Archive for the ‘Commercial Construction’ category

Steel Building Design

August 5th, 2011

There are essentially no limits to the design capabilities of steel. The lightweight strength of steel has been utilized for decades in everything from backyard sheds to stadiums and skyscrapers. Chances are if you are looking into the design process you already have a general idea of the type of building you want, or at least what the function of the building will be.

First things first, you don’t need to hire an architect or design specialist to design your pre-engineered steel building. The elite steel building providers are staffed with experienced workers with the design experience to help you turn your vision of a building into a set of plans to be sent off to manufacturing. If you know exactly what it is you are looking for many websites even have online design tools where you enter the building and frame type, the dimensions of the building, the pitch of the roof, the base conditions and Ta-Da, you’ve got yourself a building.

It’s undeniable that these online tools are fun to play around with; but it’s definitely worth the time to call a professional steel building company and speak to a specialist about the design. Professionals at leading companies can provide insight on design that can save you time and money. For instance, an experienced building designer from a trusted company can tell you what is necessary to create an energy efficient building that can best withstand your local weather conditions. This way your money is spent on a building that can carry on awarding you the highest returns on your investment, even when faced with heavy rains, scorching summer heat, heavy snow loads, or 120+ mph winds from hurricanes or tornadoes. » Read more: Steel Building Design

Financing for Workforce Rental Housing

August 5th, 2011

In the world of affordable housing, workforce housing may be overlooked by some but it is needed by many. People who hold service-sector jobs, which are necessary but often low-paying, need access to housing they can afford. Teachers, police officers and firefighters often need it as well. Finding money for these types of projects can be difficult, but it’s not impossible.

Though developers may not consider them an option, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) can be used to fund projects that include workforce-priced units, if the conditions are right. Typically, “workforce housing” is generally defined as being rent restricted so that it is accessible for people making between 80 and 120 percent of the area’s Annual Median Income (AMI). In some communities, this is not a difficult target to hit, because average residential housing costs are already low. Or they’re low enough that building a few lower-priced, rent-restricted units won’t prevent a project from being financially viable.

But in more expensive housing markets, a larger disparity between service-sector incomes and the average price of a home can make LIHTCs a viable option. Ten Fifty B, a San Diego project, is one such example. In this case, tax credits were used to build a mixed-use development with apartments priced for people earning below 80 percent of the AMI. Many workforce housing projects in California are priced this way because there’s such a significant gap between service-sector incomes and housing prices. » Read more: Financing for Workforce Rental Housing