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ROWLETT RAMBLINGS

A peek out the window

12/28/2016

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If you've read any of the recent posts, you know I have been remodeled, kinda.  I have a new stent in a heart artery and a gleam in my eye.    I had to spend a little time recovering.  However, today I could drive.  I thought I would take a short trip around Rowlett.  I didn't get as far as I wanted, but I got by a couple of real estate projects I have been watching.  

I'm going to have to open up a couple of old wounds.  I'm not totally against Rowlett 2020, although I am not sure it's as good a real estate growth study as I would like.  I'm not totally against Form Base Codes, although I question some of the wisdom of the applications.  There are places for Form Base Codes.  Usually, cow pastures aren't one of them. 

I've got some math and some esthetics I would like to share with you. 

I drove up to Harmony, the new Huffines luxury apartment development up on the north city limits on the tollroad.  They are open and currently renting.  It seems to be a well conceived and well built project.  However, I want you to look at something.  You can visit some of the Huffines projects @   http://huffinescommunities.com/communities/.

The Rowlett project is attractive.........in an institutional kind of way.  It is influenced by Form Base Codes.  To me, the project looks like a really big hospital, or driver's license office.  It's not unattractive, but hardly inspiring.  Look at some other Huffines projects on the same site.  Huffines has some other really attractive  projects.   Go look for them on Google.  They certainly know curb appeal.  It is only my opinion and you should form your own, but I think Harmony looks a little like a customs officer should be standing guard.   It looks like a government designed project.  This is a gift from Form Base Codes. 

There is another project I have written about before.  It is the land development project named Homestead Village, where Chiesa Road dead ends into Liberty Grove. 

I wanted to see what has happened since I last looked.  On November 6, there had been 20 homes started, 18 of which were production units.  The other two were models.  Today was 7 weeks later and 5 more houses had been started, making 25 total starts, 23 of which are production units. 

I want to update the absorption rate math.  I had earlier made reference to a Lennar subdivsion across the street.  It had homes in the same price range and Lennar built and sold 49 houses in 52 weeks, thus creating an absorption rate of .942.  At the time of my last post of the subdivision, the two builders had started 18 production units in 22 weeks for an absorption rate of .818.  Today, there were 23 production units started in 29 weeks for an absorption rate of .793.  Admittedly, the small additional slide is not much, but it would be better if it was going the other way.  I've reveiwed hundreds of other subdivisions in recent years.  There's just not much fire in Homestead when the rest of the North Texas market is ON fire.  Our current North Texas residential market is the most active real estate market I have observed since I moved to Rowlett 41 years ago.  It's just my opinion, but I think the buying public is having a hard time accepting our Form Base Code subdivision designs.  I don't know why.  It's out in a cow pasture where everybody can see it.  Maybe it's some of the design features I wrote about earlier.  Or, maybe it lays out like a government designed project.

Gee, it feels good to get back.

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Throttling back up

12/22/2016

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Well, I've been released from the people garage.  We repaired a section of ductwork.  Run into a couple of problems.  The pump began putting out too much pressure, and there is some difficulty in the air intake.  However, they may correct themselves as recovery progresses.  I can already detect an improvement in the air intake.  A couple more days and there should be pretty good improvement in general.

The quality of the air distribution is much improved.  The damaged duct was 85% blocked.  Record oxygen levels have been attained since repair completed.

Another couple of days and I will start looking for something to write about.

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Tis the season.......

12/18/2016

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I was prepared to start writing a post on something important, like Form Base Codes.  Or, maybe zoning ordinances were more important.  Perhaps street repair would be even more important. 

Then, it occured to me that a lot of things become less topical, if not less important, when in the Christmas Season.  There is plenty of time to write about Form Base Codes after January 1. 

