Friday night, the Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF) installed its new officers. While I have always been a fan of looking ahead, this past year has given us a few moments to look back on. It also has given us a few individuals who have truly shined. I want to point out three. Jack Greer was awarded as Builder of the Year. While many know Jack for his colorful personality, his dedication to our industry is as strong as any I have ever seen. Jack chaired the Parade committees this year and helped BANCF with two very successful Parades. Jack is stepping down from the president’s position at Robinshore, Inc. He will remain an officer of Robinshore in a Vice Chairman position, and will continue to be heavily involved in both Robinshore Inc. day-to-day operations, as well as the Builders Association's Board of Directors.Melissa Murphy was awarded the Associate of the Year. Even if you were living under a rock, I am sure you heard about the impact-fee issue that hit this year. As legal counsel for BANCF, Melissa worked tirelessly to defend the industry, and advocate for us. This award is definitely earned. Last, but definitely not least is Alison Cox. Alison was the BANCF president this year. Following Jim Painter might seem like a daunting task. Jim did a terrific job as president in 2006, and has an aura about him that might make it intimidating to follow him. Not only did Alison handle it without a hiccup, she led the association through one of the most difficult years in memory. There were many things Alison did for us out front and behind the scenes. I want to thank Alison for the dedication and service she has shown us. Hopefully, instead of reading this, she is off at the beach getting reacquainted with her family.
I also wanted to share with you two things going on at Gainesville Ford. The first is a savings that made me do a double take. Gainesville Ford right now has 20 vehicles that are almost 50 percent off MSRP. I went and walked the lot after Joe Alvarez told me that. Mustang GT's, Escapes, Lincoln Navigators, Expeditions, Explorers, F-Series trucks. These were all part of a special purchas of Ford Executive's. More importantly, many are in single digit miles. Joe has been dedicated to our industry, and is providing vehicles at great prices. Who can forget the annual mixer where he gives away a truck? If you are in the market for a new vehicle, give Jim Surrett, the General Sales Manager a call. Let him know that you saw this in the e-news brief and want to support a business that is dedicated to us.
There's another new product at Gainesville Ford that is worth mentioning in light of current events. Ford and Microsoft partnered up to offer exclusively a new service on their vehicles called Sync. Sync provides wireless capabilities so you are focusing on driving, and not your gadgets. My first thought was that this was perfect for my teenage daughter, so she would have her hands on the wheel, and not her iPod or cell phone. I then realized it might be perfect for me as well. It converts incoming text messages to audio, so you don't have to type or read. It allows you to call out the name of a song or artist so you don't have to mess around with the dials on your iPod or CD player. While I am just scratching the surface in my knowledge of this, I heard enough to see what an amazing idea it was, and had to share it with you. To find out more, visit www.GainesvilleFord.com or call Joe Alvarez at (325) 376-5371.
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www.BuildingEdgeMagazine.com
The December issue of Building Edge is available both online and in print. The cover was on Gary Clemmons and GC Construction of Gainesville. The National Feature is on Construction Technology.
Our January 2008 issue is in production. The cover story is on Allen Stine and All America Homes. Our National Feature will be on Home Technology.
February we return to Lake City and feature Sparks Construction. The National Feature will be on Surfaces & Finishes: Countertops, floorcoverings, walls & ceilings. Advertising and editorial deadline is December 29th.
Our Fall 2007 Commercial issue, featuring Ausley Construction , is now available as well. You can view this issue online at www.buildingedgemagazine.com/commercial or call us for a copy.
We are closing this week on our Winter issue, featuring Trunnell Construction on the cover.
The Spring 2008 issue of Commercial Building Edge will open in a few weeks, with Paul Stentiford and Stentiford Construction Services on the cover. Please call us for details.
HOME™: Living in the Heart of Florida:
Our winter issue is at the designer, and the early proofs look great. The cover story will be a feature on Sister Hazel'sAndrew Copeland. Drew exemplifies everything we want for this magazine. He is a North Central Florida native, has chosen to raise his family here, and gives so much back to the community. While we know it is going to be hard to top our first issue, early indications are the next issue is even better. Obviously, you the reader will be the ultimate judge of that. Distribution is now at about 300 locations, and requests for subscriptions have come in from 14 states. It is nice to see that The Heart of Florida is as popular as ever, and I am humbled that we have been chosen by so many, so quickly to be the vehicle to deliver the news on the area. To be featured in this magazine, advertise or just interested in receiving the magazine, please email us at info@advantagepublishinginc.com or call us at 352-372-5854. If you have not seen our first issue, please visit our website at www.livingintheheartofflorida.com
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BANCF Names Awardees
Jack Greer was named 2007 builder of the year and Melissa Murphy was named associate of the year for outstanding work on behalf of the Builders Association of North Central Florida on Friday. Greer, of Robinshore Inc., was recognized for chairing the 650-member organization's Parade of Homes. Murphy, a real estate lawyer with Salter, Feiber, Murphy, Hutson and Menet, was honored for representing the association in opposing impact fee increases. The associate's award goes to a member in a professional field other than building. The association held its 52nd annual installation banquet Friday. Brian Leslie of Charles Perry Construction was installed as 2008 president after Alison Cox of Brice Business Group served for 2007.
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Plum Creek Project Gets Initial OK
A proposed new development that could substantially change the character of a largely rural north Gainesville area got initial approval Monday night when the City Commission approved land-use changes for it.
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Long Focuses on Affordable Housing
A major new initiative for affordable housing will be launched by Alachua County Commission Chairman Rodney Long, who plans to hold a spring symposium on the topic and may propose a new tax on legal paperwork to help low- to moderate-income residents afford a house.
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Area Companies Expect to Add Jobs
More Gainesville employers plan to add staff than reduce staff in the first three months of 2008, but not at the same pace as the previous three months or the same period a year ago, according to a Manpower Inc. survey.
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Ocklawaha Water has Hefty Price
Marion County and Ocala officials received an update Monday on the cost of a plan to potentially pump the Ocklawaha River for future drinking water supplies. The price was not cheap. The total construction costs for a single water treatment plant and 173 miles of pipe to serve 15 utilities in Marion, Lake and Putnam counties was in excess of $811.3 million.
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17th Street: It'll Get Worse Before it Gets Better
Even on good days, traffic can be a mess on 17th Street near South Pine Avenue. But it was worse Monday - and it might not be too good for a while. Construction has begun on a two-year, $24.5 million project to build a bridge over the CSX railroad line at Southwest 17th Street. On Monday, as workers began the job of relocating utilities, a lane had to be closed because of a broken water line.
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A War for the Waterfront
Two years after chaos broke out in this tiny town on the Withlacoochee River on the heels of a proposal to develop its waterfront, a "closed for renovations" sign still hangs from the famed Izaak Walton Lodge. The waterfront property around the lodge is unchanged, and "Save Yankeetown" signs still sit next to carved wooden pelicans and decorative driftwood in many front yards.
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Neither Side Happy with Impact Fee Compromise
In Tavares, both sides of the volatile impact fee debate are still reeling after the county commission's decision to raise existing fees by 30 percent. The real estate development community believes the higher fees approved by the commission will burden new homeowners and further hurt the homebuilding crunch, while school officials and others say the increase is far less than they need to ensure future funds for new schools.
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Dunnellon Advisory Board Term Limits Stir Animosity
A new ordinance placing term limits on boards, committees and commissions is creating hard feelings among some of the city of Dunnellon's long-time board members and resulted in the removal of a Historic Preservation Board member amid door slamming and name calling. In August, the City Council approved an ordinance to limit board members' terms to one 3-year term. At that time, council members said they wished to have people rotate off the board so more people would have an opportunity to serve.
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MCBIA Calendar of Events Click Here>
BANCF Calendar of Events
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Businesses Now Have Coverage Option in Citizens Insurance
Business owners once unable to obtain property insurance coverage have another option now that the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has announced Citizens Property Insurance Corp. can offer commercial policies.
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Energy Providers Seek to Use More Renewable Sources
Florida's energy providers know which way the political winds are blowing as the state demands utilities gear up to use renewable energy sources rather than rely on the energy mainstays of coal and natural gas. The Florida Municipal Power Agency, which includes Ocala Electric Utility and its 54,000 customers as one of its members, also understands, and is looking to Florida's reputation as the Sunshine State to reach the slated requirement that at least 20 percent of utilities' power come from renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal power.
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Affordable Housing Complex Goes Green
The latest in green technology - recycled wood and steel, solar energy - is being used to build Bonita Springs' newest affordable housing community, builders said Monday at a public exhibition.
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Proposed Hike in Builder Fees Shrinks
Three months after Martin County School Board members recommended nearly doubling what developers pay for new schools, they will consider a much smaller increase instead. Consultant James Nicholas now advises that the county add only about 22 percent to its school impact fee, the one-time charge developers pay to offset their impact on schools.
