For Sale/Rent

This double-unit condo in Lynn is almost too hot to handle.

Photos by Noel Poage

88 Franklin St Unit 103-104, LynnPrice: $499,900Size: 2,114 square feetBedrooms: 2Bathrooms: 2

Converting old businesses into housing is en vogue right now, and hardly surprising, given the age of all the buildings around New England. Check the real estate scene in Boston and youll find it chock full of converted churches. But head north to find a fun variation on the concept: a converted 1890s fire house turned condos. Formerly home to the Ladder 3 Company of the Lynn Fire Department, Ladder 3 Lofts are rumored to have been originally wired by Thomas Edison. The buildings undergone a complete makeover since thenwhich unfortunately means no firemans pole for quick getawaysbut the exterior still sports some gorgeous architectural traits from its original design, including large arched windows and a brick faade.

This bright and spacious double unit currently on the market offers over 2,000 square feet of living space along with the aesthetic of an industrial design lovers dreams. Were talking exposed brick, high ceilings, hardwood floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows. And while there may be no firemans pole, there is an antique ladder to help you get to the top shelf of this homes floor-to-ceiling bookcase.

While the home may have vintage elements, its modern where it matters. The recently updated kitchen has custom cabinetry, granite countertops, high-end stainless steel appliances, a garbage disposal, and a built-in wine fridge that can hold up to 56 bottles. Central air conditioning, ceiling fans, and insulated windows help with climate control throughout the two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit, while a brick patio provides a private place to enjoy the outdoors when the weather is good.

In addition to having an array of contemporary amenities, this firehouse was built near the citys hub. While firefighters may have used this to get to emergencies more quickly, you can take advantage of the location to enjoy all Lynn has to offer. Take a stroll down the block to enjoy some public art in the form of a mosaic mural, installed there during The Beyond Walls Mural Festival in 2019. Walk a little further out to spend some time on the Lynn Common or enjoy a concert at the Lynn Auditorium. Need to commute into the city? The unit comes with two deeded parking spots so you can venture near or far whenever youd like.

For more information, contact Alexis Lograsso, Redfin Corp., redfin.com.

Photos by Noel Poage

Photos by Noel Poage

Photos by Noel Poage

Photos by Noel Poage

Photos by Noel Poage

Photos by Noel Poage

Photos by Noel Poage

Photos by Noel Poage

The Boston Home team has curated a list of the best home design and home remodeling professionals in Boston, including architects, builders, kitchen and bath experts, lighting designers, and more. Get the help you need with FindIt/Boston's guide to home renovation pros.

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On the Market: An Industrial-Style Loft in a Converted Fire House - Boston magazine

Accord, N.Y. | $950,000A 1994 wood-sided house with three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, on a 3.6-acre lot

This home is privately situated, about five miles northwest of the hamlet of Accord in Ulster County, a wooded, mountainous area with many acres of preserved land. Some of the larger nearby communities are Kingston, about 20 miles northeast, and New Paltz, about 16 miles southeast. The drive to New York City is about two hours in light traffic.

Size: 1,452 square feet

Price per square foot: $654

Indoors: The seller is an interior designer who made extensive improvements inside and out, including the addition of a large, screened porch. He also painted the house black.

Turning left from a small entrance hallway, you enter a living-and-dining room with pine floorboards, oiled-cedar ceiling planks and a wood-burning fireplace with a blackened-steel surround. The separate kitchen contains black cabinets and black honeycomb-shaped wall tile. The countertop material, Dekton, is a composite of quartz, porcelain and glass. The appliances include a Fisher & Paykel wall oven and cooktop, a Liebherr refrigerator and a Faber hood.

A bedroom wing to the right of the entrance includes a powder room with grasscloth-covered walls and a floating sink. Two guest rooms lie beyond, one with double closets and overhead storage, and the other with a tall, black-painted wainscot and an en suite bathroom with a walk-in shower faced in black-stone tile.

The second floor is taken up by the primary suite, beginning with a study area that overlooks the living room. The bedroom contains a pair of closets built under the slanted wood ceiling. The bathroom has a walk-in, black-tile shower and a vessel sink set on a slatted-wood pedestal.

Outdoor space: One set of sliding-glass doors opens from the living room to the screened porch. Another leads to a terraced side deck that steps down to a lawn. A stone retaining wall in front of the house surrounds a garden.

Taxes: $8,244 (2020, based on a tax assessment of $347,800, without an exemption for use as a primary property)

Contact: Jeff Serouya, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Hudson Valley Properties, 845-626-5000; jeffserouya.bhhshudsonvalley.com

This property consists of a small house and garden tucked behind a former commercial building with a gable. It is set among the historic houses and antiques shops of this quaint Delaware River city, steps from popular restaurants like Antons at the Swan, and a block from the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail. East Bridge Street, which connects Lambertville to New Hope, Pa., across the river, is two blocks north. The area flooded during Hurricanes Irene and Sandy, and the home requires flood insurance for a mortgage.

Size: 2,559 square feet (total for both buildings)

Price per square foot: $371

Indoors: The current owners added a second bathroom to the main house and a whole-house generator that covers both buildings. The main house interior is freshly painted.

A brick path in a sheltered garden leads to the houses entrance porch, under a pergola. Inside is a foyer with hardwood floors. The room to the right has a fireplace with a sculptural chimney that rises to the angular ceiling. Light enters from large garden-facing windows.

The open kitchen is arranged along the rear wall of this room and includes contrasting wood-toned cabinetry and a tiled floor and backsplashes. A built-in glass-fronted cupboard is next to the low partition that separates the kitchen from the dining area. Open bookshelves occupy a niche on another wall.

A main-floor bedroom has wood floors and a canted ceiling with a skylight. The accompanying bathroom includes penny-round floor tiles, a glass-walled shower and a console sink.

A staircase curves from the foyer to the second floor, where there is a lofted area over the living room with a wall of custom cabinets that could be used as a second bedroom. A dressing area connects this space to the recently installed bathroom, which has a soaking tub and more custom storage built to fill its idiosyncratically shaped space.

Whereas the house is all nooks and crannies, the street-facing studio building is a single, open room with a concrete floor, cathedral ceiling with skylights and exposed metal posts and beams. Square sash windows line a mirrored wall (the building was formerly a dance studio). The open kitchen has white cabinets with granite countertops.

Outdoor space: The garden between the buildings includes perennials, specimen trees, brick paving and a fountain. Off-street parking is behind the mahogany wall next to the studio.

Taxes: $12,955 (2020, based on a tax assessment of $583,300)

Contact: Stefan Dahlmark or Thomas Hora, Kurfiss Sothebys International Realty, 267-474-0204; new.sothebysrealty.com

A couple renovated the wifes midcentury childhood home in the San Gabriel Valley to create an energy-efficient house that filters pollutants (including smoke and ash from local fires) and maintains power through rolling blackouts. The house consumes no fossil fuel (the owners disconnected their gas line) and produces enough electricity through its rooftop solar array to sell the power back to the grid.

Temple City is a community with about 36,000 residents, highly respected schools and a reputation for safety. This property is about 12 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles, eight miles southeast of Pasadena and a couple of blocks west of Rosemead Boulevard, a north-south road lined with businesses.

Size: 1,400 square feet

Price per square foot: $671

Indoors: Ten inches of insulation were added to the ceiling and four inches to the walls to improve energy efficiency. (The windows are also now double-paned, and the fireplace has been removed.) Heating and cooling are provided (when needed, which isnt often) by a mini-split system that replaced the gas furnace.

The entrance takes you into a living-and-dining room with hardwood floors and a vaulted ceiling made from reclaimed wood. Sliding-glass doors on two walls bring in light and give access to the backyard. A ladder rises to a little play loft built over the foyer. The kitchen, which flows into the living room, includes Shaker-style cabinets with quartz counters, Marmoleum flooring and stainless-steel appliances, including an induction stove.

The bedroom wing is to the right of the front door. It includes a primary suite whose bathroom contains a closet and a walk-in shower, and two childrens or guest rooms that share a second bathroom with a combined tub and shower. All toilets, shower heads and faucets are designed to save water.

Outdoor space: There is no lawn. The landscaping, including a vegetable garden, is drought tolerant. The two-car garage includes an electric washer and dryer and an electric vehicle charger.

Taxes: $11,045 (estimated)

Contact: Izumi Tanaka, eXp Realty, 310-749-9091; 5508harkeravenue.com

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What $950,000 Buys You in New York, New Jersey and California - The New York Times

By: Sebastian Morris 7:00 am on February 20, 2021

The Landmarks Preservation Commission has approved proposals to renovate and redevelop a portion of the McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Building. Located in the Garment District at 330 West 42nd Street, the property was originally constructed in 1931 and is considered a landmarked example of Art Deco design in the built environment.

From MDeaS Architects, the scope of work includes the replacement of ground-floor signage, a ground-floor infill, and eventual conversion of upper floors from commercial office space to condominium residences.

Keeping with the buildings Art Deco motif, the project team will install oversized, bronze signage with red accents along 42nd Street.

Along 41st Street, a ground-floor infill will replace existing garage space. The garage doors will be replaced with floor-to-ceiling glass windows with dark aluminum mullions similar to commonly observed designs in manufacturing buildings. A new tenant entry with bronze polished doors will be constructed at the corner of the property.

Rendering of existing conditions (top) and planned redevelopment (bottom) at 330 West 42nd Street MdeAS Architects

Rendering of existing conditions (top) and planned signage (bottom) along 42nd street at 330 West 42nd Street MdeAS Architects

No word yet from the design team or developer Deco Tower Associate on when work might begin or what the forthcoming residences might look like.

