Easterday Construction

Zero Lot Line Homes are one of the things I would like to consider for the Sandhill Farm PUD.  There are no provisions for Zero Lot Line Homes in Culver’s current ordinance and it is a missed opportunity on some of the smaller Lots of Record currently platted in town.

Currently there’s not a definition of Zero Lot Line homes on Wikipedia, so I don’t get to cheat and use that reference this time.  I did do some searches and found discussions regarding them here, here and for a negative viewpoint, here. 

Zero Lot Line Homes are usually placed in zoning districts with higher densities, such as R-2 and R-3 districts, but they are becoming more common as in-fill developments where small undeveloped parcels are subdivided in existing neighborhoods.  In a zero lot line development the setbacks are reduced to zero (but not always) on one or two sides of a property allowing the homes to be built side-by-side or back-to-back with a common wall on the property line.  Rather than building them in a row, like with multi-family town homes, they will maintain one Side Yard, a Front Yard and often a Back Yard.  They can be build in duplex, triplex and quadplex configurations.

Read the rest of this entry »

The New Urbanism movement has mourned the loss of the front porch for some time.  Part of the premise of this is that the rise of the car, caused the demise of the porch.  Older homes in older neighborhoods were close to the sidewalk and a front porch was a place to sit and talk to your neighbors as they walked by.   Subdivisions of the seventies began moving the home away from the street, added a long driveway where cars could park and the porch shrank to be nothing but a stoop where guests stood waiting to be allowed entrance to the home.  Large wrap around porches were replaced with double garage doors as a main feature on the front of the home.  The car as your way out of the neighborhood became more important than the porch as a connection to the neighborhood.

Read the rest of this entry »

On Tuesday, August 19th, Mr. Gary Aker introduced his plans for Maxinkuckee Village to the Culver Plan Commission.  He was assisted by Mr. Allen Collins of CMD Construction and his Attorney, Mr. Fred Jones.  This was the first trial of Culver’s revised PUD ordinance.  The ordinance was revised last year to add a preliminary concept review by the commission to determine if the developer was on the right track or if the commission had fundimental issues with the proposed development.  There are still quite a few requirements at this stage including a site plan, topography map, boundary survey and proof of financial capacity.  I watched this with interest as it should be a precursor of what happens with the Sand Hill Farm PUD I am considering. Read the rest of this entry »

A few months back a group of Culver’s Realtors visited the Plan Commission at a regular meeting.  They had concerns regarding the sign section of the Zoning Ordinance and how it was being administered.  Most of the administration concerns were that, after years of lax enforcement, our current Building Commissioner has stepped up to the plate and is enforcing the rules that have been on the books for years… as he should.  I’m always frustrated that those of us that follow the rules are put at a disadvantage by those that ignore the rules because there are no consequences.

Read the rest of this entry »

Easterday Construction Co., Inc. has supported little league in Culver for about as long as there has been little league in Culver.  We’re proud to do our small part as sponsors of this local endeavor.  It’s a wonderful way for kids to learn a skill, learn teamwork and sportsmanship.  And this year, we were even able to get the “Easterday Green” as the shirt colors!

 Update:  I asked Francis Ellert of Coca-Cola, Plymouth if he could get me names of players.  Francis is very involved in the Culver Little League program.  He gave me the following list of names, though he couched this with, “Some teams made trades and didn’t notify us.”  If anyone can give me a line-up in the picture, I’d appreciate it!

Coach:  Chris Stevens;  Assistant Coach:  Tammy Shedrow

Players:  Natalie Stevens, Ethan Coyle, Shane Stevens, Madison Shedrow, Oliver Lampton-Adkins, Zachary Culver and Brendan Brown

Butler Manufacturing Company (BMC) offers sustainable 25-yr color finishes that meet the reflectance and emittance standards established by the energy codes for “cool roofs.” Butler cool roofs help mitigate the Heat Island Effect, which produces high relative temperatures in urban areas that contribute to smog formation. In this way, Butler® building systems help ensure a safer habitat and microclimate.  Butler Manufacturing Company is making efforts to make their products as “Green” as possible.  Read how BMC products meet various LEED requirements here and here. Read the rest of this entry »