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Frisco's Bubble fears... too much hype? No longer affordable Tech & the China factor has driven prices to unaffordable levels. Sales now down from one year ago. Is there a housing bubble and will it burst in San Francisco? The Mercury News-5 Oct 2017 A report about the risk of a housing bubble in 20 global financial markets rates San Francisco real estate as the most overvalued among the ... UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index 2017: San Francisco is the ... Business Wire (press release)-28 Sep 2017 UBS Wealth Management's UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index 2017 report analyzes residential property prices in 20 select urban areas ... Pending home sales plunge across Bay Area and state The Mercury News-24 Oct 2017 They rose a modest 2.8 percent in San Francisco. .... we will see california housing prices drop off a cliff, one the new tax bill gets signed by Home values in Seattle are growing twice as fast as San Francisco ... Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle)-26 Oct 2017 Zillow Group (Nasdaq: Z, ZG) is reporting that home values in the the ... "Seattle and San Jose, California, have left San Francisco's housing .. ==== San Francisco is a “superstar” city buoyed by the growth of high-wealth households. Prices in San Francisco are up nearly 65 percent since 2011, UBS says, but its housing market is protected by “strong economic fundamentals amid the astonishing boom of tech companies.” So where might the housing bubble pop? Toronto tops UBS’s Global Real Estate Bubble Index for 2017. Also at risk of a housing bubble are Stockholm, Munich, Vancouver, Sydney, London and Hong Kong — though London and Hong Kong, also deemed “superstars,” are presumably at less risk than the others in that group. What could push bubbles toward bursting? Interest rates, for one thing. If they climb, investors could pull back. And then there’s the general problem of affordabilty. “The recovery in the U.S. housing market following the bursting of the housing bubble in 2007 has taken national home prices to new heights,” said Jonathan Woloshin, co-head of Americas Fundamental Research at UBS Wealth Management’s chief investment office. A bit ominously, he added: “In our opinion, housing affordability is significantly more challenged than conventional wisdom posits.” . . . UBS Wealth Management's UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index 2017 report analyzes residential property prices in 20 select urban areas around the world. Toronto faces the greatest risk of a housing bubble, followed in descending order by Stockholm, Munich, Vancouver, Sydney, London, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam. For buyers, San Francisco is the most overvalued US city in the study, followed by Los Angeles. Boston and the New York metro area are fair value, while Chicago is the only undervalued city in the study globally. In San Francisco, in the wake of the technology boom and buoyant foreign demand, real house prices have soared 65% since 2012. Price growth has slowed in recent quarters, but remains 6% above the national average. Despite the thriving economy, average incomes have risen only 10% since 2012 and have not kept pace with house prices, worsening housing affordability further. In Los Angeles, since 2012, real housing prices have increased by 45%, while across the US the figure is just 23%. The prospering economy and demand from China are fueling the boom and show no sign of decelerating. Prices, however, are still 20% below their 2006 peak. While income growth has escalated in the last two years, housing affordability is stretched and should slow price growth. In the New York metro area, real prices rose by less than 3% in the past four quarters and are 10% higher than in 2013, when the market bottomed out. The pace of price growth is only half the national average. Manhattan house-price dynamics were much stronger in the last couple of years, propelled by demand from global investors and new luxury developments. But momentum has already slowed in the high-end market. In Boston, house prices increased by 6% last year and are now 20% higher than in 2012. The regional economy and incomes are growing faster than the national average. Housing affordability remains good compared to other cities in the study. A 60 square meter (650 square foot) flat costs only four annual household incomes. As population growth remains vigorous and supply may be slowing, prices should continue to rise. In Chicago, since 2012, prices have risen by 15% in real terms but remain 30% below their 2006 peak. Decreasing population, sluggish employment and lackluster economic and income growth hinder the recovery of broad-based demand in the housing market. UBS Wealth Management expects price growth to lag behind the national average in the coming quarters. With respect to international markets, the outlook in Europe is heating up. Claudio Saputelli, Head of Global Real Estate for UBS Wealth Management's Chief Investment Office (WM CIO), says: "Improving economic sentiment, partly accompanied by robust income growth in the key cities, has conspired with excessively low borrowing rates to spur vigorous demand for urban housing." In the Asia Pacific region, Hong Kong and Sydney's bubble risk have risen since last year. Singapore remains fairly valued, with diminishing risks, while Tokyo has grown more overvalued in 2017. Superstars take all? Expectations of long-term rising prices partly explain demand for housing investment in major global cities. Many market participants expect the best locations to reap most value growth in the long run – the superstar model – buoyed by the growth of high-wealth households. Falling mortgage rates over the last decade have also made buying a home vastly more attractive. As long as supply cannot increase rapidly, many buyers see "superstar city" prices decoupling from rents, incomes and national price levels. The superstar narrative has received additional impetus in the last couple of years from a surge in international demand, especially from China, which has crowded out local buyers. An average price growth of almost 20% in the last three years has confirmed the expectations of even the most optimistic investors. AFFORDABILITY: Bay Area's red-hot housing market may be cooling off the job market CAR also reported that the share of homes selling above asking price across the state fell from 31 percent in September 2016 to 29 percent in September 2017. But among homes that sold above asking price, the premium paid over asking climbed from 8 percent to 13 percent. . . . Pending home sales fell markedly across California in September, with the largest regional drop-off in the Bay Area where an ongoing housing shortage and exorbitant prices appeared to dissuade some potential buyers. Statewide, the number of pending sales fell 6 percent on a year-over-year basis in September, while they fell 10.8 percent across the Bay Area. Locally, pending sales were down even more dramatically, falling 23.5 percent in Santa Clara County compared to September 2016 and 22.4 percent in San Mateo County. They rose a modest 2.8 percent in San Francisco. CAR didn’t include East Bay pending home sales in its survey. “We can’t ignore the role played by the tight supply in the housing market,” said Oscar Wei, senior economist with CAR. Still, he pointed to additional factors behind September’s dramatic year-over-year drop-off in pending sales. For one, they fell from an unusually high level: Pending sales had surged “abnormally” in September 2016, Wei said, after the Federal Reserve hinted that it would begin to raise interest rates later that year. As a result, buyers rushed to lock in deals to capitalize on low rates. Other buyers rushed to close deals in September 2016, he said, because of another complication: New federal rules governing mortgage record-keeping were about to take effect in October. Afraid they would become mired in the new bookkeeping procedures, buyers and agents doubled down in their efforts to secure deals. . . . San Francisco, which was credited for its local restaurants, alternative transportation and diversity, is followed by Seattle, famous for recreation, coffee shops and beer breweries, and San Diego, commended for its youth, recreation, and propensity for electric cars. New Orleans and Portland round out the top five coolest cities. However, coolness is at best a nebulous concept. (Philadelphia is not listed as one of the Top 20 "coolest" cities, but it could creep onto the list - particularly if it wins the bid from Amazon, as its 2nd HQ. The "city of brotherly love", is between two cool cities, NYC and Washington, and is at least as walkable, and far cheaper.) Amazon Headquarters Tourswww.amazonhqtours.com/ Several years ago, we made a conscious choice to invest in downtown Seattle, even though it would've been cheaper for us to move our headquarters to the ... September was "the ninth month in a row that Seattle home values have grown faster than anywhere else in the nation." (No wonder Amazon is no looking for an alternative place, to add new employees.)

