Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

East Haddam, Conn. | $2.875 MillionA 1732 house with four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms, on a nine-acre lot

This house sits on a wooded road not far from Gillette Castle State Park, where the main attraction is a medieval-style house built in the early 20th century by the actor William Gillette, surrounded by walking trails and picnic areas. The Hadlyme Ferry Boat Launch, the departure point for ferries crossing the Connecticut River into the town of Chester, is half a mile away.

While the area feels remote, larger cities are within commuting distance: New Haven is about an hour away; Hartford is about a 45-minute drive; and New York City and Boston are about three hours away, depending on traffic.

Size: 3,506 square feet

Price per square foot: $820

Indoors: A long driveway leads from the street to the garage. From there, a footpath leads to a side entrance with a Dutch door that opens into a kitchen with a beamed ceiling, a Bosch range, black granite counters, tile floors and room for a breakfast table next to windows overlooking the grounds. Behind the kitchen is a mudroom with access to a half bathroom.

Beyond the kitchen is a family room with built-in bookshelves and cabinets. A wood-paneled dining room with a fireplace and a living room with another fireplace are also in this part of the house. Off the living room is a sunroom with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and heated floors.

From the living room, a staircase leads to three bedrooms on the second floor. At the end of the upstairs hall is the primary suite, which has a bedroom with a fireplace and a bathroom with radiant-heated floors and a glass walk-in shower. Next door is a guest room with original wood paneling and toile wallpaper. Across the hall is another guest room that holds a queen-size four-poster bed. Both guest rooms have en suite bathrooms.

The fourth bedroom is on the third floor, with another en suite bathroom.

Outdoor space: A stone patio next to the house is shaded by mature trees. From there, paths lead to a saltwater swimming pool surrounded by stone and to a boxwood garden with a stone fountain at the center. Also on the property is a garden folly that the sellers use for dinner parties. The detached garage holds two cars.

Taxes: $14,448 (estimated)

Contact: Colette Harron, William Pitt Sothebys International Realty, 860-304-2391; sothebysrealty.com

This house is in Magnolia, a neighborhood known for its wide, tree-lined streets and gently sloping hills that offer views of Elliott Bay. It is a few blocks from a retail district with a French bakery, a drugstore and several cafes and coffee shops.

A number of green spaces are nearby: Magnolia Playfield, which has pickleball and tennis courts, is less than half a mile away, and the 534-acre Discovery Park is five minutes away by car. Driving into downtown Seattle takes about 15 minutes.

Size: 3,160 square feet

Price per square foot: $916

Indoors: From the sidewalk, steps lead up to the front door, which opens into a long foyer with tile floors. To the right is an eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances, including a Viking range, and a center island with storage for cookbooks.

At the end of the foyer is a sunny family room with parquet floors and a built-in entertainment center. Behind it is a windowed dining area with a long built-in bar.

From the foyer, stairs lead up to a hall, with the primary suite at the far end. The bedroom is carpeted, with a built-in window seat and a door to the patio; the bathroom has a soaking tub and a separate shower. Another full bathroom and a guest room, currently used as a home office, are also off the hall.

The staircase continues up to the top level of the house, which has a loft-style bedroom with a skylight and a full bathroom.

The basement level, reached from stairs in the family room, includes a den with a white-painted brick fireplace, another full bathroom, a laundry room and an open space that could be used as a gym.

Outdoor space: The patio off the primary bedroom and the family room is big enough for separate dining and sitting areas. It steps up to an elevated sitting area with garden views. The attached garage holds three cars.

Taxes: $16,308 (estimated)

Contact: Jen Cameron and James Campbell, The Agency, 425-305-9400 or 206-778-2424; theagencyre.com

This house was built on a parklike lot for a prominent local family, and additional houses were constructed for the original owners children and other relatives. Today, the houses are individually owned, but residents still share various amenities, including a pond, a swimming pool and private green space.

The home is just off East Seventh Street, in a neighborhood where historic houses abound, among them the Colorado Governors Mansion, built in 1908, and the Adolph Zang Mansion, built in 1903 for a brewery magnate. It is a few blocks from Governors Park, which has public art installations and a childrens playground, and a 10-minute walk from a Trader Joes.

