CHALK LINE
MAY/JUNE 2018
MAGAZINE
TECHNOLOGY
ISSUE PUTTING IT TO WORK FOR YOU
INSIDE THIS ISSUE : GREEN TECHNOLOGY
MISSING MIDDLE
LATEST TRENDS
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Chalk Line May/June 2018
Table of Contents Page 4 MESSAGE FROM THE 2018 OMB PRESIDENT Pages 8-9 BETTER BUILDINGS WITH BETTER SCIENCE
Page 5 OMB AT-A-GLANCE
Page 7 MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Page 12-13
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS - MISSING MIDDLE
Page 14 NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS Page 10-11 TECHNOLOGY: PUTTING IT TO WORK FOR YOU!
LOOKING AHEAD - meetings & events MAY 2nd - 5:30pm Grays Harbor Chapter Tinderbox Coffee Roasters
MAY 18th - 6:00pm Ed. Foundation Auction HOTEL RL • Olympia
JUNE 13th - 3:45pm Remodelers Council OMB Office
MAY 4th - 5:30pm Associates Council OMB Office
MAY 23rd- 12:00pm Golf Committee Meeting OMB Office
MAY 8th - 4/4:30pm Exec/Board Meeting OMB Office
MAY 24th- 4:00pm Government Affairs OMB Office
JUNE 14th - 6:00pm REX Awards Indian Summer Golf and Country Club
MAY 9th - 3:45pm Remodelers Council OMB Office
JUNE 6th - 5:30pm Grays Harbor Chapter Tinderbox Coffee Roasters
MAY 10th - 4:00pm Beer With A Builder TBA
JUNE 6th - 4:00pm Tour Committee OMB Office
MAY 16th - 6:00pm Lewis County Chapter The Moose Lodge
JUNE 12th - 4/4:30pm Exec/Board Meeting OMB Office
JUNE 15th -12:00pm New & Prospective Member Orientation OMB Office JUNE 20th - 6:00pm Lewis County Chapter The Moose Lodge JUNE 21st- 4:00pm Government Affairs OMB Office
EDUCATION CLASSES MAY 11th - 8:00am State Certified Flagging & Refresher OMB Office SUMMER - Date TBD First Aid/CPR OMB Office AUGUST 3rd - 8:00am First Aid/CPR OMB Office
For more details on these upcoming OMB events, go to www.omb.org.
Chalk Line • 3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE the most motivating people I’ve ever met! And our newest team member - Director of Government Affairs, Erin Hall. Erin is a force to be reckoned with! Erin has in record time familiarized herself with the issues potential impacting our association – in five counties!
PRESIDENT KAREN McCLENNEN
S
erving in senior leadership over the years at Olympia Master Builders has provided me the unique experience to have worked with four Executive Officers and their teams – and with three of them as our association’s president. I served with Executive Officer Doug DeForest. Early in my career Doug, along with our leadership team, groomed me for leadership and understanding the business side of a building trade association, as well as inspired my commitment to our industry. My year with Executive Officer Laura Worf helped me to understand the complexity and the important balance between policy and implementation. Executive Officer, Troy Nichols brought my focus back to our mission of housing affordability, and reminded me that we can have fun at the same time! Current Executive Officer, Angela White has matched my passion for our association and inspires me daily! In January’s issue, I shared with you our association's goals, focus, and vision for this year. I hope that achieving these goals has appeared to have been a smooth transition. The reality of implementing these goals isn’t always a smooth transition… as I am sure our past Presidents and EO’s can confirm. Among EO Angela White’s responsibilities has been to develop a solid team. Our EO has joined Brianna Bedell - our extremely creative, talented and organized Events Director with Jill Williams - our Communications Specialist (see more about Jill later in this article), along with Jenni Hatfield, Membership Coordinator Extraordinaire, Jenni is one of 4 • Chalk Line
Here’s a snap shot of this year’s progress, challenges, tasks and accomplishments - policies set by OMB leadership and implemented by EO Angela White and her team. In February, we added on OMB Board of Directors Retreat, focused on bringing our leadership together with a common goal of sharing the value OMB membership and in growing our membership. We also added a Casino Night event in February. Little did I realize when I requested this event, that it mean that our staff would have to spend an enormous amount of time wrestling with the State of Washington’s Gambling Commission over our non-profit status to host the event. In the end, we hosted a great evening for our members – in-spite of the Gambling Commission. We changed the structure and responsibilities of our Membership Committee, Spike Committee, and Associates Council, giving each group a renewed focus and goals for the year. The Associates Council has developed an Ambassador Program and a New Member Orientation Program, in which each has received great participation, thanks to the hard work of Becky Rieger with Environmental Design and Rusty Ruiz with Hung Right Doors. Communications Specialist, Jill Williams, along with Membership Committee Chair, John Erwin, of John Erwin Remodeling, Inc., and his committee has developed an extensive outreach and marketing plan focused on growing our membership. “MEET. EDUCATE. NETWORK. GROW. Olympia Master Builder – A Foundation of Diverse Industry Professionals." This plan features many of our members. And in Jill’s spare time (ha-ha), she is updating our website. Jill has certainly given our branding a fresh and exciting new look. When you see our marketing on social media sites - be sure to share! Steve Gilmore with Republic Services, chair of The Affordable Housing Council (TAHC) and his committee has been busy reinvigorating TAHC and recruiting more trustees. Before this issue publishes, we will have
completed two home shows. In Lewis County, we successfully partnered with the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce and featured 20 members. In Thurston County, our Big & Home and Garden Show showcased 138 businesses. These events have allowed us to be good community partners, while showcasing our members. Our Auction has moved to Education Foundation, which is chaired by Jon Jones with Washington Business Bank. This allows us to better our members and further our scholarship program. The Auction Committee, led by Debbi Boyd, with Naberly, and Leah Backus, with Olympia Federal Savings, have been hard and work and are ready to host a fun filled evening. The theme is celebrating the Roaring 20’s. Immediate Past President, Ron Deering has been hard at work with our team, and our partners at Thurston County Association of Realtors to develop a hosted Elected Officials Bus Tour. The tour will “drive” our civic leaders through the cycle of building a home – literally from the ground up. They will see what our builders do daily to provide housing for our communities. The Education Foundation has been participating in a series of Career Fairs, focused on helping us recruit today’s talented youth into the building trades. Staff had been tasked with researching and implementing a database to support an online referral tool, allowing us to serve our communities, our membership and assist our membership committee’s recruiting efforts – stay tune for updates. Our EO, Angela White, is tasked with the day to day operation of our association and she has brought together an incredible team, and our team is very focused on our success! I mentioned earlier in this article – our EO has matches my passion, she has embraced our vision and the goals our leadership team brought together at our leadership retreat in February. And did you know - we have already had 4 events and 17 meetings this year, in the five counties we serve! Please take some time to connect with our team, I promise you - they will all assist you in receiving the very best value of your membership. In final note, please join me in congratulating EO Angela White, April 1st was her 10th Year Anniversary serving our association.
Chalk Line Official Publication of the Olympia Master Builders 1211 State Avenue NE, Olympia WA 98506 Phone: (360) 754-0912 • www.omb.org
The Olympia Master Builders is a professional trade association representing 450 member companies located in Thurston, Lewis, Grays Harbor, Mason and Pacific Counties. Our members come from all sectors of the building trades and are committed to “building strong communities, one home at a time.”
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President – Karen McClennen, Karen Jerome McClennen First Vice President – Erik Jensen Second Vice President – Jennie McDonald, Lifespan Construction Treasurer – Jon Jones, Washington Business Bank Associate Vice President – Becky Rieger, Environmental Design, LLC Second Assoc. Vice Pres. – Rusty Ruiz, Hung Right Doors Secretary – Janine Ezzell, Chicago Title Insurance Co.
OMB At A Glance MAY is OMB MEMBERSHIP MONTH! Not only will we have some incredible incentives for folks who join in May - each new member will receive a scratch ticket (while supplies last) with the chance to win up to $50 off your membership dues and other amazing prizes!
TRIPLE SPIKE CREDITS FOR RECRUITERS ALL MONTH LONG!
BUILDER DIRECTORS
Mike Auderer, Olympia Construction, Inc. Scott Bergford, Scott Homes, Inc. John Erwin, John Erwin Remodeling, Inc. Andy Gruhn, Gruhn Homes, Inc. John Johnson, Johnson Custom Homes, LLC Amy Winters, CW Construction, Inc.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS
Matt Jones, Sunset Air, Inc. Tommy Lowe, Greene Reality Scottiejo McNulty, Elite Cleaning of Washington, Inc. Barb Whitlow, Olympia Federal Savings
NATIONAL DIRECTORS
Debbi Boyd, Naberly Solutions, Inc. Ron Deering, Northwest Family Homes, Inc. Karen McClennen, Karen Jerome McClennen
STATE DIRECTORS
Tina Allen, Great Floors Kim Asay, Umpqua Bank Mike Auderer, Olympia Construction, Inc. Debbi Boyd, Naberly Solutions, Inc. Ron Deering, Northwest Family Homes, Inc. Bob Kagy, Print NW Karen McClennen, Karen Jerome McClennen John McKinlay, Olympia Overhead Doors, Inc. Becky Rieger, Environmental Design, LLC
BUILDER AT LARGE
John Erwin, John Erwin Remodeling, Inc.
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
You are invited... to celebrate the
2018 REX AWARD WINNERS! JUNE 14TH AT 6:00PM
THE
REX
AWAR DS!
Ron Deering, Northwest Family Homes
GRAYS HARBOR CHAPTER OFFICERS
President – Harv Lillegard, Lillegard Construction Vice President – Rusty Ruiz, Hung Right Doors Associate Vice President – Ryann Blake, Chimney Techniques, Inc.
LEWIS COUNTY CHAPTER OFFICERS
President – John Johnson, Johnson Custom Homes Vice President – Becky Rieger, Environmental Design, LLC Associate Vice President – Rick Borovec, TwinStar Credit Union Secretary – Patrick Toby, Toby’s Electric Builder Director – Toby Krause, Double Duty Land Management
MASON COUNTY CHAPTER OFFICERS
ENTER YOUR HOME OR PROJECT IN THE 2018 TOUR! Saturday, Sept. 15th Sunday, Sept. 16th Contact brianna@omb.org for more information!
President – Andrew Spear, Andrew Spear Construction, LLC Associate Vice Pres. – Julie Nichols, Whitehouse & Nichols Attorneys at Law Treasurer – Patty Tupper, Tupper’s Floor Covering & Interiors, Inc.
PACIFIC COUNTY CHAPTER OFFICERS
President – Steve Waltemate, SAW Construction Co., Inc.
LEGAL COUNSEL
Jay Goldstein, Goldstein Law Office, PLLC
ASSOCIATION STAFF
Executive Officer – Angela White Events Director – Brianna Bedell Communications Specialist – Jill Williams Member Services Coordinator – Jenni Hatfield Government Affairs Director – Erin Hall
Chalk Line • 5
6 • Chalk Line
EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S MESSAGE
NEED HELP WITH A HEADLINE....................
W
elcome to OMB’s May/June issue of Chalk Line Magazine! Though the weather has not reflected it as I write this, spring is here!
From talking to many of you I know you are all ramped up for a busy season of home building and remodeling. And with that, we thought it would be great to talk home technology!
EXECUTIVE OFFICER ANGELA WHITE
I love learning about new technology and products for today’s home, and with each passing year it just gets better! We’re well passed the days of clapping your hands to turn on your lights. You can now turn your heat up and down from the comfort of your couch, close your garage door from an app on your phone (who hasn’t needed this function a time or two), or install a sensor that detects water leaks or freezes!
Along with cool home technology, this issue also covers technology that construction businesses are using to manage projects and interface with clients. Theses programs have changed the way the industry does business. Read pages 10 and 11 for more information! We also have a guest columnist Jason Taellious from The Artisans Group, sharing a bit about building science, the history behind it, and what it means to today’s builder. Read what he has to say on pages 8 and 9. I hope to see you all at the OMB Education Foundation Auction on May 18th. It's going to be a great time and it's for a great cause! Enjoy Chalk Line!!
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BETTER BUILDINGS WITH BUILDING SCIENCE
GUEST COLUMNIST:
JASON TAELLIOUS
THE ARTISANS GROUP Marketing Coordinator & Permitting Specialist
Does this mean that our parents and grandparents and their grandparents were doing things all wrong? Absolutely not! In fact, even today we’re learning from them; just look at the recent research into the enduring strength of Roman Concrete. But that’s precisely how building science is helping us design and build better, it’s a systematic study of what does and doesn’t work so that we can innovate and stand on the shoulders of those who designed and built the world we’ve inherited.
I’m not about to advocate for throwing out the wisdom of our ancestors without giving it the benefit of study.
At Artisans Group, for example, we are strong proponents of building science because we can verifiably build some of the most energy efficient, comfortable, and healthy homes in the world.
“Vernacular architecture” is another important concept in this discussion; it’s the design and construction of buildings to meet local material availability, needs, and environment. It often represents ingenious solutions to real limitations and problems. Think of cupolas, for example. Cupolas were an innovation of Renaissance era Italian architects. These “cups” that sit on the peak of a structure allow natural light to filter in and allow the hot rising air to escape. In the Pacific NW rectangular cupolas are most common on the roofs of our barns, and as anyone who has worked in them in the heat of summer will tell you, they make a huge difference.
Last summer, when wildfires and a heat wave brought miserable air quality and discomfort throughout the South Sound, our clients’ homes stayed within 1°F of the computer models we created before we built the home, and they maintained excellent Indoor Air Quality! The high indoor temperature during the hottest of days in a home with no window shades? 78°F (we predicted 77°F). Think about that for a moment: thanks to building science, your home or office temperature and Indoor Air Quality can be accurately modeled before it’s even built. Thank you, building science!
L
ET’S CUT RIGHT TO THE SPOILER:
FROM HOW WE DESIGN TO HOW WE BUILD, OUR STRUCTURES ARE BEING BUILT BETTER THANKS TO BUILDING SCIENCE AND THE HARD WORK OF EXPERTS BEHIND THE SCENES AND IN THE FIELD.
8 • Chalk Line
WHAT IS BUILDING SCIENCE?
Building science focuses on the measurable aspects of what goes into our buildings, and it’s a multidisciplinary approach that brings in physics, chemistry, engineering, meteorology, biology, etc. Essentially, anything that affects how a building performs falls within the broad discipline of building science. And as we continue to learn more from our ongoing efforts this leads to innovations that improve our buildings’ performance and can lead to drastic improvements in overall building sustainability. As a parent, I know my children are encouraged to find alternate sources to Wikipedia for appeals to authority. That being said, they really do have a great entry on “building science” that is well worth reading, if you’d like to learn more about this fascinating (and broad) topic.
WHAT ABOUT THE WISDOM OF OUR ANCESTORS?
At Artisans Group, we use the tool of building science to analyze the successes and failures of existing structures in our region and learn from that analysis in an effort to deliver the best product to our clients, whether it’s a home or a store-front.
Did you know that Socrates was an advocate of passive solar architecture? In Xenophan’s Memorabilia, Socrates points to the practical use of passive solar design: “Now, supposing a house to have a southern aspect, sunshine during winter will steal in under the verandah, but in summer, when the sun traverses a path right over our heads, the roof will afford an agreeable shade, will it not? If, then, such an arrangement is desirable, the southern side of a house should be built higher to catch the rays of the winter sun, and the northern side lower to prevent the cold winds finding ingress; in a word, it is reasonable to suppose that the pleasantest and most beautiful dwelling place will be one in which the owner can at all seasons of the year find the pleasantest retreat, and stow away his goods with the greatest security.” Passive Solar became a trend in America during the 1970’s because of the 1973 oil crisis when it became apparent that our reliance on mechanical innovations to overcome climate extremes could have severe energy use costs.
6,000 years ago, Chinese villagers used thermal mass and south facing entrances in order to Weren’t we always told that back in their day make their homes more comfortable through quality was more important, things were built summer and winter. In Southern China they to last, and school was a walk through snow - developed circular tulou buildings as a way to help protect people from monsoons. uphill - both ways?
Photo credit: Yakisugi-1 by Artisans Group
Japan averages around 1,500 earthPhoto credit: Artisans Group quakes every year, yet in the last 1,400 years only two of their 500 pagodas have been lost to an earthquake. And thanks to modern Architect Terunobu Fujimori the world has become acquainted with traditional Japanese Yakisugi siding, a product that is rot, fire and pest resistant without the addition of harmful volatile chemicals. In 1892, Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen and architect Colin Archer finished the Fram, an arctic research vessel designed with such care that the explorers stayed warm and comfortable without using their wood stove, while the ship was locked in a sheet of ice (seriously). Many architectural historians comfortably assert that the Fram is the first example of a modern Passive House, the most cost effective way to achieve near net-zero energy efficiency for a building. We people have a long history of innovation, and the breadth of trial and error our ancestors endured to make shelters as comfortable and safe as possible is awesome. Through the use of building science and its careful study of preserved ancient structures we learn from our ancestors’ architectural cleverness - we improve and we innovate.
HOW DO WE LEARN, IMPROVE, AND INNOVATE?
We put on our lab coats and we test, measure and record the results!
In some cases this testing is relatively straight forward. Passive Solar theory, for example, holds that a building oriented to the South should provide greater light and warmth in the
Winter. So we go into buildings in the Winter that are oriented to the South and we go into others that are oriented otherwise, then we measure the difference in natural light and warmth. Similarly, if we want to test the truth of ventilation for naturally cooling a hot building we need only compare similar structures but open the windows in some and keep everything closed up in others while we measure the difference in temperature. This is good old fashioned science. Of course, we have made some improvements over thermometers and photometers over the years. In 1978, American Inventor Bernie Haines invented the Solar Pathfinder, an ingeniously simple tool that allows a user to accurately calculate how much sunlight and shade a given point will receive throughout a year. When combined with modern computing power and access to meteorological data, a solar study helps with everything from solar grid layout to the placement of walls and windows to maximize the solar gain from our hard working sun. For many of our projects, after we conduct our solar study we run several computer simulations in our energy modeling process that help us choose the most cost effective options for windows, doors and insulation in order to ensure that our clients end up with a home of unparalleled comfort. After seven years of building Passive Houses throughout the Pacific Northwest, we have a steadily increasing body of evidence that all of these innovations not just work, but work exceptionally well. Thermal bridging is another area that technological innovations are helping us rapidly improve. Sometimes known as a “cold bridge” or “heat bridge,” a thermal bridge is a part of a structure that has a higher than normal level of heat transfer than other parts of the structure. A building with a lot of thermal bridges takes considerably more energy to heat or cool, has greater chances for the development of condensation (and mold),
and results in far greater indoor temperature variation and discomfort. From labs actively testing the thermal conductivities of materials to thermal imaging cameras that allow us to see where the leaks are, as an industry we have rapidly improved our ability to create buildings with advanced envelopes that have exceptionally small amounts of thermal bridging. When a thermal bridge is present you can literally see the heat leaking out, when you design and build to create a thermal break, you can see where the heat stops. And of course there’s more! More innovations that mean buildings are more airtight than ever before, so they need far less energy to heat or cool them. Whole house air ventilation systems that allows us to ensure these new airtight buildings have a constant supply of fresh filtered air. Because of these ventilation systems we’ve heard from many clients that they almost never have to dust and that their allergies are vastly improved. Thanks to modern technological innovations, the world of design and construction is undergoing some rapid changes and it can mean your new home, remodel or business can be far more energy efficient and healthy than ever before. If you’d like to see a new Passive House for yourself, to feel the difference in a home designed and built to the most up to date building science standards of Indoor Air Quality and energy efficiency, you’re in luck! Madison House, our newest Passive House, will be part of the 2018 Green Home Tour. Saturday, May 19th, 11am-5pm. You can find more information about the Green Tour online: www.ssgreentour.org. https://unews.utah.edu/roman-concrete/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_science http://www.classicreader.com/book/1792/25/ http://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/3/1/143/htm http://john-perlin.com/let-it-shine.html https://www.economist.com/node/456070 http://www.inmatteria.com/2014/11/30/shou-sugi-ban-or-yakisugithe-art-of-charred-cedar/ http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/History/ antarctic_ships/fram.php https://www.gutenberg.org/files/30197/30197-h/30197-h.htm https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/984608269460160512
Chalk Line • 9
TECHNOLOGY KEEPING UP WITH THE PACE OF THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY TRENDS IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY CAN BE A STRUGGLE, BUT IT CAN ALSO BE CRUCIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF YOUR SMALL BUSINESS. Today’s online Project Management programs, have come so far over the years, they now offer everything it takes to run a construction-based business, with features from the pre-sale phase to project management, to customer management tools that keep you connected to your clients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have not yet rolled your business online, you may be falling behind the times and will be amazed at how quickly you will see the return on investment. Thomas Baxter from Big Rock Construction agrees, “We are always looking for efficiency in both our field operations and our project management process. Implementing Procore Project Management software has allowed us to eliminate an entire staff position due to the software’s functionality. As an owner I see the payback as being immediate. In addition to streamlining the administrative side of project management it has made it much easier for our field managers to easily access current project information via the software’s mobile app. “ Knowing that it is time to transition to online-based project management is only the first step. Trying to decide which project management tool is best for your business can be the ultimate challenge. Having an edge on what other companies in the industry are using will save you time and money, as well as give you a foundation to build on as you research which tool is right for you. 10 • Chalk Line
BuilderTREND seems to one of the most widely used programs by OMB members. This cutting-edge software offers features spanning from Estimates and Proposals, to Project Management like Daily Logs, Scheduling and Plan Mark Ups to Financial Tools and Customer Management to track selections, reviews and keep an open door of communication. Similar programs utilized by OMB members are Procore, the House Call Pro app, and Job Nimbus, as well as 2020 design and SketchUp for design work. “We are always looking for efficiency in both our field operations and our project management process. Implementing Procore Project Management software has allowed us to eliminate an entire staff position due to the software’s functionality. As an owner I see the payback as being immediate. In addition to streamlining the administrative side of project management it has made it much easier for our field managers to easily access current project information via the software’s mobile app. “
Scott Bergford of Scott Homes, Inc. agrees, “We have been using BuilderTrend for some years now. We played with other software before deciding on Builder Trend “WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING because it met our needs and was the easiest to adopt for us. I love the program. As a builder, FOR EFFICIENCY IN BOTH it helps us measure progress to a calendar, we OUR FIELD OPERATIONS record selections in writing with the customAND OUR PROJECT ers, and communicate often with the Daily Log feature. Change orders is also a nice feature. MANAGEMENT PROCESS. We store tons of construction photos and all the IMPLEMENTING PROCORE documents and plans on it. Customers love it PROJECT MANAGEMENT because of the frequent communication about what is going on at their site, and they see the SOFTWARE HAS ALLOWED calendar and know the progress of the project. US TO ELIMINATE AN We are probably only using 1/3 of the programs’ ENTIRE STAFF POSITION capability. Still growing and learning to use the program to help us.” DUE TO THE SOFTWARE’S
FUNCTIONALITY. AS AN OWNER I SEE THE PAYBACK AS BEING IMMEDIATE. " Thomas Baxter Big Rock Construction
Having insight to what is working for others in the field is the first step. But, finding the energy to learn and implement the new technology can be time consuming. Committing yourself to grow as
“ON THE GREEN SIDE, WE ARE LOOKING INTO HIGH EFFICIENCY AND TANKLESS WATER HEATERS WITH RECIRCULATING FEATURES TO SAVE WASTED WATER WHILE WAITING FOR THE HOT WATER TO REACH THE FIXTURE. THE RECIRC PUMP CAN ALSO BE ACTIVATED BY ALEXA OR A LIGHT SENSOR AT THE EDGE OF THE BED (KNOWS WHEN YOU’RE HEADING FOR THE SHOWER). VERY COOL!” a business owner as quickly as the progression of technology is crucial in this day and age. The other face of technology that is taking over the building industry is Smart Homes. When it comes to recommending and installing new technology features to your clients, knowing what is hot on the smart home trends front is imperative. It seems as if every home you walk into now has some feature of smart home technology. Where as, wireless speaker systems and smart thermostats have already because a staple for many homeowners, there is a never end list of new and upcoming “toys” available to make life in your home easier, safer and just plain fun! Mike Brown of Brown Building Contractors says, “On the jobs we like Lutron Caseta Wireless switches paired with Amazon Alexa and a network bridge. We have also done a project with the Lutron - RA system to allow multiple light settings for various activities and remote internet control of the entire system. We have been impressed with the Kohler Simplice touchless faucet, very clean and easy to use. On the Green side, we are looking into high efficiency and tank-
