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September 2008
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By now, you have received the September issue of Building Edge. This was the last issue that we have done as Edge. As you can tell, this issue was not of the quality that you have come to expect. It has been a struggle for three weeks to get the printer and former owner of the company to make good and reprint this issue. To date, this has not happened. My integrity is everything to me and I needed to make sure this never happens again. Owning this company will eliminate the chance of that happening again. Any deal I have with the printer will have a clause in the contract that if they print a bad proof, it will be caught and reprinted. I apologize for this issue being below the quality that you have come to expect, and assure you that this will not happen again. The team I have put in place with Building Trends gives me the confidence that this will always be printed and produced at the highest standard. We have embraced the feedback from the survey and will be expanding the subject matter of the publication to include more information on products and trends. We will continue to feature terrific builders in our area, but will maintain and control all aspects of this pubications from North Central Florida.
The biggest news this week is obviously the $700 billion bailout passed last week, and signed into last Friday by President Bush. The question everyone is asking now is will it work? And the most common answer we hear is maybe. There are obviously some issues that are not perfect, but the passing of this had to happen.
This law is intended to undo what has happened to the lending market. But people have to be patient. Things will not suddenly change overnight. Ultimately, those who are prepared and capable of paying for their home will still be able to own a piece of the American Dream.
The second thing we are hearing from the experts is that things need to change in the housing market for the economy to turn itself around. If home prices have reached a bottom, that would send a signal to banks that the worst has passed, and it's safe to start loaning money again.
Housing is a critical component to the U.S. economy and the availability of credit. About one in eight U.S. jobs depends on housing directly or indirectly - from construction workers to bank loan officers to big brokers on Wall Street. A turnaround in housing prices would boost confidence in the wider economy and, experts hope, get banks lending again.
In one month, we get to choose who we want to run our county. Do we want new leadership that will be pro business, candidates like Ward Scott, Kevin Riordan and Lloyd Bailey, or do we want to see our taxes go up, our regulations increase and new construction suffer? Speaking of politics and the housing crisis, it is interesting that the New York Times ran an article NINE YEARS AGO that talked about the Freddie Mac loans and what was to come. It is interesting where they clearly identify pressure put on them by the Clinton Administration to approve loans that they shouldn't. If you really want an interesting read, click here>>
The Ocala Parade of Homes has ended. Starting this weekend is the BANCF Parade of Homes. Homes from 33 builders in Alachua County will be showcased over the next two weekends. To find out more, click here:Jake's Corner 
Our Fall issue, featuring the Fall Buyer's Guide, is online here
and should have been received in the mail in the last few days.
Our Premiere issue of Building Trends is in production. Our cover story is on n Lake City's Isaac Bratkovich and Isaac Construction. The format for this issue will be similar to to the old Edge for continuity basis.
Sales are open for our November/December issue. We will be featuring Chris Luetgert and Luetgert Development. Chris is a third generation builder intimately involved in every project he works on. We are excited to share his story with you. With the changes going on, we have combined the November and December issues into one so we can make the changes necessary. You are going to love the images from this shoot.
Starting with the January 2009 issue, we return to our monthly format.
Commercial Building Trends Magazine
The Summer 2008 issue of Commercial Building Edge is online here. We featured Brian Crawford, owner of Concept Construction. Our National Feature is on Lighting. Brian has ties to many counties in North Central Florida, and is president of the Columbia County Builder's Association. We enjoyed featuring Brian, and hope we did him justice with the cover story.
The Fall 2008 issue of Commercial Building Trends, featuring Paradigm Properties is now open. Collier Enterprises and Paradigm Properties have been constructing student apartment housing for numerous years. When you receive your copy in November, please let me know what you think about the new logo.
