Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Drexel University and its real estate partner last month broke ground on the first major development that is part of a $3.5 billion innovation neighborhood in University City.

The universitys enrollment for fall looks strong, with hundreds more submitting deposits and fewer withdrawing this summer compared with last year, university officials said.

And, while Drexel had been projecting a $90 million shortfall for the fiscal year that just ended June 30, it appears poised to end with $50 million more than expected, thanks in part to federal stimulus dollars. The university said it had restored contributions to employee retirement funds and added a 2% lump-sum salary payment for most employees to make up for sacrifices during the pandemic. Merit raises will return this year, too.

READ MORE: Drexel president John Fry on managing his school through the coronavirus

Going into [the pandemic], we had high anxiety, said university president John A. Fry. Coming out of it, we have sort of really high hopes.

Now, Fry, who became Drexels president in 2010, is publicly acknowledging for the first time that, although he hasnt decided the exact timing, this could be his last full year at Drexel. He has two more years left on his contract.

The art of this game is you dont overstay your welcome, he said. Im starting my 12th year. Ill finish that out and who knows beyond that, but not a whole lot more. Its time for the natural cycle of change.

His not-too-distant departure means four of the citys top colleges Temple, the University of Pennsylvania, La Salle, and Drexel will have seen turnover in the presidency within a couple of years.

At Temple, Jason Wingard, a former Ivy League school dean and Chestnut Hill resident, began his tenure this month. University of Pennsylvania president Amy Gutmann has been nominated to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Germany and likely will leave before her contract ends next summer. And Colleen Hanycz left La Salle for another presidency last month. They are among a flurry of college leadership changes happening or expected to happen in the region.

Fry, 61, said hes far from done and hopes to land another opportunity at a college or another nonprofit. Asked if he would vie for the presidency of Penn, where he once worked, he declined comment.

READ MORE: College president as urban planner

He said that over the last year, a number of friends and colleagues have encouraged him to run for mayor.

While I am completely devoted to improving the quality of life and economic competitiveness of Philadelphia, he said, I feel that the best way for me to make a difference to the city is by continuing to build Drexels capacity to be a highly effective and impactful civic anchor institution.

Fry is as much an urban planner as he is a college president. When he was an executive vice president under former Penn president Judith Rodin, he helped bring in a movie theater and Fresh Grocer, created the public Penn Alexander School, and started the University City District, fostering relations among colleges, businesses, and residents. At Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, where he became president, he helped to move a landfill and railroad yard, knock down a huge factory, and launch a major redevelopment project.

At Drexel, he partnered with Brandywine Realty Trust to launch the multibillion-dollar project to turn parking lots and industrial buildings between Drexels campus and 30th Street Station into a neighborhood of businesses, retailers, parks, and residential towers, called Schuylkill Yards. Construction has begun on the West Tower, which will include residential, office, and retail space.

He also upgraded Drexels campus, once named the nations ugliest, and in partnership with the Philadelphia School District, opened a new building near campus that will house two public schools this fall. The district will lease the building from Drexel, and Drexel will provide teacher training and expertise in areas, including technology, instruction, performing arts, and health.

He has had an extraordinary portfolio of accomplishments by any university leadership measurement and I would predict much more left in his reservoir, said Tom Kline, a Drexel trustee and namesake of Drexels law school.

READ MORE: Five years in, a look at Drexel's high-flying Fry

Early in his tenure, Fry negotiated Drexels affiliation with the Academy of Natural Sciences; together, the two have a combined endowment of about $960 million.

A native of New York who has a bachelors from Lafayette College and an MBA from New York Universitys Stern School of Business, Fry also led Gov. Tom Wolfs transition team and serves on the Federal Reserve Bank board.

Fry said he intends to remain at Drexel until he finds other partners to help run St. Christophers Hospital, which hosts rotations for third- and fourth-year students from Drexels medical school. Drexel and Tower Health bought St. Christophers out of bankruptcy in 2019 and have been overseeing the hospital as partners, but Tower, which is selling hospitals as it struggles financially, has indicated it wants to step back, Fry said.

Im not moving until that situation is resolved, he said.

Hes also focused on readying the campus for fall. The university currently is looking into employees returning to the office and recognizes the need for flexibility. In addition to weighing needs of employees and the university, Drexel also will consider the city, he said. If office buildings stand empty, that will hurt the city both in wage tax and restaurant business, and in turn the colleges within it.

We have to think about the whole sweep, because a big part of our pitch is Philadelphia, he said. We get to say, Come live and study and work in one of the best cities in the world.

He said University City faces less strain because it is not as dependent on the hospitality economy as Center City.

One piece of Frys vision building over 30th Street Stations rail yard to allow for more development wont happen before he leaves. Fry said a study Drexel was part of showed the development could be done without disrupting Amtrak traffic. He thinks it will happen some day.

It will be a decade or so out, he said.

Staff writer Harold Brubaker contributed to this article.

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Drexel came through the pandemic better than expected. Now president John Fry is contemplating his next step. - The Philadelphia Inquirer

New research and survey data from Thumbtack and Zillow finds a typical for-sale home could need close to $30,000 of work, which could come as a surprise to a majority (65%) of active home shoppers who are not seeking a fixer-upper. More and more are taking advantage of record-low rates to land in the home of their dreams, as just last week, Freddie Mac reported the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) sliding down to 2.90%.

