Sunday, October 31, 2004
Now that I know so many people are checking the blog, I feel more inspired to post! Thank you all for the feedback, interest, and cunning comments.
Yesterday I was out mowing my lawn in the beautiful fall day, and I was thankful for so much: First, the fact that I only have one lawn to mow. Second, that I have a couple of awesome new neighbors. Third, that my neighborhood is lookin' leafy, colorful, and cute as ever. I could go on, but with all the frustrating bank machinations, it's good to take a moment to assess how far I've come already.
Even tho Mabel and Galusha are still just blueprint schemes at this point, I can walk out to the lots and see the houses rising. I imagine their architectural curves, their roof profiles in the sky, and even the way in & out of the oasis that they'll inhabit. I've pretty much given up on the idea of building a garage for Construction HQ, mostly because I'm out of the cash to dream it into existence, so I'm always wondering how to landscape the back yard effectively without eliminating the chance for a potential future garage and still making it a nice space to traverse (or pass by, more like).
This project is well-timed for materials fallout from the rebuild of Mom and Bruce's place at Flathead Lake. For instance, Galusha may get a Grohe faucet and possibly a handsome entry door with sidelights. I love salvaging, and the schedules get that much easier to complete.
Permits may arrive as soon as this week. And the loans? I wish I knew.
Yesterday I was out mowing my lawn in the beautiful fall day, and I was thankful for so much: First, the fact that I only have one lawn to mow. Second, that I have a couple of awesome new neighbors. Third, that my neighborhood is lookin' leafy, colorful, and cute as ever. I could go on, but with all the frustrating bank machinations, it's good to take a moment to assess how far I've come already.
Even tho Mabel and Galusha are still just blueprint schemes at this point, I can walk out to the lots and see the houses rising. I imagine their architectural curves, their roof profiles in the sky, and even the way in & out of the oasis that they'll inhabit. I've pretty much given up on the idea of building a garage for Construction HQ, mostly because I'm out of the cash to dream it into existence, so I'm always wondering how to landscape the back yard effectively without eliminating the chance for a potential future garage and still making it a nice space to traverse (or pass by, more like).
This project is well-timed for materials fallout from the rebuild of Mom and Bruce's place at Flathead Lake. For instance, Galusha may get a Grohe faucet and possibly a handsome entry door with sidelights. I love salvaging, and the schedules get that much easier to complete.
Permits may arrive as soon as this week. And the loans? I wish I knew.
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
I met with the appraiser yesterday about the scary Galusha appraisal (just in time for Halloween!), and hopefully we get a better result next time around. Much to my dismay, he hadn't received the order to do the Mabel appraisal yet. But given that he may finally "get" the look, feel, and finishes of the houses, the delay might have been a good thing. The Grok God came up with one of the better descriptions: Loft with landscape.
Speaking of, GG and I did a mock-up of the preliminary brochure, so now all we wait for are some spiffy images to go on it.
Meanwhile, I heard at the neighborhood association meeting that a new building may spring up in the place of the Savory and Bellamar spaces, about a half a block away. And the gelato place opened in the bigger new building in the other direction, so Fremont just keeps getting better and busier.
Speaking of, GG and I did a mock-up of the preliminary brochure, so now all we wait for are some spiffy images to go on it.
Meanwhile, I heard at the neighborhood association meeting that a new building may spring up in the place of the Savory and Bellamar spaces, about a half a block away. And the gelato place opened in the bigger new building in the other direction, so Fremont just keeps getting better and busier.
Monday, October 18, 2004
Just when I thought I might fire the bankers 'cause they're so slow setting closing dates for the loans, I get a call from one of them saying Galusha's appraisal came back at only a few thousand dollars' above hard costs. So instead of me firing them, maybe they're trying to fire me? I mean, how can this be?
I keep wondering if the appraiser's way out to lunch and didn't factor in some elemental things, such as the radiant heat, the oodles of concrete, or the sweet courtyard-oasis site. Then I wonder if the appraiser is right, that the costs are too high for the market and this is a money-losing deal.
One thing's for sure: My mind reels with risk, and I'm back to thinking I shouldn't build Galusha after all.
Aw, last week I was all triumphant in getting the city to grant the "3617" address to Mabel instead of the dreaded "3619," but now I'm so depressed. It's one of those days I don't feel like being a developer at all. Does uberdeveloper Homer Williams ever feel like this?
Maybe I should just sell the lots and move to Buenos Aires after all.
I keep wondering if the appraiser's way out to lunch and didn't factor in some elemental things, such as the radiant heat, the oodles of concrete, or the sweet courtyard-oasis site. Then I wonder if the appraiser is right, that the costs are too high for the market and this is a money-losing deal.
One thing's for sure: My mind reels with risk, and I'm back to thinking I shouldn't build Galusha after all.
Aw, last week I was all triumphant in getting the city to grant the "3617" address to Mabel instead of the dreaded "3619," but now I'm so depressed. It's one of those days I don't feel like being a developer at all. Does uberdeveloper Homer Williams ever feel like this?
Maybe I should just sell the lots and move to Buenos Aires after all.
Sunday, October 03, 2004
The first new building in the development is complete. It's the Shed of My Dreams: a 6-by-8 beauty in cedar, sitting cutely along the north side of Construction HQ's property line. On Saturday I took a trip to Beaumont Hardware to make the thing superfly: hooks for shovels, helmet, and raincoat. Bike itself hangs nicely elevated off the far wall. The lawnmower stands sentry to the side. If I get foreclosed on, I can move in there.
I even hung a piece of art inside, and I want to ask Ken to go to the animal-parts store in Butte for a smallish rack to put over the front doors. My old deer ones are too wide (and waiting for Mabel, besides), so I'm thinking jackalope.
City still seems to be taking its sweet time on permits. My architect got scolded for using a "certain tone of voice" with 'em. I'm saving most my anxiety for the bankers, who seem not too excited to earn their fees. Builder's gone AWOL, which doesn't bug me so much, so long as he surfaces around the time the permits and the loans do.
After all, I'm having the same motivation problems, trying to fit in time for picking out the 7 sinks, 9 faucets, 6 bathtubs, and whatever other fixtures pop up all over the plans. I haven't even started thinking about lights yet.
I even hung a piece of art inside, and I want to ask Ken to go to the animal-parts store in Butte for a smallish rack to put over the front doors. My old deer ones are too wide (and waiting for Mabel, besides), so I'm thinking jackalope.
City still seems to be taking its sweet time on permits. My architect got scolded for using a "certain tone of voice" with 'em. I'm saving most my anxiety for the bankers, who seem not too excited to earn their fees. Builder's gone AWOL, which doesn't bug me so much, so long as he surfaces around the time the permits and the loans do.
After all, I'm having the same motivation problems, trying to fit in time for picking out the 7 sinks, 9 faucets, 6 bathtubs, and whatever other fixtures pop up all over the plans. I haven't even started thinking about lights yet.
