Courthouse Asphalt or Green Space: The Choice Is Yours?

[tufsu1]

nobody said anything about quality of craftmanship....but let's be real....how often does a complete house renovation/restoration come in cheaper than building new?

[tufsu1]

again..quality of materials and workmanship aside.

but yes, go buy a new solid wood door and install.....then try and take an old wood door, remove it, refinish it, and move to new location....I'm willing to bet new is still cheaper most of the time.

[uptowngirl]

But I thought space and quality was two of the biggest reasons for building this thing, for the cost of this monster? If not then they could of stayed where they were no?

[tufsu1]

But I thought space and quality was two of the biggest reasons for building this thing, for the cost of this monster? If not then they could of stayed where they were no?

sure...if they wanted to do a complete renovation (clean out the asbestos and cush)...and then add floors to get twice as much space....or build on the parking lot (which would mean new pilings into the water).

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I'm referring to identical materials - workmanship is ygwypf - and yes, it's cheaper to buy new rather than reinstall.

If you buy a 3'-0" x 8'-0" door, Maple, Stained Finish, Installed - around $1,000-$1,200.

I have to order it, finish it, ship it, install it.

If you want me to refinish your existing door:

I have to un-install it, ship it to my shop, un-do all of the damage that it incurred while in use, finish it, store it until you're ready for it, ship it, install it.

4 steps that I wouldn't have to deal with if you just got over yourself and ordered a new door.  You're price for the 'old' door that looks like new is about $3,000.


edit:  in the case above, the materials and workmanship would be the same in both cases.  Only the cost is different.  And BTW - I would make more money by selling you a new door.

[Jason]

Westsider is right.  In the construction industry, new is typically cheaper because of the reduced labor.  Labor costs in some types of construction can exceed materials costs.  Now, if your talking about a jack-of-all-trades renovating his own house/buisness with used materials then yes, it would/could be cheaper than just buying new.

The less time the granite installers are on site, the cheaper their costs will be.  Regardless of where the granite comes from, new or old.

[uptowngirl]

Space aside, doesn't the asbestos have to be addressed anyway? I have heard about (in the news) some pretty sumptuous office and court rooms for the judges which I do not think adds to productivity (or we would not have cubes in office buildings) nor does lady justice really care.

As to reuse costs, you cannot even compare old wood with new wood so it is not the "same wood". Also what is the cost to get rid of the old stuff? If it is going somewhere there is still a removal cost, and if it is going to the dump there is an additional cost. What about the cost to our environment? Or does that matter since it is quicker, easier, and cheaper to just do it all new?


****Edited as an apology to my poor spelling and multitasking inability!

[tufsu1]

well no Stephen...but I have renovated one house and am making renovations to another right now.

[stjr]

Let's settle this now.  Everyone is right and everyone is wrong.... some of the time.  These decisions depend on the facts and circumstance at hand and the value the owner places on quality, materials, craftsmanship, historic value, convenience, meeting modern standards versus living with older ones, etc.  As they say, one man's trash is another's gold.  One shoe size does not fit all.  The only rule is there is no rule.  Enough of the cliches. You get the point. 

[fieldafm]

So about that greenspace/public art/vendor access at the new courthouse....

[uptowngirl]

Well let's hope it is the green space, because at this rate the one big loser, our environment as too many people live in a throwaway world.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Well let's hope it is the green space, because at this rate the one big loser, our environment as too many people live in a throwaway world.

I'll post more on this in a different thread, because that seems to be the direction this one went.  But for all of you who are diligent with your recycling and 'green' building, there is a lot out there that appears to be well and good, but in the end hurts more than it helps.   The Cost of Going Green, What has LEED Done for You?

[thelakelander]

I ran across this quote today in an article about downtown redevelopment from 1998.  I wonder what caused Ted Pappas to change his position?

Today



From 1998 FTU article

Downtown needs a swath of parkland that would attract development along its borders in the same way that the St. Johns River does.

Ted Pappas, Architect - FTU Talk of Downtown article 11/13/98

[billy]

I remeber this.

[ChriswUfGator]

Hey Stephen, that new stepped park on Main that Peyton spent millions to tear down a bunch of dense buildings to put in has certainly succeeded in attracting a lot of panhandlers, hasn't it? I guess in a way that counts as bringing people in! Lol!