January/February 2005
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Keystone
Official publication of the Pennsylvania Builders Association®
b u i l d e r 22
Volume 1 • Issue 5 January/February 2005
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Contents ®
PRESIDENT James L. Conner Lawrence County BA, Mercer County BA VICE PRESIDENT Bradford H. Elliott HBA of Bucks/Montgomery Counties ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT Mary Pucciarella, Blair County BA TREASURER Kenneth L. Medina, Lebanon County BA SECRETARY Stephen D. Black, BIA of Lancaster IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Scott H. Cannon HBA of Chester/Delaware Counties
KEYSTONE BUILDER is published six times per year by the Pennsylvania Builders Association, Editorial Offices, 600 North Twelfth Street, Lemoyne, PA 17043. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Pennsylvania Builders Association, 600 North Twelfth Street, Lemoyne, PA 17043. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Subscriptions available through membership to the Pennsylvania Builders Association.
10 Strength in Unity
Incoming PBA President Jim Conner hopes to bring builders of all sizes to the table to make a difference.
13 In My View
Rob Jones, Northcentral regional vice president, discusses the need to protect and promote the housing industry in Pennsylvania.
22 Builder Case Study
Cedar Tree Companies brings back the beauty of another era with downtown revitalization project.
Departments President’s Column • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 6 Association Membership • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 8 Association News • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 16 New Product Corner/Building News You Can Use • • • • • • 24 FYI • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 26
Members-Only Section On the Hill: Up-to-date legislative information for our members. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • A-D
President’s
message
Keystone
Official publication of the Pennsylvania Builders Association®
b u i l d e r An Exclusive Publication of the PBA Keystone Builder magazine is published six times a year by the Pennsylvania Builders Association®, Editorial Offices, 600 North Twelfth Street, Lemoyne, PA 17043. With the exception of official association announcements, the statements of fact and opinion that are made herein are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not reflect an opinion or philosophy of the officers or the membership of the PBA. Materials may not be reproduced without the written permission from the PBA headquarters. Address Correspondence To: Keystone Builder 600 North Twelfth Street Lemoyne, PA 17043 Phone: 800-692-7339 or 717-730-4380 Fax: 717-730-4396 Web: www.pahomes.org Advertising does not imply acceptance or endorsement of the products contained in the publication. Publishing and advertising sales services provided by:
2929 Davison Rd. • Flint, MI 48506 Phone: 800-935-1592 Fax: 810-239-2231 Editor Tara Ramsey Assistant Editor/Publication Director Jennifer McDermitt Advertising Sales Jeff Pinwar Graphic Design Jason Gabel For information on advertising in the Keystone Builder please contact Jeff Pinwar at 800-935-1592. Please support the advertisers who have made this publication possible.
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2005 Theme: Strength in Unity ave you ever noticed after a windstorm, when you’re collecting the sticks that have blown into your yard, how easy it is to break a single branch but how hard it can be to break several branches held together? Crack that single branch over your knee and it snaps pretty easily. Try to snap five or six branches at once, and you’re more likely to bruise your thigh than break the wood. I’m using this illustration to make a point. There is strength that comes from working together, and that is our theme for the PBA during 2005: “Strength in Unity.” It’s a concept that’s so simple, it’s often overlooked. But there is tremendous power in these words, and it’s a power we need to tap into throughout 2005 as we face key issues impacting the housing industry in Pennsylvania.
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Consider the Numbers For starters, think about the impact we can have on the basis of our sheer size alone. Our association has 12,000 member companies. That number is pretty impressive. But when you dig a little deeper to figure out our total number of employee members, then our membership expands significantly to more than 528,000. How many associations do you know that can boast that kind of size? But that’s just one dimension of our strength. Our strength in numbers doesn’t tell the whole story. Consider, also, the geographic dispersion of our members across the entire commonwealth. When you sit down and think about it, we have members in practically every community in Pennsylvania, from Erie to Philadelphia and everywhere in between. So not only are we large, but we’re literally
I Keystone Builder • January/February 2005
James L. Conner
PBA President Strength in numbers. Strength gained from our geographic dispersion. Strength arising from our diversity of expertise. Bring them all together, and you’ve just created an unstoppable force.
everywhere in the state. If we need to mobilize our members anywhere in Pennsylvania, we can do it in a heartbeat.
Consider Our Diversity Next, think about our different areas of expertise. Look down our member list and you’ll find not only homebuilders and remodelers, but also heavy equipment operators, electricians, plumbers, dry wallers, HVAC professionals, painters, roofers, bankers, realtors, a wide variety of materials suppliers — and the list goes on and on. Even among our homebuilder members, you’ll find tremendous diversity: some build just a few houses a year, some build hundreds. On any building issue, our association gains stature immediately because of this diversity of our membership. When we speak, we can do so with conviction and authority. Our experience across the entire housing
industry is impressive, and it gives us a depth of knowledge that few other groups can hope to match. Strength in numbers. Strength gained from our geographic dispersion. Strength arising from our diversity of expertise. Bring them all together, and you’ve just created an unstoppable force. But the key is unity. We have to work together. To make my point, let me use another illustration that might be helpful. Many of our members hold very popular annual events for children in which they use LEGO’s® building blocks to stimulate an interest in building and reward creativity. Taken on its own, one of these small building blocks is pretty unimpressive. There’s not much you can do with a single, tiny block. But give a child a bucket of these blocks, step back and you will be amazed at the variety and size of the items that can be built. I’ve seen these little plastic blocks be used for making detailed replicas of the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty and more. Another pertinent point to note is that these building blocks come in many sizes and colors. There are small blocks and big blocks; red, blue, green and yellow blocks. That’s part of what makes them so fun and versatile. Need to build an arch? There’s a special block for that. Need to craft a sloping roof? There’s a block for that. Just like our members, these blocks are diverse and gain in their usefulness because of their specialization.
Interested in advertising in
Keystone
Official publication of the Pennsylvania Builders Association®
b u i l d e r Call Jeff Pinwar at 800-935-1592.
A STABLEHOME in an UNCERTAIN WORLD.
Introducing the FrameWorks® Building Systems.
We Gain Strength When We Come Together My point is, viewed alone, a single child’s building block may be unimpressive. Joined with other blocks, it’s absolutely astounding what can be accomplished given a little imagination and determination. Considered in this light, the Lego® is not just a simple children’s toy. It’s an apt reminder of what we can accomplish when we bond together and rally around the issues that affect the housing industry. Bring us together, and there’s no housing topic we can’t address effectively. Let’s keep this illustration in mind as we start 2005. It’s a perfect reminder of the strength that comes from unity. Working together, we can be a powerful force for growing our industry and meeting the housing needs of Pennsylvanians. ▲
MORRISVILLE, PA PA MORRISVILLE, (800)234-2581 234-2581 (800)
EAGLE, PA LIMERICK, PA (610)495-3295 321-0970 (610)
PA PA FORKSEASTON, TOWNSHIP, (610)252-6190 252-6190 (610)
January/February 2005 • Keystone Builder
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Membership The PBA Works to Save Members Money: Start Your Year With the PA One-Call System he Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA) is very pleased to once again offer PA One-Call as a free member benefit. The PA One-Call system provides members with a safe, easy and reliable method for notifying owners of all underground utilities, pipelines and cables in proposed work areas. In order to prevent damage to underground facilities, Pennsylvania law requires that anyone digging must notify owners of all underground utilities, pipelines and cables at least three working days before starting any excavation. The PA One-Call system does just that. Anyone preparing to excavate should contact PA One-Call at 800-242-1776 or online at www.paonecall.org. PA One-Call takes it from there. They will notify the owners for you, so they can visit the excavation site and properly mark the location of their facilities. Also, once you contact PA One-Call, the organization assumes liability for errors that could result in damage. This releases PBA members from significant potential liability.
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Helpful Program Tools The PA One-Call program hosts a very userfriendly website which will guide those not
familiar with the program, as well as make it easier to use the service. The website includes several helpful program tools, including: • Safe-Call™, an automated work location request processing and tracking system. • Web Ticket Entry Program, a tutorial to get you started. It permits a frequent caller to enter dig notices via the Internet 24/7. • Fax-a-Locate Program, a downloadable application that contractors can complete and send by fax. For the application, simply click on excavators and downloadable forms. • Downloadable work location requests and a PA One-Call users guide.
