In the Know
News and notes from the building industry
1Mission, a mixed-use residential/retail project that blends a historic block in Mission Hills with a new five-story residential mid-rise, received the 2009 Architectural Restoration Award from the City of San Diego’s Historical Resources Board in ceremonies at City Hall.
Project developers CLB Partners, Inc. and R.S. Lawrence Development Inc. were honored for their restoration of the Washington Street block between Goldfinch and Falcon streets, which was conducted in accordance with the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Restoration. The development team also included lead architect M.W. Steele Group, historic architect Heritage Architecture & Planning, Spurlock Poirier Landscape Architects and Turner Construction Company.
“We are elated that the Historical Resources Board judged the first phase of 1Mission to be the best architectural restoration in the city last year. It is a tribute to the architectural team and our design partner Mission Hills’ resident Robert Lawrence, who discovered the original architecture and was a champion for its meticulous and loving restoration,” said Luke Daniels, development manager for CLB Partners.
The Architectural Restoration award is the fourth major award for the project, which was originally known as Paseo de Mission Hills. It has already earned tributes from San Diego Architectural Foundation, SOHO (Save Our Heritage Organization) and the Urban Land Institute.
The 1Mission Sales Studio recently opened across the street from the residences. Thirty-one different floorplans are offered, ranging from approximately 1,057 to 2,671 square feet.
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The Riverside Housing Development Corporation will hold its fourth annual RHDC Benefit Golf Tournament on Aug. 17 at Canyon Crest Country Club in Riverside.
RHDC is a community-based not-for-profit corporation that works with many public, private and non-profit agencies to revitalize areas into developments throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
For information on the golf tournament, contact either Tom Brooks of RHDC at (951) 712-8220 or brookstmb@aol.com, or Tom Borba of Premiere Golf Solutions at (951) 295-8086 or tom@premieregolfsolutions.com.
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Integration Design Studio, Landscape Architects has received a design award for The Phillips Residence in Sunset magazine's Dream Gardens awards program featured in the April 2009 issue.
The design includes a water runnel that begins as the tiled water fall, then moves through the dining terrace and ends in the pool facing the ocean. The design also includes a walk connection from the dining courtyard to the dining terrace where the step pads provide the illusion of walking on water.
The project also received a Merit Award for Residential Design from the San Diego chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
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Cal-OSHA has awarded Pardee Homes its third straight best in class safety designation as part of the Voluntary Protection Programs. Formerly known as the Golden State Awards, VPP promotes worksite-based safety and health.
Pardee was the first homebuilding company to receive Cal-OSHA recognition for its safety practices, earning its first three-year certification in 2003. The latest honor lasts three years.
“This marks the first time a builder has received the VPP designation for nine years running, and we are proud of its significance,” said Pardee president and CEO Mike McGee. “We commend our employees and contractors for furthering the cause of exemplary occupational safety and health, and thank them for an achievement that benefits our industry.”
California’s VPP is a labor, management and government cooperative that recognizes health and safety programs that surpass minimal compliance regulations. Acceptance into the VPP indicates that a company and its workforce demonstrate ongoing employee commitment to the company’s safety and health program; that they are adhering to their training and education plan; and that their safety program is effective in reducing accidents.
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Standard Pacific Homes is hosting a grand opening and solar expo July 25 for its newest development in Manteca.
Montage and Montage II feature the newest technology in solar. At the expo, visitors will view solar demonstrations by SunPower.
Montage features four floorplans with living space ranging from 1,995 to 3,153 square feet. Montage II features all single-story homes ranging from 1,384 to 1,751 square feet.
Standard Pacific Homes is introducing new Sunergy solar homes, featuring onsite solar electricity and additional energy efficient features. The Sunergy program uses clean renewable energy to help homeowners save money on utility bills, protect from rising energy costs and improve home comfort.
“At Standard Pacific Homes we believe in doing the right thing and we are excited to take the next responsible step for the environment with our Sunergy solar homes,” said Jackie Shipley, vice president of sales and marketing of Standard Pacific Homes. “In addition to solar energy, we are maximizing homeowners’ savings with the most energy efficient features in the industry.”
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The Galster Real Estate Group recently announced the addition of Builders First, a specialty real estate division dedicated to builders and developers of every size. Builders First will provide sales support, market analysis and property listing services.
“Now, more than ever, builders need assistance in compiling accurate data and tracking market trends. In addition, carrying new home salespeople is a luxury few can afford.” said Steve Galster, broker and owner of the Fair Oaks-based company.
Builders First was created to provide essential information and support necessary to make intelligent business decisions, the company said in a news release. The Galster Real Estate Group team is led by Christine Fore-Pemstein.
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Horizons at Indio, an affordable housing community developed by Urban Housing Communities and Heritage Community Housing, earned honorable mention honors in the Senior Housing category of the 15th Annual Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Awards program.
Architectural firm KTGY Group, Inc. designed the development with emphasis on creating a walkable, pedestrian-friendly senior environment.
“We’re thrilled to receive this recognition for our community in Indio,” said John Bigley, UHC's chief operating officer. “Horizons exemplifies our commitment to excellence in affordable housing, and it’s gratifying to be recognized for our efforts.”
The Edson Award is a national program presented by the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition. The awards celebrate the best in affordable rental housing development and most outstanding low-income housing tax credit properties in six categories: Metropolitan; Rural; Special Needs; Senior; Green; and, Public Housing Revitalization.
Winners were chosen from 40 applications from 19 states. A panel of five judges selected six first-place winners and seven honorable mentions. Winners were honored at a ceremony in Washington in June.
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Irvine-based Trumark Companies is expanding its reach with the launch of the homebuilding company Trumark Homes.
Trumark Companies is a 20-year land development company that designs and entitles residential neighborhoods and builds office, R&D and retail properties. Now it is adding homebuilding to the list.
Trumark Homes recently acquired 4.38 acres of land in Upland where it will develop Wyeth Cove, 39 single-family courtyard homes ranging in size from approximately 1,717 to 2,401 square feet. Construction is set to begin in August 2009 with an opening date as early as 2010.
“We will be the new generation of home builders who are responsive, focused and unburdened by legacy issues, large bureaucratic systems or broken projects,” said Michael Maples, principal of Trumark Homes and co-founder of Trumark Companies. “Our strategy is to leverage our real estate knowledge and expertise to build a large West Coast homebuilding company targeting both Northern and Southern California markets, initially targeting the distressed market niche.”
In addition to the Upland project, Trumark Homes is working on a land purchase for residential projects in both Orange and Santa Cruz counties.
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RBF Consulting is a recipient of the 2008 Professional Development Award by the American Council of Engineering Companies, California.
RBF was recognized for the fourth conseutive year, this time for its educational programs and professional development in 2008.
The Professional Development Award was presented to RBF in recognition of superior professional development programs which encourage and support growth and advancement of the firm's employees. The award recognizes superior continuing education programs specifically focused on employee's professional growth, involvement in professional organizations, in-house training, and financial support for higher education.
RBF provides consulting services for planning, design and construction to public agencies, organizations and private sector clients, contributing expertise to projects throughout the United States and internationally. The firm has 15 offices, including 12 throughout California.