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LPC Approves Redevelopment of McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Building at 330 West 42nd Street - New York YIMBY

KenWiedemann / Getty Images/iStockphoto

J. Pickens is no stranger to home remodeling. The designer and host of HGTVs The Work Around has tackled plenty of home renovations throughout his career, and hes learned that homeowners are concerned primarily about two things: cost and style.

Related: 26 Home Makeover Ideas That Will Each Last Less Than $500

Both are important factors in home improvement projects. But you shouldnt overlook another essential element when youre renovating your house: longevity. If youre going to spend the money to improve the look of your home, you want to make sure that youre paying for renovations that will stand the test of time. Luckily, Pickens had some suggestions for long-lasting home upgrades that are worth the money.

Last updated: Feb. 18, 2021

Ceiling moldings in the interior, a detail of intricate corner.

Average cost: $900 per room

A relatively easy and affordable way to upgrade your home is to install crown molding. You get a lot of bang for your buck with moldings, Pickens said. They increase the style of your room, and they last forever.

The cost to install crown molding will vary depending on the type of material you use and whether you hire a professional or do it yourself. On average, though, it costs about $900 to install crown molding in a 16- foot by 20-foot living room, according to Fixr, a website that provides cost guides and comparisons for remodeling projects. Given that the average duration of homeownership is about 13 years, the cost of adding molding to a room would break down to about $69 a year.

See: 10 Home Renovations To Make Before You Retire

Contemporary upscale home kitchen interior with cherry wood cabinets, quartz countertops, sustainable recycled linoleum floors.

Average cost: $18,600

Pickens said that an HGTV survey found one of the most popular home renovations people plan to make this year is kitchen remodels. If youre going to spend the money to update your kitchen, he recommends installing custom-made, solid-wood cabinetry. Prefabricated cabinets made of inexpensive material will last only seven or eight years before showing wear, while solid wood cabinets will remain in good condition for at least 30 years, Pickens said.

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The average cost of installing custom cabinetry in a standard-sized kitchen is about $18,600, according to Fixr. Over the course of 30 years, that breaks down to about $620 a year for this home improvement.

Dont Miss: Key Signs You Should Sell Your Home When You Retire

retro metal cabinet knobs in the kitchen.

Average cost: $375 to $500

You can easily update the look of the cabinets and doors in your home by installing new hardware. It will add a visual appeal and make your house look unique, Pickens said. If you buy quality hardware, it should last 20 years or longer. In fact, Pickens said he has found vintage metal doorknobs and cabinet pulls that are 100 years old.

High-end cabinet handles cost about $15 to $20 a piece, and an average kitchen requires 25 handles for drawers and cabinets, according to home maintenance and repair company Mr. Handyman. So the cost of installing new, quality hardware could range from approximately $375 to $500.

Kitchen with honeycomb wall tiles and wooden worktop.

Average cost: $950

Replacing a worn or dated backsplash with one made of tile is an affordable way to improve the look of your kitchen and to better protect the space between your cabinets and countertop from water, Pickens said. And it will last at least 20 years. That will certainly stand the test of time, he said.

On average, the cost of installing a porcelain tile backsplash in a 10-foot by 10-foot kitchen is about $950 for labor and materials, according to Fixr. Over the 20 years or more it will last, its a cost of approximately $47.50 a year.

Close-up of blurred leaves with a sink, green cupboard and mirror in the background in the bathroom interior.

Average cost: $5 to $20 per square foot

The average cost to remodel a bathroom with a new tub, shower, flooring, vanity, and accessories is approximately $18,000, according to Fixr. To protect your investment from moisture, Pickens recommends installing tile throughout a bathroom or at least halfway up the walls. It will help boost the resale value of your home, and its an upgrade that will stand the test of time. Literally, it can last forever with very little maintenance, Pickens said.

On average, porcelain tile costs about $5 to $20 per square foot, according to Fixr. If you just limit tile to a shower rather than the entire bathroom, the average cost to install a 3-foot by 3-foot porcelain tile shower with three walls and an 8-foot high ceiling is approximately $1,875.

A modern contemporary classic bathroom design, furnished with a classic painted cabinet, sepia toned picture on the wall, exposed brick wall and a window, a claw foot bath tub and black and white tile pattern on the floor.

Average cost: $500 to $3,000

If you want a bathtub separate from your shower, Pickens recommends avoiding jet tubs. They are more expensive to install and dont stand the test of time because they can clog and require repairs. Instead, go traditional, he said.

A standalone soaking tub costs, on average, between approximately $500 and $3,000, according to Fixr. Pickens said you might get a better deal by purchasing a second-hand clawfoot tub and having the enamel refinished for about $150. If youre looking to make a renovation and make it last, an old classic tub is your best option, Pickens said.

tankless water heater

Average cost: $1,921

If youre renovating your home, Pickens recommends replacing your hot water heater with a tankless heater. These systems can save you money because they heat water on demand rather than keep an entire tank of water constantly heated. Plus, gas-powered tankless water heaters can last 20 years, Pickens said.

