This past week was a busy week. Our ribbon cutting and open house was a great success. I was thrilled and overwhelmed by the number of people who attended. I am thankful for all of the positive feedback shared with us about our publications, and feel we are on the right track bringing to you publications that promote our industry as they deserve to be. I was touched by so many of the people who were there, who I first met through business, and I now consider friends. David Johnston took some great pictures at our event. Here are some pictures if you want to view them.
Emerson Clauss' fundraiser for the Marion County Commission in Marion County kicked off with a bang. Obviously, there is a long way to go. To participate, please contact Lisa at (352) 629-8922.
The BANCF Parade of Homes™ completed Sunday, and the MCBIA Parade of Homes™ has one more week. Information shared with us is that traffic has been terrific in both Gainesville and Ocala. As important as traffic is, legitimate buyers is the key. We have heard from both builders and Realtors that there is genuine interest, and that is great news. I know of a number of contracts that were written on parade homes from attendees this year. Here are some pictures of the parade in Gainesville. We will add Ocala pictures next week.
We finished our week with the hiring of Andrea Huegel. Andrea is a Gainesville native who has a passion for sales and networking. After receiving her Master's in Education from the University of Florida, Andrea has been teaching fifth grade at Hidden Oak Elementary. In addition, she has been working as part of the sales staff for Robinshore. Upon completion of the school year, Andrea will join us full time. With the addition of Lisa Blinn and Andrea Huegel, we feel we are better equipped to meet your needs. It has been almost impossible for Kyle and I to cover all of the events and meeting the needs of the building industry. With Lisa joining us full time covering Ocala/The Villages, Andrea working full time covering Gainesville/Lake City and our incredible part time sales staff, we feel that we have the team in place to provide proper coverage. With Holly Christensen writing for us, my editor David Greenberg and our editorial team will make sure you are continuing to receive the most up-to-date news and best service available. If you have an event you would like to see covered or a newsworthy item you would like to see in print, please let us know!
Habitat for Humanity in Marion County is looking for a few good women. The Women Build Program is holding an information meeting Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Ocala Police Department, and an initial wall raising/kickoff on May 10. With women crews building anywhere from 140 to 200 homes per year, there is great potential here. To learn more, call (352) 351-4663, or go to the informational meeting.
Wednesday is Ro-Mac Lumber's grand opening in Ocala. I hope to see many of you there. Wednesday is also the open house for the Ronald McDonald House in Gainesville. As many of you know, I have a very soft spot for children's charities. The Ronald McDonald House, along with the Child Advocacy Center are two charities that mean the world to me, and I am pleased to do whatever I can to support them.
Marty read your letters and enjoyed them so much! He is SO grateful for your prayers and your love and the fact that you care so much to write. He's doing very well and it's obvious he's working hard. He's talking and joking and he is pretty much right on target with his thoughts and memories. He's not walking unassisted yet, but in time, he'll be over that hurdle as well! He does use his walker but mostly he drives his wheelchair, and is quite good at it too. His room at Brooks is large, bright and a lot like a nice hotel. The staff are attentive, helpful and they really like Marty. How can anyone NOT like Marty?
Finally, if any of you see my wife this week, please offer her your condolences. Thursday, we celebrate nine years of marriage. For some strange reason, she sometimes still believes she got the better part of the deal (or at least that is what she tells me). How I have kept her that long is a surprise to many, me included. She truly is the best thing that ever happened to me, and I am lucky to have her. Without her, I never would have had the courage and resolve to launch my own company. |
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www.BuildingEdgeMagazine.com
Our April issue, with its annual spotlight on the Builders of the Parade of Homes™, is online, and should have been received in the mail by now. This was our first ever Buyer's Guide issue as well. The early feedback has been strong, and I look forward to hearing your opinion.
Our May issue, featuring The Enclave Apartments developed by Collier Enterprises, and constructed by Davis and Sons Construction is almost finished in production. The National Feature will be on Outdoor Living: decking, landscaping, fencing, outdoor lighting, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces. Look for this issue to arrive in early May.
June closes this week. Our feature is on Claeys Construction. I am very excited to share this story with you. Jim and Sarah are exceptional at what they do. Their parade house this year had quite a bit of the "Wow Factor". I look forward to sharing it with you. The National Feature will be on Doors: entry, interior, patio and overhead. This will be the issue that we recap the Spring Parade of Homes™.