A Free PBA Member Benefit As a member service, the PBA pays the annual dues to the PA One-Call system, making it a free service for all PBA members. When you call PA One-Call for the first time in 2005, you will receive a $50 invoice. You should forward that invoice to the PBA office. The PBA will then confirm that you are a member, and PA One-Call will waive your fee for the year. You can utilize the service as many times as you need to during the calendar year for free. You will only receive an
The PA One-Call program hosts a very user-friendly website which will guide those not familiar with the program, as well as make it easier to use the service. The website includes several helpful program tools. invoice for that first time, and you must forward it on to the PBA office in order for the fee to be waived. Keep in mind this same process will start over again next year. For more information on this very valuable member benefit, call Doug Meshaw at 800-692-7339 ext. 3007. Once you receive that first invoice, you can mail it to the PBA office or simply fax it to 717-730-4396. Visit the PA One-Call website at www.paonecall.org for detailed instructions and a list of “frequently answered questions.” It’s a member benefit your PBA is proud to offer to our members. Don’t forget to take advantage of it. ▲
PBA Chooses USI Affinity as New Third-Party Administrator for PBABT Health Insurance he Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA) is proud to announce a newly formed partnership with USI Affinity — the association’s new third-party administrator for health insurance. USI Affinity has been endorsed as the exclusive insurance marketing and administrative resource for all Pennsylvania Builders Association Benefits
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I Keystone Builder • January/February 2005
Trust (PBABT) medical/health insurance and employee benefit programs. The PBA would like to stress that this does not affect member’s current health care coverage. USI will be the new administrator for health care. USI Affinity Insurance Service specializes in insurance for professionals and small business owners. USI Affinity enables
associations like the PBA to secure life, disability and medical/health insurance. USI Affinity Services Insurance Service markets and administers insurance programs for more than 200 associations and 30,000 employer groups. It has more than 70,000 policies in force, covering approximately 200,000 association members, their families and employees. USI is proud of its longstanding relationships with many of its clients. It is the endorsed insurance administrator for a multitude of professional associations and has earned the endorsement of the Pennsylvania Bar Association for more than 50 years.
this year. New carriers have entered the market. There is competition between the “Blues” plans. Demographic rating is rapidly becoming the norm, and medical underwriting is on the horizon. Health Savings Accounts and other “consumermanaged health care alternatives” are quickly becoming mainstream. USI Affinity will assist PBA members to make the best choices available to them and their specific company. USI Affinity is ready to work for PBA members — answering questions and meeting
their needs. USI Affinity feels strongly that its longstanding relationships are based upon three key values: • They listen to what you want. • They respond to your needs. • They maintain the expertise and flexibility to keep up with the changing marketplace. For more information, contact USI Affinity at 800-265-2876. Company representatives are looking forward to assisting all PBA members through this new partnership. ▲
Taking the PBA Benefits Programs to New Heights The PBA feels that USI Affinity is a quality marketer and administrator that will serve members well and bring the PBABT benefits program to new heights. The PBA believes that the size of USI will improve relationships with carriers. USI will be able to provide a wide variety of options when it comes to carriers and choice. The PBABT and the PBA have worked diligently for six months in the selection of the new administration. Site visits of different administrators took place, and USI Affinity was selected based on its experience and presence in the industry. It is the sixth largest insurance broker in the U.S. USI’s sales professionals have been asked to contact members to discuss their current program and to present other options that may be of interest to them. Together, the PBA, PBABT and USI look forward to working with members to assist them in making wise and cost-effective heath-care decisions. PBA members will be provided with a broker who can help guide them through the health care maze. The broker will assist members in making the best ongoing decisions for their firm and employees. USI is currently marketing the PBABT programs to PBA members. Starting with the March 2005 PBABT invoices, they also will provide PBA members with full administrative services. At that time, USI will be performing the billing function of member’s coverage. Again, this will have no effect on your current coverage.
Ready to Assist Members Through the Competitive Health Insurance Market
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There have been many changes in the Pennsylvania health insurance landscape January/February 2005 • Keystone Builder
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STRENGTH IN
UNITY Incoming PBA President Jim Conner hopes to bring builders of all sizes to the table to make a difference.
by Jennifer McDermitt im Conner, the Pennsylvania Builders Association’s new president, certainly knows something about strength. As a young father and husband, he lost his job in one of the earlier cases of outsourcing and was forced to leave his family for long stretches to make money remodeling. He also knows something about unity. Conner has not only been a part of the builder association since very early on in his career, he also was part of the group of senior officers who pulled together to run the PBA when a search for a new executive officer was being conducted. As a small builder and
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remodeler in New Castle, Conner has seen what can be achieved when people in this industry pull together, and he hopes that during his presidency, he can show builders of all sizes that their unity will only make this industry stronger. “I chose ‘Strength in Unity’ as my theme for my presidency, because I wanted builders from all over the state and of all sizes to have a voice in this association,” said Conner. “Whether you are a small builder on the western side of the state, a remodeler in central Pennsylvania or a big builder on the eastern side, your voice needs to be heard, and I am going to try to make sure that it is.”
I Keystone Builder • January/February 2005
Outsourcing Leads to New Career When people today talk about outsourcing, Conner knows exactly what it feels like to lose your job under those conditions, and since it happened to him more than 26 years ago, he considers himself “one of the first” to be outsourced. “I started out in the manufacturing industry, and I was earning a good living at it,” said Conner. “I had always been interested in the building industry, since my father-in-law and uncle were builders, but I couldn’t afford Continued on page 12
INVOLVEMENT,RELATIONSHIPS and EDUCATION Conner Lays Out Plans for Presidency
t the start of every term, a president needs to formulate a set of goals — things that the president hopes to accomplish during his or her time in office. Jim Conner has a long list of goals for his term, and they fit into three basic themes: involvement, relationships and education. Through these three themes, Conner hopes to convey his overall message of “Strength in Unity” and bring builders of all sizes from all over the state together to make the association the strongest organization it can be.
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Involvement With more than 12,000 members, representing 528,000 employees, it’s not easy to get everyone involved with the association, but that’s not going to stop Conner from trying. One group that Conner particularly identifies with and hopes to reach is the small builder. Small builders, by nature, are often not as involved in the state association. Conner wants to change that by showing them that they, too, have a voice. “I want to reach out to the small builder and show them how much the association can do for them, as well as make them realize how important they are to the association,” said Conner. “Since I am a small builder myself and I understand their issues, I think I have an edge, because those builders can relate to me, and they make up such a large portion of our membership. Statistically, there are more small builders than the big builders in this state.” Conner also hopes to clear up some misconceptions about the remodeler sector of the membership, as well as get those remodelers more involved. “There is a common misconception about companies who remodel, which is that they are not builders. A remodeler is someone who does windows, siding, etc. If you are designing and building additions for homes, you are a builder — you are a builder/remodeler, which is what I call myself. And, you have just as much clout as the big guys!” Although Conner hopes to reach these two often “untapped” sectors of the PBA’s membership, he does not want to create the impression that he is isolating the other groups, especially
the larger builders. He said, “I don’t want to overlook anyone — I want builders of all sizes to sit at the table, because that’s where the ‘Strength in Unity’ will come into play. We may beat each other up at the table, but we will leave smiling, knowing we accomplished something and everyone was heard.”
Relationships Business is all about relationships, and Conner considers building industry relationships to be some of the most valuable connections you can make. That is why he wants to strengthen relationships not only within the association, but also outside the PBA. “A lot of work already is being done to build and strengthen relationships, and I want to continue that,” said Conner. “By building relationships with coalition partners like chambers of commerce, realtors and township supervisors, we can make a lot happen.” Conner says he also wants to reach out to local association executive officers and the presidents of those associations. “I would like to meet with all 41 of our local association presidents, which may be hard to do during my term, but I think it is very important. We need to hear those presidents out, because they have their finger on the pulse of the industry in this state. “I also want to work on getting more involved with local executive officers,” said Conner. “I have heard from some EOs in the past who said they felt like they weren’t asked for their advice or opinion enough, and I think we need to listen to them better. They know their members of this association better than anyone.” When it comes to internal relationships, Conner says that a momentum has already been created to strengthen those relationships, and he hopes that will continue. “There were a lot of changes that occured between the PBA, BSI and PBABT in the past year. Those changes are going to be very beneficial. In the past, I think we got away from the bigger picture, and I don’t want to let personalities get in the way. If we can get together to talk even twice a year, we will be able to stay focused on
the important issues,” he said. “We are here to serve the members.”
Education What is an association if it doesn’t offer educational opportunities? The PBA certainly has its share of those opportunities, and Conner wants to make the most of it during his time as president. In addition to educating himself on every aspect of the association and its members, he hopes to educate members on the benefits of association membership as well as on all the important issues for builders in this state. “Being a small builder from western Pennsylvania, I am not familiar with some of the issues our builders are facing like development problems or stormwater issues,” he said. “I want to surround myself with the people who are experts on these topics and educate myself on better ways to address these issues. I know my limitations. By using the most knowledgeable members to speak on the issues, we will demonstrate our ‘Strength in Unity.’” Conner would also like to educate other small builders about how the political arena works so that those builders know how hard the PBA works for them and what they can do to help. “Members need to understand how difficult this process is and how hard this association works for the members. When it comes to the building code issue, a lot of members think that the association didn’t fight hard enough, but that is just not true. It was a hard pill for me to swallow, too, when I didn’t get the results I hoped for. By losing the alterations and repair language, I have learned to understand how the political process works. I want our members to understand that too.” And when it comes to the Uniform Construction Code, Conner says that, as president, he knows he needs to stay focused on educating members on the code. “Education on the UCC is going to be a continual thing,” he said. “This year is going to be a big year for implementation and understanding of the code. With code changes just around the corner in 2006, I know we need to keep this at the top of our list of priorities as an association.” ▲
January/February 2005 • Keystone Builder
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This association has always had a clear direction, and when we are unified, there is no end to what we can accomplish. I heard somewhere that “Unity without U is useless and powerless” and that’s what I want to impart on our members in the next year and for as long as I am part of this association. — Jim Conner, president of the Pennsylvania Builders Association.
STRENGTH IN UNITY Continued from page 10
to leave my job and lose the benefits to go into that field. That decision was made for me, however, when our company’s product line was sold to an overseas manufacturer.” Conner says that although losing his job created an opportunity for him to finally follow his dream, the late 1970s and early 1980s were just about the worst time to go into building. “Fortunately, we were ‘savers,’ so we were able to get through those hard times, but it was no time to start a building company. I started painting and took any work I could get until I could ride out the economy.” Conner started remodeling for a company that required him to travel all over the East Coast, with some trips lasting as long as six weeks. With a wife and two young children, Conner couldn’t turn the work down, so for three years he traveled with the company until the economy finally improved some. “I couldn’t do it anymore; I had to quit,” he said. “I was able to start subcontracting under my company name, Conner Construction, and it was great experience for me. I subcontracted a lot over the years and worked for a lot of great companies, and eventually it allowed me to go out on my own.”