The average cost to install a tankless water heater is approximately $1,921, according to HomeAdvisor. Over the 20 years it should last, that breaks down to a cost of about $96 a year.

Watch Out: 20 Home Renovations That Will Hurt Your Homes Value

Turn off the lights.

Average cost: $144 to install

Switching light switches to dimmers are a cost-efficient home improvement because they can save energy and should last 15 years or more, Pickens said. Dimmer switches cost about $5 to $15 and an average of $144 to install, according to HomeAdvisor. If a switch lasts at least 15 years, the cost is only $9.60 a year.

Modern room with mansard windows.

Average cost: $450 to $1,500

If youre looking for home remodeling ideas that dont cost a lot but add a lot of value, consider installing a skylight to brighten up a room. No one has ever walked into a house and said there is too much light in here, said Pickens. The skylight in his house provides enough natural light throughout the day, which helps reduce the usage of lights during the day.

A skylight will last as long as the house does if you maintain it, Pickens said. On average, the cost of installing a skylight ranges from approximately $450 to $1,500 depending on the style that is installed, according to Fixr.

Three new replacement windows with green trim on front of house.

Average cost: $19,000 for average-sized house

Replacing windows with energy-efficient ones can be one of the more expensive home-improvement projects, but its money well spent, Pickens said. They can increase the value of your home and lower your electricity costs.

The average cost of installing energy-efficient windows throughout a 2,450-square foot house is approximately $19,000, according to the National Association of Realtors Remodeling Impact Report. However, over the 30-plus years, these windows should last and the annual cost would be about $633.

Save on Floor Remodels

Average cost: $4,000

Youd be much better off installing wood flooring rather than carpet when remodeling a home because carpet doesnt stand the test of time, Pickens said. One glass of spilled grape juice could ruin your carpet 10 minutes after installing it. Your hardwood floors could last 100 years, Pickens said. You dont get better value than that.

The average cost of installing 200 square feet of hardwood flooring is about $4,000, according to Fixr. Engineered wood flooring that is made with plywood and a hardwood veneer cost about the same to install and can last as long. Over 100 years, the cost of installing hardwood flooring is only $40 a year. For an even more affordable option, Pickens recommends vinyl composite core flooring that replicates the look of hardwood flooring.

white plastic window on the wall lined with yellow siding.

Average cost: $6,000 to $13,000

To spruce up the look of the exterior of your home, consider installing siding. Vinyl siding is a low-cost and low-maintenance option. There also are a variety of new materials in the same price range as vinyl that will last as long at least 30 years, Pickens said.

The cost to install vinyl siding on an average two-story house ranges from approximately $6,000 to $13,000, according to DIY Network. Over the course of the 30 years, the siding will last, the $13,000 installing cost breaks down to about $433 a year.

"Construction Worker, Building Activity, Built Structure, Construction Site, Copy Space, Fiberglass Insulation", Fibreglass, HOUSE, Home Improvement, Home Interior, Horizontal, Industry, Installing, Insulation, Ladder, Manual Worker, Men, Pollution Mask, Protective Glove, Protective Workwear, Stud, Wall, batt, construction, jeans, protection, working

Average cost: $3,500 to $4,500

Insulating your house is something people try to skimp on, Pickens said. But this home upgrade can pay off because it will help cut energy costs over time. And it should last as long as your house does. On average, it costs $3,500 to $4,500 to install blown-in insulation into a 2,500 square-foot house, according to Fixr.

Backyard deck with deck chairs and a pergola on a sunny summer day.

Average cost: $7,229

Adding a deck to your home can increase its value because it can increase your living space, Pickens said. If you want a deck to stand the test of time, he recommends using composite decking materials. A well-made deck of composite materials will last you 30 years without having it restained or repainted, he said.

On average, it costs about $7,229 to install a 200- to 500-square foot deck in wood or composite materials, according to HomeAdvisor. That breaks down to about $241 a year over the course of 30 years.

An American flag flies from the open porch and gardens surround a small single family home on a Spring afternoon on Cape Cod on the Massachusetts coast.

Average cost: $13,200

If you want to create a good first impression when guests or potential buyers come to your home, invest in landscaping. Always with landscaping, its money well spent, Pickens said. And it will last forever if you maintain it well.

The cost of landscaping can vary greatly depending on the plants you choose and the size of the project. However, the average cost for landscape design and installation in an average-sized yard of 1,200 square feet is approximately $13,200, according to Fixr.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Home Upgrades That Will Stand the Test of Time

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Home Upgrades That Will Stand the Test of Time - Yahoo Finance

AFTER: Open shelving was built into the wall of the kitchen to maximize space and functionality.

