After spending so much time in your home, it might be time to escape to a new location.

People can now virtually step inside homes designed by America's most famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

From frat houses in Gainesville, Florida, to museums in New York City, Frank Lloyd Wright designed over 1,000 buildings.

Only a few of them are open to the public through in-person tours. But now, in a partnership between the Frank Lloyd Wright FoundationandUnity Temple Restoration Foundation, you can visit 12 of the buildings virtually.

Every Thursday, a representative stationed at one of Wright's buildings will take viewers on a tour of a new building. The videos will be livestreamed and saved on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation'swebsite.

The tours will last until mid-May and include some of his most famous works likeTaliesin West.

Taliesin West is a UNESCO World Heritage site in the deserts of Arizona. The building served as Wright's winter home and "desert laboratory."

Or visit Fallingwater, a home sitting over waterfalls and tucked inside southwest Pennsylvania's forests.

Fallingwater is considered one of Wright's most famous works and attracts over 100,000 visitors every year. Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo

"It is precisely at this time, when so many are shut inside, that we need to experience beauty and inspiration. Wright's works bring people together in harmony with the natural world, reminding us that we are all connected, even when we're apart," Barbara Gordon, the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy's executive director, wrote in a statement.

While the Frank Lloyd Wright buildings remain closed, the conservancy is hoping the virtual visits will spark new followers, members, and supporters of Wright's work.

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You can virtually visit some of the country's most famous buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright - Insider - INSIDER

Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Heading southbound on Lake Shore Drive through Grant Park in Chicago on Monday.

With the coronavirus pandemic dragging on and people looking for something (anything!) to relieve the boredom of being stuck at home, I have a modest proposal: Revive the drive the Sunday Drive.

Those of a certain age will remember the Sunday Drive. It was a secular ritual a leisurely car trip with no particular destination, often taken in the afternoon by a family in a wood-paneled station wagon. Such excursions might go through farm fields, to the nearest Dairy Queen, or along a sylvan route lined with money-dripping mansions, like the North Shores Sheridan Road.

Today, with roads of all sorts practically empty, the Sunday Drive beckons anew. After all, its easy to maintain social distancing when youre in a pod of steel. Also, you dont need to wear a mask. And so, instead of going out for a stroll or binge-watching shows on Netflix (or maybe in addition to those things), some people are taking to the road.

My husband and I are reinventing the Sunday afternoon family car ride I used to take with my family in the late 1940s (and) early 1950s, when we lived in San Francisco, Mary Ann Irvine of Oak Park wrote to me in a recent email. With little traffic on the streets," she added, "its easy to drive slowly and stop often to see architectural gems by the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright.

I think Mary Anns on to something. So why not head down (or up) Lake Shore Drive, taking in Chicagos skyline cliffs on one side and the blue expanse of Lake Michigan on the other? Preferably, youll have Aliotta Haynes Jeremiahs 1971 song Lake Shore Drive (And there aint no road just like it / Anywhere I found) blasting in the background.

Or try Chicagos historic boulevards, a 26-mile chain of parks and boulevards that courses through the citys North, West and South Sides. Another suggestion: west suburban Riversides Longcommon Road, a park-lined drive designed by the great landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.

Surely you have favorites of your own.

Such trips, it appears, are permitted under Gov. J.B. Pritzkers stay-at-home order, which allows people to drive on both local roads and interstate highways. Judging by the number of car parades that have popped up to celebrate birthdays and other milestones, the authorities arent cracking down on pleasure driving.

Just dont take advantage of the open road and go 100 m.p.h. down an expressway. Thats the antithesis of the slow, relaxing Sunday Drive.

Building on the precedent of the high-society, horse-drawn carriages that rolled down elegant boulevards in the late 19th century, the Sunday Drive is thought to have originated in the 1920s just a few years after the great influenza epidemic of 1918 that killed at least 50 million people worldwide.

Maybe people wanted to get out into the fresh air, which was thought to improve health. More likely, they just wanted to take their new plaything the car out into the country to escape the crowded cities and towns in which they lived.

Henry Ford, whose mass production methods made cars available to millions, is said to have supported the Sunday Drive because it helped to sell cars.

Indeed, if you Google Sunday Drive and Model T, youll see old black-and-white photos that show families decked out in their Sunday best, the tops of their cars folded down to bring them in the open air. Some journeyed to the countryside for a picnic, their cars sputtered along primitive dirt roads.

Once, a weekend trip to the countryside was a privilege of the wealthy. Widespread car ownership and new roads, tellingly dubbed parkways opened up these pleasures to the middle class.

The very name parkway suggests how such roads differ from the concrete gashes of urban expressways that would be built after World War II: Theyre free of trucks, flanked by park-like expanses of grass and trees, and have relatively low speed limits. Some, like Connecticuts Merritt Parkway, built in the 1930s, are straddled by beautiful bridges that carry local traffic over them.

