Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

There is a terrible shortage of people who fix things. I am thinking of electricians, plumbers, glaziers, auto mechanics and many more skilled workers who keep life livable and society running.

It is frustrating if you cant get a plumber when you need one. But the skilled worker shortage has much more significant consequences than the inconvenience to the homeowner. The very rate of national progress on many fronts is being affected.

More housing is desperately needed, but architects tell me some new construction isnt happening because of the skilled worker shortage. Projects are being shelved.

The problem in electric utilities is critical and interesting because the utilities offer excellent pay, retirement and healthcare, and still, they are falling short of recruits. They are aware that many of their workers will be retiring in the next several years, adding to the problem. One utility, DTE in Michigan, has been training former prisoners in vegetation control the endless business of trimming trees around power lines.

Auto dealerships are scrounging for mechanics, now euphemistically called technicians.

Skilled workers are in short supply for the railroad and bridge industries. Many industries are prepared to offer training.

The need is great, and it has a quietly crippling effect on national prosperity.

President Biden has almost ceaselessly promoted solar and wind generation as job creators. Someone should tell him there is a severe shortage of those same electricians, pipe fitters, wind farm erectors and solar panel installers.

The skilled worker shortage has been worsening for some time, but it is now palpable.

Contributory factors have been building: The end of the draft meant an end to a lot of trade schooling in the military. Many a youth learned electronics, motor repair or how to paint something from Uncle Sam. That is the generation that is now retiring.

Then there is the education imbalance: We encourage too many below-average academic students to go to college. It is part of the credentialing craze. Those less suited to academic life seek easier and easier courses in lesser and lesser colleges just to come out with a bachelors degree a certificate that passes for a credential.

The result is a glut on the market of workers with useless degrees in such things as marketing, communications, sociology, and even journalism. If you arrive in college in need of remedial English, your future as a journalist is likely to be wobbly.

Since childhood, I have been impressed with people who fix things: People like my father. He fixed everything from diesel engines to water well pumps, burst pipes and sagging roofs.

Men, and some women, of his generation worked with their hands, but they were, in their way, Renaissance people.

They knew how to fix things from a cattle feeder to a sewing machine, from a loose brick in a wall to a childs bicycle to a boiler.

The work of fixing, of keeping things running, isnt stupid work; it involves a lot of deduction, knowledge and acquired skill.

Men and women who fixed things were at one with men and women who made things, often bound together in a common identity inside a union.

Think of the great names of the unions of the past and the sense of pride members once took in their belonging: the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, the Teamsters or the United Autoworkers. You had work and social dignity. You werent looked down upon because you hadnt been to college.

We arent going to bring back quickly honor to manual work or reverence for the great body of people who keep everything running. So we might look to the hundreds of thousands of skilled artisans who would do the work if they could enter the United States legally. Yes, the migrants milling at the southern border. Many skilled welders, plumbers and masons are yearning to cross the border and start fixing the dilapidated parts of this country.

The owner of a clothing factory told me she was desperate to find women who could sew. She said it is a skill that has just disappeared from the American workforce. A landscape contractor in Washington told me he would close without his Mexican workers.

A modest proposal: Let us write an immigration law based on who is really needed. Add to this a work permit dependent on fulfilling certain conditions. You would soon find company recruiters mingling with the border agents along the Rio Grande.

And we would lose our fear of a burst pipe. Help is just a frontier away.

On Twitter: @llewellynking2

Llewellyn King is executive producer and host of "White House Chronicle" on PBS.

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From Plumbers to Electricians, the U.S. is Gasping for Skilled Workers - Atalayar

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David Mandel isnt one to sugarcoat. Its a trait that appears in his work, from the vicious insults of Veep to the intentionally reprehensible characters at the center of HBOs White House Plumbers. It also emerged when TheWrap asked the longtime series creator his thoughts on the currently unfolding WGA strike.

I have no good answer, except to say, I think its going to be long and bloody, and its going to suck, Mandel said.

Also Read:Striking WGA Writers Say They Were Intentionally Hit by a Car While Picketing

Mandel, who is currently 52 years old, emphasized that hes been working in Hollywood for a long time but the current state of the industry doesnt make sense to him. His IMDb page reads like a collection of comedys greatest hits Seinfeld in the 90s, the cult hit EuroTrip in the 2000s, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Veep in the 2010s and over 60 episodes of Saturday Night Live over the course of three decades. And yet Mandel has noticed that in the last two years, even his contemporaries have struggled.

Im not talking about COVID. Im talking the changes are not working, Mandel said. They are scrounging for jobs in a way that doesnt make sense to me. I dont know what else to say. It does not make sense.

Mandel has heard leadership say theyre trying to turn writing into more of a gig economy.

It makes perfect sense because these are no longer studios. These are studios that are pieces of giant corporations. And giant corporations, since the heyday Jack Welch 80s, have basically decided to maximize profits by basically outsourcing anything and everything that you humanly can, Mandel said.

Story continues

Also Read:David Zaslav Says Studios Dont See Writers Strike as Cost-Saving Opportunity: We Are Not Glad (Video)

They devalue research, they devalue R&D, and thats what we are. Were research. Were the new product. Were R&D. They dont value us. They dont care. They worry about stock prices and debt sheets, Mandel said. And the irony is that their debt sheets and their stock prices are in the toilet because theyve made business decisions like, Hey, lets get rid of the cable money and go all in on streaming. I did not tell them to do that. I dont remember the writers getting consulted on that. So when these guys are at the bargaining table pleading poverty based on their own terrible decision-making theyre never going to admit they messed up their own businesses. And now theyre trying to take it out on the writers.

Mandel also briefly touched upon one of the most nerve-wracking parts of this strike: the threat of AI.

When the Writers Guild says to them, Hey, we want to talk about AI and they go, Oh, my God, no, theres nothing to see here, you start to go, Oh, man, theyve got weird plans for AI and replacing all of us,' Mandel said before concluding that he thinks the strike is going to be bad and long.

On Tuesday, the WGA started its strike following weeks of failed negotiations between the Writers Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). This marks the first WGA strike in 15 years since 2007s 100-day strike. There is a laundry list of concerns at the center of this strike, from the rise of professionally stifling mini-rooms to fears about artificial intelligence. But more than anything else, the strike is a response to the major ways Hollywood has changed in the age of streaming.

Truncated seasons and the rise of miniseries have resulted in fewer opportunities for newer writers to climb the professional ladder. Meanwhile, streaming shows have all but eliminated residuals paychecks writers often depend on to survive and the lack of viewer transparency from these companies has wounded writers bargaining power.

Related stories:All the WGA Strike Locations in L.A. and NYCHollywood Writers Strike: All the Impacted Shows, From Abbott Elementary to YellowjacketsThe Sticking Points: Writers Guild Breaks Down Why It Couldnt Reach a Deal With Studios

Also Read:WGA Strike Roundtable: Writers Say TV Is Broken, and Were Reinventing It Poorly (Video)

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Veep and White House Plumbers Showrunner David Mandel Fears the WGA Strike Will Be Long and Bloody - Yahoo Entertainment

TV shows about the Watergate scandal and the survival of the human race in an apocalyptic future highlight the list of scripted and reality content debuting in the first week of May.

HBO on May 1 will premiere White House Plumbers, which focuses on the Watergate scandal that brought down Richard Nixons presidency. The five-episode series stars Woody Harrelson, Justin Theroux, Kathleen Turner and F. Murray Abraham.

Apple TV Plus's sci-fi series Silo follows the last 10,000 people on earth who are living in a mile-deep space protecting them from the toxic and deadly world outside. Rebecca Ferguson, Common and Rashida Jones lead the ensemble cast for the 10-episode series, which debuts May 5.

Here are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting the week of May 1-7 on cable networks and streaming services. (For some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

May 1: A Small Light (drama), National Geographic

May 2: 100% Me: Growing Up Mixed (documentary), HBO

May 3: Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All (reality), Disney Plus

May 4: Bupkis (comedy), Peacock

May 4: The Other Two (comedy), HBO Max

May 4: Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (drama), Netflix

May 5: The Great American Baking Show (reality), The Roku Channel

May 7: Rich & Shameless (sports documentary), TNT

The rest is here:
'White House Plumbers,' 'Silo' Debut: What's Premiering This Week ... - Next TV

The former sales manager for a plumbers merchant, says in his claim, which has just been made publicly available at the court in London, that negligent treatment at Southampton General Hospital has left him severely disabled, and unable to have sex with his partner.

The court papers say that he injured his back at work moving a boiler in 2011, leading to intermittent shooting pains in his leg, and was taken to hospital on October 27 2018 when the pain suddenly became much worse.

He had been taking vast amounts of codeine to cope with the pain, as well as alcohol, and doctors thought he might be suffering from damage to the nerves in his spine.

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However the papers say that a neurosurgery specialist registrar wrongly recorded his symptoms and discharged him from hospital.

His pain worsened, and he went back to hospital for an MRI scan, but could not lie flat because of severe back pain and because he felt claustrophobic, the claim says.

It says that when he eventually had an MRI scan on November 16, results showed he had a very large prolapsed lumbar disc pressing on his spinal nerves but he was sent home the next day.

The claimaint believes that this was because he was morbidly obese, and surgery would have had little chance of improving his condition.

His condition deteriorated, and by mid-December doctors thought his condition could not be reversed by surgery, which carried a high risk of complications.

The papers say he has been seen in the regional spinal injuries unit at Salisbury but now he is severely disabled with no feeling in his bladder, has lost sensation in his genitals, has problems with his bowels, and is disabled by severe leg and spinal pain.

It is claimed that if he and his partner are to have children, as they wish, they will need to use a sperm retrieval process, and in vitro fertilisations.

The claimant fromSholing, Southampton, accuses the trust which runs the hospital of negligence, and says clinicians completely overlooked ambulance and emergency department records of his symptoms.

He says he should have been given an emergency MRI scan followed by emergency surgery and would then have retained full bladder and bowel function, kept his sex life, and avoided leg pain and lack of mobility.

Read more from the original source:
Southampton man launches 200k claim against NHS for loss of sex life - Southern Daily Echo

Phil Caruso/HBO; National Geographic for Disney/Dusan Martincek

Welcome to Emmy Experts Typing,a weekly column in which Gold Derby editors and ExpertsJoyce EngandChristopher Rosen discuss the Emmy race via Slack, of course. This week, we reassess the unsettled limited series races.Christopher Rosen: Hello, Joyce! If the first Monday in May is reserved for the Met Gala, I can only assume the first Friday in May is all about the 2023 limited series Emmy race. (Dont worry, I didnt pull a muscle on that stretch.) That classification is maybe the most chaotic of the main Emmys races this year were long past the days of The Queens Gambit and Mare of Easttown. At the moment, according to our odds, Monster, Black Bird, Beef, Fleishman Is in Trouble, White House Plumbers and Daisy Jones & the Six make up the expected list of limited series nominees. Looking at that list, Im left with one thought: Sure? Im a flagship member of the Fleishman fan club it was probably my favorite new show of 2022 and Daisy Jones is a banger, but Im not entirely sure if my passion extends to the academys tastes. As for the others: Monster is a blockbuster hit and makes sense, Beef has the Film Twitter buzz and reviews (the controversy around David Choe notwithstanding), and White House Plumbers debuted this week and just feels like a nominee even if the reception has merely been fine. So what is perhaps a foolish move at least certainly based on our odds I went ahead and put A Small Light in there ahead of White House Plumbers due to its subject matter, reviews and seeming passion from people who have watched it. But I still have the other five represented despite not feeling all that confident in my faves Fleishman and Daisy Jones, meaning shows like Love & Death, The Patient, George & Tammy and Swarm, among others, are outside of my picks. Im sure youve got a better handle on this one or at least better predictions. Help me us out here, before we look at those wide-open acting races.

joyceeng: Not to sound like a broken record, but I still think/hope it will be five slots again so I dont have to pick a sixth show. This is the softest the limited field has been with no consensus or a stone-cold frontrunner since 2018, when The Alienist snagged a spot (no shade). I just re-added Obi-Wan Kenobi for sheer visibility alone. Its hardly a Star Wars stans fave or the best Star Wars series of the cycle (hi, Andor), but I think the detractors loudness has obscured the fact that it had a totally decent critical reception. It also won a guild award over the winter, for sound mixing, and got a DGA nomination something neither Monster nor Black Bird, the predicted top two, received. Obi-Wan will also be a tech player, like The Alienist (it got six noms and won supporting visual effects), which could help push it over the line with everyone voting in the program categories. Well see how the rest of the month goes, but Id be more confident about A Small Light had it dropped earlier. The restricted ballot would help it, but I can also see it snagging acting nominations and missing series if not enough people watch it in time. Ditto for White House Plumbers, which is not exactly shaping up to be HBOs next May Monday hit a la Chernobyl. This is what happened to The Staircase, which premiered a year ago today and earned two nominations altogether, for Colin Firth and Toni Collette. Right now I have White House Plumbers getting three acting nominations but not series. The acting categories are equally nightmarish to try to fill out after the top two or three in each, which is how Ive wound up with five Beef and five Monster performers. (These predictions are not sponsored by Netflix.) We need to send preemptive kudos to whoever nails both supporting categories.

SEE Experts slugfest: Is Sarah Snook the Best Drama Actress frontrunner for Succession?

Christopher Rosen: Im not going to lie, I did think of putting Michael Learned into my supporting actress picks as well for Monster if only because it does kind of feel like these acting categories will be loaded with performances from the few shows voters watched and liked. But as it stands, Ive kept my Monster love to the four expected contenders. Im with you on Beef though, as it seems quite likely both Ashley Park and Maria Bello will rate with voters alongside Steven Yeun, Ali Wongand Young Mazino. I also think Black Bird will grab multiple acting nominations, with Paul Walter Hauser, Taron Egertonand Ray Liotta making the cut. Ive been rewatching that series in preparation for an upcoming interview and its so good I also started to wonder if Sepideh Moafi could land among the supporting actress nominees. Shes an absolute breakout and if Black Bird somehow sustains four acting nominations, I think she would be the choice over Greg Kinnear (who I know you had in there at one point). Ill give you a couple of other supporting names to consider: Liev Schreiber for A Small Light and Jennifer Ehle for Dead Ringers. Im not sold on Dead Ringers getting in for limited series, but I do think Rachel Weisz could straight win Best Actress and Ehle could come along for the ride as a nominee. What are you thinking in the lead acting races here?

joyceeng: Dead Ringers and Swarm feel like sole actress plays to me, and as Ive mentioned, the former is a tough sit, so I can see lots of viewers bailing. I have thought about plugging in Schreiber. The erstwhile Ray Donovan is a perennial nominee (nine noms, zero wins) and would be an easy name-check. I did have Kinnear and Liotta way back in the B.B. (Before Beef) days as placeholders, but Im not sure Black Bird is strong enough to support noms outside of Egerton and PWH. It underperformed in the winter, and while its a solid show, it doesnt feel like it has generated a ton of passion. Ive made no changes to my lead lineups, which means they are definitely wrong. I still have our Beef duo in first by virtue of them having the strongest show. Twitter will have you believe that the Choe controversy and the Beef teams subsequent statement nuked all of their chances of even getting in, but the internet is an echo chamber and the show is one of the few that continues to be raved by Famous People. The consensus is that lead actress is Jessica Chastains to lose since she won SAG, and lots of people have likened her possible win to her Oscar run a default victory in a weak year but she hasnt faced any of the spring contenders yet and the only potential Emmy rival she beat at SAG was Emily Blunt. Well get a better idea of whos win-competitive after noms, but she could end up as a lone nominee for George & Tammy or its only above-the-line nomination. Last year, I doubt many people had Lily James as the runner-up to Amanda Seyfried in Phase 1, but most of us not you! did in Phase 2 after Pam & Tommy surprised with 10 noms, including series, and Maid was snubbed in series, and obviously Chastain missed too. Its been three weeks since you pulled your trademark flip-flop on The Last Thing He Told Me and immediately slotted in Jennifer Garner, as youre wont to do. Do you still have her? Or have you moved on to another about-face fave?

SEE Emmy Experts Typing: Can Sarah Snook win in lead?

Christopher Rosen: Youll be shocked to know I have abandoned ship on Garner. Its hard to know what release schedule is right nowadays for any given show, but it does feel like The Last Thing He Told Me wouldve greatly benefited from an all-episodes drop rather than its slow rollout the stronger episodes are in the back of the season and I do wonder if the simplicity of the mystery is enough to hold viewers attention across many weeks. Besides, I have to fill out actress field with my other two about-face faves: Bel Powley for A Small Light and Sydney Sweeney for Reality. Ive fallen into the trap before of picking a TV movie performer in the limited series acting category see Ben Foster for last years HBO movie The Survivor but this time I feel like itll happen! Reality is really quite good: Its a real-time thriller that uses the real-life transcripts of Reality Winners arrest to create a legitimately tense drama. Sweeney is remarkable here a totally different performance than either of her Emmy-nominated turns last year for Euphoria and The White Lotus. Shes able to generate such empathy and mystery with Reality Winner and I think if people watch this one with Sweeney as the star and an advantageous running time of barely 90 minutes, they probably will shell get in. I know, I know. I can hear you laughing at me, so Ill leave you to finish this off with one last question: If not Yeun, then who might win?

joyceeng: The only shocking thing about you adding Sweeney now is that you didnt have her in the place. If you dont have Yeun in first, then you probably have Evan Peters. His SAG loss to Sam Elliott was a red flag, but it could also be a fluke: We know SAG-AFTRA loves veterans and the Yellowstone (RIP) universe. Emmy voters have different tastes and they didnt touch 1883 last year outside of three craft nominations. Itd be wild, but not undeserved, if Peters were to win his second Emmy only two years later after waiting so long just to be nominated. If he does win, I hope his third Emmy will be for the Mare of Easttown prequel spin-off in my head: Zabel of Upper Darby.

Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Dont miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why?

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Emmy Experts Typing: Will any late release break through in the chaotic limited categories? - Gold Derby

When members of Our Lords Lutheran Church presented their plans to donate a portion of their property to Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity to The Village City Council last September it was met with enthusiasm from council members.

At the time, Mayor Sonny Wilkinson and Councilman David Glover suggested the possibility of constructing up to four "cluster homes, similar to homes constructed in the Hawthorne neighborhood, on the donated church site.

"The part of our property we want to donate had never been used except as a softball field years ago, Tom Ziebell, a 32-year church member, told the council last fall. "We believe part of our churchs mission is to our community, and because of our involvement with Habitat, we decided donating the land to provide affordable housing to deserving families would help fulfill that mission.

Earlier this month residents living near the proposed Habitat for Humanity home sites voiced both their concerns and support for the project during a packed public hearing held by the Planning and Zoning Com-mission. The commission met to consider a Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning request from Habitat for Humanity for undeveloped property directly south of Our Lords Lutheran Church, which is located south of Hefner Road and east of Major Avenue.

Mark Zitzow, AICP, with Johnson & Associates summarized the proposed project by telling the commission, "Four homes would be constructed on smaller lots featuring homes with an average square footage of 1,100-1,300 with construction and materials costs between $140,000 to $150,000 on donated property.

"Our new home recipients must donate 100 hours of sweat equity and pass credit and background checks, Ann Felton Gilliland, CEO of Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity told those in attendance. "Habitat for Humanity homes are energy efficient which means lower utility bills. We adhere to all provisions of the Fair Housing Act.

A Notice of Public Hearing to consider the rezoning request was mailed to all property owners within 300 feet of the property donated by the church to Habitat for Humanity. Most homeowners voiced deep concerns about the project including increased traffic, negative impact of property values and parking issues, while others spoke in support of the proposal.

Local resident Jack Christie shared with the commission research from county assessor records on covenants, plats, lot sizes, average home values and a door-to-door survey he completed showing fears of declining property values. He suggested that two homes instead of four would be a better fit for the project.

Neighbor Tyler Vaugh spoke of his support for the mission of Habitat for Humanity, but expressed concerns for sanitation and public safety access to all properties.

With six members seated on the Planning and Zoning Commission, the motion to approve the project failed to pass with a 3-3 vote, which is different than a 2-4 vote of denial, and it was sent back to the City Council for action.

"The PUD request was to provide smaller lot sizes to build a single-family home on, said City Manager Dave Slezickey. "Per code, the area of property was not large enough for multiple residences for single family residential zoning.

When a resolution regarding amending the PUD zoning to allow smaller lot sizes to accommodate four Habitat for Humanity homes was brought before the City Council earlier this month, numerous residents again spoke for and against the resolution, including recent City Council candidate Jon Sousa speaking in favor.

"Overall concerns from the council were mixed, but were welcoming to four new homes for four new families in The Village, said Slezickey. "The council heard the main issues with constituents were density, traffic, parking draining, public safety, and sanitation access.

After continued discussion the council had a rare split vote, approving the resolution 4-1 with Councilmen Sean Cummings, Wynter Griffis, David Glover and Mayor Sonny Wilkinson voting yes, while Councilman Bubba Symes said no.

"Most of the concerns presented to the council will be addressed during the design phase of this project as Johnson and Associates begins work on the final plat plan, said Slezickey.

The matter has been sent back to the citys Planning and Zoning Commission where the final plat submission is to be reviewed for recommendation before going back to the City Council for final approval. The city has said it plans to require civil engineering, extension of sewer lines to serve the homes and possibly the extension of water lines to accommodate a "cluster of four homes on the property.

The Village has at least one other Habitat home located on Westchester Drive that was constructed on a lot where a home was destroyed by fire and demolished.

Since 1990, Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity has constructed over 1,066 homes for deserving families. Their homes have been lauded for the geothermal energy efficient construction that is about half the cost of other homes.

Continue reading here:
Donated property for Habitat 'cluster' home draws mixed reactions - Oklahoma City Friday

Another day, hints of another large-scale residential project on the Lower East Side.

Coming up on Monday, May 8, Community Board 3s landmarks committee will consider a Certificate of Appropriateness for St. Augustines Chapel, a New York City landmark and one of the oldest church buildings on the Lower East Side. According to CB3s meeting agenda, the church property at 290 Henry St., is set to undergo:

restorative work, demolition of non-contributing structures (and) new construction on protected lots. Proposed 20-story mixed use intergenerational building providing affordable housing, retail, community facility space.

St. Augustines Episcopal Church opened in 1828 and the building became a city landmark in 1966. The designation report stated, Onthe basis ofacareful considerationofthe architectureandother features of this building, theLandmarksPreservationCommissionfinds that St.Augustines Chapel has aspecial character, special historicalandaesthetic interestand value aspartofthedevelopment, heritageandcultural characteristicsofNewYorkCity. One feature of the building (not mentioned in the report) is the presence of two slave galleries, which were restored a number of years ago to as The St. Augustines Project noted preserve a rare artifact of racial segregation in New York City, stand(ing) as a stark, physical reminder of how the boundaries of marginalization were drawn in our State.

A Certificate of Appropriateness is required by the Landmarks Preservation Commission if, the proposed work affects the significant protected architectural features of the landmark property or the proposed work does not conform to the rules of the commission.

In the designation report from more than a half century ago, the commission explained:

By this designation of the Landmark above described and the Landmark Site on which it is located, it is not intended to freeze the structure in its present state or to prevent future appropriate alterations needed to meet changed requirements of use for religious and directly related charitable purposes. The Commission believes it has the obligation and, indeed, it has the desire to cooperate with owners of Landmarks who may wish to make changes in their properties. In this connection the Commission wishes to state at this time that it recognizes that Trinity Parish (today St. Augustines is an independent entity) may want to erect new buildings in the future on its grounds at St. Augustines Chapel. The Commission recognizes that Trinity Parish may also wish to make exterior alterations to its existing buildings at St. Augustines Chapel. The Commission looks forward to working with the representatives of Trinity Parish when the Church desires to erect new buildings on its grounds or to make exterior alterations on its existing buildings.

UPDATE 5/1/23: Documents posted on CB3s website Monday provide more details. The project is described as a joint venture among St. Augustines Parish, Fulcrum Properties LLC, and NFW Group LLC. The development team plans to substantially renovate the church building and to construct a new 21-story tower, connected to the chapel. They envision 119 residential units, including apartments for older adults. As part of the project, an annex building behind the church would be demolished and many of the churchs historic features would be restored. You can view the document here.

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Community Board 3 to Hear Details of Proposed 20-Story Tower ... - The Lo-Down

Developers have put a proposal together for the corner of Walker and Church, incorporating the taxpayer that is Belle Reve, #32, into the L-shaped building that is #34 and creating a new cast iron building. I will continue with the details below, but one thing confounds me: from what I can tell, 32 Walker has not changed hands since 1981; 34 Walker, acquired in 1966 by the family that ran the Paramount/Boltex Textile Company, has a contract signed according to the listing, but has not changed hands yet. So it seems a bit premature?

All that aside, its best to look at the massing drawing above to understand: the dark grey is the existing L-shaped Paramount/Boltex building, and the light gray is the new construction. The idea is to merge these two into a single cast iron project. They developers would add a sixth floor to the entire structure, which is within zoning limits, and that floor would get the crown that mimics the current one plus a glass penthouse set back from the street wall. The new structure would lose the fire escapes. The color would match 55 Reade, the cast iron building on the corner of Broadway.

The developers are Cedric Abboud and Gary Romaniello, and Abboud said he is very active in the UK doing historic restorations in Chelsea and Kensington as well as the Middle East, but this is only their our second year in the US as a developer. SOMA Architects, led by his brother, Michel Abboud, was the architect for the failed 45 Park Place the supertall that is still left hanging and is, IMO, a blight on the neighborhood.

The new building would actually be cast in iron; the developers said they were meeting last week with the Alabama company Robinson Iron. And all of this is very preliminary: they have submitted a request for the application with Landmarks and have been assigned a staff member. But they wanted to come to CB1 early to get their feedback.

The committee thought it was a bit too early they had a hard time digesting the plans without more detail. And no vote was taken. But there were some that were fully accepting of the plan, and thought that they were off to a good start, and some that thought it was too Disney (I dont quite get that?) and didnt delineate between the old structure and the new.

If someone is willing to spent the money to make a beautiful cast iron on the corner, then generally I am in favor of that, said chair Jason Friedman. The true preservationist would say this is not a good idea.

The Belle Reve building was built in 1954 it is not protected by the historic district. The Boltex Building was built in 1868.

A woman representing Belle Reve said that demolishing the bar would be devastating for the neighborhood, especially just to build more expensive apartments. Belle Reve brings so much life to that corner, she said. It would be very said to see it go.

The developers said there was no reason the new building couldnt have a bar in its storefronts.

See the article here:
Plans for the Boltex Building and Belle Reve at Walker and Church - Tribeca Citizen

The challenge of expanding affordable housing for senior citizens in central Ohio remains a focus for National Church Residences.

Within the next two years, the non-profit organization plans to open about 700 new units in central Ohio. However, that will not be enough to fill the demand.

We need about 1,400 units annually to meet the demand just in central Ohio, said new President and CEO Susan DiMickele. "What we're seeing right now, even as we're opening new communities, they're full within less than two months and we've got a wait list.

DiMickele said National Church Residences maintains about 25 housing communities in central Ohio at all income levels. Renters of the units pay between 30 to 60% of their income. About 7,000 seniors a day receive a variety of services.

We also have services at National Church Residences where we provide in-home care, hospice at end of life and just try to find other resources to really help older adults age in place, regardless of whether they live for us or live with us, said DiMickele.

National Church Residences recently opened a new complex at Bretton Woods on Columbus North Side. Another complex is also on the North Side on Roche Drive near Route 161. Across the street, another senior citizens complex is under construction at the site where the Capri Lanes bowling alley once stood for more than 50 years. Each complex contains about 100 apartments.

DiMickele said as inflation increased prices for building homes, the organization has stepped up its partnerships with local and state government.

"One thing we find in affordable housing is even when we can get a federal tax credit, there's often a gap in funding, said DiMickele. And so that's why we are partnering more and more with the city of Columbus (and) with the county. We're also advocating for a state tax credit just to help fill that funding gap."

The Ohio Department of Development has reported that the percent of Franklin County residents who are 65 and older is expected to increase from 10% to 15% over a 30-year period between 2010 and 2040.

We really believe that housing is the foundation for everything else for health, safety, food security, said DiMickele.

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After 70 long years, Britain will finally have a new monarch in King Charles and he will be coronated today in a ceremony that will go down in history as one of pomp and pageantry. And the place where this momentous occasion will take place is none other than Westminster Abbey, perhaps one of the most famous and historic churches in the United Kingdom.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be formally crowned in front of 2,200 guests including world leaders, foreign royals and members of the British Royal Family at the church which has long been at the heart of Britains royal life.

Incidentally, its also the same place where King Charles mother, Queen Elizabeths funeral was held. The historic and architectural marvel standing tall in the centre of London has borne witness to 16 royal weddings (including William and Kates), been the burial site of 18 monarchs, and served as the venue for 39 coronations of English and British monarchs. King Charles III will be the 40th monarch to be coronated there.

As we look forward to the extraordinary event, lets also take a look back at the history of this gothic structure.

History of Westminster Abbey

The origins of Westminster Abbey (or the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westminster to give it its correct title) can be traced back to the 1040s, when King Edward (later St. Edward the Confessor) established his royal palace by the banks of the river Thames on land known as Thorney Island.

Nearby a small Benedictine monastery founded under the patronage of King Edgar and St. Dunstan around 960 AD.

This monastery Edward chose to re-endow and greatly enlarge, building a large stone church in honour of St. Peter the Apostle. This church became known as the west minster to distinguish it from St. Pauls Cathedral (the east minster) in the City of London. Unfortunately, when the new church was consecrated on 28 December 1065, the King was too ill to attend and died a few days later. His mortal remains were entombed in front of the High Altar.

The abbey of Edwards vision survived for two centuries until the middle of the 13th century when King Henry III decided to rebuild it in the new Gothic style of architecture.

Under the decree of the King Henry III, Westminster Abbey was redesigned to be more than a monastery and place of worship, but also a place for the coronation and burial of monarchs.

This church was consecrated on 13 October 1269. But, once again, another king died before the nave could be completed.

The older structure of Edward the Confessor stood attached to the Gothic building of Henry III for many years.

Two centuries later, the western towers were finally completed in 1745, to a design by Nicholas Hawksmoor. Inside the abbey, one of the first significant areas is called the nave. Thats where the tomb of an unknown British soldier who died in France during World War II is located.

Located inside the nave is also the Scientists Corner, where some of the greatest British scientific minds have been laid to rest as well as the Poets Corner, where more than 100 writers and poets, including William Shakespeare and Jane Austen, have been memorialised.

The abbey that stands before us was almost destroyed during World War II when firebombs rained down on London.

Although the abbey wasnt directly hit, parts of its roof were consumed by flames started by German firebombs in 1941. According to the BBC, Winston Churchill who was prime minister at the time said the abbey must be saved at all costs.

Coronations and burials

Since its construction, the abbey has been part of history for the British monarchy. Since 1066, all British monarchs except two (Edward V and Edward VIII) have been crowned at the Abbey. The ancient Coronation Chair can still be seen in the church.

It is also the final resting place of 13 kings, four queens reagent, 11 queens consort (those married to a king) and two other queens buried in the Abbey making a total of 30. The first royal to be buried here was Edward the Confessor whose magnificent shrine stands at the centre of the church.

Queen Elizabeth IIs mother, Queen Elizabeth I is also buried here, along with her half-sister, the Catholic Queen Mary I. On the floor beside their tomb is the inscription: Remember before God all those who divided at the Reformation by different convictions laid down their lives for Christ and conscience sake.

Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral last year was another big event at the church.

There are also other notable figures such as Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Rudyard Kipling, Alfred Tennyson, Sir Winston Churchill and seven other prime ministers who are buried at the Abbey.

The funeral of Princess Diana, mother of princes William and Harry, in 1997 also took place at Westminster Abbey and by her own wish she was buried at her family home at Althorp.

Our coverage on King Charles IIIs coronation

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King Charles IIIs Coronation: From procession to enthronment, a guide to the historic ceremony

Some Ancient, Some Stolen: Spoon, spectre, crown and other jewels to be used in King Charles coronation

Ditching the Monarchy: How King Charles grip over the Commonwealth nation is slowly slipping away

How King Charles coronation will reflect his love of nature

The Ex Factor: Why Queen Camillas naughty first husband has received a coronation invite

Not My King: How Britain is going after anti-monarchists ahead of Charles coronation

Explained: Why Charles coronation is taking place nine months after he was proclaimed king

Weddings at Westminster

The architectural wonder has also been the scene of royal weddings most of them since World War I.

The first was when King Henry I married princess Matilda of Scotland on 11 November 1100.

Queen Elizabeths parents, prince Albert later King George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, wed in the church in 1923.

And Queen Elizabeth II married Philip Mountbatten in the abbey in 1947, bringing some royal colour to the post-World War II recovery years.

Queen Elizabeths sister, Princess Margaret, and her children Princess Anne and Prince Andrew all got married in the abbey.

The last royal wedding was that of Charles eldest son Prince William, who wed his university sweetheart Kate Middleton in 2011.

Queen Elizabeth IIs presence

For King Charles III, Westminster Abbey would hold a very special place as the church played a major role in his dear mamas life. She marked key milestones of her life there. Her wedding to Prince Philip on 20 November 1947 took place at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was broadcast on the radio to millions of listeners, and there were 2,500 guests at Westminster, including six kings and seven queens.

On 2 June 1953, she ascended the crown at the Abbey in a ceremony, which was televised to millions.

And today as he gets coronated he can also enjoy his mothers presence through the stained-glass that has been installed in her honour. In September 2018, artist David Hockney unveiled a new stained glass window called The Queens Window, representing the Yorkshire countryside in the spring. It was commissioned to celebrate the reign of Elizabeth II, the United Kingdoms longest-reigning monarch.

Westminster Abbey is all ready to add one more momentous occasion to its history and has prepped itself for the event.

With inputs from agencies

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Original post:
Inside Westminster Abbey, the heart of British monarchy, and site of King Charles coronation - Firstpost