Megan developed a plan, working closely with Claire and Hayden, to cultivate a property where needs and wants existed in harmony. They partnered with Green Solar Designs to build a new double-story extension that included a kitchen, dining, and sitting room on the ground floor and a primary suite upstairs. A large sliding door opens to the original structure, which has the same widened door frames and even flooring as the rest of the home. The wallpaper, palmets, and light fixtures in the front room that first drew the couples attention were salvagedthanks, in part, to Macasar Buildingand fit right in with the rest of their belongings.

AFTER: Handmade terra-cotta tiles were sourced from New Zealand for the flooring through the kitchen, dining, and living spaces, and the herringbone pattern makes it easier for Owens wheelchair to glide. The furnishings are from the owners collection.

Claire and Hayden had a collection of vintage kitsch, midcentury, and industrial objects that had been stored in anticipation of their forever house, Megan says. Claire worked in fashion for many years, so she has a keen eye for color and form, and Hayden had amassed industrial relics of his own.

Megan created an earth-tone palettewarm paprika in the entryway, sage in the kitchen, sky blue in the bathroomto complement their style and connect each space to the leaves and light outside. The colors also allow accessible and sustainable elements to blend in more effortlessly. The curves of the ground-floor bathroom, which was the most vital and challenging part of the renovation, let Owen transfer from the tub to his wheelchair more easily, while the height of the vanity allows his wheels to slide underneath. Those same curves and rectangular tiles can be seen in the kitchens open shelving and dining areas fireplace, and everything can be accessed through wider door frames inside and hardwood ramps outside. As for eco-friendly solutions, a 5-kilowatt solar panel and solar hot water system were installed on the roof, and the new exterior consists of recycled brick.

BEFORE: When the family first moved in, the outdoor area was in total disarray.

AFTER: Double-glazed timber windows were installed throughout the home, and an angled hardwood front door was made custom for this frame. The original brick faade and sandstone paving were restored, and match new wide ramps that were made to blend in.

Everything works so well, Claire says. The lovely big ramp out the front is the first thing everyone notices, and strangers often stop by and tell us how much they love it. Because its made so well, it actually adds a rather grand flavor to the front of our houseas if someone really important must live there! But the things people may not notice, like the smooth doorways and mixer taps, are what makes this home truly functional.

BEFORE: The original home only had one bathroom, and its midcentury build was not accessible.

AFTER: Megan was inspired by a 1960s pool for the bathrooms renovation, and sourced tiles from Artedomus and Academy Tiles for the walls and tub enclosure. Many of this projects features, such as the curved vanity, were functionally important and became some of the most beautiful aspects of the design, she says.

AFTER: Megan reused the original bathrooms pink sink in the primary suite upstairs. Along with the primary bedroom and bathroom, theres a studyMegan calls it the parents zone.

Its been three years since the family moved into this flexible and functional hub, and so far, it has been just that. Everyone has a spot to work, play, and gather, and Claire notes how the colors bring the interior alive. While the project's aim was for Owen to live well, the rest of the family certainly does too. And that, Claire notes, is its beauty. Accessible homes are the best because they make everyones life more comfortable, she says.

AFTER: The lovely, wide entryway is painted in a paprika shade from Dulux, and complements the Australian hardwood staircase.

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This Melbourne Home Doesn't Exactly Look Accessible, And That's the Best Part - Architectural Digest

Every house has a story, especially really old dwellings. Imagine how many souls have swept through a 1903 Neoclassical-style mansion or a 1914 English Jacobethan? What lingers behind beyond the spirit of residents past? Their taste in wallpaper and other fixtures that stayed once the occupants vanished.

In this weeks real estate gallery, we look at historic Portland-area homes for sale and tease out the facts and the rumors.

The Portland mansion Beverly Cleary called haunted is for sale at $4,995,000: Frank C. Barnes, who was a leader in the Pacific Northwest salmon packing industry, carved out about three blocks from his land holdings to create a compound in 1914 for his large family.

The 9,830-square-foot mansion, an eclectic mix of English Jacobethan with a grand Colonial Revival portico and Arts and Crafts details, has since earned notoriety as a landmark in literary icon Beverly Clearys beloved Ramona Quimby childrens books.

Cleary, who grew up near the Barnes Mansion, knew it when the four-level structure had fallen on hard times. She wrote that the house, at 3533 N.E. Klickitat St. on top of Alameda Ridge, was haunted.

The gilded mansion, with a ballroom and 18-karat gold threads in the drawing rooms wall fabric, was in danger of being torn down. Neighbors stopped the bulldozers in 1958 and the Barnes Mansion was restored and placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

All of the original beveled and stained glass windows and doors, in a variety of patterns, have survived as has solid Honduras mahogany paneling, says listing agent Tim Walters of RE/MAX Equity Group.

Included on the one-acre property is the mansion, with six bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, and a detached garage built in 2005 with a self-contained one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment (an accessory dwelling unit or ADU), overlooking a modern garden. The total living space on the property: 11,443 square feet. Read more about the Barnes Mansion

See more homes for sale in the 97212 zip code

18

Jacob H. Cook mansion near Mount Tabor

Showstopper Mount Tabor mansion, once vandalized, is now for sale at $2.25 million: The Neoclassical-style mansion near Mount Tabor in southeast Portland was known as the Jacob H. Cook mansion after a lumber baron bought the property in 1904, a year after the home was finished.

Then the mansion was called the Christmas House during decades of holiday events, and finally Walter, in reference to the rumor that Mickey Mouse-creator Walt Disneys family once lived here.

Starting in 2010, the once-majestic mansion at 5631 S.E. Belmont St. was abandoned, a casualty of the housing crisis and recession. For eight years, squatters filled it with garbage, vandals graffitied the walls and thieves slipped away with the hardware and light fixtures.

Today, the iconic house with 6,820 square feet of living space has been restored. Historic character is seen alongside modern amenities, a gourmet kitchen, six bedrooms, five bathrooms, two powder rooms and 6,820 square feet of living space.

Wide open rooms let in tons of light, and balconies and a fully landscaped yard offer lots of space to work from home or socially distanced entertaining, says listing agent Chris Suarez with John Powers of Keller Williams Realty Professionals. Potential income generating. See @thewalterpdx on Instagram. Read more about the mansion

See more homes for sale in the 97215 zip code

The Portland Heights Craftsman at 1883 S.W. Vista Ave. is listed at $1,925,000 by Jennifer Grandjean of Keller Williams Realty Portland Elite.Keller Williams Realty Portland Elite

1908 Craftsman in Portland Heights: 1883 S.W. Vista Ave. is listed at $1,925,000.

The four-level mansion, on 0.31 acres, has a home theater, billiards room, eight bedrooms, four full bathrooms, two powder rooms and 7,870 square feet of living space.

The beautiful, historic home, restored by designer Robert Trotman, has custom inlaid hardwood floors and original Povey stained glass windows, says listing agent Jennifer Grandjean of Keller Williams Realty Portland Elite.

There are two kitchens, butlers and bakers pantries, and two laundry rooms. A sports court has been installed in the backyard.

See more homes for sale in the 97201 zip code

Restored Harvey Starkweather Estate at 16022 S.E. River Road in Milwaukie is listed by Brandi Erskine of NextHome Willamette.NextHome Willamette

Restored Harvey and Alice Starkweather Estate: 16022 S.E. River Road in Milwaukie is listed at $1,850,000.

President Woodrow Wilson dispatched Harvey Starkweather, an advocate for better roads, to Europe in the 1910s to study rural credits and country life conditions. The commissions report was the basis of the Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916. Starkweather was also instrumental in the construction of super highway McLoughlin Boulevard, according to the Oregon Historic Sites database.

The 1900 Colonial Revival-style home with three covered porches is perched atop a nob on 2.65 acres.

Original period details were restored inside the home with 6,086 square feet of living space, and there is newer plumbing, electrical and insulation. Each of the six bedrooms has a private bathroom and fireplace plus there is a powder room.

Twelve gas fireplaces heat each space affordably. Currently a bed & breakfast, zoned for other uses, says listing agent Brandi Erskine of NextHome Willamette. Turnkey income opportunity and furnished.

See more homes for sale in the 97267 zip code

Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman

Want to search Oregon real estate listings and use local resources? Click here.

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Historic Portland homes for sale: Gilded fixtures and Beverly Cleary rumors included - OregonLive

More than 80 members of JAX Chambers Downtown Council and guests met virtually Feb. 19 to learn about the past, present and future of Jacksonvilles most historic entertainment venue.

The Zoom presentation was provided by Numa Saisselin, president of the Florida Theatre Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. The nonprofit has managed and programmed the theater since 1987, when the city bought the building, 60 years after it opened at Forsyth and Newnan streets.

Saisselin and his staff manage the six floors of office space in the building and book the performers.

We put up the money. We pay the artists, the stagehands, security, bartenders and the box office staff and we pay for the advertising, he said.

The theaters economic impact is about $13 million a year, representing more than 400 full-time equivalent jobs, Saisselin said.

More than 80 members of JAX Chambers Downtown Council and guests met via Zoom.

Like other businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic is having a negative effect on the theater. Before March 2020, about 175 shows opened at the theater each year. Despite the pandemic shutdown, the Florida Theatre remains a top-five venue in the U.S. under 2,000 seats in terms of ticket sales.

Before COVID, we were on an 18-month roll. The economy was strong. People were spending money and performers were touring. On March 12, 2020, that all came to a screeching halt, Saisselin said.

With no choice but to close the venue, the $10 million renovation plan in preparation for the theaters 100th anniversary in 2027 was accelerated.

Wider seats with more legroom and cupholders were installed, along with a new sound system. The rest of the plan will expand the lobby and bar area, improve the restrooms and replace the HVAC system, he said.

Saisselin said he hopes that a positive outcome of the pandemic will be a greater appreciation of the value of people congregating for entertainment.

TV and Zoom are not the same as something thats happening only here and only now.

The venue has reopened at 50% capacity for social distancing, with temperature checks at the door and face masks required in the building.

Free concerts planned

Saisselin also is chair of Downtown Vision Inc., the nonprofit funded by an additional property tax paid by Downtown owners that promote the neighborhood as a place to live, work and play.

He said the Florida Theatre is booking the entertainers for DVIs free outdoor concert series each Thursday evening in April at Riverfront Plaza, former site of The Jacksonville Landing.

The lineup, yet to be announced, will include classic and alternative rock, country and hip-hop.

Were keeping in mind young audiences, Saisselin said.

Downtown Council grant

The Downtown Council announced Feb. 15 a $5,000 donation to the Jacksonville Historical Society for the societys planned museum of Jacksonville music history.

The contribution was the net sponsorship proceeds from the groups annual Painting of the Paw Prints, conducted each year the Saturday before the Jacksonville Jaguars first home game, said Gracie Simendinger, Downtown Council president.

Downtown Council also submitted an entry to the historical societys annual gingerbread house contest at Historic St. Andrews in the Sports Complex.

Simendinger said the entry was a miniature representation of the bright yellow paw prints painted on Bay Street in front of the Bostwick Building, now Cowford Chophouse.

Baked and decorated by Downtown Council board member Laura Phillips Edgecombe, it won the Peoples Choice award and raised about $1,000 for the society, based on votes from the public at $1 each, Simendinger said.

The Downtown Councils entry in the Jacksonville Historical Societys 2020 Gingerbread House Contest won the Peoples Choice Award.

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Florida Theatre: Learning about the venue's past, present and future - Jacksonville Daily Record

At the start of the Spring 2021 semester, University administration informed 113 Broad Street residents that the Core study space in the residence hall would be used as a COVID-19 testing site. In response to the administrations decision to establish the Core as a COVID-19 testing site, 113 Broad Street resident sophomore Margo Williams started a petition requesting the University reopen the Core study space for students.

Im disappointed with the decision that the administration came to because I do think there are lots of other better places on campus [for COVID-19 testing], Williams said.

In an email sent by President Brian Casey on Feb. 2, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) attested that the Core space would be the most feasible location for a COVID-19 testing site on campus.

Each of the possible alternative locations are being used to accommodate a return to campus this semester, including, for example, the Hall of Presidents (for a new dining venue) and Edge Cafe (also used for dining). I know that the EOCs review was comprehensive and considered vehicular and foot traffic to the testing site, size of the room, ability to store items so as not to need to set up a testing site each day, proximity to the anticipated vaccine clinic and Student Health Services, among other particulars, Casey wrote in an email.

113 Broad resident sophomore Anya Steinmetz explained that the Core is an integral study space for residents and was especially popular in the Fall 2020 semester.

People would sit at tables with masks on, but it was a place to study with your friends, to see your friends, but obviously in a safe way. It was a nice place to go just to study too and do classes [on Zoom] especially because its a place where you can talk and you dont have to feel weird about talking. But also, its not necessarily a loud place, Steinmetz said.

Steinmetz explained the disappointment from students in response to the sudden decision of the Core becoming a COVID-19 testing site.

A lot of people drafted emails regarding why they dont like the decision about the Core based on the social reasons, mental health reasons, educational reasons, and for health and safety reasons. People including myself were kind of concerned with the fact that there are going to be so many people coming everyday to this building to get tested for COVID-19 and then theyre going to be walking down the same staircase as us and touching the same door handle, Steinmetz said.

Williams articulated that, despite the administration reaffirming their decision to have the Core be a COVID-19 testing site, it is best to come to terms with this new situation.

Im not planning to continue to pursue advocating for the change because I feel that [administration] answered the call and shut it down pretty succinctly. Id be wasting my energy to continue trying to make that change happen, Willams said. At some point, you adapt and you move on, and the culture changes. Were not using that space anymore, so well find other spaces on campus to see 113 [Broad] members.

In light of the Core no longer being a study space, the facilities staff will install furniture, televisions, ping pong tables and pool tables across the four buildings of the 113 Broad Street complex for students to use. Currently, residents can use folding chairs and foldable tables set up on their floors.

Outside of 113 Broad is a modular classroom for students to study after 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday and after 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursdays and Fridays. On weekends, the modular classroom is available the entire day for studying.

In response to these accommodations, Steinmetz reiterated the Cores significance as a place for studying and socializing for 113 Broad Street residents.

I dont think its accommodating enough, Steinmetz said. They finally put some furniture out in the common area right outside of my room, which included a foldable plastic long table and some folding chairs. They just added one or two small wooden tables, but thats really not enough. People see the people on their floor every single day.