Mike Brown less water heaters with recirBrown Building Contractors culating features to save wasted water while waiting for the hot water to reach the fixture. The recirc pump can also be activated by Alexa or a light sensor at the edge of the bed (knows when you’re heading for the shower). Very cool!” There is very little that can’t be done with smart phones and handheld devices, so it’s no surprise that innovative technology has connected the smart phone with the smart home. Progressive items like Z-Wave Locks allow you to lock and unlock doors with the tap of a finger and a swipe up and swipe down on your smart phone can open and close your garage door with a wireless garage door opener kit. And who hasn’t left home once or twice with the panic that you may have left the curling iron plugged in or coffee maker on? Wi-Fi-connected electrical outlets make it possible to turn on and off your outlets from your device. And no Smart Home is complete without a SmartThings System, which is a hub that brings it all together! SmartThings Systems connect your smart home “things” all in one place, like the video doorbells, so you can see who is at the door- even when you are not at home, and Smart Light Bulbs that are designed to change colors so that you can create the feel of a sunrise and sunset. With SmartThings Systems you can also set sensors throughout your house that will alert you if something is triggered like a leaky faucet but also connects to your security system to keep you safe. While many trends seem to come and go, the technology trend is only getting smarter, more efficient and always growing in popularity. Whether is implementing new business management tools or staying current with the technology trends of consumers, as a small business owner it is imperative to stay up-to-date with what’s new on the market and with what’s being utilized in the industry.
Chalk Line • 11
g n i s MIDDLE s i M THE
P
ERIN HALL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR
opulation forecasting estimates that Olympia alone will have 20,000 new residents over the next 20 years. Those new residents will all need housing choices that are affordable for their income range. Since early 2017, the Olympia Planning Commission has been working with community members to explore the benefits of infill housing as a solution, and how the city might change its current building codes to allow for “Missing Middle housing”.
“Missing Middle housing” (MMH) is an umbrella term used to describe a range of housing which exists between traditional, single-family houses and high-rise apartments. It includes accessory dwelling units, cottage housing, duplexes, townhouses, triplexes, fourplexes, tiny houses, single room occupancies and courtyard apartments. Despite increased demand for MMH, these housing types are often referred to as “missing” because very few of them have been constructed since the early 1940s. In Fall 2017, after months of preliminary research and work sessions with stakeholder and community groups, the Olympia Planning Commission brought forward a slate of proposed building code changes that would allow more MMH to be built within the city. You can review all the proposed changes, and stay up to date on the Missing Middle, via the city’s website at: olympiawa.gov/ city-government/codes-plans-and-standards/missing-middle.aspx
Olympia Master Builders supports of the proposed Missing Middle changes and here’s why: MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOMES
This region is in the middle of a housing shortage, and Olympia is no exception. Since 2015, vacancy rates in Olympia have been around 3% percent, almost half of the national vacancy average. Low vacancy means significant demand for scarce units. As a result, Olympia’s rents are high and climbing. In 2005, the median rental price for a one-bedroom apartment was $925. As of this year, it climbed to $1,130 – a 22% increase in just 13 years. The simplest way to bring down the cost of housing is to add more units to the market. Missing Middle homes will add housing stock, both in terms of diversity and raw numbers. MMH is often characterized by smaller footprints or shared internal walls. ‘Smaller’ and ‘shared’ directly translates into dollars and cents. Builders will be able to provide these types of units at fraction of the price of larger, free-standing new construction. Moreover, Missing Middle housing is ideally suited to the demographics of Olympia. As of the 2010 Census, 70.4% of Olympia’s households were just 1-2 people. Young couples and empty-nesters looking to down size don’t have the same housing needs as five-person family. By providing them with reasonable options beyond single family homes, we free up more of those existing options, at a variety of price points. Increasing the diversity in our housing supply translates to stabilization of market prices and better serves the needs of the average household.
MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING INCREASES WALKABILITY & ECONOMIC GROWTH
Missing Middle housing is consistent with the charm and character of Olympia’s single-family neighborhoods, enhancing the home-grown appeal that so many people want, while generating more housing and providing enough customers for business to thrive. Residents get the neighborhood form and character that they want, along with the density necessary for amenities that make the neighborhood truly walkable. The approximately 1,000 new homes these changes will generate over time means millions in local tax revenue and hundreds of permanent jobs, directly from their construction and from secondary ripple effect. The annual tax yield per acre for denser, mixed-use development, such as those that might be found in a neighborhood center, can be many times higher than conventional retail buildings in suburban areas. Increased foot traffic encourages citizens to spend their dollars within their own community. Improved density will make other amenities, such as InterCity Transit, more economically viable for Olympia.
MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING REDUCES SPRAWL (GMA COMPLIANCE)
A substantial component of smart growth is using land more efficiently and preserving those lands that are most environmentally sensitive. Compact development, achieved through promoting density in areas with existing development, also reduces development costs through more efficient use of infrastructure, which in turn contributes to housing affordability market-wide. The state Growth Management Act dictates that fast-growing cities, like Olympia, manage that population increase with an emphasis on concentrating urban growth and reducing sprawl. The earlier Olympia can start addressing this planning mandate, the better it will be able to support long term population growth in a gradual and thoughtful manner. It’s important to note that the proposed Missing Middle housing changes are a moderate, low impact method of achieving concentrated urban development, in contrast to mid- or high-rise construction. Supporting infill development in areas with pre-existing infrastructure, not only makes efficient use of public dollars, but helps Olympia meet their state required long-term planning goals.
MOVING FORWARD: HOUSING & IMPACT FEES
One of the aspects of MMH that has not been adequately addressed is the how impact fees should be assessed for housing types with a smaller foot print. The Planning Commission has recommended that the City reassess impact fees for infill housing based on actual impacts to public services. Factors that should be accounted for include the location, proximity to transit corridors, the minimal projected impact on school districts and the presence of pre-existing infrastructure for considerations such as wastewater. Olympia Master Builders’ long-held position is that impact fees are fundamentally inequitable, even when assessed on new, single family construction. Unadjusted impact fees are unsound in the case of the Missing Middle. Infill development makes use of preexisting public infrastructure, caters to households without school aged children, and has a smaller foot print than single-family homes. We know that impact fees price potential homebuyers out of the market. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Impact Fee Handbook (2008), every $1000 worth of impact fees prices about 265,000 households nationwide out of the new home market. As such, the thoughtful reduction of impact fees for Missing Middle housing should be a top priority for Olympia. The Missing Middle proposal is still under consideration by the Olympia Planning Commission. Their recommendation to city council is pending an appeal of the SEPA Determination of Non-Significance issued by the City of Olympia for the draft Missing Middle code changes. The hearing is scheduled to take place on June 7, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. at Olympia City Hall. The public may attend, but the Examiner will only hear evidence and testimony from the parties to the appeal. Olympia is a wonderfully creative, charming community. If the city is going to maintain that character, while responsibly planning for long term population growth, we need a complete paradigm shift in the way that we design, locate, regulate, and develop homes. Missing Middle housing is a solid first step that makes use of our limited land resources, while growing the diversity of housing in Olympia.
THURSTON COUNTY GEODATA CENTER Trying to wrap one’s head around large amount of data can be a challenging, frustrating, often-fruitless endeavor. For years, Thurston County has collected a significant amount of data from around the region. While that data is a tremendous resource for the citizens of Thurston County, it can be difficult for the average citizen to access, interpret or use for personal or professional projects. Recently, the Thurston County GeoData Center updated and enhanced their Property Map interface, a unique tool that helps sort and analyze the nearly 100 data sets collected by the county. Their updated Property Map website lets you see a detailed lay of the land – literally. The GeoData Center is Thurston County’s mapping guru, providing custom maps for other county departments. For a moderate fee, they also create and print custom maps for individuals. However, for builders and land-use enthusiasts, the GeoData Center’s online Property Map is the star attraction. The Property Map consolidates factors like property information, critical areas indicators, and much more into an interactive map that anyone can access. You start by simply entering a parcel number or street address in to the search box. From there, a host of layering options are available. Mapping options include crime maps, elections & schools maps, permitting maps and a ‘Show Me Everything’ option. The newly updated system allows you to draw on your digital map prior to printing and allows you to switch between tabs without an interruption in your work. For those used to the older-model GeoData interface, the new updates might require a learning curve. If you want some guidance on the new mapping site, the GeoData Center holds regular hour-long trainings at the county courthouse. You can find the date of the next training and sign up at www. geodata.org/Training.html. If you have additional questions about the new Property Map site, contact the Thurston County GeoData Center at (360-754-4594) or email them at geodata@co.thurston.wa.us. They are open to the public between 9 am and 1 pm on Monday to Friday.
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Thank You Renewing Members!
Welcome to Our New Members!
