How the Kansas City Zoo is building its $75M aquarium

Find the oddest of these collective nouns in the slides below: FrogsAmarasiri Peasena Wigemanna / 500px via Getty ImagesYou probably know that a group of wolves is called a pack or that a group of puppies is called a litter, but there are many collective nouns for animals that are much less well-known and frankly very strange.Find the oddest of these collective nouns in the slides below:A shrewdness of apesChimpanzees in Kibale National Park in Uganda.Yannick Tylle via Getty ImagesA congregation of alligatorsREUTERS/Carlos Jasso A cete of badgersREUTERS/Russell CheyneA cauldron of batsFlickr / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service HeadquartersA sloth or sleuth of bearsBears in Grand Teton National Park.Johnny Johnson via Getty ImagesA gang or an obstinacy of buffaloTwo buffaloes gather by the waters of the Chebayesh marsh in Nassiriya, southeast of Baghdad, February 11, 2015. Picture taken February 11, 2015. REUTERS/Alaa Al-MarjaniA clowder, clutter, pounce, dout, nuisance, glorying, or a glare of catsCats crowd around village nurse and Ozu city official Atsuko Ogata as she carries a bag of cat food to the designated feeding place on Aoshima Island in Ehime prefecture in southern Japan February 25, 2015.REUTERS/Thomas PeterAn army of caterpillarsCaterpillars walking on leaf.Oleksandr Chornyi via Getty ImagesA caravan of camelsCamelsJohn M Lund Photography Inc via Getty ImagesA coalition of cheetahsCheetahsPradeep Ravi / 500px via Getty ImagesA murder of crowsCrowsDavid Akers / 500px via Getty ImagesA cowardice of dogsDogsAlexandra Robins via Getty ImagesA pod of dolphinsDolphins and whales jump out of the water at a media preview for the Epson Aqua Park Shinagawa aquarium's re-opening in Tokyo, July 6, 2015.REUTERS/Toru HanaiA pace of donkeysMatt Cardy / Stringer / Getty ImagesA convocation of eaglesREUTERS/ Lucy NicholsonA parade of elephantsMario Tama/GettyA gang of elkAn elk herd in Colorado.David Zalubowski/APA business of ferretsFerretTina Riches / EyeEm via Getty ImagesA flamboyance of flamingosSnow falls on a flock of flamingos standing on a snow-covered field at a wildlife zoo in Hefei, Anhui province January 29, 2015. REUTERS/Stringer A leash, skulk, or earth of foxesBob Hilscher/Getty ImagesAn army of frogsFrogsAmarasiri Peasena Wigemanna / 500px via Getty ImagesA tower of giraffesGiraffesJames Warwick via Getty ImagesShutterstock/Gorb AndriiA gorilla sits in it's enclosure at London Zoo February 16, 2008.Kevin CoombsA bloat, or a thunder of hippopotamusesHipposImage Source via Getty ImagesA cackle of hyenasFrank Bienewald/LightRocket via Getty ImagesA shadow of jaguarsJaguarDeAgostini/Getty ImagesA smack of jellyfishJellyfishPhotography by Zack Podratz via Getty ImagesA troop or mob of kangaroosREUTERS/Stefan PostlesA conspiracy of lemursLemurs© Justin Lo via Getty ImagesA leap of leopardsChristophe Lehenaff/Getty ImagesA troop or barrel of monkeysMonkeysJulian Gunther via Getty ImagesA romp, a family, or a raft of ottersOttersArthur Morris via Getty ImagesA pandemonium or company of parrotsYatra/ShutterstockA colony, muster, parcel, or rookery of penguinsNear the northern tip of the Antarctic peninsula, a group of Adelie penguins launch themselves from an iceberg into the frigid waters of the ocean.Jay Dickman/Getty ImagesA drift, drove, sounder, team, or passel of pigsiStock A prickle of porcupines PorcupinesMartin Harvey via Getty ImagesAn unkindness of ravensRaven`Ugo Bukudjian / EyeEm via Getty ImagesA colony or warren of rabbitsRabbitsFiona McAllister Photography via Getty ImagesA crash of rhinocerosesCourtesy of San Diego ZooA building of rooksArterra/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesA maelstrom of salamandersSirac Karadeniz/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesA dray or scurry of squirrelsSquirrelsVicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography via Getty ImagesA bevy, game, or wedge of swansira_kalina/ShutterstockAn ambush or streak of tigersTigersMark Newman via Getty ImagesA rafter, gang, or posse of turkeysTurkeysNick David via Getty ImagesA venue of vulturesFile photo of vultures feasting on a road kill in Great Falls VirginiaThomson ReutersA gam, pod, or herd of whalesA pod of sperm whales swimming underwater.Getty ImagesA wisdom of wombatsWombatAndrew Aylett via Getty ImagesA zeal of zebrasZebrasJames Warwick via Getty ImagesRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Jim 'Mattress Mack' McIngvale is known for his promotions, and letting displaced residents sleep in his stores during hurricanes and power outages. Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale.Getty/Carmen Mandato American businessman Jim McIngvale, most widely known as 'Mattress Mack,' built Gallery Furniture, a succesfull furniture retail chain based in Houston, Texas. The Texas furniture kingpin has also broken gambling records, including winning $75 million in the largest payout in sports betting history. Here's how McIngvale's career has evolved over the last 40 years.  Jim McIngvale was born in Starkville, Mississippi in 1951. His father, George McIngvale, was a business owner. His mother, Angela McIngvale, was a stay-at-home mother.A store in Starkville, Mississippi, though not the one George McIngvale worked at.HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)Source: Houston Intown MagazineMcIngvale went to high school in Dallas, Texas and attended the University of North Texas for three years where he played football before dropping out in 1973.University of North Texas campus.University of North Texas Image GallerySource: LinkedIn, University of North TexasAfter leaving college, McIngvale worked at a convenience store. He eventually got fired, which he saw as an opportunity to reinvent himself.A convenience store, though not the one McIngvale worked at.Gado/Getty ImagesSource: KHOU 11, Gallery FurnitureAfter that, McIngvale got a job at a furniture store in Dallas, Texas. In this role, he learned the ins-and-outs of running a furniture business and developed a passion for the industry.A furniture store, though not the one McIngvale worked at.Jeffrey Greenberg/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesSource:LinkedInIn 1981, McIngvale moved to Houston, Texas with his newly wedded wife Linda and $5,000 in life savings to open a furniture store called Gallery Furniture at an abandoned model home park located next to a freeway. They slept there for weeks to prevent the theft of inventory and worked late nights to pick up furniture.Jim McIngvale in his furniture store.Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesSource: Gallery FurnitureGallery Furniture's sales soared during its first year of business as Americans moved to Houston to work in the city's booming auto, oil, and steel industries and needed to purchase furniture for their new homes.An oil storage facility in Houston, Texas.Mark Felix/AFP via Getty ImagesBut by 1983, Gallery Furniture's sales dropped significantly. This forced McIngvale to rethink his advertising strategy which included signs nailed to telephone poles and door-to-door fliers.A man putting fliers in a door.Al Drago/CQ Roll Call via Getty ImagesSource: Gallery FurnitureMcIngvale decided to spend his last $10,000 on a TV commercial shown on two Houston stations. He didn't like how the commercials turned out, so he stepped in front of the camera and improvised a sales pitch. He spoke quickly and energetically, ending his pitch by shouting "Gallery Furniture saves you money!"An old TV model.In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty ImagesSource: KHOU 11, Gallery FurnitureThe advertisement was a success and led furniture sales to skyrocket. The "save you money" slogan is now famous among Houstonians who watched him on TV.An advertisement for a Texas furniture store.RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty ImagesSource: KHOU 11, Gallery FurnitureThroughout the early 1980s, Mack appeared in a number of commercials where he wore a mattress costume. That's when the nickname "Mattress Mack" was born.A mattress costume, though not the one McIngvale wore.Terry Harris/Chicago Tribune via Getty ImagesSource:Las Vegas Review JournalDuring this time, he shifted away from selling solely value-priced furniture into higher-end furniture which attracted new customers. He credits the uptick in sales to his customer-centric approach to business, promising same-day delivery of furniture.Furniture store.WOLFGANG RATTAY/ReutersSource: Gallery FurnitureAs McIngvale ascended to fame and fortune, he and his wife became executive producers of the 1992 film 'Sidekicks' starring Chuck Norris and Jonathan Brandis. In turn, Norris acted in several Gallery Furniture commercials.Jim McIngvale (left) and actor Chuck Norris (right).Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesSource: The Los Angeles TimesIn 1988, McIngvale and his wife Linda moved into a 6,840 square foot mansion in Northgate Forest neighborhood, a private residential golf community in north Houston. It included seven bedrooms, Swarovski crystal chandeliers, and an Olympic-sized pool and spa. In 2008, the McIngvale's sold the home for $815,000.A mansion in the suburbs, though it's not the one the McIngvales lived in.Tim Kitchen/Getty ImagesSource: Houston Business Journal, Houston ChronicleIn 1991, Gallery Furniture generated $30 million in sales. By 1998, sales were at $100 million. McIngvale said that sales jumped because he adopted the W. Edward Deming's management method into his business, which focuses on improving manufacturing processes over cutting costs.A depiction of sales growth.Sakchai Vongsasiripat/Getty ImagesSource: Furniture World MagazineMcIngvale chronicled the lessons he learned from building a $100 million business into a book he co-authored with Thomas Duening and John Ivancevish titled "Always Think Big." The book was published in 2002.Always Think Big, co-authored by Jim McIngvale, Thomas Duening, and John Ivancevich.AmazonSeven years after the book was published, McIngvale opened his second Gallery Furniture store, a smaller-version of the original store in Western Houston.Steve Francis from the basketball team Orlando Magic signing autographs for fans at Gallery Furniture.Chris Graythen/NBAE via Getty ImagesSource: Gallery FurnitureBut disaster struck in late May of 2009 when a Gallery Furniture warehouse was destroyed by a fire that investigators said was caused by arson. The store lost millions of dollars worth of new furniture and racked up $10 million in damages.A furniture warehouse fire, though it's not Gallery Furniture's warehouse.Philippe Huguen/AFP via Getty ImagesSource: ABC 13, Houston ChronicleSoon after the fire, the Greater Northside Management District where his business properties are located sued McIngvale, alleging he refused to pay $48,000 in taxes between 2005 to 2007. McIngvale said that the district did not maintain the area properly, calling its fiscal policies "taxation without representation."Jim McIngvale got sued for refusing to pay $48,000 in taxes to the district.Yellow Dog Productions/Getty ImagesSource: Houston ChronicleMcIngvale continued to grow his business. By 2015, he opened his third Gallery Furniture store in Fort Bend County, the largest out of the three. The 165,000 square foot store didn't just display furniture. It also had monkeys and birds in cages, and puffer fish and sharks in a saltwater aquarium tank. McIngvale said he wanted customers to have an unforgettable shopping experience.McIngvale's third Gallery Furniture store featured exotic animals like puffer fish.Brent Durand/Getty ImagesSource: Houston ChronicleOn top of his business achievements, McIngvale is also known for giving back to the Houston community. When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in 2017, McIngvale opened his Gallery Furniture stores as a shelter for 800 victims who evacuated their homes to avoid flooding.A family takes shelter at a Gallery Furniture store after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas.Bredan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesSource: CNN, Architectural DigestTwo years later, McIngvale entered the sports betting business. In 2017, he made a deal where customers would receive free mattresses if the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the MLB's World Series. When the Astros won, he lost $10 million worth of mattresses. He said that he likes these big bets because he "gets bored to death with stability."Houston Astros owner Jim Crane raises a trophy after the Astros defeated the Dodgers in the 2017 World Series.Rob Tringali/MLB via Getty ImagesSource: Sporting NewsOver time, McIngvale continued making million-dollar sports bets. During the 2019 World Series, McIngvale travelled the country by private jets to place bets on Astros winning at betting sites in three different states. When the Houston Astros lost to the Washington Nationals, McIngvale lost at least $11.6 million in wagers. He has also made bets on Houston sports teams playing in the NFL playoffs, the Kentucky Derby, and the Superbowl.McIngvale signs a basketball used during the 2019 NBA Playoffs between Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors.Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty ImagesSource: ABC 13, Legal Sports BettingBut in June of 2019, McIngvale got sent to the hospital after a stroke scare where his face and arms went numb. Even though he's reportedly said that "work is his therapy," doctors urged him to work less hours until he got better.Emergency entrance of hospital.Getty ImagesSource: ABC 13But McIngvale's bets didn't stop his philanthropy. When tropical storm Imelda flooded Houston in 2019, he once again opened Gallery Furniture to evacuees and raised $106,000 for those affected. McIngvale also handed out thousands of free masks to Houstonians in early 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic led to a mask shortage. In 2021, he provided shelter to those impacted by the Texas power crisis.A man takes shelter at Gallery Furniture after Houston was hit with electricity blackouts in early 2021 due to winter storms.Go Nakamura/Getty ImagesSource: KHOU 11, ABC 13, The Washington PostEven though McIngvale lost more than $10 million on bets from 2020 onwards, the furniture kingpin won $75 million dollars after the Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2022 World Series championship — the largest payout in the history of sports betting.Jim McIngvale and others celebrating Houston Astros winning the 2022 World Series championship during a parade.Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports via ReutersSource: Action Network, CBS Sports, InsiderThe majority of the winnings will go towards a Gallery Furniture store promotion in which anybody who spent more than $3,000 on a mattress there would get a refund.Jim Mclngvale at his store Gallery Furniture.Go Nakamura/Getty ImagesSource: Yahoo SportsThe 71-year old McIngvale's net worth isn't clear — he is not listed on Bloomberg or Forbes' wealth indexes.Jim McIngvale with his wife Linda McIngvale at the 2018 Annual UNICEF Gala in Houston.Bob Levey/Getty ImagesIn a statement released after he won the Astros bet, McIngvale wrote that the last 41 years have been "the greatest years" of his life." He dedicated his wins to the Houston community. "I would do anything for this city," according to the statement.McIngvale at his store Gallery Furniture.Mark Felix for The Washington Post via Getty Images.Source: Gallery Furniture's facebook pageRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Jim 'Mattress Mack' McIngvale is known for his promotions, and letting displaced residents sleep in his stores during hurricanes and power outages. Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale.Getty/Carmen Mandato American businessman Jim McIngvale, most widely known as 'Mattress Mack,' built Gallery Furniture, a succesfull furniture retail chain based in Houston, Texas. The Texas furniture kingpin has also broken gambling records, including winning $75 million in the largest payout in sports betting history. Here's how McIngvale's career has evolved over the last 40 years.  Jim McIngvale was born in Starkville, Mississippi in 1951. His father, George McIngvale, was a business owner. His mother, Angela McIngvale, was a stay-at-home mother.A store in Starkville, Mississippi, though not the one George McIngvale worked at.HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)Source: Houston Intown MagazineMcIngvale went to high school in Dallas, Texas and attended the University of North Texas for three years where he played football before dropping out in 1973.University of North Texas campus.University of North Texas Image GallerySource: LinkedIn, University of North TexasAfter leaving college, McIngvale worked at a convenience store. He eventually got fired, which he saw as an opportunity to reinvent himself.A convenience store, though not the one McIngvale worked at.Gado/Getty ImagesSource: KHOU 11, Gallery FurnitureAfter that, McIngvale got a job at a furniture store in Dallas, Texas. In this role, he learned the ins-and-outs of running a furniture business and developed a passion for the industry.A furniture store, though not the one McIngvale worked at.Jeffrey Greenberg/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesSource:LinkedInIn 1981, McIngvale moved to Houston, Texas with his newly wedded wife Linda and $5,000 in life savings to open a furniture store called Gallery Furniture at an abandoned model home park located next to a freeway. They slept there for weeks to prevent the theft of inventory and worked late nights to pick up furniture.Jim McIngvale in his furniture store.Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesSource: Gallery FurnitureGallery Furniture's sales soared during its first year of business as Americans moved to Houston to work in the city's booming auto, oil, and steel industries and needed to purchase furniture for their new homes.An oil storage facility in Houston, Texas.Mark Felix/AFP via Getty ImagesBut by 1983, Gallery Furniture's sales dropped significantly. This forced McIngvale to rethink his advertising strategy which included signs nailed to telephone poles and door-to-door fliers.A man putting fliers in a door.Al Drago/CQ Roll Call via Getty ImagesSource: Gallery FurnitureMcIngvale decided to spend his last $10,000 on a TV commercial shown on two Houston stations. He didn't like how the commercials turned out, so he stepped in front of the camera and improvised a sales pitch. He spoke quickly and energetically, ending his pitch by shouting "Gallery Furniture saves you money!"An old TV model.In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty ImagesSource: KHOU 11, Gallery FurnitureThe advertisement was a success and led furniture sales to skyrocket. The "save you money" slogan is now famous among Houstonians who watched him on TV.An advertisement for a Texas furniture store.RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty ImagesSource: KHOU 11, Gallery FurnitureThroughout the early 1980s, Mack appeared in a number of commercials where he wore a mattress costume. That's when the nickname "Mattress Mack" was born.A mattress costume, though not the one McIngvale wore.Terry Harris/Chicago Tribune via Getty ImagesSource:Las Vegas Review JournalDuring this time, he shifted away from selling solely value-priced furniture into higher-end furniture which attracted new customers. He credits the uptick in sales to his customer-centric approach to business, promising same-day delivery of furniture.Furniture store.WOLFGANG RATTAY/ReutersSource: Gallery FurnitureAs McIngvale ascended to fame and fortune, he and his wife became executive producers of the 1992 film 'Sidekicks' starring Chuck Norris and Jonathan Brandis. In turn, Norris acted in several Gallery Furniture commercials.Jim McIngvale (left) and actor Chuck Norris (right).Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesSource: The Los Angeles TimesIn 1988, McIngvale and his wife Linda moved into a 6,840 square foot mansion in Northgate Forest neighborhood, a private residential golf community in north Houston. It included seven bedrooms, Swarovski crystal chandeliers, and an Olympic-sized pool and spa. In 2008, the McIngvale's sold the home for $815,000.A mansion in the suburbs, though it's not the one the McIngvales lived in.Tim Kitchen/Getty ImagesSource: Houston Business Journal, Houston ChronicleIn 1991, Gallery Furniture generated $30 million in sales. By 1998, sales were at $100 million. McIngvale said that sales jumped because he adopted the W. Edward Deming's management method into his business, which focuses on improving manufacturing processes over cutting costs.A depiction of sales growth.Sakchai Vongsasiripat/Getty ImagesSource: Furniture World MagazineMcIngvale chronicled the lessons he learned from building a $100 million business into a book he co-authored with Thomas Duening and John Ivancevish titled "Always Think Big." The book was published in 2002.Always Think Big, co-authored by Jim McIngvale, Thomas Duening, and John Ivancevich.AmazonSeven years after the book was published, McIngvale opened his second Gallery Furniture store, a smaller-version of the original store in Western Houston.Steve Francis from the basketball team Orlando Magic signing autographs for fans at Gallery Furniture.Chris Graythen/NBAE via Getty ImagesSource: Gallery FurnitureBut disaster struck in late May of 2009 when a Gallery Furniture warehouse was destroyed by a fire that investigators said was caused by arson. The store lost millions of dollars worth of new furniture and racked up $10 million in damages.A furniture warehouse fire, though it's not Gallery Furniture's warehouse.Philippe Huguen/AFP via Getty ImagesSource: ABC 13, Houston ChronicleSoon after the fire, the Greater Northside Management District where his business properties are located sued McIngvale, alleging he refused to pay $48,000 in taxes between 2005 to 2007. McIngvale said that the district did not maintain the area properly, calling its fiscal policies "taxation without representation."Jim McIngvale got sued for refusing to pay $48,000 in taxes to the district.Yellow Dog Productions/Getty ImagesSource: Houston ChronicleMcIngvale continued to grow his business. By 2015, he opened his third Gallery Furniture store in Fort Bend County, the largest out of the three. The 165,000 square foot store didn't just display furniture. It also had monkeys and birds in cages, and puffer fish and sharks in a saltwater aquarium tank. McIngvale said he wanted customers to have an unforgettable shopping experience.McIngvale's third Gallery Furniture store featured exotic animals like puffer fish.Brent Durand/Getty ImagesSource: Houston ChronicleOn top of his business achievements, McIngvale is also known for giving back to the Houston community. When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in 2017, McIngvale opened his Gallery Furniture stores as a shelter for 800 victims who evacuated their homes to avoid flooding.A family takes shelter at a Gallery Furniture store after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas.Bredan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesSource: CNN, Architectural DigestTwo years later, McIngvale entered the sports betting business. In 2017, he made a deal where customers would receive free mattresses if the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the MLB's World Series. When the Astros won, he lost $10 million worth of mattresses. He said that he likes these big bets because he "gets bored to death with stability."Houston Astros owner Jim Crane raises a trophy after the Astros defeated the Dodgers in the 2017 World Series.Rob Tringali/MLB via Getty ImagesSource: Sporting NewsOver time, McIngvale continued making million-dollar sports bets. During the 2019 World Series, McIngvale travelled the country by private jets to place bets on Astros winning at betting sites in three different states. When the Houston Astros lost to the Washington Nationals, McIngvale lost at least $11.6 million in wagers. He has also made bets on Houston sports teams playing in the NFL playoffs, the Kentucky Derby, and the Superbowl.McIngvale signs a basketball used during the 2019 NBA Playoffs between Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors.Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty ImagesSource: ABC 13, Legal Sports BettingBut in June of 2019, McIngvale got sent to the hospital after a stroke scare where his face and arms went numb. Even though he's reportedly said that "work is his therapy," doctors urged him to work less hours until he got better.Emergency entrance of hospital.Getty ImagesSource: ABC 13But McIngvale's bets didn't stop his philanthropy. When tropical storm Imelda flooded Houston in 2019, he once again opened Gallery Furniture to evacuees and raised $106,000 for those affected. McIngvale also handed out thousands of free masks to Houstonians in early 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic led to a mask shortage. In 2021, he provided shelter to those impacted by the Texas power crisis.A man takes shelter at Gallery Furniture after Houston was hit with electricity blackouts in early 2021 due to winter storms.Go Nakamura/Getty ImagesSource: KHOU 11, ABC 13, The Washington PostEven though McIngvale lost more than $10 million on bets from 2020 onwards, the furniture kingpin won $75 million dollars after the Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2022 World Series championship — the largest payout in the history of sports betting.Jim McIngvale and others celebrating Houston Astros winning the 2022 World Series championship during a parade.Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports via ReutersSource: Action Network, CBS Sports, InsiderThe majority of the winnings will go towards a Gallery Furniture store promotion in which anybody who spent more than $3,000 on a mattress there would get a refund.Jim Mclngvale at his store Gallery Furniture.Go Nakamura/Getty ImagesSource: Yahoo SportsThe 71-year old McIngvale's net worth isn't clear — he is not listed on Bloomberg or Forbes' wealth indexes.Jim McIngvale with his wife Linda McIngvale at the 2018 Annual UNICEF Gala in Houston.Bob Levey/Getty ImagesIn a statement released after he won the Astros bet, McIngvale wrote that the last 41 years have been "the greatest years" of his life." He dedicated his wins to the Houston community. "I would do anything for this city," according to the statement.McIngvale at his store Gallery Furniture.Mark Felix for The Washington Post via Getty Images.Source: Gallery Furniture's facebook pageRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Look through photos of the most expensive homes listed for sale in the US. From acres of farmland to beachfront views, the amenities are endless. Randall RealtorsReal estate is becoming increasingly more expensive - and more difficult - for the average American to comfortably afford. Each of these million-dollar homes offers unique amenities for their hefty price tags. From private islands, to a hunter's paradise, there's something for everyone. It's becoming more difficult to buy a home, and these residences show the cost of luxury. According to online real estate marketplace Point2Homes, these 51 homes are the most expensive in their respective states. The properties range from single-family houses to gated compounds on acres of land.Alabama: 2510 Kirby Bridge Road, Decatur - $12.3 millionParker Real Estate Res.LLCThis gated compound is nearly 200 acres of secluded land with a stocked pond for fishing. The house itself is a custom 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom that offers an abundance of privacy for outdoorsmen.Alaska: 5260 Kachemak Drive, Homer - $9 millionLarner Global GroupWith 17,000 square feet of living space, this Alaskan home offers a spa, indoor pool, and steam room. It includes eight custom suites with unique features in each room and a 270-degree conservatory with a telescope for viewing Alaska's wildlife. Arizona: 20958 N 112th Street, Scottsdale - $28 millionEngel & Voelkers ScottsdaleCalled "The Aerie," this seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom home was just built this year. It's nestled in the McDowell Mountains and boasts sweeping views of the valley below. Arkansas: 115 West Van Buren, Eureka Springs - $7 millionAll Seasons Real EstateThe Queen Anne Mansion Estate was built in 1891 with seven master suites complete with en-suite bathrooms. The 4-acre lot includes a total of 10 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms.California: 33550 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu - $225 millionWestside Estate AgencyWith 16 beds and 22 baths, this property overlooking the Pacific Ocean covers nearly five acres and features nine structures, including a beach cottages, guest houses, and more. It has an underground tunnel connecting the pool to a movie theater, and an elevator to take guests to the beach.At $225 million, it's not only the priciest home for sale in California, but also the most expensive one for sale in the US. Colorado: 1650 McLain Flats Road, Aspen - $55 millionAspen Snowmass Sotheby's International RealtyThis bucolic compound, called the "Merry Go Ranch," includes 21 acres of lawns and pastures, as well as an eight-stall barn and a 13,000-square-foot gym.Connecticut: 450 Brickyard Road, Woodstock - $60 millionRandall RealtorsEver wanted to live in a castle? Here's your chance. This distinctive property features a moat, towers rising 120 feet high, period architectural doors, and stained glass throughout the castle, which overlooks a 30-acre pond.Delaware: 21440 Bald Eagle, Rehoboth Beach - $4.85 millionJohn Rowley with CoastLine RealtyBuilt in 1993, this Delaware home offers over four acres on Rehoboth Bay with four bedrooms and three full bathrooms. If that's not enough, there's a carriage house over the 3-car garage for extra living quarters.Florida: 18 La Gorce Circle, Miami Beach - $170 millionCourtesy of 1 Oak Studios/The Jills Zeder GroupThis massive compound, built in 1936 has never been put on the market until now. It sits on a 125,000-square-foot lot. It's compromised of four gated properties, and comes with its own private park, not to mention views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline. Georgia: 120 Hawkins Lane, Saint Simons Island - $17.8 millionRandy Burgess with Burnett PropertiesFor just under $18 million, Little Hawkins Island is a gated family compound surrounded by greenery and marsh. This private island includes four residential buildings: the main residence, two guest cottages, and the clubhouse for a total of 11,000 square feet.Hawaii: 9 Bay Drive, Lahaina - $59.5 millionCourtesy of Coldwell Banker Island PropertiesThis home's buyer would enjoy clear views of the sunset year-round on these 10 oceanfront acres on Hawea Point. Idaho: 105 Camas Road, Ketchum - $19.75 millionCourtesy of Sue Engelmann with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Sun Valley PropertiesThis lodge-style residence sits on nearly 300 acres of Idaho land with views of Bald Mountain. With five bedrooms and six bathrooms, the secluded home is "one of Idaho's most exclusive legacy properties," according to the listing.Illinois: 1932 N. Burling St., Chicago - $45 millionJameson Sotheby's International RealtyThis 25,000-square-foot estate in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood has amenities like a reflecting pool and antique garden pavilion.Indiana: 10285 West Youth Camp Road, Columbus - $30 millionBrock Childs with The Home AestheticVisitors to this rustic home on 415 wooded acres will find a two-story waterfall and trout stream in its entryway, and an 8,700-gallon freshwater aquarium in its great room.Iowa: 16216 and 1615 IA-86, Spirit Lake - $11.9 millionEric Hoien of Hoein RealtyThis residence is more like a lakeside retreat complete with an Irish pub, movie theatre, art studio, and separate loft apartment. There are a total of eight bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, and six fireplaces, and the home is being sold completely furnished.Kansas: 1051 N Blackstone Road, Milton - $6.7 millionAdler Grey Real Estate Media CollectiveThis net-zero energy home comes fully furnished including farming equipment for the 89 acres of land that comes along with the house. According to the listing, the residence is self-sustaining with a solar power system, generators, and propane gas. On this property, there's space dedicated to horses, spring-fed ponds, and a 300-yard shooting range. Inside the nearly 7,000-square-foot main home, there are six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, and a wet bar that's more like a second kitchen.Kentucky: 30 Bass Court, Whitesville - $25 millioneXp RealtyThis western Kentucky compound comes with three homes, a large private lake, and income-producing crop land on-site.Louisiana: 11001 Highland Road, Baton Rouge - $14 millionQuita CutrerLocated in the capital city, Baton Rouge, this over-12-acre property has a Mediterranean flare. Each of the five bedrooms has its own bathroom, and access to one of the various sitting rooms. In this home, there are many places to relax: a breakfast room, coffee bar, media room, and massage room.Outside of the main house, there's a 4,800-square-foot guest house with its own 3-car garage and a fully stocked pond for fishing. For outdoor entertainment, a 1,429-square-foot cabana, saltwater pool, and outdoor kitchen.Maine: 153 Foreside Road, Falmouth - $10.5 millionDavid Jones with F.O. Bailey Real EstateThis oceanfront property underwent a full renovation in 2021 to become a one-of-a-kind estate. There are three separate dwellings for guests, staff, or rentals, and the main residence features at least four bedrooms and seven full bathrooms. Although the water is just steps away outside, there's a deepwater diving pool and whirlpool jacuzzi indoors. Maryland: 1604 Winchester Road, Annapolis - $24.9 millionTTR Sotheby's International RealtyBuilt in 1922, this property overlooking the Severn River in Maryland has changed ownership many times - at one point belonging to the Catholic Church as a friary, from which it gets its current name, Friary on the Severn. Its features include a rooftop garden, 60-foot infinity pool, and six-slip private boat dock.Massachusetts: 41 Jefferson Ave., Nantucket - $39 millionCourtesy of CompassThis Nantucket property was first developed as a private beach club in the 1930s. Today, it has a four-unit main beach house and two stand-alone cottages.Michigan: 1558 Dutton Road, Rochester - $11.5 millionVito Anthony HomesThis 22-acre residence was custom built to showcase European craftsmanship by architect Dominick Tringali. It features seven bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a home theater, full bar, and two guest homes.Minnesota: 36463 Butternut Point Road, Pequot Lakes - $12 millionLarson Group Real Estate, Keller Williams Realty Professionals.Built on a peninsula on Whitefish Lake, this 3-acre home has 2,000 feet of shoreline, and six log guest houses. In total, there are 19 bedrooms and 22 bathrooms.Mississippi: 205 S Valley Road, Poplarville - $12.25 millionAdam Hester with Tom Smith Land & HomesThis property offers over 2,000 acres dedicated to outdoor activities. The