Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Kaylas Cake is a trendy and charitable bakery that has just opened a location in Fullerton run by a staff of women, many of them being mothers.

The shop specializes in creating beautiful assortments of French macarons, cake in a jar and custom cakes. This is the third location for the company, with the others being in Downtown Disney and the Brea Mall.

Kaylas Cake was founded by Kayla Lee and Eunjoo Kang, a pair of sisters with extensive knowledge in baking and a dream to share their creations. Both have been described to be energetic and hardworking by an employee at their Fullerton location.

Both founders are mothers and value their family life greatly, as well as the lives of other mothers and their families. They strive to find a perfect balance between their personal career engagements and their life at home. This is why the company has hired a selection of mothers to help the business thrive.

Kayla's Cake founders Kayla Lee and Eunjoon Kang thank their customers, employees, partners and family/friends for making their storefront location possible. Photo credit: Kayla's Cake

Weve grown from three to thirteen moms in our kitchen, and we scheduled our kitchen hours so each of us can drop off and pick up our kids from school, reads their website.

As mothers, Lee and Kang are also dedicated to not only enhancing the lives of their own children, but also the lives of local children in need. Kaylas Cake has previously partnered with Downtown Disney and the Childrens Hospital of Orange County by donating some of their sweet treats to special guests at the Taste of Downtown Disney event and the CHOC Childrens Gala. Both of these events help raise funds for children in need of health care, health research and education.

The bakerys very own Kayla Lee shared the story about her roots in baking and how Kaylas Cake came to be.

I worked at a hotel in Los Angeles, but I began to make custom-ordered cakes on my own. The business grew so we rented local kitchens and created Kaylas Cake from there, said Lee, the namesake of Kaylas Cake.

The female-owned and run company now serves coffee beverages exclusively at the storefront location in Fullerton.

7 different flavored macarons from Kayls's Cake in Fullerton. Photo credit: Diana Robles

Weve hired experienced baristas that know what they are doing with our new machinery, continued Lee.

COVID-19 has obviously proven to be a trying time for everyone. Small businesses were amongst those who were heavily impacted.

The most challenging part of the pandemic was that we were unable to provide for our talented team. We have experienced bakers, and have hired many college students from local colleges like Cal State Fullerton and Fullerton College. Everyone needed their jobs and having to put them on hold was so hard, stated Lee.

The remodeling of Kayla's Cake began in March of 2020. It features new flooring, lighting, paint and this blue and white counter space. Photo credit: Diana Robles

Lee also mentioned that the remodeling of the Fullerton location started just a week before stay-at-home orders were put into place.

Kaylas Cake has been offering online mail orders for boxes of macarons since 2019, and it has become particularly useful in 2020, in the era of the coronavirus.

Regardless of these hardships, amongst others, the company opened its Fullerton shop on October 24. It welcomed its very first Fullerton customers with a special promotion: buy a coffee, get a macaron free.

With the holiday season already upon us, the gift of sweet pastries is something everyone can enjoy. With its seasonal macaron flavors such as peppermint, gingerbread and snowman, Kaylas Cake is definitely in the holiday spirit.

Christmas decorations are alreaady up at the Fullerton location of Kalya's Cake. Photo credit: Diana Robles

Our macarons are made with premium ingredients, so when someone receives them as a gift, they know that the gifter cares, said Lee.

Lees official recommendation for all first-time Kaylas Cake Fullerton visitors is any of its all-new coffee drinks. These include espresso, cortado, americano, cappuccino, latte and bonbon style beverages. Visitors have the option to order these hot or iced, sweetened or unsweetened and substitute milk with an alternative (almond milk or oat milk).

Kaylas Cake is currently working on bringing a student discount, which may be valid at any of its locations. Until then, all locals can visit the bakery at its new storefront at 1311 S Gilbert Street in Fullerton, CA. For more information, follow the Kaylas Cake Instagram or visit its website.

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Small Business Spotlight: The trendy and charitable Kayla's Cake in Fullerton staffed by local moms | Serving the Fullerton Community Since 1922 - The...

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. The real estate market is booming. But be careful, not everyone is building dream homes with a solid foundation.

More than 20 homeowners whove spoken to Fox 4 over the last two years say their problem is simply they trusted the wrong person to build their house.

Fox 4 uncovers that those homeowners represent a small fraction of about 2,000 complaints filed with state and local construction agencies against multiple contractors within the last two years. complaints range from code violations to unlicensed work to misconduct. A third of the complaints filed in Collier County were unfounded by the county's licensing board.

The state agency - Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation - has closed more than half the cases. Even if cases are closed, wounds for customers are still wide open.

Dan McAtee and his wife Tina signed a contract with Rhino Custom Homes in 2018 to build their dream home. Two years later, theyre still waiting to move into what was supposed to be part of their happily ever after.

Its not only a gut-punch, but I was expecting to retire at the end of last year, said Mr. McAtee.

Even after paying Rhino Custom Homes, more than 75 percent of the total cost for their new home, the McAtees say all they got for their hard-earned money was completed a concrete shell and a roof that had to be replaced because it had rotted.

When they confronted Rhino owner Mark Southwick about their rotted roof after they received this violation order from Charlotte County Code Enforcement, he replied Im calling inspector" and Ill get it taken care of right now." That was in February.

Southwick did not respond to my requests for comment within the last two weeks. The attorney who previously spoke on his behalf told Fox 4 he's no longer representing him.

In August, Southwick told the Charlotte County Licensing Board he did not oversee the build of the McAtee's home.

Board Member: With respect to the McAtee's home, _______ testified that the quality of the work was poor. What's your response to that, and do you supervise your job sites? Or do you have someone that does?

Southwick: I was not at that time. We went over all this before. I grew way too fast.

The McAtees say Southwick shouldn't have bitten off more than he could chew.

Were going to be out by about $200,000 at the end of the day - at least! said Mr. McAtee.

Since then, the McAtees have hired a new contractor, Vantage homes. Instead of retiring, McAtee says he is now working a few more years just to pay for his home, but also for Rhino Custom Homes not finishing the job they were paid to do in the first place.

Ben Bailey, Director of Charlotte County Community Development says the countys licensing board has revoked Mark Southwicks permitting privileges in the county. So, he cannot work under any permits issued by the county under his name or his company rhino custom homes.

Amira Fox, State Attorney for the 20th judicial circuit says shes working to assure homeowners that all Southwest Florida contractors finish the jobs they start in a timely manner. At the cost outlined in original contracts moving forward. Last month, she created a contractor fraud task force that spans across Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Glades and Hendry Counties.

Homeowner complaints go beyond Rhino Custom Homes. Nearly 600 complaints from Southwest Florida were filed with DBPR between the beginning of 2019 and October of this year against hundreds of contractors.

Even more were filed in individual counties. Locally, complaints span beyond contractors allegedly taking money and failing to complete work.

During that same time frame, 782 complaints were filed with the Collier County licensing board against multiple contractors for issues including unlicensed and unpermitted work and failing code inspections. 47 percent of those cases have either been settled or closed. a third of them were unfounded. The rest are still pending or awaiting citation.

In 2019, Charlotte County received 398 complaints against individual contractors and 485 so far in 2020.

McAtee says the complaints mean nothing if contractors continue to get away scot-free.

Fox says prosecuting these cases was difficult because the Moneys Received by Contractor statute had holes in it. Her office could prosecute contractors using that law. Under it, they'd have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the contractor had no intent to complete a home or use the customer's money properly. Something Fox admits was difficult to do.

But, since homeowners have shared their stories with Fox 4 over the last two years, Fox says that law has changed.

Theres specifics now written in the statue. If you take the money, and you take a certain percentage from the victim, and then you dont perform within a certain amount of time, theres a presumption that youve committed a crime, said Fox.

Unfortunately, the new law went into effect at the end of last year, after the McAtees signed their contract with Rhino. So, it wont protect them.

The flip side, is the owners of Harden and Dukes Custom Homes Matthew Harden and Stephen Dukes have been charged with crimes.

Fox 4 cameras captured HD homes owner Stephen Dukes walking out of Sarasota County Jail in September after he and his partner Harden were charged with one count of scheme to defraud and 12 counts of misapplication of construction funds. Days later his partner was arrested, too.

Listed phone numbers for Dukes were disconnected, and one rang on end without ever going to a voicemail. Same thing for Harden, except someone answered the one number that wasn't disconnected, and said no one by the name of Matthew Harden lived there.

But, before it gets to an arrest, before you lose money, before signing on the dotted line, Bailey recommends doing your homework.

We have a lot of information on our county website. If you want to go in to look at the progress that the contractor has on all their permits, you can simply go in there, do a search, itll pull up all their permits, inspection history, whether or not theyve had any complaints, said Bailey.

You can search any contractor before signing on with them and get a list of all the subcontractors working on a particular permit and call them. Ask if the contractor has made any late payments.

The McAtees say they wish they had known about this before trusting Southwick.

But, despite waiting for a home they say should've been finished last year they're looking toward the light at the end of the tunnel.

Even though, were going to be out the money, at least were going to be able to get the house done. So, were focusing on the positive, rather than all the negative of the last year, said Mrs. McAtee.

According to DBPR, Southwick has agreed to voluntarily relinquish his contractor license with the state by March 15, 2021 to avoid any further administrative action. Homeowners who've filed complaints would then be eligible to receive compensation from the state's contractor recovery fund.

The McAtees are expecting a completed home in January.

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Fox 4 uncovers thousands of complaints filed against Southwest Florida contractors - Fox 4

Rockports Ledgemont is inarguably one of the North Shores grande dames, boasting sweeping views of Thacher Island and the open expanse of the Atlantic Ocean from nearly every one of its 15-plus rooms. Just moments to beautiful Long Beach, this magnificent property sits 130 feet above sea level while bordering the 100 bucolic acres of Rockports South Woods. Expertly crafted and designed with only the finest of materials, nearly everyone who sees it will assuredly agree that this is no ordinary offering. Marketed by J Barrett & Companys George Needham, it lists for $3,350,000.

This exceptional one-of-a-kind home is truly a crown jewel of Cape Ann, says the Realtor. Constructed in 2013 by a renowned local builder, its 21 acre lot is one of the largest, if not THE largest, residential parcels in town.

Approached by a long driveway lined with custom lighting and attractive stonework, the homes shingle-style facade enhanced by multiple decks is quintessential New England. Step inside to a wide open and versatile floor plan riddled with exquisite finishes such as coffered ceilings, crown moldings, wainscoting, hardwood floors, recessed lighting and architectural columns. Offering the perfect blend of formal and relaxed spaces, the main level features stunning living and dining rooms; a handsome den with pocket doors, beamed ceiling, wood burning fireplace and a built-in mahogany bar; and a family room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a stone fireplace with pellet stove. In keeping with the homes thoughtfully fluid design, this space melts into a breathtaking gourmet kitchen with state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances, custom cherry cabinetry, stone counter tops, an expansive center island with pendant lighting and a generous dining nook. For outdoor entertaining when the weather permits, a bluestone patio with granite fireplace is easily accessed from most of the rooms on this level.