Size: 6,026 square feet

Price per square foot: $480

Indoors: A wrought-iron fence separates this property from the sidewalk, with a gate at the side opening to a path that leads to the entrance, flanked by two sets of white columns.

Inside is a grand foyer with blue-and-white floral wallpaper and tile floors. Off this space are a powder room with an original stained-glass window; a study with built-in bookshelves; and under the main staircase, a cigar room with stained-glass windows that have a pipe motif.

Wood-and-glass pocket doors in the foyer open to a formal living room with elaborate crown molding, hardwood floors, a crystal chandelier and a fireplace. In this part of the house, there is also a sunroom used as a den.

On the other side of the main level is a formal dining room with coffered ceilings, built-in window seats and another crystal chandelier. Beyond is an updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances and access to the back staircase.

The wide staircase at the center of the house leads to the five bedrooms on the upper levels. The primary suite is on the second level, with a sitting area anchored by a fireplace and two bathrooms, one with a walk-in shower and the other with a deep soaking tub. One guest room on this level has an en-suite bathroom, with another full bathroom off the hallway. Three more guest rooms are on the third level; they share a full bathroom.

Outdoor space: The residents of this house have the exclusive use of a deck on the roof of the garage that has a low iron fence and is big enough to hold a dining table and chairs. The pond, the swimming pool and the adjoining patios are shared with residents of the surrounding homes. A two-car garage is attached to the house.

Taxes: $9,456 (estimated) and a $2,112 monthly homeowner association fee

Contact: Rachel Gallegos, Milehimodern, 720-308-2615; milehimodern.com

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$2.9 Million Homes in Connecticut, Washington and Colorado - The New York Times

Solidspac3, Inc.

Variance Reports Prioritize Issues to Deliver Projects on Time and on Budget

Spac3 QA/QC Construction Variance Report

Spac3 QA/QC construction variance report showing installation errors and deviation from design intent

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Solidspac3 has released Spac3 2022, a SaaS solution that delivers interactive and prioritized QA/QC variance reports (VR3) within 12 hours. Spac3 makes it easy to visualize discrepancies between reality capture (point cloud) and design intent on a single platform, helping construction teams understand and fix installation issues before they require expensive rework. Spac3 is a stand-alone cloud-based app that requires no additional tools or training to review reports.

Fast New Features in Spac3 2022

Variance Reports in 12 Hours. Reporting time has been cut in half from 24 hours to 12 hours with this release. Teams can upload a new point cloud at the end of the workday and have the variance reports in hand first thing in the morning for trade meetings on the job site.

Performance Improvements. Quickly view, walk through, and take measurements in the 3D variance reports while in a browser. This release delivers crisp resolution with easy zooming and 3D orbitaldespite the massive files sizes and real-time calculations to combine point clouds, BIM and variance displays.

Smart New Features in Spac3 2022

Interactive reports. For each variance, users can click between the 2D/3D drawings/BIM and point cloud and simultaneously compare plan to reality in 3D space. Users can make accurate measurements in 3D to better understand problems and determine corrective actions.

Toggle for transparency. Users can see inside walls, floors, and ceilings by toggling transparency on.

Cross-sectioning. BIM and point clouds can be cross sectioned to better understand clashes and alignment.

Sort by priority and severity. Variance reports are sorted in order of priority and issue severity to aid decision making.

PDF versions of reports to use in the field. Variance reports can be distributed via PDF that can be marked up.

Reports for concrete construction and structural deflection. Application-specific reports for concrete construction (floor flatness [F/F], levelness [F/L], and crack monitoring) as well as structural deflection/deviation.

BCF format support. BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) exports and imports are supported to make it easy to coordinate and produce RFIs in other software applications.

