Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Chautauqua County has filed suit in state Supreme Court against companies that previously operated out of the countys two airports. File Photo

Chautauqua County has filed three lawsuits against the companies that operated out of the county airports.

In State Supreme Court, the county filed a lawsuit against Jamestown Aviation, LLC, one against Dunkirk Aviation Sales and Services, Inc. and one against Dunkirk Aviation Management, LLC. All three were filed Jan. 28.

JAMESTOWN AVIATION

In the lawsuit against Jamestown Aviation, the county notes it had a lease agreement with them relating to real property at the Jamestown Airport. The defendant terminated the lease on Jan. 31, 2020. The county alleges the following damage at the property:

Building J FBO Office Water damaged ceiling tiles and stained carpets; several lights and lens covers missing and/or damaged beyond repair; rotted threshold on door in back office; cracked window on the ramp side of the Fixed Based Operation office (was covered by dirty stickers); and dirty and chipped paint.

Hanger J FBO Hangar Hangar door and man doors have fully deteriorated and must be replaced and light bulbs need replacement.

Hangar L (hangar space) Hangar doors need repair and servicing; chipping and peeling interior paint; rust at base of structural steel columns; block walls are contaminated with mold and mildew; all exterior man doors have fully deteriorated and are not compliant with state fire codes, and must be replaced; and interior doors to the shop and office need new hardware.

Hangar L (shop/office) Extensive amount of paint is chipped and peeling; block walls are deteriorating due to mold and mildew; exterior doors are inoperable due to rust and omitted maintenance and are in violation of state fire code; restrooms need new fixtures; other plumbing issues; and heating ducts are rusted and gas supply line has been modified in violation of building codes.

In the suit, the county seeks judgment in an amount to be determined upon the trial of the lawsuit.

On the Jamestown Aviations website, the company writes, After serving the community since 2000, Jamestown Aviation has decided it is time to let someone else provide FBO flight support at the Jamestown Airport. As of January 31st, 2020 we have officially closed our doors. We have immensely enjoyed serving our loyal customers and hope that you will continue to visit us at Chautauqua Aircraft Sales, Inc. & Dunkirk Avionics LLC where services will continue uninterrupted. The phone number listed on the website is not in service.

DUNKIRK AVIATION SALES & SERVICES

In the lawsuit against Dunkirk Aviation Sales & Services, Inc., the county notes it had a lease agreement with them relating to real property at the Dunkirk Airport. The county alleges the defendant wrongfully terminated the lease agreement as of Oct. 31, 2017 in breach of the terms and conditions, which require the defendant to be responsible for all the repairs and maintenance of the least premises.

When the county returned Oct. 31, 2017, it alleged the following issues:

Hangar No. 1 Exit sign is missing; main electrical distribution panel is not labeled and has no evidence/record of required inspections/service; exterior paint is peeling; hangar door electrical/mechanical controls work intermittently and require manual operation to remain engaged; hangar door binds and occasionally hangs up; and the hangar is not currently suitable for lease/revenue generation due to unreliable condition of the bi-folding doors.

Hangar No. 2 Hangar door electrical/mechanical controls work intermittently and require manual operation to remain engaged; hangar door binds and occasionally hangs up; the hangar is not currently suitable for lease/revenue generation due to unreliable condition of the bi-folding doors; and the exterior paint is peeling.

Hangar No. 4 Exterior lighting is not functioning, and the hangar door seal is worn, allowing moisture intrusion.

Hangar No. 5 Roof leaks in several areas; insulation is water-logged and deteriorated; and the exterior asphalt shingle siding and roofing is loose and presents hazards to nearby aircraft.

Hangar No. 6 Interior lighting is out in areas; the exterior metal sheathing is damaged at building corner(s); the hangar doors drive train is worn causing frequent door jamming and malfunction; and the leaking drive train oil indicates neglected maintenance and failing function.

FBO Office building Insulation has separated from interior walls due to moisture intrusion (leaks); rust is forming along wall-floor joint; and the heating units are inoperable and beyond economic repair.

The county also notes Dunkirk Aviation Sales and Services remains the owner of an underground fuel system and tanks that are still located on the leased premises. The defendant was responsible, as the registered owner of its remaining fuel system and tanks, for the permanent closing of the facility, including the potential removal of underground storage tanks, as may be required by applicable state and federal law, the county wrote in the lawsuit.

Because Dunkirk Aviation Sales and Services failed to permanently close the fuel system and tanks, the county was required to, at a cost of $53,306.

The county states it seeks judgment against the defendant in an amount to be determined upon the trial of the action.

A company official with Dunkirk Aviation Sales and Services was reached by phone and said they have not yet received the lawsuit and declined further comment. On the Dunkirk Aviation Sales and Services website, it states, As of October 31st, 2017 we have officially closed our doors. We have immensely enjoyed serving our loyal customers and helping people experience the joy of flight. We hope that you will visit us at the Jamestown Airport (KJHW) where service provided by Dunkirk Avionics LLC, Jamestown Aviation Company LLC, and Chautauqua Aircraft Sales & Services, Inc. will continue uninterrupted.