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Putting the Growth Plan to Work
Drawing up a vision for the future of green areas, with growth centered in cities connected by a variety of transportation options, was easy for the How Shall We Grow? effort. Now comes the difficult part for seven Central Florida counties participating in the planning: Reach those goals through the everyday decisions by local governments.
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More Orlando-Area Hotels Are Going Green
The Rosen Plaza Hotel, the Rosen Centre Hotel and six other Orlando-area lodges have recently received state certification for Florida's Green Lodging Program, an effort to encourage conservation practices in the hospitality industry.
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Region's Economy Signals Dec. Growth
Thanks to a second straight month of predicted year-over-year growth in building permits, the region's economy in December is expected to grow more than 2 percent for the first time in a year and a half.
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Company's Rooftop Solar Power Grid Draws Governor's Praise
It's not often a roofing company gets a visit from the governor, but then again, Advanced Green Technologies is not your typical roofing company. The Fort Lauderdale company designs and installs roofs that are environmentally friendly.
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FHBA Members Define Legislative Priorities
Affordable housing, building codes, growth management, impact fees, and onsite and springshed protection top the list of issues that make up FHBA's 2008 legislative priorities. Florida Home Builders Association members defined the list of issues as their 2008 Legislative Session priorities during the annual pre-session Governmental Affairs Committee meeting held in Orlando.
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Crist, Jindal to Work Together on Insurance, Energy, Environment
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Louisiana Gov.-elect Bobby Jinal met as new allies on issues like insurance, ethics, the environment and alternative energy. Crist wanted to encourage Jindal to work with Florida on the push to create a national insurance backup fund. The Republican governors had already begun a good relationship, and the two had already talked by telephone about common issues.
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Rubio Calls Property Tax Amendment a Starting Point
The proposed property tax amendment on January's ballot does not offer enough saving, House Speaker Marco Rubio said, but added he'll vote for it anyway and work on a plan to improve it. A recent estimate of the proposed state constitutional amendment shows primary homeowners who stay put will save an average of $240 a year. A five-year overall savings of $9.2 billion is also estimated.
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Insurers Oppose Proposal to Relax State Reinsurance Requirements
A proposed rule to reduce the amount of collateral required for reinsurance companies to do business in Florida could mean disaster for consumers after a dangerous storm, according to the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies. Reinsurers who don't submit evidence of their financial assets may be slow to pay after a storm, hindering the ability of property-insurance companies to pay claims quickly.
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Fed Rate Cut Will Help Economy
The Federal Reserve Board's decision to cut short-term interest rates by 25 basis points is an important step to ensure the economy is not derailed by problems in the subprime mortgage market, and it is now up to Congress to do its part, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The Fed should be prepared to act again quickly in the event further reductions in interest rates are necessary to stabilize financial markets and reassure investors.
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New Guide Helps Builders Navigate Residential Code
A new pocket guide co-published by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the International Code Council (ICC) provides critical answers to the most important frequently asked residential construction jobsite code questions. Home Builders' Jobsite Codes: A Pocket Guide to the 2006 International Residential Code is a portable guide for homebuilders, contractors, inspectors, architects, engineers and other construction professionals.
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NAHB Highlights Green Products, Services at International Builders' Show
In recognition of the phenomenal growth of green building, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) will celebrate "Green Day" on Thursday, Feb. 14, at the International Builders' Show in Orlando, Fla. On Green Day, the association will officially launch the NAHB National Green Building Program and will unveil the new Certified Green Professional educational designation for home builders, remodelers and other industry professionals.
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Clean Water Act Proposals Go Too Far, NAHB Tells Senate
Proposed legislation that would broaden the authority of the of the Clean Water Act is a leap in the wrong direction, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) told the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. NAHB has long supported the goals of the Clean Water Act, which is called into play when homes are built near rivers or wetlands and when builders take steps to avoid storm water runoff from construction sites. But broadening the scope of the Act to include all waters-including roadside ditches-within its regulatory reach loads on more regulation without a corresponding environmental benefit.
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Housing Market is Stabilizing, Optimistic Realtors Say
Bucking conventional wisdom, a trade group for real estate agents said that the battered housing market is on the verge of stabilizing and inched up its outlook for 2007 and 2008 home sales. The revised monthly forecast from the National Association of Realtors, which followed nine straight months of downward revisions, calls for U.S. existing home sales to fall 12.5 percent this year to 5.67 million-the lowest level since 2002. The group also forecasts sales will rise slightly in 2008 to 5.7 million.
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Many Homeowners with ARMs Stand to Gain
The biggest beneficiaries of the Federal Reserve Board's rate cut will be borrowers with adjustable-rate mortgages linked to one-year Treasury bills, says Greg McBride, senior financial analyst for Bankrate.com. About 1.8 million subprime adjustable-rate mortgages will reset in coming months, often to rates sharply higher than their initial "teaser" rates. The decline in short-term interest rates will make the increases much less painful, McBride says.
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Fed Looks to End Credit Crunch
One day after disappointing Wall Street with a quarter-point rate cut, the Federal Reserve announced a plan Wednesday to inject billions of dollars into the financial system. The Fed is giving beleaguered banks the opportunity to access funds without having to borrow money directly from the Fed at the usual short-term discount rate , which stands at 4.75 percent.
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Home Designs Grows Up
Step-free entryways, extra-wide hallways and showers, and bend-free kitchens are all standard features of today's age-friendly homes designed to meet the needs of the growing 50-plus housing market. Nine out of 10 Americans 50 and older say they hope to stay in their current homes and communities as they age, according to the AARP, the nation's largest organization for that age group. That desire has prompted builders and developers to incorporate universal design features into their plans that let clients stay comfortable in their homes as they grow older.
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Senate OKs Subprime Aid Bill
The Senate moved Friday against the worsening mortgage crisis, voting to make it easier for thousands of homeowners with ballooning interest rates to refinance into federally insured loans. The legislation, approved 93-1, would allow the Federal Housing Administration to back refinanced loans for borrowers who are delinquent on payments because their mortgages are resetting to sharply higher rates from low initial "teaser" levels.
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Remaking Southwest Gainesville
Southwest Gainesville is poised for a massive growth spurt, fueled by two developments that dwarf any other project in the city and a transportation plan that calls for rezoning to create a dense, urban environment in the area.
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Supercenter Opening Delayed
Anyone holding out hope for an early holiday opening of the new Waldo Road Wal-Mart Supercenter in east Gainesville will have to wait. While the original plan called for a discount retailer to be open around the first of the year, the current schedule has it opening sometime in April. Road improvements have been the holdup, including rerouting NE 12th Avenue and having to auire right of way to extend NE 19th Terrace south of the store. Wal-Mart is paying for the road projects.
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Cox Opens East Side Service Center
Local officials praised Cox Communications for contributing to east Gainesville's revitalization efforts during a ceremony to open a 39,000-square-foot service center at the Airport Industrial Park. In the past few weeks, Cox moved into the building formerly occupied by Intu. The media company brought with it 85 jobs based at the center. Another 150 field service workers will be in and out of the facility.
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A Cement Giant Gets Bigger
Lafarge, the world's largest cement maker, said that it was buying the Orascom Construction Industries Cement Group of Egypt for about $12.9 billion, gaining access to new markets where oil profits are driving a construction boom. Investors welcomed the deal, sending Lafarge shares soaring 13 percecnt to close at 121.75 euros ($178.35) in Paris. Orascom Cement is a leading player in the cement and building materials industry in the Middle East and Mediterranean basin.
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Industry-Recognized Education Programs Deliver Elite Training to AGC Contractors
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) announced that it joined an elite group of organizations offering IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for its professional development and training programs for the next five years. This allows for contractors to gain and industry edge and enables them to deliver only the best business practices.
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Federal Contractors Required to Implement Ethics and Compliance Programs
On Nov. 23, four national associations amended the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to require most federal contractors and subcontractors to adopt and promote a code of business ethics. The Associated General Contractors responded with lengthy comments on both the approach that the council had taken and the specific problems that the proposed rule would create.
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Total October Construction Spending Slips; Nonresidential Stays Healthy
The U.S. Commerce Department's Census Bureau reported that October construction spending was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.158 trillion, which is 0.8 percent below the revised September estimate of $1.168 trillion. Total nonresidential construction spending in October was $647 billion, which is 0.1 percent above the revised September rate.
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Use of Building Information Modeling Accelerates
More than a third of the construction project and program owners responding to a survey of owners say that they have used Building Information Modeling (BIM) on one or more projects. The rate at which BIM is being adopted in the industry is also accelerating, the survey reports.
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AGC of Greater Florida Calendar of Events
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Residential December 2007
Commercial Fall 2007
HOME: Living in the Heart of Florida
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