Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

MANILA - Senator Antonio Trillanes IV wants an ocular visit of the P2.2 billion Makati City office and parking building and invite experts to assess if it is overpriced.

During the hearing at the Senate on Wednesday, real property industry expert and appraiser Federico Cuervo said there many things and processes that must be done to assess the actual cost of a building.

Tapped by lawyer Renato Bondal to support a plunder case against the Binays, Cuervo estimated the Makati building price at P23,000 per square meter.

Bondal said this was way lower than the P84,000 per square meter cost infused by the local government to the project.

Cuervo clarified, however, that it was only a hypothetical costing.

When I was asked to come up with an estimate, we only used the market value The client only gave us a footprint of a hypothetical building, he said.

Asked if the building could have an actual cost of P2.2 billion, he said: Im not aware of the actual cost since I was not there. If there are obsolescences, if it is overdesigned, it was not considered in the market value. I also did not include the depreciation because I did not see the building.

SOIL FACTOR

He said the cost will also depend on the soil where the building was constructed.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay earlier said the building was not overpriced since construction had to take into consideration the area where it was put up, which was near Pasig River.

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Appraiser's estimate of Makati building 'hypothetical'

Developer Provident Realty Advisors is preparing to break ground on the next phase of its mixed-use project on North Central Expressway.

The 42-acre Preston Hollow Village has been under construction since last year at the northwest corner of Walnut Hill Lane and North Central.

Within 60 days, Provident Realty and partner Kroenke Holdings plan to start more than 500 apartments in three large buildings.

The rental units will be constructed just north of where Provident is building a shopping center and office project.

A Trader Joes grocery store anchors the retail center.

Leon Backes, CEO of Provident Realty, said he plans to start three seven-story apartment buildings starting in early October.

Were going to have a total of 511 units, Backes said. Each of the buildings will be a little different.

Ziegler Cooper Architects of Houston designed the apartment buildings.

The apartment development was always planned as part of Preston Hollow Village, one of the largest projects underway in North Dallas.

The mixed-use development is being built on the site of a former rental housing community that was torn down in 2008.

The rest is here:
Construction starts soon on next phase of huge N. Dallas mixed-use project

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Junjun Binay yesterday refuted allegations of overpricing in the construction of a building in the financial district, saying it is no ordinary car park but a world-class edifice.

Mayor Binay issued the statement before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee which is conducting an investigation into the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2.

On the basis of these allegations, the mayor and his father, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, were the subject of plunder and graft complaints filed before the Office of the Ombudsman. Both have denied the accusations.

At the hearing, the Makati mayor rejected perceptions the building was a mere parking building, saying its a world-class office building.

Yan po ang Makati City Hall Building 2, hindi po parking building, kundi isang office building. Para sa amin, hindi pwede and pwede lang. Ang ginawa po namin ay isang world-class building na pinakikinabangan ng mga taong gagamit nito, mga empleyado namin at ang libu-libong residente at kliyente ng Makati (That Makati City Hall Building 2 is not a parking building but an office building. For us, we dont want something mediocre. What we constructed is a world-class building that can benefit any people, our employees, and the thousands of residents and clients of Makati), Binay said.

Gusto namin ipakita na kaya ng Makati na maging (We want to show that Makati is capable of being) globally competitive, the mayor added.

Mayor Binay said their accusers Renato Bondal and Nicholas Enciso VI, both from the Bondal Law Office based their allegations of overpricing based on the data from the National Statistics Office (NSO).

But Mr. Chairman, the NSO is not the final arbiter on overpricing, this has been established by jurisprudence, the mayor said.

Binay also said that to prove overpricing, an actual canvass of similar items is needed. This was the ruling of the Supreme Court in the cases of the Commission on Audit (COA) versus Arriola and National Mental Health Center vs COA. He also said COAs guidelines are very clear.