The BIg TURN Since last week, even the LIE Stream Media (NYT, WaPost) seems to be turning against Obama / Hillary Dr Steve Pieczenik ❤ There Is Really No More Democratic Party As Far As We Are Concerned,AlexJones Now even the Corporate media is talking about the corruption of the Obama administration & Team Hillary Clinton may be far more than a convenient scapegoat - a Democrat party destroyer

(Is it sexist to let "Ellen"* off for this?) Ellen slammed over boob tweet to Perry... “Happy birthday, @KatyPerry! It’s time to bring out the big balloons!” the star wrote over an image of her gawking, mouth agape, at Perry’s breasts. (Is this better somehow that what Trump said in that famous recording? Shouldn't the lez-being get the Trump treatment? She seems like a potential sex predator too. Piers is right): Piers Morgan ✔ @piersmorgan If a man made this joke, Ellen would lead the cries of ‘SEXIST PIG!’ https://twitter.com/theellenshow/status/923230978419474434 … If Fair is Fair, shouldn't Ellen's career now be seal-clubbed out of existence?? Taking aim at a failing career? *"Ellen Degeneris" Is that a real name? Or shorthand for:: L(esbian) Degenerate?

"Dunno why people invest in overcrowded places." Jobs and family are nearby. And they would rather have a shorter & cheaper commute Brits consider the Question: Could you live in a ‘micro flat’? / 2 / Looking at an American unit - "how smal can you go"? Micro apartments: The next big thing? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26uhyKV3aAc "nowhere is more expensive than San Francisco" (er, ah, not quite) SF: Minimum apartment size was cut to 220 sf

GDXJ / Junior Miners update : $32.39 -0.29 : - 0.89% at 10/25/17 ==== GDX- : $22.83 -0.12 : - 0.52% at 10/25/17 GDXJ : $32.39 -0.29 : - 0.89% at 10/25/17 NUGT : $30.43 -0.59 : - 1.90% at 10/25/17 JNUG : $15.80 -0.43 : - 2.65% at 10/25/17 Cycles NUGT / 3X Bull on Gold Miners ... update : $30.43: -0.59 at 10/25/17 JNUG / 3X Bull on Junior Gold Miners ... update : $15.80 -0.43 : - 2.65% at 10/25/17 GDXJ -to-GDX Ratio

DMI / Diamcor Mining Inc. (CVE) All-data : 2-yr : GOING DOWN together Firestone / Diamcorp / Margaret Lake Diamonds ... update more : http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/kaavio.Webhost/charts/big.chart?nosettings=1&symb=ca%3apgd&uf=0&type=2&size=3&sid=8111038&style=320&freq=1&entitlementtoken=0c33378313484ba9b46b8e24ded87dd6&time=8&rand=1702790714&compidx=aaaaa%3a0&comp=uk%3afdi%2c+ca%3admi%2c+ca%3adia&ma=4&maval=21,%2076,%20252,%20377,%208&lf=268435456&lf2=0&lf3=0&height=510&width=720&mocktick=1

Megaworld stock has had a great rally from under P3.50 to 5.50 MEG ... update

www.indica.fund Investment Objective Achieve long-term capital appreciation by investing in companies operating in the North American cannabis industry. The Fund’s investment focus will be on low risk ancillary services, brands and consumer applications that underlie and support the legalized cannabis industry. The Fund will not have direct invest- ment exposure in companies that are growers or distributors of the cannabis plant itself. The Investment Advisor Nesta Holding Co. Ltd is a Canadian based private equity rm investing in the North American cannabis industry. The company was founded in 2015 by Chuck Ri ci the former founder and CEO of ... Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX:CGC / WEED) ... update xx Since its inception, Nesta has grown its AUM by nearly 300% focus- ing on scalable, high margin ancillary opportunities servicing the cannabis industry: digital services, consumer application technolo- gy, brand IP as well as alternative nancing vehicles – opportunities that leverage the tremendous growth of the North American canna- bis industry without the regulatory risk. The Market Opportunity ArcView Market Research projects the legalized North American cannabis industry will top US$22.6 billion by 2021, growing at a 27% annual CAGR. Still, large institutional investors are reluctant to invest due to acute regulatory uncertainty, despite the growth trajectory. The high customer demand for legal cannabis combined with the arti cially restricted availability to capital to fund consumer brands and applications creates a very large market opportunity for Nesta. Target Investments One Web Services: the largest price comparison web-site and mo- bile app for the U.S. cannabis industry. (www.wikileaf.com) Feather Co: manufacturer of pre- lled disposable vaporizers target- ing recreationally legal states in the U.S. (www.feather.co) Kush Bottles: Leading wholesaler of marijuana & cannabis compli- ant packaging. (www.kushbottles.com) Exit Strategy The Fund’s investment returns will be largely achieved through capital growth. Thus, a key to any new investment appraisal will be the potential for successful realization of value within 3-5 years from the date of initial investment. With anticipated enterprise values on exit of between $30m and $100m, the investee companies will be ex- pected to provide realistic secondary/buy-out opportunities as well as the prospect of an IPO, depending on the market environment at the time. Management Chuck Ri ci: Chairman & CEO of Nesta Holding Co. Ltd., previously founder and CEO of Canopy Growth Corp., North America’s largest cannabis company Manoj Hippola: Managing Director and CIO of Nesta Holding Co. Ltd; previously CFO with a publicly listed U.S. company Nigel Eyles Managing Director, Nesta Europe S.A. previously in senior institutional sales roles with UBS and Lehman Brothers

Marijuana real estate is big business… And the world's first publicly traded REIT for pot gives you the chance to cash in big… without buying, selling, or investing in real estate yourself. Here's how it works… Landlords renting to growers make up to 260% more revenue. Farmers bring in 10 times more money. But the high rates growers pay kills cash flow. This marijuana REIT is buying up the most valuable land in the world. And leasing it back to growers. Growers get the cash they need to expand. And the REIT cashes in big by charging premium rates for the land. If you buy stock in this company, you instantly own some of the most profitable real estate on earth. And because this is a REIT, it must pay out at least 90% of its taxable income as dividends. It went public in December 2016.And it's already paying out dividends on profits. And this is just one of 3 pot stocks we see exploding soon. While nothing in the market is guaranteed, we're expecting a new law to revolutionize the marijuana industry. All indications are that the law will move forward by October 31. And if it does, these 3 marijuana stocks could go through the roof. So now is the perfect time to take advantage of marijuana mania. Get the whole story here. To your personal pot profits, Justin Spittler Editor, Casey Daily Dispatch

