|
Don't miss our photo galleries!
|
 |
|
| HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES | ||
|
December 18, 2009 Housing Activity Picks Up in November Here’s a little holiday cheer … new residential construction activity looked considerably better in November than it did in October, according to statistics released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau. Privately owned housing starts in November were at a seasonally adjusted rate of 574,000, an 8.9% increase over the revised October estimate of 527,000. Permits hit a seasonally adjusted rate of 584,000, which is up 6% over October’s revised estimate of 551,000.
A further breakdown of the statistics shows that November’s single-family housing starts were at a rate of 482,000 for a 2.1% increase over October; while single-family permits were at a rate of 473,000, which is 5.3% above the revised October figure. Total starts (single-family and multi-unit residential structures) were up in every region with total permits up in every region except the Midwest. Click here to see the full release and statistics for all regions. |
||
|
New Retirement Community Going All Raised
The developer of a new residential
community planned for a small town
near Baton Rouge, La., knew exactly the look and type of environment he
wanted to offer future residents. Jeff Couvillion of Acadiana
Approved this week by the city council in Central, La., the Gates of Burlington will be a 53-lot gated community restricted to residents aged 55 and older. All of the homes will be two or three bedroom raised floor cottages ranging in size from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet. In addition to helping the developer achieve a traditional look, using raised floor foundations will also reduce the amount of fill needed to elevate each lot. “The development is not in a flood zone, but there are flooding issues elsewhere in the community, so city leaders do not want to compound the problem by adding fill,” Richard said.
Site preparation is under way with home construction expected to begin in the spring. Paul DiGiorgio of APA will work with the project manager to help ensure the foundations are constructed in the best and most cost-effective manner. SFPA and APA will later be able to use the development as a case study to help educate others on the benefits of raised floor construction and proper techniques. Click here to read more about the project and see house plans. |
||
|
Academic, Industry Experts Study Educational Needs Experts from academia, government, industry and associations recently came together to identify needs and future directions for forest products undergraduate curricula at the national level. Eric Gee, SFPA’s director of Expo and forest resources, represented SFPA in the discussion. Also participating was Hunter McShan of McShan Lumber Company Inc. of McShan, Ala., one of SFPA’s Active member companies.
Held at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Miss., the main objective of the “National Forest Products Undergraduate Curriculum Visioning and Needs Assessment Workshop” was to determine what curricula will best serve students and the industry. “The ultimate goal is to provide guidelines and information that universities can use to develop degree programs that are more attractive to students while at the same time developing graduates with the skills and education that are needed in today’s industry,” Eric said. A white paper on the group’s findings will be published in early 2010. Meanwhile, for more information, contact Eric at 504/443-4464, ext. 214, or egee@sfpa.org. |
||
|
SFPA Welcomes New Member
|
||
|
Happy Holidays from the SFPA Staff!
All of us at SFPA would like to take this opportunity to wish our members and industry allies a happy holiday and prosperous New Year! As you’ll note from our festive attire, we’re determined the challenges of 2009 will not prevent us from spreading a little cheer and hoping for brighter days in 2010! And as evidenced by our “Feliz Navidad” sign, we added a little international flavor to our celebration by enjoying a holiday lunch at a local Mexican restaurant.
Our office will be closed from Friday, Dec. 25, until Monday, Jan. 4. So again, please enjoy the upcoming holiday and watch for our next newsletter with a special welcome to the New Year on Friday, Jan. 8. |
||
|
Copyright © 2009. Reproduction in whole or in part, by electronic or mechanical means, without written authorization from SFPA is prohibited. |
Development
wanted the community he was designing to reflect the values and attributes
associated with the country life – comfort, community, simplicity, nature
and tradition. And with the help of Richard Kleiner, SFPA’s director of
treated markets, and Baton Rouge architect Kevin Harris, a longtime
proponent of raised floor design, Jeff realized there was no better way to
bring his vision to life than through a community of traditional, raised
floor cottages. 
SFPA
welcomes Atlas Trading International
PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION