SimplySanAntonio NUMBER 12
FOR RESIDENTS, VISITORS, OR ANYONE PASSING THROUGH
The Architect’s Touch...
by Lois Danenberg
“When a client presents a house plan to me on a napkin, I send them out suggesting they go find an architect,” states Avi Langbaum, a San Antonio contractor. A friend of mine, a member of the San Antonio Board of Realtors, has mentioned that the organization doesn’t believe its members care who the architect of a house is. That intrigues me as, generally speaking, we care about who the artist of a painting is, who writes a Broadway show and who the designer of clothing is. According to my friend, except for being able to write an architect’s name in a section marked “Remarks”, the organization offers no line entry on its Multiple Listing Service (MLS) spec sheet. This is interesting because the City of San Antonio’s Development Services department suggests in its directive to those wanting to build a house or other structure that a registered designer, i.e. an architect or engineer, needs to have his or her name on the plan in order for it to be accepted and subsequently approved. And finally, what makes the no line entry so ironic is that so many architects have, for years, been noted in the annals of San Antonio’s historical records. Examples are Atlee Ayres, O’Neill Ford, Harvey Marmon, Robert Hugman, Alfred Giles and George Willis, as well as many in the present day, for the designs of significant structures. It seems only fitting an architect’s name should fit in close by a builder’s name.
In this issue of
Simply SanAntonio
• The Most Prestigious Community • The Day has Finally Come for US 281 • The Importance of Fitness • NOISES That Can Spoil Anyone’s Surroundings Roy Braswell (Braswell Architecture), an architect in San Antonio and member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) says, “I think it is very important for anyone who wants to build to start with an architect who specializes in the appropriate division of construction, to ensure their vision is properly facilitated. Architects know Continued next page
• Keeping the Lid On • San Antonio Area Market Statistics
Continued from front cover
how to put projects together and they spend many hours doing it. The cost is small compared to the services they provide, which is an assurance of a well designed project that has been thoroughly studied. An architect is the leader who can pull together the right team for proper planning, design and construction, resulting in a successful project for the owner.” In support, the American Institute of Architects states that the architectural design process consists of
five phases. As you begin working with an architect, or consider hiring one, it’s helpful to know where you are in the process and where it will take you. An architect will orient you during each phase and work with you to get the most value from each stage of the process. It’s a time-tested method for establishing a close working relationship between you and your architect toward producing the very best houses.
Phase 1: Originate
Phase 4: Build
This first phase includes all of the discussions, thought and exploration that lead to the moment when you realize you need to build something new. The phase ends with your decision to move forward with a project.
Phase 2: Focus
Here you define the project – its’ scope, features, purpose and functionality. This is the time to select an architect and establish an owner-architect agreement. Together with your architect, you develop and refine a “vision” for the project. Your architect leads you through a “programming” exercise to help you explore the needs of those who will live, work or play in the space you create. You will identify the services you need from your architect, and the design team will begin to form a cohesive relationship and a shared concept for the final building.
Phase 3: Design
Once the requirements of the project are determined, the design phase begins. Your architect gives shape to your vision through drawings and written specifications. Your input into this phase is vital, as you get the first glimpses, and then a more defined look at how your house will take shape. It is important to establish a clear decisionmaking process with your architect during this phase. The design phase ends when you agree to the plans that will guide construction. Phase remarks by David Kim, Architect, AIA www.topicarchitecture.com
The contractor who will construct your house becomes the most active member of the team during this phase. Investments are made in materials, and timetables are extremely important. Good communication within the project team is critical, as the need for changes often arises.
Phase 5: Occupy
This phase brings the day the project is up and running and never really ends. It’s where your satisfaction with the project is determined. If you are turning over the project to others who will ultimately use it, good communication during the process is important. Your architect can help ensure that the terms of your building contract were met, and can use the experience of this project to inform future work, should you team together again. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to maintain a relationship with your architect.