When it was Bondals turn to speak, he told senators that the Binays made P2 billion from the construction of the parking building, saying the edifice was overpriced by as much as three times the average industry price per square meter for building construction. He, however, failed to substantiate how the Binays made P2 billion.

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Mayor Binay grilled at Senate, refutes overpricing allegation

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) August 19, 2014

Choosing a resilient, quality siding is essential for the integrity of a home as well as exterior appeal. When it comes to selecting siding, its important to remember that not all products are created equal.

Vinyl siding is certainly a lot more durable than its ever been. Vinyl as opposed to wood siding is the same color all the way through, and there are additives to make it fade-resistant. However, when it comes to strong wind, its not a very reliable product. Back in the 2004 hurricane season, many vinyl siding homes had pieces of siding completely blown off. Wind certainly is an issue with vinyl siding, and, exposed to the elements in Florida, wood siding product is going to dry, crack, and deteriorate, says Jared Mellick of Universal Roof & Contracting.

Additionally, since vinyl is not tightly nailed to the home, it invites insects and moisture to build behind panels, potentially penetrating the structure of the home. Since vinyl siding is often installed over old, problematic existing siding, any current problems may continue to get worse.

In his recent article in Lake Mary Healthy Living Magazine, Jared Mellick emphasizes why fiber cement siding is superior to other options.

Fiber cement siding is a great alternative for those who want the look of wood, but not the cost or maintenance associated with it. It is extremely durable and will help protect your home from rot, fire, wind, and insects. This revolutionary material employs weather and color technologies that provide solid protection and a surprisingly varied range of factory-applied colors and textures. Only slightly more expensive than vinyl siding, fiber cement siding is definitely worth considering for a long-lasting, cost-effective exterior makeover.

Universal Roof & Contracting uses James Hardie products inventors of fiber cement siding. James Hardie offers a full line of siding products engineered specifically for the demands that Floridas climatic conditions place on a homes exterior. Due to its impact resistance against hail and windblown debris, fiber-cement siding has been specified by hurricane-zone building codes for building homes in hurricane-, tornado-, and wildfire-prone areas. Fiber cement siding resists rotting, warping, cracking, hail, and high winds up to 150 mph.

James Hardie fiber cement siding is enhanced with Color Plus a baked-on finish that comes in a variety of colors and offers maximum durability and resistance to climate and moisture contact. Moreover, this revolutionary finish lasts up to 2xs longer than field-applied paint and comes with a 15-year warranty.

When compared to fiber cement siding, vinyl siding and wood siding cracks, fades, leaks, is susceptible to warping from heat, and consequently, lacks the durability necessary to withstand Floridas variable climate.

About Universal Roof & Contracting:

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Vinyl and Wood Siding Are Unreliable in Floridas Climate; According to Universal Roof & Contracting, Fiber Cement ...

(PRWEB) August 19, 2014

11. Neighborhood Improvement: Location is the most influential aspect of a homes value. While one cannot literally relocated the home, there are many ways to improve the neighborhood to improve home values for the entire block. Participating in a neighborhood association and neighborhood watch is a great start. Neighborhood associations organize events that increase interactions between neighbors and provide a group to better voice neighborhood concerns as a group to the local municipality. Neighborhood watch groups provide an additional deterrent against crime and act as an extra pair of eyes for law enforcement in general. Often, a home owner could participate for no more than an hour a week to significantly improve the efficacy of these groups.

10. Cut the Clutter: It goes without saying that a clean home is a more appealing home. However, clutter refers to the extraneous stuff that commonly lies around in plain sight. Examples include keys, tools, briefcases, backpacks, notepads, magazines, toys and any other every day item sitting in plain view. Simply find a temporary storage place for these things before a viewing or appraisal.

9. Paint and Plaster: Nearly every home has a few walls with dings or scrapes. Although seemingly insignificant, such spots may tarnish the whole room in the eyes of a prospective house buyer. Luckily paint, rollers, paint brushes, plaster, and a putty knife are all cheap. Painting and plaster repair are very basic for even the newest do-it-yourselfer.