The Spring 2008 issue of Commercial Building Edge is online, and should have been received in the mail. 2007 Marion County Small Business of the Year Stentiford Construction Services, led by Paul Stentiford is our cover story. We are also in the process of developing a website for Paul and his team. Bookmark this site at www.stentifordconstruction.net.
The Summer issue of Commercial Building Edge, featuring Brian Crawford, owner of Concept Construction of North Florida opens for sales this week. Brian is also the president of the Columbia County Builders Association. We look forward to our first Columbia County Commercial issue. To participate, please give us a call.
HOME™: Living in the Heart of Florida:
Our Spring issue of HOME: Living in the Heart of Florida is out and in circulation. Judging by the response, it is a hit. We are constantly on the go - restocking our distribution points. It has been a busy month! This issue should take us over 500 distribution points. Those include the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, Ocala Marion County Chamber of Commerce, Newberry/Jonesville Chamber of Commerce, Williston Chamber of Commerce and the Gainesville Regional Airport. It can also be seen online at www.LivingintheHeartofFlorida.com. In addition to our cover story on Paige Beck, this issue is filled with articles about the home and community. Each quarter, we get more calls asking for copies to be made available at different locations. Mica Works just delivered new racks for us, so if you would like to have HOME displayed in your place of employment, please let us know. Everyone who knows Paige knows how truly genuine her heart is. I think that is part of the reason we can't keep the magazines stocked. If you would like to get a copy, please call us today. At the rate we are going, we may be out by the 1st of May. (352) 372-5854 in Gainesville, (352) 368-1707 in Ocala. www.LivingintheHeartofFlorida.com.
The Summer issue of HOME is open for sales. Our cover story will be on Judy and Davis Rembert. Look for more information in the coming weeks on some of the special features we plan on doing in this issue.
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Ro-mac Lumber & Supply to Open Ocala Showroom
Ro-mac Lumber & Supply will hold a grand opening of its newest door and window showroom in Ocala next Wednesday. Scheduled for April 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the new showroom, 1432 SW 15th Ave., the event will include manufactures' vendors, as well as door prizes and a lot of fun. Ro-mac supplies all the leading names in doors and windows, as well as custom services.
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SW 8th Avenue to Get a Makeover
Resurfacing will begin soon on SW 8th Avenue between Tower Road and SW 122nd Street, under a $2 million bid accepted by the Alachua County Commission Tuesday. The work should begin in about a month, take about four months to complete and provide 10 to 15 years of life for the road, said Assistant Public Works Director Dave Cerlanek. "If anybody has driven this road, it is pretty bad. The base layer is failing in some areas," Cerlanek said. "We will be adding a 4-foot paved shoulder, which could be used as a bike lane." Traffic will be disrupted with lane closures during the work. Cerlanek said officials contemplated a complete reconstruction of the road that would have included undercutting the base. That would have caused closure to the road during the work and would have added $1 million to the cost, but it would have extended the road life by an extra 10 years. Cerlanek said the work will instead include deep milling and the use of more asphalt as a layer under the top layer.
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Real Estate Shows Signs of a Pulse
With the state and local real estate markets showing signs of a pulse, some Gainesville home sellers are trying to shock it all the way back to life with incentives that range from $50,000 discounts on new homes to matching the amount of a buyer's tax rebate. Emmer Development Corp. is offering up to $50,000 off the list price and up to 2 percent toward closing costs for using preferred lenders to try to sell 11 new homes in the Portofino subdivision off SW 24th Avenue and Tower Road Friday through Sunday. The homes start at $260,000. President Lori McGriff said the offer is a first for the company. "Nowadays we have to get real creative. We can't just wait for people to come in the doors," she said. "We're just trying to see if we can jumpstart people who are on the fence to see if they will buy a house or not." ERA Trend Realty in Gainesville used its creative energy to come up with a match for buyers who bring in their tax rebate that starts May 2 from Congress' economic stimulus package.
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Marion Oaks Discusses City Structure
It will be determined in the next few weeks what type of government would work best should Marion Oaks become the county's newest municipality. Drafting a charter and completing a feasibility study are the first critical steps. The $30,000 price tag for the study was raised by the Marion Oaks Incorporation Coalition, with $15,000 in matching funds from the Marion County Commission. A committee of nine Marion Oaks residents, six women and three men, will draft the charter. Marilyn Crotty, director of the University of Central Florida Institute of Government, which is contracted to help draft the charter and conduct the feasibility study, told the committee they are embarking on a historic journey. "Few have a chance to birth a city," Crotty said. "You all will figure out what may be best if you become a city." Crotty said her purpose is not to tell the group what to do but to offer pros and cons she experienced when other areas attempted to incorporate.
