruded materials and best-in-class LED technology and drivers."

The Linea 1.5 and GRUV 1.5 share equal components and a miniature aperture that allows designers to create recessed patterns running walls and over ceilings, then transitioning nicely to open ceilings. Available at 5w or 10w per foot, luminaires deliver a high output with up to 650 lumens per foot and a significant efficacy at 73 lumens per watt. Custom-sized lengths are available to meet designers' exact specifications.

Available with flanged or trimless styles, the luminaires can be recessed in ceilings or walls while performing at high levels in gypsum board, Armstrong TechZone(TM), USG Logix(TM), slot and T-grid ceilings, or J-mold for all configurations. Luminaires can be individual or continuous row-mounted using a drawer latching system that provides easy and precise joining of units for straight runs, wall runs for longer runs with J channels, or in T- or L-shaped patterns.

Perfect for direct, indirect or both direct/indirect illumination, luminaires can be cable mounted for open ceiling applications, over desks or over a conference table, with or without a louver, or as architectural decorative lighting above a reception counter.

The system offers the industry's first linear LED fixture designed for use with a louver, for optimal glare control, light diffusion and sight line reduction.

Full range dimming capabilities offered, as well as the option to operate with Lutron EcoSystem().

Other options include a broad array of accessories and more than 200 durable powder coat painted finishes to complement nearly any design scheme.

GRUV is also available in 4-, 6- and 12-inch apertures and with a fluorescent light source, while Linea is offered in other sizes using fluorescent.

About Amerlux LLC Amerlux speaks the language of light for design and construction professionals around the world by manufacturing a broad array of optically superior, energy efficient lighting solutions for the retail, supermarket, hospitality, commercial and exterior lighting markets. Amerlux products and services include track lighting, recessed downlighting and multiples, pendants, linear fluorescents, and custom lighting systems, as well as support for energy reduction plans that can be used as a guide to state, city and local utility rebate programs for maximum energy savings and utility incentives. The company's domestic and international clients receive the support of Amerlux's highly trained specification sales force, as well as expert service from initial design to on-time delivery made possible by strategically located manufacturing, warehousing and shipping locations.

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Amerlux Linea 1.5 and GRUV 1.5 Family Delivers Architectural, Slim-line LED Linear Lighting ...

Miller Stauffer Architects announce promotions

Architects Anneliese Miller and Micheal Walker were recently promoted from associate architect and project architect to partners at the Coeur d'Alene architectural firm of Miller Stauffer Architects, PA.

Both licensed architects are National Council of Architectural Registrations Boards members. Miller is also a National Council for Interior Design Qualification certified interior designer.

Principal partners are Monte Miller and Dick Stauffer. Located in downtown Coeur d'Alene since the firm's inception in 1983, its office offers a full range of architectural design related services.

Edward Jones representative hosting Social Security talk

Debbie Holmes of Edward Jones will host "Understanding Social Security" on Aug. 27 in Rathdrum. Jon Lewis will be the guest speaker. The event will be held at 5:45 p.m. at The Turn Bar & Grill at Twin Lakes Village, 5416 A Village Blvd. To reserve a spot, call Tamie Phelps, (208) 687-5765, by 4:45 p.m. today, Aug. 22.

Stearns joins Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty

Kim Stearns has joined Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty as licensed agent. Stearns was previously the executive director of the Panhandle Parks Foundation. She also has 25 years of experience in high-tech sales, sales consulting and commercial business ownership.

"Kim's passion, dedication and community leadership will prove to be a significant benefit to her clients in this new endeavor," states a press release announcing the career move.

A resident of Coeur d'Alene since 1994, Stearns enjoys hiking, running, boating and visiting the many parks in the area with her husband and two children.

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Movers and Shakers

Johnny Cash (1932 2003) walks inside the gates of Folsom Prison, preparing to perform his fourth concert for inmates there, California, 1964. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Fans of Johnny Cash can now visit the home he grew up in. The Johnny Cash Boyhood Home opened in Dyess, Arkansas, on Saturday, reports Rolling Stone Country. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by members of the Cash family, who lived in the home from 1935 until 1953. The five-bedroom home has been refurnished with retrieved family items and donations.

If Dad walked into the house today, he would have been overcome, Rosanne Cash, Johnny Cashs oldest daughter, said. Many people approach me about starting Johnny Cash projects and I usually say no. But, in talking to Dr. Ruth Hawkins and Arkansas State University, I realized several things, and one is that my children need to know their family legacy. Its so beautiful.

Others in attendance included Cashs sister, Joanne Cash Yates, and his brother, Tommy Cash. Yates cut the ribbon to declare the home officially opened, and the family sang Will the Circle Be Unbroken along with guests in attendance. Restoration work on the home began in 2009.

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Johnny Cash Boyhood Home Is Now Open