Edgeworth Garden Shows A European Flair

After growing up among steel mills near Dusseldorf, Germany, Juergen Mross felt very much at home when he moved to Pittsburgh in the 1970s. But he wasn’t as comfortable in the 1950s red-brick Colonial he and his wife, Renate, bought in Edgeworth in 1986. It was large enough for the couple and their four sons, but it had a small entrance and lacked character.

With the help of Gretchen Barlett of Barlett Design, the couple added a foyer and portico with six massive columns in front. Then, in 2006 and 2007, they had landscape architect Ed Werley of Werley Associates and landscape contractor Eichenlaub transform the grounds around the house. Now Mr. Mross feels at home.

Although the house separates the front and back areas, the garden is unified by repetition and contrast, both of naturally mounding plants like azalea, spirea and itea and of curving formal hedges of sheared hornbeams and boxwood. The rows of tall hornbeams, in particular, give the front landscape a formal, European feel. Recently, Hilbish McGee Lighting Design added low-voltage lighting that highlights the hornbeams, facade and other features at night.

In the front and back, large uplights catch the huge old maples and pine trees that form the backdrop for the new landscaping and, in one sense, inspired it. After large limbs nearly struck the house during a storm, Mr. Mross decided it was time for a big change, starting with the elevations. Mr. Werley, who works with his son, John, said the front yard was raised 3 feet and a series of sandstone walls installed around a central curving staircase of carved limestone slabs.

Brick pavers were added near the street to create a dropoff area and are repeated in the walkways and a landing. There, a sculpture of upright logs cast in bronze by artist Peter Calaboyias is the center of a fountain. Originally on the side of the house, it was moved “for greater visual impact,” Mr. Werley said. At night, the hornbeams also pack a visual punch, each with its own uplight.

“There’s a lot going on there, but it’s not bright. It’s subtle,” said Halbane Hilbish, principal owner of Hilbish McGee and a member of the International Association of Lighting Designers.

In the back, Mr. Hilbish subtly lit Japanese maples, weeping Camperdown elms and low sandstone walls topped by loose hedges of yew and blue holly and rows of spirea and cranberry bush viburnum. Three weeping cherries and other specimen trees were salvaged from an earlier redesign and reused.

Other older elements play parts in the new design. A new arched gate leads to “the treehouse,” where the four Mross boys held countless sleepovers. They’re now ages 30, 27, 25 and 18. The new curving stone walls bracket a new cedar garden house built by Vixen Hill, and new sheared boxwood hedges line the new conservatory. More ‘Winter Gem’ boxwood and a bay window frame a Japanese Stewartia that has been limbed up slightly to enhance the view of the garden. Around its base are Yak rhododendrons, fothergilla and ‘Goldflame’ spirea.

“The spirea has flowers and nice fall color — a yellowish red,” said Ryan Johnson, project administrator for Eichenlaub.

He said the hardest part of this project was access — a road had to be cut from front to back — and finding space to stockpile plants and materials. When it was finished, it won an Award for Landscape Excellence from the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association.

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Monday, June 16th, 2008

Landscaping No Comments

Real Estate Briefs Real_Estate Naples Daily News

A list of real estate related news briefs.

Home prices trimmed

Ryland Homes has rolled back prices by as much as $40,000 on three- and four-bedroom single-family homes at Promenade at The Forum, a gated community off Colonial Boulevard and State Road 82 east of Interstate 75 in Fort Myers. New single-family homes at Promenade at The Forum on 50- and 60-foot home sites are priced from $224,990. Joe Fontana, president of Ryland Homes in the Fort Myers region, said new single-family homes at Promenade at The Forum range from 1,504 square feet of living space to 2,029 square feet. Fontana said five professionally decorated model homes at The Forum are open daily.

Web site launched

The marketing and public relations firm of Ottenstein Marketing has gone online with its new Web site: www.ottensteinmarketing.com. Ottenstein Marketing is a marketing firm, specializing in the development and execution of individualized marketing strategies, which are custom designed to the clients’ needs. The company’s clientele includes luxury homebuilders, commercial contractors, developers, architects and designers and others. The firm also offers writing services for Web sites, brochures, newsletters, advertisements and resumes and professional biographies. The Web site was conceived and the text written by Marla Ottenstein, owner of Ottenstein Marketing, who has also written text for several Web sites locally and nationally. Total Concept Inc. of Fort Myers designed and constructed the Web site.

ULI date and forum selected

The Urban Land Institute’s Southwest Florida District Council (ULI) will present “Transportation: Understanding Regional %26 Local Issues and Initiatives” forum. The event will be held on Thursday, Nov. 29 from 8 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at Colonial Country Club in Fort Myers. Subjects to be covered include public/private partnerships, constraints on transportation providers, funding issues and innovative ideas regarding the benefits of a regional approach. Guest speakers for the event have not yet been confirmed. Registration is suggested. For additional information, visit www.SWFlorida.uli.org.

Project under way

Fort Myers-based Stevens Construction Inc. has begun an expansion and renovation project to the Shell Point Retirement Community at 15081 Shell Point Marina. The project includes covered entrances and courtyard renovations to provide an outdoor living space for residents of the Turban, Lucina and Junonia buildings. The three mid-rise buildings will have new covered entrances, featuring modern, curved aluminum sun-shade trellises. The courtyard renovation also features brick pavers, decorative landscaping and seating areas. Christopher Lee Architects provided the design. Construction is expected to be completed by January. Andy Lynch of Stevens Construction is the project manager, Lenny Macari is the superintendent, and Janet Edwards is the project administrator.

Reserve space at BIA event

Booth reservations are being accepted for Lee Building Industry Association’s Commercial Contractors Council’s second annual Contractors Showcase -Table Top Event. The event will be held on Thursday, Jan. 24 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Three Oaks Banquet Center, 20991 Three Oaks Parkway, Estero. Visit BIA.net/ContractorsShowcase.html for details.

Contract awarded

John Stroemer has awarded Fort Myers-based J.L. Wallace Inc. a contract to build an office building off of Metropolis Avenue. The 17,500-square-foot building will have two stories. Stroemer and Company will occupy the second floor, and the first floor will be available for lease. Groundbreaking on the project is expected to take place in early December, and construction is expected to be completed by July 2008. Harold Morgan will serve as senior project manager. Kyle Kitchens provided architectural design services.

Condo forum scheduled

The Community Association Officers Forum was established eight years ago by Edison College’s Office of Continuing Education to help condo association officers understand the issues that they face as members of their community associations’ boards of directors. There is no charge to attendees and a light breakfast is served during the 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. sessions. Edison College awards a certificate of achievement to condo board members who attend four of the five sessions. This year’s topics are: Nov. 6 (Fort Myers) and Nov. 7 (Naples), “How could this happen? The State of Insurance in the State of Florida”; Dec. 4 (Fort Myers) and Dec. 5 (Naples), “This Could Never Happen to Us! Your association may already be a victim of fraud”; Jan. 8 (Fort Myers) and Jan. 9 (Naples), Dealing with Damage 101”; Feb. 5 (Fort Myers) and Feb. 6 (Naples), “The Essential Ingredients of Being a Knowledgeable Board Member”; March 4 (Fort Myers) and March 5 (Naples), “Legal and Accounting Update: What’s New? What’s Coming?” This season’s Naples meetings will be held at the Lely campus of Edison College. Lee County sessions will be at The Hilton Garden Inn, 12600 University Drive, Fort Myers. Participants may choose either location. There is no charge to attend but reservations must be made in advance. Register at www.GuardianPropertyManagement.net or call 239-514-7432 in Collier County or toll-free from Lee County at 888-514-7430.

Firm expands services

CyberSunshine Inc., a real estate Web site development company based in Fort Myers, announced its expansion into the Atlanta area market. With the new area addition, CyberSunshine has created Web sites for more than 80 Board of Realtor groups in 25 states.

Reservations accepted

Gates D’Alessandro %26 Woodyard held a groundbreaking ceremony earlier this month to announce it is accepting sales contracts and leasing reservations for the new Daniels Commons Office Park on Daniels Commons Drive in Fort Myers. With expected occupancy scheduled for next summer, the professional office park is on five acres off Daniels Parkway and will include four one- and two-story office buildings. Mark McCleary and Glenn Cribbett are developing the professional office park and Greg Goertler is the architect.

Transactions

Colliers Arnold Commercial Real Estate Services reported the following transactions:

Bateman Property Investment LLC purchased a 2.06 acre parcel of industrial land at 3260 Cargo St., Fort Myers from V V Ventures LLC for $525,000. Jim Garinger and Andrew Falde represented the buyer. Pam Van Vleck of VIP Commercial-TCN Worldwide represented the seller.

Tuesday Morning leased 6,933 square feet of retail space in Murdock Plaza at 1700 U.S. 41, Port Charlotte from S. K. Properties. Karl T. Lippek represented landlord. Nancy Criswell of Melville %26 Associates represented the tenant.

Florida Blood Centers leased 1,920 square feet of retail space in The Shoppes at Plantation at 6810 Shoppes at Plantation Drive, Fort Myers from Morris, Smith %26 Feyh Inc. Lippek represented the landlord. Matt Stepan of Premier Properties represented the tenant.