owner can enjoy the whitetail deer enclosure, trophy bass fishing, and duck hunting without leaving home. Cross Creek Farm is custom-built 6,200-square-foot home with six bedrooms and six full bathrooms.Missouri: 2608 & 2606 Arrowhead Estates Road, Village of Four Seasons - $9.99 millionSpencer with EXP Realty, LLCThis family compound is in the heart of Lake Ozark. Inside the gates, there's a 3-story main house, two-bedroom two-bathroom guest house, two pools, a putting green, and a tennis court. The main house is complete with 130 solar panels.Montana: 405 Delrey Road, Whitefish - $40 millionGlacier Sotheby's International RealtySpring-fed mountain ponds and streams dot the 35 acres on which this lakefront log home sits in Montana.Nebraska: 17426 Island Circle, Bennington, Douglas County - $3.75 millionMichael Maley with BHHS Ambassador Real EstateThis 4-bedroom 6-bathroom home was built in 2016 on over an acre of land with 250 of open water frontage.Nevada: 1730 Hwy 50, Glenbrook - $100 million1730 Us Highway 50, Glenbrook, NVGoogle/US Geological SurveyThe Wall Street Journal and Robb Report have published photos of this lakefront home, complete with features like a wine room with capacity for 2,500 bottles, a greenhouse, and a whopping 700 evergreen trees on the property.New Hampshire: 144 Springfield Point Road, Wolfeboro - $19.5 millionJamieson Duston Of Duston Leddy Real EstateNamed "Lakeside Manor" for its location along 841 feet of Lake Winnipesaukee's shore, this home has four levels and 37 rooms total. The amenities offered inside include a 900-bottle wine room, 15-seat theater, and a 30-foot natural stone fireplace.New Jersey: 48 Rio Vista Drive, Alpine - $25 millionChristie's International Real Estate Northern New JerseyThis chateau-style manor has its own movie theater, pub, and great room with a 37-foot-high arched cathedral ceiling.At $25 million, it ties with another estate for the title of most expensive home for sale in New Jersey...New Jersey: 275 Indian Trail Drive, Franklin Lakes - $25 millionCourtesy of Christie's International Real Estate Northern New JerseyThis 14,700-square-foot estate comes with indoor and outdoor pools, a wine tasting room, and a basketball court.New Mexico: Zorro Ranch, Stanley - $27.5 millionUS Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New YorkRoughly half an hour from Santa Fe, this ranch has a three-story, four-bedroom main house; a lodge and log cabin; and even a yurt. The sprawling property was formerly owned by the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who purchased it in 1993 and killed himself in jail in 2019. It has been on the market for about a year.New York: 700 Meadow Lane, Southampton - $175 millionBespoke Real EstateThis modern Tudor-style mansion in the Hamptons comes with 11 bedrooms, 12 full and four  half bathrooms, and a private boardwalk to the beach. North Carolina: 1 Auditorium Circle, Wrightsville Beach - $13 millionLandmark Sotheby's International RealtyThis modern home features four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a pool, spa, and a boathouse. According to the listing, its design was inspired by the tropical modernism of mid-century Hawaii.North Dakota: 14388 45th St. NW, Williston - $4.99 millionDarin Milbrath with Dakota Plains Realty, LLCThe River Ranch uniquely features two master suites — one on each level. It's situated on 1,879 acres of land with the possibility of farming available.Ohio: 2779 Som Center Road, Hunting Valley - $6.95 millionTerry Young with Keller Williams Greater MetropolitanThe home itself is over 17,000 square feet of castle-like design. Situated on over five acres, it includes five bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a 12-seat theater, and a rooftop outlook to take in the views.Oklahoma: 3105 S Peoria Ave., Tulsa - $15 millionRob Allen with Sage Sotheby's RealtyThis 1925 mansion is in the heart of Tulsa on seven acres of heavily wooded land. The Patterson Estate consists of a main house, a guest house, and a tennis court. Oregon: 27280 NE Old Wolf Creek Road, Prineville - $65 millionCascade Hasson Sotheby's International RealtyThis ranch has a three-bedroom home, multiple cabins, and a six-stall horse barn. It's located in the foothills of central Oregon's Ochoco Mountains and borders 850,000 acres of national forest.Pennsylvania: 500-6 Walnut St., Unit 2500-2600, Philadelphia - $27 millionKurfiss Sotheby’s International RealtyThis 8,400-square-foot penthouse boasts floor-to-ceiling windows and is configured to allow for three large bedrooms, four full baths, and three half baths.Rhode Island: 2 Kidds Way, Westerly - $18.5 millionCourtesy of Lila Delman CompassThis open concept residence has been named Treasure Hill as it's situated at the second highest elevation on the Watch Hill peninsula. It features a heated saltwater pool, in-house fitness area with a sauna, and a wine tasting room.South Carolina: 133 Flyway Drive, Kiawah Island - $20 millionCelia Dunn Sotheby's International RealtyThis seaside estate comes with a private 400-foot driveway and a bridged walkway from the backyard to the beach.South Dakota: 13911 Cobb Road, Hermosa - $6.9 millionCourtesy of Jeff Garrett with Hayden Outdoors Real EstateThe Rafter R Ranch is nearly 500 acres. The 4,125-square-foot home was built in 2000 with three bedrooms and three bathrooms.Tennessee: 1304 Chickering Road, Nashville - $50 millionFridrich & Clark RealtyThe main home on this 59-acre estate has colonnaded porches at its front and back. The property also comes with a separate nine-acre building site.Texas: 12400 Cedar St., Lake Travis - $45 millionAustin Luxury GroupOne of the first things visitors will be greeted by at this waterfront estate/event space, called Villa Del Lago, is a grotto with multiple cascading waterfalls carved into the adjacent canyon hillside. Elsewhere on the property, they'll find a mudroom, private custom boathouse, and fenced pastures.Utah: 533 N Left Fork Hobble Creek Road, Springville - $48 millionCourtesy of Summit Sotheby's International RealtySeveral ponds dot Hobble Creek Ranch, which is well-suited for cattle and horses, and varies in elevation from 5,700 feet to over 9,100 feet.Vermont: 506 North Hill Road, Stowe - $16 millionPall Spera Company Realtors-StoweThis 68-acre estate has a helicopter landing site, a zipline, sunken hot tub, and a total of 11 bedrooms.Virginia: 700 Bulls Neck Road, McLean - $39 millionCourtesy of Townsend Visuals / TTR Sotheby's International RealtyThis estate overlooking the Potomac River has two garages, one of which can fit up to 22 cars, as well as a central lawn area designed to fit a large tent to accommodate more than 200 guests.Washington: 3858 Hunts Point Road, Hunts Point - $85 millionCourtesy of Windermere Real EstateBuilt in 1995, this compound on Lake Washington consists of four structures totaling more than 17,000 square feet of living space.West Virginia: 4428 Irish Heights Drive, Summersville - $19.5 millionColdwell Banker RealtyThe main residence overlooks over 100 acres of forest for an especially secluded experience. The wine cellar holds 3,000 bottles, and the primary suite has private access to an outdoor hot tub.Wisconsin: 9095 Cottage Row Rd, Fish Creek - $11.9 millionDiane Taillon with Arbor Crowne PropertiesThis 7-acre property is made up of a main house, guest house, and boathouse with rooftop entertainment deck. It offers 805 feet of shorefront in Fish Creek. Wyoming: 6160 W Lazy H Road, Wilson - $19.5 millionCompass Real EstateThis residence offers three separate living spaces and 50 acres with access to miles of National Forest. It comes with access to amenities like private fly fishing and trails for hiking and running.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

With designer living spaces, abundant amenities, and personal services once exclusive to select downtown Jersey City high rises and offerings across the Hudson River, 3 Acres has introduced an elevated lifestyle experience to the city’s burgeoning West Side – and renters are responding in historically high numbers. Just three months... The post 3 Acres records 300 leases in first three months, punctuating growing appeal of Jersey City’s West Side appeared first on Real Estate Weekly. With designer living spaces, abundant amenities, and personal services once exclusive to select downtown Jersey City high rises and offerings across the Hudson River, 3 Acres has introduced an elevated lifestyle experience to the city’s burgeoning West Side – and renters are responding in historically high numbers. Just three months since the new luxury rental community opened its doors at 400 Claremont Avenue, nearly half of its 629 residences have been leased – a robust pace that speaks to both the appeal of 3 Acres and the growth of its West Side neighborhood as a new residential destination. “We made a big bet on the West Side, believing that the positive transformation that has taken place here in recent years paved the way for a top-of-market rental building with an extraordinary amount of indoor and outdoor amenities and high-level services,” said Art Johnson, a principal of 400 Claremont, LLC, which developed 3 Acres and tapped The Marketing Directors as exclusive marketing and leasing agent.  “We’re thrilled that the bet has paid off in terms of the overwhelming public reaction.  Leasing 300 apartments in just the first three months is a testament to how well this building is connecting with residents.” Architectural Distinction with Residences for Every Need Designed by Marchetto Higgins Stieve, 3 Acres embraces a sleek, Danish-inspired design that features a mix of reclaimed and contemporary materials, including raw concrete and metal for both a historic and contemporary feel. One of the more distinguishing characteristics of 3 Acres is its variety of floor plans designed to meet varying needs and lifestyles.  Residents can choose from micro studios, studios with alcoves that mirror the space of a one-bedroom home, traditional one-bedroom layouts, and two-bedroom residences. A selection of studio homes is furnished by Resource Furniture, a leader in transformative and multifunctional spaces, which includes three-in-one pieces that quickly transform living areas into work and sleep spaces.   The well-appointed and modern residences create the perfect environment for living, lounging, and working.  Upscale finishes include plank flooring, central heat and air conditioning, in-home washer and dryer, complimentary window treatments, and kitchens with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and soft-close cabinets.  Lavish baths are adorned with imported glazed porcelain tile floors and vertical subway ceramic tile shower walls, while integrated technology features include Smart Home entry system and thermostat and lighting control. Monthly rents for 3 Acre’s collection of residences currently start from $1,575 with Grand Opening incentives that include one month free on a 13-month lease.  Immediate occupancy is available. Resort-Inspired Amenities, Inside and Out It is perhaps 3 Acres’ upscale personal services and seemingly endless offering of indoor and outdoor amenities — spread throughout an incredible 70,000 square feet of space across multiple levels — that truly sets this building apart.   3 Acres’ elegant, attended lobby is bordered on both sides by an array of lounge, amenity, and workspaces that run the full two-block width of the building and open to a second level brimming with additional social spaces.  These include a state-of-the-art fitness center, infrared saunas, conference room, work pods, a chef’s table with demonstration kitchen, multi-sport simulator and screening room, resident lounge with a saltwater aquarium, and a game room with a mini bowling alley, pinball, ping pong and arcade games.  On-site musical entertainment emanates from a Steinway Spirio digital grand piano in one of the lounge spaces that self-plays pieces from a vast library of musical content, as well as simulcasts live performances from great pianists around world.  Extensive outdoor space includes a rooftop terrace, and a pool with jacuzzi and sundeck, cabanas, and loungers.  Three distinctive outdoor courtyards feature barbecues and private dining areas, lounge seating and firepits, outdoor Yoga, bocce, chess, shuffleboard, and ping pong; a community garden, Zen area, and a dog run. Best-in-Class Concierge Service and Social Programming from Global Leader LIVunLtd. The 3 Acres resident experience is further enhanced by the onsite presence of LIVunLtd., a global luxury concierge and amenity management brand that will oversee a robust calendar of private residential events and creative activation to help bring 3 Acres’ social spaces to life.   A dedicated, onsite Lifestyle Manager will ensure residents have the opportunity to socialize with their neighbors amidst 3 Acres’ spectacular amenity spaces.  “LIVunLtd. has a presence in some of the most high-profile buildings in New York City and beyond and having them onsite at 3 Acres speaks to the developer’s commitment to providing a full lifestyle experience for residents,” said Jacqueline Urgo, president of The Marketing Directors.  “This building checks all the boxes and then some, and it’s helping to put Jersey City’s West Side in the spotlight.” Additional conveniences include resident and bike storage, covered, climate-controlled parking with electric charging stations and auto wash and detailing, car and electric scooter rentals, and shuttle service to the Journal Square PATH Station. Residents also won’t have to travel far to enjoy coffee, cocktails, and culinary delights as the building’s street-level retail space will soon house The Lobby Bar, Table at 3 Acres restaurant, Three Thirds Café, and Juice Caboose.  And for those art enthusiasts, 3 Acres features a studio with an inhouse Resident Artist actively creating works of art.  A Growing Community Located just west of Downtown Jersey City near the banks of the Hackensack River, 3 Acres is situated in an area that is experiencing a wave of new investment and interest, including New Jersey City University’s (NJCU) planned 22-acre University Place expansion project that will include a Performing Arts Center, and the 95-acre Bayfront redevelopment. A complement of existing and new dining, recreation and nightlife options also dot the neighborhood, while retail shopping can be found at the nearby Hudson Mall.  3 Acres residents can also venture outside to enjoy the vast green spaces at the 273-acre Lincoln Park which features open space, twenty-one public tennis courts, three playgrounds, a dog run, nature trails, several sports fields, and Skyway Golf Course, a scenic 9-hole layout lined with colorful fescue, magnificent dunes and rolling fairways.  3 Acres is well connected to the vibrant dining, shopping and culture of downtown Jersey City and Manhattan via the Hudson Bergen Light Rail West Side Avenue Station located across the street.  The building is also a quick drive to the New Jersey Turnpike and Routes 440 and 1 and 9, allowing residents to reach all the businesses and highly popular recreational options in northern New Jersey and the famed Jersey Shore.  For more information on 3 Acres and to arrange a private appointment to tour the building’s model homes and amenities, please call 201-733-3000 or visit www.3AcresJC.com.  The building is located at 400 Claremont Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07304.  The post 3 Acres records 300 leases in first three months, punctuating growing appeal of Jersey City’s West Side appeared first on Real Estate Weekly......»»

Drone footage released on March 24 shows the almost total destruction of areas of Bakhmut, which has become a key battleground in the war in Ukraine. Footage released on March 24 shows the almost total destruction of residential areas of Bakhmut. Both sides have suffered heavily in the battle for Bakhmut, which has been called a "meat grinder". Ukraine's military say defending the city is a "military necessity" for the country. Newly released drone footage shows the almost complete ruin of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut following months of some of the bloodiest fighting since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.Russia first started shelling the city in Ukraine's east in May last year, and fighting ramped up there in August.Fighting has now reached the city's streets. Bakhmut's deputy mayor told the BBC earlier this month that "not a single building" was left undamaged and that the city was "almost destroyed."This new footage seems to back up that assessment.Fighting in Bakhmut has been brutal. Western officials estimate that between 20,000 and 30,000 Russian troops have been killed or injured in the city, and NATO predicted that Russia was losing five soldiers for every Ukrainian killed.Commanders on both sides have called the battle a "meat grinder."Even so, Russia has gradually inched forward, although monitors say that its progress appears to have slowed recently.Ukraine's ground forces commander, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, said on Monday that continuing to fight in Bakhmut is a "military necessity" for his country.Ukrainian officials say that fighting there allows it to grind down Russia's overall military strength.The city has little strategic value for Russia, but Russia has been so unsuccessful is gaining new territory over the last few months that it is desperate for even a symbolic win, experts told Insider.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Jason Hughes, whose brokerage has a Seattle office, was involved in a "classic conflict of interest case," San Diego's city attorney says......»»

