Tips
A Sense of Place
Becky often gives me grief about not turning things off when we’re out somewhere. When I walk through a parking lot I am looking at the lane layout, the slopes, the drainage structures and drainage patterns. When we’re sitting in a restaurant or someone’s home, I’m looking at the details of how the trim was completed, the lights that were used and the lighting patterns that were created. I can usually tell whether someone else was thinking of these things or whether they where haphazardly done. A lot of these things I file away for future reference and they will appear in some incarnation in a future project if it’s something I liked. I’ve always believed the adage that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…
Ground Water Monitoring Survey
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is conducting a Statewide Ground Water Monitoring Survey. Participation is free and if you are selected for the survey you will receive a copy of the report.
Most of the residences on Lake Maxinkuckee and throughout Marshall County are on wells. The age of the Lake Maxinkuckee wells may preclude their inclusion in the study, but it can’t hurt to ask. I’m sure there are conspiracy theories on why this might not be information you want to share, but in my estimation, most people don’t test their wells as often as they should. This is an opportunity to possibly have the test done for free. Don’t you want to know if there is something bad in your drinking water?
Here’s a link to the study site with a description of who would be eligible and an application for inclusion in the survey. The study is statewide, so it should give an interesting picture of our ground water resources. I signed up for my home which backs up to a golf course. I had the well tested when I moved in, but have only followed up on that once since that time. My bad! This is an opportunity to bring some tax dollars home!
Image Source: indiana.edu
Australia’s first carbon-positive prefab house produces more energy than it consumes
Check out the article and an extended photo gallery here.
Image Source: Inhabit.com
Did You Celebrate it?
Unfortunately I missed it! We did go see the Mad Ants (Win!) play yesterday in Fort Wayne and in honor of that, stopped for supper at Mad Anthony’s in Warsaw. It was late, so we just did some appetizers and tried a beer each. Everything we had was good and there were enough interesting things on the menu that we will probably be making a trip back there in the near future. I would recommend the Mad Ants and Mad Anthony’s, separately or in combination. Becky and I enjoyed both. Go Ants!
Image Source: @thefloridakeys via Twitter
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