DUNKIRK AVIATION MANAGEMENT

In its lawsuit against Dunkirk Aviation Management LLC, the county notes it had a lease agreement with them as the tenant relating to hangar space. The lease was terminated on Feb. 1, 2018.

The county alleges that according to the lease, Dunkirk Aviation Management was responsible for the taxes, however the defendant had outstanding real property taxes and assessments.

The county also states that Dunkirk Aviation Management was responsible for repairs and maintenance of the hangar building.

After the lease ended, the county noted there were damaged or missing windowpanes, inoperable hangar bay lights, and inoperable hangar heating units, which the defendant was allegedly responsible to repair or replace.

The county states it seeks judgment against the defendant in an amount to be determined upon the trial of the action.

Dunkirk Aviation Management does not have a separate website or phone number listed.

County Attorney Stephen Abdella confirmed the three individual lawsuits, but declined further comment.

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

See the rest here:
County files suit against companies that operated at airports - Evening Observer

National Review

On February 15, Iran-backed Shia militia groups in Iraq fired a barrage of missiles a minimum of 14 at an American base in Erbil, Iraq. One contractor was killed and five were wounded; one American soldier was wounded. That no American was killed was a matter of luck, it seems. The U.S. reaction has so far been verbal only. Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement, saying We are outraged by todays rocket attack in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. . . . I have reached out to Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to discuss the incident and to pledge our support for all efforts to investigate and hold accountable those responsible. Those accountable are sitting in Tehran, and this is a key test of the Biden administration: If the United States reacts with words alone, the Biden administration will show the Iranians that such attacks are cost-free. The only lesson that Irans leaders will learn from such a response is that the Biden administrations desire to return to nuclear diplomacy will permit Iran to put American lives at risk whenever it wishes. If the U.S. reaction is to strike at the Iraqi Shia group that claimed the attack, it will once again play Tehrans game. Iran is pleased to allow those proxies to absorb American strikes while it acts with impunity. An Iraqi Shiite group calling itself Saraya Awliya al-Dam, which means Guardians of Blood Brigade, said it conducted the attack. Which Iran-backed militia actually carried out the attack is largely irrelevant because Iran controls them all. Proof can be found in the way such militia attacks appear to have been called off by Iran in October. Back then, Iran seemed to fear that if an American were killed and then-President Trump reacted against Iran strongly, Trump might gain popularity and win reelection. Attacks by Iranian-backed Shia groups in the pre-election period did not fall off because they ran out of ammunition or decided to take vacations; there is no other explanation except decisions made in Tehran. In November, December, and January (especially around January 3, the one-year anniversary of the American killing of Quds force head Qasem Soleimani), the U.S. government expected the attacks might recommence. What followed was a successful effort to deter Iran, especially after the one Iranian-backed attack in this period: the rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy in December. While American forces and diplomats in Iraq took great precautions to prevent injuries if attacked, the United States delivered clear messages to Iran both verbally and through the deployment of military force. The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz was kept on station in the region after starting to return home, and there were regular B-52 flights over the Persian Gulf. It is in this context that Trump tweeted on December 23, two days after an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over. The messages were clear: If an Iranian proxy killed an American, the U.S. reaction would not target the proxy but would target Iran. What exactly that meant was kept ambiguous; Iran had to calculate risks. And the Iranian regime did so. From the election to the inauguration there was one attack, and after that December attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, the Iranian proxies desisted. And to repeat, there is only one logical explanation for this: Tehran got the message and instructed them to desist. This background explains why the attack on Americans in Erbil is so important. Iran understood the messages from the United States prior to January 20, but what is the message now? Will we hold accountable those responsible, as Blinken said, or will we instead allow Iran to hide behind proxies it controls? If we do the latter, the message to Iran is that such attacks are acceptable and we can expect more of them. These are efforts to kill Americans, and by killing or wounding American servicemembers and contractors to drive the United States from Iraq. The Biden administration should instead adopt a policy of deterrence, warning Iran that it will be held accountable directly. That messaging, plus a clear willingness to carry through if need be, has worked. It did not reduce attacks to zero, but it significantly depressed their size and frequency because those must have been the orders from Tehran. Those orders can be sent to the Iraqi Shia militias once again. It all depends on what Tehran hears from Washington. If an American is killed by an Iranian-supported militia and the United States responds, does that mean the end of diplomacy or a wider war? It does not. The United States has a multitude of military options, some of which would clearly signal to Iran that we have no wish to escalate into a larger conflict but that we insist the Iranian regime stop trying to kill Americans or else. Thats the message the Biden administration should be sending this week.

See the rest here:
Dealing with rain, ice on snow-covered roofs - Yahoo News

A 67-year-old man was remanded in custody until April 16 for putting a couple through a living hell by seriously damaging their Ballinspittle house when he was renting it.

The couple described the living hell they were put through by the cruel behaviour of tenant, Denis OConnor from Hillside, Cappagh, Kinsale, County Cork.

As well as causing an estimated 16,000 in criminal damage by sawing rafters out of the roof and other acts of destruction, he refused to pay rent for 16 months he was in the house.

The owner of the house, Audrey OMahony, said the financial strain due to the lack of rental income from the Ballinspittle house made it hard to meet their own mortgage repayments forcing them to cut back on groceries, clothing and heating. She said stress ultimately led to her collapse on one day and being rushed by ambulance to hospital.

Judge Sean Donnabhin said he had huge sympathy for Ms OMahony.

Noting that defendant Denis OConnor had so far come up with 2,500 compensation, the judge warned him he was facing a jail term if he could not come up with further compensation.

Sentencing was adjourned until April 16 and the accused was remanded in custody until then.

Ms OMahony testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that she believed OConnor cut the rafters on the roof of their Ballinspittle house in an effort to make the property unsellable so they would be forced to sell it to him at a reduced price.

She said the 67-year-old put herself and her husband and family through a never-ending nightmare by what he did from the time he began renting their house from them in 2015.

I believe that it was Denis OConnors intention to get permanent possession of our house without paying us and that he is not the least bit sorry for what he has put us through. His actions against us are inexcusable, cruel and downright wrong, she said.

He pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the house by removing roof rafters and damaging floors and various fittings at the OMahonys property at Duneen, Ballinvredig, Ballinspittle, Co Cork between December 5 2015 and July 23 2018. He also admitted the theft of a fitted kitchen worth 1,000 which he removed from the property to replace with his own kitchen, which he in turn removed when he left, leaving the house without a functioning kitchen.

Garda Cormac Dineen told how the OMahonys moved from the single story cottage in Ballinspittle to their new home in Clonakilty and put the house up for rent and OConnor, a handyman, began renting the property in 2015 and agreed to carry out some minor repair works with their consent.

However, the OMahonys gave him no permission to carry out some of the works that he did, including the removal of 27 roof rafters to use to put a V-shaped roof on a portable building and taking up a hall floor and other actions which left the OMahonys with a bill for damage totalling 16,000.

Garda Dineen confirmed OConnor has no previous convictions and defence barrister, Donal OSullivan BL said his client was remorseful. But Judge Sean Donnabhin queried this as he had observed OConnor shaking his head during the evidence against him.

Ms OMahony told the court OConnor stopped paying rent in April 2017 and told them things were going to get nasty.

See the article here:
Tenant who sawed rafters out of roof and removed a fitted kitchen put couple through a 'living hell', Cork court hears - EchoLive.ie

MULBERRY You can still smell the newness of the seats, drywall and flooring of Mulberrys GEM theater.

The buildinghas undergone a top-to-bottom restoration the past three yearsthanks to City Manager Rick Johnson and a $2 million grant to be repaid through the towns Community Redevelopment Agency.

There were termites and roaches going up the wall, Johnson said.And a hole in the roof ... water was just pouring in and we immediately put anewroof on it.

Johnsonsaid that "rats, cats and bats" had taken over the theater area ofhistoricbuilding. He didnt even want to discuss the rat infestation of a downstairs bathroom after it was closed off and the water evaporated, allowing the vermin to crawl up through empty sewer pipes.Workers fromA-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure, based in Bartow, had to don hazmat suits to clean out the entire building.

Previously: Project to transform downtown Mulberry a real Gem

Trending now: Bartow's famous 'house with the tree in it' will soon lose the tree

Instead,Johnsonpointed out the lovely new blue seats that replaced the old yellow ones, the newcarpet and a floorspacein front of the stage that allows for dining, an orchestra or even dancing something other Polk County historic theaters dont offer.All the upstairs offices, which house several union locals, have been renovated, as well.Rodda Construction, he said, came in 10%under budget and on time.

From 1947 to 1956,Mulberrys GEM theater was the place to be for a Friday night film or Saturday matinee in atownknown for phosphate andBadcock Furniture.The Arnold family owned the theater and, back then, the towns patrons could view movies like CreatureFromthe Black Lagoon and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

But, eventually,television and a drive-in movie theater in SouthLakeland drew the crowds away andthe theaterbuildingbecame office space for theInternational Chemical Workers Union, along with two other unions associated with thephosphate industry.Year after year, the theaters auditoriumspace was neglected until it was simply unusable.

Related: Polk Museum of Art kicks up its heels with 230 works by famed Moulin Rouge artist

And then Johnson came to townas city managerin 2012 and saw the buildings potential as ashowplacefor Mulberrys 3,327 residents, where they could catch a double feature of westerns on a Saturday afternoon or a Murder Mystery dinner theater on aFriday evening, where the visitingLakelandImperial Symphony Orchestra could playor Mulberrys students couldgather for performances.He began asking the unionin 2013 if the city could have it or buy it. They finally relented in 2017, giving the building to the city in exchange foruse of the upstairs andtheir offices being renovated.

