Metro Orlando Headlines

[Javalady1]

Where do you think these houses will be built Orlando metro?

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Local architects customizing homes for baby boomers

Orlando Business Journal - February 23, 2007by Jenny AndreassonContributing Writer

Elaborate entertaining areas, "cocktail" swimming pools and king-size garages -- those are a few things many baby boomers now want in a custom home, say local experts.

In fact, Central Florida architect Ed Binkley has designed a baby boomer "concept house" that introduces these and other new ideas for homes. Further, Binkley says he's been in contact with a local custom-home builder who eventually may take his design from blueprints to an actual home.

Binkley, national design director for Des Moines-headquartered BSB Design, based the concept on a DYG Inc. market survey of baby boomers between the ages of 50-60 who own their homes and have a household income of $100,000 or more.

Boomers -- the 78.2 million people born between 1946 and 1964 -- are expected to drive housing demands and trends in the nation for many years. "What happens in the next 10 years will be interesting," says Binkley, 51, who's based in BSB Design's Oviedo office. "A lot of boomers don't anticipate retiring, just slowing down. They're starting to do now what they didn't do in the first part of their lives."

Appliances 'on display'

For some, that means building their dream home.

Binkley, also a boomer, says designing the three-bedroom, 4.5-bath custom concept home was a no-brainer.

He decided to have the open, airy rooms in the home revolve around the kitchen because "this group is all about entertaining," he says. "The kitchen works for everyday cooking, as well as holding eight or so cooks at the same time."

The kitchen appliances have a commercial appearance and are either stainless-steel or brushed chrome. "They are very much on display, not tucked away or hidden behind walls -- they want to show off," he says.

More 'vroom' room

Other features in the concept house design include a detached-studio apartment for guests and an outdoor living area with a lap/cocktail swimming pool. The cocktail area is actually inside the pool and features seats on both sides and built-in water jets for the back and feet.

The boomer house design also includes a wine cellar, an auto and motorcycle garage, and a room for collectibles.

Orlando architect John Henry, owner of John Henry Design International Inc., also is a baby boomer and agrees that larger garages are a must. That's because many baby boomers start collecting valuable items such as motorcycles or cars. There has to be a place to display everything, says Henry, who owns 13 cars himself.

Baby boomers also are asking for more elaborate entertaining areas, resort-style pools and home theaters, says Rial J. Jones, architect and president of Jones Clayton Construction. But above all, he says, the rooms must be functional. "The boomers want bigger, nicer garages and large living rooms -- spaces they'll actually use on a day-to-day basis," Jones says.

Orlando custom home specialist Mark Nasrallah of Mark Nasrallah Architectural Design, says half his clients are baby boomers, and he's noticed that they tend to pay more attention to detail. For example, says Nasrallah, boomers want more intricate ceilings and beams that are true to the home's architectural style, whether it be Mediterranean, Southwestern or Santa Barbara.

Better, not bigger?

The dimensions of a home that most boomers desire, however, seems to be evenly divided between those upsizing and those looking for smaller, but more luxurious, homes.

On one hand, some downsize because most of their kids have moved out -- "they don't want as much house to take care of," says Binkley.

But other baby boomers still opt to buy larger homes. "This generation made a lot of money in the last 10 or 20 years," Henry says, "and they're happy to spend it on at least one really nice luxury home."

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BSB Design

Line of business: Residential and commercial architectural firm with 15 regional offices nationwide, including one in Oviedo

Headquarters: Des Moines, Iowa

Top local executive: Rick Cattoor

Employees: 300 nationwide, 15 in Orlando

Contact: (407) 359-4030, www.bsbdesign.com

[pomegranate]

Judge OKs loan for Church Street

Developer Cameron Kuhn's $500,000 loan will keep the complex open. He also offered $40M to buy it.

Sara K. Clarke {sodEmoji.|} Pedro Ruz Gutierrez and Scott Powers, Sentinel Staff Writers

Posted February 27, 2007 STORY GALLERY

The businesses at Church Street Station will be able to keep the lights on and the patrons coming in, after a bankruptcy judge approved financing Monday for the complex that, until recently, was controlled by Orlando businessman Lou Pearlman.

The loan -- approved at $500,000 -- is intended to pay the bills until attorneys can secure a buyer for the downtown Orlando complex. FF Station LLC, the company that owns Church Street Station, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Feb. 20.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/or...iness-headlines

So Kuhn is offering $40 million. Doesn't that seem low? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the property sell for $50 million or more back in the '80s when Bob Snow got rid of it? Even considering the fact that Church Street isn't the tourist destination it once was, property values have obviously skyrocketed since then.

[sunshine]

Pelican statue spurs public squawking

Mark Schlueb {sodEmoji.|} Sentinel Staff Writer

Posted February 27, 2007

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/...-home-headlines

[tygger]

So Kuhn is offering $40 million. Doesn't that seem low? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the property sell for $50 million or more back in the '80s when Bob Snow got rid of it? Even considering the fact that Church Street isn't the tourist destination it once was, property values have obviously skyrocketed since then.

According to the article, Pearlman & his cronies (my term - not the Sentinel's) paid $15.85 million in 2001.

[mrh3]

Judge OKs loan for Church Street

Developer Cameron Kuhn's $500,000 loan will keep the complex open. He also offered $40M to buy it.

Sara K. Clarke {sodEmoji.|} Pedro Ruz Gutierrez and Scott Powers, Sentinel Staff Writers

Posted February 27, 2007 STORY GALLERY

The businesses at Church Street Station will be able to keep the lights on and the patrons coming in, after a bankruptcy judge approved financing Monday for the complex that, until recently, was controlled by Orlando businessman Lou Pearlman.

The loan -- approved at $500,000 -- is intended to pay the bills until attorneys can secure a buyer for the downtown Orlando complex. FF Station LLC, the company that owns Church Street Station, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Feb. 20.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/or...iness-headlines

So Kuhn is offering $40 million. Doesn't that seem low? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the property sell for $50 million or more back in the '80s when Bob Snow got rid of it? Even considering the fact that Church Street isn't the tourist destination it once was, property values have obviously skyrocketed since then.

Firesale Prices. It's not uncommon for properties to sell below market under extreme circumstances such as this.

[mrh3]

Pelican statue spurs public squawking

Mark Schlueb {sodEmoji.|} Sentinel Staff Writer

Posted February 27, 2007

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/...-home-headlines

It makes me sad to think that Orlando is populated to a large degree by people with no sense of culture. Given that National Geographic article, this event merely articulates the challenge of creating a sophisticated, mature city from a sprawling mass of consumerism.

Edited February 27, 2007 by mrh3

[bulldogger]

I thought this artwork was coming from Zulu Exclusive. I am already pissed off that City Arts Factory gave space to someone that isn't an artist nor is selling Orlando artwork... nor a native. And back to the issue at hand, what do pelicans have to do with Orlando?

[sunshine]

They should put snow white and the sever dwarf

[bulldogger]

They should put snow white and the sever dwarf

I think an adult swan with a baby swan would be cool or two adult swans intertwined at the neck in the middle of their mating ritual would also be pretty cool.

[MaXxlife]

Maybe it's supposed be symbolic of Florida's pelican population? Maybe it's completely random and is just the "first of more than two dozen sculptures the city planned to buy and install along Magnolia Avenue"? In the end it will have a different meaning to everyone who see's it, which is what art should do.

[bulldogger]

Maybe it's supposed be symbolic of Florida's pelican population? Maybe it's completely random and is just the "first of more than two dozen sculptures the city planned to buy and install along Magnolia Avenue"? In the end it will have a different meaning to everyone who see's it, which is what art should do.

Yeah, I guess. If it truly was representative of our city and specifically downtown, there would be a statue of a rat.

I would really like to see the tax dollars go to an Orlando artist if possible. I am sure there wasn't even an RFP to artists. I have artist friends and this is the first time I have heard of this Magnolia sculpture issue. At least when Hood did the Lizart project, locals were involved.

[neon9]

Not everything can have Mickey Mouse Ears on it.

That sounds like a challenge!

As for Kuhn's Church Street bid, I saw an interview with him on the news yesterday and even he said he would be very suprised if the bidding did not go up...

Plus whomever buys it has to pay off the existing loans, right?

[facilities man]

I really liked the lizart. It dressed up the whole downtown area.

[sunshine]

Bring on the gator sculpture.

[bulldogger]

Bring on the gator sculpture.

There's one of the guy wrestling a gator at the History Center.

Maybe the city can have a Gatart competition... no, not Gaydar. I know some of you will think it.

OR, better yet, bring back the Lizarts and put them along Magnolia.

How about Buzzart?

[JRS1]

I like bulldogger's rat sculpture idea.

I've never seen a pelican in Orlando. Daytona, yes. But, I have seen vultures.

[jack]

I am sort of lost. we do not have pelicans in Orlando, but I could care less. The thought never crossed my mind. I sort of understand about it not being a local artist commissioned for the project. It seems that someone was in Zulu Exclusive, saw the sculpture, and decided that is could go somewhere in downtown. Simple as that. It is not cheap, but compare that to the cost of the tower of light. I also did some checking around, and this was one of two possible purchases that would be publically funded. The rest would be private. I read the the paper and it says that this one of many the City wants to fund on Magnolia. Sort of confusing.

I am pretty excited about CSS. I really hope that this can be taken care of in a timely manner and the empty spaces will be filled up. But I wonder about Pearl Steakhouse and The Exchange Lounge? I believe Pearlmen owns them.

[bulldogger]

I am pretty excited about CSS. I really hope that this can be taken care of in a timely manner and the empty spaces will be filled up. But I wonder about Pearl Steakhouse and The Exchange Lounge? I believe Pearlmen owns them.

I wonder how many entities he has and are these restaurant ventures protected from his other bankrupting businesses if they are separate of course.

[RedStar25]

What about a sculpture of William shakespeare on Rosalind..... as in Orlando and Rosalind in the play As You Like It

[bulldogger]

What about a sculpture of William shakespeare on Rosalind..... as in Orlando and Rosalind in the play As You Like It

Can everyone on this board forward a link to this page to Buddy Dyer, please?

[neon9]

I wonder how many entities he has and are these restaurant ventures protected from his other bankrupting businesses if they are separate of course.

Here is the first report from the receiver.

11 page PDF from the St. Pete Times

It's hard to believe they got away with this for so long. The employees were literally stealing the furniture at the end. There were almost 100 companies all under the 'Trans-Con' umbrella but they mostly existed in name only. Apparently Pearlman quietly sold off his steak ( ) in Pearl, and NYPD.

I do not think Pearlman will be coming back to the US willingly.

As I asked on the Sentinel's boards, why hasn't anyone tried to get a quote out of Glenda Hood??? At least get a no comment from her, she is the one who signed the deal with Pearlman.

[sunshine]

Dyer reveals 3 initiatives

Orlando Business Journal - 1:47 PM EST Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced three significant projects planned for the city during his annual State of the City address Wednesday.

Dyer has annually reviewed his administration's accomplishments and announced plans for changes and upcoming new developments.

http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/sto...tml?jst=b_ln_hl

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Dyer: $70M from Magic Johnson fund coming to Parramore

Mark Schlueb {sodEmoji.|} Sentinel Staff Writer

Posted February 28, 2007, 12:04 PM EST

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced today that a urban equity fund established by Magic Johnson will invest $70 million in the city's beleaguered Parramore community.

Dyer announced the initiative by the Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund during his annual State of the City address, which he uses to lay out accomplishments of the previous year and lay out priorities for the next.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/...-home-headlines

[sunshine]

Here is website to Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund

http://www.canyonjohnsonurbanfund.com/

Notable projects they did include, downtown dadeland in miami.

[UPSDAN]

Well, I think we were just talking on this board a couple weeks ago about the amphitheatre and now we find out it is getting a redo...

[RedStar25]

I remember saying somthing like the bandshell in Boston should be the re-dos insperation