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Anchor Bank
601 Woodland Square Lp SE Lacey, WA 98597 (360) 491-2250 sam.newberry@anchorsb.com Sponsor: Karen McClennen
LoanStar Home Lending 525 Columbia St N #204 Olympia, WA 98501 (360) 790-2514 shaney@goloanstar.com Sponsor: Amy Winters
Allstar Windows PO BOX 5063 Lacey, WA 98509 (360) 789-3908 Office@allstarwindows.net Sponsor: Jake Eisen
Made New, Inc 11230 171st St E Puyallup, WA 98374 (253) 740-1153 sal.fernandez3@yahoo.com Sponsor: John McKinlay
Apex NW PO BOX 5365 Lacey, WA 98509 (360) 359-8948 apexnw360@hotmail.com Sponsor: Janine Ezzell
Media Marketing Solutions 6315 Martin Way Lacey, WA 98516 (360) 339-3948 info@mmsmedia.net Sponsor: Sarah Younger
Black Hills Mechanical PO BOX 14775 Tumwater, WA 98511 (360) 239-0455 blackhillsmechanical@hotmail.com Sponsor: Sarah Younger
Puget Sound Welding 1420 Marvin Rd NE, Suite C-515 Lacey, WA 98516 (360) 831-8353 info@pugetsoundwelding.com Sponsor: Karen McClennen
Buck Electric/Ace Hardware PO BOX 1499 Ocean Shores, WA 98569 (360) 289-2888 ace@coastaccess.com Sponsor: Rusty Ruiz Carlson Electric, LLC PO BOX 654 Rochester, WA 98579 (360) 279-0313 carlsonelectric@questoffice.com Sponsor: John Johnson Cecilia Felix Re/Max Professionals 3009 Pacific Ave SE #200 Olympia, WA 98501 (360) 357-3336 cecilia@ceciliafelix.com Sponsor: Sarah Younger Centerless Imagery 3525 McCormick St SE Olympia, WA 98501 (814) 441-5852 phil@centerlessimagery.com Sponsor: Sarah Younger Champion Masonry PO BOX 245 Rainier, WA 98579 (360) 581-4386 dbraykovich@gmail.com Sponsor: John Johnson Family Man Outdoor Living 14538 Old Highway 99 SE Tenino, WA 98589 (360) 481-1982 tom@fmoutdoorliving.com Sponsor: Jake Eisen 14 • Chalk Line
One Year Kitchens Complete, Inc. AERP Construction and Consulting, LLC Adams Insurance Agency Thurston County Title Co. Tumya Plumbing Contractor, LLC Community Youth Services YouthBuild
2 – 4 Years
Rigg Construction, Inc. 3739 Golden Eagle LP SE’ Olympia, WA 98513 (831) 566-8855 riggcon@gmail.com Sponsor: John McKinlay Ronelle Funk Insurance 1601 College St SE Lacey, WA 98503 (360) 491-3376 ldanielson@allstate.com Sponsor: Scottiejo McNulty
Print NW K.T. Charboneau Trucking, Inc. Western Steel & Supply, Inc. Van Dorm Realty, Inc. Toby's Electric, LLC Edward Jones Investments iLeaf Property Management (Mill Pond, LP) Copper Plumbing, LLC Double Duty Land Management Naberly Solutions, Inc. NWC Alliance GHB Insurance Gritton Building Company Buck Electric, Inc. South Sound Framing, LLC NFP Carlson Electric, LLC
5 – 9 Years
The Sherwin Williams Company 2303 Harrison Ave NW Olympia, WA 98502 (360) 704-5309 Sw8264@sherwin.com Sponsor: Janine Ezzell The Showroom Interior Solutions 106 Prairie Park St NE Yelm, WA 98597 (360) 400-7469 kim@theshowroominteriors.com Sponsor: Chuck Hopkins Varsity Electric, LLC 8312 Peregrine Lp SE Olympia, WA 98513 (360) 218-4111 ryan.varsityelectric@gmail.com Sponsor: Karen McClennen
Advanced Heating & Air, Inc. Americool Heating and A/C Keystone Masonry, Inc. Garcia Construction, LLC Kuster Homes and Remodeling, LLC Habitat for Humanity of Mason County Environmental Design, LLC Bank of the Pacific Smart Energy Today Interior Dimensions Whitehouse & Nichols Attorneys at Law
10-14 Years Local Mfg., Inc. Hung Right Doors, LLC Johnson Custom Homes, LLC SoundBuilt NW, LLC Black Lake Landscape Supplies DBA Concrete Recyclers Fox Head Construction, LLC Washington Tractor, Inc. Miles Sand and Gravel Company Mullinax Ford Champion Masonry & Restoration, Inc. KPFF Consulting Engineers
15-19 Years Robbins' Air, Inc. L.G. Isaacson Company Miller and Sons, Inc. Black Diamond Roofing, Inc. Lillegard Construction Steve Crass Construction Summit Fence Co.
20-25 Years Nicholson & Associates Insurance, LLC Gale Contractor Services Rainier General Development Timberland Bank The Roof Doctor, Inc. Desco Audio & Video LTJ Builders, Inc. Moerke & Sons Pump & Drill, Inc. Chimney Techniques, Inc. Pascher Construction Kamco Construction (Tri County Holding) F & L Pacific, Inc. SAW Construction Co., Inc.
25+ Years Johnson & Maddox Construction Co, Inc. Heritage Bank Olympia Federal Savings
Please mark your calendars for our upcoming 2018 New Member Orientations. June 15th • September 28th • November 9th Please contact jenni@omb.org for more information.
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