Simple Works ’s Post

If you haven't seen me post it before, let me just quote my mother, "Just because you can doesn't mean you should." I get it, and some of you have probably seen it: Developer proposes a fantastic project that increases the tax base, and elected officials can't wait to see it built. Have you been to #Bricktown in #OKC? Lively and growing entertainment and business district. Most, but certainly not all, buildings are 2 to 3 stories. And you have some taller commercial space. This approved project dwarfs anything around it! Note the high rise to the left in the cover rendering. How is this proposal anywhere "compatible" with the current environs? More importantly, how does this even serve the interests of Bricktown? Another skyscraper with office space when the world is shifting to work from home? Have you seen the tornado reports in the OKC area? I wouldn't be caught as a resident in this building when those thunderstorm fronts start forming! This article mentions that the owner has this project "fully funded". I'd love to see the pro forma for this project, because those construction costs are going to SKY ROCKET when the demands for this building hit local suppliers. Well, I wish the #OKC City Council when this project final belly ups, and they have some questions from the public about the infrastructure costs that this monstrosity is going to cause. https://lnkd.in/evNcs-6V

New Year – two new decisions.   Cerda is very excited to share that two separate planning consents for reserved matters have been granted for our clients, Taylor Wimpey and Bloor Homes at The Asps, Warwick cumulatively for 424 dwellings within phase 2 of the wider development site. This follows on from the success for the team on phase 1 which secured the first 476 dwellings, taking the total to 900. The proposals were designed to respond to the Site Wide Design Code and to complement the approved works within phase 1. The entire scheme is landscape led incorporating a series of character areas, large areas of open space with pedestrian and cycle routes. Despite the supposedly straight forward nature of the submissions – i.e. reserved matters (Layout, Scale, appearance, and landscaping ) it took over 2 years of negotiation with the LPA to reach decision. We got there in the end – shout out to our helpful and amenable planning officer, Lucy Hammond who remained steadfast throughout.   The site will deliver 900 dwellings, a primary school, a local centre and Park and Ride facility for up to 500 spaces together with associated infrastructure, landscaping, and open space. Both developers have made good progress with phase 1 and dwellings are fast coming out of the ground.   We look forward to seeing progress of works on the site continue over the next 5-7 years.   Thanks, and congratulations to our clients Taylor Wimpey plc and Bloor Homes and thumbs up to our fantastic consultant team, many of whom we will no doubt be working with again soon.   Nikki Fulton – Taylor Wimpey Rachel Bristow – Taylor Wimpey Joe Blincoe – Taylor Wimpey Oury Bah – Taylor Wimpey David Bignell – Bloor Homes Elizabeth W. – Bloor Homes David Ameghino – Bloor Homes Sean Flannigan- JPP Daria Madders – IDP landscape Debbie Farrington - Cerda Planning   #PlanningApproval #UrbanPlanning #HousingProjects #LandscapeLedDesign #DesignCode #CollaborationMatters #ConstructionMilestones #FutureCommunities

A short but well-worded commentary by Will Hurst. What he points out, the lack of weight given to low-carbon in Planning Law, we see daily in planning officer decisions. There is an inherent inertia in re-directing planning decision-makers away from their comfort zone, i.e. past decision-making, into new policy. Which means any new direction a government 'promises', needs to be absolutely clear and irrefutable in law and policy. Sadly government after government have failed to demonstrate sufficient commitment to exclusively low carbon development, be that for cynical political reasons or simply through naivety.

While visiting properties across Tampa Bay, we’ve seen both heartbreaking devastation and incredible examples of smart building design. Some structures may appear damaged, but their Breakaway Walls—non-reinforced walls designed to give way to storm surges—actually did their job, allowing water to pass through and protecting the main structure. It’s a reminder of the power of resilience and thoughtful construction in the face of nature’s challenges.  • • InVision is the solution for individuals and organizations who don’t have the time, knowledge or staff to manage the design and construction process. Have a building project? Give us a call and let us assist you today! #teamwork #onbudget #onschedule #successstrategy #stpetersburg #ownersrep #ownersrepresentative #tampa #nashville #realestate #projectmanagement #construction #business #stpete #designandbuild #designbuild #generalcontractor #existingconditions #renovation #constructionmanagement #construction #realestatedevelopment

