site visit

We had our first "official" site visit with our architects on 6/13/08. Louise Harpman, Scott Specht, and Brett Wolfe began by presenting us with 3 massing diagrams, 3 exterior elevation schemes, and 3 alternative floorplans. They were seeking our feedback re: the pros and cons of each of the alternatives to provide direction as they design the final plan. It was very exciting to see things beginning to take shape. We loved what we saw - Specht Harpman exceeded our expectations!



Here's a shot of us reviewing the LEED for Homes project checklist. That's me on the left, Scott Specht in the middle, and Brett Wolfe on the right. Photo courtesy of Louise Harpman.






After going over all the drawings we drove to the site and took another look at the drawings from the perspective of how the 3 elevations would look on our lot and the proximity to the trees and to our neighbors. We looked at our lot first and then walked through the entire project to get a general feel for everything from an overall perspective. It was fun and interesting to hear Louise and Scott share their insights. Photo courtesy of Brett Wolfe.

Now we wait.....they are back at the drawing board and we can't wait to see what they have in store for us next!

price of gasoline getting to you?

Gas is now over $4.00/gallon! A friend just returned from a trip to Norway and has reported that gas in Norway is now the equivalent of $12/gallon! It's difficult to consider ourselves lucky, but maybe we really are?

One of the criteria for a home's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is proximity to mass transit. Urban Reserve is only a short walk from the DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) light rail station. At the current price of gasoline, DART is looking more and more inviting! Here's the link to DART in case you want to check your local schedule.

http://www.dart.org/

a great place to start

Austin Energy Green Building holds a Green by Design workshop four times a year - I attended in February and I loved it! If you're thinking about building green this workshop is a great place to start.

When I attended the workshop I learned about Eco-Wise. Recently I had a friend ask me about a source for environmentally friendly kitchen & bath countertops. Eco-Wise instantly came to mind!

Here are both links:

http://www.austinenergy.com/energy%20Efficiency/Programs/Green%20Building/Resources/GreenByDesign/index.htm

http://www.ecowise.com/

LEED for homes

LEED for Homes is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier and more comfortable for the occupants. Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. The net cost of owning a LEED home is comparable to that of owning a conventional home.

To find out more, check out this LEED for Homes link at the U.S. Green Building Council website. http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=147#2008

just listed - seeking good neighbor

JUST LISTED!

12 Vanguard Way, Urban Reserve

10,200 Sq Ft Lot - MLS# 11005517

Seeking fun-loving neighbor who enjoys good company and fine wines! This heavily treed, prime lot sits across the street from us! Please click on the link to find out more!


http://www.alexcolerealestate.com/featured_home.htm

energy star sales tax holiday

During Memorial Day weekend, Texas shoppers will get a break from state and local sales and use taxes on purchases of certain energy efficient products. The 2008 Energy Star sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day). Click on the link to find out more!

http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx98_836/

the architects

We are on our way! We are thrilled to have Specht Harpman as our architectural firm! Here is a shot of our first site visit with Louise Harpman of Specht Harpman and Diane Cheatham of Urban Edge Developers prior to finalizing our agreement.

This is a new experience for Jay and me since this will be our first opportunity to work with an architectural firm. We were both taken with Louise at our first meeting and our "connection" made our architectural decision an easy one. Our agreement is broken into 5 phases:

1. Schematic Design
2. Design Development
3. Construction Documentation
4. Bidding
5. Construction Observation

This means we will be working with Specht Harpman from the design phase through completion of the construction. Specht Harpman came highly recommended. They maintain offices in Austin, Texas, and New York City. In addition to being a partner in the firm, Louise Harpman is currently serving as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs at the University of Texas at Austin, where she is also the Harwell Hamilton Professor of Architecture. You can find out more information about Specht Harpman at http://www.spechtharpman.com/.