A master suite with sitting area, built-in jetted tub, double sinks and private deck is just one of five en suite bedrooms on the second floor including a generous space with private entrance, ideal for a workout room, au pair or in-law, suggests Needham. Also sharing this level is a home office, custom bookcases in the hallway and a convenient laundry room.

While the entire home is undeniably awe-inspiring, it is perhaps on the third floor where you will find the best seat in the house. Wrapped in windows and nautical-inspired bead board, this secluded observatory with soaring wood ceiling offers uninterrupted 180-plus degree ocean views. As if all this were not enough, other amenities include a mudroom with walls of closets and cubbies, a large lower level with full bath, and a six-car heated attached garage.

For more information on this remarkable property, or to schedule a private showing, call George Needham at 978-382-8178.

AT A GLANCE:

5-plus bedrooms

7 full and 1 half bath

7,022 square feet

21.19 acres

$3,350,000

LISTED BY:

George Needham

J Barrett & Company

978-382-8178

http://www.jbarrettrealty.com

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Amazing Rockport estate leaves nothing to the imagination - The Salem News

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) analyzed the 2019 Survey of Construction (SOC) data, which shows a trend of declining home size across the country before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NAHB predicts that this trend is likely to reverse in the years to come, however, there are some regions of the country that have large homes built today. The NAHB reports which areas of the United States have some of the largest single-family homes.

According to the 2019 Survey of Construction, the three regions of America with the largest homes built are the Middle Atlantic, Mountain States, the West South Central, and the South Atlantic. Middle Atlantic states include New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. The Mountain States include Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

The West South Central region is made up of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. Lastly, the South Atlantic region consists of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, as well as the District of Columbia.

The median square footage of new single-family homes started in the U.S. last year was 2,300 square feet. This includes finished areas of the basement and attic. The median square footage was 2,500 square feet for new single-family homes started in the Middle Atlantic region of America in 2019. That same year, single-family homes started in the Mountain States, as well as the West South Central and South Atlantic regions, all had a median square footage of 2,300 square feet.

The NAHB also reports that there were substantial differences in square footage between single-family attached and detached homes. In single-family attached homes, the median square foot area of completely finished floor space nationwide was 1,800 square feet. For detached single-family homes, the median square footage was 2,400.

The Middle Atlantic is the top region in the country for building some of the largest attached and detached homes, with a median of 2,400 square feet and detached 2,600 square feet, respectively. Meanwhile, the New England area, where new single-family attached homes are more common than in any other region, had a median square footage of 1,800 for attached homes in 2019.

Analyzing spec homes compared with custom homes built by contractors and owners also reveals some variation in new home sizes. Across the country, new single-family homes built by contractors have a median square foot area of completely finished floor space of 2,400 square feet.

By comparison, homes built by owners are typically smaller, with about half of them reporting square footage of 2,000 square feet or less. New single-family homes built for sale tend to be about the same size as those built by contractors, with a median square footage of 2,300 square feet.

The NAHB provides more detailed data on the square footage of new single-family homes in its full analysis.

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Where Americans Build the Biggest Homes - theMReport.com - The MReport

NORTH SYRACUSE, N.Y. When Andy and Janice McWains grandson left his grandparents home for the last time before they moved Florida, he was overcome with emotion.

He kissed the house, Janice said, laughing. Im going to miss you, he said.

While doing the interview from the Sunshine State about their amazing ranch at 7674 Windsor Drive North in North Syracuse, the couple began to have similar feelings as their grandson.

We love the house, Andy said. We are attached to the property.

We are having reservations about selling, they joked.

The couple moved to the ranch, built at the end of a cul-de-sac, in December 2013 from a patio home in Radisson.

Janices elderly father was moving in with them and they had adopted a second golden retriever. They needed more space.

They would find it here.

The three-bedroom house has almost 5,000 square feet of living space set on almost two acres of property. There are 36 acres of vacant land, and full of deer, behind them.

(They were also friendly with the homes builder, Nick Paduano, and knew of his reputation for building quality homes.)

The main level is wide open and has a huge kitchen joining a large formal dining room and a spacious family room with a gas fireplace. Sliding doors lead out into a beautiful four-season room which Andy calls the highlight of the house.

The owners enjoy watching wildlife from the rooms 13 windows in a heated and air-conditioned space. There is even a second gas fireplace for cold days in winter.

Thats where you want to sit, Andy said.

Janice says that the homes finished walk-out lower level is like entering a whole new world.

We used to entertain big time here, Janice said. It was a major party house.

The couple says that they hosted four Christmas parties of at least 80 people each last year and have held parties of 125 people during the summer.

The area has a kitchen that mirrors the one upstairs and has a full bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub.

I wish it were it upstairs, Janice joked.

The way they filled the space might explain their grandsons attachment to the home.

The lower level was stocked with a custom billiard table, arcade games, pinball machines, foosball, and bowling machines.

The grandchildren especially liked the slot machines, hoping to learn a little money while visiting their grandparents.