Johnson said he is hoping the Mulberry High Schoolbandsbooster club will run a concession stand, with proceeds going to help them.

Bob Macey, an arts and community leader, is thrilled with the theaters overhaul.

It honestly feels right now like weve crossed the threshold, Macey said in a video produced for the theaters grand opening scheduled for Thursday.This is something that is really going to bring out the communityand change it for the good.

In fact, Mulberryis experiencingsomething ofa renaissance. Johnson said all of the sidewalks downtown are going to be redonewith money left over from the construction.The cultural center by city hall is hosting thismontha Highwaymanexhibit, with 20paintings doneby the icons of Floridalandscapes. In addition, the Mulberry Public Library now has a coffee shop. And the towns barbecue festival is scheduled to take place on March 13 possibly the first one in the state in a year, thanks to COVID-19.

In case you missed it: Beloved Mulberry High staff member Maria Hernandez dies from COVID-19

Finally,Mulberry High Schoolis in the middle of a massive$46 million transformation, building a new modern building on the old baseball field and then tearing down everything that was built in the 1950s. The only current structures that will remain are two classroom buildings and the auditorium, which were built about 15 years ago.

While the GEM is ready for business, there are still two things yet to be completed.Johnson wantsthe GEM lettersalong the buildings exteriorbig enough to see from the intersection of State Road60 and State Road 37, the towns main crossroads. He is also hoping to lease out a 1,000 square-foot space in the building to an ice-cream shop something that would support the theater and downtown.

Ledger reporter Kimberly C. Moore can be reached atkmoore@theledger.comor 863-802-7514. Follow her on Twitter at @KMooreTheLedger.

GEM Theater Grand Openingand Highwayman Exhibit Opening

Thursday,11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

118 NW 1stAve.,Mulberry

Continue reading here:
No more 'rats, cats and bats': Mulberry's GEM Theater sparkles again after $2 million renovation - The Ledger

At least 140,000 customers still had no power Tuesday morning as the havoc wrought by a powerful winter storm lingered throughout the Portland area.

In Marion County, another 60,000 homes and businesses were without power.

Portland General Electric reported three substations remain out of commission, 21 transmission lines have been knocked out and more than 6,000 individual lines were still down as of 6 a.m. Despite the efforts of more than 2,500 workers trying to restore service, some of whom were brought in from out of state, the utility could not provide an estimate of when power would return for many customers.

For some, it would be their fourth day without electricity.

In Gladstone, rescue crews were treating six people for potential carbon monoxide poisoning Tuesday morning after a generator was left running an area adjoining a home. Two of the victims were suffering from critical injuries, officials said.

The damage from multiple rounds of ice and snow was not limited to electrical infrastructure, either. Downed trees and power lines have made travel in the region treacherous, with dozens of road closures. Many public transit agencies, some of which had been shut down in previous days, were returning to normal service Tuesday.

In Troutdale, the weight of ice and snow proved too much for the roof of a Safeway store, and it collapsed Monday morning. Customers were inside when the collapse occurred, and one person sustained minor injuries, officials said.

A Les Schwab tire store in Southeast Portland suffered a similar collapse Monday evening, with the roof partially caving in while a cleaning crew was inside. Everyone evacuated, and no injuries were reported.

The family of Antonio Amaro Lopez, a southeast Portland man who was driving on the Glenn Jackson bridge Sunday night, is still searching for answers after it is believed his Subaru SUV lost control on the span, hit an embankment and careened off the bridge into the Columbia River below.

Search crews have been unable to locate the vehicle.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Oregon Department of Human Services announced that people who receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, could request replacements for food that spoiled due to power outages or other storm damage. Households that receive SNAP benefits have 10 days from the date their food went bad to request replacements. For full details on the program, check out the states website.

The Portland metro area was expected to return to normal winter weather Tuesday, with showers and high temperatures in the 40s, but the effects of the storm lingered as many school districts were forced to cancel even their virtual classes due to power outages.

This story will be updated.

-- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale

More here:
More than 140,000 remain without power in Portland area as storm damage comes into sharper focus - OregonLive

Dean Narciso|The Columbus Dispatch

DELAWARE Behind the beakers, safety goggles and chemical vialsinsideOhio Wesleyan University's Schimmel/Conrades Science Center, a team of chemists is conjuring new uses for the ubiquitous soybean.

The workers, includingstudent interns in lab coats, havea singular motivation behind their work:helping, or at least not hurting, the increasingly fragileenvironment.

Airable Research Lab, a three-year-old company funded through the Ohio Soybean Council,moved into the underutilized labs a year agoafter Barry McGraw, a longtime Battelle researcher, asked university officials about the space.