I went to my great grandson's birthday party yesterday.  What a hoot!!  We had a party complete with cousins, uncles, school chums, and grandmas and grandpas.    We went to a place that was called an Arcade.  What a place!!  In the old days we used to call them pin ball machines.........but "My" how times have changed.  Pin ball machines ain't like what they used to be.

Not only was I watching our party, I was also watching other parties in our midst.  The place was filled with 30-ish moms and dads, and their 6-ish and 7-ish kids playing pin ball machines, eating cake, yelling, running, opening presents, and hugging family and friends.   The activity of the whole Arcade resembled a fire ant mound after you hit it with a stick.   Absent the fire ant bites, It was a good place to be. 

Watching the kids with their families and friends caused me to revisit a thought I have held for a long time.   Kids grow into adults.  Overwhelmingly, the adult behavior is molded during their early years.  Kids don't have a matured and seasoned brain.   They remember and react to emotions experienced during their youth.  I feel relatively comfortable that all the kids I watched at Saturday's party will grow into well adjusted adults.  There will be very rare exceptions.

What about the kids that don't ever have parties?   What about kids whose parents ignore them, or worse yet, abuse them?  Where do they go to experience love and learn how develop character and integrety?  It's not a matter of having enough money to have a party, or buy expensive gifts.  It is a matter of experiencing love.  I think if you're a child and receiving love, coming from anyone close to you, your chances of growing into a responsible adult and creating your own loving family is very good, indeed. 

I worried about the all the kids that weren't at our party.  Would they ever have their own party?  Would there never be a party?  If I were King of the World, I would see to it that all abusers of children would never see the sunshine ever again.  I would be their worst nightmare.  The children are at our mercy.  I have absolutely no mercy for the merciless. 

The above is far more important than Form Base Codes or Rowlett 2020.

I have to go into the people garage tomorrow morning.  I will have my fuel pump and ductwork checked out and repaired.   When I get my bill paid I will be allowed to leave, but there may not be much time or energy to wish all a Merry Christmas.   My writing will probably be curtailed until after the first of the year.

So........Merry Christmas to all.  I wish you all a great holiday week.  Hug the kids, kiss the grandkids, hug all your friends and neighbors.  All that "stuff" is seen by the kids, and its good for them. 

Thanks for reading the blog.  Stay well.  Godspeed.

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Reader interest

12/15/2016

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Sent in by a reader.  It captures the essence of pure politicians.  Much of the politial commentary we listen to today, including  state, local, and federal, is a horrible waste of time. 



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Whew.....I'm back.

12/12/2016

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Well, my research is over.  I am now back.   I've got a lot of catching up to do.  I will give you the quick report, then give you the rest as I get caught up. 

First, the reports are accurate.  There is a lot of salt accumulation in the ocean.  It apparantely effects people surrounding the ocean in similar ways.  They dance a lot.  They also don't wear many watches.  However, they sell watches, t-shirts, and lots of fruit juices mixed with rum.  They laugh a lot.  People that live away from the oceans don't seem to do that.

I will report on the other bizarre behavior as I get the time.  Gotta start paying for this trip, now.

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Testing the water

12/2/2016

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I have heard reports that there has been a salt accumulation creeping into our sea water.  This could be a serious matter and needs investigation.  Therefore, I am checking into the problem.  I am going to check the seawater in Jamacia, the Caymans, and Cozumel. 

The easiest way to provide the logistics of shelter, food, and transportation for these research efforts is probably a boat of some type.  So, I bought passage on a boat.  I have to share the boat with a lot of other people.

The boat leaves New Orleans on Sunday.  I will be on it.  I will return from my thorough  investigations in about a week.  We may have to check the quality of the salt water getting into the New Orleans area.  Some time will be spent checking the older areas of New Orleans.  We have booked shelter in an old hotel on a street named Bourbon Street.  I understand it's pretty noisy down on Bourbon Street.  There are a lot of bars and loud brassy bands down there.  But, no discomfort is  too   much for our country.

Our country needs this type of citizen involvement.   
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