The space leads out to the heated, saltwater in-ground swimming pool which they had installed in 2014.

No wonder the kids wanted them to stay there!

We miss it, Andy said.

They have already moved to Florida and are enjoying the warmer weather there.

For more information about this property, contact realtor Timothy Connors of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties. His information is below.

THE DETAILS

Address: 7674 Windsor Drive North, North Syracuse, N.Y. 13212

Price: $489,900

Size: 4,840 square feet

Acreage: 1.63 acres

Monthly Mortgage: $1,637 (based on this weeks national average rate of 2.93 percent, according to Freddie Mac, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. Fees and points not included.)

Taxes: $16,342 (Based on assessed value of $422,785)

Built: 2005

School District: North Syracuse

Kitchen: The eat-in kitchen is open and allows for easy access from the formal dining room, spacious family room and all-season room. It allows for easy entertaining and keeps party conversations going. Owner Andy McWain says the kitchen can seat 10 people. There is plenty of storage space and a kitchen pantry. The kitchen has double ovens. The lower level has another full kitchen which mirrors the one on the main level.

Living areas: This 2005 ranch is in pristine condition and has had only two owners. It is immaculate, Janice McWain said. Wide plank oak hardwood flooring was used throughout and the home features solid wood doors and no square corners. It is described as being a one of a kind ranch with almost 5,000 square feet of space. Nine new closet systems have been installed since 2013. The main floor has a front living room, which has been primarily used as a home office, a formal dining room and a family room with a gas fireplace. A three-season porch was converted into a wonderful four-season room which the owners consider the highlight of the home. There are 13 windows there, hot water baseboard heat, air conditioning and a gas fireplace. The McWains enjoy watching the wildlife out back from there. The main level also has a laundry room.

Bedrooms: There are three full bedrooms in the house, with space for another in the lower level. The master bedroom has his-and-her California closets and a new ceiling fan.

Bathrooms: All new granite counters and sinks have been installed in the three full bathrooms. The master bath includes a bidet and a glass door around the bathtub. The lower level bathroom has a Jacuzzi-style tub.

Lower level: The walk-out lower level was kept open so it could host parties by the owners. The space was filled with pinball machines, slot machines and a custom billiard table. It was favorite spot for the owners grandchildren. The kids loved it, Janice said. It provides easy access to the back patio and swimming pool area. With a full kitchen and bathroom, the space could be used as an in-laws apartment.

Outdoors: This ranch was built at the end of a cul-de-sac in North Syracuse. It was built on 1.63 acres and there is plenty of room for outdoors parties. The owners have hosted events there with 125 guests. There are 36 acres of peaceful state land behind the house, full of deer. The heated saltwater in-ground swimming pool was installed in 2014 and was featured by Cannon Pools as being one of the best in Central New York. The home as an insulated three-car garage and the back of the home has another garage which the owners use to store pool equipment. They call the neighborhood very friendly and said they knew everyone. The home is just minutes away from two Wegmans and the airport.

Agent: Timothy Connors

Coldwell Banker Prime Properties

Address: 6263 Route 31, Cicero, N.Y. 13039

Phone: (315) 345-4058

Email: Tim.Connors@coldwellbankerprime.com

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If you know of a beautiful or interesting house currently up for sale, please consider sending a nomination for it to be featured as a future House of the Week. Send an email with the listing to home@syracuse.com.

Do you know of any older homes in Central New York which have fallen on hard times but have a lot of potential should they be restored to their original grandeur? A fixer-upper with a lot of potential? Consider nominating them to our new feature, Save this Home, in which we will spotlight grand houses of the past around Central New York that need to be saved. Send nominations to home@syracuse.com.

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House of the Week: Couple call their North Syracuse ranch their major party house - syracuse.com

About a mile from the ocean in Santa Monica, a brand-new home is shaking things up with a dazzling concoction of jagged lines and concrete finishes. Designed by architect Joe Flynn, the modern, blocky build features a massive wall of glass perched above the street, and inside, floating staircases navigate spaces with Italian tile, heated floors, skylights and smart home features. Out back, the landscaped patio tacks on a lap pool and spa.

The details

Location: 1767 Sunset Ave., Santa Monica, 90405

Asking price: $5.487 million

Year built: 2020

Living area: 5,400 square feet, four bedrooms, six bathrooms

Features: Landscaped walkway; high ceilings; polished concrete finishes; dining room with angled wood ceilings; kitchen with custom island; floating staircases; lofted office; wine cellar; media room; owners suite with private terrace; steam shower; outdoor fire pit; two-car garage

About the area: In the 90405 ZIP Code, based on 12 sales, the median price for single-family homes in October was $2.438 million, up 40.7% year over year, according to CoreLogic.

Agents: David and Anna Solomon, Douglas Elliman of California, (310) 279-7759

To submit a candidate for Home of the Week, send high-resolution color photos via Dropbox.com, permission from the photographer to publish the images and a description of the house to jack.flemming@latimes.com.

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Home of the Week: A jagged structure in Santa Monica - Los Angeles Times

Garfield Township planning commissioners will discuss a proposed 168-unit apartment complex on Hartman Road and a planned bed-and-breakfast on Hainey Lane at their 7pm virtual meeting tonight (Wednesday). The board will also consider approving a construction extension for a planned 84-unit apartment complex on Garfield Road that has experienced project delays due to the pandemic.

