Archive for the ‘sustainability’ Category

July 20, 2011

The Red Mountain Report

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet What’s happening at Red Mountain? Airconditioning: One of the existing airconditioners did work, although not very well as it was old. The other airconditioner didn’t work at all. So we replaced both with brand new Goodman 14-SEER units. The big AC-drop at Red Mountain. They have to use a crane to get those heavy units up on the roof! Normally you can get a $400 rebate from APS for installing a 14-SEER unit. However, we got a deal from a contractor that we trusted but was not APS-certified that significantly surpassed the benefits of the rebates so we decided…

July 19, 2011

Notes from the Bus: Using Public Transportation and Being a Pedestrian in Arizona

by: Jennifer Gunther

Tweet Today’s post is by contributing writer Jennifer Gunther: Taking the bus, hopping on the light rail and walking have been my usual means of navigating the Valley for the past two years. Every mile I have ridden or block I have walked has offered me a unique experience that driving from Point A to Point B could not. Although driving is its own pleasure, public transportation should be a desirable option for all Phoenix-area residents. It is imperative in the desert heat, which is at its most intense this time of year, that Phoenix and its surrounding suburbs reconsider…

July 17, 2011

What’s All the Haboob About?

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet The haboob last week was a sight to see! Thankfully it didn’t do much damage, but it did start me thinking about the intensity of the dust storm and the fact that so little rain was associated with it here in Phoenix. I wrote a series exploring the haboob and its possible connections to urbanization for Firefly Living. Take a look: What’s All the Haboob About? Part I and What’s All the Haboob About? Part II Photo Credit: Photo of the July 2011 haboob by Daniel Bryant.

July 06, 2011

6 Strategies at Red Mountain

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet Red Mountain is a duplex that Paul and I just purchased located near 11th Avenue and Indian School. It is a new project in the development arm of Blooming Rock. Here’s a photo: Here are the specs: 1. Originally built in 1959 2. Constructed of 4″ block. Yes, it’s block even behind the board and batten. My favorite part – check out the weeping mortar which adds a very mid-century flair to the place. 3. Red Mountain is composed of 2 units that are roughly about 950sf, with each unit having 2 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths. Here are 6…

June 20, 2011

Who Should Be the Next Mayor of Phoenix?

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet Today I’d like to tell you who I think would make the best next mayor of Phoenix. But first, I’d like to talk a little bit about respect. It’s so easy for us, when we’re passionate about what we believe in, to let ourselves get angry at those who don’t espouse the same opinions we do and then attack them. What I’ve learned by sitting down with the major mayoral candidates and interviewing them is that each one of them is a dedicated public servant trying to do their best for our city. I have no doubt whatsoever that…

June 17, 2011

Phoenix Mayor Candidate Wes Gullett on Bike Lanes, Shade and Public Engagement

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet Today’s post is part II of my interview with Phoenix Mayor candidate Wes Gullett. If you missed part I, catch it here. Note: If you’re not registered to vote yet, please do so now by clicking here! Remember that if you’re not registered to vote by August 1, you will NOT be able to vote in the mayoral election on August 30. If you are already registered, know that your voting place is not the same. Click here to see where the new voting centers will be. A bike showcasing a squash at Agritopia. Photo by the author. Blooming…

June 16, 2011

Phoenix Mayor Candidate Wes Gullett on Cutting Costs and Why We Shouldn’t Expand the Light Rail

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet This Monday I interviewed Wes Gullett, who is running for Mayor of the City of Phoenix and is currently a partner at First Strategic, a strategic communications and public affairs company. This interview with Mr. Gullett is the fourth in my series of interviews with the major mayoral candidates. To get an in-depth view of where the different candidates stand on issues like public transit, historic preservation and further growth in Phoenix read the Blooming Rock interviews with Claude Mattox, Greg Stanton and Peggy Neely too. Note: If you’re not registered to vote yet, please do so now by…

June 15, 2011

Oasis, Mirage and Vastness: The Valley’s Search for Exceptionalism

by: Kevin Kellogg

Tweet Today’s post is by Blooming Rock contributing writer Kevin Kellogg: I met a traveler from an antique land Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed; And on the pedestal these words appear: “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and…

June 01, 2011

5 Awesome Things about the Castaway House Kick-Off

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet A rendering of the courtyard at Castaway House by Cavin Costello I read this earlier today: The word “integrity” shares its root with the word “integer,” which means one indivisible thing. – Martha Beck This idea of ‘one indivisible thing’ ties in very nicely with what I wanted to write about today which is the integrated design kick-off meeting we had last week for the Castaway House. I know it’s been a while since I’ve written about the Castaway House, but that’s because we were in the middle of selecting a contractor to work with and also trying to…

May 30, 2011

Michael Pinto on How Architects Can Save the World

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet In March, I had the pleasure of seeing architect Michael Pinto speak at the Taliesin West Spring Lecture series. Michael’s office, Osborn Architects, is based in Los Angeles, a city that faces a lot of the same problems as Phoenix, except magnified and sometimes it’s a little bit further ahead in addressing those problems. The reason I decided to interview Michael was that I could tell that he takes a much broader approach to architecture than just designing beautiful buildings. He actually thinks that architects can change the world for the better. And so I was hooked. Michael proved…