projects

A Big Week for Culver Garden Court

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Real Estate Management Flyer describing Culver Garden Court Amenities

The week of 8/16/10 was a big week for the planned Culver Garden Court project.  On Tuesday, August 17th, I presented the Minor Subdivision plan for the Wade & Claudia McGee Subdivision to the Culver Plan Commission for approval.  Culver allows Minor Subdivisions  of property consisting of three or less parcels to be completed with a single presentation.  This presentation went smoothly and was accepted by unanimous vote.  All members of the Plan Commission seemed pleased that the project was moving forward.

On Thursday, August 19th, Brent Martin, Project Architect, and I presented the Special Use Permit request to to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).  The BZA had a full schedule and we were fifth of five on the agenda.  Brent had the opportunity, whether he wanted it or not, to observe the Culver BZA in action on several things before we presented. 

The Special Use Permit covered several items:  1)  We applied for the Culver Garden Court project as Apartments which are allowed, but require a Special Use Permit under the existing S-1, Suburban Residential, Zoning District.  2)  The 535 sf units are smaller than is generally allowed under Culver’s multi-family housing requirements.  Since this is a HUD project and the 535 sf size is a HUD maximum square footage under 202 projects, the BZA agreed to this change and allowed the project to move forward.  3)  Culver’s parking space standards require 2 spaces per unit.  We were granted a change from the required 26 spaces to 16 spaces.  This has proven to be an adequate ratio on previous Garden Court projects.

Culver’s Board of Zoning Appeals is operating with one vacant seat.  Fortunately this wasn’t an issue and the Special Use Permit was granted unanimously, 4-0.

Dr. Ronald Liechty and Brent Martin presenting highlights of the Culver Garden Court Plan

On Friday, August 20th, there was a press conference at the Culver Union Township Public Library officially announcing the planned Culver Garden Court.  Dr. Ronald Liechty, President of Garden Court, Inc., gave a speech congratulating all involved.  Congressman Joe Donnelly spoke as well, giving accolades to Garden Court, Inc. and his assurances that he did all he could to make this project possible and that he knew that it would be a positive addition to the Culver Community.

Congressman Joe Donnelly speaking at the Culver Garden Court press conference

There was a fair turnout for the event.  Culver Town Council board members Ed Pinder, Lynn Overmyer and Ralph Winters all attended.  Greg Fassett was there representing both Miller’s Merry Manor and also wearing his hat as Culver Chamber of Commerce President.  Representatives from the Garden Court, Inc. Board were there as well as several representatives from Real Estate Management Corp.  Jeff Kenney, Editor of the Culver Citizen, was there reporting for the Culver Citizen/Pilot News.  We ended up with a front page picture and article in the Pilot News, but it didn’t make the website, so I can’t provide a link.  There were citizens there as well and Dr. Liechty fielded several questions from the audience regarding this project specifically and Garden Court in general.

We are currently waiting on plans from B.A. Martin Archtects, P.C. in order to begin pricing.  We hope to have things together for a closing on this project prior to September 30, 2010 which is HUD’s year end.  Unfortunately, we are also waiting on release of the 501(c)3 designation for this project.  We cannot close without that.  Despite all the talk about efforts to expedite projects, Washington still moves slowly on most of these things…  We will be breaking ground on this project as soon as we can get the release.

Century Weekend

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Boy Scout Headquarters at the Culver Woodcraft CampThis weekend there were a couple of Century Celebrations in our community.  Saturday afternoon was the dedication of the Boy Scout Headquarters at the Culver Academies Woodcraft Camp.  Easterday Construction Co., Inc. was pleased to have the opportunity to build this new structure.

The Headquarters is a slightly smaller version of the camp’s existing cabins.  It is cedar post and beam construction with a shingle roof.  The building foundation consists of concrete piers.  The original cabin design was such that the units could be moved to new locations as necessary.  The project was completed on a tight budget and with an aggressive schedule.  Initial discussions about building the cabin began in mid May followed by design, permitting and construction which were completed on Wednesday of last week, July 21, 2010.  There are previous entries showing some of the construction and background information here and here.

 

The ceremony at Culver Academies coincided with a Jamboree being held in Washington, D.C. celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.  I learned this weekend that Scouting was started by Lord Baden-Powell, a Lieutenant in the British Army, upon his return from the Boer War in 1908.  The Boy Scouts of America was formed by W. D. Boyce in 1910 and that is the anniversary that was celebrated this past weekend.  Culver Academies’ legend is that the actual birthplace of the Boy Scouts of America was at the then Culver Military Academy in 1910.

Nearly 100 people attended the ceremony.  Julius W. Hegeler II was presented a plaque thanking him for his donation through his charitable arm, the Julius W. Hegeler II Foundation, which made the facility possible.  Several representatives of Culver Academies as well as local and regional representatives of the Boy Scouts of America spoke.

Also celebrating 1oo years this weekend was the First National Bank of Monterey(FNBM).  It took $25,000 in 1910 to establish a National Bank.  From those small beginnings in 1910, FNBM has grown to a 280 million dollarbank serving Monterey and the surrounding area through branches in Winamac, Culver and North Judson.  Several hundred people helped celebrate at an Open House held at the Monterey School on Sunday afternoon.

Joe DeHaven, President and CEO of the Indiana Bankers Association, was guest speaker and awarded the Board of Directors of FNBM a plaque commemorating the occasion.  Bank President Claiborn (Clip) Wamsley spoke relating some of his personal experiences from his 60 years with the bank.

Kelly Field spoke relating some of the bank’s history.  Notable highlights included FNBM’s move to insure deposits long before the FDIC was created, FNBM’s issuance of their own currency and FNBM’s collaboration with 5 other small banks to change State Law in 1981 to allow a bank branch to be established in a town where another bank already exists.

 

Easterday Construction Co., Inc. has had a long history of affiliation with the First National Bank of Monterey.  We have expanded the Monterey facility several times including most recently in 2009.  We remodeled and expanded the Winamac facility, built the Culver facility and have completed several projects at the North Judson facility.  Larry Berger, past president of Easterday Construction, has served on the Bank’s board of directors for more than a decade.

 

$10 bill issued by The First National Bank of Monterey signed by Charles B. Kietzer, Cashier and V.E. Follmar, President issued 1929

Remnant Trust Update

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Demolition underway on the interior.

We are moving ahead with work at The Remnant Trust project in Winona Lake.  Demolition is nearly complete and we have begun framing walls.  An existing stage, an existing fireplace mock-up and miscellaneous display walls had to be removed.  Most of the existing interior was finished in tongue & groove car siding.  Let’s just say the original installer believed that if a whole lot of nails were good, even more would be better.

The Remnant Trust Building. Picture from Scearce Rudisel Architects Website.

Because of the type of protection for artifacts required here, special effort is being made for security as well as for Fire Protection and HVAC controls.  The existing building previously housed the Billy Sunday Museum.  The previous use has presented some challenges, but fortunately the original building construction was recent and most of the construction and existing systems are in good shape.

There have been a few changes as we’ve gotten into the project, but as always, the plans prepared by Scearce Rudisel Architects have provided the necessary guidance.  Mary Ellen Rudisel Jordan is always a pragmatic Architect and she works well with us.  We both maintain the goal of achieving the best possible project for our mutual client.

EPA Certified Renovator

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Tuesday I attended (and passed! perfect score!) an 8 hour class at the St. Joseph County Health Department taught under the auspices of Environmental Management Institute to become an EPA Certified Renovator.  Believe it or not, I will be sent a new photo ID attesting to my knowledge in this area.  This is a new requirement the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put into effect for contractors working on renovation and repair projects on Target Housing or A Child Occupied Facilities where lead paint may be present.

From the Lead Safety for Renovation, Repair and Painting Student Manual:

Target Housing is a home or residential unit built on or before December 31, 1977, except:

  • Housing designated for the elderly or persons with disabilities (unless any child who is less than 6 years of age resides or is expected to reside in such housing).
  • Any zero-bedroom dwelling (e.g. studio apartments, hospitals, hotels, dormitories, etc.).

A Child-Occupied Facilityis a pre-1978 building that meets all three of the criteria below:

  • Visited regularly by the same child, under 6 years of age.
  • The visits are on at least two different days within any week (Sunday through Saturday period), provided that each day’s visit lasts at least 3 hours.
  • Combined weekly visits last at least 6 hours, and the combined annual visits last at least 60 hours.

Child-occupied facilities may be located in a public or commercial building or in target housing.  These facilities include schools, child care facilities, and daycare centers.

I now know more about lead poisoning and lead paint than I want to know!  It’s going to take some time to figure out how or if we want to participate in this market and how that decision will affect our business.  In any case I have taken the first step for Easterday Construction Co., Inc. to participate in these projects safely and legally.  The next step to consider is applying to be a Certified Firm.

The regulation is currently in flux.  During the class we discussed several things that had already changed since the regulation initially went into effect on April 22, 2010.  If you want to read the latest on this regulation as well as learn how to protect yourself and your family, visit the lead section of the EPA website here.

LaPaz Garden Court Progress

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LaPaz Garden Court site 1-31-10
LaPaz Garden Court Site Under Snow and Concrete Blankets January 31, 2010

We struggled with this project through the winter when just a couple of more good weeks would have kept us going.  Then with the wet weather this Spring, our progress on the site was further impeded.  The site soils have a lot of clay, so when it gets wet, it stays wet, it’s not workable and doesn’t want to dry out.  Despite covering the site with concrete blankets, the underlying ground became saturated and frozen. 

Utilities have been an issue too as both the Town of LaPaz and AEP have vacillated on what they wanted regarding the sewer and electric service respectively.  The sewer situation has been settled and is in the ground.  We believe that the Town of LaPaz made good decisions for both themselves and LaPaz Garden Court.  The revised solution provides gravity service to the site and also provides capacity for future expansion in the area.  The electric service has basically gone back to the original design after exploring multiple scenarios.  We think this just clarified the best route in both cases.

LaPaz Garden Court NE Corner July 2010
LaPaz Garden Court - View of the Northeast Corner

We’ve made some great strides forward this Spring and early Summer though!  We are gaining on our schedule and the project is really coming together.  Siding installation has just been completed bringing exterior finishes on the building to about 95% complete.  Site work is proceeding.  The detention ponds are roughed in and nearly complete.  The walks and curbs are in place and the driveways should be started any day.

Inside, all infrastructure rough-in is complete and drywall is complete.  Painting and other finishes will be starting within the week.  Things are coming together nicely!

Unfortunately we had a break-in , but for whatever reason, the resulting damages and missing materials were minimal.  We have secured the building further against similar assaults and have been assured of additional patrols by the State Police.  We don’t anticipate this being a problem again as the building is secure and well patrolled.

This is our 7th Garden Court facility (See others here) and we continue to enjoy our relationship with the Garden Court team of B.A. Martin Architect, P.C., Hughes & Associates, Real Estate Management Corp. and Dr. Ronald Liechty representing the Garden Court, Inc. organization.  We continue to look forward to Culver Garden Court starting later this year.