CB Richard Ellis reported the following transactions:

Fifth Third Bank has purchased 0.13 acres in the Eagle View Professional Park at 2500 Goodlette-Frank Road in Naples from Cameron Real Estate Services for $1.4 million. Larry Foster, Bill Young, Dan O’Berski and Glenda Fortune brokered the transaction.

Ying’s Realty Corp. has purchased the IHOP-Cape Coral at 1706 Del Prado Blvd. from Gracie Finkel Freedman for $1.25 million. Fred Kermani represented the seller, and Peggy and Gary Milner of C21-Sunbelt Realty Inc. represented the buyer.

C.Q. Insulation Inc. has renewed the leased 4,000 square feet in the Metro Distribution Center at 4011 Warehouse Road in Fort Myers from BLS Holdings LLC. Stan Stouder brokered the transaction.

Media Pac Inc. has leased 2,400 square feet at 12065 Metro Parkway in Fort Myers from MGM Enterprise. Scott Miller brokered the transaction.

Investment Properties Corp. has brokered the following deals:

Robert Rubin, M.D.-Body Logic leased 900 square feet of office space from Baker Center North Joint Venture at 201 Eighth St. S., Ste 301, Naples. Patrick Fraley negotiated the transaction.

Smarge Properties LLC purchased 1.51 acres of industrial land from Naples Properties LLC at 3600 Shaw Blvd. The purchase price was $610,230. William V. Gonnering negotiated the transaction.

The Salvation Army purchased an 18,144-square-foot retail building on 1.17 acres from John D. Munzenrieder and Michael A. Dunnam at 2255 Davis Blvd. in Naples. The purchase price was $2.625 million. David J. Stevens negotiated the transaction.

Gates D’Alessandro %26 Woodyard Realtors announced the following transactions:

Peter Albert d/b/a Core Title leased 144-square-foot Suite PBS 52 at The Pinebrook Park Complex from Harry M. Lowell. Steve Wood negotiated the transaction.

Dustin and Sandra Worth leased 185-square-foot Suite PBS 43 at Pinebrook Park Complex, 12995 U.S. 41 S., Fort Myers from Harry M. Lowell. Wood negotiated the transaction.

Orotek Inc. and William S. Brantley leased 1,300-square-foot Unit A2 at Pyramid Park, 3550 Work Drive, Fort Myers from Donald W. Collins. John Kremski negotiated the transaction.

Kirmich Inc. d/b/a Lee Lock and Key and Richard L. and Kimberly A. Westbrook leased 840-square-foot Unit 109 at the Metro Plantation Commercial Center, 11350 Metro Parkway from Corrion Enterprises LLC. John Kremski negotiated the transaction.

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Wednesday, December 26th, 2007

Garden Landscaping No Comments

Walk this way

Stone

Natural stone is always the most covetable of hard landscaping products, weathering beautifully and with an instant air of permanence.

Pros The most important choice is between British stone and foreign stone. British stone has been tried and tested over hundreds of years in this climate, and suppliers know what is most suitable for which use. There is also the environmental dimension: stone bought from a quarry 30 miles away is more environmentally friendly than that shipped from China.

Cons Real stone is expensive. Also, the price difference between that of British and foreign stone is so great that most people buy foreign. A square metre of Welsh slate costs around %26pound;50, while the equivalent in Chinese slate is around %26pound;29. Some Indian sandstone can be bought for as little as %26pound;13.50. The difference is mainly down to the fact that British quarries have to deal with such pesky concerns as health and safety regulations, and decent labour rates.

Where to get it Once you have chosen British stone (you know it makes sense), choose local. You will not only minimise your patio miles, but the stone will fit in with the colours of the local housing. Look up Quarries in Yellow Pages. There are some listed on the British Geological Survey’s website (bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk//links/quarrying/home.html). When ordering stone, ask about finishes. Some will provide a hammered finish which makes stones less slippery in wet weather. For foreign stone, try garden centres, builders’ suppliers, or dealers such as the Natural Slate Company (020-8371 1485, theslatecompany.net).

Reclaimed paving

A great choice for older properties, imparting instant character.

Pros It’s recycled, so can be an even greener option than British stone.

Cons The good stuff can be just as expensive as new stone. Quality varies greatly, so check for stains, cracks and flaking edges, and always buy from a reputable dealer. If the paving has been reclaimed in Morocco and shipped over to your local salvage yard, you lose environmental brownie points, so ask for stone that has been reclaimed locally. The thickness of slabs is more varied than with new stones, making them much harder to lay. Try to buy by area rather than weight, as less scrupulous dealers may chuck in a couple of hefty ones to bump the weight up. Old stone looks daft next to new properties.

Where to get it Look up Salvage %26 Reclamation in Yellow Pages.

Concrete pavers

Tough, cheap and versatile - yet evil - paving material.

Pros You may have thought concrete slabs had been consigned to the landfills of design history, but they are still around - just cunningly disguised. Concrete is made to look like terracotta tiles, flagstones, slate and even, bizarrely, wood (although you’d have to be pretty short-sighted to fall for that one). The price is the reason most people choose these. The ones that look like concrete cost pennies, while the most expensive, almost-fool-a-stonemason ones, come in at around %26pound;14/sq m. Some are made from concrete mixed with gravel and so have a rough surface that makes them a good choice for a shaded area that might become slippery.

Cons Cement production, the principal ingredient of concrete, creates around 7% of CO2 worldwide. Your path is but a mere drop in this massive concrete ocean, but suffice to say this is not the greenest choice.

Where to get it Suppliers include Bradstone (01335 372222, bradstone.com) and TopPave (0870 241 3450; toppave.com), or garden centres.

Brick pavers and setts

Small pavers or blocks that have been laid in a close-knit pattern.

Pros This is the best choice for awkwardly shaped or undulating areas, as there are no large stones to cut. Their small scale also makes them good for a small area. There are a couple of products that are designed to look like traditional pavers but which allow rainwater to trickle between the gaps, thereby avoiding the flooding issues associated with paving large areas.

Cons Setts have a bumpy surface leading to wobbly-table issues on patios, so use for paths only. A pig to lay, as there are lots of tiny individual stones to put in place. Many setts are made from imported stone.

Where to get it Two rain-permeable options: Priora Pavers are available from Marshalls (0870 120 7474, marshalls.co.uk), and cost from %26pound;21.50/sq m. Aquaflow Permeable Paving is available from Formpave (01594 836999, formpave.co.uk), from %26pound;15.95/sq m. Concrete-cast carpet tiles look like setts but make laying easier as they come in the form of a mat, which is laid over the soil and then has mortar or soil brushed in between the gaps. From %26pound;18.75 for a 1,200 x 400mm block by Bradstone (see Concrete Pavers). Clay brick pavers, %26pound;22-%26pound;30/sq m, from Chelmer Valley Brick Specialists (01277 632542, chelmervalley.co.uk).

Gravel

Crushed up bits of stone or tiny rounded pebbles known as pea gravel.

Pros A cheap and instant way of getting your hard landscaping done. Once you have pinned down a weed-suppressing landscape fabric, you just chuck it down and rake it out. Easy to make holes and plant into it, so that you are not contributing to the massive loss of green space associated with other hard landscaping products. Rain can drain through. Impresses the neighbours with its posh “country house drive” noise when you pull up on it.

Cons Can look cheap. When used for a path, the small bits get stuck in the treads of your shoes and spread annoyingly through the house. Difficult to walk on if put down too thick; gaps show if it is spread too thin. Over time, soil will build up and then weed seedlings sprout. Needs topping up occasionally due to migration into the house and along the street.

Where to get it Look for local sources. Most stone quarries will supply gravel as a by-product, and this will be much cheaper than buying it from a builders’ merchant or garden centre. One tonne will cover 12 sq m to a reasonable depth, and costs from around %26pound;45 for Chard flint to around %26pound;90 for slate chippings.

How to lay a path

You will need A spade, a rake, sharp sand (1 bag per 2 sq m), one bag of cement, a grinder and safety goggles (hire by the day from a tool hire shop), a trowel, a spirit level, a rubber mallet , kiln-dried sand or topsoil

Where a patio butts up against a house, finished paving should lay at least 150mm below the house’s damp course. Make sure the patio will slope gradually away from the house. Paths also need a slight fall to one direction to prevent rain from puddling on them.

Clear the area of all vegetation and make sure it is flat, smooth and well compressed. Cover it in a thick layer of sharp sand. Put all your stones in place, allowing for a 10-20mm gap between them. You might need to cut some of them using a grinder.

Once you’re happy with the layout, mix a thick, wet mortar (one part cement to three parts sand and a little water). Lift the stones individually and place a fist-sized blob of mortar in each corner and in the middle. Put the stone in place and use the mallet and spirit level to gently tap the stone level.

The traditional way to finish a path is to brush a dry mix of one part cement to three parts kiln-dried sand into the gaps, and then water it in, but if you want to plant into the gap, use a mixture of sharp sand and topsoil.

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Tuesday, December 25th, 2007

Landscaping Design No Comments

Landscaping Contractor Doing An Amazing Job

Despite adverse weather conditions and a challenging location Landscaping Contractor, the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team working to complete the new Turner home at the top of Montgomery Avenue was still ahead of schedule Tuesday afternoon Landscaping Contractor. (more…)

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Wednesday, December 5th, 2007

Landscaping No Comments


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