Kicking off 2009 with a bang, our Winter issue will feature Todd Duffy and ACA Construction Group, LLC. ACA Construction Group was founded in Marion County in 2001 when three of the oldest and well-respected commercial construction firms joined together. The name of the publication will be slightly different, but the integrity of this publication will never be compromised. HOME: Living in the Heart of Florida™The October/November issue of HOME arrived last week, and we are in the midst of distribution right now. Our cover story for this issue is the terrific coach of our Womens Soccer Team at UF, Becky Burleigh. Becky has this team off to a great start. This issue also includes the launch of our new chef's corner, fashion corner, travel corner and health and fitness corner. We also cover the 2008 Gainesville Chamber Business of the Year award reception. I think this is clearly our best issue yet. Feedback from the launch last week was extremely positive. The December/January issue of HOME: Living in the Heart of Florida is open now. I have been asked by our new managing editor not to share all of our secrets, but you are going to love the direction we have taken this magazine. This will be our largest issue yet. Winning Business of the Year has already seen the buzz increase. We are now in over 600 locations around town, clearly the largest in the area. Ou rmailing list has grown dramatically as well. If you would like advertising information, please click here. If you would like to find out about subscribing to HOME, please click here. |
Local News  |
Alachua County May Shake Up Traffic Plans
A network of buses whizzing through traffic in their own lanes paid for by new development is now the focus of Alachua County's future traffic plans rather than building or widening roads. A new proposed traffic concurrency management plan scraps extensive roadwork and instead creates a rapid transit system that would be subsidized in part by fees on new growth. Click Here>> University Corners' Empty Lot Taken Over
It's been a "looooong" process. That was the message echoed Sunday as members of the University United Methodist Church and Student Center broke ground for a new church on the southwest corner of the University Corners vacant lot. If all goes according to plan the church will be completed in a year, providing the congregation with a home after what will be more than three years without an address. Click Here>> Alachua Falls $2 Million Behind on Electric Bills
The city of Alachua owes more than $2 million in unpaid bills to Gainesville Regional Utilities for electricity the city buys and redistributes to residents. Marcian Brown, finance director for the city, said the unpaid bills are not a sign of economic troubles in the city, but rather the result of an incomplete investigation into increases on utility bills. Click Here>> City Council Approves 3.555 Mills for TaxingLake City property owners will pay 3.555 mills as a result of the special City Council meeting held Monday night. The previous rate was 3.4434 mills. One mill equals $1 per $1,000 of appraised taxable value. Therefore, the owner of a house with an appraised taxable property value of $100,000 would pay $355.50 in city property taxes this year in comparison with $344.34 last year. Click Here>> Commission will Hold GPD Expansion
A decision on the proposed expansion of the Gainesville Police Department headquarters will be put on hold while city commissioners hold a workshop to discuss concerns about the project with residents and police. The city plan board had recommended approval of a zoning and land-use change to allow the project adjacent to NW 8th Avenue and 6th Street to go forward. Instead, commissioners decided Thursday night to put the matter on hold until Dec. 4. Sometime in the next few weeks, a workshop will be scheduled so different players in the project - from residents to city staff - can meet. Click Here>> One-of-a-Kind FacilityFeaturing more than 200 home sites in what is the first branded equestrian facility in the United States, the Oaks of Lake City will host its grand opening on Saturday. The event will kick off at 11 a.m. with a number of festivities that includes professional demonstrations, music, giveaways and raffles. Developed by Brad Dicks in conjunction with Olympic medalists Karen and David O'Connor and Equestrian Services, LLC., The Oaks of Lake City is a one-of-a-kind facility. Click Here>> County Schedules Flood Map Hearing
The Columbia County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-0 to schedule a public hearing for Dec. 30 on the subject of adopting the county's new flood elevation map and adoption of an updated flood damage prevention ordinance. The board also voted to move the Jan. 1, 2009 regular meeting of the board to Dec. 30 to allow commissioners to enjoy the holiday. During the past few years, FEMA has been updating its maps for the entire county beginning Sept. 2006. Click Here>> City Preps Annexation Pitch in Student-Dominated AreaThe city of Gainesville has launched an ad campaign aimed at University of Florida students urging them to "close the gap" on Nov. 4. The ads are about the proposed voluntary annexation of approximately 660 acres east of Interstate 75 and surrounding SW 20th Avenue - an area populated largely by college students. On Tuesday night, the UF Student Senate voted to support the annexation after a presentation outlined some of the potential benefits of that area becoming part of the city of Gainesville. Click Here>> GRU Chief Says No to Levy Nuclear Plant Deal