Family Bond Keeps Business Going Strong Today, Conner’s business is steady, taking on about one to five homes and remodeling/addition projects a year. In the past year, due to some health problems, 12
Conner has relied on his oldest son, Patrick, to help run the business, and his wife of 31 years, Kathy, has been his bookkeeper since the beginning. “I have been so lucky to have my son in the business this year, and he has done a great job,” said Conner. “He has been running oversight of our jobs for some time now, and I hear from my customers how surprised they are that someone so young would have such a great work ethic.” Conner is also very proud of his youngest son, Justin, who recently graduated from Penn State University. “Justin is also in the industry, earning his degree in landscape contracting. When Justin graduated, he had six job offers right off the bat. He ended up working for Realty Landscaping, which is one of our PBA members,” he said. With 25 years under his belt, Conner says he looks forward to passing the reins of his business onto his son — but not in the near future. “I’m glad that my sons took an interest in this industry, because it has been so good to me. But, I’m not ready to go anytime soon!”
Association Involvement a Priority From the Start Almost since the start of his business, Conner has been involved with the builder association at some level. Locally, Conner has been a member of the Lawrence County Builders Association for 18 years, where he served two years as president, a national representative for five years and on the board of directors for more than 10 years. Conner was also on the local membership committee, the
I Keystone Builder • January/February 2005
home show committee and the reputable contractor committee, and he also is a member of the Mercer County Builders Association. Conner says that association involvement is just something that comes naturally to him. “I first joined the Lawrence County Builders Association because a friend invited me to attend a meeting, and I looked up to him and the way he ran his business,” he said. “Being involved in the association makes me feel proud, and I feel fortunate having a son who runs the business so well that I am able to be so involved with the PBA.” Before being elected as the PBA president, Conner had served the association in a number of other positions. He has been a regional vice president, director, treasurer, secretary and vice president. Conner says that his first position as treasurer gave him a crash course on the “strength” and “unity” of this organization. “When I was elected treasurer, we didn’t have an executive officer for six months until we finally found someone,” said Conner. “All the senior officers rotated weekly running the association until someone was hired, and I was so impressed by the passion of this team and their ability to work together. I don’t think they get a lot of credit, but they are an amazing group of people, and their passion for the industry really rubs off on you.” Conner says he looks forward to sharing that passion with the membership during his term as president. “This association has always had a clear direction, and when we are unified, there is no end to what we can accomplish. I heard somewhere that ‘Unity without U is useless and powerless’ and that’s what I want to impart on our members in the next year and for as long as I am part of this association.” ▲
In My
View
It’s Time to Get Involved Protecting the Future of Our Industry by Rob Jones, Northcentral regional vice president, member of the Central Susquehanna BA his year, PBA President Jim Conner is promoting the association theme of “Strength in Unity.” This is an important concept that can have a major impact on the future of our industry. When we work together for a common purpose, we can accomplish great things! I have seen this group come together to defend against harmful legislation and to help pass legislation that benefits everyone in the Commonwealth. It is an awesome sight when it happens. There is strength when we are working together. But that strength only comes when each of us gets involved. It comes when we are united to protect and promote the housing industry in Pennsylvania. Now more than ever, getting involved in the PBA’s grassroots process is so important. I served on the PBA’s legislative analysis subcommittee and saw firsthand just how many bills there are that will affect our members. In addition, there are numerous regulatory issues looming out there that will have a lasting effect on our industry. We must get involved and work together in our grassroots efforts to protect the future of the building industry. When there is a legislative issue happening in the eastern part of the state, the members in the western part need to stand united with their fellow PBA members. And the same goes for when there is an issue affecting the builders in the western part of the state. There is a greater strength when all the builders in the state are working together. Don’t wait to get involved until an issue is affecting you. Get involved now. Take it from me: participating in the governmental affairs grassroots process is easier than you think. When I first got involved with this process, I was a little anxious because I never had had a chance to talk to my House
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representative or senator on a personal basis. I had met my legislators at various functions that our local association held, but face-toface or on the phone talking about issues was a different story! You must remember that they have a job to do just like we do. Their job is to represent us, their constituents. They want to hear from us. They need to hear from us. How will they know how we feel about issues our industry faces unless we communicate with them? Our elected officials are inundated with issues — issues that can at times be very complicated and issues that our legislators could use our help to fully understand. Communicating on our issues is easy! Don’t be afraid or intimidated about calling your legislators at their Harrisburg or district office. If you cannot talk to them in person, their staff will record your name, address, phone number and stance on a particular issue. In some cases, your legislator will call you back to hear more of what you have to say. Also, you can communicate by writing to your legislator. I have found e-mail to be an effective tool to write to my legislator. Talk about fast and effective communicating! It is also important to regularly keep in touch. Don’t write or call your elected official only when you need something. When your legislator has supported issues that are beneficial to our industry, call or write them to say thank you. The PBA works hard to help its members understand proposed legislation and regulations and how they will affect the industry so you are always prepared when you contact your legislator. Getting involved in the PBA’s grassroots efforts is not the hard part of the job. What the association needs most is a commitment from you to make the contact with your legislators. When we all make that commitment, we achieve the “Strength in Unity”
that our president is looking to bring about in this association and our industry. If you would like more information or are interested in getting involved in the PBA’s grassroots network, contact the PBA governmental affairs division at 800-692-7339, ext. 3028. ▲
What the association needs most is a commitment from you to make the contact with your legislators. When we all make that commitment, we achieve the “Strength in Unity” that our president is looking to bring about in this association and our industry.
January/February 2005 • Keystone Builder
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Mitchell Isert (856) 829-0592
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I Keystone Builder • January/February 2005
WHIRLPOOL / KITCHENAID / ROPER HOME APPLIANCES
On the
Hill
Educational Impact Fees Will Force New Home Buyers to Pay for School Construction ducational impact fees are a “hidden” tax on only one segment of society: those buying newly built homes. The Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA) is opposed to any legislation regarding educational impact fees and is working hard to see that state legislation, expected to move this spring, is defeated. The PBA believes educational impact fees place an unfair burden on the buyers of new homes. Currently, there are several pieces of legislation proposed that create the mechanism for imposing educational impact fees. Members must get up to speed on this issue so they can talk intelligently with legislators should one of these bills start to move. Members must remain vigilant and ready to oppose these impact fees when the time comes. Brad Elliott, member of the HBA of Bucks/Montgomery Counties and vice president of the PBA, explained that some people in Pennsylvania believe new homes don’t pay for themselves in terms of the added costs to public services. There are currently three bills in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that would unfairly tax new home buyers to help pay for growing public education costs. These bills would permit local school districts to levy impact fees on the buyers of new homes. If educational impact fees are implemented, builders will have to pass on the additional cost to their homebuyers. Thus, the price of a new home will generally go up, while the cost of an existing home will generally stay the same. Elliott explained that this will make new homes less competitive in price than existing homes. New homes are already at an affordability disadvantage with used homes because, on average, used homes pay less in property taxes than new homes of the same value. Homebuyers can afford to pay more for a used home of the same price because they have less monthly carrying costs (less taxes). With the implementation of educational impact fees, this affordability gap will only get worse. The PBA’s policy on state and local taxes, which educational impact fees fall under, states that any changes in the tax laws of the
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Commonwealth must be revenue neutral and should be as broad based as possible. “It is clear that imposing an educational impact fee creates a tax burden on a narrow group of citizens, and as of now, none of the proposed impact fee legislation is offering an offsetting reduction in other taxes that affect the new homebuyer,” said Elliott.
If educational impact fees are implemented, builders will have to pass on the additional cost to their homebuyers. Thus, the price of a new home will generally go up, while the cost of an existing home will generally stay the same.
Elliott stressed that buyers of new homes are not solely responsible for the overburden of our schools. A majority of the people who buy new homes in communities throughout the state are simply trading up or down to larger or smaller homes within the same school district. These people have already paid, through taxes and special assessments, for educational opportunities. Elliott said the impact fees are nothing more than another bad plan to fund education. “This is a politically expedient, but misguided, proposal which seeks to address the fundamentally broken system of funding public education. However, it fails to correct the problem,” he said. “New homes do pay for themselves when all the economic variables are correctly accounted for.” Through Act 50 of 1998, State lawmakers gave school districts the ability to raise funds through a scaled-back version of local tax reform. The PBA encourages school districts
across the state to try these new tools before adding new ones. Currently, only four school districts in the State of Pennsylvania work under Act 50. Last year, State lawmakers passed Senate Bill 100, the Homeowner Tax Relief Act, which allows school districts to reduce residential property taxes up to the maximum amount permitted by the homestead provision in the Pennsylvania Constitution. The Act establishes a formula for the distribution of state property tax relief funds, allows for electoral participation in tax burden decisions, mandates state reimbursement for nonresident Philadelphia Wage Tax deductions and prescribes how Philadelphia must reduce its wage tax. School districts would reduce residential property taxes through the enactment of a 0.1 percent increase in the earned income and net profits tax (EIT), through state funds from a tax on gaming, through the enactment of an additional EIT for purposes of residential property tax relief or through the enactment of a local personal income tax (PIT) for the purposes of residential property tax relief and to replace the currently imposed earned income tax. Even with Act 50 (adopted by 4 municipalities) and the Homeowner Tax Relief Act, the PBA believes there is still not sufficient property tax relief for citizens. The PBA agrees there needs to be meaningful property tax relief as well as additional education funding, but this should not be placed solely on one segment of society. The whole community has a responsibility to pay for the education of today’s youth. These impact fees narrow the base of support for public schools. Impact fees place this burden of support only on new residential property, not on new industrial development or existing homes. A real change will come only through property-tax reform and a new statewide education funding formula that’s fair to everyone. After all, most people understand that there is no free ride and are looking only to get true value back for their hard-earned tax dollars. Continued on page B
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Legislative Wrap-Up ▲ here are two pieces of legislation that the PBA worked to see passed during the final lame duck session of the Pennsylvania state legislature, which ran from Nov. 8 through Nov. 30. The PBA has worked very hard to see that both SB 892, Excessive Engineering Fees, and HB 1329, the Uniformed Planned Communities Act amendments, were approved before the legislature adjourned for the year.
