Latest in new-construction-projects

Greenscapes: Made in the Shade
on May 31,2004 in Feature

Landscaping can have a huge effect on the energy efficiency and comfort of a home, says consultant David Johnston, president of What's Working, based in Boulder, Colo.

Free Feasibility Reports Put Money in the Bank
on May 31,2004 in Feature

Atlanta-based Homestar Mortgage Services is luring builders with free feasibility reports.

Compact Plans Could Lower Services Costs
on April 30,2004 in Feature
Building higher-density communities with tighter infrastructure designs and community services can save significant costs, according to The Brookings Institution's Center on Urban and Metropolitan...
Paradise Lost
on April 30,2004 in Feature

Think twice before developing large, controversial parcels.

Track Permit Statistics, Free and Easy
on April 30,2004 in Feature

By tracking residential building permits issued in a city, county, metropolitan area or state and comparing trends, a builder can learn a lot for free.

10 Tips for Land Research
on April 30,2004 in Feature

From four lots to 40,000 green acres, the fundamentals of land acquisition apply long before the buy.

Woodside Glen
on March 31,2004 in Feature

It’s the typical builder story: Find a great piece of land, spot a market segment to which nobody else delivers and pick the right product. Easy, right? Not when NIMBY neighbors get involved.

'Overprice' Premiums for More Profit
on March 31,2004 in Feature
Whether you’re charging a million-dollar premium for a custom home on the ocean or $10,000 for a cul-de-sac production home, that premium could be too low.
Enforcing Design, Construction Guidelines Minimizes Conflict
on March 31,2004 in Feature

High Desert, a community in Albuquerque, N.M., maintains design and building guidelines - and a mechanism for inspection and enforcement of them to reduce conflicts between developer, builder and...

Highway Study Could Help Developers
on March 31,2004 in Feature

Traffic can delay or doom a community plan, but a report by the American Highway Users Alliance, 'Unclogging America's Arteries: Effective Relief for Highway Bottlenecks (1999-2004),' gives a...

EPA to Soak Storm-Water Scofflaws
on February 29,2004 in Feature
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is cracking down on storm-water compliance, beginning with enforcement against larger builders.
A Method to Monitoring Madness
on February 29,2004 in Feature

Monitoring Land & Housing Markets: An Essential Tool for Smart Growth details a new method for monitoring land.

State Rallies Allies for Smarter Growth Policy
on February 29,2004 in Feature
What can builders do when faced with opposition from anti-growth groups and a governor's unfriendly smart growth policy?
Top 10 Books for Urban Planners
on December 31,2003 in Feature
PLANetizen, a Web community run by Los Angeles-based Urban Insight, compiled this list of the top 10 books published in 2003.
Don't Skimp on Small-Site Evaluations
on December 31,2003 in Feature
Architect Ken Newberry, principal with Newberry Campa Design Studio in Houston, has a motto: 'Everyone deserves a great architectural design.'
Book Touts Keys to 'Community'
on December 31,2003 in Feature

Thomas W. Kopf's new book, Building Community, aims to impart a broader understanding of 'community' to builders and others involved in the community-planning loop.

Complexity Takes Toll on Land-Need Guesses
on November 30,2003 in Feature

How much land is enough? You never can tell, but don't despair - neither can Wall Street analysts or GIANTS such as Toll Brothers, the $2.3 billion luxury home builder based in Huntingdon...

Fee Hike Worth Its Wait in Golden State
on November 30,2003 in Feature

Builders faced with a permit fee hike might want to resist the urge to rush in plans before it takes effect.

3-D Software Models Land Uses
on November 30,2003 in Feature

It has been compared to the video game SimCity, but at $4,995 a pop, CommunityViz 3-D simulation and modeling software is no toy.

Fast-Track Fire Sale
on October 31,2003 in Feature

Rebuilding a damaged community demands teamwork and speed.