8. Opening New Doors: There are one or two doors for every room in a home and every time someone opens a door they will touch the doorknob. Therefore new and matching door knobs are a clever way to subtly improve every room in the home. It is unlikely, though, that a complete door replacement is necessary as doors may just need a new finish or coat of paint. However, the front door is an exception. A nice front door improves the entire face of the home.

7. Slick Siding: Whether its siding, brick, stone or even the hallway outside of a condominium unit, the outside of the home looks much better if it is clean. Simply spraying the outside down with a hose is another quick way to improve the home that many home owners often forget. Home owners willing to spend a bit extra will see a great return on new siding as well.

6. The Bright Side: Upgrading light fixtures will quickly and easily brighten up a room. Replacing lights is a relatively easy project for do-it-yourselfers, as many complete such a project in less than two hours and only pay for the light itself. However, installing additional light fixtures often requires a licensed electrician.

5. Appliances Applicable: There are two different directions that a home owner may go when deciding the role appliances will play in improving their homes value. The most obvious choice is to buy all new appliances, although this may be rather timely. It is important to give sufficient consideration to how new appliances will affect a price assessment and whether new appliances is the right investment for you. While replacing appliances will certainly raise a propertys value, relatively new appliances can easily be improved with some appliance paint and a good cleaning.

4. Counters and Cabinets: Most real estate professionals agree that the kitchen is the most important room in determining home value and making the sale. One easy way to improve the kitchen is to improve the cabinets. However, replacements are not always necessary. Refinishing existing cabinets and installing new pulls are a quick and easy way to improve the whole kitchen, while leaving the cabinets in place.

3. Better Bathroom: After the kitchen, bathrooms are next in line for determining home value. New tile, showers and tubs can be costly, but there are other ways to improve the bathroom. A new sink and toilet are quick and cheap projects that can add value to a bathroom. Paying the extra $20 to $60 on the new faucet and paying $15 for a nicer seat cover can greatly improve the rooms appearance, especially given the low cost.

See the article here:
11 Best Home Improvements to Quickly and Inexpensively Increase Home Value

Residents got their first look at the schematics for the proposed new Havre de Grace Middle/High School at a meeting Wednesday. (David Anderson/BSMG)

Replacement of the aging Havre de Grace Middle and High School, which one school board member called a "dream come true," reached a significant milestone Monday night, when Harford County Board of Education members voted 6-2 to approve the proposed schematic designs for the $86.8 million project.

Board Vice President Francis "Rick" Grambo and board member Robert Frisch voted against approving the designs, and board member Joseph Hau was absent.

Board member Thomas Fitzpatrick, who represents the Havre de Grace area, said the project is "a dream come true to a lot of people."

The designs were presented to the public during a forum in the Havre de Grace High School auditorium last week. While most of the people who attended were pleased with the designs for the long-desired replacement, several residents said they are concerned about traffic around the combined middle and high school.

The 240,000-square-foot school will be built facing Lewis Lane, and separate entrances for cars and school buses are both off Lewis.

Board member Cassandra Beverley echoed those traffic concerns.

Lead architect Karen Burlingame, of Grimm and Parker, told board members that because of the ongoing flood control and stream restoration project in the Lilly Run stream, which crosses the campus, construction of additional access to the campus from Juniata Street would add about $1 million to the cost of the project.

Superintendent Barbara Canavan praised efforts to design the exterior of the school, which will have a capacity for 1,300 middle and high school students, including 200 for a computer science magnet program, in a manner that reflects Havre de Grace's history and culture as a maritime and industrial community.

"That sense of warmth is important to the community but it also extends itself to our kids," Canavan said.

See more here:
Designs for new Havre de Grace High approved by Harford school board

Lona Carter-Scanlon, principal at Jefferson Elementary, said temperatures in the 66-year-old school would swing from sweltering hot to freezing cold when the buildings original boiler was used.

It was either hot, like 110, or freezing, like mid-40s-50s depending on how the boiler was feeling, Carter-Scanlon said.

For the first time, students at Jefferson wont be dealing with those temperature extremes anymore.

Several decades-old boilers are being replaced by the Helena school district this summer. New boilers are being installed in the Ray Bjork Learning Center, Jefferson Elementary and Broadwater Elementary.

The boiler projects are one piece of the

$3 million worth of projects the school district undertook across public schools this summer, John Carter, director of support services with the school district, said.

The funds for the boilers came from the elementary building reserve levy that voters passed in November 2013. The levy allocates $1.25 million in taxpayer money to building projects to take care of some of the much-needed maintenance in Helenas elementary schools.

Carter said the boilers replaced this summer removed the only remaining systems that operated off one boiler. The replacements were necessary because the boilers were all reaching their last legs, and if one went down, there was no backup that could have kept the schools functioning.

The new boilers dont run that risk.

For instance, the single boiler at Ray Bjork was replaced with three high-efficiency hot water boilers. Not only will the boilers save money by increasing efficiency by 15 percent, up to 95 percent, they also operate smartly, shutting off one or running on low power if the building has enough heat.

Read more:
New school boilers expected to improve learning environment

Ravti co-founder Alex Rangel walked into TechCrunch with a stack of crumpled yellow slipsin his hand. This is what the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning industry still looks like, he said, showing me a stack of papers with unintelligible scrawl.

But Rangel and his co-founder Chris Ginter want to make managing HVAC units easier for property owners by marking equipment with digital tags. Property owners who use these tags will be able to use Ravti to manage all of their units and easily dispatch their preferred vendors to them when they are in need of repairs, without remembering complicated unitcodes.

So far the company has tagged equipment for 30 million square feet of real estate, and they have agreements with a national portfolio manager.

Rangel compared Ravti to software solutions like KAYAK. Just like travelers can use KAYAKto find the best rates for travel plans, building managers can use Ravti to save money and better manage their HVAC repairs.

Ravti starts out by taking pictures of each unit and tagging it with a digital barcode. Owners can then easily select units and dispatcha repair vendorwith the click of a button. The digital inventory of their HVAC units is cloud-based and secure.

And thats no small feat. Rangel tells me HVAC maintenanceaccounts for about 32 percent of the average facilitys budget. He says Ravti can save owners anywhere from 18 to 40 percent on a HVAC replacement because it allows them to buy units in bulk directly from vendors, rather than at marked up prices.

Every building needs it, Rangelsaid.

When Ravti tags a unit, it also gives it a condition score. Rangel says in phase two of Ravti, they hope to implement that informationthey gather about machines conditions to make them more energy-efficient. Ravti is already LEED certified by theUnited States Green Building Council.

Ravti charges property owners for the service by the square footage of the building. Throughout the summer, Ravti has been focused on unit replacements and day-to-day service calls.

Rangelsaid he entered Y Combinator somewhat skeptically as a company in enterprise sales, but he said the experience has surpassed every expectation. He also said working with so many entrepreneurs building consumer-facing apps has helped him enhance the Ravti software.

Link:
YC-Backed Ravti Wants To Digitize The HVAC Industry

PHILIPSBURG - Plans to clean up lead contamination at the Philipsburg Rod and Gun Club's trap shooting range within Black Moshannon State Park will be the focus of a public meeting and public hearing on Sept. 22.

The state departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources are expected to review four plans to address the extensive soil and limited groundwater contamination found on the site as a result of generations of lead shot from trap shells fired on the property.

The plans will be detailed during the public meeting, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Rush Township Municipal Building, 150 N. Richard St., Philipsburg.

"Staff from DEP's Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields program will explain the issue, review the proposed remedial solutions and answer questions," DEP North-Central Regional Director Marcus Kohl said.