Hartman Road Apartment ComplexThe owner of 6.19 acres of vacant land on the south side of Hartman Road west of Dracka Road hopes to build a 168-unit apartment complex on the site, complete with seven three-story buildings, a clubhouse, and a pool area. But while the project is similar to other high-density, multi-family developments nearby such as Liv Arbors it likely faces an uphill battle for approval because of being located on the more rural, agricultural side of Hartman, says Township Planning Director John Sych.

Township planning commissioners will hold a conceptual planning review of the proposed Mosser apartment complex tonight an informal first look at plans that allows commissioners to talk through the project and share feedback before developers return with a formal application. No decision will be made on the project tonight. However, developers will likely hear some tough feedback, according to Sych, who says the townships master plan calls for keeping the south side of Hartman more rural with lower-density housing as opposed to the type of bigger complexes that are just across the street.

When I look at the master plan, at some point there needs to be a transition to lower density, he says. I dont know if Hartman is a good place to allow too much more residential. Were really trying to encourage infill further north. While Sych acknowledges the need for more housing in the region, he says there are multiple other locations in Garfield Township along Garfield and LaFranier roads, as examples, and in several commercial areas where property is still available and dense apartment complexes make more sense.

If planning commissioners want to consider allowing dense housing on the south side of Hartman, Sych says the board could revisit the master plan and consider changing zoning designations for the entire corridor. That would prevent the township from spot zoning or changing the zoning rules for one particular property which Sych says undermines the purpose of a master plan. When you make a considerable deviation of the master plan, it weakens the plan itself, he says. So if we wanted to do something, we should evaluate the master plan.

The Mosser project is the second apartment complex in two months to be proposed for the area surrounding the Miller Creek Nature Reserve. The first, which planning commissioners conceptually reviewed in October, is a proposed 60-unit complex on vacant land behind the Baymont Inn between Hartman and South Airport roads. Sych says that project has attractive potential, being located near commercial properties and offering possible sidewalk and trail connections to the Mall Trail along US-31 and to Miller Creek Nature Reserve. That one, the location looks very well from our standpoint, says Sych. Its a nice fit. Developers M Brothers Northern LLC have not yet returned with a formal application following the October conceptual review, though Sych notes that planning commissioners raised questions about wetland impacts and sewer and water connections at that meeting that may take developers time to address in project plans.

Bed & BreakfastA couple with an organic working farm on Hainey Lane near the northeast corner of Cedar Run and Gray roads hope to open a small bed-and-breakfast on the site.

Matthew and Rebecca Ligon are seeking township approval of a special use permit (SUP) to turn a former mother-in-law suite into overnight guest accommodations on their property, called Blended Roots Farm. The couple bought the site in 2014 and started developing an organic farm on the property the following year, producing maple syrup and growing vegetable gardens, sunflower patches, and U-pick flower beds open to the public.

In their application documents, the Ligons say they hope to create walking paths through their expanding sunflower fields with signage and turn the farm into an educational community experience showing and teaching people how to grow, raise, and produce food for the community and their families. The bed-and-breakfast would not only help the farm reach its long-term goals of educating and possibly inspiring visitors from all walks of life, but provide a quiet, peaceful getaway for those looking to enjoy our way of life, the couple wrote. This would also showcase Garfield Township for our commitment to putting community and farming first.

Bed-and-breakfast establishments are permitted on agricultural land in Garfield Township with a SUP. Staff indicated the Ligons proposed project appears to meet SUP requirements, including being on owner-occupied property, having no more than eight guests at any time, having adequate on-site parking, not renting out any snowmobiles/all-terrain vehicles/other recreational equipment, and being at least 1,000 feet away from the next closest bed-and-breakfast. If planning commissioners find the application acceptable tonight, they will vote to set a public hearing for January 13, at which time they could approve the bed-and-breakfasts SUP.

Fox RunFinally, planning commissioners will consider offering a construction extension to Eastwood Custom Homes tonight for the development groups planned 84-unit apartment complex called Fox Run on the east side of Garfield Road between South Airport and Hammond roads. The complex is planned to include 84 two-bedroom apartments on approximately 4.3 acres of land, with amenities including a walking trail, dog park, and three playgrounds. The project was approved as a planned unit residential development (PURD) by planning commissioners in early spring 2019, giving developers two years from that date to begin construction and make meaningful progress toward completion. Developers can seek a one-year extension of that deadline if they can provide evidence they will be able to start construction and make meaningful progress before the third year is up.

According to Eastwood Custom Homes President William Clous, the pandemic and loss of labor caused by COVID-19 forced construction to be delayed this year. He is requesting a one-year extension of his PURD through April 2022, noting in a memo to the township that he intends to break ground in May 2021 and work towards completion in the following months. Township staff are supportive of the extension, agreeing in a memo to the board that the ongoing pandemic has certainly been identified as causing many disruptions across all industries and is certainly a factor beyond the control of the applicant.

Pictured: Garfield Township Hall

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Garfield Township To Discuss Proposed Apartment Complex, Bed & Breakfast - Traverse City Ticker

Need a last-minute gift for the architecture enthusiast in your life? Does that person also enjoy butt plugs?

If so, look no further. The New York-based interior architecture and exhibition design firm Wolfgang + Hite has turned New York Citys skyscraper-studded $25 billion mega-development Hudson Yards into a seven-piece sex toy set. Its phallic-shaped buildings of mostly high-end office space and some residential have been transformed into silicone dildos. The trophy developments centerpiece, the stairs-to-nowhere architectural sculpture the Vessel, has been rendered into a hot pink butt plug, available for $75.