Gainesville Regional Utilities has elected not to partner in the proposed construction of two nuclear reactors in Levy County. "To continue from this point forward would require us to commit to some significant liabilities, and there are a number of reasons why it would not be prudent to do so at this time," wrote Bob Hunzinger, general manager of GRU, in a letter to the Gainesville City Commission. Progress Energy has proposed the nuclear power plant as a way to meet the growing demand for energy by the year 2016. Click Here>> Officials to Cut City ExpensesThe city of Ocala will move through next fiscal year with a focus on technology-based improvements, a better idea of what citizens want and a balanced budget of roughly $407 million. "Basically, we're trying to improve ourselves so we can maintain current service levels at a reduced cost," said Don Corely, assistant city manager/CFO for the city of Ocala. On Tuesday, City Council approved the final 2008-2009 budget and placed a contingency on the appropriation of $80,000 to the Small Business Development Center, a federal program that aims to bolster small businesses by providing them with affordable specialized services. Click Here>> Hundreds Gather to Remember C.B. Daniel
Hundreds gathered at Trinity United Methodist Church Wednesday morning to remember the late C.B. Daniel as a friend, colleague and community leader. Charlton Bradford Daniel was born in Decatur, Ala., in 1939, but for much of his life, he called Gainesville home. He died Sept. 24 at the age of 69.His son, Brad, described C.B. as "old school," a man who was honest and fair to a fault, whether dealing with a family member or a business associate. Click Here>> First 4-Day Week Nearly Over
Late-afternoon runs to the vending machine or coffee shop are some ways Gainesville city employees are coping with the switch this week to four 10-hour days. City commissioners voted to change the operating hours of city administrative buildings to Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in an attempt to save money in a tight fiscal year. By closing down four buildings - City Hall, Thomas Center, Old Library Building and the public works administrative offices - one day each week City Manager Russ Blackburn estimates the city will save $90,000 a year on energy alone. Click Here>> Ground Broken on Latest Habitat for Humanity HomeOfficials with the Lake City affiliate of Habitat for Humanity broke ground Wednesday on its newest Lake City house. The home, which will be located on Fowler Avenue, will be the third house constructed by the Lake City affiliate and is set for completion sometime next year. The house is adjacent to the second Lake City house constructed by Habitat for Humanity, which was completed in July. Click Here>> Councilman Says Ocala May Need to Hire Lobbyist
Seeking a guide and a stronger voice in Tallahassee, the City Council is considering hiring a lobbyist. "It's a complicated process up there [in Tallahassee]. It takes folks that are on the ground all the time to shepherd things through," said Councilman Kent Guinn at the beginning of a workshop on Wednesday. Guinn suggested getting a lobbyist after a bill by state Rep. Charles Chestnut failed. The bill sought to establish an enterprise zone to boost west Ocala's economy. It did not make it to committee review during the spring House session. Click Here>> Belleview OKs Water, Sewer Rate Increase
In a 3-2 vote Tuesday, Belleview leaders approved the city's $5.87 million budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year that went into effect Wednesday. Commissioners Michael Goldman and Christine Dobkowski cast the two dissenting votes, as they did in mid-September during the first public hearing of the new budget. Click Here>> Officials Reject Electricity Rate Hike Proposal
City Council members have rejected a proposal that would have increased residents' electric bills, while City Manager Ricky Horst is vowing to find other ways to lower utility costs. Two months ago, Ocala Electric Utility customers saw their rates soar due to the rising cost of natural gas. However, these rates were nearly 53 percent higher than those of other utilities that also purchase energy from the bulk power supplier, Florida Municipal Power Association. Click Here>> MCBIA Calendar of Events Click Here>> BANCF Calendar of Events Click Here>> USGBC Heart of Florida Chapter
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State News  |
Consumer Confidence Up in Florida
Consumer confidence among Floridians rose in September, according to a University of Florida report released Tuesday. The monthly index rose three points to 70, from 67 in August. That's a substantial improvement from June, when the index sunk to 59 -- the lowest reading in the survey's 25-year history.
Click Here>>
Florida to Get $541 Million in Federal Housing Funds
The state of Florida will receive $541 million in new federal foreclosure funds to prevent further home loan defaults and combat the effects of blight caused by the growing tide of abandoned properties, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston announced Friday. State and local governments must use the funds, called community development block grants, to buy property, rehabilitate abandoned homes and offer down payment assistance to low-to-middle-income home buyers. The money may also be used to create so-called land banks to acquire, manage and sell distressed property.
Click Here>>
Florida Government Offers $571 Million in Loans to Build, Buy Housing
Trying to take the offensive in an economic crisis, Gov. Charlie Crist signed an executive order Thursday freeing $571 million in state-backed financing that real estate developers and reluctant buyers can tap to build and buy new homes. The state will float tax-exempt bonds, backed by Florida's gold-standard rating on Wall Street, to provide developers a line of relatively cheap credit. The hope is they'll start building homes and apartments again soon.
Click Here>>
Central Florida Solar Tour Puts Spotlight on Homes and Schools
The first time Pam and John Paré's electric meter reversed direction, indicating that their home was producing more electricity than they were using, they celebrated with a bottle of champagne. From the ruins of a home destroyed by hurricanes in 2004 had emerged the first residential structure in Orlando to earn a Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design -- or LEED -- program. Not only does the home consume a lot less energy, but it also uses less water, generates less waste and occupies a smaller area.
Click Here>>
Florida Green Energy Plan Criticized
In a proposal that might decide the future of green power in Florida for decades, the staff of the Public Service Commission recommended Thursday that electric utilities be required to provide 20 percent of their power from renewable sources by the year 2041.
The proposed rule was immediately decried by environmentalists as being too weak. ''This shows they just don't get it about the seriousness of what's involved,'' said Jerry Karnas, a Florida director for the Environmental Defense Fund. ``Energy independence, climate change -- these are matters that just won't wait.''
Click Here>>
Miami's Rush for New Construction Jobs
Miami-Dade leaders hope to create thousands of jobs by fast tracking nearly $650 million in county construction projects. The economic stimulus plan, approved by county commissioners in July, will allow the mayor and county manager to expedite dozens of previously approved and funded projects by streamlining the process for approving bids and by authorizing cost overruns of up to 10%.
Click Here>> Infrastructure: Growing Stronger and Greener
Florida's business infrastructure is not only growing, it's poised to become greener, too. In June 2008, Gov. Charlie Crist, a long-time advocate of green initiatives and alternative fuels, put his signature on Florida's most progressive energy bill to date, which includes new energy-efficient building codes, renewable energy standards and a program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CLick Here>> No Decision Made in Legality of Exorbitant Bonita Building Permit FeesCan the City of Bonita Springs legally allow a private firm to charge community development fees that are in some cases six times greater than those charged by Lee County? Critics of the city's contract with CH2M Hill likely didn't get the answer to that question in a letter sent from the State Attorney General's office Wednesday to City Attorney Audrey Vance. It was hoped the letter, which contained no legal opinions, would settle critics' concerns over the city's contract with the company. Click Here>> |
National News  |
Bailout is Law
After two weeks of contentious and often emotional debate, the federal government's far-reaching and historic plan to bail out the nation's financial system was signed into law by President Bush on Friday afternoon. "By coming together on this legislation, we have acted boldly to prevent the crisis on Wall Street from becoming a crisis in communities across our country," Bush said less than an hour after the House voted 263 to 171 to pass the bill. The House vote followed a strong lobbying push by the White House and other supporters of the bill. The House rejected a similar measure on Monday - a defeat that shocked the markets and congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle. Click Here>>
Housing Markets Must Recover for Bailout to Work
Washington's financial bailout plan is now law. So the credit spigot will start flowing again, banks will resume lending, and an economic recovery can begin, right? Wrong. Experts say the most important thing that needs to happen before the $700 billion bailout even has a chance of working: Home prices must stop falling. That would send a signal to banks that the worst has passed and it's safe to start doling out money again.
ICC Mandates Residential Fire Sprinklers
During the September 20 & 21 final hearing of the International Code Council, members voted to require all new one- and two-family homes and townhouses be constructed with fire sprinkler systems. The sudden, and controversial, arrival of 900 fire officials eligible to vote at the ICC's final action hearings in Minneapolis swelled the number of sprinkler proponents at the hearing and the measure was approved by a vote of 1,283 to 470. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) along with Habitat for Humanity opposed the mandate primarily because of design and maintenance concerns and expenses related to upkeep and use. Click Here>>
What Drove Mortage Giant To Tipping Point?
When the mortgage giant Fannie Mae recruited Daniel H. Mudd, he told a friend he wanted to work for an altruistic business. Fannie, a government-sponsored company, had long helped Americans get cheaper home loans by serving as a powerful middleman, buying mortgages from lenders and banks and then holding or reselling them to Wall Street investors. This allowed banks to make even more loans - expanding the pool of homeowners and permitting Fannie to ring up handsome profits along the way.
