Affordable Housing

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On Saturday, I sat in on another focus group meeting on the Culver Comprehensive Plan.  This one was specific to the Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Council and Fund.  It was a fairly good discussion and several achievable goals were added to the consultant’s list for the plan.  I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t more discussion about why goals from the previous plan weren’t met and how to achieve that, but overall I thought it was positive.

The Dream of “Affordable Housing”

As with every single Culver meeting on the Comprehensive Plan that I’ve attended, the subject of affordable housing came up.  This is such a nebulous term that is thrown around with people at the table talking about houses currently available in town for $70,000, others talking about the $125,000 to $250,000 range and also the eco-friendly housing project that has been floated around which is looking at the $250,000 range.  To help me get a handle on it, I asked a banker friend to break it down.  (This is all in big fat round numbers, so don’t get too picky on my math, please!)

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Comp Plan Mapping Tool

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My map
Kevin’s map

If you haven’t done so yet, check out the mapping tool at the Culver Comprehensive Plan site here.  The one I did (see right)  looks like it’s pretty diseased!  Others have done them and only put one or two things on there that were of most importance to them.

Each dot and symbol on the map to the right has a different meaning and text associated with it.  If you go to the site, you can look at any of the maps that have been created by others and read the comments they have made.  Make your own map.  If all you do is reiterate what someone else has said, you will add weight to that issue.  If you have specific goals or comments, this is the place to get them heard.  Developing a new Comprehensive Plan is a team sport.  Get on the team!

Donated Roofing

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Culver LIttle League Dugout with "Easterday Green" Metal Roof
Culver LIttle League Dugout with “Easterday Green” Metal Roof

If you haven’t noticed, the Culver Little League has new dugouts.  Last week we donated some Butler Manufacturing Company VSR roof panels for the project.  This is a commercial standing seam roof panel, though the volunteers basically installed it as a simple screw down.  It still looks pretty good and it’s Easterday Green!  Ha!  The panels have a 70% Kynar finish so they should give them years of service.  We were pleased to be able to donate this material to the little league.  We have been supporters for decades.

RAGBRAI ’13

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This week Becky is off on her 11th fit of insanity, riding in RAGBRAI, the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa.  This is the 40th year for RAGBRAI and there are 10,000 registered riders (not counting day-riders and pirate riders) doing this as well.  This year’s ride is short… Only 405 miles!  It is usually closer to 500 hundred.  On Tuesday there was an additional 24 mile loop which made that day over 109 miles for Becky.  (They add a loop one day each year making that day a “Century Day” with at least 1oo miles of riding.)  Becky did the extra loop but struggled on that one.  It was 98 and windy.  She also tells me that Iowa is much hillier than people think!

Becky has developed a following on this that I keep updated daily with emails.  If you’re not on that list and want to be, let me know.

Mary Ellen Rudisel Jordan

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Mary Ellen Rudisel Jordan
Architect Mary Ellen Rudisel Jordan

I lost a good friend last week.  Mary Ellen was in a fatal car crash Thursday evening heading home from a client meeting in Wabash.    She was an Architect that I worked with for the past two decades on projects too numerous to count.  Some of them large, some of them small, some of them award winning, some of them mundane.  She often referred clients to me with no expectations other than that I would treat them well.  I often returned that favor, referring clients to her.  I never hesitated to do so, knowing that she would do all in her power to meet their needs and respect their wishes.  She had no ego and was excellent at listening.  Her ability to do thumbnail sketches on the fly with clients would often lead to the client being able to realize their vision in a way they couldn’t without her help.  When I had roughed out a design for a client, I sometimes would send it to Mary Ellen and she would make some minor change that would make things “pop”.  She did this just as a favor as with the proposed fireman’s memorial here.  Her input was always appreciated.

Sketch by Mary Ellen of the proposed Woodcraft Camp Museum
Sketch by Mary Ellen of the proposed Woodcraft Camp Museum

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