A War Room at Home
The possibility of war and an increased threat of a biological or chemical attack have made “safe rooms” more popular among home owners. These shelters can range from $3,000 to more than $50,000 and feature blast-proof walls, food-storage tanks, buried fiberglass pods, air-lock entrances and ventilation systems, among other elements. In the 1950s only 1% of the population built their own bomb shelters; but the number of people with safe rooms has risen to nearly 300,000 since high-tech shelters emerged in the 1990s. Without an air scrubber or other specialized ventilation system, however, these rooms will do little to protect home owners against biochemical attacks. Moreover, National Storm Shelter Association Executive Director Ernest Kiesling says the absence of national standards makes it impossible for home owners to know if their shelters will really work. (www.wsj.com)
Wall Street Journal (03/14/03) P. W1; Fletcher, June; Keates, Nancy
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Give Us Land, Lots of Land
Urban Land Institute (ULI) President Richard Rosan says little will be done to curb suburban sprawl until residents consider longer commutes, inflated mortgages, hefty water and sewer bills and other problems associated with growth more as a major issue and less as merely a nuisance. Moreover, he warns that tight state and local budgets will likely drive up property taxes and force home owners to pay for the infrastructure needed to meet continued growth. In response, ULI has launched a Web site to collect information that smart-growth proponents can use to formulate alternative development strategies. Americans historically have moved away from inner cities and into the suburbs; in fact, research by the Brookings Institution reveals that only 17 of 280 metropolitan areas saw density rise between 1982 and 1997. The fastest land consumption from 2000 to 2001 was seen in Douglas County, CO; Loudoun County, VA, and Williamson County, TX, where housing construction soared as much as 12%. Nevertheless, a recent Census Bureau survey finds that the number of people looking to live closer to their jobs climbed from 24% in the last decade to 31% in 2001. Says Rosan, “There is a middle ground between unchecked, haphazard growth and no growth. That middle ground is development that offers choices — choices in the way people live, work, shop, relax and get from one place to the other.” (cbs.marketwatch.com)
CBSMarketWatch.com (03/11/03) Kerch, Steve
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Humble No More: Bathrooms Are Bigger and Glitzier
Bathroom fixture giant American Standard reports that the number of new homes with 2.5 or more bathrooms has jumped from 25% two decades ago to more than 50% today; and with mortgage rates at record lows, an increasing number of home owners are expanding their bathrooms with luxury amenities. Industry insiders attribute the number of master bathrooms with double sinks and toilets to a higher number of two-income households, with couples preparing for work simultaneously. While there are many moderately priced fixtures and finishes available, some consumers are spending as much as $1,000 for stainless steel “vessel” sinks, $1,700 for gold or sterling silver faucets, $4,000 for steam rooms, $70 for heated toilet seats and more than $10,000 for two-person tubs, complete with massage jets and bubblers. One New Jersey-based plumber, for instance, says whirlpools are now standard in new homes and the average cost of a bathroom “tear out” has surged from $4,500 10 years ago to as much as $25,000. (www.ap.org)
Associated Press (03/10/03) Gold, Jeffrey
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Loads of Luxury
With an increasing number of home owners finding refuge in their residences, laundry rooms are being transformed from small basement spaces and alcoves to multipurpose rooms equipped with upscale appliances, televisions, sound systems, play areas, doghouses, home offices, guest quarters and craft stations. Eastern Kentucky University cultural studies professor Mike Marsden calls them “gourmet laundry rooms,” which provide spacious areas for centralizing activities usually scattered throughout the entire house. For home owners with limited space, large closets are being tapped to create multifunctional laundry centers. Laundry appliances are being upgraded as well, with Maytag, Sears and Whirlpool selling space-saving, energy-efficient, front-loading washing machines. (www.time.com)
Time (03/10/03) P. 54; Cullen, Lisa
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Piped-In Climate
An increasing number of home owners are installing radiant heat systems, which use plastic pipes and hot water under the flooring to evenly heat the home's surfaces. In fact, the Radiant Panel Association reports that the number of home owners purchasing radiant systems surged 33% from 45,000 in 1999 to 60,000 in 2001. With radiant heat, home owners no longer have to walk across cold floors; nor do they have to deal with noisy forced-air systems that blow dust and mold throughout the residence. Moreover, radiant systems free up space; and home owners do not have to position their furniture around radiators or baseboard units. However, the cost of radiant heat is significantly higher than that of traditional heating systems, averaging $8 to $12 per square foot for new homes and $6 per square foot for existing residences. Additionally, the technology is useful only for heating purposes and cannot cool a home. (www.boston.com/globe)
Boston Globe (03/09/03) P. H1; Grillo, Thomas
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'Smart' Denver Project Gets High Grades
Denver's Highlands' Garden Village is being touted as a model smart-growth project, with its green construction, affordable housing, parks and walkways, mix of housing types, historic site preservation and access to public transportation. Smart-growth developments are being undertaken in many cities as a way to boost property taxes, lure affluent residents and take advantage of existing infrastructure. Highlands' Garden Village features 290 single-family homes, apartments, studios, senior units, townhomes and co-housing units with a shared kitchen, guest rooms and laundry facility. Since 20% of the units are set aside for families earning half of the median income or less, the $85 million development was eligible for tax credits and tax-free city, state and federal loans. In addition, energy-saving insulation and appliances and wind-generated power make the homes 25% more energy-efficient than conventional housing; and reusing asphalt from the amusement park once located on the site resulted in savings of over $80,000. Finally, residents are close to mass transit; and for $4 per hour and 40 cents per mile, they can rent natural-gas-powered Zipcars. With all of the units in Highlands' Garden Village sold out and prices up 25% between 1999 and 2002, it appears that such smart-growth projects are in high demand. (www.wsj.com)
Wall Street Journal (03/12/03) P. B10; Chittum, Ryan
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High-Tech High-Wire Acts for New Homes
Category 1 phone lines are prone to interruption and increasingly unable to handle today's high-tech communications, which has prompted many home builders to offer structured wiring. Also known as bundled wiring, it involves a combination of Category 5 wiring for telephone and data and RG6 coaxial cables for video; the wires are installed behind the walls of the residence during the construction phase. Digital satellite service, video conferencing, computer networks, high-speed modems, high-speed Internet access, several phone lines, surveillance cameras, infrared security systems and WebTV are all possible in homes with structured wiring. New-home buyers are often given the chance to discuss their needs with custom-wiring and installation representatives, who help them choose whether to have the wiring placed throughout the home or in only a couple of rooms. Some builders are installing tubing or conduits to let home owners easily add structured wiring later on, but those home owners who opt out altogether may find it difficult to sell their homes later unless they pay an enormous amount of money to tear down walls and upgrade the wiring. Most structured wiring packages are priced between $600 and $3,000 and allow for the addition of alarm systems with motion detectors; programmable lighting and climate controls; intercom, music and video systems; remote-controlled drapes and programmed lawn-sprinkler systems, among other components. (www.washtimes.com)
Washington Times Online (03/07/03) Bliss, R. Marion
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Your Home Is Your Fortress?
Maryland-based manufacturing company Zytech Engineering is designing high-end, allegedly impregnable “safe-rooms” that can accommodate at least two people and keep them completely safe from terrorist attacks or criminals. Alternately, the stand-alone rooms can serve as storage vaults for expensive jewelry or artwork. Zytech already has a dozen confirmed and pending orders for the customizable rooms, which range in price from $17,000 to more than $50,000, depending upon the number of features they include. The rooms are constructed with several thousand pounds of steel, reinforced screws and high-security locks. Windows are made of bulletproof glass, and gun ports and cellular phones can be added to the rooms, as can air purification systems to protect against chemical or biological attack. The rooms meet U.S. State Department safety standards for diplomats and also adhere to the ballistics standards created by Underwriters Laboratories. The market for safe rooms is in its nascent stages, with most current clients consisting of wealthy private citizens and top government officials. However, Zytech's director of manufacturing Eric Dunn envisions the day when middle-class Americans will be able to purchase less-costly versions of the rooms. (www.washingtonpost.com)
Washington Post (03/03/03) P. E1; McCarthy, Ellen
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Builders Find Housing Trends Are Migrating
As home buyers increasingly grow dissatisfied with 'cookie cutter' subdivisions, builders are seeing more and more East Coast features popping up in other regions. Colonial-style buildings, village greens and other traditional-neighborhood designs are emerging in California; and Toll Bros. scored high points when it began offering walkout basements in Dallas, where shifting soil once made these amenities impractical. Regionally, buyers in the Northeast want formal living and dining rooms; whereas Midwest buyers prefer great rooms, Southerners desire informal living and buyers in the West tilt toward unique custom-built dwellings. Because buyers on the East Coast continue to demand formal entries and privacy, high-density developments are tougher sells there than on the West Coast. Meanwhile, garages located in front of the home are losing popularity, but smaller lot sizes leave little room for change. However, garages built in California are being moved back with motor courts in the front yard. Builders also are realizing that single-family homes are too costly for many buyers and are responding with disguised doors and wider townhomes, which make multifamily buildings look like one large home. Other nascent trends include courtyards; outdoor kitchens, family rooms, dining gazebos and sleeping porches; million-dollar infill homes, and simple apartments with trendy, industrial décor. (www.philly.com)
Philadelphia Inquirer (03/09/03) P. J1; Heavens, Alan J.
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Using a Cheap Builder Could Bring Costly Risks
When choosing a home builder, buyers should focus on a company's experience, references and portfolio of completed homes, rather than on the quoted cost per square foot. Builders offering steep discounts may sound good, but they usually do not have a proven track record or the management skills necessary to finish the job on time and within budget. Buyers should find out if past clients are satisfied with the builder's work, visit several finished homes and even check the builder's subcontractors. Though the cost per square foot is a good tool to determine whether or not consumers can afford their dream home, buyers must understand that some rooms cost more than others. If they are looking for a price reduction, the builder will either take his services elsewhere or use lower-quality materials. Instead of focusing on the cost per square foot, consumers would do well to seek out builders that have a lot of repeat customers. Since experienced home buyers know more about the process, understand the builder's responsibilities and work hand-in-hand with the builder, their willingness to use the same contractor suggests a high level of satisfaction with the firm and serves as a ringing endorsement of the builder's reputation. (www.miami.com)
Miami Herald (03/09/03) P. 18H; Salant, Katherine
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