Home Builders Want Congress to Enact $15,000 Home-Buying Tax CreditU.S. home builders, buffeted by at least $19 billion in losses since 2006, plan to ask Congress to help stop the bleeding. The industry will ask lawmakers to pass a $15,000 tax credit for all home buyers, replacing a smaller incentive enacted earlier this year that they contend failed to stimulate demand. Click Here>> How to Go Green at Home During Energy Awareness Month
Each year, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) dedicates October as Energy Awareness Month. The mission of the DOE is an important one -- to educate consumers on the critical impact energy use has on our lives, our community and our country. Click Here>> The Other Housing Rescue Starts Amidst all the chaos surrounding the $700 billion Wall Street bailout plan, the federal government's other housing rescue program quietly opened for business Wednesday. But will any mortgage servicers come knocking? The Federal Housing Administration unveiled its $300 billion Hope for Homeowners program, which allows struggling borrowers to refinance into more affordable mortgages backed by the federal government. The legislation, which was signed into law in late July, was hotly debated for months on Capitol Hill with Democrats supporting it and Republicans opposed. CLick Here>> 'Green' Homeowners Insurance Now Available in Ga.
Georgia homeowners who use environmentally friendly solar panels and recycled building materials on their houses can now get insurance specially designed for "green" homes, officials announced Tuesday. The state insurance commissioner's office has approved the first-ever green homeowners insurance policies in Georgia, commissioner John Oxendine said. The program - for customers of the California-based Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. - guarantees that environmentally friendly homes will be rebuilt in the same way if they're damaged or destroyed. Click Here>> How Washington Cripples the Energy Industry
From big oil companies to solar panel entrepreneurs to chemists creating the biomass fuels of the future, there's one thing that everyone in the energy industry has in common: They hate Washington's energy policy. Policies, actually. In just the Bush years alone, Washington enacted two major pieces of omnibus energy legislation, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. In 2008 another piece of major legislation was introduced: the Lieberman-Warner bill, which would implement a nationwide cap-and-trade program on carbon emissions. That would instantly change the landscape for any energy producer. Click Here>> | |
Commercial News  |
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State OKs $1 Million to Improve Horse Park
The Florida Horse Park has hosted some of the state's most prestigious equine events. But since its inception three years ago it has hobbled along financially, depending on donations and volunteers to stay afloat. Beginning in 2009, the 500-acre facility on County Road 475 will get its first injection of government funds now that lawmakers have approved a $1 million grant for the nonprofit park. The money will help pay for its design plan and utilities infrastructure. Click Here>> Jobs Report Shows Quick Action Needed to Revive Construction, AGC Says
"The drop in construction employment accelerated in September and will get much worse unless credit markets reopen," Ken Simonson, Chief Economist for The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), said today following a Bureau of Labor Statistics report that showed construction lost 35,000 jobs last month. "State governments from California to Maine have been shut out of the bond market, while developers have had bank credit windows slammed shut on their fingers as they reached for their loans. All types of construction shed workers in September, following an uptick in nonresidential hiring in August," Simonson noted. "Another ominous sign is that architectural and engineering services employment, a harbinger of demand for future construction, rose until recently but stalled this summer and fell in September." Click Here>> AGC Launches Project Manager Development ProgramThe Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) today launched the Project Manager Development Program (PMDP). Covering the essential skills, tactics and strategies for successful construction project management, PMDP provides a platform for career advancement to early-career project managers or those interested in a construction career. "AGC continues building on its commitment to create a work force for the future," said Stephen E. Sandherr, AGC's chief executive officer. "This program is an excellent example of how our profession can build career opportunities for thousands of workers." Click Here>> Experts Tackle Best Practices At ABC Crane Safety Summit
During ABC's first-ever construction industry Crane Safety Summit Sept. 25-26 in Houston, Texas, more than 80 construction experts met to discuss causes of recent crane incidents and develop best practices that can be used by the industry to reduce the possibility of future accidents. "It's amazing to see so many crane experts gathered in one place, all working toward the same goal of making our industry's crane operations even safer," said ABC President and CEO Kirk Pickerel. "The knowledge and experience represented will not only help us understand existing crane standards and practices, but also generate new ideas on how we can build upon our current safety efforts to reach our ultimate goal-sending every employee home safely, every day." Click Here>> Upcoming Events Florida's Workers' Compensation Workshop Click Here>> AGC of Greater Florida Calendar of Events Click Here>> 2008 Residential Building Edge Media Kit 2008 Commercial Building Edge Media Kit 2008 Home: Living in the Heart of Florida Media Kit 2008 E-News Brief Media Kit | |
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E-News Brief