We’re excited to announce that Bryan Construction is preparing to break ground on a mixed-use development in Carbondale, CO with open studio | architecture and Alder Real Estate! This project speaks to the growth and progress of this vibrant mountain community, addressing both residential and commercial needs. 🏗️ What’s in Store? • 16 residential units – providing much-needed housing to support the growing population. • Core-and-shell spaces for two retail locations and a potential restaurant. • A new ANB Bank branch to serve the financial needs of the community. • Rentable office spaces for local businesses to thrive. In addition to the new building, the lot will receive community-focused site enhancements, including parking and landscaping. Families can also enjoy a playground included in the design, while right-of-way improvements such as new sidewalks and a deceleration lane off the highway will ensure safer access to the street. We’re honored to play a role in shaping a bright future for this community! Learn more about our multi-family capabilities ➡️ https://bit.ly/406jEi7

As I wrote a few months ago, this project perfectly encapsulates the challenges of this particular moment in housing politics: https://lnkd.in/e_NfBe3v

We are proud to announce that Haverstock and Galliford Try have been selected by the London Borough of Havering to deliver a new SEND school at Balgores Lane. Commissioned with the support of the Southern Construction Framework (SCF) and Playle & Partners LLP, this project represents a significant investment in the future of SEND provision in Havering. This new school will supply 300 much-needed places for students ages 4-19, addressing critical SEND need within the borough and provide the community with a vital resource. Combining Haverstock’s expertise and passion for SEND design and Galliford Try’s commitment to construction excellence, the project aims to establish a beacon of SEND provision, delivering high-quality facilities tailored to the needs of its students. Demonstrating the team’s shared dedication to sustainability, the school will be designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating and operate at net zero carbon. Collaboration with the local community is central to the project’s success. Through public consultations and stakeholder engagement, this project aims to not only provide a new school but a valuable community asset for the wider borough. This project is a testament to LBO Havering’s dedication to investing in the futures of young people with SEND and marks the beginning of a collaborative partnership dedicated to delivering an exemplar inclusive learning environment, to achieve the very best for children and young people in Havering. #haverstock #Havering #london #architecture #design #SEND #SENDschool #SENDdesign #education #inclusivedesign #educationarchitecture [Image Description: Havering Town Hall, an international-style brick building with large symmetrical rectangular windows across the facade at, with one larger window in the centre on top of the entrance. Grey paving leads to the entryway surrounded by landscaping. To the left there are three flagpoles]

CLIENT NEWS: Two developers are seeking approval for apartment projects in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District through the state’s Live Local Act. The law allows the developers to bypass Wynwood’s normal height and density limits in exchange for including income-restricted workforce housing in the projects. The normal height limit in Wynwood is 12 stories, and both of these projects would greatly exceed that. Both projects will go before the city’s Wynwood Design Review Committee to consider their artistic elements, design and several waivers on Nov. 18. In the bigger project, Ultimate Equity, managed by David Segaghati in Miami, has proposed Ultimate Wynwood on the 1.9-acre site at 520 to 590 N.W. 26th Street, plus 2401 N.W. 6th Ave. It currently has a group of warehouses that were constructed in the 1950s and are covered in Wynwood’s signature street art. READ MORE: https://t.ly/qx3Ib

Kinds of Kindness Nr.3 Does kindness have a place in the building industry? And if so, why does it matter? A great reminder is the story of the race to build the tallest building in New York back in 1930. Unlike the competition shooting up around them, the planners of the Empire State Building paid double the going rate (at a time when many displaced farmers were desperate for work and would have worked for less). They cleverly provided good quality on-site restaurants, and made sure no one had to work in dangerous conditions such as balancing on beams in howling winds. Their kindness was well rewarded - the workers came up with innovative ideas to speed up construction, including faster ways to deliver the bricks and to communicate on site. Meanwhile auditors kept a tight rein, and it went up in record time - just over a year. The race to build the tallest building in New York was, it could be said, won with kindness. So next time when you look at a block of flats, a house, a factory, infrastructure or an office, look beyond the design, architecture, and function. Ask yourself, who built it, and under what conditions. As someone once said, kindness is the only investment that never fails.

The Times’s property writer shares his thoughts to how newbuild housing can be made more visually attractive to prevent “ugly” housing estates through good design… https://lnkd.in/eVEvwydr