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Excessive Engineering Fees This bill addresses the PBA’s growing concern that members are being over billed for engineering fees without ample time to dispute these fees. SB 892 would allow the applicant to dispute the cumulative amount of review fees at any time during the approval process and up to 30 days after final approval. This would replace the current law, which gives the applicant only 14 days to dispute each bill charged. This amendment also would allow for an applicant to dispute the cumulative amount of inspection fees at any time during the construction process and up to 30 days after completion. The current law gives the applicant only 10 days to dispute each bill charged. Additionally, the amendment would prohibit a municipality from charging the applicant the cost of its engineer’s inspection of improvements that the Department of Transportation’s engineer, a utility’s engineer or an authority’s engineer is already inspecting. These changes will save you money!
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Uniform Planned Communities Act House Bill 1329 has been a multi-year effort taken on by the Community Association Institute (CAI), the trade association of Pennsylvania’s homeowner associations. The effort was initiated in order to fix numerous provisions of the UPCA, since it was last amended in 1998. The PBA identified a number of problems with HB 1329 and successfully inserted amendments into the bill to fix those sections. The PBA also took the opportunity to make some changes to the Act in order to address some of the concerns of members in the Poconos, who continue to face fees, costs and delays from some homeowner associations in violation of the UPCA. Amendments inserted by the PBA include the deletion of several lines from the bill, which force a property owner in dispute with the homeowners association to submit to mandatory arbitration. This blocks the homeowner’s right to a judicial remedy. The PBA believes boards need to be liable for their actions and will not support any grant of immunity. This amendment would clarify and amplify the provisions currently in the Act. Presently, the UPCA grants landowners and their builders an easement of access to the development for the purpose of building homes. The Act also makes it clear that a builder is responsible to the association for any damage to roads, sidewalks, curbs, etc. that the builder may cause while in the development. The PBA amendment maintains the present language on these subjects and eliminates the bill’s provisions that alter these provisions. Much of this language is targeted at homebuilders contracted by lot owners within an association to build their home.
This bill’s provisions put an undue financial burden and time constraints on any home builder who would come in conflict with the homeowner association regarding the condition of the development’s roads before and after the homebuilder traversed them to build the lot owner’s new home. The PBA amended a portion of the Act with language that would clarify that the Uniform Construction Code Act (UCCA), Act 45 of 1999, is the standard of construction. The UCCA has similar language in it, which was enacted subsequent to the passage of the UPCA. Also, the PBA language restates current preemption language and prohibitions regarding the inability of the homeowner associations to propose fees, charges or financial security on the lot owner for the construction of the home. This needed to be restated in the Act more clearly, because some homeowner associations are illegally assessing these fees and imposing these bonds.
Looking Ahead to 2005 During the first 2005 legislative session, there are two topics that the PBA will be closely watching. The PBA will continue to oppose any legislation regarding educational impact fees discussed earlier in this edition of the Keystone Builder. This spring session, the PBA also will be working in favor of legislation regarding the Right to Cure. Right to Cure legislation would create the Residential Construction Dispute Resolution Act, which provides for detailed dispute resolution procedures relating to residential construction defects between contractors and members of associations. Claimants would have to file written notice at least 90 days before initiating an action. Contractors would have 30 days to respond. The Act would not apply to a contractor’s right to seek contribution, indemnity or recovery against a subcontractor, supplier or design professional for any claim made against the contractor by a claimant. The PBA chose not to push the Right to Cure legislation during the lame duck session of the state legislature, because it was not being proposed in its original form. The House Urban Affairs committee had deleted the insurance provision of the original legislation, and this was not acceptable to the PBA. The PBA is currently reassessing the Right to Cure governmental affairs priority objective and redrafting legislation with changes. ▲
PBA Continues Representing Membership on Municipal Proposals to Exceed UCC n continuing to protect member’s interests, the Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA) has formally challenged three ordinances attempting to “meet or exceed” Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code (UCC), winning the first challenge filed against West Hanover Township (Dauphin County). To date, there have been 30 municipalities that have filed proposed ordinance changes to “meet or exceed” the UCC.
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L&I Rules in Favor of PBA’s Challenge The PBA’s first challenge of a municipal ordinance seeking to exceed the UCC was upheld by the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I). West Hanover Township sought three changes to the UCC. The PBA challenged the provisions on the basis that they did not meet the legislative requirements needed to exceed the UCC. L&I agreed with the PBA’s position. (Please see page 18 for more information about this challenge).
Other Proposed Municipal Code Changes In October, the PBA also testified at the Peters Township, Washington County public
hearing against a proposed ordinance to exceed the UCC by rewriting certain provisions of the International Plumbing Code and the IRC (specifically the sanitary drainage sections). Also testifying was the Washington County BA. Rebuttal was not allowed during the hearing. The township has enacted the ordinance. The PBA has filed a challenge, but a hearing date has not been set. The PBA also has adopted an official policy that it will not challenge ordinances regulating “residential utility” and “miscellaneous use structures” with a building area larger than 200 square feet. If a municipality attempts to apply the UCC to those structures under 200 square feet, the PBA will challenge that ordinance. Also, the PBA will not challenge municipal ordinances which reinstate regulations of alterations and repairs. There are several ordinances that have been proposed, met the standards applied by L&I and were enacted without challenge by the PBA. PBA members should keep in mind that of the 2,167 municipalities adopting the UCC, more than 600 said they would be enforcing the code with additional amendments enforced prior to July 1, 1999. As required by L&I, those amendments must “meet or exceed the UCC.” The problem that the PBA is finding is that municipalities wishing to enforce their pre-
1999 local codes were not required by L & I to list those specific amendments. This means that members should be very careful if the municipality they are building in has said they will be “meeting or exceeding portions” of the UCC. Builders need to make sure they know what those excessive construction standards are before the projects are started. You should ask for a copy of the ordinance which shows the date the excessive standard was enacted.
Muncipalities Must Follow Established Process If a township wants to “exceed portions of the code” in its individual building code standards, there is an established process with specific criteria that must be met. • The municipality proposes the ordinance and submits it to L&I. • The proposal is reviewed by L&I. • L & I determines if the changes “meet or exceed” the UCC • A letter of confirmation is mailed to the municipality by L&I. • A public hearing must be held by the municipality and testimony taken before the ordinance can be enacted. • The municipality then has to enact the ordinance before an official challenge can be Continued on page D
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ON THE HILL Continued from page C
made. An aggrieved party has 30 days to challenge the ordinance. • The L&I has 45 days to rule on that challenge after enactment. The PBA also has issues with the time period given for the challenge to be ruled on by the Secretary. Currently, there is a 45-day period for the Secretary to make a determination, which may allow the ordinance to actually be enforced by the municipality before the Secretary renders a decision approving or disapproving of the amendment.
Website Offers Detailed Information Complete details of this process as well as a list of municipalities proposing changes can be accessed through a link on the PBA website, www.pahomes.org. Also, Section 503 (A through I) details the process in Act 45. In its continuing effort to make the transition to the UCC a smooth one, the PBA has dedicated a portion of its website to information about the UCC. Simply go to www.pahomes.org and click on the
“Uniform Construction Code.” This is a members-only portion of the website and will require your login code and password. The PBA believes the information offered there will answer virtually every question a member might have about the administration and enforcement of the UCC. Visitors there will find they can download the code certification booklet, look at municipal decisions for opting in or out of the code, check a list of certified code officers, see amendments already made to the UCC and view “frequently asked questions” regarding the code. ▲
2004
Election Results ow that the Nov. 2, 2004, election is history, following are reports on races that were of interest to the building industry: In state Senate races, there was one incumbent upset. Democrat Allen Kukovich lost his seat to Republican challenger Bob Regola. The open seat in District 31 — Cumberland County, was won by Republican Patricia Vance. Vance was supported by the PBA. This increases the majority to the Republicans in the Senate, 30 to 20. The biggest loss to the PBA in the state House was in District 153 — Montgomery County, where Jon Fox (R) failed in his bid to return to the State House after his retirement 10 years ago. Challenger Josh Shapiro (D) took the seat. Fox was a long time friend of the building industry both in the State House and in his years in Congress. There were two other state House races that could affect the PBA. Incumbents were defeated in both of these races. In District 4 — Erie County, incumbent Tom Scrimenti (D) lost to challenger Curt Sonney (R). In District 148 — Montgomery County, incumbent Melissa Murphy Weber (R) also lost to challenger Mike Gerber (D). Across the state, Republicans increased their majority by one, 110 to 83.
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District 16 — Allegheny: Sean Ramaley (D) beat Pat Geho (R). The PBA supported Ramaley. District 60 — Indiana: Jeff Pyle (R) beat Barry Crytzer (D). District 65 — Forest: Kathy Rapp (R) beat Steven Sigmund (D). District 87 — Cumberland: Glen Grell (R) beat Marilyn Zilli (D). The PBA supported Grell. District 89 — Franklin: Rob Kauffman (R) beat Doug Harbach (D).
U.S. Senate Race: Arlen Specter (R) beat Joseph Hoeffel (D).