The university agreed to lease it to the company, and in exchange, biochemistry students getpaid internships, real-world instruction and satisfaction in knowing the power of responsible engineering.

The soybean, Ohio's main cash crop, is a high-protein, "good-fat" staple ingredient in everything from tofu to ice cream. But it's the bean's natural oils and extracts that can replace dangerous petrochemical counterparts such asphthalate esters, which are used to improve pliability in plastics.

The Airable chemists already have patented a liquid spray now used by Roof Maxx, a spin-off of Feazel Roofing. The solution is sprayed on asphalt shingles to extend their life, akin to a moisturizer for dry hands, McGrawsaid.

A similar solution is used on rubber tires to keep them flexible and looking new.

As chief laboratory officer, McGraw, 45, a plastics engineer who lives in the small Delaware County village of Radnor, said he was drawn to the challenges of the job.

"It's what wakes you up in the morning," he said, standing beside bottles of livestock shampoos and sprays containing hazardous compounds that the company is looking to improve. "It's being able to have access to cleaners that you don't have to worry about causinghealth problems and other products that may last longer and keeping them out of landfills."

Looking at one of the labels, he added: "It's fairly nasty ... not the best thing to be putting on any animal. Can we replace these components with soy?"

McGrawalso is director of product development and commercialization for the Ohio Soybean Council. The lab is funded, in part, through the council, by a half-percent fee that farmers pay on crop sales which pays for national and local research, marketing and other support for the crop and farmers. A $500,000 budget supports thelab's five full-time workers and other part-time and student employees.

Todd Hesterman farms about 1,300 acresof beans, corn and wheat on his family-run Henry County farm in northwest Ohio.As the soybean council's research chairman, he knows well how global trade, price fluctuations and weather can affect his livelihood.

Research "gives us an opportunity to limit the effect of trade agreements on price fluctuations. Green solutions and bioproducts fall right into our camp and our beliefs," he said of farmers' natural tendency toward conservation.

Many other states and cash-crop councils fund their research through the U.S. Department of Agriculture or universities.

With Airable, "we're saving soybean farmers a lot of money by having our own lab. It's a rare opportunity kind of an experiment in itself," Hesterman said.

The benefits aren't lost on the lab's employees, including research chemist Ashlynn Vander Mer.

"I find that most industries care more about performance than where their materials come from," she said.

Dylan Karis, lead chemist at the facility, is working on technology to remove rare earth elements from coal ash, tons of which are emptied into landfills from power plants.

"I've always been interested in the environmental side of all industries," said Karis, who wasn't satisfied with conventional researchafter earning his doctorate from the University of Washington. "This was focused on solving a problem and giving a bio-based solution."

Soy oil byproducts can replace petroleum-based substances commonly found in plastics, paints, adhesives andbiodiesel fuels.

One lab experiment involvesthe seemingly mundane goal of finding biodegradable label adhesives to be affixed on already recyclable packaging.

"I think the more successes, the more confidence andideas that comefrom those successes," McGrawsaid.

Like other "think tank" operations, McGrawwho oversees everything from marketing to research and negotiating licensing deals with businesses is responsible for knowing when to pull the plug on an idea that isn't working.

"It's a finebalance," hesaid. "If it doesn't work, we quickly move to the next project. There's really no bad idea, as long as you're willing to try it and kill if it doesn't work out.

"It's a bad idea if you keep doing it, and keep trying and spend a lot of money and time on it."

An earlier version of this story had an incorrect spelling for Barry McGraw.

dnarciso@dispatch.com

@DeanNarciso

Excerpt from:
Startup at Ohio Wesleyan University focused on green solutions for soy-based products - The Columbus Dispatch

JACKSON, MI - A new energy efficient apartment building and an old building being given a second chance are award winners in Jackson.

The 200, built by Jackson Downtown Partners, and Christoff & Sons Floor Covering Inc., which renovated the former Toy House & Baby Too, are winners of the 2020 Brick Award from the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. The award goes to businesses who substantially upgrade a building or create a new building from the ground up.

Chamber of Commerce honors Jackson businesses in annual community awards

Jackson Downtown Partners spent around $12 million to build The 200, a building with four floors and 86 units 200 N. Jackson St.

Thanks go to Consumer Energy, and Consumer Energys green energy initiative, said Kevin Thomson, resident agent. It has been very influential in the development that has come together.

Energy efficient apartment building in Jackson eyes December opening date

The 200 is part of Consumers Energys Jackson Smart Energy District, an area of downtown with entities featuring green technology. The 200 features a 130-kilowatt solar array on its roof, with 362 panels estimated to produce 150,000 kilowatts per hour in a year.

The 200 opened Dec. 1, and is a mixture of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. Amenities include a fitness center, community lounge space, granite countertops, in-unit washer and dryers, sound reduction methods between apartments and allowances for pets.