Story continues

Spac3 2022 enables construction teams to quickly prioritize and fix QA issues in the field through an easy to on-board app, said Shung Chieh Ph.D., Solidspac3 CTO. Weve removed the complexity and manual heavy lifting usually required to analyze discrepancies between BIM and reality capture, and deliver a report that is verified, prioritized, and easy to understand. With our interactive reports, users can simultaneously view BIM models and reality capture point clouds and make accurate measurements in 3D. By toggling the visibility and transparency of floor and wall components, we make it easy to review actual placement of components behind concrete, walls, and floors and see issues. With our new BCF (BIM Collaboration Format) support, Spac3 reports can be imported into other applications for project management and CAD. Built on Autodesks Forge platform, Spac3 supports a wide array of CAD formats, including Revit, Navisworks, AutoCAD and IFC (International Foundation Class), as well as support the open, vendor neutral E57 point cloud format. We support point cloud workflows from Leica, Faro, Trimble, Autodesk Recap, and others.

About Solidspac3Solidspac3 (www.solidspac3.com) is a privately held construction technology company providing near real time insight into the construction process. Using our cloud-based analytics platform we compare plans (construction drawings or BIM) to reality and inform all stakeholders of any construction execution mistakes. By identifying and addressing these issues as they occur, the project can save up to 10% of the total cost and eliminate delays. Our application enables the construction industry to avoid much of the $500B per year it spends on rework.

For more information contact:

Company Contact:Alex Von Svoboda, alex.von.svoboda@solidspac3.com

PR Contact:Becky Stevens, becky.stevens@virtualmarketing-pr.com, +1 713 444-6860

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5f1d4a10-12c6-40d5-bd88-d77a98dc3285

Read the original here:
Spac3 2022 Extends the BIM Construction Workflow with Interactive QA/QC Reporting - Yahoo Finance

I dont know about you, but as far as aging goes, I have a plan. Plan A is that I will not age. Plan B is, if I must age, I will go down swinging.

Thus, I was encouraged to learn that new technology and a forward-minded designer promise to make aging at home a lot easier. And, according to a recent AARP survey, 77% of those over the age of 50 want to age in place. (That is lingo for not going to a nursing home.)

That percentage jumps to 86% among those over 65, which tells me that the older you get, the less appealing the idea of sitting in a nursing home under someones thumb with no car keys becomes.

Boomers are especially reluctant to give up their freedom, said interior designer Lisa Cini, a senior living design expert and owner of Mosaic Design Studio, of Columbus, Ohio. Especially after COVID went down, and assisted living centers became places no one could visit or leave, boomers are even more determined to guard their autonomy.

And shes making it easier for them. After 25 years of designing assisted-living facilities, and after remodeling her own Columbus home so it could accommodate four generations she and her husband, their two teenagers, her 70-something parents and her 92-year-old grandmother who had dementia Cini channeled her personal and professional knowledge of senior living into a novel project.

After her grandmother died, and the kids had gone off to college and careers, she found a historic mansion in her town for sale. She bought it and turned it into a nine-bedroom, short-term rental designed to host seniors in comfort, safety and style. (I like the style part. If Im going to age in place, that place has to look good.)

What more can you do besides get rid of trip hazards, add lighting, widen doorways for wheelchairs and walkers, and install lever door handles, I asked Cini over the phone.

A lot.

The Werner House features more than 50 senior-centric technologies that Cini secured through her interior design connections, most of which blend invisibly into the beautiful decor. Some guests stay, and never know theres anything unusual, she added.

Indeed, as Cini takes me on a virtual tour, what strikes me most is that nothing in the 10,000-plus-square-foot property screams this is for old people! Tech touches throughout are discreet and practical. In addition to the bedrooms and their adjoining bathrooms, the short-term has a ballroom, a fitness spa and walking pool, a speakeasy, three kitchens, and a movie and music room.

Marketed as an Airbnb with a mission, The Werner House (www.infinite-living.org), which opened to guests in April, aims to subtly market products to those who want to age in place, and encourage them to experience new technology during their stay that they may later embrace at home, said Cini. She ultimately wants to take the short-term rental concept nationwide.

Heres a sampling of the built-in amenities:

FLOORS THAT FEEL: Five of the suites feature Sole with SensFloor technology from Shaw Floors. The subfloor, which allows any kind of flooring to go over it, has built-in sensors that can detect when someone falls, versus when theyre just sitting on the floor, and can then send the appropriate alert for help. You can also program the product so that when your feet hit the floor from bed, the bathroom light goes on.

NOISE-CANCELING CARPET: In public areas like the dining room, speakeasy and living room, the carpet has noise-cancellation technology. Many seniors have hearing loss, and stop going out to eat because its so hard for them to hear, Cini said. The carpet absorbs the din, making conversations easier.

FIRMER SEATS: Anyone who has ever sunk into a low, soft chair and felt as if they needed two men and a crane to pull them out will appreciate that the cushions on chairs and sofas throughout the Werner House are made of ultra-dense foam, and no seat is lower than 19 inches. Some upholstered club chairs have a handsome wood and brass hangar on their backs, for holding a folded-up walker.

FULL-SERVICE BATHROOMS: Adjustable toilets raise up to help guests get seated, and lower for ease of use. Toilet paper holders have built-in grab bars, and bidet seats have been added to standard toilets to aid hygiene. People dont understand the awesomeness of a bidet toilet seat, Cini said. For $400, anyone can put a bidet seat on a regular toilet and save a lot in toilet paper.

SINKS THAT SYNCH: Bathrooms also feature adjustable sinks that can drop down to wheelchair height, side grab bars on sinks to help people stand and sit, and accessible spa tubs.

CABINETS THAT COME TO YOU: In kitchens, smart cabinets have a mechanism that lets them come off the wall and down to your level, a boon for those who have difficulty reaching and lifting items from upper cabinets. Once you have what you need, back goes the cabinet.

Kitchen counters are height adjustable to accommodate both a 5-foot woman and her 6-foot husband. This is a big deal for cutting, said Cini, which is all about leverage.

Having a house that adjusts to you and keeps you safe shouldnt be out of the question, she said.

And now its not.

Marni Jameson can be reached atwww.marnijameson.com.

I lecture you all the time about properly storing and organizing all the things that matter, so they are safe and accessible, as if I have all

Todays story begins in a crowded marketplace in New Delhi, India, in the mid-'60s. Martha Ramsay, of Bristow, Virginia, had just bought three

The keys had barely changed hands when my daughter said, First, we get a new shower.

Link:
Seniors can live at home longer with new tech, from floors that recognize falls to adjustable toilets - NOLA.com

Though an easy fix, it may never occur to you to change out the filter for your heating or air conditioning system. Preventative measures like this can take just minutes to do but can help ensure your system is working efficiently and help save thousands of dollars in the long run from costly repairs," said Brian and Mika Kleinschmit of American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning partners, who are the stars of HGTVs 100 Day Dream Home. "Clogged filters are an added cost and ensuring your home has a clean one can save up to $30 a month. To maximize airflow and efficiency, and help your system operate correctly, replace dirty air conditioner filters monthly leading up to and throughout the summer months. This easy swap will decrease energy use and improve air quality.

These pleated air filters are a cinch to install, trap tiny particles such as lint, household dust, and dust mite debris, and, to top it all off, cost less than $50 for a pack of six so you can expect efficient energy use and clean air flowing right into your lungs.

Read more from the original source:
Contractors & Other Experts Swear By These Easy Hacks To Save You A Lot Of Money Around The House - Bustle

The next phase of Huron Church Road construction will include rehabilitation work such as repairs to concrete panels and some full lane repairs from Tecumseh to Dorchester Road.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie announced the plans for Huron Church as well as the ongoing construction projects on the E.C. Row Expressway Wednesday.

The city and province partnered to spend more than $12 million to improve Huron Church since 2020. Refurbishing from Malden Road to Pool Avenue was completed in 2020, and from College Avenue to Tecumseh Road was completed last year.

Huron Church is a vital link that not only connects two roads, it connects residents to the United States, our post-secondary schools, and hundreds of businesses in the area, Dilkens said. Given high traffic volumes on the road and because it connects to Canadas busiest trade route, it is imperative that we keep travel along this road safe and efficient. Im excited to see continued infrastructure improvements on Huron Church Road and the E.C. Row Expressway with generous support from the Province of Ontario.

The next phase announced Wednesday will include:

Construction work is also currently underway on E.C. Row. City officials say work repaving the road from Dominion Boulevard to Dougall Avenue has just been completed and work has started on repaving from Huron Church to Dominion.

The city says this represents an investment of about $1 million above the $15.3 million invested in E.C. Row upgrades over the past two years.

Read more:
Next phase of Huron Church construction announced, to include repairs from Tecumseh to Dorchester Road - CTV News Windsor

A Central Texas church that has been working to rebuild following tornado damage in April is now searching for a suspect that stole a trailer from its property.

The First Cedar Valley Baptist Church said on Thursday, July 28, an individual took off with a trailer that was being stored on its property and being used for the church's construction.

"Many of you have heard the saying "Disasters bring out the best in people" and, for the most part, that's accurate," said the church in a Facebook post on Tuesday. "Unfortunately, disasters also tend to bring out the worse in some people, and sadly we've seen that firsthand now."

According to the church, the suspect approached the property on FM-2843 from the I-35 direction.

They turned off their headlights before pulling onto the driveway and used bolt cutters to cut a lock on the trailer before lowering it onto their vehicle, said First Cedar Valley Baptist Church.

"This person was on our property for less than 3 minutes, and took off with something that someone had worked hard for," said the post.

The church said it is asking for anyone who may recognize the truck or the driver to come forward. The truck appears to be a black or dark blue 2009 or newer Ram 1500-2500, with a black grille, fog lights, and running boards, according to the post.

"If you needed to borrow a trailer, you could've just come and asked us, and we'd have had no problem finding one for you to use. If you took it to sell it because you needed the money, a simple phone call or message to us would have been all it took for us to do everything we could to help you.

We understand times are tough, but stealing is not the answer and we will pray that God works on your heart and carries you away from this path. If you wish to return the trailer, please contact us so we can arrange it."

Anyone with information is asked to call the First Cedar Valley Baptist Church at 254-307-7472, contact the Bell County Sheriff's Department at 254-933-5400, or contact Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-TIPS (8477).

More:
Central Texas church recovering from tornado in April and now alleged theft - 25 News KXXV and KRHD

WASHINGTON, D.C. Some border residents and organizations are speaking out against the Biden administration after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security revealed plans to fill in gaps of a border wall to keep migrants out near Yuma, Arizona.

The walls construction began during President Donald Trumps administration.

Its a shame that Biden has continued to carry out the worst of Trumps immigration policies, said the organization RAICES Texas in a July 29 tweet.

DHS announced July 28 that it had approved the construction, saying it was necessary to protect migrants illegally crossing into the country near a dam and who were getting hurt.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas in the announcement said U.S. Customs and Border Protection would take on the project to close four gaps along an incomplete border barrier to address operational impacts, as well as immediate life and safety risks.

But Republican opponents said they believed it was a political ploy to help Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona seem tough on immigration, helping him win in Novembers midterm elections.

Mayorkas in his statement said that the area presents safety and life hazard risks for migrants attempting to cross into the United States where there is a risk of drownings and injuries from falls. This area also poses a life and safety risk to first responders and agents responding to incidents in this area.

The administration received similar blowback when it announced in early July it was doing the same in San Diego at a location called Friendship Park, where people, including many families separated by the border, used to gather before the coronavirus pandemic to touch hands and sometimes hug.

The Biden administration said it was planning to build two 30-foot-high barriers there, also citing safety concerns for migrants and government staff.

Sorry, not buying it, said John Fanestil of the Friends of Friendship Park during an early July Zoom meeting encouraging people to protest construction of the wall.

If they build these walls theyre desecrating this landmark location, said Fanestil. It is arguably the most historic and culturally significant location on the border.

Republicans were quick to attack, reminding the public that as a presidential candidate in August 2020, Biden told a gathering of the National Association of Black Journalists and National Association of Hispanic Journalists that if elected: There will not be another foot of wall constructed (by) my administration.

See the article here:
Biden continues construction along parts of border wall started by Trump - Crux Now

While Clyde was growing up in Perkins County and participating in 4-H and church events, Lorrie(Lorretta) was growing up and participating in 4-H and church events in Butte County.

Clyde was active in the Thunder Butte Valley 4-H Club raising and showing beef and as a member he held several offices. He helped his family host a countywide livestock judging school at their ranch for several years. His family raised Hereford livestock. He and his siblings showed their livestock at the 4-H Achievement Days a few years in the street east of the Legion and static exhibits were shown inside the Legion. They showed livestock a few years on the south east corner of the Perkins County courtyard with static exhibits again in the Legion. Clyde was out of 4-H in 1961 when the first Perkins County Fair and 4-H Achievement Days were started. The livestock was shown at the Perkins County Livestock Yards (West of the Elevator). The static exhibits for 4-H and Open Class filled the gymnasium at the Bison School which helped create a need for a new building at the Fairgrounds.

Lorrie belonged to a 4-H Club in Butte County that only participated in non-animal projects. (She did help her brother get his animals ready for the fair.)They showed static exhibits at the beautiful Fair Grounds West of Nisland, South Dakota where there were dedicated buildings for 4-H and Open class exhibits. The livestock had barns for beef animals and sheep. There were barns for the race horses and chickens too. The grandstand had a cover and the fair board would bring in special entertainment for the Fair. The stage across from the race tracks was for the entertainment and the 4-H Style Show that was before the main entertainment. Lorrie was an active 4-Her participating in judging events locally. She was a top scoring judge in Visual Arts, Clothing and Home Living at State Fair and the Western Jr Livestock Show.

Clyde has lived his entire life on the Hafner Ranch which was started in 1907 and Lorrie joined him in 1968.

Clyde and Lorrie attended the National Western 4-H Roundup in Denver in different years, representing the Lemmon Jr Livestock Show and The Western Jr Home Ec Show. Their son, Terry won a trip representing Lemmon Jr when he was in High school. There son Rick won a scholarship from the Lemmon Jr Livestock Show.

Lorrie helped as a leader for a three 4-H Clubs in Perkins County. She was barely in PC when Pat Kolb asked her to help with her club. Her second club, with Judy Gano, found her helping several young people learn how to sew. Her last club, with Geraldine Peck, did a routine at Mount Rushmore before the evening lighting ceremony. She judged Clothing construction and Visual Arts at surrounding counties and at State Fair.

Lorrie served on the State 4-H Board as well as the State Extension Advisory Board serving as an officer in each group and represented the State at meetings in Washington DC.

Clyde served on the Perkins County Fair Board for a several years while the current grounds were being improved with a livestock shade, the Bentley Building, covered grandstand and improvements on the rodeo arena. Their sons also helped with the building of the Bentley building. Lorrie and Clyde were on the building committee and the kitchen design committee as well as helped design many of the advertising spaces in the building. When the Bentley Building was first built and used, it had no cement floor. The 4-H Horse showmanship class was held inside the building because of rain. Both of their boys showed their horses under cover.

The Hafner family was not afraid to volunteer for jobs that needed to be done so that the Perkins County Fair could be a success. While Clyde was helping put on a rodeo, Lorrie was coordinating the Food Stand to help raise funds to support the Fair.

Their interest in 4-H and community continues on with their grand daughter, Nicole, who was active in 4-H rodeo on a county and state level. She often volunteered to sing the National Anthem at surrounding rodeos. Her love of art won her top ribbons and she is still pursuing interests in her art and photography. She married into another active 4-H family in the Eastern part of the state.

Clyde and Lorrie have been active in their church too through the years, serving as leaders in the church on a conference level and local churches. Their son Terry and his wife started the TNT Steakhouse in Bison during the Fall of 2021.

Read more:
Hafners' are 2022 "Friends of the Fair" - Philip Pioneer Review

Worshippers wait outside as Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St. Joseph Cathedral in Bucharest, Romania, May 31, 2019. Romanian officials have ordered the demolition of the tall office building, at left center, 10 years after a ruling that it was built illegally and endangers the historic landmark. (CNS photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters)

By Jonathan Luxmoore

WARSAW, Poland (CNS) Romanian officials have ordered the demolition of a 20-story office building overshadowing Bucharests Catholic cathedral, 10 years after a ruling that it was built illegally and endangers the historic landmark.

Father Tarciziu-Hristof Serban, spokesman for Romanias Bucharest Archdiocese, called the order a joyful affirmation of the churchs life after all the aggression directed against us. Our archbishop continually deplored the injustice from the beginning, highlighting the perils posed to the cathedral, a cultural, historic and religious monument.

The priest spoke amid preparations for the 246-foot tower to be dismantled under a July 20 order by Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, who confirmed it was built without a legal permit and endangered the adjoining 19th-century St. Joseph Cathedral.

In a July 29 interview with Catholic News Service, Father Serban said previous mayors had refused to enforce a final, definitive and irrevocable appeal court ruling in 2012, ordering the demolition, adding that Catholics were grateful that a move which should have happened long ago was now finally being taken.

The present mayor is an architect whos long combatted abuses by building firms disfiguring the central panorama of Bucharest, Father Serban told CNS.

Although no further legal steps are possible, the proprietors may still attempt to hamper or delay the demolition, especially since theyre required to finance it themselves.

In 2006 city officials authorized construction of the Cathedral Plaza tower, a project of the Millennium Building Development corporation, but the construction was interrupted by repeated appeals from the Catholic Church, which warned it imperiled the image and structure of the historic cathedral, built 1875-1883 by architects Friedrich Schmidt and Carol Benesch.

Orders to demolish the building, which stands just yards from the Gothic-Romanesque cathedral, were later issued by courts in Dambovita, Ploiesti and Constanta, but ignored by city and company representatives.

Announcing his order on Facebook, Dan said certain administrative steps still had to be taken before demolition could begin, but added he was confident the move would now go ahead after years of prevarication.

Since 2013, the capitals City Hall has been compelled under a final court decision to demolish this building, the mayor explained.

The expenses will be borne initially by the municipality, and then recovered from the buildings owners. Our goal now is for the land to be harmoniously reintegrated into Bucharests urban landscape.

In a website statement, Archbishop Aurel Perca said the mayors order symbolized a return to normality and victory not just for Catholics, but for all citizens of Romania.

He added that the archdiocese was grateful for perseverance by his predecessor, Archbishop Ioan Robu, in the arduous course of justice, as well as for goodwill and solidarity long shown by local Catholics.

This act by the mayor represents an act of historical reparation a crowning moment for efforts by Romanias judiciary, Archbishop Perca said.

It forms part of a series of acts by institutions and authorities of the Romanian state, which have identified legal frauds and the existence of interest groups pressuring local administration with damaging consequences for our historical heritage.

Father Serban said it could take some time to find a specialist firm capable of carrying out the delicate demolition work, given the very narrow space between the office block and cathedral, which was damaged by U.S. and German bombing during World War II.

But the mayor has promised we wont have to wait long, so were praying with gratitude for work to begin, Father Serban told CNS.

This story has been updated.

Originally posted here:
Bucharest Archdiocese Welcomes Order to Demolish Building Near Cathedral - The Tablet Catholic Newspaper

Bloomington, Ind. Numerous infrastructure improvement projects are underway this season to advance community goals, including safety, sustainability, accessibility, equity, economic vitality, and quality of life in Bloomington. The City will provide regular public updates on a range of these improvements as they progress. City departments coordinate with one another, as well as with private developers, to minimize the impact on Bloomington residents and visitors.

PARKS & RECREATION

Southeast Park

The nine-acre park on Sycamore Drive near Moores Pike features a paved trail that connects users to the Renwick Trail as well as all the park amenities. A small portion (about 1,500 square feet) of the pedestrian trail between the parking lot north to the tennis courts has deteriorated, causing accessibility concerns. Contractor E & B Paving has been on site this week to remove the deteriorated area and install new asphalt.

The Waldron, Hill, and Buskirk Park

Repairs to the performance stage columns have begun. The project contractor is deconstructing the existing columns and is working with structural engineers to re-design and construct new columns. Crews will be working in the park through August to complete the work.

UTILITIES

Hidden River Pathway Project

The two-year downtown stormwater infrastructure reconstruction project to address flooding during rain events continues. Last week the contractor, Milestone, began excavating between Trinity Church and Long Fei Restaurant and pouring concrete curbs and sidewalk on 4th St. Rain has delayed paving work this week so Saturday work may be necessary.

Grant will be closed from 4th to Kirkwood and 4th Street will remain closed from Lincoln to Grant. The alley on the east side of Grant, between Trinity and Long Fei, will be closed.The City will continue to coordinate with other construction and road projects as they reconstruct 1,829 feet of culverts to protect downtown area residential and commercial buildings. This project is on track to be finished by the February 2023 deadline.For more information about the project visit bloomington.in.gov/utilities/hidden-river.

Businesses on 4th and Grant are still open as this project continues around them. They welcome customers and taking the time to visit them may afford residents an opportunity to see whats happening with this project. The contractor expects to have one eastbound traffic lane on 4th Street and the south sidewalk opened on August 1st.

Businesses in the impacted area include Siam House, Little Tibet, Burma Garden, Korea Restaurant, Oak, My Thai, DO Asian Fusion, Dat's, B-Town Gyros, Healthy Hoosiers, Bali Cafe, Storm Real Estate, Longfei, Parlor Donuts, Soma Coffeehouse, and Taste of India.

Evergreen Village Stormwater

City of Bloomington Utilities will be doing restoration work on a drainage ditch and detention pond in Evergreen Village, off Susie Street. The ditch grading is now complete and planting native flowers and grasses can begin. Weather permitting, the project will be complete in early August.

PUBLIC WORKS

The Street Division paving finished crews milled N Jefferson Street from E 3rd to E 10th this week. Next week, weather permitting, crews will continue with the resurfacing of N Jefferson Street.

The sidewalk crews completed the installation of ADA-compliant curb ramps on N Jefferson Street from E 3rd to E 10th. Next week, crews will continue with ADA-compliant ramp installation on E 2nd Street from S High Street to S Swain Avenue to prepare for resurfacing.

Engineering

Walnut Traffic Signals

The Citys project to construct new traffic signals at the N Walnut Street intersections of 11th Street and 14th Street is expected to be substantially complete by the end of July. Final work tasks to be completed over the upcoming weeks include installation of pavement markings, power hook-up coordination with Duke, and signal activation. The new signal at 11th Street and Walnut Street was activated on July 25th. This project also includes curb ramp improvements for the pedestrian hybrid beacon crossing of S Walnut Street at the Switchyard Park entrance and B-Link Trail connection. The work at this crossing of S Walnut Street is expected to start this week.

Hopewell Phase 1 East Demo

The City anticipates demolition activities as identified in the Hospital Site Master Plan to start soon at the Hopewell Phase 1 East project site bounded by 2nd Street to the north, 1st Street to the south, B-Line to the east, and Rogers Street to the west. Some activities such as equipment mobilization, and building preparations for demolition may begin this week with tree clearing next week. The project has a significant landscaping plan that includes over 100 trees and the installation of the Citys first silva cell suspended pavement system to increase the life expectancy and health of the trees in the tree grove area. Additional information about the project and the contractor can be found at the following links: https://bton.in/mRp~I, hopewellbloomington.org & renascentinc.com. The Hospital Site Redevelopment Master Plan is available at https://bton.in/mlLbk.

Crosswalk Project

Progress continues on the Citys crosswalk improvement project at the intersections of, 3rd and Grant Streets, 11th Street and Blair Avenue, and Patterson and Isaac Drive. Demolition has begun at all three intersections, and new curbs have been poured at 3rd and Grant. The project requires a short-term full closure of Grant Street just north of 3rd Street to facilitate pavement maintenance and is being coordinated with a water main connection for the adjacent development project (The Annex). Additional information about this project can be found at bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/crosswalks.

Neighborhood Greenways

The Citys project to construct traffic calming along E 7th Street, Graham Drive, and Ralston Avenue is substantially complete. Recent highlights include the installation of asphalt speed cushions along Graham and Ralston Avenue. Final work tasks to be completed over the upcoming weeks include final paving on 7th Street, installation of signs and pavement markings, and installation of rectangular rapid flashing beacons at the intersections of Graham at Rogers and Rockport. Additional information about the project and contractor can be found at bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/ralstongraham.

The rest is here:
Southeast Park Improves Accessibility; Businesses Around the Hidden River Construction are Open; and Installation of ADA-Compliant Ramps Continues |...