Los Angeles has been home to six tiny home villages run by faith-based nonprofit Hope of the Valley Mission, providing 908 beds to unhoused Angelenos. The Chandler Street Tiny Home Village in Los Angeles.Brittany Chang/Insider California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state will spend $30 million to build 1,200 tiny homes this year. These homes will shelter the state's unhoused population in locations like Los Angeles and San Diego. Los Angeles has been home to six tiny home villages operated by nonprofit Hope of the Valley. On March 16, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state will spend $30 million building 1,200 tiny homes this year as part of California's effort to decrease its unhoused population by 15% by 2025.The Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderSource: Associated Press, Office of Gov. Gavin Newsom"The crisis of homelessness will never be solved without first solving the crisis of housing – the two issues are inextricably linked," Newsom said. "We are tackling this issue at the root of the problem by addressing the need to create more housing, faster in California."The Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderSource: Office of Gov. Gavin NewsomThese 1,200 tiny homes will be distributed across four communities — Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Jose, and San Diego County — and beds will be prioritized for people who currently reside in encampments.Brittany Chang/InsiderLos Angeles will receive the most at 500 units while San Diego will be dealt the least with 150 tiny homes.Omerali Senakayli / EyeEm / Getty ImagesAt this time, it's unclear who will be building these tiny shelters or where exactly they'll go …Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission… although it has been reported that the units could be as small as 120 square-feet, Adam Beam reported for the Associated Press.The Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderSource: Associated PressBut in the meantime, we could turn to Los Angeles as an example of what this collection of tiny homes might look like.The Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderThe city is no stranger to spending millions of dollars on these unique shelters.The Arroyo Seco Tiny Homes Village in Highland Park, California.Hope of the Valley Rescue MissionThe 200 beds at one of its latest villages, Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village, each cost about $43,000, bringing the cost of the village to $8.6 million.The Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderSource: InsiderThis site is being operated by Hope of the Valley, a faith-based nonprofit that has been deploying prefab tiny homes made by Washington-based Pallet to create these "tiny home villages" throughout Los Angeles.The Arroyo Seco Tiny Homes Village in Highland Park, California.Hope of the Valley Rescue MissionIt all started in February 2021 with its first Chandler Street Tiny Home Village, a colorful collection of tiny homes tucked in a previously "forgotten" corner of North Hollywood.Tiny homes at the Chandler Street Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderThis "test case" for the city as Rowan Vansleve, CFO of the nonprofit, called it, then became a success.Tiny homes at the Chandler Street Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderAnd shortly after it opened, the village began accumulating a waitlist for its beds.Inside a tiny home at the Chandler Street Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderSource: InsiderNow two years out, Hope of the Valley has opened six tiny home villages in the county, providing 908 beds to unhoused Angelenos.The inside of a tiny home at the Arroyo Seco Tiny Homes Village in Highland Park, California.Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission.Source: Hope of the ValleyWhen you think of homeless shelters, you probably think of congregate shelters, not these unconventional colorful villages.PalletHowever, there are drawbacks to these traditional shelters, such as the cost and time it takes to construct them.The Arroyo Seco Tiny Homes Village in Highland Park, California.Hope of the Valley Rescue MissionThe open and shared spaces can also be triggering or traumatizing to people who've been living on the streets, which could stop people from seeking help, Amy King, Pallet's CEO, told Insider in 2022.The Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderPallet builds the tiny homes used in Hope of the Valley's tiny home villages.Brittany Chang/InsiderSource: InsiderPallet's most popular 64-square-foot Shelter 64 costs $7,500 and takes about an hour to assemble on-site.Brittany Chang/InsiderSource: InsiderAn entire village can then be built in a little over a week, according to the company.Brittany Chang/InsiderHope of the Valley's villages are outfitted with these colorful Shelter 64s, which are all located in an enclosed community surrounded by a fence.The Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderFor some unhoused people, these tiny homes are certainly better than a congregate shelter.The Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderBut inside, the units are far from a plush apartment. They provide the bare minimum …The Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/Insider… which includes one or two beds, an air conditioner and heater, a desk, lights, outlets, and maybe most importantly, a lockable door.Inside a tiny home at the Chandler Street Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/Insider"For people who've experienced trauma, having a locking door can sometimes become the difference between accepting help getting off the street and making a step towards permanent supportive housing," Vansleve told Insider in 2021.Inside a tiny home at the Chandler Street Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderSource: InsiderThe small homes don't have enough space for bathrooms and showers. Instead, there are separate on-site laundry and bathroom facilities.Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village's bathroom.Brittany Chang/InsiderResidents also have access to communal dining facilities and three meals a day.Communal areas at the Chandler Street Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderThe goal of these non-congregate shelters isn't just to provide a temporary bed for those who need it the most. It's for residents to find permanent housing.The Arroyo Seco Tiny Homes Village in Highland Park, California.Hope of the Valley Rescue MissionTo help expedite this process, the villages all have on-site security and caseworkers to aid in services like mental health treatment and job searches.The entrance into the Chandler Street Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderDrugs, alcohol, and weapons are not allowed inside the villages.The Arroyo Seco Tiny Homes Village in Highland Park, California.Hope of the Valley Rescue MissionSource: InsiderThere are, of course, difficulties with running these communities.The Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderAt a similar 40-unit tiny home village in Everett, Washington, many of the residents are experiencing trauma, behavioral difficulties, and substance use, John Hull, director of strategic initiatives with Everett Gospel Mission, told Insider in 2022.Brittany Chang/InsiderSource: Insider This substance abuse keeps residents in the Washington village — located near Pallet's manufacturing site — for longer than six months.Brittany Chang/InsiderTo compare, the sites in Los Angeles want their residents to find permanent housing within half a year.Tiny homes at the Chandler Street Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderSource: InsiderAnd it's not always guaranteed success: A handful of Everett Gospel Mission's original residents have moved back onto the streets.Brittany Chang/InsiderSource: Insider"The difficulty is if Pallet doesn't work for them, there's not a whole lot of other options in our community," Hull said at the time. "We're not necessarily equipped to handle pretty severe mental health or psychosis."Brittany Chang/InsiderBut for those who do find success in the program, residents stay for an average of three to six months before transitioning to permanent housing, Amy King, Pallet's CEO, told Insider.Brittany Chang/InsiderSource: Insider "We're just people who were trying to help these participants better their life," Priscilla Rodriguez, a case manager at the Chandler Street Tiny Home Village, told Insider in 2021. "They're not trying to harm the community in any way, they're trying to get themselves back into the community."The Chandler Street Tiny Home Village.Brittany Chang/InsiderRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Rubenstein Partners’ 25 Kent, Brooklyn’s newest mixed-use office and light manufacturing building, today announced it signed a 12-year, 7,120-square-foot lease with multifunctional fashion and lifestyle brand, Kith at 25 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg. The space at 25 Kent to serve as the brand’s Williamsburg retail outpost and feature a Kith Treats cereal bar.... The post Williamsburg’s 25 Kent Inks Additional 7,120-Square-Foot Lease with Fashion Brand, Kith appeared first on Real Estate Weekly. Rubenstein Partners’ 25 Kent, Brooklyn’s newest mixed-use office and light manufacturing building, today announced it signed a 12-year, 7,120-square-foot lease with multifunctional fashion and lifestyle brand, Kith at 25 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg. The space at 25 Kent to serve as the brand’s Williamsburg retail outpost and feature a Kith Treats cereal bar. “Kith as a brand embodies the nature of Brooklyn’s ever-growing creative community and fits in seamlessly with the burgeoning scene of artistry and innovation in the Williamsburg neighborhood,” said Joe Zuber, Regional Director – NY Metro & New England at Rubenstein Partners. “We are proud to continue growing our partnership with Kith and to serve as the home of the iconic brand’s first Williamsburg retail location.” Kith’s 25 Kent storefront will include the full range of the brand’s premium products, inclusive of apparel, footwear, accessories and lifestyle offerings for men, women and children. Additionally, the location will house the brand’s in-house cereal bar concept, Kith Treats. Currently available in nine out of twelve Kith locations worldwide, Kith Treats offers a variety of dairy and non-dairy frozen foods, desserts and pastries, alongside a wide selection of cereals and additional mix-ins. Kith was one of the first luxury fashion and lifestyle brands to relocate from Manhattan to Brooklyn in an effort to maintain Brooklyn’s historic role as home to the garment industry. First joining the 25 Kent community in 2019, Kith relocated from their previous Soho location to a 57,679-square-foot maker space at 25 Kent. Developed as a partnership between Rubenstein Partners and Heritage Equity Partners, 25 Kent is ideally located in a neighborhood that is young, vibrant and filled with entrepreneurs, artists and artisans. The building occupies a full block bounded by Wythe and Kent Avenues and North 12th and North 13th Streets, directly across the street from Bushwick Inlet Park, the city’s newest waterfront park, recently opened to the neighborhood. A product of collaboration between design architect Hollwich Kushner (HWKN) and design development architect Gensler, this newly completed eight-story, 500,000-square-foot commercial office building is the first of its type erected in North Williamsburg in more than 40 years. It’s conceived to be a hub of innovation in which the tech, creative, design, production and light manufacturing industries can collaborate and grow together. The post Williamsburg’s 25 Kent Inks Additional 7,120-Square-Foot Lease with Fashion Brand, Kith appeared first on Real Estate Weekly......»»

The package was mailed to the Manhattan building where the Trump "hush money" grand jury sits, police told Insider. It was addressed to Alvin Bragg. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.AP Photo/Seth Wenig White powder was mailed Friday to the Manhattan building where the Trump 'hush money' grand jury sits. The grand jury was not in session and the powder was quickly determined to be non-hazardous. The powder was contained in an envelope addressed to DA Alvin Bragg, NBC reported. A package containing "suspicious white powder" was discovered at noon on Friday in the building where a grand jury has been hearing evidence in the Trump "hush-money" investigation led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, officials told Insider.The package was delivered to the building's mail room, and was non-hazardous, police told Insider.NBC reported that the letter was addressed to Bragg and said "ALVIN: I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!!!"The letter was delivered by USPS, Fox News reported.The grand jury meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, sources have told Insider, and was not in session on Friday. No one was sickened or taken to the hospital; the package was determined to be non-hazardous within three hours, officials told Insider."The D.A. has informed the office that it was immediately contained and that the NYPD Emergency Service Unit and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection determined there was no dangerous substance," a DA spokesperson said.—Laura Italiano (@Italiano_Laura) March 24, 2023 Police said the incident is under investigation. The apparent threat came as a grand jury is weighing evidence that could lead to an indictment of former President Donald Trump over his alleged role in hush-money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 election. Trump has denied any wrongdoing. Trump has repeatedly lashed out at Bragg in the past week, calling him a "WOKE TYRANT" and "SOROS BACKED ANIMAL" while encouraging his followers to "take our nation back" as an indictment looms.On Thursday, Trump posted on Truth Social a link to an article with a photo composite of him holding a baseball bat next to an image of Bragg's head. His Truth post has since been taken down.On Saturday, Bragg sent his employees an office-wide email promising that, "our law enforcement partners will ensure that any specific or credible threats against the office will be fully investigated and that the proper safeguards are in place so all 1,600 of us have a secure work environment."Experts on political violence have warned that Trump's words could trigger violence. Officers with the NYPD and the city Department of Environmental Protection were seen just before 3 p.m. carrying red, hazardous materials bags out of the lower Manhattan office building where Bragg and his team of prosecutors also have offices.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

McDonald's restaurants can be found in the homes of past world leaders, the interiors of planes, and even in historic mansions. This McDonald's restaurant in Taupo, New Zealand, is located inside a decommissioned plane.EQRoy/Shutterstock Some McDonald's restaurants are found in downright strange locations. One McDonald's restaurant in Taupo, New Zealand, is located inside a decommissioned plane. A glass-walled McDonald's restaurant has received an award for its impressive architecture. The McDonald's location in Downey, California, is the oldest McDonald's restaurant that still looks as it did when it first opened.McDonald's in Downey, California.tishomir/ShutterstockIt is the oldest surviving McDonald's location in the world. It doesn't even have a drive-thru — instead, customers walk up to the restaurant's windows to order.The location also features a vintage McDonald's sign with the fast-food brand's old mascot.The vintage 60-foot-tall neon sign at the world's oldest-operating McDonald's restaurant in Downey, California.David McNew/Getty ImagesSpeedee, a chef with a hamburger for a head, appeared on the original McDonald's signs alongside the brand's logo of two interlocking golden arches.Some signs also advertised the low price of McDonald's hamburgers — just 15 cents at the time.This McDonald's restaurant in Hangzhou, China, is located inside a 90-year-old villa that once housed a former Taiwanese leader.McDonald's in Hangzhou, China.Zhang Peng/LightRocket/Getty ImagesBefore being converted into a McDonald's and McCafe restaurant, the building was known as a cultural relic that was the residence of politician Chiang Ching-kuo for one month during the 1940s. The restaurant has been called "the most controversial McDonald's outlet in the world."McDonald's in Hangzhou, China.STR/AFP/Getty ImagesMany locals objected to the restaurant opening inside the historic building, calling it a prime example of Western commercialism invading Chinese culture.However, the restaurant has become somewhat of a tourist attraction since it opened in 2015, welcoming visitors from all over the world.This McDonald's restaurant in Taupo, New Zealand, is located inside a decommissioned plane.McDonald's in Taupo, New Zealand.EQRoy/ShutterstockNamed one of the "world's coolest McDonald's" according to a sign outside the restaurant, customers can enjoy everything from a classic Big Mac to Chicken McNuggets and McCafe beverages inside the plane.There's even airplane-style seating where customers can sit and enjoy their food.McDonald's in Taupo, New Zealand.Fotos593/ShutterstockVisitors to this unique McDonald's restaurant can also view the D3 plane's cockpit.This McDonald's restaurant in Clifton Hill, Melbourne, Australia, is designed in the art-deco style of the 1920s and '30s.Art deco McDonald's in Clifton Hill, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Tim McRae/Getty ImagesThe building was originally the United Kingdom Hotel and was designed by architect James Hastie Wardrop.Constructed between 1937 and 1938, this restaurant has been called one of the most beautiful McDonald's buildings in the world.Built in 1983, the Rock-N-Roll McDonald's in Chicago, Illinois, was known nationwide for its themed decor.Rock-N-Roll McDonald's in Chicago.PRNewsfoto/Getty ImagesFilled with music and pop-culture memorabilia, the restaurant spanned two floors and was a replica of Ray Kroc's first McDonald's.The decor was quintessentially '80s, but in 2017, the fast-food giant decided the location would be fully renovated and modernized.An old jukebox is displayed in the Rock-N-Roll McDonald's in 2004.Tim Boyle/Getty ImagesAfter the restaurant was partially demolished and modernized, the memorabilia once housed in the restaurant went into the franchise owner's personal collection, according to the Chicago Tribune.Another iconic McDonald's restaurant that has closed for good is, surprisingly, the chain's Times Square location.McDonald's in Times Square.Joseph M. Arseneau/ShutterstockKnown for its giant marquee featuring thousands of light bulbs, the restaurant — perhaps surprisingly — closed in 2020 not as a result of the coronavirus pandemic but rather as part of McDonald's regular review of its restaurant portfolio, according to a spokesperson.This McDonald's in Sedona, Arizona, is the only one in the world with turquoise arches.McDonald's in Sedona, Arizona.Sheila Fitzgerald/ShutterstockThe restaurant, which was built in May 1993, is located in one of Arizona's most beautiful cities; it's known for its awe-inspiring red-rock mountains, canyon walls, and pine forests. The building has to adhere to Sedona's strict guidelines on building design and signage.McDonald's in Sedona, Arizona.FiledIMAGE/ShutterstockWhile the bright-yellow color of a majority of McDonald's signs might work in other parts of the country, the turquoise color chosen by the Sedona, Arizona, location blends much better with the surrounding landscape.Sedona also has strict restrictions on how tall buildings and signage can be, which is why the famous arches are placed lower than at most other McDonald's restaurants.A now-closed McDonald's in Houston, Texas, was space-themed to pay homage to the nearby NASA space center.McDonald's in Houston, Texas.K I Photography/ShutterstockOn top of the large McDonald's restaurant, which also had a play place, was a statue of a NASA astronaut holding a container of fries.The theme continued inside the restaurant.McDonald's in Houston, Texas.Amanda H./YelpRonald McDonald and the rest of the "McDonaldland" characters lined the walls wearing space suits and posing against a starry background.The world's first floating McDonald's restaurant opened in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1980.The floating McDonald's restaurant in St. Louis, Missouri, which is no longer there.(Gerald) LEE SNIDER/Getty ImagesMoored slightly south of the Gateway Arch on the Mississippi River, this McDonald's was the very first McDonald's to be opened on a riverboat.It was open for 20 years before closing in 2000.The McDonald's restaurant in Freeport, Maine, looks much more like a house than a standard fast-food franchise.McDonald's in Freeport, Maine.Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald/Getty ImagesSome McDonald's locations attempt to blend in with the local buildings and are designed more sympathetically. This McDonald's location, however, was actually built inside a preexisting, 150-year-old colonial mansion. Located in Freeport, a small seaside town in Maine, the building was converted into the town's only McDonald's in 1984.This Paris McDonald's is located in a historic building built in 1892.McDonald's in Paris, France, on Rue Saint-Lazare.Oleg Anisimov/ShutterstockThe restaurant can be found on Rue Saint-Lazare in Paris, France. Though the building is now a McDonald's, it's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Referred to as the "flying saucer McDonald's," this unique fast-food restaurant in Roswell, New Mexico, is truly out of this world.McDonald's in Roswell, New Mexico.Nagel Photography/ShutterstockInspired by the extraterrestrial history of Roswell, the interior of the spaceship holds a play place, which is also space-themed.This McDonald's restaurant in Kristiansand, Norway, was converted from an old bank building.McDonald's in Kristiansand, Norway.Janus Orlov/ShutterstockThough you might think patrons can stroll up the steps to enter one of the most unique McDonald's buildings in the world, customers actually enter from a side entrance.A McDonald's in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is similarly grandiose — though it at one point had cartoonish fry sculptures on the front of the building.McDonald's in Sao Paulo, Brazil.casadaphoto/ShutterstockThe building almost resembles the White House.However, past its columns and grand facade, customers can still enjoy McDonald's favorites like the Big Mac or Brazilian menu items like the McCrispy Chicken Legend and the Cheddar McMelt.A McDonald's location in Porto, Portugal, was previously occupied by Cafe Imperial, a famous coffee shop open in the city since the 1930s.McDonald's in Porto, Portugal.SMAJC/ShutterstockThe giant bronze eagle was designed by Portuguese sculptor Henrique Moreira and is usually the first thing customers notice when they approach the restaurant. Inside the restaurant, guests find glamorous details like crystal chandeliers and a massive stained glass window behind the counter.McDonald's in Porto, Portugal.saiko3p/ShutterstockAccording to a previous article by Business Insider, the colorful window is original to the coffee shop that previously occupied the space, and it features beautiful coffee-related scenes.The restaurant has been called the world's most beautiful McDonald's.Independence, Ohio, is home to a McDonald's that's known as one of the fanciest fast-food restaurants in the country.McDonald's in Independence, Ohio.Michael P./YelpIt was designed in accordance with building requirements from the city where the median household annual income is more than $100,000, according to census data.Inside, guests are greeted by gold chandeliers and a majestic banister.McDonald's in Independence, Ohio.Michael P./Yelp"The building is unique to any I have ever seen and it is a joy to take a break and walk to the second floor and enjoy the view while I enjoy breakfast or lunch," wrote one TripAdvisor user.This McDonald's is found in Barstow Station, a fake train station in Barstow, California.McDonald's at Barstow Station.Bill C./YelpThe "train station" opened in 1975, and is also occupied by a Starbucks and a Popeyes.The restaurant is surrounded by passenger train cars, which are used as dining areas.McDonald's in Barstow, California.Andrew G./YelpDespite having a unique theme, the restaurant still serves up McDonald's favorites.A McDonald's restaurant is also found inside the historic Denton House on Long Island, New York.McDonald's in New Hyde Park, New York.Mike C./YelpThe building was originally an 18th-century farmhouse that was converted into a Georgian-style mansion in the 1860s.McDonald's originally intended to knock the building down after it was purchased in 1985.McDonald's in New Hyde Park, New York.Paul D./YelpHowever, according to Atlas Obscura, the fast-food giant faced pressure from preservationists to restore the home to its former grandeur.The town then allowed the chain to build onto the existing building to create space for a drive-thru. There's also a McDonald's inside Budapest's beautiful Western Railway Station.McDonald's Nyugati in Budapest.AP PHOTO/NOEMI BRUZAKAccording to Mic, the station was built in 1877 by the Eiffel Company, which also built the Eiffel Tower. As well as being home to a McDonald's, the train station is still fully operational.This unique McDonald's location can be found in Batumi, Georgia.McDonald's in Batumi, Georgia.Karolis Kavolelis/ShutterstockLocated in downtown Batumi, this McDonald's stands out for its reflective glass exterior. Patrons eating inside the restaurant can also gaze out onto the pool of water and manicured grass surrounding the building.Inside, the restaurant's furnishings are similarly modern in design.McDonald's in Batumi, Georgia.Karolis Kavolelis/ShutterstockBuilt in 2013, this location also won the award for The Best Commercial Building of 2014 by the architecture website ArchDaily.In spring, flowers bloom on the lawns.Seating inside the McDonald's in Batumi, Georgia.Marynka Mandarinka/ShutterstockThis makes for a great photo-op or simply a beautiful sight while patrons eat their meals.This McDonald's restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina, was renovated to fit with the local guidelines from the nearby Biltmore Estate.McDonald's in Asheville, North Carolina.Nelson M./YelpResembling a ski lodge, the restaurant fits in perfectly in the mountain town. However, inside is grander than perhaps any outside viewer could expect.The restaurant features red-oak tables, a self-playing baby grand piano, wrought-iron railings, and a fireplace.McDonald's in Asheville, North Carolina.Jackie S./YelpThe interior is also decorated with wallpaper, pieces of art, and hanging chandeliers. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Hoteliers Jon Blanchard and Nicolo Rusconi of BLVD Hospitality, in partnership with ESI Ventures, are delighted to announce the re-launch of Santa Monica’s iconic hotel The Georgian.  Perched above the Santa Monica waterfront on Ocean Avenue, The Georgian has been a fixture of the Southern California coastline since its debut... The post Historic Oceanfront Hotel, The Georgian, Re-Launches in Santa Monica appeared first on Real Estate Weekly. Hoteliers Jon Blanchard and Nicolo Rusconi of BLVD Hospitality, in partnership with ESI Ventures, are delighted to announce the re-launch of Santa Monica’s iconic hotel The Georgian.  Perched above the Santa Monica waterfront on Ocean Avenue, The Georgian has been a fixture of the Southern California coastline since its debut in 1933 and will re-open to the public on Monday, April 3rd 2023. Steeped in the history of old Hollywood, the famed Art Deco property has seen several iterations over the years, with regular guests including Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe and First Mother Rose Kennedy. The hotel’s opening coincided with the start of the golden age of hospitality and was the dream of renowned Californian hotelier, Mrs. Rosamond Borde, who commissioned celebrated architect Mr. M. Eugene Durfee to design a hotel of grand proportions. Dramatic in appearance but with a cozy, intimate feel, the landmark property has been lovingly restored to its former glory. A destination where global culture intersects with Californian charm, The Georgian has been carefully restored by Blanchard and Rusconi through the eye of leading interior architecture and design firm, Fettle, with architecture by HLW, alongside branding and experience company Corso Marketing Group. Maintaining the original concept’s striking features and presence throughout, complemented by thoughtful design, the property offers 84 keys – with 56 classic rooms and 28 one bedroom suites – with sweeping ocean views. Overlooking the California coastline, the building’s unmistakable turquoise façade has pride of place on Ocean Avenue, where the architecturally stunning property’s timeless elegance and historic significance is on full display. Fettle’s design offers a glimpse into the hotel’s 1930’s heyday which underscores its inherent traditional elements. As guests approach the entrance they are greeted by rows of peach hibiscus and vibrant foliage designed and procured by LA nursery Rolling Greens. Whimsical topiaries flank the building’s distinctive navy striped awning-covered Sunset Terrace. Guests walk upon a Havana Deco inspired floor as they cross the threshold into The Georgian’s historic lobby. High ceilings accented with custom Art Deco chandeliers and original decorative reliefs welcome travelers to the cinematic entryway, with the visually striking horseshoe-shaped Sunset Bar to the left, and intimate dining room to the right. Seasonal floral installations by LA-based French floral artist Jean Pascal decorate the space. Passing through the lobby and the Wes Anderson-inspired Reception, guests can explore The Georgian’s namesake gallery – Gallery 33. Beautiful, inspiring and contemporary, this dramatic space has been designed to celebrate the best of culture, the arts and the most unique of gatherings as well as showcasing the work of local, internationally renowned, and up-and-coming artists through an evolving program. Gallery 33 will also host specially commissioned exhibitions from historical and cultural institutions and is available to hire for private events, artist dinners and cocktail parties. The space was launched with works by actress  Sharon Stone who presents her first show Shedding, a Prelude – on display through the end of March. The Writer’s Room offers a private dining space – perfect for intimate dinners and in-conversations –  with high-end AV equipment and room for up to 10 guests seated or 20 guests standing. The Library, which features a curated Hugo Guinness collection, presents a fully-stocked study with books curated by Lee Kaplan of Culver City’s Arcana: Books on the Arts. Modern best sellers and vintage books highlighting the history of art and culture in Los Angeles and Santa Monica and other foundational elements for The Georgian story can be found here. From Joan Didion to Eve Babitz to a private collection of Christopher Isherwood, the literary curation of the library is truly one-of-a-kind. The 24-hour Gymnasium offers hotel guests top of the line fitness equipment including Peloton bikes, a Precor treadmill, and Alo Yoga Mats. Rooms at The Georgian embrace the hotel’s Art Deco heritage, many with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Pier, stretching out from Santa Catalina Island across to Malibu, where some of the world’s most breathtaking sunsets take place. Each room, with their original ornate peephole, features fully custom golden hued arched headboards designed by Fettle and globe shaped crystal light fixtures. Plush beds are draped in sustainable fine Italian linens by Bellino with accent cushions by Italian textile designer Lisa Corti. Rooms and suites all feature an antique bar cart and Marshall speaker. Custom Georgian-branded diamond knit bathrobes are complemented by vegan R+Co toiletries and industry-leading Harry Josh hair dryers. The Georgian will also be the first hotel in the world to offer Alo Moves, which allows guests to complete a selection of yoga tutorials via the in-room television. Every element of The Georgian creates an extravagant but equally refined stage for a contemporary set of service standards. Suites feature separate bedrooms and large living rooms  with pastel toned couches. Each suite contains thoughtful touches to accent each guests’ stay, including  Polaroid cameras to chronicle the visit to Santa Monica on film and Victrola record players to provide the perfect vinyl soundtrack with curated records from California-based Ubiquity Records. The highlight of the suites is the custom-made floor to ceiling bar. Brass, with antiqued and backlit textured glass surround, the indulgent amenity has ornate buttons offering a unique “press for” concierge service, delivering everything from champagne and dessert to an antique cart of rare books, directly to the suite door. On the ground level of the hotel, The Georgian offers a breakfast, lunch, and dinner restaurant known simply as Restaurant at The Georgian – stretching across the Sunset Terrace, Sunset Bar, and Dining Room. The Restaurant at The Georgian under the direction of Chef David Almany – previously of Osteria Mozza under Chef Nancy Silverton for almost a decade – explores the intersection of timeless culinary classics with Italian cuisine reaching from the rich heritage ingredients of the Italian North to emblematic dishes of Puglia  as well as the fragrant and almost embarrassingly romantic citrus and ocean saline flavors of the Amalfi coast. Chef David visits the renowned Santa Monica Farmer’s Market just around the corner from the hotel weekly to procure his selection of fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables while also partnering with numerous world-class vendors like Thomas Keller’s Regiis Ova Caviar, Pat La Freida Meat Purveyors, and Grove and Vine Olive Oil to create a menu that is uniquely elevated and delightfully heart warming at the same time. Cocktails from Bar Manager Jerom Morris complement Almany’s food with a beverage menu that is equally refined and creative. Morris is deeply dedicated to pushing the limits of cocktails in a way that pits complexity against simplicity – complexity in the nuance, precision, and preparation but simplicity in refined, delicate presentation. Morris has also curated a wide-ranging spirits program with an added focus on Italian digestivi. The wine program is courtesy of Wine Director Kristin Olszewski. Kristin left Harvard medical school behind to pursue her true passion in wine and service, and spent over a decade in some of America’s best restaurants: Saison, Sons & Daughters, Husk, and Osteria Mozza. She has been featured in Forbes, Vogue, Vinepair and is one of Wine Enthusiasts 40 under 40. Kristin’s wine program at The Georgian is driven by the mantra, “if it grows together, it goes together” with a special focus on the stories of the people behind the vines. The wine list was developed through a similar Italian heritage as the culinary program through a wide ranging showcase of Italian excellence while also displaying the best wines from their backyard. The list features legacy Italian producers like Bartolo Mascarello, Giuseppe Conterno, Emidio Pepe, and Gaja as well as highlighting up and coming talent in the California natural wine scene. Located beneath The Georgian lies The Georgian Room, a historic dinner-only restaurant and piano bar that will re-open for the first time in over 50 years. This discreet hangout gained a reputation amongst the rich and famous, with guests like Carole Lombard, Clark Gable, “Bugsy” Siegel, and Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle all seeking refuge and a stiff drink within this notoriously exclusive secret.  The Georgian Room is now home to a 1918 ebony polished Steinway & Sons piano built into the bar that will be played after the sun goes down. On the ground floor of The Georgian, a dedicated retail area offers essentials ranging from Salt and Stone deodorant and Dune Suncare to world class goods including Mason Pearson hair brushes, Frette towels, Harry Josh Pro Tools, and objects of indulgence from LA-based accessories brand Flora Nero. Travelers looking to explore what the local community and the city of Los Angeles have to offer will find a wide variety of off-site recreational activities available including complimentary beach cruisers by Priority Bicycles as well as opportunities to surf, sail, picnic, and practice yoga with Alo Yoga. The Getty Villa, the Eames House, the Santa Monica History Museum, and the world-famous Santa Monica Pier are among nearby attractions. Steeped in the area’s rich history, The Georgian has been and will continue to be deeply involved in the Santa Monica community. The hotel’s heritage is boldly embraced through close relationships with the Santa Monica History Museum and The Santa Monica Conservancy,  amongst others, paving the way for new cultural collaborations that will play a role in The Georgian’s future programming offerings. BLVD took care throughout The Georgian’s renovation to substantially modernize operations systems to meet today’s hospitality sustainability standards, and utilizing high-efficiency lighting and plumbing solutions. The Georgian is also pleased to support the Kind Campaign with a donation that will be applied to each stay upon check-out. Founded by Lauren Paul and Molly Thompson, Kind Campaign is an internationally recognized nonprofit organization that brings awareness and healing to the negative and lasting effects of girl-against-girl bullying. Address:  The Georgian, 1415 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Website: www.thegeorgian.com Reservations: via reservations@thegeorgian.com and www.thegeorgian.com Rates: rooms from $700 per room per night   The post Historic Oceanfront Hotel, The Georgian, Re-Launches in Santa Monica appeared first on Real Estate Weekly......»»

Ravi Bhatt said he sometimes pines for The Windy City but has found intellectual stimulation living near Indiana University. Work isn't any easier, though. Ravi Bhatt and his family.Courtesy of Ravi Bhatt. Software firm CEO Ravi Bhatt moved his family from Chicago to Bloomington, Indiana, in 2021. Bhatt said living in the mid-sized college town improved his family's quality of life. His kids are getting more playdates and he's building more personal connections. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ravi Bhatt, 44,  about his experience moving from Chicago to Bloomington, Indiana, in 2021. The following has been edited for length and clarity.My wife and I spent almost 20 years in Chicago. But like many people during COVID, we started to think more broadly about where we wanted to live.In Chicago, we, along with our two children, lived in a 1700-square-foot, 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom condo in Lincoln Park, an affluent North Side community just a 12-minute drive from the city's downtown area.My wife and I questioned our long-term planning —  'what does life look like 10 years from now, or 20 years from now?' We wondered if living in Chicago would afford us an early retirement, if we had a strong sense of community, and whether or not our children were thriving in the city.We decided to leave Chicago. It's an idea that was made possible by remote work.I am the CEO of software company Folia. In 2021, when the company was launched, we made the decision to allow everyone to work 100% remotely. My wife, who is a practicing civil rights attorney for a nonprofit firm, also shared this flexibility. We wanted to relocate to a place that punched above its weight class — somewhere small and intimate but that still had all the qualities we loved about living in a big city. Due to our professions, my wife and I thought that university towns had a nice appeal.  In the spring of 2021, my family and I moved to Bloomington, Indiana, a Midwestern city of 85,000 people, home to Indiana University Bloomington. It's about 55 miles south of Indianapolis and nearly four hours away from Chicago. Why I chose Bloomington My wife and I attended undergrad in Bloomington, so we already had a bit of familiarity with it. The city is certainly no Chicago or New York, but it's way better than an average 80,000- to 100,000-person town. What made the area attractive to us was that Indiana University Bloomington is a major research university. My background is in artificial intelligence and the city is one of the major places for pursuing this type of research.Moving to Bloomington also comes with other intangible factors with respect to business, such as working closely with the university and building connections. Another cool thing about living in the city is that many people have bachelor's degrees or higher, so you're around a lot of educated people and professionals.Bloomington, Indiana.Sanjin Wang/Getty ImagesHow our life has changed Our family home is a little bit in the woods. When you look into the backyard, you're not seeing skyscrapers, instead there are rolling hills and many trees.While we are paying more for our home in Bloomington than we were in Chicago, we have moved into a place that is more spacious. If we're talking about the square footage, the new home — a six-bed and six-bath — is a quarter of the cost and has enough space for grandparents to visit. In terms of work, relocating has not made anything easier professionally.A lot of people are stressed out about work and think life will become easier once they get out of the big city. However, most people will end up working remotely for their same employers. So you will still need the same hustle, just in a different place.That being said, we're living in a time of human history where we have access to the most resources, information, education, and technology. This is the time when we can be geographically flexible if we want to, and I encourage people to explore.Our quality of life has improvedThere's been a lot made of this idea that people are relocating merely for cost. I think that's masking a couple of other factors. Has my quality of life improved in Bloomington? Well, yes and no. It's certainly improved the quality of life for the kids —  I think it's a huge upgrade. In a city like Chicago, when you're trying to pick up kids and go on a playdate, logistics of moving a car around the city are never easy. It's nice to be able to walk out of your home and be directly in an urban environment. My children are getting more friendly kids' time in Bloomington. For the adults, we do from time to time think about what we are missing in the big city. However, we have to remind ourselves that when we lived in Chicago, we were not actually enjoying all the things that the city had to offer because of the convenience factor — like having a 30- to 40-minute commute, even for something that's a mile and a half away. Although there's a little less from an abstract perspective, living in Bloomington is absolutely more flexible. And while this may seem like the biggest cliche in the world, you do build more personal connections in a smaller town than living in a big city. A week after we moved in, there was a big snowfall and we were snowed in nearly a foot. We didn't own a snow shovel, since basically, to this point, lawn care was just an academic exercise we never got to do ourselves. Our neighbor —  who we didn't even know —  just came with their snow plow and cleared our driveway.In Bloomington, there's a natural difference in how you relate to people and that also drives the quality of life. It makes you feel more a part of the community.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Elon Musk's tunnel-building venture is facing blowback from Texans who spoke out against its plans to dump treated wastewater into local water supply. The Boring Company faced some blowback from Texans who spoke out against its plans to dump treated wastewater into the water supply on Tuesday.Robyn Beck/Pool via REUTERS The Boring Company is facing criticism from Texans over its plans to dump treated wastewater. The company applied for a permit to dump 142,500 gallons per day last year. One resident said about 400 people showed up at the public meeting on The Boring Company's plans. Elon Musk's tunnel-building venture, The Boring Company, is facing blowback from Texans who are speaking out against its plans to dump treated wastewater into the local water supply. The Boring Company applied for a state permit last year under an affiliate name, Gapped Bass LLC, to dispose of about 142,500 gallons of treated wastewater per day from its facility in Bastrop, Texas into the Colorado River. Earlier that year, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said it had opened investigations into The Boring Company after receiving three complaints regarding the Bastrop site's handling of wastewater and concrete production.On Tuesday night, several local Bastrop residents gathered at a meeting with TCEQ and The Boring Company to give public comment on the company's wastewater disposal permit after local citizen Chap Ambrose launched a campaign to "Keep Bastrop Boring." Ambrose told Insider ahead of the public meeting that while he's always considered himself a fan of Musk, he feels The Boring Company is breaking the law."I'm very invested here, my family lives here, and I have environmental concerns on what I see," Ambrose said.He said in a post on Twitter that about 400 people showed up to attend the public meeting on Tuesday night. An estimated half of the people that came out to the meeting were turned away at the door due to capacity constraints, he said."The thought of this happening is horrifying," Erin, who runs an organic farm near the Boring Company facility, told Fox News. "This stuff — and we don't even know what it is — going into the river that we depend on for food production." Ambrose told the publication he has concerns about Musk's propensity to "value speed over everything.""I don't know if ya'll heard it as clearly as I did, but the reason they want to discharge treated wastewater into the river, is because they can't wait 24 months for that pipe to be run and the permanent infrastructure setup," Ambrose said during his public comment, according to a video from the event that was viewed by Insider.The Boring Company.Robyn Beck/ReutersBastrop Mayor Connie Schroder said she would prefer The Boring Company waited to treat its wastewater at the city's plant, which is currently under construction, local news reported. Bastrop broke ground on its $32.6 million wastewater treatment plant in 2021, according to the Austin American-Statesman. "This is just a short-term solution, and ultimately we hope to not even utilize the full capacity of what's being authorized," a Gapped Bass representative, Rajit Patel, said at the hearing, according to Fox News.Patel explained the company's water treatment process for the wastewater before it would enter the water supply and said the company plans to eventually use the city's treatment plant, The Wall Street Journal reported.He noted the wastewater will come from The Boring Company facilities, as well as SpaceX, per the Journal, though SpaceX is not listed on the permit application. Neither Musk or the company's president, Steve Davis, attended the meeting.TCEQ is expected to decide in the coming months whether it will approve the permit, the Journal said.A spokesperson for The Boring Company did not respond to a request for comment from Insider.Musk's space venture has faced similar blowback from residents in Boca Chica, Texas where local citizens sued SpaceX in 2021 over claims its rocket tests have caused public beaches to be continually closed.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

The first 10 homes have already been sold as 14Trees continues to see demand for the remaining in-progress two to three-bedroom concrete homes. A rendering of 14Trees' 3D printed homeMASS / 14Trees Construction-tech company 14Trees is now building a community of 52 3D-printed homes in Kilifi, Kenya. The two to three-bedroom homes in the Mvule Gardens development will start at 600 square-feet and about $27,660. It takes a total of 18 hours to 3D print the walls of the two-bedroom home. Over the next year-and-a-half, a coastal city in Kenya will become home to a sprawling affordable housing community built using what could be the future of construction: 3D printers.14TreesConstruction-tech company 14Trees has deployed a 3D printer in its Kilifi, Kenya Mvule Gardens development to create the walls of the community's 52 homes.14TreesAnd demand is already high for this unfinished project — its first phase of 10 homes has already been sold despite being incomplete.MASS / 14Trees"When people visited, they were truly impressed and they wanted to buy the houses," Francois Perrot, the managing director at 14Trees, told Insider. "We have many people ... who are interested in acquiring these houses."MASS / 14TreesPerrot founded 14Trees in 2016 as a joint venture between Holcim — a building materials manufacturer— and the UK government's British International Investment.14TreesSince the start, the company's goal has been to create affordable, sustainable, and necessary buildings like homes and schools throughout Africa.MASS / 14TreesSource: 14TreesBut it wasn't always working with 3D printers. For the first four years, 14Trees was building with "green" soil-stabilized bricks.14TreesIn 2020, the company made the switch to 3D printers, which Perrot says is the only tech that could build the number of schools and houses needed in Africa.14TreesSource: 14Trees“If we truly wanted to have a massive impact on the school and housing backlog, we needed to change the way we build more disruptively,” he said. “That’s when we came to the conclusion that the only technology which would do that is 3D printing.”14TreesWhen the development is finished, Mvule Gardens will sprawl across over 124,320 square-feet of land near the coastline.14TreesThese two to three-bedroom homes are being built for the working middle class.MASS / 14TreesMvule Garden's over 600-square-foot two-bedroom homes start at a little over $27,660 …MASS / 14TreesSource: Mvule Gardens… while its nearly 820-square-foot three-bedroom units start at about $37,800.MASS / 14Trees"It's really not luxurious," Perrot said of the homes. "It's good quality, sustainable, affordable houses."MASS / 14TreesAll of Mvule Garden's two and three-bedroom homes will have amenities like backyards, modern kitchens, front porches, and open floor plans.MASS / 14TreesThese houses will be built in five phases over the next roughly 18 months, although Perrot notes 14Trees isn't in a rush to wrap this up.14Trees"The most important thing is that every phase is an opportunity to [try] something that increases affordability and sustainability," he said. "Time is not that much of an issue. What matters is that we deliver on our mission."14TreesIt takes a total of 18 hours spread out over a few days to build the walls of each two-bedroom home.14TreesSource: HolcimAn additional 10 hours is then needed to print the three-bedroom units.14TreesThe walls of the first phase's 10 homes were built from October to January with several breaks in-between.14TreesOn average, 14Trees spent one week building each house.14TreesThe team is now putting the finishing touches on the first 10 properties.14TreesAnd once they're roofed and completed by May, its first tenants — employees at a nearby sister company— will move in later this year.14TreesTo complete this development 14Trees is using one of COBOD's popular 3D printers previously used by nonprofit Thinking Huts to construct a school in Madagascar in 2022.14TreesSource: InsiderThe printer then excretes Holcim's proprietary concrete "ink," TectorPrint.14TreesEvery new building phase will feature new improvements — whether it be in the design, printing options, or "ink" — aimed at improving the sustainability and affordability of the homes.14TreesBy the end of the project, 14Trees' goal is to reduce the cost of building a home by 20% compared to traditional home building techniques in Kenya14TreesRight now, the cost is equivalent.14TreesA 52-home community is undoubtedly a large undertaking.14TreesBut at this moment, it's not the largest 3D printing home project happening in the world.14TreesInstead, that title goes to home construction Lennar and 3D printing construction startup Icon's 100-home community that's now being built just north of Austin, Texas.A rendering of the upcoming 100-home community.Icon, Lennar, and BIGSource: InsiderBut with a starting price in the mid-$400,000s, these homes are definitely more expensive than Mvule Garden's community.Icon, Lennar, BIGRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Craig Williams spent years trying to break into TV writing and wondered if his age was a barrier. He eventually found his voice — and a new job. Craig Williams says getting his first job came down to a 20-year-old connection, who hadn't even read his work before reaching out.Courtesy of Crystal Blake Craig Williams had been trying to break into film and TV for decades. Williams says he often found himself the oldest person in the room as he pursued opportunities. Writing what he knew and making personal connections ultimately led to his first TV job at age 55. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Craig Williams, a 55-year-old TV writer based in New York City. It has been edited for length and clarity.I've been a writer and producer in New York For over 20 years. My wife and I started a production company and we've produced somewhere over 50 projects — lots of short films and a couple of documentaries. We do a lot of work for the health department, like vaccination, mental health, and social awareness commercials for the city of New York. That's what we do to pay the bills. I've been working towards a TV writing job for a few years, but I've always wanted to write for the screen. I'm a native New Yorker, and for many years, I was trying to make a feature film and get it into Sundance or Tribeca — one of the big festivals. I wanted to go that route and produce and write my own features. However, about five or six years ago, TV started to explode and all these channels and streamers popped up, so I turned some of the things I'd written into TV and started writing pilots. This journey has had a lot of stops and starts, but recently, at age 55, I got my very first job as a TV writer on a series.I got the job sort of out of the blueThe way I got my first writing job was through a 20-year-old relationship. I have a manager, but that's not where it came from. I was in the WarnerMedia Access Writers Program, which was a great experience, to be chosen as one of 20 writers out of thousands of applications — but it didn't come from there. Ultimately what got me this opportunity was being consistent and making my creative community aware of that consistency. Whenever I'd place in a writing contest or get a new opportunity, I'd share about that on social media. Those things built my credibility — and showed the creative people I've been building relationships with all these years what I'd been doing over time. It really is the community you make that will help you kickstart a writing career, more than any other thing that you can do. My story is a great example.The way I got my job felt sudden — a showrunner I know called me up a couple of months ago, and said, "I'm on my third season of this show. I got a little bit more money to have a writer's room, and I want you to be one of my writers." He hadn't read anything I'd written.I ultimately sent him a script, because he'd said to send him a sample just to be sure. But because I had social proof that I'd been working at my craft, winning awards, and mentoring other writers, I put the energy out into the world that I'm a TV writer, before I had any real TV writing job. All this person knew was that after 20 years, I was still out there hustling and living my craft. I had to overcome a lot of rejection, and my own negative thinking, to get hereI entered writing contests ad nauseam — I'd enter and there would be no wins for awhile, then suddenly the next year I'd make it to the quarterfinals, and then a few years after that, I'd make the semi-finals. It wasn't panning out, but entering contests gave me confidence in my writing because it showed me that people who didn't know me or love me were responding to it.In 2019, I wrote a comedy pilot that won best original 30 minute pilot at American Black Film Festival in Miami. When I won the award, I was flown to Miami for the festival — two other writers and I were treated like the toast of the festival. The executive who'd read my work was a Black woman at a network, and I met her there. She was really, really complimentary. After the festival, she says to call her in a couple of weeks so she can set up some meetings for me. She seemed really excited about my show — but when I got back and called her, the meeting we set up kept getting pushed. When I was finally able to get in touch with her again by phone, the first thing she said was, "You have 15 minutes. What do you want?" I knew it wasn't going to go anywhere after that.That win put me in front of a lot of other people as well, but nothing came of it because the TV industry changes so quickly. I would get in front of an executive, and then three months later, that executive would be gone and moved on to something else. I might be able to keep the relationship, but now they're no longer with that network because it got bought by somebody else, and on, and on, and on. All I could do was keep writing.As the years went by without my first big break, I started to think I was past my timeAt a certain point, I started to struggle with the thought that I'm too old to do this writing thing. A big moment for me during that time was in a pitching class I took. As we were taking the class, they were going around the room and each person said what scared them the most about being a TV writer. I said something generic — but then the middle-aged guy next to me said, "I feel like I'm too old to do this." That really hit me like a ton of bricks. Then I said, "Whatever I said was bullshit. That's my answer."The showrunner and TV writer running the class told me, "You are not too old. We are in rooms with a whole bunch of middle-aged guys who are doing this, and they're vibrant. To be frank, some of them aren't half the writer that you are." That moment in that class really changed my perspective on the thoughts I was having, and gave me the courage to keep going. It also seemed to help me find my voice as a writer. When I let go of that thinking, I was able to concentrate on honing my voice, and decide what I want to say as a Black man, as a creative person, as a father, and as a husband. I started to write the things only I could write. I also wrote a TV pilot called "How You Like Me Now," which is based on the rivalry between Kool Moe Dee and LL Cool J, that got me a lot of traction. I started winning contests and fellowships, and that's when I got into the WarnerMedia Access Writers Program.Once you figure out what you want to say and you've made a habit of honing your craft — create a community and be open to itI tell other writers not to wait around staring at your belly button, waiting for someone to pick you. Be proactive — share what you know and go out and meet people who know what you don't. Particularly for older writers, being open to criticism is really important. It's hard because any writer's work is personal to them. What makes things even harder is that older people are sometimes set in our ways — so to have someone half your age and with half your life experience give you notes on something can be a little bit disheartening. It's necessary though — because writing is a collaborative art.In my new job, I'll be working with writers of all ages.If you work in Hollywood and would like to share your story, email Eboni Boykin-Patterson at eboykinpatterson@insider.com.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

 Land use consultancy, Dresdner Robin announced today that it has received site plan approval for the 3.3-acre Steel Tech redevelopment project, located at 417 Communipaw Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey. The complex will boast a 190-foot residential tower, a business incubator facility, two public plazas, a recreation center and a pedestrian mall... The post New Jersey-Based Land Use Consultancy Dresdner Robin Receives Site Plan Approval for Steel Tech Development Project appeared first on Real Estate Weekly.  Land use consultancy, Dresdner Robin announced today that it has received site plan approval for the 3.3-acre Steel Tech redevelopment project, located at 417 Communipaw Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey. The complex will boast a 190-foot residential tower, a business incubator facility, two public plazas, a recreation center and a pedestrian mall connecting Communipaw Avenue to Berry Lane Park, one of Jersey City’s largest parks. Dresdner Robin completed expert planning, surveying, engineering and landscape architectural design and 3D modeling/rending work on behalf of Skyline Development Group. “Skyline Development Group remains a committed developer in Jersey City and beyond and is excited for the Steel Tech development project to finally get off the ground,” said Louis Mont, CEO and founder of Skyline Development Group. “Dresdner Robin’s expert planning and design work has certainly helped this plan get approved, and we look forward to working with them as we see this vision come to life, just as it has in their plans and renderings.” The project, located on a brownfield site, will undergo an extensive redevelopment to meet the city’s zoning requirements, created with Dresdner’s participation. The complex is anchored by an 18-story high-rise mixed-use building that will offer 420 units, 5% designated for affordable housing. The building will have 92 studios, 197 one-bedroom, 96 two-bedroom and 35 three-bedroom apartments. The high-rise portion will include 7,425 square feet of retail space and will also feature about 24,000 square feet of amenities for future residents. The main building boasts a red brick design with modern large glass sections that are evocative of the site’s industrial history. “The Steel Tech redevelopment project is unique as it was the first time that we used cutting-edge virtual reality and 3D renderings to transport our client into our design,” said Mark Robison, staff landscape architect at the firm. “As brownfield and urban redevelopment experts, the Steel Tech complex development was right in our wheelhouse. We are proud to pay homage to the heritage of the site through the inclusion of an existing structure, along with maintaining the narrative of the steel manufacturing that once took place on the property.” The project also features a minority business enterprise success incubator and a commercial shopping plaza, a 14,000-square-foot portion of the complex that will offer affordable commercial offices — with no less than 40% of the spaces designated as retail incubator space for minority-, women-and veteran-owned businesses. The complex development will also utilize the existing Steel Tech Head House, which is currently used as offices and may eventually be adapted as a retail or restaurant space. In addition, a new three-story, 22,000-square-foot recreation center will be constructed along the southern edge of the site adjacent to Berry Lane Park. The recreation center will include a basketball court and other flexible rooms, along with a 40-space public parking lot along Woodward Street. Dresdner Robin included custom wayfinding signs and sculptural light poles to carry the steel-focused design through the site and complement a public art installation at the entry plaza. The two public plazas are designed to be sustainable and have flexibility in future programming, with open lawn space, permeable brick and stone dust plazas and planting design that maximizes tree canopy and sight lines. With the site plans being approved on March 7, the project will move to design development. The post New Jersey-Based Land Use Consultancy Dresdner Robin Receives Site Plan Approval for Steel Tech Development Project appeared first on Real Estate Weekly......»»