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Attorney to Speak to Construction Industry Council
Attorney Michael Cooper will speak to the Marion County Building Industry Association (MCBIA) Construction Industry Council on contract law. The meeting will take place Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the MCBIA office, and is free to members and guests.
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City Businesses Make Solar Pact
Much of downtown Gainesville may go solar under a plan for 20 business and property owners to team up to get a better price on photovoltaic solar electric systems. Developer Ken McGurn said he has 20 verbal agreements without much effort and thinks he could get 20 more businesses to take advantage of the contract he has negotiated to make the cost of the systems feasible when combined with rebates from the state and Gainesville Regional Utilities. Now the effort hinges on the state Legislature funding $10 million earmarked for rebates. Gov. Charlie Crist has made energy conservation a priority, but state budget cuts have put many state expenditures in doubt. Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan told McGurn she would try to get Crist to come to Gainesville if the plan is successful, he said. Hanrahan was not available for comment Wednesday. If the state renews the rebates, McGurn said the downtown businesses will be lined up early for the first-come funding. If the funding falls through, he still has a contract to install solar at the Sun Center and nearby parking garage.
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Group Helping Keep Homes in Shape
For the average homeowner, the responsibility of maintaining a house can be overwhelming. Between a busy schedule and a tight budget, a tiny roof leak that would get patched up on the weekend can end up ignored, becoming a dangerous and costly situation down the road. Nonprofit organization Rebuilding Together North Central Florida hopes to alleviate some of the burden placed on low-income families who struggle to pump equity into their homes while attempting to meet day-to-day needs. To celebrate National Rebuilding Day, more than 60 volunteers with Rebuilding Together spent Saturday rehabbing four homes across Gainesville - a typical workload for an organization that spends every weekend renovating and repairing houses at no cost so that families can live in safer conditions.
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Top Beautification Projects Awarded
It may seem counter-intuitive that big-box stores, long associated with strip malls and expanses of pavement, are now winning beautification awards - but they are. Both The Home Depot and the new Wal-Mart Supercenter took home Gainesville City Beautification Awards on Wednesday in the category of commercial outstanding achievement. "They've put stores and parking lots in that are not the usual big-box construction, and secondly they each have something unique," said Anita Spring, chair of the City Beautification Board. Spring said that Home Depot, 5150 NW 13th St., only developed part of its lot, allowing the other 70 acres to be turned into a city park, protecting the Hogtown Creek headwaters. "They wanted to do the right thing and help protect one of Gainesville's most important environmental assets," Spring said. Wal-Mart, 1800 NE 12th Ave., designed a facade that Spring described as a "town center," and used extensive landscaping.
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City Begins Plans for Its 150th Birthday
In 2009, the City of Lake City will celebrate a very special birthday. The city will turn 150 years old, and in an effort to prepare for the upcoming year, the City of Lake City has formed a 150th Anniversary Committee. The committee will be chaired by Mayor Stephen Witt and feature members from the historical society, mural committee, Columbia County School District and city employees. The committee was unveiled at Wednesday's Downtown Development Committee meeting. Committee Chair Michael Lee said that others who are interested in planning events or take part in the festivities will be placed into sub-committees. The committee will help delegate different responsibilities concerning the different festivities and keep events from overlapping, Lee said. He also suggested piggybacking the 150th celebration onto annual events that are put on every year, such as the Fourth of July celebration in Olustee Park and the Olustee Festival and Battle Reenactment.
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County Election Slate Full
A final slate of candidates won't be set until June, but this year's three Alachua County Commission races are already drawing candidates and some maneuvering - including some district-switching. Up for re-election on the Nov. 4 ballot are Mike Byerly in District 1, Paula DeLaney in District 3 and Rodney Long in District 5. All three are Democrats and all three have Republican opposition - something that does not always happen in a county dominated by Democrats. In fact, District 3 will have a rare Republican primary Aug. 26 between Lloyd Bailey and Ward Scott. Scott had initially signed up to challenge Byerly. But he switched to DeLaney's race when Gainesville City Commissioner Rick Bryant, considered a conservative Democrat, decided to run against Byerly. Both Scott and Bryant said they did not talk with each other about the election, but Scott said he reconsidered his run against Byerly in light of Bryant entering the race.
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Lake County's Green Team Says It's Time to Conserve Paper, Fuel, Water, Land
Some of the greenest things in Lake County these days are the lush carpets of grass surrounding thousands of homes in large, neatly manicured neighborhoods. Now the county is seeking an entirely different shade of green -- as in environmentally green -- to promote a more friendly use of water, fuel and other resources that impact nature. Proposed development guidelines aim to encourage better home-building and landscaping practices. Public education will show people how they can help the environment. But county officials are not just looking to impose the new standards. They also want to set an example of green-consciousness that goes beyond today's Earth Day celebrations and speeches. "We are efficient as a government, and we are taking this green initiative very seriously," said County Manager Cindy Hall.
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New Economic Agreement Postponed
Lake County commissioners have delayed considering a new agreement with the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission because one commissioner was absent from Tuesday's meeting. A draft agreement between Lake County and the commission spells out when and how often the two groups will work together on development projects and which projects the county prefers. The proposed agreement also mentions environmental impacts as an area of concerns when it comes to business development. Dotty Keedy, county director of economic growth and redevelopment, would be the county's first point of contact for the commission, according to the agreement. If any questions arise as to whether a development is right for the county, Keedy would go to the county manager, commission chairman or the commission as a whole to determine whether the project would work.
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MCBIA Calendar of Events
BANCF Calendar of Events
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USGBC Heart of Florida Chapter
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Some Hope: S. Florida Home Sales Go Up a Bit
South Florida's real estate market is still in the double-digit doldrums compared to a year ago -- but analysts said March sales figures, which show the first monthly uptick of the year, offer a glimmer of hope. As frustrated owners slash prices -- particularly in the condo market -- there are signs bargain hunters are moving in. And while the number of unsold homes continues to rise, the pace of growth in properties listed for sale is slowing -- and has virtually flattened for Broward County's condo market, according to figures released Tuesday by the Florida Association of Realtors. Housing market analysts welcomed the news but said it would be months before it was clear whether the March figures represent the beginning of a turnaround or are simply a seasonal blip. ''We think the market is bumping along, and we are starting to look at our pending sales and our pending sales are up,'' said Richard Barkett, chief executive of the Realtors Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale. ``We're keeping our fingers crossed and being very, very cautious, but basically we're optimistic.''
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Martin County Could Raise Sales Tax By a Penny to Pay for Records
Martin County voters might one day have to choose between more traffic congestion or raising their local sales tax. County commissioners spent Tuesday staring down the barrel of planning multimillion-dollar projects 10 years into a future that promises less money to spend. Martin County staff already trimmed $9 million from proposed 2009 spending in the draft capital improvement plan. The plan uses county money to build new and better roads, expand buildings and other projects a decade into the future. One way Martin County staff mentioned as a possibility to avoid deteriorating roads and other problems caused by not going forward with building projects is increasing the 6.5 percent local sales tax by another penny. "We're not promoting that," County Administrator Duncan Ballantyne said after Tuesday's meeting. "But we want to provide the commission with what they may need to consider over a long period of time."
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Florida Builders Begin to See Green
Go green! Tuesday was Earth Day, and the Sentinel's Lake section gave readers the rundown on county efforts to conserve fuel, paper, water and land. The county has a "Green Team" to come up with ways to conserve. It's putting together a new building ordinance to promote environmentally sound construction. It has new landscape rules cutting back on the amount of the water-hungry turf grass that can be laid on new parcels. The environmentally conscious movement that is sweeping the country has taken in both Florida and Lake County. It's not gauche to be green anymore. Bunny-hugging is suddenly cool. Go ahead, smooch a cypress when no one is looking. In Lake, the school district is pursuing certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for a new elementary school and a high school. The RubeLab group in Eustis is focused on creating new technology designed to preserve the environment.
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Florida Forever Successor Planned
The state's program for buying conservation land would continue for another decade under a bill passed by the Senate. The bill would create a successor program for Florida Forever, which is set to end in 2010. The proposed program would increase the amount of money that could be spent buying lands from $300 million a year to $530 million a year. The legislation also would focus on making more of the land available for recreational uses and would direct the state to attempt to buy lands for less than market rate. Land owners, for example, might be able to keep their land but agree not to develop parts of it. There's no guarantee that a new program would get $530 million a year, because the money would have to be approved by the Legislature every year. But some of the bonds for the conservation program that preceded Florida Forever begin to be paid off in 2013, freeing up an additional $290 million a year. That money could be put back into a Florida Forever successor, almost doubling the amount spent in past years, said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples.
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Lawmakers Set To Pass Comprehensive Energy Bill
Florida could soon have an energy policy that lawmakers and others say would make the state a national leader in clean energy. Similar bills nearing passage in the House and Senate would promote renewable sources of energy, as well as ways to use less power. A major provision would begin planning for a program that would require polluters to pay for the carbon emissions they produce. Other provisions would strengthen green building codes and energy efficiency standards for appliances. The proposal also would set new goals for recycling and require gasoline sold in the state to contain more ethanol, a renewable source of fuel. "Any one of these issues would have been difficult to fathom just two years ago," said Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, who has been a strong proponent of the legislation. He attributes the legislation's success to a shift in attitudes toward clean energy and climate change issues as well as support from Gov. Charlie Crist, who has made addressing both a priority.
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Appeal Court Rules in Favor of Hometown Democracy
People cannot take back their support once they sign petitions to get citizen initiatives on a ballot, an appeals court ruled Wednesday in a case over whether voters should have a say in changing infrastructure and development plans. The 1st District Court of Appeal said a law that let people take back their signatures is unconstitutional, so it overturned a trial court's ruling. The Legislature passed the law at the request of business organizations. They then used it to revoke thousands of signatures obtained by proponents of Hometown Democracy, an initiative that would require voter approval of changes in plans laying out where new roads, homes, businesses and other development can be built. Hometown Democracy then sued. The appeals court's seven-page ruling said revoking signatures burdens the initiative process with requirements not found in the Florida Constitution. Instead, the constitution gives citizens the right to propose amendments without legislative assistance.
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Sen. Fasano Proposes $10M for Roads Near Schools
If it survives the governor's budget veto in a lean budget year, Pasco County will be the first in Florida to try a proposed program that sets aside $10-million in state funds for road improvements near school sites. Under state law, the school district must pay for roads that are part of school sites. But the Pasco School District and county cannot agree on which agency should pay for offsite road improvements, which in some cases can run up to $4-million a project. Their only point of agreement is to tackle these quarrels on a case-by-case basis. Part of about $28-million earmarked in the state budget for a variety of Pasco County projects, the $10-million proposal by state Sen. Mike Fasano would defray the cost of these contentious offsite improvements. The state Department of Transportation would hold the funds, to be given out when the county and district agree on how much they need.
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Tax-Swap Plan Will Be On Florida Ballot
A powerful citizens panel culminated a year of work on Thursday and put a plan to swap some property taxes for sales taxes on the November ballot, despite weeks of intense back-room lobbying by business groups that wanted to kill it. The measure would cut most property-tax bills by at least 25 percent, revamp the way the state pays for schools and order the Legislature to replace the estimated loss of $9 billion with new, expanded sales taxes or other revenue. The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission voted 18-7 for the amendment -- one more than needed to get it on the ballot. The commission approved five other amendments for the November ballot. Voters must approve the measures by a 60 percent margin for them to be adopted. Proponents hailed the tax swap as the salve needed to stimulate the ailing housing market, revive the economy and prepare the state's tax system for the next 20 years. The tax cut would take effect Jan. 1, 2010.
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Florida Forever and Affordable Housing Take Center Stage
The Florida Home Builders Association scored a major victory last week when the Florida Senate passed an amendment onto the Florida Forever successor bill that will allow relocation of threatened wildlife species to state conservation lands from development sites. Florida Forever is the state's land-buying protection program, and allowing imperiled species like gopher tortoises to be relocated to conservation lands is a key part of a plan to extend the Florida Forever successor program beyond its 2010 expiration. This victorious amendment was crafted by Keith Hetrick, FHBA's General Counsel, and it was supported by state agencies and environmental groups. It was one of the last remaining issues needing to be resolved before the Senate could move forward with voting on the bill.
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Senate OKs Insurance Bill
The Florida Senate passed a massive insurance bill with some consumer protections Wednesday but no immediate steps to lower insurance rates. Rates charged by the state-run insurer would remain frozen through June 2009. Then increases will be phased in over three years so that Citizens Property Insurance Corp. can bring in enough revenue to cover future claims. It provides state insurance regulators with more authority to sanction private insurance companies and takes away some privileges these firms have enjoyed for many years, which industry experts say will make Florida a less friendly place to do business. The bill would end a
practice of companies being able to increase customers' rates before final state approval. It would also make sure that home and business owners' claims are paid within 90 days if there are no claim disputes.
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NAHB Calls for Member to Attend Legislative Conference
Attending NAHB's 2008 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, April 30 could be the best business decision that you make this year. The timing of this year's Legislative Conference -- which will take place six weeks earlier than the 2007 conference -- is particularly significant considering the current shakeout in the subprime mortgage sector and its repercussions in the housing market. Builders are encouraged to travel to the nation's capitol and to urge their representatives and senators to support policies that will stabilize the housing market, help reduce foreclosures, restore confidence in the credit markets and keep the economy moving forward. Come to Washington and tell your lawmakers to adopt sensible policies that enable your business to thrive and allow the nation's home builders to fulfill their mission of providing safe, decent, affordable housing to all Americans.
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Green Homes Sell Faster and for More Than Comparables
New analysis shows "green" homes may be a bright spot in today's real estate market. Environmentally certified homes sold for 4.8% more and stayed on the market for 24% less time than comparable homes sold last year. In the first year since it began tracking environmentally certified homes, 19.8% of new homes in Seattle sold on the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) were environmentally certified. These homes averaged 1,477 square feet, just slightly smaller than the 1,492 square foot average for all new homes sold. On a square foot basis, this means green homes sold for a 5.9% premium. Green homes certified by a third party sold for a 10.5% premium on a square foot basis. "In today's changing market, this is an important finding for homeowners to consider," noted Ben Kaufman, founder of GreenWorks Realty, who conducted the analysis. He added, "Environmentally certified homes offer homeowners a way to get the most value and sell more quickly."
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Builders Lead the Way in Energy Efficient Housing, Congress Told
Calling green building "the next evolution in residential construction," the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) told Congress today that the best way to help small home builders promote residential energy efficiency and sustainability technology in home construction is by extending tax incentives for new energy-efficient homes. Testifying before the House Small Business Committee, Michael Hodgson, president of the Stockton, Calif.-based energy consulting firm ConSol, said these incentives dovetail with the normal supply and demand for home construction. "A tax credit program leaves important production decisions in the hands of builders, buyers and home owners and does not require expensive administrative oversight that is usually associated with a mandate," he said. Under current law, builders who construct a home certified to achieve a 50 percent reduction in energy use are eligible to receive a $2,000 tax credit.
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Stimulus Payments Starting Early
The federal government, eager to boost the flagging economy, will start distributing special stimulus payments Monday - four days earlier than expected. "Beginning Monday, the effects of the stimulus will begin to reach households," President Bush said Friday. "This money is going to help Americans offset the high prices we're seeing at the gas pump and at the grocery store." The department announced the early arrival of the payments Thursday after saying last month that it would begin sending out the money on May 2. As of next week, 800,000 tax filers daily will begin to have their checks directly deposited Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. No checks will be distributed Thursday, and 5 million payments will be made Friday. The payments will go out ahead of schedule because of a new computer program that updates records daily - faster than an older program that updates weekly, according to Andrew DeSouza, a Treasury spokesman.
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L.A. and San Francisco Vie for Title "Greenest City"
Mirror, mirror on the wall: Who is the greenest of them all? Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has a plan to slash his city's planet-warming greenhouse gases to 35% below the 1990 level by 2030, and make L.A. the "cleanest and greenest city in the country." San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has a blueprint to cut his city's greenhouse gases to 20% below the 1990 level by 2012, creating "the greenest large city in the United States of America." Green cities: In an article in Tuesday's California section about Los Angeles' and San Francisco's rivalry over "green city" programs, the name of the director of the Department of the Environment for the city and county of San Francisco was incorrect. He is Jared Blumenfeld, not Blumenthal. - In both metropolises, those lofty promises are facing a critical test. Today, the L.A. City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on Villaraigosa's proposal to make private developers meet nationally-developed green building standards. Next month, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will act on Newsom's proposed building ordinance.
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Invest Wisely During Home Remodeling Month
Remembering the three "Rs"-repair, rehab, and remodel-will help preserve the value of the home, a family's most important asset. In recognition of Home Remodeling Month this May, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelers will highlight the financial incentives of remodeling and offer suggestions for consumers on projects that provide the best return on investment. "Remodeling not only enriches a homeowner's quality of life, but it can also provide numerous financial rewards," said NAHB Remodelers Chairman Lonny Rutherford, CGR, CAPS, a professional remodeler from Farmington, N. M. "Smart remodels increase home value and save homeowners money by improving home performance." With interest rates at historic lows, homeowners can now move forward with long-delayed projects that help maintain their home's value by modernizing and adding amenities.
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Take Steps to Conserve Energy on Earth Day
As part of its recognition of Earth Day, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) encourages home owners everywhere to take simple steps to reduce energy use - and to think green when they buy a new home. "We are all proud of the significant steps our members have taken to make new homes more energy efficient," said NAHB President Sandy Dunn, a West Virginia home builder. "More than 100,000 green homes have been built by our members in home builder association programs around the country. We're moving the market - in a voluntary, cost-effective way." Per square foot, new homes consume less than two-thirds the energy of older homes for heating and air conditioning, according to federal utility use audits and research by NAHB economists. "Americans who have bought a new home recently should all take a big bow on Earth Day," Dunn said. "Today's energy-efficient homes leave a lighter footprint -- and that's something new homeowners can be very pleased about."
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How to Cultivate a "Green Mortgage"
Recycling soda cans, using phosphate-free cleansers and making smart transportation choices can all improve the environment. But did you know that applying for a home loan also offers a chance to further the environmental cause? "What many people don't realize is that homes account for about 21 percent of our greenhouse emissions," says Steve Baden, executive director of Residential Energy Services Network, which maintains certification standards for home energy ratings. This is why improving home energy efficiency matters. And given the rising cost of heating and cooling homes, it can also matter to household finances. Brian Berg, vice president for corporate communications at ShoreBank in Chicago, says consumers can save up to 45 percent off their monthly utility bills with an investment of just a few thousand dollars.
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Stocks Post 2nd Straight Up Week
Wall Street ended its second straight winning week with a moderate advance Friday, overcoming concerns about consumer confidence and inflation. After slumping early in the session in response to weak consumer confidence and a spike in oil prices, investors seemed to turn their attention to broader signs, including the week's generally satisfactory earnings reports, that suggested that government efforts to steady the economy appear to be working. That shift in focus sent stocks up late in the day.
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Taxation and Budget Refor Commission give final approval On the property tax front, the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission gave its final approval last week to a $9.6 billion "tax swap" proposal, which will be placed on the November ballot. Although several Commissioners switched their former "yes" votes on the measure to "no's," it was ultimately adopted on a vote of 18-7. If approved by 60% of Florida voters in the fall, the Commission proposal would eliminate the portion of property taxes dedicated to school funding, reducing property tax bills by approximately 25%. To find out more, click here.
At the Center of Commercial Boom
This unincorporated area west of Gainesville is seeing a boom of commercial construction from the Tioga Town Center to Jonesville Plaza. Luis Diaz and his partners are at the center of it all. One partnership is developing the area around the Jonesville Publix and is in talks with a big box home improvement store to be named later. Walgreens is already under construction and plans call for a Campus USA Credit Union headquarters, a county annex office, 300,000 square feet of office space and 300 residential units.
Another partnership, with some overlap, is constructing two buildings of retail and apartment space that will double the footprint of the Tioga Town Center, the commercial portion of the 300-home Town of Tioga development. Future phases call for two more buildings, one an inn, spa and banquet hall, and 1,000 more homes.
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AGC's Simonson and Husband to Speak in Gainesville
AGC of Greater Florida has scheduled a Gainesville meeting. Ken Simonson, Chief Economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, will discuss the current economic turmoil on the industry, and where he sees it going in the next eight to 12 months. Simonson will be joined by Warren Husband, Governmental Affairs Director for the Associated General Contractors in Florida, who will brief the group on the 2008 Legislative session, and what new laws and changes will affect the building industry. The meeting will take place Monday May 12, at 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center.
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Wal-Mart Supercenter Opens in May
More than 400 employees have been hired and the shelves are being stocked in preparation for the May 7 opening of Alachua County's first Wal-Mart Supercenter on Waldo Road. "People have been in there since early April and they have been going through training, orientation and stocking to get the store ready to open," said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Quenta Vettel. "We're going to have an event for associates the Monday before opening. We'll have the Eastside High School band at the opening." The store is on Waldo Road at NE 12th Avenue. While it's the first Supercenter in Alachua County, another one is planned for the city of Alachua. A ribbon-cutting will be held May 7 between 7:30 and 8 a.m., with doors opening to shoppers at 8, Vettel said.