District 118 — Luzerne and Monroe: Thomas Tigue (D) beat Donna Asure (R). The PBA supported Tigue.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, open seats were taken by Republicans Michael Fitzpatrick in Montgomery County and Charles Dent in the Lehigh and Northampton Counties. All other races were won by incumbents. In the state, there are now seven Democrats and 12 Republicans. Not included in this report are those races where the incumbent won. If you are interested in the results of those additional races or have other questions, call Jill Pento at 800-692-7339, ext. 3028. The PBA would like members to note the continuing shift in Republican strength in the western part of the Pennsylvania. In the eastern part of the state, Republicans continue to lose ground. Members are encouraged to stay politically involved and active and support those who support the PBA. ▲
District 146 — Montgomery: Thomas Quigley (R) beat Dan Weand (D). The PBA supported Quigley.
Statewide Elections Attorney General: Tom Corbett (R) beat Jim Eisenhower (D).
Other State House Races
Auditor General: Jack Wagner (D) beat Joe Peters (R).
District 11 — Butler: Brian Ellis (R) beat Fred Vero (D). The PBA supported Ellis.
State Treasurer: Bob Casey, Jr. (D) beat Jean Pepper (R).
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Association
news
Presenting the 2005 PBA Leadership Team James L. Conner, President Jim Conner, owner of Conner Construction in New Castle, is the 2005 president of the Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA). Before being elected as the PBA President, Conner had served the PBA in a number of other positions. He served as a regional vice president, a director, treasurer, secretary and vice president. He also served on the membership committee and the bylaws committee. He received the PBA’s Small Contractor of the Year award in 2001. Locally, Conner has been a member of the Lawrence County Builders Association for 18 years, where he served two years as president, was a national representative for five years and was on their board of directors for more than 10 years. He was also on the local membership committee, the home show committee and the reputable contractor committee. He is also a member of the Mercer County Builders Association. Jim Conner, President • 724-658-2279 jconnerconst@adelphia.net Lawrence County BA, Mercer County BA
Bradford H. Elliott, Vice President Brad Elliott, owner of The Elliott Building Group, Ltd. in Newtown, is the PBA’s 2005 vice president. Before being elected as the PBA Vice President, Elliott served the PBA in a number of other positions. He served as secretary, regional legislative officer, regional vice president and director. He also served as chairman of the Pennsylvania Committee for Affordable Housing (PaCAH) and chairman of the regulatory affairs committee. Locally, Elliott is a member of the Home Builders Association of Bucks and Montgomery Counties where he served as president, vice president and chairman of the governmental affairs committee. Brad Elliott, Vice President • 267-852-4500 bhelliott@ebgmail.com HBA of Bucks and Montgomery Counties
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Mary Pucciarella, Associate Vice President
Mary Pucciarella, vice president in retail administration for Reliance Bank in Altoona, is the PBA 2005 associate vice president. Before being elected as the PBA Associate Vice President, Pucciarella had served the PBA in a number of other positions. She served as a regional vice president, regional legislative officer, director and as the 1996-1997 associate vice president. She also served as chairman of the public relations, public affairs committee and as a member on the convention, bylaws and governance committees. In addition, Pucciarella has earned life director status with the PBA. Locally, Puciarrella is a member of the Blair County Builders Association where she also has earned life director status. She also has served the Blair County Builders Association as secretary and associate vice president. She served as chairman of the scholarship, annual dinner and legislative committees. She also chaired the monthly meeting sponsors committee.
Mary Pucciarella, Associate Vice President 814-949-6246 mpucciarella@reliancebank.com Blair County BA
Stephen D. Black, Secretary Stephen D. Black, president of Stephen Black Builders, Inc. in Lititz, is the 2005 secretary of the PBA. Before being elected as the PBA Secretary, Black served the association in a number of other positions. He was a director and regional vice president for two years. He also served on the public relations/public affairs committee and as chairman of the workforce development committee. Black received the Regional Vice President of the Year Award in 2003. Locally, Black is a member of the Building Industry Association of Lancaster County where he served as secretary, vice president and president. He also served his local association on the membership and foundation committee, as chairman of the
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insurance task force and as chairman of the past presidents committee. Stephen Black, Secretary • 717-626-1778 steve@stephenblackbldr.com BIA of Lancaster County
Kenneth L. Medina, Treasurer Kenneth L. Medina, a senior financial advisor for PNC Investments, is the 2005 treasurer of the PBA. Before being elected as the treasurer, Medina served the association as a member of the Builder Services Inc. (BSI) board of directors, as well as chair of the BSI finance committee. Locally, Medina is a member of the Lebanon County BA, where he served as a board member for three years and as a regional representative. Kenneth Medina, Treasurer • 717-540-9843 kenneth.medina@pnc.com Lebanon County BA
Scott H. Cannon, Immediate Past President Scott H. Cannon, owner of Cannon Custom Homes of Glen Riddle, is the PBA’s immediate past president. Cannon is a member of the Home Builders Association of Chester and Delaware Counties and received his local’s Distinguished Service Award in 1994 and 1999. He had served his local as president and vice president. On the state level, Cannon has served as president, vice president, held two terms as the secretary of the association, as well as serving on the regulatory affairs sub-committee and as chairman of the association’s growth control task force. He is also chairman of the Pennsylvania Housing Research Center headquartered at the Pennsylvania State University in State College. He received the Pennsylvania Builders Association’s Builder of the Year Award in 2002. Scott Cannon, Immediate Past President 610-459-8558 • shc@shc.biz HBA of Chester/Delaware Counties ▲
2005 PBA Regional Leadership Team n association is only as strong as the people who volunteer their time to make it better, and the 2005 PBA regional leadership team is a dedicated group of individuals who do just that — volunteer hundreds of hours to represent the needs of the membership. The team — made up of regional vice presidents (RVPs) and regional legislative officers (RLOs) — are volunteers who serve as liaisons between local home building associations and the PBA. RVPs are a very important part of statewide activities and programs that are designed to benefit your business. RVPs attend local association meetings and co-chair regional meetings to ensure that the associa-
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tion is representing your needs and addressing the issues that affect your business. PBA members elect the RVPs in their designated regions. These RVPs are voting members of the PBA’s board, as well as its government affairs and executive committees. RLOs are also an important part of the regional leadership team. RLOs are elected on an annual basis and are charged with the duty of providing updates about state-related legislation and pending government regulations. RLOs are a critical communication source for the PBA in finding out local viewpoints to assess the building industry’s position. Both RVPs and RLOs are voting members of the governmental affairs committee, and they
PHRC Holds 13th Annual Housing Conference he Pennsylvania Housing Research Center (PHRC) has announced the dates and locations of its 13th Annual Pennsylvania Housing and Land Development Conference. The PHRC provides Pennsylvania homebuilders with useful research information on construction topics that can save them money and improve the homes they build. The conference will be held on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2005, in Allentown and on Thursday, March 10, 2005, in Pittsburgh. Issues to be covered during the conference include common code violations, common building failures, improving concrete performance, flashing for windows, doors and decks and more. The conference also includes information for developers including stormwater management, site level infiltration processes, subsurface exploration for infiltration design, lot design, subdivision road standards, subdivision planning and more. For more information about the conference or how to register, visit the PHRC website at www.engr.psu.edu/phrc. ▲
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work together to conduct regional meetings. While RVPs and RLOs are always working hard to represent your interests, they can only do their job if PBA members actively participate in meetings and voice their opinions on the issues that matter most to them. By supporting your regional leadership team, you also help to strengthen the PBA and improve our industry.
Southeast Serving: HBA of Chester/Delaware Counties, HBA of Bucks/Montgomery Counties, BIA of Philadelphia, HBA of Berks County, Lehigh Valley BA Continued on page 18
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Association ASSOCIATION NEWS Continued from page 17
RLO: Joe Dolan, president of Dolan Construction Inc., is a member and past president of the HBA of Berks County, where he has served on the board of directors, and legislative, ethics, Parade of Homes and carpenter apprentice committees. Dolan is currently serving as treasurer and PAC trustee. On the state level, Dolan served as Southeast regional legislative officer in 2004 and on the government affairs committee and board of directors. Dolan is also a PaCAH trustee and member of the PBA Committee of 75. He can be reached at 610-372-4664 or jdolan@dolanconstructioninc.com.
news RVP: Ron Agulnick, owner of Ronald M. Agulnick L.L.C., is a member of the HBA of Chester and Delaware Counties where he held the position of solicitor and served on the legislative action committee and various task forces and subcommittees. Agulnick has received the HBA of Chester and Delaware Counties’ Associate of the Year Award and the PBA Associate of the Year Award. Agulnick is a PBA life director and has served as PBA’s regional vice president and regional legislative officer for the Southeast region. He also has served on the PBA governmental affairs committee, Industry Action Fund subcommittee, bylaws committee and various task forces. Agulnick can be reached at 610-692-2611 or ragulnick@yahoo.com.
2005 Regional Legislative Officers (L to R) Mike Schultz, Gary Shelhamer, Steve Miller and Jim Miller. (Not pictured) Joe Dolan, John Holahan, Jack Mitchell and Linda Schreiber.
Continued on page 20
PBA Wins First Challenge Against Ordinances to Exceed UCC iding with the Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA), the State Department of Labor and Industry has ruled that three ordinances proposed to exceed the Uniform Construction Code (UCC) in West Hanover Township, Dauphin County, are null and void. In issuing the order of disapproval, L&I concluded, “Although the ordinance has its objective to provide greater protection to West Hanover Township residents in the event of a garage fire, the amendments are unnecessary and contain duplicative and/or misplaced provisions that could lead to confusion as well as increased costs and/or methods of construction.” The PBA filed a challenge with L&I on behalf of its membership seeking to maintain the primary function of the UCC — uniformity and making sure municipalities aren’t forcing PBA members to adhere to unfair or confusing construction standards. This was the first challenge to the UCC in Pennsylvania since it became law in April 2004. West Hanover Township had proposed three ordinances that would amend the UCC for residential construction in that municipality. The three amendments pertained to garage and carport construction, heat detectors and dwelling unit separation.
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Joining the PBA in the challenge were the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Harrisburg, EG. Stolzfus Homes LLC, John Fogarty Custom Built Homes Inc., and SHC Inc. Frank Thompson of Sweetwater Builders Inc. and a member of the BA of Metro Pittsburgh testified on behalf of the PBA. He said that the important thing to remember is that the UCC was worked on for years by dozens of industry professionals, with the result being a standard code with an appropriate degree of reason used in establishing building standards. It was enacted to maintain “uniformity” across the state when it comes to residential construction. “The PBA is looking at each of the proposals to exceed the UCC very carefully. We are hoping for open discussions with these municipalities before we have to go to the challenge process. Municipalities can’t be out there applying frivolous codes to builders just because they’ve (the municipality) done something a certain way in their township,” he said. This first ruling positively reinforces the UCC as the new standard, uniform construction code in the state, said Thompson. The PBA will continue to monitor all proposals and evaluate them based on their “standard of reason.” This ruling also shows that the
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process for proposing and challenging amendments to the UCC does allow for a fair and open debate of the proposed changes. To date, the PBA has filed eight other challenges against municipalities who have enacted ordinances exceeding the UCC. Thompson said the PBA will be testifying during a hearing in Carroll Valley (Adams County) in January. In that case, the municipality is seeking to enact ordinances that would mandate sprinklers in every house built. “This would be incredibly costly to our members,” said Thompson. “In Whitpain Township (Montgomery County), they are looking to establish standards for ‘miscellaneous structures’ that would require a building permit on a dog house. These are just not acceptable.” Thompson stressed that the most important thing that PBA members can do at this point is be aware of what is going on in the municipality in which they are building. He said that if a municipality proposes additional ordinances, members need to let the PBA know so the PBA can look at what is being proposed and sit down and discuss it with municipal officials. “Builders also should be prepared to sign on as a plaintiff in a potential challenge,” said Thompson. ▲
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For Exhibitor Information call (609) 587-5577 To Register Online & View Current Updates log onto: www.abconvention.com
January/February 2005 • Keystone Builder
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Association ASSOCIATION NEWS Continued from page 18
Southcentral Serving: Franklin County BA, BA of Adams County, BIA of Lancaster County, York County BA RLO: Jim Miller, president of MillerWarner Construction Company Inc., is a member of the BIA of Lancaster County where he served as chair of the developers council, vice chair of the governmental affairs committee and received the Associate of the Year Award in 2003. Miller also served as PBA Southcentral regional legislative officer in 2004 and on the PBA governmental affairs committee and the Brookings Report task force. He can be reached at 717-397-8558 or jmiller15@dejazzd.com. RVP: Ray Fertig, vice president of Richard D. Poole L.L.C, is a member of the York County BA where he served as builder director, secretary, treasurer, vice president, president and NAHB director. He also chaired the York County BA Parade of Homes committee and currently serves on the PBA governmental affairs committee and board of directors. Fertig can be reached at 717-7415270 or rfertig@rpoole.com.
Southwest Serving: Monongahela Valley HBA, BA of Metro Pittsburgh, BA of Fayette County, Washington County BA
Field Service Directors The PBA staff field service directors are a direct link between the local associations and the state association. Your field service directors are: Doug Meshaw 800-692-7339 Ext. 3007 dmeshaw@pahomes.org Don Gay 800-692-7339 Ext. 3020 dgay@pahomes.org Rob Milne 800-692-7339 Ext. 3015 rmilne@pahomes.org 20
news RLO: Mike Schultz, owner of Michael J. Schultz Construction, is a member and past president of the Washington County BA and served as legislative committee chairman and as a member of the PAC committee. On the state level, Schultz served as treasurer, secretary, vice president and president, as well as Southwest regional vice president in 2004. In addition, he received the PBA Small Contractor of the Year Award in 1992 and was honored as a Life Spike for his efforts in recruiting new members. Schultz can be reached at 724-941-4445 or schultzm@nb.net. RVP: Ronald Cole, president of JJS Contracting Inc. in Uniontown, is a member of the BA of Fayette County where he served as treasurer, vice president and president. Cole also served as membership committee chairman and on the PaCAH committee of the BA of Fayette County. On the state level, he served as Southwest regional legislative officer in 2004, as well as on the health insurance task force. Cole can be reached at 724-438-8668 or jjscontracting.inc@verizon.net.
Midwest Serving: Clearfield County BA, Blair County BA, Indiana-Armstrong BA, HBA of the Alleghenies, Somerset County BA, Greater DuBois Area BA, Elk and Cameron Counties BA RLO: Linda Schreiber, a Realtor with Re/Max Results Realty Group, is a member of the Blair County BA where she served as secretary and board member. In addition, she has served on Blair County BA golf committee, installation banquet committee and Parade of Homes committee as chair and cochair. On the state level, Schreiber has served on the PBA editorial review board, the PR/PA committee and governmental affairs committee. She can be reached at 814-946-9355 or lms8423@aol.com. RVP: Steve Misner, owner of S. Misner Construction, is a member of the IndianaArmstrong BA and served as treasurer, vice president, president (twice) and past president. In addition, he served as the PBA Midwest regional legislative officer for two years, Midwest regional vice president in 2004 and on the PBA membership committee. Misner can be reached at 814-749-0584.
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Mideast Serving: Huntingdon County BA, HBA of Metro Harrisburg, Mifflin-Juniata County BA, Lebanon County BA, Schuylkill BA RLO: Steve Miller, a sales rep with Stock Building Supply, is a member of the HBA of Metro Harrisburg where he served as associate vice president and on the membership, golf and Builder Remodeler Expo committees. He currently serves on the PBA board of directors. Miller can be reached at 717-866-2167 or semiller717@aol.com. RVP: Ken Brown, owner of Kenneth Brown Building, is a member of the Schuylkill BA where he served as president. In addition, Brown served as Mideast regional vice president last year and on the PBA governmental affairs committee. Brown can be reached at 570-385-3865 or kaybrown@schuylkillba.com.
Northeast Serving: Lackawanna HBA, Carbon County BA, BIA of Northeastern PA, Endless Mountains BA, Pocono PA, Pike County BA, Wayne County BA RLO: John J. Holahan, president of Liberty Homes Custom Builders, is a member of the Building Industry Association of Northeastern PA and served as president of the Pocono Builders Association for two years. Holahan also serves on the board of directors for the Building Industry Association of Northeastern PA and is a Hammers and Gavels award recipient. On the state level, he served on the PBA’s governmental affairs and public relations/public affairs committees and served as a regional legislative officer, board of directors member and membership chairman. Holahan can be reached at 570-646-4600 or jholahan@ptd.net. RVP: Ken Kurtz, of Ken Kurtz Builders, is a member of the Lackawanna HBA and has held all offices. He has also served on the Lackawanna HBA nominating committee as chairman, as well as on the homeshow and bylaws committees. Kurtz was the Northeast regional vice president last year and has served the PBA on the small contractors committee, contractor registration task force and the Brookings task force. Kurtz can be reached at 570-282-3022 or Kennykurr@aol.com.
Northcentral
Northwest
Serving: BA of Central PA, Central Susquehanna BA, West Branch Susquehanna BA, Northern Tier BA, Clinton County BA. RLO: Jack Mitchell, owner of Nittany Homes, is a member of the Home Builders Association of Central PA where he served as president. He served as regional vice president, regional legislative officer, and secretary for the PBA. Mitchell has been a member of the public relations/public affairs and governmental affairs committees and received the Regional Legislative Officer of the Year Award and the Regional Vice President of the Year Award. Mitchell can be reached at 814238-0372 or jackmit@aol.com. RVP: Robert Jones, vice-president of Glick Associates Inc., has served as vice-president and president and is a member of the board of directors for the Central Susquehanna Builders Association. He served as regional legislative officer and regional vice president for the PBA. Jones is a member of the Associates Council and Pennsylvania Housing Research Center Committee, and he received the award for Regional Legislative Officer of The Year in 2002. Jones can be reached at 570-743-7332 or rjones@glicks.com.
Serving: BA of Northwestern PA, Lawrence County BA, Mercer County BA, Tri County BA RLO: Gary Shelhamer, owner of Shelhamer’s Energy Conservation Sales, is a member of the Mercer County Builders Association where he served two years as president as well as secretary and director. He received the Mercer County BA Builder of the Year Award and served as Northwest regional legislative officer in 2004. Shelhamer serves the PBA on the PHRC committee and received the PBA Small Contractor of the Year Award in 2002. Shelhamer can be reached at 724-475-3025 or mcbuilders@myepath.com. RVP: Jim Litwinowicz, owner of Sunspot Builders, is a member of the Lawrence County BA where he is a past president and chaired the membership, legislative and program committees, as well as served on the home show committee. Litwinowicz served the PBA as Northwest regional legislative officer for three years and as Northwest regional vice president for the past year. He chairs the PA Brookings Report task force and received the PBA Regional Legislative
2005 Regional Vice Presidents (L to R) Rob Jones, Ray Fertig, Steve Misner, Ken Brown, Ron Cole and Jim Litwinowicz. (Not pictured) Ron Agulnick and Ken Kurtz.
Officer of the Year Award in 2003. Litwinowicz can be reached at 724-652-5875 or thewizjim@hotmail.com. ▲
2005 Regional Meeting Dates Mideast — Jan. 31, June 13, Oct. 3 Northcentral — Jan. 27, June 9, Sept. 29 Northeast — Feb. 3, June 16, Oct. 6 Northwest — Feb. 2, June 1, Oct. 5 Midwest — Feb. 3, June 2, Oct. 6 Southwest — Jan. 20, June 8, Oct. 12 Southeast — Jan. 26, June 22, Oct. 19 Southcentral — Feb. 3, June 30, Oct. 13
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Builder Case Study
The right side of this area will be called the “River Walk” and will proceed to an amphitheater that will host live family entertainment. Governor Ed Rendell injected another $2.1 million into the public portion of the downtown to help complete the River Walk and other attractions.
The centerpiece of the development is a movie theater that was once owned and operated by the Warner Brothers.
Cedar Tree Companies Bringing Back the Beauty of Another Era by Jennifer McDermitt ome builders like to take an empty piece of property and watch it go from nothing to something right before their eyes. Others, like the owners of Cedar Tree Companies, enjoy the process of taking existing buildings and using their unique architecture to bring back a memory of another time, while at the same time creating something new and modern for today’s generation. For the past 10 years, Cedar Tree Companies has been taking historical, commercial properties in New Castle’s downtown area and giving them back to the community, as well as creating what is now the third largest historical district in the state on the city’s North Hill. “There was a lot of beautiful property in our area in the early 1980s that they were practically giving away,” said Jonathon Bruce of Cedar Tree Companies. “The trend was to tear down these buildings, but the buildings contained the kind of architecture that you just couldn’t afford to put into commercial properties these days. We had these beautiful treasures right under our noses, so we decided to create our own marketplace.”
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Company Creates a Niche in New Castle Cedar Tree Companies principals began in 1974 in residential development and property management. The principals formed multiple partnerships to acquire entertainment centers, retail malls, strip plazas, and office buildings. The company has become a regional leader in historic restoration and has been successful in locating tenants in quality space with ample parking. “We found a niche in New Castle and decided to concentrate on Lawrence County,” said Jason George, son of the company’s founder. “My father liked this area immediately, and he knew that purchasing property here could be very lucrative.” Owning and managing over 1 million square feet of property, this rapidly growing, creative company looks toward the future in helping tenants design efficient and costeffective space. The company’s inherent philosophy is that a community’s buildings of the past are their treasures for the future. “Today, we develop, construct, lease and manage all our own properties,” said George.
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“The trend in retail is toward downtown shopping, which is why we have spent so much time and energy on creating Cascade Center at The Riverplex, our premier development.”
Historic Theater Brought Back to Life The owners of Cedar Tree Management were fortunate to find a community like New Castle, and one of the reasons why it is so unique is because of its history. At one time, New Castle was the tinplate capital of the nation, allowing the residents to benefit from a flourishing economy at that time. Perhaps the most historically fascinating building in the downtown area is the former Warner Brothers theater. The theater was the first permanent movie theater operated by Albert, Sam and Harry Warner, who lived in Youngstown at that time. They opened the theater on Feb. 2, 1907 — a first of its kind with three screens under one roof. Cedar Tree Companies was introduced to the project by a chance meeting between a granddaughter of one of the Warner brothers and a New Castle resident.
“Cass Warner was doing a book signing in Pittsburgh, and Jerry Kern from New Castle happened to be there,” said Bruce. “He saw the picture of the theater in her book and told her it was still standing. That’s when people started to realize that there was an important historical element to our downtown.” The original vaudeville theater is being restored and renamed “Stage 3 at the Warner Theaters” and will serve as a multi-purpose entertainment venue at the Cascade Center. Stage 3 will be used for a host of entertainment opportunities including comedy shows and live musical performances, as well as serving as a banquet venue. Besides the Warner Brothers theater, there are two other parts to the Cascade Center at the Riverplex project that are scheduled to open this winter. The second part, Mill Street Grille, is a 250-seat, steak and seafood restaurant, featuring an exhibition kitchen and three private dining rooms. The third part, The Basin, is a jazz and blues bar located on the first floor of the Cascade Center. Bruce says that they hope to complete the three-phase project in the first quarter of next year.
Downtown Revitalization a Worthy Effort With the success of the New Castle project, a lot of interest has been created in doing the same type of downtown revitalization in other towns in the state. Bruce says he is glad to see other builders realizing the benefits of this type of work, however there are some things to remember when undertaking downtown revitalization. “Although the challenges associated with downtown revitalization is project specific, there are a lot of similarities between projects,” said Bruce. “The best thing to do is to get in touch with the local economic development department, because all these projects need to be a team effort between the public and private sector. In our case, the city invested $12.1 million into downtown infrastructure, and without that, we wouldn’t have been able to successfully complete the project. This worked because we formed a partnership early on.” Bruce says that builders should also do a lot of research on available funding, grants or
tax credits, but he warns that a lot of these come with strings attached. “There is a lot of money out there for builders, but you have to be real careful to evaluate whether it is worth it or not for you to take the money. Sometimes, if you have the means, it is just better to secure the funding yourself.” Regardless of the challenges, Bruce says that the satisfaction in knowing that you are giving something back to the community, as well as the possible financial rewards if the project is successful, make downtown revitalization a worthy effort. “There are a lot of sleepless nights with this type of project, but you certainly never get bored,” he said. “It’s challenging bringing these old buildings up to today’s codes, but we have created interest in the downtown area with other developers, and the trend in retail today is really toward downtown shopping. I know in the long run our communities are going to benefit greatly from the idea of downtown revitalization. It’s such a shame to turn our backs on these beautiful buildings, because they have so much potential. They just need someone to see them for what they really are.” ▲
Entrance on E. Washington Street. A portion of this section of the building fell during the mid-1990s and has since been restored.
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New Product Home Slicker® Performance Test Results Benjamin Obdyke Incorporated, innovator of Home Slicker®, a moisture eliminating rainscreen for sidewalls, is pleased to announce that Home Slicker® and Home Slicker® Plus Typar® have outperformed and proved to drain more water versus traditional furring strips, per modified ASTM E2273. Testing was performed by Architectural Testing Inc. (ATI) on 10 wall assemblies measuring approximately 4'0" wide by 8'0" high using ASTM E2273-03 in a modified form. Testing consisted of different wall configurations using pressure-treated plywood strapping with three nominal air space widths of 1/4," 10 mm and 3/4." The purpose of the test was to show that the Home Slicker products would drain as much water from behind siding as furring strips. Results proved that Home Slicker and Home Slicker Plus Typar removed more water during the test period over that of the plywood strapping. It was found that the vertical channels in the Home Slicker products actually promote drainage since the filaments break the surface tension of the water, while the strapping material exposed to the water absorbed moisture. For more information on Benjamin Obdyke Inc. products, call 800-346-7655 or visit www.benjaminobdyke.com.
Nature vs. Industry in AsianStyled Kitchen Created with Quality Custom Cabinetry
The design versatility that can be achieved with Quality Custom Cabinetry is shown in an 24
corner
Asian-styled kitchen that combines contrasting design elements to achieve unexpected unity. This custom kitchen design combines nature’s rich mahogany (a new wood specie for Quality Custom Cabinetry), light maple wood and bamboo wood flooring with contrasting man-made features, appliances, a corner waterfall and dramatic monorail lighting. The light maple cabinetry with chamomile finish has full overlay doors on wall cabinets and inset doors and drawers for base cabinets. The convex door of the revolving base corner susan achieves an easy architectural flow between kitchen zones. The mahogany range hood and island are also custom crafted by Quality Custom Cabinetry. The Monorail System Tech Lighting facilitates a unique combination of strategically placed task lighting and decorative red pendants suspended above the kitchen island. Cabinet backsplashes are finished with 3" x 6" slate tile. Lapidus granite covers the cooktop backsplash and countertops. The contoured island surface is crafted with Corian® Private Collection and 3/4" raised glass rests on three cylindrical mahogany supports. The working waterfall trickles down a wall of grouted pebbles and spills into a copper basin where water is collected and then recirculated. Thermador’s Pro Series commercial styled cooktop and stainless steel apron front sink coordinate with the stainless steel counter shelf and plate rail. For more information on Quality Custom Cabinetry products, call 800-909-6006 or visit www.qcc.com.
New DEWALT Mud Mixer Drill Is First to Offer Variable Speed Trigger DEWALT, a leading manufacturer of power tools, introduced its new Heavy Duty Spade Handle Drill (DW130V). Although the DW130V is used for common drilling applications, the primary use is mixing various compounds and adhesives, such as drywall compound. Additionally, the mixer has been designed to offer versatility and power that results in increased comfort and productivity on the jobsite. The DW130V increases productivity with an increase to its motor speed. The new 0-550 RPM motor will mix any compound and perform any drilling quickly and easily. The mud
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mixer drill also is designed with a variable speed trigger, providing electricians and plumbers with the control they need in drilling applications, while drywallers will be able to regulate speed and prevent splashing while mixing glue, plaster or drywall compound. For comfort and versatility, the new DW130V comes equipped with a two-position spade handle and three-position side handle, which provide professional contractors with the ability to adapt the drill to a variety of positions. DEWALT also equipped the DW130V with a soft-grip handle for increased comfort. For more information on Dewalt products, call 800-433-9258 or visit www.dewalt.com.
One-Hundred New Sizes Added to Hy-Lite® Products Glass Block Window Line
Hy-Lite® Products introduced 100 new sizes to its line of fixed glass block windows along with a new ultra-obscure Glacier pattern. Available with either white or tan vinyl frames, Hy-Lite glass block windows weigh less than traditional mortared glass block products. The window units are prefabricated in the factory by securing each block firmly in place with vinyl spacer connections and then sealing the units together with silicone. The resulting single unit installs easily into homes and commercial projects with the rest of the window package, requiring less on-site labor than the assembly of more traditional mortared glass block windows.