Lendlease, a leading global real estate and investment management group, and joint venture partner Aware Super, one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds, today announced the acquisition of $4 million in support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to build a geoexchange system at 1 Java Street in Brooklyn. Once... The post Lendlease Secures Grants for New York’s Largest Geothermal Residential Building appeared first on Real Estate Weekly. Lendlease, a leading global real estate and investment management group, and joint venture partner Aware Super, one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds, today announced the acquisition of $4 million in support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to build a geoexchange system at 1 Java Street in Brooklyn. Once completed, the all-electric property will be the largest residential project in New York State to use a geothermal heat exchange system, according to NYSERDA. Situated on a 2.6-acre site, 1 Java Street will comprise five interconnected buildings, including 37-story and 20-story towers. Based on square footage, building height, the 834 residential units and number of boreholes, the geothermal system will be the largest multifamily project in New York State. It is believed to be the largest high-rise residential geoexchange system in the country. “1 Java Street presents us with the opportunity to establish a pioneering model for geothermal energy – aligning with New York’s ambitious climate goals, as well as our global targets of absolute zero carbon by 2040,” said Scott Walsh, Project Director, New York Development for Lendlease. “Our decision to use geothermal was driven not only by the environmental benefits and cost savings, but also enhanced marketability upon completion.” The $4 million in funding was obtained through a competitive grant from NYSERDA’s Community Heat Pump Systems Pilot Program. The project – which has received support by local elected officials and the North Brooklyn Neighbors community planning organization – included a feasibility analysis, design work and the currently-underway installation of a community heat pump system, also known as a thermal energy network. NYSERDA Director of Clean Heating and Cooling Donovan Gordon said: “Community thermal networks are an important step in scaling building electrification and helping more residents benefit from clean energy infrastructure that can lead to long-term energy savings. Our support for this innovative project using the latest in clean heating and cooling technology will help us meet New York State’s climate and clean energy goals while reducing emissions in Brooklyn.” Once completed, the geothermal system at 1 Java Street will reduce annual carbon emissions from heating and cooling by 53% compared with typical residential systems. As an all-electric building, 1 Java Street will also avoid carbon emissions related to the use of natural gas. The on-site geothermal and all-electric systems of 1 Java Street ensure the project will meet or exceed Local Law 97, New York’s decarbonization legislation, and align with Mission Zero, Lendlease’s industry-leading initiative to reach absolute zero carbon – extending to its supply chain – by 2040. 1 Java Street will also target a range of sustainability initiatives including LEED Gold, Fitwel and Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines certification. Slated for completion in late 2025, 1 Java Street is the sixth project developed and operated as part of the Aware Super and Lendlease joint venture Americas multifamily portfolio, which achieved net zero carbon in 2021. The joint venture’s stabilized assets were also recently recognized by GRESB as Regional Sector Leader for superior ESG performance. Aware Super Senior Portfolio Manager – Property, Alek Misev said: “We’re excited to celebrate the geothermal project that 1 Java Street is delivering for our property portfolio. The sustainable benefits to be generated from New York City’s largest residential geothermal project will not only demand less energy from the grid at peak times, but also reduce carbon emissions, both of which are expected to uplift the value of this asset.”  Thirty percent of 1 Java Street’s residential units have been designated as affordable housing under the Affordable New York Housing Program. In addition, over 13,000 square feet of space at the ground floor will be activated with retail. The property will also encompass a reimagined, 18,000-square-foot public waterfront esplanade that connects to the India Street Pier, which is served by the East River Ferry. Overview of 1 Java Street’s Geothermal System The geothermal system at 1 Java Street is a vertical closed loop system with underground pipes that circulate a water solution to be heated or cooled by the earth; a heat pump will utilize that temperature differential to help heat or cool the building, reducing the need for utility power. In the winter, when the underground temperature exceeds the surface air temperature, the water solution is used to transfer heat from the ground to building interiors. The process is reversed in the summer, when heat from the building is released underground using the same system. 1 Java Street benefits from its 2.6-acre, full-block location, allowing for the drilling of 320 boreholes. As a closed loop system requires no future access or maintenance, 1 Java Street’s borefield is located beneath the building. The site’s underground geology, which is largely composed of bedrock, provides an ideal medium for efficient thermal exchange. Compared to conventional technologies, closed loop geothermal systems are more energy efficient and emit fewer carbon emissions. The geothermal system designed for 1 Java Street will account for 1,050 fewer metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions than if the building used a traditional boiler/tower system. This is equivalent to planting over 5,200 trees. The geothermal system will provide all the space heating, water heating and cooling for the project. In addition, 1 Java Street will be fully electric, with all cooking, clothes drying and other functions performed by electric appliances and building systems. This means the property will comply with New York City’s Local Law 154 – the city’s legislation that mandates most new buildings over seven stories be fully electric by 2027. The post Lendlease Secures Grants for New York’s Largest Geothermal Residential Building appeared first on Real Estate Weekly......»»

Photos show the leaders' very different trips: Putin to the occupied region of Mariupol, and Zelenskyy to troops fighting a bloody battle in Bakhmut. A split image showing Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (right) visiting different regions in Ukraine over the past week.Russian TV Pool via AP/Ukrainian Presidency Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Days after Putin's dead-of-night trip in Ukraine, Zelenskyy visited troops near the front lines. Putin's visit to Mariupol featured edited videos and was criticized by Ukrainian officials. Photos show the two leaders' starkly different trips to the two cities, one of which is the site of fierce fighting. Days after Russian President Vladimir Putin's surprise trip to the occupied city of Mariupol, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited troops in Bakhmut — currently the heart of the bloodiest fighting in the war. Putin's dead-of-night trip occurred this past weekend. State media followed the Russian President meeting with residents who told him the occupied, war-torn Ukrainian city is a "little piece of paradise." He drove along city streets, saw inside new apartment complex, and visited a children's playground and renovated theater. Daylight tells a different story of Mariupol, though. None of the video footage showed the widespread ruin across the city. Russia's invasion destroyed vast areas of buildings and infrastructure, leaving tens of thousands dead, the city's former mayor told the Associated Press. Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) visits a recently renovated theater in Mariupol.Russian TV Pool via APBut for what seemed like a carefully constructed PR trip for Putin, the visit had one media snafu. The Kremlin shared an official video of Putin chatting with residents in front of a new apartment building, but state media was caught editing the video to remove a heckler's comments from the background. In the original video, Putin meets with local residents near a new apartment complex in the dead of night. During the conversation, a woman can be heard interrupting Putin and the residents, yelling "It's not real! It's all for show!"A newer version of the video released later was missing the heckler's comments. In this grab taken from video released by Russian broadcaster VGTRK as POOL on March 19, 2023, shows Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) speaking with apartment block residents as he visits the Ukrainian city of Mariupol late March 18, 2023.POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesUkrainian officials condemned the trip, which occurred just two days after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Putin's arrest, comparing it to a murderer returning to the scene of a crime.  Zelenskyy visits troops fighting on the front lines in BakhmutUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks with troops near the front lines of Bakhmut.Ukrainian Presidency Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesZelenskyy took a very different trip on Wednesday, visiting soldiers fighting on the front lines in Bakhmut.Photos show the Ukrainian President shaking hands with soldiers, taking selfies, and awarding troops."I am honored to be here today," he said, according to BBC, "in the east of our country, in Donbas, and to award our heroes, to thank you, to shake your hands."Zelenskyy's own PR trip comes as he is pushing for Western nations to give more weapons, military equipment, and aid to Ukraine as it fights off Russia's invasion.The region has seen some of the bloodiest fighting in the war, with the past few weeks featuring staggering casualties for both sides.President Volodymyr Zelensky visits troops near the front lines in Bakhmut.Ukrainian Presidency Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesExperts are divided on the strategic importance to either side, but Ukraine's forces refuse to give up on Bakhmut. Zelenskyy has repeatedly vowed not to retreat from Bakhmut, underscoring that his top military advisors have called for reinforcing the position of Ukrainian forces in the city in order to inflict maximum damage on Russian forces in the area. Russia has suffered heavy losses in Bakhmut, which has become the longest battle in the war so far. An intelligence assessment released by the British Ministry of Defense last week suggested that Russia's "combat power" was depleted to such an extent that "even local offensive actions are not currently sustainable."That said, top military analysts have questioned the logic of Ukraine continuing to dedicate valuable resources and personnel to the battle for Bakhmut, warning that this could hurt Kyiv's ability to launch another counteroffensive and regain territory from the Russian occupiers. "Although the attrition ratio in Bakhmut has been advantageous for the duration of the battle, the ratio is much less favorable now with [Russian] forces holding high ground on the city's flanks. Much of Russia's losses are prisoners of less military value than Ukrainian soldiers," Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, said on Twitter earlier this week."There is a risk that, by committing the necessary forces to continue holding Bakhmut (where its attrition ratio isn't favorable), Ukraine will sap some of the forces available for its strategically more important spring offensive," Lee, a former US Marine infantry officer, went on to say. But Lee also underscored that the issue isn't "black and white," and it's possible "Russia may overextend itself trying to take the city and leave itself vulnerable to counterattack."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

In April 2001, a US spy plane and a Chinese jet collided over the South China Sea. Author James Bamford details the incident's lasting consequences. The crew of a US Navy EP-3 detained in China board a flight to Guam on April 12, 2001.US Marine Corps/Staff Sgt. John Giles On April 1, 2001, a US EP-3 spy plane collided with a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea. The US plane was forced to land at a Chinese base, giving China access to its sensitive hardware. Author James Bamford details US missteps throughout the incident and their lasting consequences. The following is an excerpt from James Bamford's new book, "Spyfail: Foreign Spies, Moles, Saboteurs, and the Collapse of America's Counterintelligence.""Spy Fail" by James Bamford.Twelve BooksSunrise was still a half-hour away and the temperature was just at the freezing mark when the lineman removed the blocks from the worn tires of the EP-3E ARIES II, a gray-and-white four-engine propjet with a donut-shaped "Big Look" radar attached to its lower belly. It was Sunday, April 1, 2001."Kilo Romeo 919," said a voice in the tower, "clear to taxi." Moments later the pilot, Navy lieutenant Shane Osborn, released the parking brake and eased the four power levers forward, his knuckles white. As the engines coughed blue-black exhaust fumes like a heavy smoker, the aircraft crawled slowly toward the runway on Okinawa's Kadena Air Base.One of eleven left in the fleet, the tired 1960s-era spy plane bristled with porcupine-like antennas. It would be a risky mission. Assigned to the NSA's Sensitive Reconnaissance Operations Program (SRO), the crew was scheduled to once again fly along the Chinese coast to update lists of signals, pick up a few conversations, and see if some ships or subs had moved from point A to point B or point C.It was intelligence overkill. In addition to its vast number of cyber spies at Fort Meade focused on China, the NSA also had the world's largest and most expensive fleet of spy satellites orbiting over the country every ninety minutes, as well as half a dozen expansive and costly listening posts stretching from northern Japan to South Korea to Okinawa. There, hundreds of agency operators sat with their ears constantly tuned to Chinese frequencies and their eyes scanning Chinese intercepts 24/7. And then just two miles from Kadena was the NSA's Hanza Remote Collection Facility, a massive electronic ear facing China, and scores of additional intercept operators. But within the intelligence bureaucracy, more spies mean more power for those in charge, whether they are needed or not. Hence the daily EP-3E patrols.At 4:47 a.m., the word came from the tower. "Wind 010 at eight [knots]. Cleared for takeoff." Osborn, a native Nebraskan with a dark receding hair-line and heavy caterpillar brows, moved the power levers forward again and placed his feet on the rudder pedals. Loaded with twenty-nine tons of jet fuel, the plane lumbered forward. Then as the airspeed indicators hit 133 knots, Osborn pulled back on the yoke and the aircraft's nose wheel lifted gently from Runway 4 Left.In addition to Osborn, there were five other members of the flight crew, including two more pilots; the three would take turns resting and flying. Behind them, in the near-windowless tubelike fuselage, eighteen analysts, eavesdroppers, and linguists hunched over racks of gray machines with blinking scopes and black dials that lined the long bulkhead on either side of the cabin. The mission was to monitor China's signals environment, especially their South Sea Fleet's tactical communications, radars, and weapon systems.Just aft of the door on the left side of the fuselage sat the Science and Technology (S&T) operator. His assignment that day was to collect and pro-cess signals associated with China's SA-10 surface-to-air missiles. According to top secret documents, this was done with one of the most highly classified computers on the plane, the SCARAB. Tall and boxy with a handle on top, it contained a unique processor code-named LUNCHBOX that was able to search and identify forty different worldwide weapons-related signals, code-named PROFORMA.A few seats away, another operator studied the screen of a black Tadpole Ultrabook IIi laptop. On it were some of the NSA's most highly secret pro-grams, including the RASIN (short for Radio Signals Notation) manual, the agency's bible. Listed inside were critical details about every signal in the world that NSA was intercepting. The laptop also contained MARTES, an ultrasensitive codebreaking program that deciphered enciphered Chinese voice communications.A US Navy EP-3E, assigned to Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One, in an undated photo.ReutersShortly after takeoff, Osborn left the cockpit and entered the ops area. "It looks like good weather en route to the track orbit and back to Kadena," he told the crew. "Mission time is just over nine hours today." Back on the flight deck, he proceeded southwest, flying at 21,500 feet between Taiwan and the Philippines before following China's coastline on his SRO track past Hong Kong. A short time later he began approaching China's Hainan Island, home to the military's Lingshui Airfield, remaining about sixty miles off the coast.For almost a year, tensions over the US spy flights, about two hundred a year, had been building on the island, as well as in Beijing. In May 2000, Chinese military officers aired their complaints during a conference with their American counterparts in Honolulu. The annual meetings were established to discuss ways to avoid accidents at sea and in the air, and at the May meeting the Chinese officials made it very clear that the flights had become a growing problem.It was "the most important topic" at the meeting, one Chinese officer told the Washington Post at the time. The flights were approaching "too close to the coast, and it might cause trouble," he said, adding, "The atmosphere wasn't good." But the Americans paid little attention.It was an arrogant and belligerent stance for the United States to take since no American president would ever tolerate near-daily spy flights fifty miles off America's coasts by China, Russia, or any other country. Such flights are often viewed as a preparation for war. But rather than reduce the provocative flights, the NSA instead increased them from about two hundred a year to five days a week, even on Christmas Day. It was therefore less about collecting intelligence and more about flaunting power and flexing muscles.In response, on about every third mission Chinese fighters would conduct inspection flights, pulling up close and parallel with the American pilots and sometimes gesturing from the cockpit. The United States did basically the same thing on the very infrequent occasions that Russian aircraft flew near the US mainland. As the NSA's spy flights close to China increased, the Chinese fighter pilots became more aggressive, and the situation was becoming more and more dangerous.Nearly a half-century earlier, in 1956, another Navy reconnaissance aircraft was flying off China's coast when it suddenly had a confrontation with Chinese fighters. As a result, the plane crashed into the sea, killing all sixteen crew members on board. The incident shocked President Dwight Eisenhower. "We seem to be conducting something that we cannot control very well," he told Admiral Arthur M. Radford, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a secret meeting. "If planes were flying 20 to 50 miles from our shores," Eisenhower continued, "we would be very likely to shoot them down if they came in closer, whether through error or not." Close-in airborne eavesdropping was dangerous business.As Osborn continued his mission off Hainan Island, the plane was on autopilot as it cruised over the South China Sea at 22,500 feet and about 180 knots. Outside the weather was clear, with seven-mile visibility and a broken cloud layer below at 15,000 feet. And in the operational spaces, the eavesdropping activity was light, with the interception of an occasional early warning radar and routine military communications. It was, after all, a Sunday, raising even more questions about the reasons for the costly and hazardous mission.But the morning quiet would soon be shattered. On Hainan Island at 8:48 a.m., technicians manning the regional air defense network spotted the aircraft and flashed the details to Lingshui Airfield, which sounded an alarm. Standing by in ready status in their dark blue aviator's uniforms, fighter pilots Wang Wei and Zhao Yu raced for their aircraft, single-seat J-8II Finback interceptors armed with Israeli Python air-to-air missiles. At Mach 2.2 and with a ceiling of almost 60,000 feet, they flew fast and high with improved avionics supplied by the United States in the late 1980s.A Chinese J-8 Finback flies near a US Navy aircraft on January 24, 2001.US Defense DepartmentWith the increase in spy flights came an increase in aggressive inspections. Since December there had been forty-four interceptions, with six coming within thirty feet, and two within ten feet. Wang Wei, a thirty-three-year-old PLAN (People's Liberation Army Navy) lieutenant commander from the silk city of Huzhou near Shanghai, had eleven hundred hours of flight time under his belt. He was also a veteran of another EP-3E inspection the previous January.As the alarm sounded at Lingshui Airfield, followed by the scramble for the jets, Chinese linguists in the EP-3E's ops spaces immediately picked up the activity. Through their earphones they could hear the ground controller, the pilot communication checks, the fighter pre-flight activities, and a takeoff sequence.Across the Pacific, in a World War II-era bombproof bunker beneath a pineapple field in Hawaii, NSA linguists and intercept operators were also listening intently to the activity at Lingshui. Part of an alert system for spy planes, code-named KNICKELBACK, analysts quickly sent out a warning to the reconnaissance plane. The expansive bunker, known as the Kunia Regional Sigint Operations Center, was the NSA's major Pacific listening post.At 8:51 the EP-3E acknowledged the warning via secure satellite communications, and four minutes later Osborn spotted the jets approaching about a half-mile out and climbing rapidly to his altitude. At the time, he was about seventy miles from Hainan Island, and with the mission coming to an end, he was preparing to return to Okinawa. Within minutes, however, the fighters had reached the lumbering spy plane, and while Zhao Yu hung back about a half-mile, Wang Wei rapidly closed in. "Hey, he's right off our wing," someone from the back end reported to Osborn. "He's tight, that's the closest I've seen!"In the ops spaces, Marcia Sonon was in an awkward crouched position. Searching for the Chinese fighters, she was looking out a small round window on the left side over the wing. A Navy lieutenant with bright red hair, she was the plane's COMEVAL, the communications intelligence (COMINT) evaluator. Reporting to her were the six COMINT operators on the right side of the aircraft. They focused on intercepting Chinese voice communications and the PROFORMA weapons-related signals."He's closing to three o'clock," she told Osborn. "He's definitely armed. I can see missiles on his wing. He's got his oxygen mask on." A moment later her calm tone turned tense and stressed. "He's getting really close! Fifty feet. Now he's about forty feet," she said, her voice rising. "Oh my God, he's coming closer! Right now he's about ten feet off our wing." Wang Wei rendered a salute, but Sonon couldn't make out what he meant. In the cockpit, Osborne looked right in his face. "This isn't good," he said. Then Wang Wei fell back about a hundred feet off the left wing.A minute later, Wang Wei had returned, this time closing to just five feet before making another gesture and dropping back again. Then a third approach, but this time he had difficulty slowing his fast interceptor to match the propjet's slow speed and suddenly he was directly below the EP-3E's left wing. In severe trouble, he immediately radioed the base, telling them he was unable to maneuver and being sucked in by the spy plane. Seconds later, his jet impacted the plane's left outboard propeller just forward of the J-8II's vertical stabilizer, tearing the tail off the Chinese aircraft and sending its nose crashing into the front of the EP-3E, which was then still on autopilot.Instantly Osborn felt the bang as a cloud of glittering debris exploded in front of the left wing and he heard what sounded like a monster chainsaw hacking through metal. Then, a fraction of a second later, as the jet hit the front of his plane, the EP-3E's fiberglass nosecone flew over the windscreen and metal fragments punctured the fuselage like machine-gun fire. Immediately there was an explosive decompression as screams filled the cockpit and the cabin."I was pretty certain we were dead at that point," said Osborn. "We were upside down in a large reconnaissance aircraft. I had lost my nose. I could hear the wind screaming through the plane, and I knew that number one prop was violently shaking. We were pretty much inverted. I was looking up at the ocean, so it was not a good feeling ... I thought twenty- four people were going to die in the middle of the ocean, and I wondered if anyone would know why."Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld briefs reporters on the collision at the Pentagon on April 12, 2001.Mai/Getty ImagesAt that same moment, twenty-six-year-old Navy lieutenant junior grade John Comerford felt a shock wave rip down his spine. "I was scared," he later said. Tall, with a thick patch of carrot-colored hair, the 1997 Annapolis grad had been nicknamed by Osborn "Johnny Ballgame" because the two would have a good time on the weekends together. As the senior evaluator (SEVAL), he had overall responsibility for the reconnaissance personnel. "Honestly, based on how things felt—I didn't have a whole lot of visual reference—but based on how things felt, and the shaking of the plane, yeah, there was a time there that I really thought to myself, 'Wow, this guy—this guy just killed us.' "Flying behind the two planes in his J-8II, Zhao Yu witnessed the collision and frantically radioed Wang Wei. "Your plane's vertical tail has been struck off !" he yelled. "Remain stable, remain stable!" "Roger," Wang Wei replied, but about thirty seconds later Zhao Yu saw his partner's jet roll to the right side and plunge toward the South China Sea. Although Wang Wei managed to bail out, his parachute did not open in time and his body would never be found.By now the spy plane was out of control, gear crashing all around, a disintegrating number one engine hurling shrapnel, and horrified screams in the cockpit and the ops area as it began an inverted dive. Osborn instinctively swung the yoke hard right and jammed his foot on the right rudder pedal to regain control. But the dive angle steepened, and he was looking up at the sky instead of down at the choppy blue-black waves of the sea below.After the plane tumbled for about a mile and a half, Osborn shouted into the PA system, "Prepare to bail out!" In the ops area, the crew scrambled for their parachutes, survival vests, and helmets. But then he managed to bring the aircraft under partial control, and after falling another mile, he was able to regain full control, leveling off at 8,000 feet. Minutes later Osborn changed the order to prepare to ditch.At 9:13, eight minutes after the collision, copilot Jeff Vignery, a redheaded Kansan, put out an emergency call over the international distress frequency, 243.0 MHz. "Mayday! Mayday!" he shouted. "Kilo Romeo 919! We are going down!" It was then 8:13 p.m. in Washington, but despite all of its eavesdropping assets, the NSA never received the emergency call because even during sensitive reconnaissance missions it never bothered to monitor the international distress frequencies. Nor were the communications in the ops spaces any better. Moments after the collision, the secure communications operator attempted repeatedly to transmit the two-word message "GOING DOWN" on a secure network for reconnaissance operations. Code-named Sensor Pace, it was a low-data-rate digital satellite network, but the message was never received.Finally, the navigator began repeatedly transmitting Mayday calls on another secure satellite system, the Pacific Tributary Network, and at least one transmission was eventually received by both the NSA's Kunia bunker in Hawaii and the agency's Special Support Activity at Fort Meade. Part of the agency's National Security Operations Center, the SSA instantly sent out a top secret CRITIC message. Reserved for the highest emergencies, or indications of war, CRITICs (for Critical Intelligence) are designed to immediately alert the president and top government officials to a major event.Within minutes, the SSA watch commander set up a special high-level conferencing system known as a NOIWON (National Operational Intelligence Watch Officer's Network) bringing together the crisis centers at the White House, CIA, Pentagon, State Department, and NSA. Other discussions were conducted over a watch officers' secure chat room known as ZIRCON chat. In concert with the National Reconnaissance Office, eavesdropping and imaging satellites were steered toward the crisis area.On board the aircraft, there were only bad and worse choices. No one had ever bailed out of an EP-3E, and because of the damage there was a good possibility of the jumpers smashing into the tail. And even if they made it to the sea beneath their parachutes, the twenty-four crew members would be scattered over a wide distance in shark-infested waters. There was a life raft, but because of the airspeed, it would land far from the survivors. Ditching into the sea, however, was an even worse idea. Because of the lack of control, and the bulbous doughnut- shaped Big Look radar on the bottom, the plane would likely flip nose down and immediately sink.A Lockheed Martin team prepares the damaged EP-3E for return to the US at China's Lingshui Airfield on June 18, 2001.Mai/Getty ImagesFinally, Osborn gained partial control of the aircraft, which gave him a third choice: Make for the nearest land. But that was Hainan Island, their eavesdropping target. Thus they would be handing Chinese intelligence an entire NSA spy plane filled bulkhead to bulkhead with top secret coding and crypto equipment, intercept gear, and a library of highly sensitive documents, most classified above top secret. Nevertheless, between losing secrets or lives, Osborn chose in favor of saving the crew and turned toward Hainan's Lingshui Airfield. "Activate the emergency destruction plan," he yelled over the PA, assuming there was such a plan.In the ops spaces, it was chaos, with no one in charge and no coherent method to the destruction. Despite the fact that NSA spy planes flew almost daily missions along hostile borders, there was no guidance or procedures on what to do in an emergency if it was necessary to divert to the target country. Nor had there ever been training on how to destroy a planeload of NSA secrets in flight. These were just further blunders by NSA director Michael Hayden, who was in charge of the airborne missions under his dual role as chief of the Central Security Service, the military side of NSA. He was about to hand the Chinese an entire flying listening post packed with the nation's highest secrets.Much of the blame for the chaos, compromise of material, and lack of training also fell on Osborn and the plane's signals intelligence officers, according to a top secret NSA damage assessment. "The aircrew's overall performance in safeguarding classified materials under their charge was poor," it said, citing "a general lack of training, practice in emergency destruction, capabilities, and sound policy."LTJG John Comerford, the senior evaluator, was in charge of the NSA's signals intelligence personnel in the back end and therefore responsible for overseeing the emergency destruction of the critical documents and equipment. But according to the NSA report, rather than supervise the destruction, he instead "isolated himself from knowledge of actions taking place in the rest of the cabin. As a result, he had no situational awareness of the status and scope of emergency destruction and was unable to effectively monitor and direct the actions of the crew." Wielding a fire ax, he began smashing equipment and dumping material out a hatch, but paid little attention to directing an organized destruction effort.Also, inexplicably, he never bothered to tell the crew that rather than ditching in the South China Sea they were going to land on Hainan Island. Therefore, many crew members simply stood by the door preparing to exit rather than taking part in the emergency destruction. Others found the task overwhelming due to the lack of direction and the fact that the plane was overstuffed with reams and reams of top secret documents. Many of the documents were useless, unnecessary, and never should have been brought aboard. And while the ax was used to damage some laptop computers, left unharmed were the internal hard drives containing the sensitive data. Similarly, with the racks of highly sensitive intercept equipment along the aircraft's bulkheads, crew members smashed the keyboards and display screens but left such critical system components as tuners and signal processors unscathed.Among those Comerford failed to inform about the landing in China was Lieutenant Marcia Sonon, the COMINT evaluator in charge of the voice intercept crew. Assuming the plane was going to ditch, instead of destroying or jettisoning all the highly sensitive COMINT materials, the crew simply packed them in locking leather satchels and, along with the highly sensitive MARTES laptop computer, stored them in a cabinet.US Navy EP-3E crew members wait to depart China on April 12, 2001.Mai/Getty ImagesIt was a short flight to Lingshui, but despite numerous Mayday calls and requests for assistance on an international distress frequency (243.0 MHz), there was no response from the Chinese airfield's controllers. No one, however, bothered to contact the airfield on its own frequency even though members of the crew had that information.Nevertheless, after a pass over the runway, flying low over orange roofs, swaying palm trees, rice fields, and an operations tower blackened with mildew, Osborn touched down. It was 9:34 in the morning, twenty-nine minutes after the collision. As he tapped the brakes with his flight boots to slow the aircraft down, ahead of him on the runway he saw a thin lineman in sandals directing the aircraft to the edge of the runway. Once the plane came to a stop, it was surrounded by about two dozen military personnel, six to eight of them armed with AK-47 assault rifles, though none were pointed at the aircraft.At 9:41, over secure satellite communications, Comerford reported to the NSA's SSA, the Kunia bunker, and the Pacific Reconnaissance Operations Center in Hawaii. "On deck at Lingshui," he said. He then told Osborn his orders were to stay put as they evaluated the situation. "They want us to hold on a few minutes," Comerford said. Instead, before awaiting instructions or passing on any information about the collision, the status of the classified information, or their situation, Osborn ordered the plane's power turned off, thereby eliminating any chance of further communications with NSA or the outside world.Moments later, in the ultimate absurdity, the first thing Osborn did was to ask a PLA officer for his cell phone to call NSA headquarters. "Can I use your phone to make a call?" he said, standing in the doorway. "I have to tell my command that we are safe.""That is not possible," the officer said. "We will take care of that. Do not worry."Ordered off the plane, Osborn at first resisted and then turned to Comerford. "Hey, Ballgame. It's time to get off.""Okay, you're right," said Comerford, and he lowered the door's folded ladder.Once everyone was off the plane, the PLA officer headed for the ladder."You are not allowed aboard the aircraft," Osborn said. "It's American property.""It's okay, we'll guard it for you," said the officer, no doubt laughing to himself.From the plane, the crew was escorted to a bus where they waited, drinking bottled water and smoking packs of Bao Dao cigarettes, filling the air with thick gray smoke."Everything did go alright in the backend, right?" Osborn asked Comerford."Everything's good back there," he replied, seemingly oblivious to the inadequate emergency destruction that had taken place. Although the plane had an emergency action plan, neither Comerford nor anyone else ever consulted it."Notwithstanding the chaotic circumstances on the aircraft following the collision," the top secret NSA damage assessment noted, "we conclude that the crew had sufficient time to jettison all sensitive materials ... The incident revealed a systemic complacency regarding policy, planning, and training support to EP-3E SRO missions."A satellite photo the US Navy EP-3 at Lingshui Airfield on Hainan Island on April 4, 2001.Getty ImagesThe report also pointed a finger directly at the NSA's leadership, including Director Hayden. "No specific guidance existed regarding Mission Commander or aircrew actions should an SRO aircraft be forced or, through emergency, be required to land in the PRC," it said. It added, "Crew training for emergency destruction was minimal and did not meet squadron requirements; this deficiency was the primary cause of the compromise of classified material."For the next eleven days, until their release, the crew was treated well, housed first in a military barracks and then in a simple hotel. They were questioned about the cause of the midair collision while Washington and Beijing worked out agreements for their return. But while the crew was eating rice, seaweed, and chicken feet, Chinese signals intelligence specialists were studying the top secret documents and dissecting the equipment on the spy plane as if it were an alien spacecraft. It was an enormous intelligence windfall.Because Lieutenant Marcia Sonon, the COMINT evaluator, was never informed by Comerford of the plan to land in China, all of the highly secret communications interception computers, equipment, and documents were neatly stowed in cabinets rather than destroyed or thrown into the sea. This gave Chinese intelligence an incredible insight into the NSA capabilities against their country.Among the undamaged computers were the two most sensitive on the aircraft, according to the NSA's report. "The most potentially damaging compromised items were the carry-on LUNCHBOX PROFORMA processor," it said, "and a laptop computer with MARTES software tools for collecting, analyzing, and processing signals. The aircraft also had an extensive inventory of SIGINT documentation in both hardcopy and electronic media."What most concerned NSA on the MARTES computer was the RASIN manual, RASIN Working Aid, and associated material. This was the agency's index of every signal they were targeting in China, Russia, and everywhere else in the world. "Together, the RASIN manual and aforementioned files provided a comprehensive overview of how the U.S. Cryptologic System exploits an adversary's signal environment," said the report.Ultimately, the damage went well beyond China itself to other adversaries. "The aircraft carried significant technical data on target nations such as Russia, North Korea, and Vietnam," the report said. This included "Russian-designed PROFORMA [weapons-related] signals used by North Korea, Russia, Vietnam, and possibly the PRC," as well as "PROFORMA data for nearly 50 nations." It added, "The Electronic Order of Battle (EOB) database car-ried on the EP-3E provided information on the location, number, and type of radars worldwide."Still other documents revealed the fact that the NSA was able to spy on the PLA Navy's Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile program, locate its submarines, and eavesdrop on their communications. They could now change their communication methods and develop better ways to successfully hide.A magazine cover featuring pilot Wang Wei at a newsstand in Beijing on April 17, 2001.ReutersCompromises also included the Intercept Tasking Database and Collection Requirements. It outlined all the key targets in China the agency was interested in, and even details on a new communications system the PLA had yet to deploy. The PLA also got near-complete access to the plane's electronic intelligence systems. "Emergency destruction of the installed ELINT equip-ment by the crew was largely ineffective," said the report. A further problem for the NSA was the fact that the inventory of classified materials aboard, left by the EP-3E crew in Kadena before they departed "was not accurate, detailed, or verified." Therefore, no one knew just what was on the plane and what might have been compromised.The aircraft was also loaded down with encryption devices, cryptographic keys, and entire codebooks, some for a month in advance. Much of it, said the report, was "in excess of what was needed for the mission." Sixteen cryptographic keys and codebooks as well as sixteen cryptographic devices were left on board undamaged. Other keying materials were simply torn and left in the plane. "The PRC would probably be able to reconstruct the key tape," it said.With keys and devices in hand, and the right technical ability, the Chinese had fifteen hours to decipher highly secret communications across the Pacific before the NSA was able to distribute new keys worldwide, an enormous intelligence coup. The compromised materials also "might enable PRC SIGINT units to decrypt limited U.S. Pacific area encrypted transmissions for 31 March and 1 April," said the report. The crypto devices proved unique prizes. "There is strong evidence that the PRC has aggressively sought to obtain these equipments," said the report. One reason might be that they already had a source who could supply them with keying materials on a regular basis.The ramifications of the EP-3E disaster would be enormous and have a long- range and very detrimental legacy for the United States. In 2019, the Chinese government credited the incident that took Wang Wei's life with being the catalyst to spur the country's military modernization."His death was an accident, but it set off many changes," said Beijing- based military expert Zhou Chenming. "What happened 18 years ago spurred China to step up the modernization of its military, especially aircraft development for the air force and navy." Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie agreed. "The 2001 crash taught China a lesson—that a strong country cannot rely on a vibrant economy alone but also needs a strong military. That's what they refer to as 'comprehensive national strength.'"Equally serious, the EP-3E incident provided China with an enormous capability to discover exactly what successes the NSA had been able achieve over the years and decades. Now they knew which codes they had broken and which targets they were intercepting, giving Chinese intelligence the ability to modify the systems and plug the NSA's ears for years or decades to come.Next, they were determined to do the same with the CIA's human spies, to find them and eliminate them with a bullet or a jail cell. And following a secret meeting in Hong Kong a week before the crash, they were off to a very good start.READ NEXT: How China planted an FBI mole who was discovered only after gutting the CIA's vast spy networkJames Bamford, a winner of the National Magazine Award for reporting, is the best-selling author of "The Puzzle Palace," "Body of Secrets," and other books on intelligence. His most recent book, from which this excerpt was taken, is "Spyfail: Foreign Spies, Moles, Saboteurs, and the Collapse of America's Counterintelligence," released on January 17.Excerpted from "Spyfail: Foreign Spies, Moles, Saboteurs, and the Collapse of America's Counterintelligence." ©2022 James Bamford and reprinted by permission from Twelve Books/Hachette Book Group.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»