In an email from Assistant Director of Residential Life Amanda Stewart to 113 Broad Street residents sent Feb. 12, Stewart explained that the Office of Residential Life will provide new furniture and recreation equipment, such as study tables, chairs, foosball table and air hockey tables, expected to be installed in lounges and basement lounges on Feb. 24.

Williams showed concern that students might study and socially interact with each other in bedrooms and put each other at risk as a result of the Core no longer being a study space.

I think students are going to be going in and out of one anothers rooms far more often as a result of this, which makes the students who are most nervous about COVID-19 in a really tough position. Particularly if one person is not nervous about getting COVID-19 and wants to have people over because they have nowhere else to be social, or to do schoolwork with a classmate and their roommate doesnt want that, Williams said.

Continue reading here:
Students Respond to 113 Broad Core Study Space Becoming a COVID-19 Testing Site - The Colgate Maroon-News

In densely populated areas of India, it is common to see multi-use buildings that house both a business and residence. Sound Sense, an award-winning integration firm in Surat, has one of Indias most elite showrooms and is quite familiar with working in this type of structure. Sound Senses state-of-the-art showroom displays living and office space possibilities to meet virtually any audio, video and control need that is then customized for each client to meet their unique requirements and budget.

A local dental surgeon reached out to Sound Sense after recently completing construction of a 4-story home/business with his dental clinic located on the ground floor and residence situated on the upper three floors. He had a two-fold vision for the uppermost floor to provide a place to retreat from the long hours of the work week and to provide a place to get together with family and friends on evenings, weekends, and special occasions. The client envisioned a high-end theater, yet they only had a room sized just under 25 x 19 to work within.

Our client wanted a larger-than-life movie experience whose vibrancy was to remain isolated from the dental clinic below, said Ankur Bhatt, founder and director of Sound Sense. The client requested a monster-sized screen and a high-end audio video calibrated system that well exceeded the limited budget that remained after the other construction expenses. We were able to carefully select components that allowed us to fulfill his vision while staying within the allocated budget.

The main challenge was to meet the large seating requirement in such a limited space. After assessing the room size, screen size, speaker placement, seating needs and acoustics, we designed five rows of seating for 33 people using six or seven seats per row in non-reclining chairs. The six-seat rows were designed to accommodate the pillars on each side of the room.

We used a discrete speaker setup with the surrounds placed in the center of rows one and two and rows three and four to achieve the correct phase alignment for these rows. Diffuser panels were used in the back half of the room to add spaciousness to the sound and reduce the localization of the surround and rear speakers. For subwoofer placement, we performed a room analysis, and the seats were place in the optimized zone with moderated peaking and no nulling. We needed the boundary gain from the wall for the subwoofers and placed the two subs in the corners of the room to create a virtual sub in the center. This gave us the real estate we needed to place more seats.

To address the noise isolation issues, we designed the acoustic treatments to rectify the reverberation time and solve problems related to the flutter echoes. An intricate isolation system was installed in the floor and an acoustic sheet was added behind the Milan acoustic transparent screen. We also installed a dedicated split air conditioning unit with internal thermostat controls in the equipment room to overcome the typical Indian heat whether the cinema room was in use or not.

Phase Technologys CI Custom Install 3-way in-wall speakers were selected for cinema audio for their high-quality sound and noise isolating properties. The tweeter and midrange assembly absorb the horizontal sound waves through Unicell Acoustic treatment to minimize interaction with the mounting wall resulting in amazingly precise imaging and clarity.The patented CI 130 uses a hybrid in-wall enclosure design that lowers the transmission of sound into an adjacent room while keeping the bass output at levels close to an infinite baffle design. With this design, a speaker with the same size rear enclosure will have bass output that extends up to one octave lower than a comparable speaker.

We selected Phase Technology loudspeakers and subwoofers for this project as they brought us the superlative sound and resonance we needed for this cinema. With our experience installing Phase Tech speakers over the past few years, we can vouch for their consistency and reliability in terms of quality output and technical performance over time.

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Sound Sense Recently Completed a High-end 33-seat Theater in Just a 25 X 19 Space Featuring Phase Technology Audio. - rAVe [PUBS]

The group restoring The Roxy in Leadgate are looking for funding to complete their work

The Roxy opened in 1939 and was an iconic art deco style cinema at the heart of the community on Watling Street in Leadgate, County Durham.

The building later became a bingo hall in 1974 before closing its doors for the final time in 1985.

Since its closure over 35 years ago, the Roxy has sat derelict and because of this the fabulous example of art deco construction suffered years of neglect and vandalism.

Thankfully the building was saved back in 2001 by the family of David Barnes, who is now company manager and one of five directors of Watling Spaces Community Interest Company.

This company was established to assist with the regeneration and then go on to manage the day-to-day running of the venue when its restoration is finally complete.

More here:
Meet the team behind the restoration of 1930s art deco cinema The Roxy in County Durham - ChronicleLive