The popularity of the Sunday Drive reached its apex in the 1950s and 1960s, when cars were still associated with personal freedom, not air pollution or suburban sprawl.

But something changed in the 1970s. Perhaps it was rising gas prices or a heightened environmental consciousness. Or maybe, some urban planners think, suburban sprawl was blurring the once-clear boundary between town and country. Where once there were farm fields and expanses of nature, now there were strip malls and traffic-jammed arterial roads. That made the Sunday Drive a lot less alluring

In the early 20th century, departments of motor vehicles classified (cars) as pleasure vehicles," Julie Campoli, a Burlington, Vermont urban designer and author, noted in a 2014 blog post Bring Back the Sunday Drive.

Now, Campoli observed, cars "are officially known as 'passenger vehicles a more accurate term, since most of the pleasure has drained out of the experience of driving. After a week of sitting behind the wheel, idling and turning, dropping off and picking up, 21st century Americans might find it difficult to imagine loading the family into the car on a Sunday afternoon and heading out for a drive just for the fun of it.

Advocates of pedestrian-friendly cities and mass transit may be shocked to hear me championing the Sunday Drive. But while car use is declining, millions of Americans still rely on four wheels to get around. And in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the Sunday Drive stands ready as a relief valve for those bottled up in their homes, especially older people who are unable to go out for long walks.

So, go! A Sunday Drive might make you feel better, just like a walk does. As a bonus, you might appreciate the beauty of your city or suburb in fresh ways

Just two cautionary notes: Keep your eyes on the road and dont get out of your car and congregate, especially if youre in Chicago. If you do, the Queen of Keeping Apart, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, may personally come after you.

Blair Kamin is a Tribune critic.

bkamin@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @BlairKamin

2020 the Chicago Tribune

Visit the Chicago Tribune at http://www.chicagotribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Column: Revive the Sunday Drive suddenly it's once again a great way to escape home and see your city - MSN

The International Competition for the Architectural Landscape Design Concept for the Tuchkov Buyan Park in Saint Petersburg

On 15 November, the International Competition for the Architectural Landscape Design Concept for the Tuchkov Buyan Park in Saint Petersburg will begin accepting applications from participants. Interested parties can submit their application at park-spb.ru/eng

Tuchkov Buyan will become a city park with direct access to the Neva River, offer new panoramic views of the citys main landmarks and unite Saint Petersburgs green spaces with a single, unbroken pedestrian route.

The goal of the competition is to define the vision and landscape architectural concept for the park that meets the demands of city residents, visitors, and the specialist community. Russian and international landscape designers and architects are invited to participate. The deadline for application submission is 15 January 2020. The procedure, rules, and conditions of the competition meet the international standards set by the International Union of Architects (UIA).

Serban Tiganas, Secretary General, UIA:The UIA is proud to endorse this competition that explores the contribution of architecture and landscape architecture to the well-being of the local community. Our Union prides itself in being at the forefront of the promotion of fair and transparent competitions for architects around the world. The UIA is associated with iconic competitions across the globe with architectural works that have made an impact in their respective countries. We are excited to be involved in the International Competition for the Architectural Landscape Design Concept for the Tuchkov Buyan Park and look forward to seeing the realization of the winning entry in the beautiful city of Saint Petersburg, also known as the cultural capital of Russia

Denis Leontiev, CEO of Strelka KB:An important nuance of the Tuchkov Buyan competition is in the wide scope of professionals to whom it appeals, including young bureaus from Russia. It is a unique case where not only internationally recognised bureaus, but young participants as well are permitted to participate in a competition for site of such importance to the city. This will provide variety in the competition proposals and an opportunity for young architects to prove themselves in a significant competition, for whom a special quota has been set aside. As a result of the pre-qualification process, the jury will determine 8 finalists: 6 bureaus with experience in designing similar sites, and 2 early-career bureaus.

The competition jury will include 14 Russian and international professionals, including a member of the Executive Council of ISOCARP, Didier Vancutsem; landscape architect and representative of the International Union of Architects, Stefan Rotzler; and chief architect of Saint Petersburg, Vladimir Grigoryev.

Competition schedule:

Application submission window: from 15 November 2019 to 15 January 2020; Jury meeting and selection of the eight finalists: 34 February 2020; Development of competition proposals: 5 February to 8 May 2020; Jury meeting: 14-15 May 2020; Announcement of competition results: 36 June.The 8 competitors who will be invited to submit project proposals will each receive USD 60,000. The top three prizes will receive the following prize money:

First prize: USD 50,000Second prize: USD 30,000Third prize: USD 20,000

The competition brief will be prepared by the technical committeeand published in mid-January. The document will take into account the results of expert sessions and analysis conducted based on meetings with city residents.

Preparation for the international competition for landscape architectural concepts for Tuchkov Buyan Park in Saint Petersburg began in September 2019. The competition will be conducted at the request of the Government of the Russian Federation. The competitions initiator is the Government of Saint Petersburg, and the DOM.RF Joint Stock Company serves as its organiser. The competition will be operated by the Strelka KB consulting company, in partnership with ISOCARP and the European University at Saint Petersburg.

Download the information related to this competition here.

The International Competition for the Architectural Landscape Design Concept for the Tuchkov Buyan Park in Saint Petersburg

Competition Announcement (Built Projects & Masterplans)

15/01/2020 00:00

Saint Petersburg, Petrogradsky District

Free

This competition was submitted by an ArchDaily user. If you'd like to submit a competition, call for submissions or other architectural 'opportunity' please use our "Submit a Competition" form. The views expressed in announcements submitted by ArchDaily users do not necessarily reflect the views of ArchDaily.

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The International Competition for the Architectural Landscape Design Concept for the Tuchkov Buyan Park in Saint Petersburg - ArchDaily

A profession that balances art, design, science, and environmental stewardship, landscape architecture allows designers and architects to create environments that can facilitate positive and regenerative environmental and social outcomes within the built environment.

If you're passionate about planning, managing, and analyzing landscapes through design, check out these 7 firms seeking to hire the right candidates to join their team.

Studio AKA seeks a Landscape Designer/ArchitectLocation: Washington, D.C.Studio AKA is a small but nimble design practice located in Capitol Hill. They are seeking a self-motivated entry-level landscape designer or part-time mid-level landscape designer with a passion for imagining creative, sustainable solutions to tough urban problems. Qualifications include a Bachelor's degree or master's degree in landscape architecture, civil engineering, horticulture, or urban planning as well as proficiency with Adobe suite, CAD, rhino is a must, familiarity with Lumion and Vectorworks preferred.

3North seeks an Architect II/Project ArchitectLocation: Richmond, VAThe firm seeks a talented, highly motivatedArchitect II or Project Architectwith 3-7 years of high-caliber design experience.Candidates should have strong problem-solving skills and be motivated by the opportunity to carve out a unique role in a growing firm. Must have a Bachelors orMastersdegree in Architecture with 3-7 years of relatedexperience in an architectural practice. Should be proactively tracking toward licensure (preferred). Experience with Revit, AutoCAD, Bluebeam Revu, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator), and MS Office

Balmori Associates seeks a Landscape DesignerLocation: New York, NYResearch oriented, Balmori Associates explores new technologies, processes and forms of representation in a creative and collaborative working environment. Balmori Associates is seeking landscape designers with a high-level of digital design skills, graphic ability to represent design ideas, and a strong understanding of space.Exceptional knowledge of 3D design software is required. Must have a Bachelor's/Master's degree in landscape architecture, urban design, or architecture, proficiency in Rhino, AutoCAD, and Adobe required. 2 year minimum office experience in a design firm.

Hargreaves Associates seeks a Landscape Architect/DesignerLocation: New York, NYHargreaves Associates (now Hargreaves Jones) in New York is seeking talented designers with 2-5 years of experience to assist in the realization of several new projects in the US and abroad that include urban parks, plazas, master plans, resiliency design and sustainability design, through all phases. We seek creative, smart people who are comfortable in an open studio, collaborative environment and who have good communication skills. Writing is a plus. The ability to think three dimensionally is critical. Expertise with Adobe programs, AutoCad and 3D programs is essential. Other duties may include assisting in marketing and proposal efforts. Some travel will be required. Candidates should hold a MLA or BLA. Salary will be based on experience.

SALT Landscape Architects seeks an Associate-level Designer and Mid-Level Landscape DesignerLocation: Los Angeles, CASALT is looking for an exceptional landscape designer who can provide design leadership on a range of project types and scales for public and private clients. Must have 8+ years of experience / licensure is a plus, but not required.The office looks to hire designers who can develop a clear vision and take ownership in their projects to see them from early ideation through construction.Associates are expected to push for design excellence in all areas as well as guide and lead junior designers in technical and design growth in the office.

ZFREEDMAN Landscape Architecture, Inc. seeks a Landscape Designer + Project ManagerLocation: Culver City, CASmall landscape architecture studio in Culver City looking for a landscape design consultant with 1-3 years experience.Part-time work available immediately, with the opportunity for full time employment. Projects include multiple residential and commercial as well as educational, public, institutional and hospitality projects. Local applicants only, please. Projects focused throughout Los Angeles. Familiarity with building codes and dealing with city departments is a plus in addition to knowledge of construction.

Marmol Radziner seeks an Entry Level Landscape Designer and Mid-Level Landscape DesignerLocation: Los Angeles, CAMarmol Radziner is a unique design-build firm, practicing Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design and Construction. Based in Los Angeles, our firm specializes in high-end residential, commercial, and community projects.The firm seeks a candidate with experience in all project phases including conceptual design, construction documentation, and contract administration. Experience with single-family residential, multi-family, and mixed-use design and construction documentation.All applicants should be highly motivated, with experience in collaborative work, and have a detail oriented approach in their execution of tasks.

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Calling all landscape architects and designers! Check out these 7 firms currently hiring on Archinect Jobs - Archinect

The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. is featuring a portrait exhibition that was created by a University of Wyoming (UW) professor.

"The Bearded Lady Project is a science, art collaboration that celebrates the amazing work that the women of paleontology have done, and then also highlights the challenges that women have faced to succeed in the field," Ellen Currano said, one of the cofounders of the project.

The exhibit features portraits of the women conducting their research - most of the time while wearing false beards or mustaches. It started as a plan for a five-minute YouTube video, but quickly grew from there.

"As we started reaching out to scientists and getting a lot of support, we realized we had more than that. And so, we came up with this portrait exhibition," Currano said. "We have a 22-minute short film, we have a 52-minute feature length film, and now we are at The Nation's Natural History Museum."

The exhibit debuted at the UW Geology Museum in 2017. Since then, it's been in five different museums across the country. It will be at the Smithsonian for six months before moving on to its next location.

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UW Professor Featured At Smithsonian - Wyoming Public Media

STEVENS POINT Heres some good news: The Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame announced last week that it will induct three new members in 2020, raising to 100 the number of conservation heroes the organization has recognized since 1985.

If you study the list of inductees and read their bios on the Hall of Fame web site, youll see they are to a person remarkable in their work. They have helped imbue Wisconsin with a conservation ethic that has stood up to countless assaults. So, on this holiday week, we can truly be thankful for their efforts.

Their work is reflected in everything good about our states natural beauty. They worked to clean up state waters, succeeded in protecting and enhancing scores of fragile habitats and made sure to provide public access to our abundant natural wonders. Many of the early leaders were hunters who saw firsthand the need to preserve and enhance wildlife habitats. They were responsible for the current system of game laws and wardens that prevents unlawful takings, too.

Early in the last century, some of those conservationists, including Aldo Leopold, pushed for establishment of a citizens natural resources board to put decision-making on natural resources in the hands of the people. That power has been eroded over time by politicians in the state Capitol, but they havent succeeded in completely dismantling a system that was mimicked in other states across the nation.

A new generation of conservation leaders is at work today, on matters no less pressing or important. As the world faces perhaps the toughest environmental challenge in history human-caused climate change the successes of the past offer hope. Those early conservationists faced challenges that defied easy solutions. They were able to show how humans can impact, positively or negatively, the environment on a much larger scale than seemed evident.

The 2020 inductees include two widely respected Madison-based conservationists, Stan Temple and Steve Born. A third is a man whose work has endured for, well, three centuries. Jens Jensen, born in 1860, was a landscape architect and a tireless advocate for conservation of our natural heritage. When he died in 1951, the New York Times called him dean of American landscape architecture. So why did it take so long for him to be inducted? He died well before the Conservation Hall of Fame was created, and no one nominated him for consideration. That changed in recent years, and its a good thing.

He was a proponent for public spaces and nature sanctuaries at the local, state and national levels. He worked in several states, especially Illinois, where his name is attached to some of Chicagos most impressive parks and natural areas. He was also a visionary early proponent of using native plants in public spaces.

Jensen moved to Door County in 1935, where he continued his work. Among his enduring legacies is The Clearing, established on his Door County property in 1935 with the aim of immersing people in nature for spiritual renewal. Thousands have attended courses at The Clearing, now a nonprofit school, where Jensens philosophy of working with nature is the pervasive theme.

He was also a progressive and a friend of Capital Times founder William T. Evjue. He was a regular contributor to the Cap Times, and his columns focused on social justice and the environment. Some of these are captured in William Tishlers compilation, Jens Jensen: Writings Inspired by Nature.

Bill Berry of Stevens Point writes a semimonthly column for The Capital Times. billnick@charter.net.Note: Berry is a member of the Conservation Hall of Fames Board of Governors.

Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less.

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Bill Berry: Jens Jensen earns overdue recognition for conservation work - Madison.com

Over 43 years of marriage, Robert and Hope Schreiner had made it past the seven-year itch, survived empty nest syndrome, and settled into retirement. It seemed as if the couple had a long-lasting, successful relationship, but their picture-book story ended the day Hope snapped and bludgeoned Robert to death.

Originally hailing from Claverack, New York, Robert was a landscape architect and Hope was a nurse. When they married in the early 60s, they each brought several children with them. Robert had three sons from his first marriage, and Hope had five children already. Robert adopted Hopes kids, and the two of them went on to have a son together, Scott Schreiner.

After both retiring, Robert and Hope moved two hours northeast, to the small town of Townshend, Vermont.Robert, who washampered by mobility issues fromanear-fatalcar accident years earlier,battled numerous health problems in his 70s. He lost a lung to cancerand suffered fromchronic pneumonia and glaucoma.

Hopesaidher husband ofmore thanfour decadeshad becomea "hard man to know, claiminghe was mentally abusive, according toVermont newspaperBarre Montpelier Times Argus.

"He's impatient with me," she told Vermont State Police murder investigator Sgt. Robert McCarthy after his death. "He yells at me and watches me because I don't always do what he wants right away... I think it's gotten worse as he's gotten older."

In the months before her husbands murder, 71-year-old Hope began an affair with Donald Bouret, 77, who said the relationship lasted three months and that the two met up for sexual rendezvous every few weeks, according to theBarre Montpelier Times Argus. Hope dreamed of starting a new lifetogether, asking Bouret if their relationship could grow if Robert was out of the picture, reported theoutlet.

I told her, Definitely not, he later testified. I didn't think we were compatible.

Despitethehealth scares and infidelity, the Schreiners appeared to beplanning for the future. They had recently sold their house and were in the process of having a new home built just up the road.

Any hopes of a renewed life together, however, came to a tragic halt on the afternoonofJune 2, 2004, when Schreiner called 911 to say she had found her husband bleeding in their driveway.

I dont see his chest moving Theres blood out of his nose It looks like he fell, she can be heard saying onthe call, whichairedas part ofCNNs Nancy Grace show.

When the dispatcher told her to ask if hewasOK, she said, Hes not responding.

Emergency responders arrived and declared Robertdead at the scene. He was 78 years old. He was beaten and bloody, with several head wounds. From the dried blood around the body, EMTs estimated he had been dead for two to three hours, according tocourt documents.

The medical examiner determined blunt-force trauma as the cause of death, and wedge-shaped puncture wounds were found on Roberts head.It was also discovered thatRobert had ingested a large dose of the sleeping aid Ambien in the hours before his death, equivalent to about seven 10-milligram pills, according to theRutland Herald.

It was approximated that the pills were consumed around 8 a.m. on the day of the murder. While Robert had a prescription for Ambien, he had stopped taking the medication in April 2004, with his last refilloccurring inSeptember 2003.

In the days after her husbandsdeath,Hope began saying disturbing things to her family and friends. Friend LouannBoeckemexpressed fear about a "murderer running around" their rural community, but Hope whispered to her, "Don't worry, I did it," according to the Barre Montpelier Times Argus.

When daughter StephanieStrietasked how her adopted father died, she claimed,"[Hope]looked right through me and said, 'I can't tell you.

I just snapped, Hope told neighbor Diana Wichland,reportedtheRutland Herald.

She said, I put sleeping pills in his coffee. And then she just kind of rambled on about playing tennis and he hadn't died. He didn't die. And then she said there was so much blood and then she said, I used a bag,Wichland told Vermont State Police detectives.

Police later found several bags covered with Roberts blood hidden in a bag of dog food in the Schreinersbasement, according to court documents.

As news of Roberts death traveled around the small town,investigatorsspoke withSusanna Palmer, who volunteered with Hope at the Townshend library.

"Hope said to me, 'I want to get rid of my husband,'" Palmer said, according to theRutland Herald. "I mean, I just laughed and said, 'What do you mean? Are you going to poison him?' And she looked me right in the eye with this rather intense look and said, 'Yes. Ah, no, no I just want to get him into the VA in Bennington.

The day after Roberts funeral service,detectives arrested Hopeand charged her with first-degree murder, according to theRutland Herald.

Scott Schreiner had no comment when asked about his mothers arrest for killing his father, telling reporters, I just buried my father yesterday,and I'm still grieving.

By the time Hope went on trial in March 2006, thefamily bonds thatheld her and Roberts childrentogetherhad ripped in two. Roberts sons from his first marriage and StephanieStrietbelieved Hope was a killer,while the rest of the familyralliedbehind her. Hope opted not to testify in her defense and collapsed during deliberations, according to theRutland Herald.

Ultimately, Hope was found guilty of second-degree murder on March 24, 2006,theRutland Heraldreports. She was sentenced to 17 years to life in prison, becoming Vermonts oldest female inmate and its second-oldest inmate in custody.

In 2014, at the age of 81, Hope was granted medical furlough and moved to a nursing home in Vermont. State officials said this was due to a terminal or debilitating illness, according to theAssociated Press.

Shewill beeligible for parole in 2023 at the age of 90.

To hear more about the case, watch Snapped onOxygen.

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71-Year-Old Vermont Woman Beats Husband To Death After 43 Years Of Marriage - Oxygen

Brookfield Properties and Park Tower Group have officially broken ground on the most anticipated phase of the Greenpoint Landing mega-development on the shores of northern Brooklyn. Designed by Jason Long of OMA, the new component is comprised of two residential towers and a vast extension of an existing public esplanade. The western tower features a series of cantilevers that reach outward in step with setbacks on the eastern edifice, giving the development a look reminiscent of a game of Tetris.

Referred to as Greenpoint Block D, this new phase is located on Eagle Street between West Street and the East River waterfront. The project team has not revealed an official address for the new buildings at this point of construction.

Together with Park Tower Group, we are revitalizing an underutilized and neglected waterfront into a thriving section of the neighborhood through much-needed housing and public green space along Greenpoints breathtaking shoreline, said Maria Masi, senior vice president, Multifamily Development at Brookfield Property Partners. Were thrilled to break ground on our two new towers and bring new ground-floor retail and waterfront access to the community.

Designed in collaboration with DeSimone Consulting Engineers, the uppermost section of the western tower cantilevers up to 40 feet out from its base and resembles a precariously stacked set of boxes. This structure will top out at 40 stories, while the shorter, more simply massed building will rise 30 stories. The towers are linked by a podium housing wellness amenities including a pool and a fitness center, as well as 8,600 square feet of retail space.

Greenpoint Landing Block D. Renderings courtesy of nuur.nu and OMA

Once complete, the development will support 745 rentals designed by architects of record Beyer Blinder Belle. The residential component will include 20 percent income-targeted apartments marketed in accordance with the Affordable Housing New York program.

The towers faades will be comprised of pale-hued precast concrete panels with eight-foot-square window openings. Similar to the buildings forms, the precast panels are carved with angled patterns designed to playfully react to the movement of the sun throughout the day.

This phase will also add more than 40,000 square feet of new public green space to the existing waterfront esplanade, establishing a total of 2.5 acres of continuous public park land along the shoreline. James Corner Field Operations served as the waterfront landscape architect and has detailed multiple lawn areas, picnic space, outdoor seating, and possible maritime installations.

This groundbreaking represents a major step forward toward realizing our vision for Greenpoint Landing, said Marian Klein, president of Park Tower Group. Between our new developments with Brookfield and extending our esplanade with world-class landscape design by James Corner Field Operations, Greenpoint Landing will provide the community with significant waterfront access and redefine the Brooklyn skyline.

Greenpoint Landing Block D. Renderings courtesy of nuur and OMA

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OMA's Cantilevered Towers Break Ground At Greenpoint Landing in North Brooklyn - New York YIMBY

PLAINFIELD, NJ - Applicant 1014 South Avenue, LLC will be back in front of Plainfield's Zoning Board on Wednesday, Dec. 4 to discuss the construction of two multi-family mixed-use structures at South and Woodland avenues, according to a published legal notice. The plans require a number of variances.

The applicant first met with board members in April, and unveiled details about its development project consisting of two sites near the Netherwood train station. According to the current legal notice, there will be a total of 44 dwelling units, and 50 parking spaces.

The larger building will face South Ave. It will contain 1,800-square-feet of retail space on the ground level, an enclosed parking garage on the ground level, 42 residential apartments (34 one-bedroom; 8 two-bedroom), and rooftop amenities. There will be 48 on-site parking spaces, 12 located in the parking garage, and 36 spaces in the surface parking lot.

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The retail component will face South Ave. and no dwelling units are proposed for the first floor. The apartments will be on the second through fifth floors:

The smaller adjacent building will be a 2.5-story structure that would face Woodland Ave., and include two residential apartment units and 800-square-feet of office space. Two parking spaces will be available.

Adrian Melia, an architect from Minervini Vandermark Melia Kelly, commented at the April meeting, saying the design is based on a live/work model that encourages a professional living and working in the same vicinity. He added that the intent of the style is to replicate a colonial style house that is prevalent throughout Plainfield.

RELATED: Plainfield ZBA Applicant Unveils Details About South Ave Project NearNetherwood Train Station

RELATED: Plainfield Zoning Board to Hear from Applicant for Mixed-Use Project atSouth and Woodland

ARCHIVE: Sumo Grand Opening Held

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 4 in the library at City Hall, 515 Watchung Ave. at 7 p.m. The public is welcome to attend and will have an opportunity to speak.

Read the full legal notice:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF PLAINFIELD ZONING BOARD OFADJUSTMENTPLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on Wednesday, December 4, 2019, at7:00 PMin the City Hall Library Meeting Room (1st floor), 515 WatchungAvenue, Plainfield, New Jersey, the Zoning Board of Adjustment of theCity of Plainfield will hold aPUBLIC HEARING on the Applicationsubmitted by the Applicant, 1014 South Avenue, LLC (the "Applicant"),for the properties located at 1008-1014 South Avenue and511-517Woodland Avenue, Plainfield, New Jersey and designated as Block 622,Lots 2 and 17 on the Tax Maps of the City of Plainfield (collectivelyreferenced as the"Property" or the "Site").

Lot 2 is situated withinthe Transit Oriented Development - Netherwood ("TODN") / TrainsideCommercial ("TSC") Zoning District and is owned by Dominic B. andShirley Ann Fontana. Lot 2 is currently improved with a 2 1/2 story,1-family dwelling and associated garage structures.

Lot 17 is situatedwithin the TODN / Professional Office 2 ("PO-2") Zoning District and isowned by Raffaela Zarra. Lot 17 is currently improved with a 2 1/2story, 2-family dwelling and associated masonry garage structure. TheApplicant proposes to demolish the existing improvements on Lot 2 tomake way for the construction of a 5-story, mixed-use (commercial andmulti-family residential) building, which will face South Avenue. Theproposed mixed-use building will contain 1,800 square feet of retailspace on the first floor, 42 apartment dwelling units on the secondthrough fifth floors (First Floor: no dwelling units proposed; SecondFloor: 10 units (8 1-bedroom, 2 2-bedroom); Third Floor: 11 units (81-bedroom, 3 2-bedroom); Fourth Floor: 11 units (8 1-bedroom, 32-bedroom); Fifth Floor: 10 units (10 1-bedroom)), building amenitiesand a total of 48 on-site parking spaces (12-space parking garage and a36-space surface parking lot).

The existing 2-family dwelling on Lot 17,which faces Woodland Avenue, will be retained and renovated by theApplicant and will consist of 2 dwelling units. Lot 17 willprovide 2on-site parking spaces.

A total of 44 dwelling units are proposed on theSite. A total of 50 parking spaces are proposed on the Site. As part ofthe Application, theApplicant also seeks an easement for the benefitof Lot 2 across Lot 17 to provide fire department access to Lot 2. TheApplication requires the following Preliminary andFinal Site Plan, D(5)Density Variance, Bulk Variances, Parking Variances, LandscapeVariances, Variances for Buffering, Sign Variances and Design Waiversapprovals: Site Plan:Demolition of the existing improvements on Lot 2and the construction of a 5-story, mixed use building as describedabove. Renovation of the existing 2-family dwelling onLot 17 asdescribed above; D(5) Density Variance: Maximum of 40 units per acre arepermitted in the TODN / TSC Zone and a density of 45.6 units per acreis proposedon Lot 2.; Bulk Variances: Lot 2 -TODN / TSC Zone: MinimumRear Yard Setback: 75 feet required, 35 feet proposed; Maximum Number ofBuilding Stories: 4 storiespermitted, 5 stories proposed; Lot 17TODN/ P0-2 Zone: Minimum Lot Width: 80 feet required, 75.16 feet existingand proposed; Minimum Lot Frontage: 80 feet required,75.16 feetexisting and proposed; Maximum Percent Total Lot Coverage, 40%permitted, 65.04% proposed; Rear Setback and Side Setback for AccessoryUse, 3 feetrequired, 1.45 feet existing and proposed at rear yard and1.85 feet existing and proposed at side yard. Further, the Applicantrequests the following variances, Section 17:9-49C

(Shade Trees): Shadetrees required at 40 feet intervals 3.5 feet inside sidewalk, 3 requiredalong Woodland Ave and 4 required along South Avenue, existing sidewalkonWoodland Avenue not appropriate for shade trees, 2 proposed alongSouth avenue; Section 17-9:24B

(Buffers): 5 feet required betweenresidential uses, 3 feet proposed; Section 17:9-24C

(Buffers): 5 footbuffer required around all sides of parking lot, buffer to be 10 feetwhen adjacent to residential use, 8 feet proposed buffer to adjacentresidential use;Section 17:9-42D

(Parking Space): Minimum setbacks forbuilding from driveways and parking areas within the site shall be 5feet, 0 feet setback to proposed fire lane; Section 17:9-42A

(Driveway):Lot 2 no non-residential driveway within 10 feet of residential use,proposed emergency driveway is 3 feet from adjacent property line, Lot17 no residentialdriveway shall be less than 2 feet from property line,0 feet existing and proposed; Section 17:9-43B Parking Lot Landscaping:5% of interior area of parking lot shall beprovided with plantingislands and 1 deciduous tree for every five spaces, 10 trees required,condition not met; Section 17:9-43B2

(Parking Lot Landscaping): No morethan eight parking spaces shall be in one row of parking without anintervening landscape island, this condition is not met;Section17:9-52B6: All ground floors of mixed-use buildings in the TODN /TSC Zone shall have 50% of the rear first floor area consist ofprivate, indoor building amenities andcommon space for residents,parking is provided at rear of the proposed first floor; Section 17:9-51

(Signs): One wall sign per business permitted, three proposed; DesignWaivers from the following requirements: Section 17:11-13C

(LoadingAreas), Loading areas shall measure at least 10 feet wide by 45 feetlong, proposed is 17 feet 8 inches wide by 28 feet long; Section17:11-7B

(Massing): Projections and recesses required for building wallgreater than 50 feet in length, this standard is not met; Section17:11-8

(Architectural Design): no more than 75% of total of number ofdwelling units to have same number of bedrooms, 81% one bedroomproposed; Section 17:11-8

(Architectural Design): Each unit to have 350square feet of storage space, this requirement is not met; Section17:11-27A2

(Open Space): 64 square feet for each dwelling unit totaling2,688, no open space proposed; Section 17:11-28

(Streetscape DesignStandards), The public-right-of way frontage of all properties withinthe TODN Zones shall be improved in accordance with the StreetscapeDesignManual. Proposed improvements on South Avenue are consistent withthe Streetscape Design Manual but the Woodland portion of the Propertydoes not have therequired width to comply; Section 17:11-11

(Landscaping): Landscape plan to be submitted by a New Jersey certifiedLandscape Architect, this condition is not met; and for such othervariances, relief, deviationsand/or waivers that may be required uponan analysis of the plans and testimony at the PUBLIC HEARING on theApplication submitted by the Applicant, 1014 SouthAvenue, LLC.