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Concrete Company to Bring 150 Jobs
A manufacturer of precast concrete products is moving to Ocala, bringing 150 jobs to Marion County. Duratek Precast Technologies announced that the company will build a plant and corporate headquarters on 32 acres at Northwest 44th Avenue and Northwest 63rd Street, fronting Interstate 75. The site is just north of the former Mark III property in Ocala. "Barry Stem, the CEO of the company, wanted to make it known publicly that they've made a commitment to Marion County, and they're going to go forward and build a new plant in the fall of this year," said Pete Tesch, president and chief executive of the Ocala/Marion County Economic Development Corp.
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Marriott's May Day
The amenities that loyal Marriott hotel customers are used to will soon be available in Lake City. A Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, located at 358 SW Corporate Drive, off of Florida Gateway Drive, could see construction completed in the next two weeks and an opening date by the middle of next month, officials working on the project confirmed Thursday. The four-story, 89-room hotel - which will also contain 26 suites - is the first Marriott branded hotel in Lake City, hotel general manager Mike Tubbs said. Fairfield Inn & Suites is a lower cost brand of hotels franchised by Marriott but offers many of the same amenities found in other Marriott hotels.
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State Legislatures' Campaign for Crane Standers Falters Again
Despite three South Florida construction crane accidents this year, it looks like efforts to set statewide standards for their operators won't make it through the Legislature. Two people died in those accidents and seven were injured. For the second year in a row, some state legislators have tried to pass a law regulating the use of the contraptions that tower above South Florida's skyline. Such a bill is poised for House approval today. But an aide to its Senate co-sponsor, state Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said it is stalled in that chamber. "They don't care how many folks die," charged state Rep. Greg Evers, R-Baker, the bill's co-sponsor in the House. "So how many people are we going to allow to get hurt when we could have a statewide ordinance that would protect the people all across the state?"The proposed legislation would require crane operators in Florida to be certified, and set penalties for those who work without certification.
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2008 Global Construction Summit Highlights Partnerships, Sustainability
More than 350 leaders of the global design, engineering and construction industry convened in Beijing April 10-12 to participate in the 2008 Global Construction Summit. The Summit, "Building Alliances for Mutual Success," was organized by McGraw-Hill Construction and the China International Contractors Association, and supported by 10 local and international industry associations including ABC. The bi-annual Global Construction Summit offers the opportunity for owners, planners, architects, engineers, contractors, manufacturers, and technology and other professional service firms from around the globe to discuss key industry issues and trends. This year, participants were focused on partnerships, growth strategies, sustainability, and opportunities in hot regional markets. "ABC was delighted to sponsor the 2008 Summit," said Kirk Pickerel, ABC president and CEO. "This was a great opportunity to exchange ideas and gather information about global issues that affect the construction climate from top industry leaders."
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Gallup Poll Shows More Concern for Clean Drinking Water than Climate Change
The celebration of Earth Day successfully raised awareness for many environmental concerns across the country, but the Associated General Contractors of America fears that ensuring clean drinking water lacks the attention it deserves. A recent Gallup Poll shows that Americans perceive clean drinking water as a threat more than climate change. Fifty-three percent of Americans worry "a great deal" over the pollution of drinking water, while just thirty-seven percent place that concern on global warming, according to a Gallup Poll taken March 6-9, 2008. Gallup suggests the numbers might have been higher had the survey been conducted following an Associated Press report on pharmaceuticals in drinking water. "These poll results demonstrate that the public is out in front of policy makers," said Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America. "They recognize that our deteriorating water delivery systems are in need of repair and they want someone to do something about it." Gallup conducts an Environment survey annually, and notes that pollution of drinking water has been Americans' top concern since 1990.
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Starwood Launching Green Hotel Brand in Mass
Starwood is launching a "green hotel brand" called Element, with the first property opening in July in Lexington, Mass., and 20 more hotels scheduled to open in the next year. The hotels are built with technology that saves water and cuts electric use, including heat-reflecting roofing materials, energy-efficient appliances and 16-foot windows to allow natural light into common areas. Laundry bags will be reusable, hybrid cars will get preferred parking, and garbage cans in the rooms will make it easy for guests to recycle. Starwood has applied for certification for the Element hotels under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System. LEED is a nationally recognized benchmark for design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED certification means that third-party experts have verified that the building satisfies criteria for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
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AGCGF is now offering STP & Construction Estimating Classes online!
Click herefor the 2008 class schedule.
AGC of Greater Florida Calendar of Events
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Commercial Winter 2008
HOME: Living in the Heart of Florida
AGC: Constructor Spring 2008
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