To help first-time homebuyers prepare for their journey, Zillow compiled a list of the most common projects its teams tackle after purchasing homes through Zillow Offers. Using that list of common repairs, Thumbtack calculated the national average costs to complete each project.

According to the new survey of 1,000 homebuyers, the average millennial expects to pay between $10,000 and $15,000 to make a home move-in ready, when in reality, the study found that homeowners should actually expect to spend approximately $26,900 on these projects. In terms of price breakdown, evaluating, repairing, or replacing HVAC systems is the most expensive move-in project, costing $3,615 on average nationwide.

This research suggests first-time homebuyers typically underestimate the costs of the unsexy projects they may have to tackle before they even move in, said Amanda Pendleton, Zillow Home Trends Expert. That sticker shock may be increasingly common in a competitive market where buyers are dropping inspection contingencies as a strategy to win a bidding war.

Homebuyers said they were most excited about improvement projects that allow them to express their personal style and make a home feel like their own: interior painting ($385/room), followed closely by wallpaper installation ($530/room), and kitchen updates like remodels and renovations ($7,445).

We know homebuyers are most concerned about the hassle of home maintenance and repairs. It feels overwhelming to know where to begin, but also, who to entrust with your most valuable possession, said David Steckel, Thumbtacks Home Expert.

Homebuyers are least excited about making roofing repairs, which cost an average of $800 to evaluate and complete. This is followed by general plumbing repairs ($335), painting the entire home exterior ($2,415), and repairing damaged floors ($315-$1,245, depending on the type of floor). These projects tend to be more time consuming or require a deeper level of expertise to complete, which can make homeowners feel out of their comfort zone.

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New Homeowners Surprised by Unexpected Costs - theMReport.com - The MReport

This week in design, Gen Z is using TikTok to turn their rug-making hobbies into full-fledged businesses, while a new hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland, brings unsavory comparisons for the citys disgruntled residents. Whatever comes next, stay in the know with our weekly roundup of headlines, launches and events, recommended reading, and more.

Business News

Hearst Magazines has announced a newly formed vertical called The Hearst Design Collection, comprising three of its shelter magazine titles: Elle Decor, House Beautiful and Veranda. The rebrand follows a major shakeup on the companys sales and marketing teams earlier this spring, which saw Hearst offer buyouts to some 600 staffers, while titles were reorganized under the new headings of Lifestyle, Luxury, Youth & Fitness and Design. The three shelter books were combined to create the Hearst Design Group in 2013, then grouped with Town & Country in 2019 under the banner Luxury Design Collective with publisher and chief revenue officer Jennifer Levene Bruno in charge. Now, T&C will be paired with Hearsts stable of fashion books, while Bruno continues to oversee the shelter category. All three brands' editorial teams, meanwhile, remain unaffected by the restructuring.

When severe winter weather struck the Gulf Coast region earlier this year, it halted production for chemical foam manufacturersyet even as summer has thawed frozen facilities, the industry is still at a loss for foam. Like many other supply chain shortages, Home News Now reports, the issue is one of unrelenting consumer demand, which has been consistently running above capacity for chemical suppliers since the pandemic began. Further complicating things for the mattress and bedding segment are the ongoing anti-dumping petitions introduced in November, which have largely prohibited mattress imports into the U.S. Analyst Jerry Epperson told HNN that industry insiders arent expecting demand to return to stable levels until June 2022.

The Small Business Administration is rolling back requirements for loan forgiveness by eliminating the necessary review step for borrowers of $2 million or more, Inc reports. The amendment is likely designed to save the time and money involved in processing and approving additional financial information; after more than a year of PPP, the agency distributed $780 billion in funding to more than eight million small businesses. Despite the update, experts recommend keeping financial documents on hand for the possibility of a future program audit.

Block Renovation has announced the completion of a $40 million funding round, with participation from Giant Ventures, NEA and Kelly Wearstler. Through the companys platform, homeowners receive a comprehensive renovation plan led by a project consultant and executed by designers, contractors and vendorsall of whom are vetted by Block. The business was founded in 2017 by a Casper co-founder and former Rent the Runway executive, and has since focused on completing kitchen and bath remodels in the greater New York area. With the new injection of capital, Block is extending its services to the Los Angeles area, with its sights set on building out its platform and construction tools.

The Ever Given has finally set sail again, Reuters reports, after halting global trade when it blocked the Suez Canal for nearly a week back in March. The container ship had remained docked in Egypt until last week, when its owners reached a multimillion-dollar compensation deal for its release. To honor the occasion, the Suez Canal Authority held a ceremony marking the ships departure, attended by foreign diplomats and broadcast live on television in Egypt.

Visa is partnering with cryptocurrency companies to allow consumers to spend and convert digital currencies through its card program, Insider reports. The payments will be converted from crypto assets to government-issued currency on the backend, just like any other Visa transaction, which means merchants wont need to update their point of sales terminals (or even understand what a blockchain is) to process the digital tender. According to the company, the new features are a response to the more than $1 billion already spent in the first half of 2021 via crypto-linked Visa cards.

Billionaire SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is now living in a 375-square-foot prefab rental house in Boca Chica, Texas, TheRealDeal reports. The 20-by-20-foot accessory dwelling unit, made by the Boxabl company, is a studio space, with one large room divided into necessary bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and living room areas. The move follows a May 2020 tweet from Musk in which he wrote I am selling almost all physical possessions. Will own no house. (That wish likely wont be fulfilled until he offloads his 16,000-square-foot Bay Area mansion, currently on the market for $37.5 million.)

ArtSugar offers art prints and home goods aimed at millenials and Gen ZCourtesy of ArtSugar

E-commerce art curation retailer ArtSugar has announced the completion of a $500,000 seed round led by Curate Capital. The company caters to millennials and Gen Z, offering affordable art prints, sculptures and home goods created both in-house and by artists popular on social media. Following an 80 percent increase in year-over-year revenue since March 2020, ArtSugar plans to expand its product line and stable of artists, create in-person immersive experiences and improve customer experience online.

Launches and Collaborations

Angi has launched a new membership program to connect users with home maintenance, improvement and emergency repair services. As part of the Angi Key membership, subscribers will receive discounts on household projects along with the ability to browse various home services in exchange for an annual fee.

Architect Peter Marino has opened his eponymous art foundation in Southampton, New York, the Wall Street Journal reportsa collection of antiques, decorative objects and fine art collected over the last 40 years and housed in a historic structure transformed by Marino himself. Built in 1895, the 8,000-square-foot, two-story exhibition space was once home to a public library, a home decor showroom and an art museum, and has been restored in the last three years to prepare the space for its next wave of visitors.

Swatchbox, the building products sample provider, has teamed up with Behr Paint Company for the creation of Swatchbox Proan online platform where architects and designers can research and request samples. The new service allows users to browse samples and organize them into custom palettes and collections for free next-day and second-day delivery.

Ashley HomeStore has added a new Baby & Kids category, expanding its furniture assortment with cribs, gliders, toddler mattresses and changing tables from brands like Delta Children, Million Dollar Baby Classic, Donco and Little Seeds, Furniture Today reports. The new offerings will also include teen and tween styles, with floor beds, loft-style bunk beds and youth decor.

In a collaboration with Universal Studios, Hygge & West created wallpaper designs depicting classic films like E.T. the Extra TerrestrialCourtesy of Hygge & West

A wallpaper design inspired by Back to the FutureCourtesy of Hygge & West

Left: In a collaboration with Universal Studios, Hygge & West created wallpaper designs depicting classic films like E.T. the Extra Terrestrial Courtesy of Hygge & West | Right: A wallpaper design inspired by Back to the Future Courtesy of Hygge & West

Together with Universal Studios, Hygge and West has debuted a wallpaper collection inspired by classic movies. Patterns include vignettes from films like Jaws, E.T. the Extra Terrestrial and Back to the Future, with imagery such as the sun setting over frothy waves, a UFO landing in the forest and a DeLorean cruising down a mid-century main street.

Showroom Representation

Kravet Inc. has announced it will begin distributing MissoniHome fabrics and wallcoverings through its luxury division in the fall of 2021. The brand will start by launching more than 150 products in showrooms, offering classics and new introductions from 2020 and 2021, including prints, wovens, jacquards, indoor and outdoor products and contract grade fabrics.

Recommended Reading

Greenhouses are a growing trend among homeowners in the U.S., the Wall Street Journal reports, after providing much-needed relief during the pandemics darker months. Once a fixture primarily in high-society households and commercial farms, the glass outbuildings have since become more popular among the everyday gardenerone greenhouse supplier saw website traffic increase by 177 percent over the past year.

Gen Z may be reviving some early aughts trendslow-rise jeans and pop-punk among thembut theyre leaving antiquated email communication in the past. According to the New York Times, a 2020 study discovered a generational gap in work tools, with email prevailing among those 30 and above, while their younger counterparts preferred platforms that promote collaboration, like Google Docs, iMessage and Zoom. Its actually crazy how outdated it is, 24-year-old Adam Simmons said of email to the NYT.

Cue the Applause

The 2021 Emmy Nominations have been announced, and the team from Queer EyeBobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Powowski and Jonathan Van Nesshave secured a spot on the list in the Reality Host category. For the full list of nominations, click here.

The winners of the annual Vision Design + Workroom Competition Awards have been announced, honoring more than two dozen interior designers and workrooms from 10 different states for their achievements in drapery design, motorized window treatment installations, combination and top treatments and more. Brandi and Samantha Day of Day Design LLC in Fort Worth, Texas were awarded with the top honors in the design category, while in the workroom segment, Leslie Excell with Excell In Design Group in Margate, Florida took home the top prize. For the complete list of winners, click here.

Call for Entries

The Black Artists and Designers Guild has announced the new Creative Futures Grant, in which four Black undergraduate and graduate students in architecture, design and fine art will receive $5,000, plus mentorship through BADG and the opportunity to present their project proposal during a members meeting. To apply, click here.

Window Fashion Vision is now accepting nominations for its second 20 Under 40 Awards, open to professionals in any segment of the window treatment industry, including interior designers, workrooms, installers, manufacturers, retailers and entrepreneurs. To submit a nomination before the August 1 deadline, click here.

Southern Living has announced its annual list of Tastemakersa group of 10 women who exemplify modern southern style across the categories of fashion, home, art and beauty. Among the cohort are Stephanie Summerson Hall, founder of Estelle Colored Glass; interior designer Jean Liu; Keith Smythe Meacham of Reed Smythe & Company; and artist and textile designer Riley Sheehey. For the full list of tastemakers, click here.

Homepage image: Kravet Inc. will begin distributing MissoniHome fabrics. | Courtesy of Kravet

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PPP loan forgiveness requirements are rolled back, the foam shortage is here to stay, and more - Business of Home

Made in America: PHCP-PVF Products Manufactured in the USA | 2021-07-08 | Supply House Times This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more. This Website Uses CookiesBy closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn MoreThis website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.

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Made in America: PHCP-PVF Products Manufactured in the USA - Supply House Times

If youre contemplating a new and exciting home renovation project think a loft conversion, total remodel or creating an open plan space and want to take your ideas to the next level, you're going to appreciate all the advice and expertise you can get.

When it comes to any DIY project, from fitting your own kitchen to installing a new toilet, the lines are somewhat blurred when it comes to the parts of a project that you should confidently take on yourself, and when you should be contacting a professional for deeper insight whether you're an experienced homebuilder or not.

Hiring a structural engineer could make the difference between a house renovation that runs smoothly and successfully, and one that is stressful not to mention more costly.

From both a visual and a safety perspective, it's worth searching the Institution of Structural Engineer's database. This free service will put you in touch with structural engineering practices, with professionally qualified staff, so that you can get the advice you need.

(Image credit: stock.adobe.com)

Additional costs are one of the main turn offs with home improvement and building projects. Which is why the fact that it's free for homebuilders and renovators to search the database and find a local structural engineer, is an extra perk.

With no compromise on efficiency or ease of use, only structural engineering practices with professionally qualified IStructE members are able to become a part of the scheme. Meaning that you will only be put in touch with industry experts that are at the forefront of the profession and sure to give your project the mark of technical excellence that it deserves.

New practices are joining all the time so you should find the help you need.

(Image credit: Stock.adobe.com)

As with any sizeable home improvement project, you'll want to ensure that your building is structurally sound and that working conditions are safety assured to industry standards. Part of the service that a structural engineering practice provides is structural surveys. These identify any structural faults and issues (or lack thereof) with a building.

Your structural engineer will work with your architect and contractor to bring your project to life in a safe manner, identifying and managing the risks associated with your project.

Different surveys can be done, depending on the age of the building/property and on your requirements. Structural engineers will then work with your architect to draw up the best plans to achieve your expected outcome.

(Image credit: stock.adobe.com)

Introducing a structural engineer in the early stages of your project can make for an even more successful result. Going open-plan isn't just about joining two types of space together for example. Getting a professional's perspective and expertise from the start could widen your options and elevate your project to a whole new level.

It doesn't stop there. Basement and loft conversions are increasingly popular home improvement projects. Turning unused dead space into a liveable and beautiful area for the whole household to enjoy is one of the most exciting projects around. But these can be complex projects. It's this type of home reno that will benefit immensely from the input of a structural engineer that is able to carry out a full structural survey.

This involves a full inspection of a property to understand the structural behaviour of the building and whether any work could negatively impact the home or surrounding properties and to make recommendations to help you get the most out of your space. The survey will look for any movement or potential subsidence and other eventualities to ensure you peace of mind that work can be carried out successfully and whether the building is behaving as it should.

As with any reno, it's essential to consider all of the eventualities. Unfortunately, if you haven't planned for any spanners in the works a missed alcove or structural issue and if these become a problem mid-project, it can drive costs (and stress-levels) up.

A visual inspection can help produce technical designs and drawings for home remodels. This is fairly brief and designed to understand the general configuration of the main structural elements which in turn, will help finalise plans to help everyone working on your project deliver in an effective and efficient way.

The purpose of a measured survey on the other hand is to measure up the property, to help create accurate technical plans and to draw up any structural calculations needed, usually this can be done from detailed Architects' drawings. A visual inspection shouldn't be needed additionally to this but your structural engineer will let you know if they need to visit, and if they will need access to your property.

From more defined designs to better planning, searching the IStructe database and having a professional's input from the onset is a brilliant way to pull your home renovation project of dreams together successfully, and smoothly.

Read more here:
Why it really pays off to bring a structural engineer on board - Real Homes

BOOK OF THE WEEK

A conservatory is more thana crime scene locationin the classic board game, "Clue."

For one thing, the concept has thousands of years of history behind it. According to Merriam-Webster, the first known use of the word to describe a glasshouse for growing plantswas in the mid-17th century. That parallels with a Wikipedia entry, which states that they originated around this time when wealthy English landowners sought to cultivate citrus fruitsbrought by traders from warmer regions of theMediterranean.

In "The Conservatory: Gardens Under Glass," authors Alan Stein and Nancy Virts make thecase that these structures first appeared even earlier, in Ancient Romeduring the reign of Tiberius.

Stein and Virtsare the founders of Tanglewood Conservatories, a Maryland company that specializes in the design and construction of customconservatories and other glass structures.Filled with evocative archival and contemporary photographs and drawings of landmark structures, the book'sgraceful, accessible text celebrates those who advanced the technology and the architectural majesty of these light-filled structures.

Divided into six chapters, the book begins with Humble Origins, covering the ancient beginningsof the glasshouse, moves into Orangeries for Aristocrats, describing their development by the landed gentry (including that at Mount Vernon, the historic estate of George Washington).

Subsequent chapters are The Glass Palaces of Great Britain, such as the ill-fated Crystal Palace in London and Conservatories on the Continent, which explores structures in Europe, from the Czech Republic and Germany to Paris and Madrid.

The book ends with New World Conservatories, including Longwood Gardens (roughly an hour outside Philadelphia), followed by Modern Glasshouse Marvels, a look at unique 20th- and 21st-century structures, like the undulating Flower Dome Conservatory in Singapore.

At ArchDaily, an international architecture news site, it was noted that "'The Conservatory' makes a persuasive argument for the role of conservatories in our contemporary world." Published in October 2020, Stein and Virts' book has also been cited on a number of holiday gift lists and spring reading roundups.

Last December, The Detroit News included it in a giftlist of home and garden books with Michigan ties, thanks to its inclusion of the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, which opened in 1904 in Belle Isle, Mich. In addition, "The Conservatory"showed up on a similar list of art and design books recommended for spring reading byBoston Magazine.

There, editors encouraged readers to "Trace the origins of these glassy masterpieces and swoon over the leafy wonders they house."

"The Conservatory" has earned an average rating of 4.7 out of five stars at Amazon, where the hardcover currently sells for $42.49; check it out athttps://amzn.to/2UMi2vH.

Lumber price swings force delayedhome renovations

When Allison Glass bought a 30-year-old home in Winfield, W.Va., last June, she knew shed have to update the kitchen. She thought the project would cost less than $10,000. But surging lumber prices during the pandemic forced her to raise her estimate to $15,000.

The price of lumber, which shot up to $1,600 per thousand board feet in May from $400 early last year, is making renovations more expensive especially projects that involvekitchencabinets, hardwood floorsand additions that requireframing. Labor shortages and supply-chain snags exacerbated by the pandemic are driving up those prices and giving Americans who are planning home remodels pause.

Even as prices for lumber futures ease following their peak in May, customers worry about committing to new projects, says Chuck Fowke, a builder of custom-designed homes in Tampaand chairman of the National Association of Home Builders.

From USA Today, June 23; read the full story at https://bit.ly/2Tfuh3x.

Days on Market Until Sale* for May 2021 as reported by the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.

May 2019:66

May 2020: 63(-4.5%)

May 2021: 35(-44.4%)

*The category tracks and compares the average number of days between when a property is listed and when an offer is accepted in a given month. A complete market report is available at NEFAR.com.

Compiled by Homes editor Anne Hammock. Know of a tool, book or news tip youd like to share withShopTalkreaders? Send details to ahammock@jacksonville.com or call (904) 359-4628.

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SHOP TALK: Great books, stats and other helpful news for homeowners - The Florida Times-Union

Redeveloped in 2018, as was the single-family home at 335 Diamond Street next door, the two-unit building at 333 Diamond returned to the market in 2019, listed as a 5,190-square-foot single-family home, with a legal unit/guest quarters, equipped with its own kitchen [and] private entry for friends and family on the homes ground floor, and priced at $6.95 million or roughly $1,698 per square foot.

Featuring an open floor plan, contemporary finishes and multiple outdoor spaces, including a rather spectacular new roof deck with thrilling views of the Downtown skyline, Bay, Twin Peaks, and Corona Heights Park, the list price for the Eureka Valley home was reduced to $6.689 million in the first quarter of last year.

And having been relisted anew for $6.5 million this past March, with an official 1 day on the market, the list price for 333 Diamond has since been further reduced to $5.995 million or $1,155 per square foot, a sale at which would be considered to be at asking according to all industry stats and aggregate reports.

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In the Heights of Eureka Valley - SocketSite

JEREMY Loveridge's appliance repair business proved so successful across North Somerset that he and his family have opened a new appliance showroom in Weston-super-Mare.

Mr Loveridge, stepdaughter Georgia and sons Matthew and Nick recently celebrated the opening of their Weston and Worle Appliances showroom at Unit 24 Lynx Crescent.

They said they noticed a gap in the market in the area for a quality appliance repair services that also assists with end of life of machines, scrappage and replacement products.

Office manager Georgia said: "Since Jeremy had brought me in as part of the team a couple of years ago, business has increased and the showroom idea was on the cards.

"Many customers had enquired about viewing products before purchasing from us."

She added: "Comments were made that larger retailers don't offer the same friendly service or there is far too much choice.

"We aim to provide the friendly, helpful service that the large retailers tend to neglect."

The products stocked include washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers, refrigeration including American style fridge freezers, cookers and ovens.

Mr Loveridge is a qualified gas safe engineer and can also install gas appliances, as well as repair and service boilers and gas cooking appliances.

Sales executive Nick said: "Since joining the team, we have been able to push the boundaries and help our customers, new and old, in a more efficient way.

"We offer free local delivery on all of our products and same day/next day service on selected freestanding appliance installations."

The business is a member of a buying group, allowing it to offer a wider range of brands at more competitive prices.

Mr Loveridge said: "As time moves on, the buying market moves rapidly with it.

"Products are becoming easier to buy online.

"Becoming part of the Sirius buying group enables us to provide better deals on appliances such as matching the prices of appliances online, John Lewis and Currys. In some cases we can be cheaper than them."

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Weston and Worle Appliances opens in Weston-super-Mare | Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News - Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News

Regular Meeting Ely City Council City Hall,Council ChambersJune 15th, 2021

1. CALL TO ORDERThe Regular city Council Meeting on June 15th, 2021 was called to order by Mayor Novak at 5:30pm

2. Present: Council members A.Forsman, Kess, Debeltz, Omerza, Callen, Campbell, and Mayor Novak

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:Campbell/Forsman moved to approve minutes from the June 1, 2021 regular Council Meeting. Motion Carried Unanimously

4. ADDITIONS OR OMISSIONS TO AGENDA:A. Addition 6.B Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry and the Ely Fire Department Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement. Agreement Number: 1424569323.B. Addition 8.F. Projects CommitteeC. Additions 11.E. Partial Payment Estimate No. 1 for the 2021 City Infrastructure Improvements project for $261,567.84 to Utility Systems of America, Inc.D. Additions 11. F Invoice #0005 to Pathfinder Trail Building LLC for the Hidden Valley Mt. Bike Trails for $87,518.70.E. Addition 13.G. Chamber of Commerce Obstruction Permit for the Blueberry Arts Festival and the Chambers Covid-19 Preparedness Plan.Additions A-E were added without objection

5. MAYORS REPORT

6. CONSENT AGENDA:A. Motion to waive readings in entirety of all ordinances and resolutions on tonights agendaB. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry and the Ely Fire Department Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement. Agreement Number: 1424569323.Omerza/Debeltz moved to approve consent agenda items A&B. Motion Carried Unanimously

7. REQUESTS TO APPEAR:

8. COMMITTEE REPORTS:A. Standing/SpecialPark and Recreation BoardOmerza/Debeltz moved to approve the recommendation from the Park and Recreation Board to approve invoice #1191 from Kay-Linn enterprises for the Hidden Valley Mt. Bike Trails for $7500 and the invoice from the Nordic Ski Club for the grooming of the Trezona Trail during the 2020-2021 Winter for $1582.00. Motion Carried Unanimously

ATV Trails & Ordinance Task ForceForsman/Kess moved to approve the recommendation from the ATV Trails and Ordinance Task Force to direct the Public Works department to install 4-way stop signs at West Harvey Street and 3rd Avenue West. Motion Carried Unanimously

Forsman/Kess moved to approve the recommendation from the ATV Trails and Ordinance Task Force to reword the current ordinance to clarify references to ATVs as Class 1 and Class 2 in alignment with state statutes. Motion Carried Unanimously

Forsman/Callen moved to approve the recommendation from the ATV Trails and Ordinance Task Force to approve the following streets as corridor access trails within the city:1. West Harvey St 5th Ave. W. to Central Ave2. Central Avenue Camp St to Pattison St3. Pattison St. Central Ave. to 8th Ave E4. 8th Ave E. Pattison St to Camp St.5. White St. 8th Ave E. to 17th Ave E.6. 19th Ave E. Camp St to Old Airport Rd.7. Old Airport Rd East of Hwy 1.8. Pioneer Rd. Camp St to Grant McMahon Blvd.Motion Carried Unanimously

Forsman/Debeltz moved to approve the recommendation from the ATV Trails and Ordinance Task Force to add Off Highway Motorcycles to the current ordinance and to task the City Attorney to draft an updated ordinance. Motion Carried Unanimously

Projects CommitteeCallen/Omerza moved to the recommendation from the Projects Committee to direct public works to install a four way stop at West Harvey and 3rd Avenue West. Motion Carried Unanimously.

Callen/Omerza moved to approve the recommendation from Projects Committee to submit a bonding request totaling $4,051,000 for the completion of the Trailhead and necessary infrastructure for the hospital expansion, work force housing, and the redevelopment of the old public works garage site. Motion Carried Unanimously.

Campbell/Forsman moved to approve a recommendation to task the City Attorney to draft an ordinance that requires all city residents and businesses to be attached to the City electrical service. Motion Carried Unanimously.

9. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:Clerk-TreasurerAugust 10th Special Election for Mayor Schedule Absentee/Early Voting opens on Friday, June 25, 2021

Fire Chief- Chief Marshall reported on fire calls, and noted that 2 pieces of equipment were not on the Fire Protection agreement, engine #1 and the ladder truck and that was because those pieces of equipment are 100 percent dedicated to The City of Ely.

Library Director- Library Director Heinrich discussed summer programming and announcements regarding the library which can be found on the Library website.

Police Chief- Chief Houde reported on the I got caught program, that encourages safety and helmet wearing, tickets are given for free ice cream from Dairy Queen.

City Attorney

City Engineer

10. COMMUNICATIONS:A. Community Development Block Grant (CDGB) Citizen Advisory Committee-Matter of InformationB. Arrowhead Library Systems 2021 Annual Budget-Matter of Information

11. CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT:Debeltz/Omerza moved to approve claims for payment items A-FA. City and EUC claims for June 18, 2021 $493,169.63B. Partial Pay Estimate No 2 for the 7th Avenue/VA Clinic Site Improvements Project for $153,302.16 to Utility Systems of America, Inc.C. Third Quarter Payment to Ely Community Resource for $5125.00.D. Partial Pay Estimate No 1 for the 2020 Connector Taxiway Project for $297,584.49 to TNT Aggregates, LLC.E. Partial Payment Estimate No. 1 for the 2021 City Infrastructure Improvements project for $261,567.84 to Utility Systems of America, Inc.F. Invoice #0005 to Pathfinder Trail Building LLC for the Hidden Valley Mt. Bike Trails for $87,518.70.Motion Carried Unanimously

12. OLD BUSINESS:

13. NEW BUSINESS:A. Schedule Planning and Zoning Administrator Interviews-Matter of InformationB. Debeltz/Omerza moved to approve the request from Young Life for In-Kind services for the 4th of July Activities in Whiteside Park Motion Carried Unanimously

C. Campbell/Callen moved to approve the mortgage Satisfaction for the Storefront Loan for John D. Mills Revocable Trust that was recorded as Document No. 01276508 Motion Carried Unanimously

D. Debeltz/Campbell moved to approve the Subordination Agreement for Pastika Building, LLC at 131 E Chapman St. Motion Carried Unanimously

E. Kess/Callen moved to approve Resolution 2021-033 Resolution Authorizing Application for Jake Forsman Memorial Scholarship to Apply for Raffle Permit.Roll Called: Council Member Forsman (abstain). Kess-Yes, Debeltz-Yes, Omerza-Yes, Callen-Yes, Campbell-Yes, Mayor Novak-Yes Motion Carried 6-0-1 with A.Forsman Abstaining.

F. Omerza/Callen moved to approve resolution 2021-034 Bonding Resolution for the Phase 3 West End Trailhead Redevelopment District.Roll Called: A.Forsman-Yes, Kess-Yes, Debeltz-Yes, Omerza-Yes, Callen-Yes, Campbell-Yes, Mayor Novak-Yes Motion Carried Unanimously.

G. Omerza/Callen moved to approve the Ely Chamber of Commerce Obstruction Permit for the Blueberry Arts Festival and the Chambers Covid-19 Preparedness Plan. Motion Carried Unanimously.

14. OPEN FORUMJohn Esse addressed the council with concerns on the ATV routes and had some questions regarding 2021 LGA.

15. ADJOURNMayor Novak adjourned the meeting without objection at 6:28pm

Katie RichardsAccount Clerk

Ely Echo July 10, 2021

Read the original here:
Ely City Council June 15th, 2021 - The Ely Echo

For thirty years, Sandra Lord all but lived in Houstons tunnels. By day, she led tours of the six-and-a-half-mile underground system, a labyrinthine mall that connects City Hall with Discovery Green and the largest downtown office buildings. She bought the first of her two parakeets, Bonnie and Clyde, in a defunct pet store under the old Woolworth building (now a parking garage), ate Vietnamese dumplings almost every day for lunch in the Houston Center on McKinney Street, and got her hair done at Reds Barber Shop under Fannin. Now in her eighties and in a wheelchair, she entered the tunnel loop last month for the first time in five years. Uncharacteristically, she was speechless.

In the central connection of the entire tunnel system, at 919 Milam, the fluorescent lights were dimmed and almost all the retail spaces were gutted. For Lease signs dotted many doors; in other businesses, chairs were stacked on the tables as if wed wandered in right before closing and not at noon, during what was once peak business hours. I almost burst into tears, Lord told me later. This area used to be booming.

The story of Houstons tunnel construction is in many ways the story of Houston itself, driven by rapid expansion and a volatile boom-and-bust cycle. Entertainment magnate Will Horwitz first dug tunnels in 1935 to connect three of his movie theaters under what is now JPMorgan Chase Tower, in part to help patrons avoid the Houston heat. As much a showman as he was a businessmanlive hogs occasionally roamed his theatersHorwitz was inspired by New Yorks Rockefeller Center and had the idea to populate the tunnels with businesses.

At first, there were a few shops, a penny arcade, and a German wine tavern. In the fifties, other downtown buildings decided to join the tunnel system and developed their own portions,connected to one another by short hallways, as private malls to attract white-collar workers from above ground. Each section they developedand styled, with little city guidanceis a time capsule of sorts. Just yards apart are turn-of-the-century shoeshine chairs, neo-futurist fish-tank pillars la James Bond, and neon lights and linoleum tiles from the golden era of shopping malls in the eighties. Recent additions to the tunnels resemble Silicon Valleystyle campuses: a remodeled food court under the Bank of America Tower has clean white walls and long communal work tables, a cross between an Apple store and a school cafeteria.

While there are similar underground networks in Chicago, Dallas, and Oklahoma City, Houstons is the largest in the U.S. In 2017, the tunnels served 150,000 downtown workers, and nearly all 125 rentable spaces were occupied. But the coronavirus pandemic stemmed the steady flow of foot traffic through the halls. Like birds picking the gunk from between a crocodiles teeth, the retailers and restaurants have a symbiotic relationship with the big businesses above them. As those corporate employees disappeared when offices wentand then stayedremote, the ecosystem of the tunnels, which are privately owned, has also been threatened.

Businesses began vacating downtown Houston during last years oil bust, and in the first quarter of 2020 the office vacancy rate was around 20 percent. Following stay-at-home orders and months of remote work, that number increased to more than 24 percent, by one measurethe highest in the nationby the end of last year. Vacancy rates now sit right above pre-pandemic levels, and only around 30 percent of all workers are back in the office full-time, according to Angie Bertinot, director of marketing and communications for the Houston Downtown Management District.

That means business hasnt been quick to return to the tunnels. Some major downtown employers such as Chevron laid off hundreds of employees in 2020, not all of whom will be rehired, and others such as JPMorgan Chase plan to keep certain positions entirely remote. A majority of downtown businesses expect to transition portions of their workforces to hybrid in-person and remote work, according to a recent survey. Further, major businesses relocating to Houston that in the past might have opted for a building downtown have instead set up shop in the suburbs, such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise, whose new headquarters will be in Spring; Great Lakes Dredge and Dock, which chose the Energy Corridor; and Maddox Defense, which relocated from San Diego to just outside Kempwood.

After getting her bearings in the eerie silence of the tunnels, Lord directed me to Reds Barber Shop under 1001 Fannin, identifying it as one of the older businesses underground. I had a hairdresser here once, she said. She ended up going to two or three other places, but I kind of followed her around for several years.

The salon was open, but deathly quiet. Ron Gongora, the owner, said he had shut down completely for six weeks around the time of the states stay-at-home order last March. When he opened back up last April, donning masks and concocting homemade disinfectants out of barbicide, water, and bleach because of shortages, the tunnels were a ghost town. Most of the lawyers from the building above him, some of whom had been coming in for lunch-break cuts for three decades, are still remote. We used to see forty to fifty people walk this hall in a minute, he told me. Now its four to five people every ten minutes. Gongora has had to lay off four barbers, and said hes trying to renegotiate a lease that locks him in for the next eight years. If lease negotiations dont go his way, hes considering ditching the tunnels and starting a barbershop in a new location under a different name.

La Dolce Vita Caf in the South Louisiana Tunnel at 1600 Smith was one of Lords favorite lunch spots when she was a tour guide.

Sam Russek

Reds Barber Shop owner Ron Gongora cuts hair in the Lamar Tunnel at 1001 Fannin.

Sam Russek

Shop owners throughout the tunnels told me similar stories. The owner of La Dolce Vita Caf under the Cullen Center Plaza said he thought of vacating the tunnels after his rent increased just before the pandemic. Matt Rowden at Treebeards, a Southern comfort restaurant under Enterprise Plaza, said his landlord let him skimp on rent the whole year. Almost all vendors underground had to reckon with the fact that the fates of their businesseswhether because of a lack of clients or the cost of rentwere out of their hands.

Were trapped in here, said Lucia Herron of Greenworks Flowers, the only florist in the tunnel, about a ten-minute walk from Reds. The shop was one of the only vendors under Pennzoil Place to stay open for the majority of the pandemic, even remaining in business after Herron contracted the virus and had to stay home to recover. Since the store opened in 1995, shes helped decorate lobbies and waiting rooms and conference tables across downtown. But even with vaccination rates increasing, few people seem to be looking for flowers right now.

They used to call the hours between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. the holy hours, Lord said, because thats when everybody from the offices would pour out on their lunch breaks. As a worker in the tunnels, you couldnt take a break then. You werent allowed. Now, said Delores Rodriguez at Amilles Coffee, on 1600 Smith, foot traffic dies down completely on Fridays after 12 p.m. Because of low wages, many of her fellow employees are working fewer than thirty hours per week so they can continue to meet unemployment requirements.

This isnt the first time the businesses in the tunnels have fallen on hard times. During the oil crisis of the early- to mid-eighties, the citys downtown had a vacancy rate of nearly 50 percent. Then, in the late nineties, Lord said, shop owners flocked to open kiosks near the Enron building; when the company went bankrupt, owners cut their losses and fled to other locations within the tunnels as fast as they could.

Lord also remembers visiting the tunnels a week after Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. Water had flowed in through the Theater District Garage into one side of the tunnels on the edge of Buffalo Bayou, nearly reaching the central loop at 919 Milam. Many businesses had to close for repairs. But despite the severity of the damage in that side of the tunnels, she said, the majority of the system was up and running days later.

As Lord and I walked the halls, sometimes wed still happen upon floors with old flood lines on the walls up to our knees, some complete with newly installed air locks like those inside a submarine. In the tunnels it never rains, Lord told me, but sometimes it drips. Adaptations almost always come late. But this time, Lord doubts the tunnels will ever be the same. I dont think theyll ever bounce back the way they did in the nineties and 2000s, she said. I dont think itll disappear. It just wont be essential anymore.

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Remote Work in Downtown High-rises Is Killing the Businesses in Houstons Tunnels - Texas Monthly