The Most Prestigious Community
By Paul Noble I went to Webster’s Dictionary for the definition of prestigious and while there, also looked up premier and exclusive. This exploration wasn’t undertaken by chance, but rather because I often drive by a sign at a subdivision in San Antonio that proclaims itself as “The Most Prestigious Residential Community in San Antonio.” It piques my curiosity each time I drive by. Now, I know the community as one of fine, not inexpensive houses, built by upscale builders on reasonably sized lots. But having previously visited friends in the community and seen what it offered its residents in the way of amenities, I wondered if the word prestigious was the proper word to use. Or would it be lovely? Webster’s defines prestigious as indicative or conferring prestige; having a high reputation, honored, or esteemed. I found the dictionary defines premier as first in rank, chief, or leading. And the relevant definition for exclusive is expensive or fashionable. Thinking premier sounded more prestigious then prestigious, I started thinking again about the inside of the subdivision, what it offered and how other subdivisions of upscale housing stacked up against it. Whatever word one picks to describe a community, it goes without saying, I believe, the community’s level of quality is in the eyes of the beholders, the residents, or for purposes of signage out front, the developer. I wondered, further, how
Realtor friends look at communities to determine their level of importance, or prestige. A few have chimed in with their thoughts. Jon says it’s an ego boost and Ann imagines celebrities living there, a guard-gated entrance with 24/7 coverage, police on bikes riding throughout the neighborhood and a lake with swans. When I went looking on the internet for a prestigious looking community, Google offered suggestions, but more than places I might find such a community, other suggestions were for gated communities–the main jumping off point, it seemed. So, I decided a prerequisite for a prestigious, premier or exclusive commu-
nity is a perimeter stone wall and a gate with a guard to admit visitors, which “San Antonio’s Most Prestigious Residential Community” has. What I couldn’t find were other prerequisites, or amenities, so here are ones I’ve come up with. A prestigious, premier or exclusive community must be kept neat, clean and be creatively and colorfully landscaped inside and out especially at its front entrance to attract the attention of those driving by, but far more importantly, for the residents within. I’d love to suggest a community needs sidewalks to promote, well, community, but that generally doesn’t fly because, as a developer once told me, homeowners would rather have their land than sacrifice that for sidewalks. Other amenities that will raise the level of quality in a community will, invariably, include a pond or lake, with ducks or geese perhaps, a recreation area with a pool and / or tennis courts, a club house, a golf course if land permits and walking trails, especially if there are no sidewalks. So, let me hear from you. Give me your thoughts on a prestigious, premier or exclusive community and what you think it offers its residents. Send an email to ssa@idworld.net
The day has finally come for US 281 What to expect during the first month of construction on the Highway 281 expansion north of Loop 1604 to Stone Oak Parkway.
It’s a project that’s well over a decade coming and has been prioritized by the Texas Clear Lanes initiative developed by Governor Greg Abbott and our Texas Transportation Commission. For info on what the final product will look like, check out our project information page. Or you could just watch the video on TxDOT San Antonio’s blog post
The first planned closures Through the first few weeks drivers will see little impact. Construction crews will be setting up warning signage, and re-tracing pavement markings during this period. Beginning on the night of July 23rd, rolling closures will begin while crews restripe the roadway. This work will be done entirely overnight and affect Sunday through Thursday nights, starting at 9 p.m. and finishing by 5 the next morning. This should last about two weeks.