The new sizes of glass block windows from Hy-Lite range in size from the smallest 9-1/4" x 33-1/4" sized window (a 1-over-4 block configuration) to the largest 96" x 403/4" sized window (a 12-over-5 block configuration). For more information on the full Hy-Lite product line, call 877-712-4013 or visit www.HyLite.com.
New Patterns From Nevamar Will Rock Your World
Among the collection of 18 new laminate patterns introduced in 2004, Nevamar offers the new Rock pattern series. A highly textured take on engineered stone, Rock draws on nature and abstracts it.
Nevamar’s Rock pattern series is offered in three colorways: Classic Rock has basic appeal. Mellow Soft Rock features a beige hue, while House Rock amps up the sound, combining gold and brown to form a complex mix of colors just begging to be noticed. These patterns are perfectly suited for both commercial and residential interiors. With Nevamar’s Rock pattern, designers can achieve a “natural” look far more affordably than when specifying natural stone or solid surface materials. The pattern makes a strong statement by itself, or when framed with an attractive choice of edge treatments — all without sacrificing any utility or functionality. For more information on Nevamar’s new Rock pattern series, plus other laminates in its wide-ranging 2004-05 collection, call 800638-4380, email your request to nevamar.marketing@nevamar.com or visit www.nevamar.com.
Thermosoft’s Advanced Floor Heaters Promise Comfort, Durability and Savings Thermosoft International Corporation introduced its FiberThermics® technology to
the tile floor heating market with a new, electronic floor heating system that is easy-toinstall, safe and durable. Do-it-yourselfers and professional installers will appreciate the simplicity and commercial grade quality of this radiant floor heating mat. Thermosoft’s tile floor heaters are installed in a thin layer of cement before laying the tile and connected to a variety of available thermostats for maximum energy savings. Thermosoft’s floor warming mats are listed by Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) and marketed under the ThermoTile and ThermoFloor brand names. Thermosoft also manufactures a radiant floor warming pad designed specifically for laminate flooring. The laminate floor warming pad is manufactured for MP Global Products, Norfolk, NE (formerly Midwest Padding) and marketed under their Quiet Warmth™ brand name. Quiet Warmth combines Thermosoft’s advanced heating technology with the sound barrier and temperature insulating properties of MP Global’s Insulayment™ underlayment pad. What’s more, Quiet Warmth’s one-step installation does not require any cement. Thermosoft International Corporation can be found on the World Wide Web at www.thermosoft.com. ▲
Building News You Can Use Hardwood Council Offers Sustainable Solutions Hardwood Sample Package Architects, designers and design-build professionals now can order The Hardwood Council’s Sustainable Solutions package complete with American hardwood samples at www.americanhardwoods.org. The package includes 3" x 6" samples of 20 native hardwood species, from alder and ash to walnut and white oak. Sustainable Solutions also includes a stain selector, the Finishing Touch CD (a virtual library of hardwood specifying tips) and a Sustainable Solutions brochure. The brochure features species profiles and a host of sustainable design tips for hardwood interior choices that are both cost-efficient and eco-effective. The Sustainable Solutions hardwood sample package is available to professionals at $25. To order, visit www.americanhardwoods.org and click on “Write and Request,” select your occupation, click submit and enter Promo Code BR04NR.
New Vetter Wood Window & Patio Door Catalog Available
Vetter® Windows & Doors announced today the availability of a full-line catalog for its wood windows and patio doors. This 138page catalog highlights the architecturally inspired features and options available with Vetter’s natural, primed or aluminum clad windows and patio doors. The catalog includes product details with options and accessories, sizing and technical data, and stunning photography of winning projects
from Vetter’s annual design competition, the Vetter Inspired Project Awards. Vetter’s wood window line includes double hung, casement/awning, rolling, bow and bay, and specialty shaped and sized windows, as well as sliding and hinged patio doors in traditional narrow stile and wider French stile designs. All have extensive options for tailoring a window and patio door package, including a choice of six interior wood species, nine interior trim profiles, six exterior trim choices for primed windows and five profiles in factory-applied aluminum clad trim to match aluminum clad windows, five grille styles, and a wide range of glazing choices. Aluminum cladding is available in eight standard colors, 48 designer colors or any custom color. Architects, designers, builders and homeowners can request any Vetter literature, including the new wood window and patio door catalog, at www.vetterwindows.com or by calling 800-552-4111. ▲
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F.Y.I. Dick Clawson named 2003 Hammers and Gavels Club Member of the Year
Marshal Granor (right) from Granor Price Homes is presented a Bronze Award for Lantern Hill, a traditional neighborhood development of a former brownfield site, by Jessica Cogan Millman, deputy director of the Smart Growth Leadership Institute.
Mark Your Calendars for Important 2005 Dates
Dick Clawson (left) is presented the 2003 Hammers and Gavels Club Member of the Year Award by Jim Rumbaugh, the 2002 recipient.
Dick Clawson, the 2004 PBA treasurer and executive officer from the IndianaArmstrong BA, was named the 2003 Hammers and Gavels Club Member of the Year by the PBA during its November 2004 board of directors meeting. Clawson was selected to receive the award for his significant contributions and strong commitment to the Hammers and Gavels Club, the PBA’s legislative advocacy group. The club consists of more than 350 volunteer members who help to communicate the interests of the home building industry to their legislators. Clawson was presented the award for his years of active participation, his development of a strong working relationship with House Majority Leader Sam Smith and his work on the home improvement contractor registration issue. The efforts of Clawson and others in the Hammers and Gavels Club benefit all members of the PBA as they gain legislative support for issues beneficial to the home building industry.
PBA Members Win Commonwealth Design Awards Three members of the Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA) were among the winners of the Second Annual Commonwealth Design Awards, sponsored by 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania. The PBA worked with 10,000 Friends to develop the Commonwealth Design Award program last year in an effort to raise awareness of projects that successfully demonstrate sound land-use principles around the Commonwealth, from 26
former slag dump along Nine Mile Run into a mixed residential community of single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. The development team addressed on going environmental concerns by improving sewer infrastructure for communities in the area, reducing stormwater runoff into a stream and reusing slag and onsite soils to stabilize slopes. For more information about the Commonwealth Design Awards, visit www.10000friends.org.
John Coyne (left), director of Planning and Engineering for the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, and Mark C. Schneider (right), president of The Rubinoff Company, are recognized with a Bronze Award for Summerset at Frick Park, a brownfield redevelopment project, by Jessica Cogan Millman, deputy director of the Smart Growth Leadership Institute.
urban and suburban to rural development and redevelopment projects. Awards presented to PBA members included: Bronze Award — Granor Price Homes won for Lantern Hill, a traditional neighborhood development of a former brownfield site, just six blocks from the heart of Doylestown Borough. The builder/developer worked with local officials and the community for more than three years to develop the zoning and finalize a plan for a mix of housing, office and retail space, green areas and walking paths. Bronze Award — Berkshire Construction Management Inc. won for York Square Condominium, an urban infill project in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia, providing 60 live/work loft units on a former automobile service station and warehouse property. Redevelopment of this brownfield site focused on matching the height, scale and materials of the neighboring industrial buildings. Bronze Award — The Rubinoff Company was recognized for Summerset at Frick Park, a brownfield redevelopment project of a 230-acre
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Be sure to mark your calendars for the following important dates in 2005: • March 10-11 — Installation and first Board of Directors meeting, Westin, Pittsburgh • July 21-23 — Second Board of Directors meeting, Nittany Lion Inn, State College • November 10-12 — Third Board of Directors meeting, Hotel Hershey, Hershey You also won’t want to miss this year’s Builders Annual You-Named-It Blowout. It will be bigger and better than last year! Held in State College on July 22, PBA members will be able to participate in several events to help raise money for the Pennsylvania Committee for Affordable Housing (PBA’s political action committee). Bring your motorcycles, golf clubs and grass skirts to this year’s PaCAH event! If you have a motorcycle and want to ride with your fellow PBA members in the countryside surrounding beautiful State College, mark this date. More information will be provided as it becomes available. These dates and a comprehensive calendar of PBA and local association events are available on the PBA website at www.pahomes.org. ▲
Jim Conner (right), PBA president, and son, Patrick, are ready to ride in the PaCAH Poker Run on July 22 in State College. Start planning now to join them for this fun and worthwhile event.
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Parksite Plunkett-Webster is an authorized distributor of AZEK® Trimboards.
January/February 2005 • Keystone Builder
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Yo u ’ r e N o t J u s t B u i l d i n g D e c k s . Yo u ’ r e B u i l d i n g Yo u r R e p u t a t i o n .
Homeowners prefer high quality pressure-treated wood, and DuraPine®® Outdoor®® Wood Select is right on the mark. Produced from Premium and No. 1 and better grade marked lumber, DuraPine Outdoor Wood Select has been re-dried after treatment. This additional step in the production process assures the user that most of treated wood’s
natural shrinkage takes place before it reaches the job site, not after it’s installed! Because DuraPine is more uniform in size and cleaner and lighter in weight, it’s much easier to work with. And, unlike regular treated wood that is still wet, DuraPine can be coated, stained or painted without waiting for weeks or months.
The Standard in Quality Treated Wood Products Since 1954
When you build with DuraPine Outdoor Wood Products by Cox®®, you’re giving your customer an advantage. Join the Cox Team in proving the highest quality in treated wood products. For information about the DuraPine Outdoor Wood dealer nearest you, call Cox Wood Preserving: 800.476.4401, E-mail: sales1@coxwood.com.
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