Whenthe case is called you may appear either in person or by agent orattorney and present any objections which you may have to the grantingof this Application. A copyof the Application materials and plans areon file and available for PUBLIC INSPECTION at the Division of PlanningOffice located at 515 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield, NewJersey 07060,during that Office's normal business hours.STEPHEN F. HEHL, ESQ.Attorney for the Applicant($100.62)

Read more:
Applicant with Project at South and Woodland Avenues Back on Tap for Plainfield Zoning Board - TAPinto.net

Obesity on the Rise

Obesity in younger people has been on the rise over the past 50 years.

In the U.S., the percentage of children and adolescents with obesity has more than tripled since the 1970s.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of obesity in those aged 12 to 19 is now 20 percent.

It's a problem Gina L. Posner, MD, a pediatrician in Fountain Valley, California, says is only getting worse.

"In my patient population, it's really significant. We have a lot of obese teens," she told Healthline. "We have a very sedentary lifestyle at this point. A lot of teenagers are just playing on their phone, playing on their iPad, watching TV. They're really not getting up and out and moving as much as they used to in the past. That's definitely creating more of a problem because we're just a lazier culture."

The health effects of teen obesity have posed a new set of challenges for clinicians like Dr. Posner.

"We're seeing a lot more type 2 diabetes in younger people," she said. "It used to be type 2 was more in obese adults and now we're seeing it a lot in obese children as well. We're seeing obese teenagers with diabetes, with high blood pressure, with high cholesterol. As a pediatrician, I didn't used to have to deal with medications for high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and now I'm seeing it more and more."

"I'm still not comfortable prescribing those medications because most of them are actually meant for people who are older and they're not really studied well in the younger kids," she added.

What the Research Showed

Researchers on the MRI study compared the brains of 59 adolescents with obesity to 61 healthy adolescents.

They found damage to the brain that was connected with inflammatory markers that included leptin, a hormone created by fat cells that helps regulate fat stores and energy levels.

In some people with obesity, the brain fails to respond to this hormone, so the person keeps eating despite having adequate or at times excessive amounts of fat stores.

"When functioning properly, leptin is a satiety hormone, meaning that our fat cells will produce leptin so that we don't feel as hungry and eat less. In a perfect world, the more fat we have, the more leptin we would create and the less we would eat, leading us to lose weight," Dana Hunnes, Ph.D., MPH, a senior dietitian at the University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, told Healthline.

"Unfortunately, however, we don't live in a perfect world," she added, "and according to this study, it sounds like the brain changes caused by inflammation, associated with obesity, led the brains to not properly respond to leptin and did not appropriately lower appetite."

Bertolazzi says the researchers hope to repeat the study, after the participants have undergone a multidisciplinary treatment for weight loss, to see if the damage in the brain is reversible.

Treating Obesity Early

Experts agree it's important to treat obesity in adolescence as soon as possible to limit the amount of damage done both physically and mentally to the teenager.

If left unaddressed, the effects of obesity can be significant.

"Impacts are seen physically as well as emotionally," Sophia Yen, MD, clinical associate professor at Stanford Children's Health's Weight Clinic in California, told Healthline. "It can definitely impact self-esteem and cause depression. It can cause breast enlargement in boys and girls. In young women, it can cause polycystic ovary syndrome, irregular menses, hair growth, and acne. It can cause joint problems, heart problems, breathing problems, obstructive sleep apnea, liver problems, and diabetes."

Dr. Yen says weight loss is 90 percent what you eat and 10 percent exercise. She advises that at every meal, 50 percent of the plate should include fruits and vegetables, a minimum of 25 percent should be protein, and no more than 25 percent should be carbohydrates.

Posner says it's much easier to reverse obesity as a teenager rather than waiting until adulthood to make positive changes.

"If you're an obese teen, the likelihood that you're going to be an obese adult is very high, it's hard to break that cycle," she said.

Katie Page, MD, co-director of the Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute at the USC Keck School of Medicine, said now that researchers have established a link between obesity and brain function, efforts should turn to ways to prevent or reverse damage.

"The results from the new study are consistent with prior reports and are a major public health concern because they suggest that obesity not only increases risk of metabolic diseases, like diabetes, but it may also be linked to worse brain function," she told Healthline.

"What we need to do now is study ways in which the damage caused by obesity could be reversed and/or prevented," Dr. Page added. "Potential strategies could include changes in diet, increases in physical activity, reductions in sedentary behavior, and reductions in stress, all of which play an important role in brain development and cognitive function."

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