[Photos: Wolfgang + Hite]The full set of sex toys replicate the entire built space of Hudson Yards, with individual dildos modeled on each of the projects six towers, which were designed by architects including Skidmore Owings and Merrill, Foster and Partners, and Diller Scofidio and Renfro. Made to order, the full sets take a few weeks to manufacture, so wouldnt be available in time for this years holiday season. The butt plugs and the dildo version of the tower at 15 Hudson Yards, though, are available now.

Originally produced last fall, the architectural sex toys were designed to be used. Of course they work, says Shan Raoufi, cofounder of Wolfgang + Hite. Manhattans finest new jewel is really good at finding the sweet spot.

We have gotten good reviews, actually, adds Greta Hansen, the firms other cofounder. She notes that the toys are geared toward certain sexual proclivities, because some of those structures are huge.

[Photo: Wolfgang + Hite]The sex toys are what Hansen calls a soft critique of Hudson Yards as a transformative force in this part of Manhattan, and a reaction to the $6 billion of public funding that was used to develop the projectfinancing partly secured by gerrymandering the citys map to connect the projects site to Harlem and qualifying as providing jobs to the economically distressed neighborhood.

[Photo: Wolfgang + Hite]We were pretty upset to learn how much public money went into the largest private development in the history of the United States, says Raoufi. Real estate at this level is part of an asset class that is just traded and invested. We just dont think this much public money should be going to someones portfolio.

[Photo: Wolfgang + Hite]During the coronavirus pandemic, this level of public funding is even more upsetting, Hansen says, as the offices are largely emptied and the commercial areas drained of activity. I think it puts this kind of city investment into even starker light, she says. The city and the state now are having huge budget deficits because weve been hit so hard by the pandemic. It kind of makes you wonder whether they might look back and question the prudence of their investment in Hudson Yards.

[Photo: Wolfgang + Hite]Such reflection may not be likely. Shortly after they first created the sex toys last year, Raoufi and Hansen had one of the full sets sent to Stephen Ross, chairman of the Related Companies, which developed Hudson Yards. Through a friend, they sent a follow-up email to one of Rosss assistants to see what he thought. There was no response.

But Hansen and Raoufi have gotten some feedback from one of the architects involved in Hudson Yards. She wrote us and asked us for instructions on how specifically she could use her building, Hansen says. We need to send her a Christmas gift.

The rest is here:
Wolfgang + Hite sex toys are the ultimate gift for architects - Fast Company

in response to an international call to redevelop thessalonikis waterfront, OF. STUDIO has teamed up with degree zero architects to create OCULIS. launched by ALUMIL, the competition called for innovative ideas regarding the redevelopment of the greek citys western coastal side and the creation of a new central business district. the criteria set by UIA sought high energy efficiency and sustainability to redefine thessalonikis position on the international map while welcoming citizens and entrepreneurs alike.

aerial view of OCULIS

image by cosmoscube

the proposal is composed of ten striking towers to highlight the new central business district at the entrance of the city. a podium, designed at the lower levels as a fluid, multi-program zone, sparks the revitalization of the site area, the adjacent city quarters, and the city waterfront. through a sequence of public plazas, the proposal opens up and connects to the city at the northern boundary while creating a public path through the project site.

the podiums create a base for the tube-shaped towers

image by cosmoscube

a green buffer zone of natural beauty forms the southern edge towards the commercial port. in order to connect the development to the water without interrupting the operations of the port, the water bays are extended to reach the site. at the same time, to create a buffer zone between the port, the design explores the creation of a green zone of coastal afforestation.

the podiums contain a sequence of covered, semi-covered and open spaces

image by cosmoscube

the towers follow a modular concept. the design emerges from a basic tube-shape geometry that transforms to respond to different programmatic uses. this maintains formal coherence throughout the design proposal while at the same time promotes mutation and variation, integrating the particularities of each tower according to functional requirements.

the towers propose a striking skyline for the new central business district of thessaloniki

the podium represents the expansion of the city fabric into the site. it consists of a sequence of covered, semi-covered and open spaces, corresponding to the mediterranean climate, rituals, and lifestyle. multiple free-shaped spaces interconnect or detach to allow ventilation and sun penetration while the roofs overhang to provide shade. green roofs and ramping surfaces create a fluid and continuous landscape allowing routes for pedestrians and cyclists to circulate throughout the development. the podiums create a base for the towers, lifting their geometries above it and providing protected access to their circulation cores at ground level.

layout at +82m and ground level: a fluid landscape runs throughout the development, connecting the various programs of the towers

a wide range of programs is proposed alongside two additional functions education and cultural spaces to further enrich the civil fabric

the modular concept behind the towers

the transparency or opaqueness of the faade systems change according to the use of each building

project info:

project name: OCULIS

competition: ArXellence 2 by ALUMIL

location: thessaloniki, greece

design: OF. STUDIO and degree zero architects

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readershere.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom

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OF. STUDIO + degree zero architects propose 10 tube-shaped towers for thessaloniki's waterfront - Designboom

Similarly, Part 10 of the manual titled, Employment, Instructions and Control of Convicts, as also mentioned in the rules under section 59 (12) of the Prisons Act, states:

Sweepers shall be chosen from among those who, by the custom of the district in which they reside or on account of their having adopted the profession, perform sweepers work, when free. Anyone else may also volunteer to do this work, in no case, however shall a person, who is not a professional sweeper, be compelled to do the work.

The rule, however, remains silent over the issue of consent for those from the sweeper community.

These rules are drafted essentially keeping the larger male population in mind and get replicated in womens prisons too, in states where women-specific rules have not been formulated. In the absence of a woman prisoner from the appropriate caste groups, the Rajasthan prison manual says, two or three specially selected male convictMehtarsmay be taken into the enclosure by a paid worker under the condition Mehtar is a caste name, denoting those engaged in manual scavenging as a caste occupation.

On medical workers, the manual says, Two or more long- term prisoners of good caste should be trained and employed as hospital attendants.

Across states, prison manuals and rules stipulate the labour that needs to be carried out on a daily basis. The division of labour is roughly determined on the dichotomous purity-impurityscale, with the higher castes handling only work that is considered pure and those lower in the caste grid being left to carry out the impure jobs.

Consider the case of Bihar. The section titled Preparation of foodopens with this line: Of equal importance is the quality, proper preparation, and cooking of the food and its issue in full quantity. Further, detailing the measurements and cooking techniques in jail, the manual states: Any A class Brahmin or sufficiently high caste Hindu prisoner is eligible for appointment as a cook. The manual further specifies, Any prisoner in a jail who is so high caste that he cannot eat food cooked by the existing cooks shall be appointed a cook and made to cook for the whole complement of men. Individual convicted prisoners shall in no circumstances be allowed to cook for themselves, unless they are specific division prisoners permitted to do so under rule.

Not just on paper

These are not mere words printed in an official book and forgotten. The caste practice ubiquitous in the Indian subcontinent manifests in more ways than one. Several prisoners who were approached shared their experiences of being segregated and pushed into doing menial jobs purely on the basis of the caste they were born into. While Brahmins and other high caste prisoners considered their exemption to bea matter of pride and privilege, the rest had only the caste system to blame for their condition.

The jail tells you your rightaukaad(status), says Pintu, a former prisoner, who spent close to a decade at Jubba Sahni Bhagalpur Central Jail and a few months at the Motihari Central Jail. Pintu belongs to a naior barber community, and throughout his stint in prison, he served as one.

The Bihar prison manual too formalises caste hierarchies in labour. For instance, it says for those assigned sweeping work: Sweepers shall be chosen from the Mehtar or Hari caste, also from the Chandal or other low castes, if by the custom of the district they perform similar work when free, or from the caste if the prisoner volunteers to do the work. All three castes fall under the Scheduled Castes category.

From time to time, prison manuals have gone through a few tweaks. Sometimes this was triggered by public outcry or the Supreme Court or a high courts intervention; sometimes the states themselves felt the need for it. In most states, though, the issue of caste-based labour practices has been overlooked.

In some states, for instance Uttar Pradesh, religious scruples and caste prejudices are considered important for reformative influences. A separate chapter focusing on reformative influences in prison says, Reasonable respect shall be paid to religious scruples and caste prejudices of the prisoners in all matters as far as it is compatible with discipline. The prison administration holds sole discretionary power over the extent of the reasonability and compatibility of these prejudices. The reasonability, though, has only meant furthering blatant caste prejudices while assigning work and exempting some from harsh labour both in male and female prisons.

The Madhya Pradesh Jail Manual, which was amended only a few years ago, continues with the caste-based assignment in conservancy work the official term used for manual scavenging. The chapter titled Mal Vahan or conservancy states that a Mehtar prisoner would be responsible for handling human excreta in the toilets.

Identical practices find mention in the Haryana and Punjab state prison manuals and rules too. Selection of sweepers, barbers, cooks, hospital staff among others are all pre-decided as per ones caste identity. If any prison faces scarcity of prisoners of a certain caste to carry out the requisite labour, prisoners are to be brought in from nearby prisons. However, no exceptions or changes in rules are mentioned in the manual.

When Sabika Abbas, a programme officer working with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), a non-governmental organisation working on prisoners rights, recently visited prisons of Punjab and Haryana, she said the blatancy of the practice shocked her. Male and female prisoners alike shared their experiences of caste and caste-based labour work assigned to them. Some were compelled to carry out the work due to poverty and lack of financial support from their families. But these prisoners too were primarily from the backward caste groups, says Abbas.

Her research, commissioned by the Legal Services Authorities of Haryana and Punjab, covers a plethora of issues plaguing the prison system. Abbas observes that even though pre-trial detainees are exempted from carrying out labour in prison, the prevailing system compels them to work. In most prisons in both states, we observed that the posts for sweepers and cleaners were lying empty for years. It was understood that those menial jobs will be carried out by prisoners belonging to lower caste groups, she observes. Unlike other state prisons thatare still following the colonial prison rules, Abbas points to the amendments in the Punjab manual. Punjab is relatively newer. It was last updated in 1996 but still did not do away with the caste-based provisions, she adds.

West Bengal, perhaps the only state that makes special provisions for prisoners arrested in connection with political or democratic movements, continues to be just as regressive and unconstitutional as others when it comes to assigning labour according to caste. Similar to Uttar Pradesh, the West Bengal prison manual follows non- interference with religious practices or caste prejudices. Certain specific preferences are accommodated in the manual a Brahmin wearing sacred thread or a Muslim desiring a certain length of trousers. But with that, the manual also states: Food shall be cooked and carried to the cells by prisoner-cooks of suitable caste, under the superintendence of a jail officer. Likewise, Sweepers should be chosen from the Mether or Hari caste, also from the Chandal or other castes, if by the custom of the district they perform similar work when free, or from any caste if the prisoner volunteers to do the work.