of
Per TxDOT San Antonio’s blog post
The Importance of Fitness
Alex Goodwin
Maintaining a sense of fitness has been said to have various benefits for the human body, but what are they? Talk to any person in the gym, and you will get a whole world of different answers. These can range from, “It makes me feel good about myself,” to, “It helps me look like those superhero dudes!” And while these personal motivations are fine, what is it that fitness can actually do for you as an individual? Well, there are a few things! Many people have cited fitness as a reason for their improved mood. There’s a scientific explanation for this. When you exercise, your body releases certain hormones called endorphins. Put simply, your body releases feel-good chemicals into your system. It’s because of these chemicals that many marathoners experience that “runner’s high.” So basically, people exercise, which makes their bodies feel good, which makes them want to exercise more. Feeling good is only part of it though. Studies have shown that staying active potentially has some incredible long-term benefits for our brains! According to an article from The Washington Post in 2013, people, “...who exercised at least twice a week during middle age were much less likely to develop dementia by the time they reached their 60s and 70s…” which is one heck of a plus to anyone. The article goes on to suggest that these effects can start at any age. Similar studies were done on school kids, and what they showed was that the students with higher fitness levels typically scored higher on standardized academic tests compared to their colleagues. That gives a whole new perspective on the importance of P.E. and recess. Of course it’s not all about what happens internally. People start working out to improve externally, and why shouldn’t they? There are loads of reasons to! Exercise improves your muscular structure. This may sound like a “Aha!” moment, but this is actually kind of important. Our muscles are, quite literally, holding our bodies together. Muscle fibers expand and contract so we can do day-to-day functions like eating, walking, talking, and even sleeping. If those fibers are too weak, then we can’t do as much. What makes fitness so gratifying to so many people is that the effects of it become visible very quickly. There are physical changes that happen to the body after continued exercise, and they’re incredibly satisfying to see, if that’s your goal. This essentially creates mental “carrot on a stick” for people to chase down. The more people see themselves improving, the closer they feel they’re getting to the carrot. It’s hard to find other hobbies that give a real sense of progression like fitness does. This isn’t meant to be some sales pitch to try and convince someone to take up fitness if he or she doesn’t want to – far from it. But fitness is important and quickly becoming more popular in today’s society, and you know–now it’s not so hard to see why. Sources: Aschwanden, Christie, and New Scientist. “Studies Show the Long-term, Positive Effects of Fitness on Cognitive Abilities.” The Washington Post. WP Company, 09 Dec. 2013. Web. 20 June 2017.
Noises That Can Spoil Anyone’s Surroundings Peter Seward
According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the hum of trucks, cars, and planes meets the ears of 97 percent of Americans, at roughly 35 to 50 decibels. And in this San Antonio metro area where the population has doubled in the last 40 years, and talk is of it doing that again in the next 40, that’s havoc being played with a lot of lives, if not the value of people’s homes. If you have the luxury of being a late riser, or are retired from the workplace, certain subdivisions in the San Antonio area might play an integral part of your early to bed, early to rise schedule. For instance, living under the flight path to San Antonio’s airport could be problematic since planes taking off and landing start their days generally around 4:30 a.m. and end at 1 a.m. And while it seems all but impossible to plan on not being near a heavily traveled roadway—spell
that car-centric Bexar County—the likelihood is, if you live in a neighborhood that now borders a middling traveled roadway, it will eventually, if it hasn’t already, turn into a heavily traveled one given the lack of other non-tire means of travel. I kid folks when I tell them that when I lived in San Antonio, I saw more cows on Huebner Road on my Sunday bike rides then I did cars. Alas, that may not be altogether true, still cars were in far smaller quantity 40 years ago. A friend appreciates living in Whispering Oaks, convenient as it is to shopping and highway connections. Her house backs up to Wurzbach Road, albeit with a brick wall between her property and the road. Entertaining on her back patio was something she relished. Still, she heard years ago that Wurzbach Road would eventually turn into Wurzbach Parkway, but she had no idea what that meant in terms of num-
Commercial aircraft are at an altitude of 300 to 500 feet when they pass over close lying subdivisions, about 3 miles from the runway.
Continued from previous page
bers of cars, nor noise level. Not to her pleasure, she’s found out. “I used to be able to sit on my patio and entertain friends,” she said. “Now, the constant flow of traffic and noise makes that impossible.” I posed a question to Jack, a retired Air Force noise inspector who now lives under the flight path to the San Antonio airport. How far away from an airport runway do 737 jets start their descent and how low must they drop before people below start hearing the engine roar? “There are a great many variables. Commercial aircraft gently start descending from the cruising altitude of about 30,000 feet when they’re about 5 - 8 miles from the runway. They are generally at an altitude of 300 to 500 feet when they pass over, for instance, Churchill Estates, which is about 3 miles from the runway. “Usually planes approaching an airport drop altitude in steps, cranking up the engines to level out in between, causing the loud noises.” Realtor friends have a variety of responses to the question of whether noise affects the price of a house. Patricia says she doesn’t even bring clients to houses where the noise level from planes might be objectionable, while Andrea says, “Many people are sensitive to noise pollution. I usually refer to the noise the first time we look at a house so they are aware of it right away and not the day before closing.” The question following would probably be, “Are government entities doing enough to mitigate or block out those noises?” While San Antonio has funded replacement windows and doors for houses affected by proximity to the airport, homeowners along
roadways like Wurzbach Parkway or the two loops, in only a few instances have seen buffer walls or other “blocking” material erected. And from realtor.com, “Our data team throughout the United States examined nine major noise factors and calculated the price difference between homes within a certain radius of that cacophonous source and the median price of homes in the rest of a zip code. Of course, jet engines are far louder than cars, so we adjusted the affected range accordingly, plus, no one lives within 0.1 mile of an airport. We found the leading offender to sensitive ears to be transportation, responsible for the top three noisemakers. To be fair, we can’t say that noise is the only reason for the discount; noisy locations are often busy ones.” Airport: minus 13.2% within 2 miles, Railway track: minus 12.3% within 0.1 miles Highway: 11.3% within 0.1 miles Busy road: minus 9.5% within 0.1 miles Hospital emergency room: minus 7.6% within 0.5 miles 24-hour Supermarket: minus 5.1% within 0.1 miles School: minus 4.3% within 0.1 miles Fire Station: minus 11.8% within 0.1 miles Data sources: realtor.com, Federal Aviation Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of Highway Policy Information, GreatSchools.org, Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Department of Agriculture, Google Places API, municipal fire departments, Nielsen Compiled by Yuqing Pan.
Houses are just a few feet away from the ever-increasing traffic flow on Wurzbach Parkway.
Keeping the Lid On by Angela Morrison
My shopping day starts at Sprouts and continues on to HEB and Whole Foods. Among the many differences I’ve found with one and the other stores has been the lids on the bins in the bulk section. At Sprouts, the lids are made with springs so you have to purposefully keep the lid open with one hand while “scooping” with the other. At HEB and Whole Foods the lids stay open with just a push, and you have to purposefully close them after “scooping.” Upon inquiry, a Sprouts representative responded,“We know it can be frustrating to have the bin lids constantly falling down when trying to scoop and bag product. Due to food safety concerns, we intentionally don’t include a latch or Velcro on the lids in order to reduce the possibility of customers propping open the bin lids and leaving product exposed after completing their purchase. With over 200 bins in many locations, the possibility of having numerous lids open throughout the day with product exposed is a risk we aren’t willing to take.” A response from a Whole Foods store representative states, “We have all the confidence in our customers that they will close the lids when finished, but in any case, employees are on the floor looking out for things like open bin doors.” Bottom line: for the sake of other shoppers, make sure the lid is closed when you’ve finished scooping.
Meanwhile, down on the Riverwalk...
Every city lucky enough to be on a river ought to take as its “model San Antonio. ” – Charles Kuralt
www.sabor.com
Add new color to your life and brighten your days.
Considering selling or buying a home? With your goals and my experience and work ethic, we can introduce new color into your life! David Simon, SRES, Realtor® 210-573-0643 I www.simplyfineSAhomes.com
We love to support and encourage local authors! We publish writers from all over the world, but because we’re San Antonio based, we especially like to support our local authors, including Stephen James Poppoon, Stone Palatin, J.T. Chapin and Nadine Redfield. Check out our current digital catalogue of titles online and visit our website for news of upcoming books. Left: “Hail to the Chiefs” by Stephen James Poppoon, now in its second edition. A novel, based on true events, about life, love and college soccer in the 1970s. We welcome hearing from authors with new book ideas. Visit our website and drop us an email.
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In this fast-changing city and metro area in which we live, it behooves us to stay in touch with the old as well as the new. Change touches all of us. Thus the mission of SimplySanAntonio is to highlight change and how it affects us, as homeowners, so that we can make the most of the present and keep a watchful eye on the future.