12-12-12

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The Mayan Calendar says the world will end 12-21-12

I’m guessing the numerologists are having a field day with 12-12-12.  I read where it’s a great day for weddings in Las Vegas.  How could you forget your wedding date if it was 12-12-12?  But then if you’re into those kind of things, you probably also aren’t worried about remembering anniversaries since the Mayan Calender says we’re toast in another 9 days…  Oooooo… more 1’s and 2’s…For those of you thinking that we have a little more time on this planet, you might want to participate in the Marshall County Community Foundation‘s 12-12-12 event today.  Any contribution of $120 or more to one of the foundation’s permanent funds will receive a match of 12%.

The community foundation has just completed a nearly year long evaluation of financial advisers and has chosen to make a change.  I think this is a positive move.  As the community foundation moves forward, the returns and reporting should improve.  Now is a good time to give!

I often feel like the community foundation misses an opportunity in not marketing the tax benefits as well.  The Marshall County Community Foundation is a 501c(3) so donations to the community foundation and the underlying funds are tax deductible.  A donation of $100 may actually only cost you $75 in after tax dollars!  (Depending on your tax status.)  Nothing like a 25% return!

Check out the event below if you’re interested.  There will be food and fun throughout the day from noon to midnight!

Happy Indiana Day!

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Image borrowed from zazzle.comIn 1925, the Indiana General Assembly provided for the designation of December 11 as Indiana Day. By law (Indiana Code 1-1-10) “The governor shall issue a proclamation annually designating the eleventh day of December as Indiana Day” and citizens are urged to celebrate “in appropriate and patriotic observance of the anniversary of the admission of the state of Indiana into the Union.”  Reference here.

Energy Saving ROI’s

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Nest Thermostat
$249 at Amazon

A couple of weeks ago I discussed the Nest Thermostat.  (See that article here.)  One of the questions I have when I see something like this is whether there is return on investment (ROI) or in the case of green technology, is it Green That Saves Green?

According to Remodeling Magazine a programmable thermostat has a payoff in 1-10 years depending on the thermostat installed and the situation in which it will be used.  I’ve included some bare bones excerpts here, but for the complete article, check out page 40 in the November 2012 issue of Remodeling Magazine here.

Programmable Thermostat – Materials: $50-$350, Labor: 1-3 hrs, Estimated ROI: <1yr – 10yr

Low Flow Faucets & Fixtures – Materials: $1-$500+, Labor: 15 min – 4 hrs, Estimated ROI: <1yr – 5yr

Tankless Water Heater – Materials: $1,500-$3.500, Labor: 4-8 hr, Estimated ROI: 5yr – 15yr

Air Sealing – Materials: $50-$6,000, Labor: 4-40 hrs, Estimated ROI: <1yr – 8yr

Insulation – Materials: $200-$10,000, Labor: 4-100 hrs, Estmated ROI: 5yr – 15yr

On Demand Circulation Pump – Materials: $50-$150, Labor: 4-6hrs, Estimated ROI: 1yr – 2yr+

* The labor estimates above do not include travel time.

HepCats at Sand Hill Farm?

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A recent post on the SRA Blog talked about the new HepCat Loft Development in Warsaw, Indiana.  It’s an interesting concept and one I might consider including in our Sand Hill Farm Development when it moves forward.  There is not much in the way of what I would call “loft space” developed as such in Culver.  Most of the spaces above the downtown buildings have been developed as more traditional apartments such as what Susie Mahler has created above Cafe Max.  (Listing with pictures here.)  Jan Nanini’s building at 110 North Main Street took the old Masonic Lodge on the second floor and subdivided it into apartments as well.  (You’ll need to go to Jeff Kenney for better history of that building.  He tells us it’s haunted here.)  Others, such as the space above Fisher & Co. have been left undeveloped and have been relegated to storage.

Loft image borrowed from americanlisted.comWhen I think of “Loft Space” I think of open concept and high ceilings, generally having exposed trusses and often having spiral duct HVAC systems.  (I love Google Image search, but it’s frustrating when I look through so many pictures and don’t find exactly what I want.  This time I came pretty darn close!)  It is very much the look Larry Surrisi went for in the original design of The Edgwater Grille (now The Lakehouse Grille) in Culver.  There are more of these spaces in Plymouth.  We worked on a loft space at the site of the old Moose Lodge and George Schricker has developed some loft apartments above the former Vine Restaurant as well.

Image borrowed from SRA blog siteThis is very much what RW Kidd Construction has gone for in their concept design; the difference being that instead of rehabbing existing abandoned second floors of buildings, they have used “Loft Space” as a style for their new construction.  It is somewhat of a minimalist style that should lend itself to some cost savings.  It looks like RW Kidd had outfitted them at a fairly high level though to go along with the HepCat theme, which has reintroduced costs.

I like the flat roof patios.  I’m picturing them along the east property line of the Sand Hill Farm Development where they would look out over the baseball diamonds.  It could be an interesting concept there.  I also like the multifamily format.  I think some  limited mix of this type of building could fit well in my mixed use scheme.  As mentioned above, it would be something different for Culver.  I also wonder if it could be modified to work with a more traditional loft theme where there could be some home-based retail on the first floor, possibly moving the garage entrance to the back off of an alley.  There’s potential here!

I’m in Warsaw enough that I will need to swing by and see them in person.  There are quite a few pictures at the HepCat Loft Development site listed above, so check them out if you’re interested.  Let me know what you think.  Is this something that could work in Culver?