These practices have remained in the prison rule book but have gone unchallenged. Dr. Riazuddin Ahmed, a former Inspector General of Prisons in Andhra Pradesh and former director of the government-run Academy of Prisons and Correctional Administration in Vellore, says the issue of caste has never been deliberated upon while making policy decisions. In my career spanning over 34 years, the issue has never come up for discussion, he says. Ahmed feels that clauses mentioned in the manual are mostly a reflection of the states attitude towards those incarcerated. Prison officials, after all, are a product of the same caste-ridden society that exists outside. Regardless of what the manual states, it is entirely up to the prison staff to ensure dignity and equality of prisoners, Ahmed feels.

Disha Wadekar, a Delhi-based lawyer and a vocal critic of the Indian caste system, compares prison laws with the regressive laws of Manu. A mythical figure, Manu is believed to be the author of theManusmriti,which had sanctioned the degradation of humanity on the basis of caste and gender in ancient times.

The prison system simply replicates Manusdandniti(laws). The prison system has failed to work on the normative penal system that is built on the tenets of equality before the law and protection of law. On the contrary, it follows Manus law that is founded on the principles of injustice a system that believed that certain lives are to be punished more than others and that some lives have more value than others. The states have stuck to the ascribed caste-based understanding of justiceand decide on punishment and labour as per an individuals standing in the caste grid, explains Wadekar.

Indian states, barring West Bengal, have borrowed from the Prisons Act, 1894. Not just borrowed but also remained stuck there, Ahmed adds. In 2016, the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) came up with an elaboratemodel prison manual. The model prison manual is aligned with international standards such as the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners (UN Bangkok Rules) and the UN Minimum Standards for Treatment of Prisoners (the Mandela Rules). Both call for the repeal of practices that discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or any other status. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, propounded by the United Nations in 1977, to which India is a party, has clearly stated that: No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.

No desire for change?

Since prison is a state subject, it is entirely on the states to implement these changes suggested in the model prison manual. Acknowledging the problems in the existing prison manual of different states, the model prison manual states, Management of kitchen or cooking of food on caste or religious basis will be totally banned in prisons. Similarly, the model manual also bars any kind of special treatment to a prisoner on the basis of her caste or religion. In fact, the model prison manual lists agitating or acting on the basis of caste or religious as a punishable offence. But implementation of the model prison manual leaves much to be desired.

It is not as if state prison departments have not struck down inhumane and unconstitutional practices from the books. Goa did, so did Delhi, Maharashtra and Odisha. They specifically stated that caste wont have any relevance in running prisons. Over the years, several inhuman practices like using fetters and whipping as a mode of punishment were done away with, so were caste-based occupations in some state prisons.

But did that weed out the caste practice entirely? No, says Lalita*, a former prisoner. Between 2010 and 2017, Lalita faced multiple cases in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra. While most of her incarceration period was spent in Byculla womens prison, she was also taken to other prisons from time to time. The travel and interactions with other prisoners and prison officials gave her the opportunity to understand the carceral system in all its complexities.

Unlike the male prisoners, women are fewer in number and so are the provisions made available to them. Lalita was a fierce fighter in jail, demanding basic rights and dignity for herself and her co-prisoners. So, when women prisoners revolted against the prison authorities, demanding better food quality and more frequent supply of poultry and meat, Lalita was at the forefront.

Prison rules are plenty and prisons authorities quote them each time to prevent any intervention by prisoners and their legal representatives. But these official documents are seldom accessible to common people, let alone an incarcerated individual. Nothing is more dangerous than an informed prisoner asserting her rights, says Lalita.

Ahmed agrees with Lalita. And to explain the unavailability of the updated manual, Beluah Emmanuel, professor and a senior faculty at the Academy of Prisons and Correctional Administration in Vellore, says that on average, it takes at least 15 years for changes in the manual to reflect. Each time states introduce any change to the manual, it is merely noted at the official level. The revision to the prison manual reflects only when it is reprinted once in 15 years. Finding all amendments at one place is practically impossible, adds Emmanuel. The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), which has been working on prisoners rights for several decades, has been unsuccessfully trying to access updated prison manuals for a long time. Only about 10 states have prison rules/manual on the state prison websites. It is extremely difficult to access updated rules of other states. In our experience, access to prison manuals is a challenge for prisoners as well. Ideally, all prison libraries must have a copy of the prison rules, says Sugandha Shankar, a senior programme officer at CHRI.

A sadhvi in the mix

In Maharashtra, Lalita says, unwritten caste practice is rampant. Her stay in Byculla prison coincided with that of Pragya Singh Thakur, a prime accused in a bomb blast case of 2008 in Malegaon, a town in northern Maharashtra. Thakur, on her release in 2017, was inducted into the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and later in 2019, became an elected member of parliament from her hometown, Bhopal.

At the time of her arrest, she was merely a self-appointed seer. That, however, did not stop her from growing her clout in prison, nor did it prevent her from influencing prison officials. Thakur was lodged in one of the three separate cells, which doubles up as both a VIP cell for the rich and influential seeking privacy, or in the case of erring prisoners, a torture or a solitary cell.

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From Segregation to Labour, Manu's Caste Law Governs the Indian Prison System - Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting