Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Buildings have their own life cycles, and were bringing you two stories of Detroit buildings in transition. We have a personal story of a very ordinary looking building on the far eastside that is past its heyday. Still, it managed to launch the American Dream of one extended family for three generations. Then theres the story of the retro office tower, a structure watching its day in the sun fade away, even as some of us (Im talking about you, Detroit) cling to it.

A few stories in the news are worth mentioning before we get into it. Detroit City Council voted yesterday to move the Future of Health development forward. Council voted 6-3 to approve both a slightly enhanced community benefits agreement and the Transformational Brownfield Plan and subsidies.

A new report finds that title issues could mean more than 5,500 Detroit properties handed down through families dont have a clear legal owner. Thats a problem, and consider this your reminder to look into title insurance if you didnt buy your home with a mortgage that required it. Also: Write a will.

Lastly, if you havent seen it yet, Kate Abbey-Lambertz on our team recommends this essay on why the design of buildings can, and should, matter.

As always, thanks for reading.

Not really a new problem: The oversupply of office buildings is talked about as a post-pandemic problem, but Wall Street Journal reporter Konrad Putzier helps us see how the glut goes back several decades. The 2022 piece is still timely and worth a read. Putzier anchors the start of the problem in 1981 when a tax change ushered in by Ronald Reagan gave companies a big write-off for office space. Loans for offices became cheap and helped usher in the savings and loan crisis. The dot-com boom in the 1990s helped boost the office market again, but its bust did the opposite. Even so, office development continued to be subsidized, loans stayed cheap, and developers kept going for it. Yet in the last couple decades, developers completed fewer conversions of older office buildings for uses like apartments or warehouses, and supply has just kept going up. (Wall Street Journal)

Pivoting is hard: Planning to build new office towers might seem like a bad idea off the bat in an era of hybrid work, but changing direction on construction projects is difficult once theyve begun. Almost every change in a construction project costs money. The bigger the development, the more complicated its financing, and the more stakeholders that need to be brought along. This is one reason pivoting away from office space doesnt happen more often. Dan Gilbert hasnt changed the vision for his project on the Hudsons site, which will include a lot of office space. He did scale back offices in the Monroe Blocks mixed-use development downtown, but most recent plans still call for 400,000 square feet of office space. Now called the Development at Cadillac Square, the site has been put to use for entertainment and rollerskating amid long construction delays. A developer in New York City is following suit, considering tennis courts instead of a skyscraper. (American Bar Association, BridgeDetroit, Detroit Free Press, Fortune)

To convert or destroy: Developer Mike Shehadi is demolishing an old Ford Motor Co. office building not far from the Southfield Freeway rather than incorporate it into a mixed-use development planned for the Dearborn site. The reason? Expense. The University of Detroit Mercy decided to demolish the Fisher Administration Center last year for the same reason. In Midtown, a historic office building from the 60s is being turned into a hotel. The Plaza (also known as the Hammer and Nail building) was used as apartments for several years and was vacant for several years before that. Its not an old office building, but the conversion of an old Wyndham Garden Hotel in Sterling Heights into affordable apartments feels like something to celebrate. Developers eyeing dusty office buildings are focused on their wallets, but policy also plays a role: Lawmakers around the country, as well as the federal government, have started programs to make it easier to convert offices into housing. (Freep, Outlier, Detroit News, Crains Detroit Business, Marketplace, Associated Press)

A trip back in time to the Vogue Market

It started with a yellowing newspaper clipping shared on social media of three men standing behind the counter of a newly opened grocery store in 1946.

The grocery was called Vogue Super Market and was built by the Misuraca family. Its now a liquor store, but its history and present help us embrace even Detroits most nondescript buildings as full of memories and meaning.

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The Dig: We bet you're not reading this at the office - Outlier Media

Franklin Real Estate Development announced Feb. 29 its 3,517-square-foot redevelopment project, The Franklin, has opened in downtown Greenville.

Built as a private residence in 1917, the two-story building at 107 E. Park Ave. features 12 offices ranging from 90 to 225 square feet as well as a shared break area and conference room.

The Franklin is a great example of what can be done with old buildings, said Kurt Wallenborn, a Greenville developer and broker who worked on the project. These structures are built better than any new construction. The wood is so solid, so tight. This is like a custom house from one hundred years ago. It cant be replicated today.

While The Franklin was redeveloped into office space, Wallenborn preserved the structures pine floors and its original double-hung casement windows were removed, restored and reinstalled.

For more information, visit thefranklingvl.com.

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The Franklin, a 1917 home redeveloped into offices, opens in downtown Greenville - UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL - Upstate Business Journal

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) This weekend's winds reached record speeds, with some gusts hitting nearly 70 mph. In their wake, tens of thousands were left without power, planes were grounded, and for some homeowners, the wind's destructive force stole memories.

Mike Luce, a long-time resident of the valley, expressed sadness over the loss of his trees, saying, "They are a part of our home." Luce, who has lived in his home for 30 years, emphasized the significance of his yard and trees, which were full-grown when he arrived.

Despite his efforts to care for and maintain his older trees, the wind storm on Saturday toppled years of dedicated work. Luce described the impact of the storm as severe, noting, "this one yesterday was really bad, and it eventually just wore 'em down."

The highest wind gust recorded was in Spring Mountain at a speed of 88 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. As a result of the strong gusts, people like Luce are having to call tree removal services.

Raudel Deharo, owner of Falcon Tree Services, reported receiving ten calls for tree removals on Saturday alone. He remarked, "It's good for business, not good for the owners."

While it's sad for Luce to see his tree go, he is thankful to have it taken care of properly.

See original here:
Winds of destruction: Las Vegas residents grapple with record speeds and losses - KTNV 13 Action News Las Vegas

SRP

An example of a tree encroaching on a power line which is removed as part of the SRP Right Tree Right Place program.

Ahead of monsoon season, Salt River Project and the city of Phoenix will begin cutting down trees too close to power lines this week.

On Monday, from 8:30-10 a.m., crews removed trees in south Phoenix, at Seventh Street and East Greenway Road, between Baseline Road and Southern Avenue.

That will be followed by tree removal at 23rd and Hidalgo avenues between 10-11 a.m. on Thursday.

In total, about 70 trees will be cut down, but 201 new ones will be planted around Phoenix.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the location SRP crews removed trees from on Monday, March 4.

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SRP will cut down trees near power lines, but will plant more around Phoenix - Fronteras: The Changing America Desk

THREE APP AND ENABLE THOSE PUSH ALERTS. A TREE CRANE COLLAPSED ON 19TH AND I STREETS IN MIDTOWN SACRAMENTO EARLIER THIS MORNING. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PHOTO. A KCRA THREE VIEWER SENT US THAT. THAT DOES NOT LOOK GOOD. IT APPEARS THAT REMOVAL WENT WRONG. REALLY WRONG. OUR CREWS GETTING THE VIDEO OF THE CRANE COLLAPSING THIS MORNING. NO WORD YET ON IF ANYONE WAS HURT. HOPEFULLY THEY WERENT. NO WORD ON WHAT THE DAMAGE TO THE BUSINESS MIGHT BE EITHER. WERE ALSO NOT SURE IF THE REMOVAL WA

Video: Big rig in the air after tree crane falls on it in midtown Sacramento

Updated: 2:40 PM PST Mar 1, 2024

A tree crane collapsed Friday morning in midtown Sacramento, causing the truck attached to it to lean upward into the air.Video shows that truck off the ground at 19th and I streets.KCRA 3 has not learned of any injuries, or if any nearby buildings were damaged, but part of the tree can be seen over the Escape Sacramento business.It is also unknown if this tree removal was scheduled or because of recent weather.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.

A tree crane collapsed Friday morning in midtown Sacramento, causing the truck attached to it to lean upward into the air.

Video shows that truck off the ground at 19th and I streets.

KCRA 3 has not learned of any injuries, or if any nearby buildings were damaged, but part of the tree can be seen over the Escape Sacramento business.

It is also unknown if this tree removal was scheduled or because of recent weather.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.

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Video: Big rig in the air after tree crane falls on it in midtown Sacramento - KCRA Sacramento

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Lake life: It's the wind effect | Stillwater | hometownsource.com - ECM Publishers

Your home should be your safe haven, and you should feel more comfortable there than anywhere else in the world. But that can be a challenge when you walk outside and are immediately confronted with judgmental, rude and perhaps even crazy neighbors.

After one woman decided that her new neighbors had killed a century-old tree, she took it upon herself to raid their vegetable garden. Below, youll find the full story that was recently shared on Reddit detailing the drama that went down between neighbors, as well as some of the replies from invested readers.

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Image credits: LightFieldStudios / envanto (not the actual photo)

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Being neighborly usually means being friendly to those who live around you, inviting neighbors over for cake or a nice meal every once in a while and helping each other out whenever somebody needs a ride to the airport or an extra cup of sugar. In reality, however, most of us dont actually treat our neighbors in this way. In fact, plenty of us dont even like our neighbors at all!

According to LendingTree, a whopping 73% of Americans admit that they dislike at least one of their neighbors, and that number is even higher amongst Gen Z, those who live in apartments and those who live in the Northeast. And of course, living near people who you dont like can often cause issues, as 11% of Americans say theyve actually moved specifically because they didnt like their neighbors. And over a quarter have considered making a move for that reason.

As far as why so many residents dont like their neighbors, 28% say they give off a weird vibe, 27% say they make too much noise, and 27% say theyre simply rude. Those are the top reasons for residents getting under their neighbors skin, but theyre not the only ones.Pets causing disruptions also bothers neighbors, as well as people who are nosy. Residents hate when neighbors dont maintain their homes exterior, their kids are loud or unruly, guests steal parking spots, they smoke, they have different political views or they use their home for short-term rentals.

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While having an obnoxious neighbor certainly isnt ideal, its usually not necessary to call the police or take your issues to court if theyre simply about a dog pooping on your lawn or kids playing loudly in their backyard. When it comes to stealing, however, then you just might have a case against your neighbor. As silly as it may sound, even newspaper theft is a crime, so stealing vegetables off a neighbors property is definitely illegal as well.

To prevent theft like this from happening again, Reolink recommends installing security cameras to catch your neighbors in the act. Its also wise to keep a record of each steal, to have proof that it wasnt an accident or a one-time thing. Do some research on your local laws as well to know what kinds of rights you have when it comes to pressing charges or bringing in law enforcement.

Dont be scared to bring the issue up with your neighbor face-to-face, Reolink says, but understand that they may not respond well to all of the evidence you present. Stay calm, and state the facts of what you know and what the punishment could potentially be. If it doesnt stop, you can file a police report or sue your neighbor.

You can sue neighbors for stealing mail, packages and newspapers from you, Reolink writes. Even for items of small value, small claims courts are to help you and punish thieves living next door to you.

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In this particular situation, the whole issue arose when a tree was cut down. While that should have been none of Karens business because it wasnt her tree, there are sometimes factors homeowners need to consider before chopping down a tree. According to 8 Billion Trees, you can typically cut down a tree on your own property with no issues, as long as its not regarded as a protected species in your area. In that case, you may need a permit.

Some states also have tree protection laws in place to try to prevent unnecessary tree removal. However, these protections apply to healthy trees only. 8 Billion Trees specifies that if a tree is dead, has already fallen in a storm or has been deemed dangerous by an arborist, no permits will be necessary to have it removed.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments below, pandas. Do you think this couple handled the tree drama appropriately? Feel free to share, and then, if youre interested in reading another Bored Panda article discussing entitled neighbors, look no further than right here!

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'Karen' Sues Neighbors Over Cutting A Tree, Makes A Fool Of Herself In Court - Bored Panda

RIVERVIEW, Fla. (WFTS) Right in front of Gary Grall's Riverview home stand two large oak trees.

"We've been in Florida for over 25 years, my wife and I. We've raised two kids in this house. They're both off at University here in Florida. We love it here. We just don't understand why the voice of everyday citizens cannot be heard or at least listened to, or at least reasonable discussions take place on what to do on something so valuable with a tree that their own arborist said was over 150 years old," Grall said.

He's concerned about the future of those trees.

"A letter was clipped to my fence at my gate at the end of the driveway. And it said in two days, we're going to be here at eight o'clock in the morning to either remove your tree or to trim it so bad that it will die," he said.

That letter came from TECO. Cherie Jacobs, TECO's spokesperson, says everyone in the neighborhood that would be affected by the powerline expansion project received a certified letter in the mail with that information.

Grall reached out to ABC Action News, asking how he can add a third option; one that saves his trees.

"It seems like the only thing these days that gets people answers or help. It's unfortunate that you have to go to the news and get it on local TV. But it seems that that's the way action happens."

Beside Grall's property, tree trimming and removal has already begun.

Cherie Jacobs, TECO's spokesperson, tells me construction began this week on the 10 mile long project.

"It's the first phase of a much larger plan to add reliable electricity to that area. We're seeing a lot of growth in the Riverview area and these phases of the project will help support the homes and businesses in that area."

But we wanted to know why the power lines have to go on the right of way in front of Gary Grall's home?

"Across the street from this customer, there is a gas line underground, a brand new entrance, and there's not room in the easement. It really needs to be where it is being built," she responded.

TECO's letter says they have a right to trim any trees in the public right of way.

It also acknowledges that one of the trees will likely die as a result of the trimming.

The letter goes on to note that Grall declined to allow the company to remove the tree, grind the stump, and replace it with a 2" caliper tree.

"This is a safety issue. We have to clear the branches and trim those trees before we can build those power lines. It is for the safety of the crews and the safety of our customers," Jacobs explained.

TECO has postponed any work on his trees; initially scheduled for 8 A.M. Thursday morning.

Grall is set to talk to them Thursday.

"It's irreplaceable. It's priceless. And we're stuck," he said.

Read more here:
Riverview man fights to keep TECO from cutting his tree for power lines - ABC Action News Tampa Bay

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Voting machines tested ahead of primaries | Andover | hometownsource.com - ECM Publishers

A Redditor was concerned after their homeowners association cut down a towering tree after claiming it was no longer viable.

Im really doubting it was dead but would love an opinion, they wrote in the subreddit r/Arborists, sharing a series of photos that included a look at the rings in the base of the tree.

The original poster added in a comment that they had counted roughly 75-80 rings in the stump when trying to determine the trees age, while someone else indicated that they saw more than 100.

The exact number wasnt ultimately agreed upon, but another Redditor seemed to echo the general consensus, writing that the tree was pretty d*** old.

Given that many trees can take a minimum of 10 years to reach maturity while other types can take hundreds this was a sad development.

Reducing the use of dirty energy is one of the best ways to prevent the overheating of our planet, but plants also play a key role. Just one mature tree can soak up at least 48 pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide every year, according to the Arbor Day Foundation.

Join our newsletter Good news, green hacks, and the latest cool clean tech straight to your inbox every week!

Unfortunately, HOAs have been known to make baffling decisions or get in the way of planet-friendly adjustments often because theyre concerned with creating a uniform aesthetic.

Solar panels and pollinator-supporting native plants are two money-saving features that the organizations frequently push back against, but misunderstandings between neighbors have also led to frustrations when HOAs get involved.

In this case, one Redditor pointed out that a number of things, including disease, could have led a professional to recommend a tree removal, but others felt as though the HOA made a hasty decision.

Terrible case of seasonal dormancy by the looks of it, one person said.

While it may be too late for this particular tree, homeowners fortunately have options if they believe their HOAs are making unfair or counterproductive rulings, and many have begun successful cases after researching bylaws to learn which questions to ask.

Who in the HOA has a personal connection to the people at the company who removed the tree and how much were they paid? another Redditor wondered, suggesting that the OP investigate the situation further. Depending on the type, trees of this size can be worth large sums of money.

Please ask [the HOA] to plant some trees, another person said. Wow, so sad.

Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet.

Read more from the original source:
Homeowner questions HOA's decision to cut down mature tree: 'I'm really doubting it was dead' - The Cool Down