Ted and Tom Christoff were given the award for transforming the iconic Toy House and Baby Too, 400 N. Mechanic St., into their new business location in December 2019

The Toy House and Baby Too, 400 N. Mechanic St. in Jackson, announced on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 that they will be closing. The tentative close date is slated for late December. (J. Scott Park | Mlive.com) MLive Media GroupMLive Media Group

The Christoffs bought the building for $400,000, per city records, and invested well over $1 million in the project.

Historic Toy House building reopens with different kind of retail experience

They preserved the history of the much-loved former toy store while creating a new and store for their flooring business, Ted Christoff said during the virtual award ceremony. The new store provides more space as the Christoffs continue to expand their business from their previous location of 6,000 square feet to a 30,000-square-foot location.

The exterior of Christoff and Sons Floor Covering Inc. at 400 N. Mechanic Street on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. Christoff and Sons Floor Covering Inc. opened in the former Toy House and Baby Too toy store. Mary Lewandowski| MLive.com

Christoff & Sons opened in 1979 and offers flooring and remodeling services, such as ceramic tile, carpets, vinyl, hardwood and upholstery. The business has had clients as big as factories, banks and hospitals, and as small as bathroom renovations or cleaning a couch in someones house.

Christoff & Sons celebrates 40 years in Jackson, moves to new location

Almost 100 percent of the work on both of these projects was done by locally based companies, officials said.

Using local contractors is not only good for the economy and your business, it is good for the community, Christoff said. It brings a sense of pride to the community.

The award presentation can be watched here.

Read more from The Jackson Citizen Patriot:

He pushed through COVID-19 to keep his Jackson business running, now hes earned a chamber award

Jackson County focusing COVID vaccination efforts on seniors, essential workers

Jackson officials tight-lipped on department heads departure

Appointed officials receive high marks on first formal evaluations in Jackson

See the original post here:
Energy efficient apartments, new flooring store in a familiar location earn Jackson chambers Brick Award - MLive.com

Share

Share

Share

Email

When remodeling her basement, Rachael Boyer, president and CEO of The Home Authority, custom-designed the space to meet her entertaining dreams. With a theater, game table, full bar, exercise room, home office and guest bedroom, Boyers remodel fully realized her basements unutilized potential.

From the floorplan to the fixtures and finishes, Boyer offered her professional insight into the process behind the basement remodel.

Theres nothing normal about anything The Home Authority does and so it gives us the opportunity to problem solve and do unique things where other companies probably wouldnt have that ability, Boyer said.

A guiding concept of this basement remodel was to maximize the function of the homes entertainment space. The resulting solution is a fully outfitted basement entertainment area complete with its own private entry.

Home TheaterThe basements home theater boasts an 85-inch TV underlined by a narrow, linear fireplace. The resulting effect is sleek and modern, requiring creative problem solving to be executed so seamlessly. The house is designed with a bump-out. Boyer utilized that extra space to do a reverse design of the TV and fireplace to make them flush and put all the components behind.

Most basements that are being remodeled are older homes or theyre homes that havent been finished before, Boyer said. You just have to plan appropriately when youre picking out your fireplace. Some people want the traditional square fireplace and you just cant do it and get the big TV at the same time.

The home theater also includes a sound system that runs throughout the entire home. Everything is automated off of an iPad system and the sound system can be controlled from any room of the house.

Game TableThe focal point of the gaming area is a beautiful live-edge gaming table with a stream of clear epoxy running down the center resembling a shallow riverbed.

This is a piece thats really meaningful to us for many reasons, Boyer said. Within the epoxy are stones from Boyers grandparents house. Boyers grandmother even put some of the stones into the table herself, adding sentimental value to the table.

The Home Authority creates custom tables using locally sourced lumber. They can custom build a table to best serve the form and function of your space. In the case of Boyers table, it is built with memories from the past and is used as a gathering space to create future memories.

The wood slab of the table was also used to make end tables that can double as additional seating.

BarThis basement also features a full bar designed to be the hub of the space. Boyer designed the bar so that if someone is standing behind it, they have complete sightlines to all other areas in the basement.

A lot of the time, people disconnect in the basement. They have these little areas and not everyone can fit in those spaces, Boyer said. The general concept I think a lot of people miss out on is that everyone wants to see everyone and be with everyone. So we created that space.

Even with the spaces openness, it still feels cozy and personable. Boyer credits this to their decision to do 8-foot ceilings rather than 10-foot ceilings.

Boyer considered the practicality and aesthetic value in all of the design choices.We leave everything wide open because you have no question about where your coffee is, no question where the dishes are and no question where the drinks are, Boyer elaborated on the decision to use primarily floating shelves. It makes it easy for people to feel at home.

An iridescent metallic backsplash paired with thick wooden floating shelves adds an industrial feature to the bar without sacrificing any of the spaces warmth. The prominent use of wood throughout the basement brings a natural element to the modern palette. One can even see the relationship between the natural and the industrial in the bars quartzite countertop, as the slabs markings resemble the roots of a tree.

Exercise RoomJust off the bar is an exercise room complete with mirrored walls, rubber floors and metal barn doors custom-designed by Boyer. When closed, the doors act as a sound barrier, giving the room a spa-like feel. When open, whoever is behind the bar has a direct view of the TV.

Bed and BathThe basement also includes a guest bedroom and two bathrooms. In the bathroom near the entry, Boyer wanted to show how you can maximize your space. I wanted to show what a standard size bathroom is in normal homes, and how you can take out a tub and make a beautiful tile shower and still have a good-sized vanity, Boyer said. People dont realize that because theyre used to their little enclosed area.

The second bathroom is located just off the guest bedroom, which contains one of the most memorable features of the remodel, a petrified wood sink. Past the bathroom is a bright and airy home office with white cabinetry, live-edge floating shelves and a metallic floor that sparkles when caught in the light just right.

Boyers remodel expertly balances both industrial and natural design elements while emphasizing the flow and function of the space.

The Home AuthorityHomeauthorityinc.com 701-936-5610

See the original post here:
Flow and Functionality - Design and Living Magazine - Design & Living Magazine

When Paul and Leslie Kaplan decided to put their water view Northport home of 17 years on the market this winter, their agent, Doris Kason, told them todays buyer is looking for a house that is move-in ready with neutral features.

So, they updated their kitchen, replacing linoleum countertops with beige granite, refacing their cabinets to white with new hardware, and adding a neutral subway tile backsplash. In a first-floor bathroom, they removed wallpaper, painted and upgraded the vanity. They also traded a red carpet in their den for beige.

Two weeks and $15,000 later, Leslie Kaplan said, "I wish wed made these changes sooner so we could enjoy them longer." Their house goes on the market for $899,999 in early March.

Why make that kind of financial investment when you plan to sell?

Buyers in this market are willing to pay more for a renovated home because they dont have the time, know-how, money or desire to do it themselves, said Kason, a real estate associate with Douglas Elliman based in Plainview. "By cleaning up and doing some minor renovations and manageable projects to your home before selling, you may be able to net a significant return on your investment and stand out from your local competition."

That doesnt mean the value of your home will increase by the exact amount you put in, according to Linda Bell, a personal finance expert at NerdWallet. A recent report by the personal finance company indicates homeowners will make back 66.5% of their original investment for remodeling projects completed in 2020. But the upside is youll most likely sell your home quicker and could even have a bidding war, driving the price well beyond asking, said Maddy Camay, broker associate for Compass USA in Syosset.

Just freshening up a few rooms with paint appears to have paid off for a house on Lone Oak Court in Centerport, according to the broker Kim Schultze with Coldwell Banker Realty. She said that there were 16 offers and all but one were well over the asking price. The house went to contract on Feb. 12, 12 days after the offer was accepted.

The best LI real estate news in your inbox weekly.

By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy.

If youre not sure about the condition of your home, Priscilla Holloway, a licensed real estate salesperson with Douglas Elliman in Westhampton Beach, recommends getting an inspection or at least doing an evaluation yourself and then prioritizing what needs repairs. While it may be tempting to skip structural issues like a new roof, Camay said that would work against you when its picked up by the buyers engineer and you have to renegotiate with the buyer for less money.

With cosmetic changes like those the Kaplans undertook, Andrew Smith, vice president of project sales at Power Home Remodeling in Melville, suggested prioritizing the trouble areas and determining an overall timeline and budget. Whats on the outside also counts.

Curb appeal the initial reaction from potential buyers when they see your home from the street has a real impact; brokers believe it takes less than a half-minute for them to make up their mind about going forward.

Here are seven projects inside and out that local experts said are important to buyers and can yield you returns during resale.

Painting your homes interior and exterior gives the immediate perception its being well-maintained, said John Paulik, owner of CertaPro Painters of Huntington, and its one of the easiest and least expensive ways to get a fresh look. Thats particularly true of surface problems like peeling tape seams and poor spackling.

"Sometimes people do their own patchwork fixes over the years, but those stand out and should be addressed either by doing it yourself or hiring a professional," Paulik said. "Caulking also makes a difference, as well as trim and windows. It all gives a clean look."

For colors, he recommends neutrals like bone white, alabaster and light grays.

"Exterior painting can also make a house pop and should always be addressed when there are issues like rotting shingles, fascia boards and soffits, which need to be replaced or will draw an inspectors eye," Paulik said.

Cost: Average $300 a room and $3,000 for the exterior up to $10,000 for the entire interior or exterior

Time: 2 days to a week

Even if its not their dream kitchen, buyers prefer that minor updates are done, said Golie Oheb, associate real estate broker at Daniel Gale Sothebys International Realty in Greenvale. She recommends repainting or refinishing the cabinet doors in white and getting modern hardware, like brushed nickel. Also, replace any outdated countertop materials with granite.