The state's preferred alternative, estimated at $835,319, calls for removing lead shot from the site and stabilizing the soil in a way that will decrease the leachability of the lead. Three alternative plans include suggestions of taking no action, of providing an impermeable cap to restrict the lead's mobility or the excavation, treatment and removal of the soil for disposal in a landfill.

An administrative record, including an analysis of the alternatives, is available for review at the Black Moshannon State Park office or at DEP's North-Central Regional Office in Williamsport. Park office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. DEP regional office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

The presentation on the alternatives will be followed by a public hearing, starting at 7:30 p.m., when citizens can offer up to five minutes of comment regarding the proposed remedial actions. All testimony will be recorded and transcribed into a written document. DEP is expected to provide a written response to all relevant testimony. DEP is also willing to accept written testimony of any length.

Anyone in need of specific accommodations to participate in the meeting or hearing should contact Daniel Spadoni at 570-327-3659 or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 800-654-5984.

Read more here:
Meeting to focus on cleaning up range

Maumee, OH (PRWEB) August 19, 2014

Most homeowners enter their houses by driving into their garage more frequently than any other door in the home, so why not make it welcoming? To add pizzazz to the exterior of a garage door during National Curb Appeal Month in August, the experts at Fypon recommend installing decorative urethane trim pieces, such as mouldings, crossheads, pediments and keystones to the garage door surround on the home.

People focus a great deal of attention on the curb appeal of a home, but oftentimes they dont use their main entry door nearly as often as they do their garage door, says Anita Piety marketing specialist for Fypon. We recommend that homeowners treat themselves by making their garage door entrance more aesthetically appealing by adding synthetic trim pieces. This is a simple do-it-yourself project with great results!"

Piety suggests that the first basic element is to surround the entire garage door entry with weather-resistant polyurethane moulding or PVC trim. The pieces are easy to cut and install, plus they resist insect infestations, warping, splitting and humidity. Polyurethane products come with a pre-primed surface that is ready to paint or stain, so no sanding or additional priming is needed before installation. PVC trim pieces do not need to be painted.

As an option to moulding and trim, more detailed pilasters, which usually stand vertically to frame out an entry door, are a great way to add dimension and beauty to the sides of the garage entryway. After installing these, look at the top of the garage entrance.

If homeowners have at least two feet of space between the top of the garage and the roofline, they can get creative by topping off the garage entry with a crosshead, says Piety. These come in very long lengths --- up to 207 inches in width --- to accommodate large garage openings. Or, two smaller pieces can be ordered, installed side-by-side and the gap covered with a keystone decorative element placed in the center.

Because Fypon products are lightweight yet durable, installation is fast and easy for homeowners. Simple tools, including premium adhesive, saw, measuring tape, hammer, nails, a level, a ladder and safety eyewear are all that are needed to completely transform the garage door dcor on a home.

Another way to enhance the garage door is with an award-winning Fypon PVC Trellis System. Available in two sizes to accommodate either single- or double-car garages, each trellis system comes as a complete kit including durable outlookers, attractive beams, lattice and hardware. The trellis system adds architectural distinction to any home and comes in smooth white or stainable woodgrain.

One of the best aspects of adding synthetic millwork and trim to the exterior of the home is that these products out-perform wood in so many ways, says Piety. Both polyurethane and PVC trim are made of a closed-cell product, making them resistant to moisture and insects. Each of the pieces also resists rotting, peeling and crumbling, so once the garage door surround is installed theres virtually no maintenance required to keep it looking warm and welcoming for years to come!

Fypon offers thousands of decorative millwork elements in a variety of architectural styles to enhance the interior and exterior of homes. Each piece is crafted from tough, weather-resistant, high-performance materials that are resistant to decay, insect infestation and water damage for long-lasting beauty and low maintenance. Part of consumer products company Fortune Brands Home & Security (NYSE: FBHS), Fypon, LLC is owned by Therma-Tru Corp. For additional information, call 800-446-3040 or visit http://www.fypon.com.

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Garage Door Dcor During National Curb Appeal Month