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Is this the death of the PLSS?

Jason Foose Science & Technology

Alaska's PLSS survey is still in its infancy. Freshly placed monuments are still steaming, and some 35 million acres of state lands are yet unsurveyed — that's about the size of the state of New York. I caught wind that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to transfer the balance of state land to Alaska through the Direct Point Positioning Survey (DPPS) method.

Boomers may elude predictions of their homebuying power

Michael J. Berens Construction & Building Materials

Once again, baby boomers are bucking conventional wisdom. The scenario oft-repeated within the housing industry is that boomers are sitting on a lot of home equity and will at some point sell their current family-oriented homes and buy housing that will better support an older active lifestyle, thus creating a lot of churn and demand in the market.

Turning around homelessness with design

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

On any given day, more than a half-million people — children, women and men, including many veterans — in the United States experience homelessness. That number has been decreasing in recent years, but with rents and home prices rising, many low-income individuals and families could find themselves without the means to pay for housing.

Surveyors: Are we our own worst enemy?

Lee Lovell Science & Technology

I admit to being a novice when it comes to ancient Greek philosophers. However, they seem to speak to some contemporary issues. In the Phaedrus dialogue, Plato expresses concerns that an information technology called writing might weaken a person's mind and cause trouble in the community. He suggests "learners will read and think they know many things; however they will not possess knowledge and become difficult to get along with."

Urban challenge: What should be done about gentrification?

Lucy Wallwork Civil & Government

Gentrification is the process in which an influx of wealthy residents into an urban district causes rents to rise and the neighborhood to be reshaped in line with middle-class (usually white) characteristics. And it's becoming an growing headache for policymakers and the mayors of some of America's hippest cities.

Defending a bond claim: What to look out for

Nate Budde Construction & Building Materials

In order to discuss the appropriate ways in which to defend against a bond claim in any meaningful way, some background should be provided regarding what payment bonds are, and how they work. While there are multiple types of bond in the realm of construction — bid bonds, performance bonds and payment bonds to name three — the focus of this article will stick to payment bonds.

Forecast uncertain as housing industry teeters

Michael J. Berens Construction & Building Materials

December brought good news and bad news for the housing industry. Year-end tallies show moderate but healthy year-over-year growth for new construction and purchases of existing homes. Both housing starts and existing home sales had their best years in a decade. At the same time, trending indicators pointed downward, signaling a potential softening in activity heading into the new year. It remains to be seen how actions taken by the new administration will impact housing in the months to come.

Urban challenge: Rethinking America’s love affair with suburbia

Lucy Wallwork Civil & Government

To kick off this series on U.S. cities, we looked at the rise of the metropolitan mayor. In the next few pieces, we will look at a few of the major challenges facing those mayors in shaping their cities for the demands and opportunities of the 21st century.

Kitchen’s bigger footprint stepping on designers’ toes

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Open kitchens continue to grow in popularity. Recent industry reports show a strong consumer preference for completely open or partially open kitchens in both new construction and remodels. With a lot of older housing stock growing in value, some homeowners are using the additional equity to open up their current kitchens, upgrade materials and appliances, and give them a fresher, more contemporary look.

Interior design is not about flowers

Leslie LaskinReese Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

If you could see me now, you'd see the droop in my shoulders. It wasn't the first time someone demeaned what I have been doing with my professional life for the last 25 years. She's a friend, and she really didn't mean to. We were talking about credentials and continuing education required in various professions. When I told her the amount of continuing education I must take to maintain the three credentials I've attained, she smiled and wondered aloud why I'd need continuing education to decide what color the flowers should be and where they should go.

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