Pocket Neighborhoods
I had written a blog post a couple of years ago about Pocket Towns. Recently Brent Martin of SRKM Architects sent me a link discussing Pocket Neighborhoods by a different architectural firm with a similar concept. Brent alluded to this as a possible Affordable Housing solution for Culver. As with my previous blog post, I can see this having potential in Culver and for Sand Hill Farm. Currently there is a similar concept, though not an attempt at Affordable Housing, winding its way through a PUD approval at the Culver Plan Commission. It is a development under consideration on the north side of town that I’m watching with interest. The PUD framework would allow for the necessary zoning adaptations, but does require a commercial element. I think the PUD under current consideration is stretching that concept, but technically meets it. I think it can be done more effectively though.
I continue to think the pocket neighborhood idea is intriguing and while I do not see this working for a large development, I do see how it can be a part of a larger development and could be adapted to an Affordable Housing model. Below is a sketch from the Pocket Neighborhood website that shows the concept. Very interesting.
Picture sources: Pocket Neighborhoods
Living in a Box!
Shipping Container Home
As the song goes, “I’m Living in a Box”. Maybe this is an answer to Culver’s Affordable Housing Crisis? I ran across this on the Viralands site. I’ve seen several different versions of Shipping Container Construction, many of them designed as affordable housing, including some that are multi-story which I showed here before. I think this is one of the more attractive ones though. There are more pictures at the site here.
Currently this would not fly under Culver’s Zoning Ordinance without a variance since the square footage would be too small. It would probably also spark a spirited discussion with the County Building Inspector since it wouldn’t fit neatly into current building codes. It is an interesting concept though and at the stated $2,000 for a used shipping container, it would be hard to beat that price for the shell of your new home. This would have to be some of the ultimate recycling as well, so it’s definitely green!
Picture Source: Viralands
MCEDC Graphics
Brent Martin of SRKM Architects shared a graphic he came up with for Marshall County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC). I included it to the right. Per Brent, “After reading an article where I learned our congressional district is #2 in the nation in percentage of employment in industry – and IN #3 is number one – I came up with this little graphic…” He put the dot in the “i” in Indiana over Marshall County for emphasis. Pretty neat. Also interesting to read the ranking information that he found.
That information ties in well with the graphic MCEDC uses regularly which shows a population of nearly 31 million people within 200 miles of Marshall County. No wonder Industry congregates in our area! Visit MCEDC’s site to find out more about Marshall County and our potential.
Unhappy Model
We’re quoting a project in a facility that has food quality protection rules. We will have to wear hair and beard nets in the facility. I had Julie look up some costs and one of the websites she found used this guy as a model! Couldn’t they find someone that didn’t look like a disgruntled worker? I don’t want this guy handling my food! I’m guessing if you panned down, he’s not wearing a “I Heart My Job!” shirt… Geez!
Vintage Hardware Follow-up
A follow-up on our previous tips regarding Vintage Hardware. Another consideration when you are deciding on using vintage lighting is our government’s decision regarding the forced retirement of incandescent lighting… The quality of the light and the aesthetics of the fixture may be changed radically if you’re forced to replace the decorative incandescent bulbs with curly-cue CFL’s. This isn’t such a big deal with shaded fixtures, but open sconces or chandeliers will look and function differently. Even with shaded fixtures, make sure you examine the shade connection. In some old fixtures the shade attached directly to the bulb.
Both CFLs and LEDs are available in candelabra styles, but effects and aesthetics vary.
Picture Source: nolico.com