Cost: Hardware, $5 to $10 per pull; refinishing or repainting cabinets, $6,000-plus; granite countertop, $40 to $60 per square foot

Time: About two weeks

This is another area that buyers would rather not have to renovate, Oheb said. That can be as simple as replacing the vanity. "If your bathroom has outdated tile colors, rather than replacing them, get them professionally glazed. So many houses have those 1950s tiles in pinks and blues, but they can easily be made white, bone or almond as can the tub."

Cost: Reglazing, $300 to $1,000; a new vanity, $200-plus

Time: 1-2 days for reglazing; a few hours for the vanity

Old carpeting should be the first to go, said Camay. "If the floor underneath is in bad condition, replace it with an inexpensive, neutral carpet."

Its best if you refinish hardwood floors, said Holloway. "If you have an older, weathered floor it never shows well. Refinishing the floors can change the look of a room immediately."

Cost: Carpeting, $300-plus per room; refinishing hardwood floors, $7/square foot

Time: Carpeting, one day; refinishing floors, 3-5 days

Smith recommends a front-door makeover. You can just apply a fresh coat of paint and modernize the hardware. If youre interested in replacing the door entirely, materials vary from wood, steel and fiberglass, as well as design options.

Cost: Entry door replacements, $300 to $1,000-plus; hardware, about $50 per handle; paint, under $200.

Time: A few hours to a day

Oheb said that landscaping doesnt have to mean extensive and expensive plans. Instead, focus on trimming overgrown trees and shrubs especially those that block windows and removing dead plants and trees.

Cost: Free with appropriate tools or hire a service

Time: Hours to days

The pandemic has made outdoor living spaces a valuable draw for homebuyers who want to expand their entertaining and work areas, said Adam Gipe, the local regional sales manager for New Jersey-based Belgard/Sakrete, which manufactures and distributes paving stones. "That has led to outdoor renovations and repairs of retaining walls, patio spaces and even the addition of firepits," he said.

First clean and seal any existing patio area pavers, Gipe said. Repair any cracks in the retaining walls. If youre going to build a patio area, look for earth tones. Upgrade your backyard look with a fire pit. Adding a woodburning firepit can be as easy as getting a portable kit for about $150 or having one built. If the latter, Gipe said to check with your town codes. Gas firepits require hiring a plumber.

Cost: Cleaning and sealing pavers, about $2/square foot; wood-burning firepit, around $700; gas, about $2,000; paver patios, about $400 to $500 per square foot with a contractor

Time: Projects can be DIY; for contractors theres at least a two-month lead time for three to four days of work.

Real estate agents recommend the No. 1 and least costly step is to declutter. According to Golie Oheb of Daniel Gale Sothebys International Realty, that means packing away anything that will be a distraction to buyers.

Even if you have to get a storage unit, its worth it to present an open feel, she said.

By Liza N. Burby Special to Newsday

More:
7 home renovations that can pay off at sale - Newsday

The aircraft had its roots not in commercial aviation, but in the military. In the 1960s, the U.S. Air Force sought to develop a large plane for cargo and troop transport, and it tapped into the expertise of aerospace companies, including Boeing, to develop one. While Boeing didnt win the contractit ultimately went to Lockheed Martin for the C-5 Galaxythe company was able to take its technological research and transform it into the 747.

Under the leadership of engineer Joe Sutter, a team of Incredibles, as they became known, worked at lightning speed with a paltry budget to build the plane in 29 months. At the time, Boeing directed the majority of its resources to other crucial projects, including NASAs Apollo missions and the development of a supersonic transport, or SST, which was supposed to be the future of passenger air travel. (Only two SSTs ever ended up entering service: the Concorde and the Tupolev Tu-144, while Boeings funding was cut, thus ending the program.)

Boeings mock-up for the Tiger Lounge, complete with the 747s iconic spiral staircase.

The 747 was originally designed to ferry passengers for just a few years, as Boeings SST was being finalized, before being converted into a cargo carrier. And it was that cargo purpose that led to the aircrafts defining exterior design element: her hump. The best way to load freight onto an airplane is straight down the length of the fuselage. They thought the best way to do this with the 747 is to have a nose that tilts up, says Lombardi. Well, if you do that on a conventional airplane, the flight deck is right there in the way. So the way to fix that is to put the flight deck up on top of the fuselage.

And thus the hump came to be, which in itself led to another key design feature aboard the aircraftthis one on the interior. Due to aerodynamics, the hump had to be extended behind the cockpit, leaving an empty space. Pan Am founder and aviation giant Juan Trippe, who had ordered the first 25 747s for his airline in 1966, can be credited with defining that space. Boeing said, Well, we could use it as a crew rest area, and Juan Trippe immediately said, Oh, no, thatll be our first-class lounge, says commercial aviation historian Shea Oakley.

Qantass Captain Cook Lounge for first-class passengers.

Read the original here:
How the Boeing 747 Changed the Way Airplanes Are Designed - Architectural Digest