Hillary Paid - for the Fake Diary, the Washington Post claims If True, the 'satanic one' truly belongs in prison Clinton & DNC Paid for Fake Trump Dossier, 1860 CLINTON, DNC PAID FOR DIRT; RUSSIAN DOSSIER The Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee helped fund research that resulted in a now-famous dossier containing allegations about President Trump’s connections to Russia and possible coordination between his campaign and the Kremlin, people familiar with the matter said. Marc E. Elias, a lawyer representing the Clinton campaign and the DNC, retained Fusion GPS, a Washington firm, to conduct the research. After that, Fusion GPS hired dossier author Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer with ties to the FBI and the U.S. intelligence community, according to those people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Elias and his law firm, Perkins Coie, retained the company in April 2016 on behalf of the Clinton campaign and the DNC. Before that agreement, Fusion GPS’s research into Trump was funded by an unknown Republican client during the GOP primary. == > Washington Post : https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/clinton-campaign-dnc-paid-for-research-that-led-to-russia-dossier/2017/10/24/226fabf0-b8e4-11e7-a908-a3470754bbb9_story.html?utm_term=.1d777bb92958 "this moves the ball": Clinton campaign, DNC funded research for Trump dossier REPORTER: Clinton Lawyer Vigorously Denied 'Dossier' Funding... MUELLER 'SOFT-PEDALED' PROBE EMBARRASSING TO HILLARY... Republicans to probe Obama Justice Dept...

A NEW STAR is Born! YouTube Hates This Conservative Black Woman For Fighting Racism Published on Oct 24, 2017 Candace Owens of Red Pill Black joins Alex Jones live in studio to discuss her ongoing conflict with Youtube, Google, and the left as her attempts to awaken the minds of millennials are thwarted. / 2 / Meet The New Face Of The “Toxic Right” Darien Ford 7 hours ago Does the left realize that they still do not have a platform

Newt nails it here... The Clinton Uranium scandal is likely to get worse and worse, and like a black hole, suck in many others Bill Still#1857, The Worst Scandal in US History, 1857 nine foreign investors in the deal funneled $145 million to the Clinton Foundation to help grease the wheels. Here are the seven facts about the Uranium One deal you need to know: Peter Schweizer Broke the Uranium One Scandal The New York Times Confirmed the Scandal in 2015 The FBI Uncovered Evidence that Russian Money Was Funneled to the Clinton Foundation ...The agency also found that Russian nuclear officials had routed millions of dollars to the U.S. to benefit the Clinton Foundation. The Justice Department would sit on the evidence for four years before looking to prosecute, by which time the deal had been approved. Congress Is Now Investigating Bill Clinton Was Paid $500,000 for a Speech in Moscow The Clinton Foundation Took Big Bucks from Uranium Investors According to theTimes, The Clinton Foundation received $2.35 million in donations from Ian Telfer, a mining investor who was also the chairman of Uranium One when Rosatom acquired it. It also received $31.3 million and a pledge for $100 million more from Frank Giustra, the Canadian mining financier whose company merged with Uranium One. Senate Republicans Want an FBI Gag Order Lifted Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has called for the Justice Department to lift the gag order on the FBI’s whistleblower, indicating that he may have more explosive revelations related to the case and on what the Clintons and the Obama administration knew about the case and when they knew it. == > more: http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/10/23/7-uranium-one-facts-every-american-should-know/

CHEAP SELLERS at The Rise? They look 10-18% cheaper than Direct prices, even after adjusting for timing There seem to be some potential "cheap" sellers in the second hand market Message: "The Rise Resale Units selling lower than developer price! *Studio------ 25.08 sqm 3.8M-4.0 Million : 3.900/25.08 = 155.5k psm *1 bedroom 26.49 - 28.01 sqm 3.9M-4.1M : 4.000/28.01 = 142.8k psm *2 Bedroom 68sqm 10.5M-11.5M corner units" : 11.0 /68.00 = 161.7k psm ====== This is from: OLX KCom Reality Location: Las Piñas, Metro Manila (NCR) Date Posted: 03 October 2017 (If you test it, and find out the "sellers" are not genuine, please let us know) : img A message on SSC, also suggests cheap sellers: "I just checked OLX, and indeed, the developer is selling at >200k psqm, but there are secondary sellers that are selling at a low 141K psqm and a lot of units at 150 to 160k psqm range. There are difficulties as to the secondary units, because they need to be bought with either outright cash or a more convoluted (but lower cash outlay version) balance take out. Back of the envelope computation: If you are buying from secondary market (150k psqm) vs from developer, say (200k psqm) with the latter providing a 10(6)+10(28)+80(turnover) do take note that the delivery will probably happen 3 years from now, so that the 80% will become due at the end of 36th month. Lets simplify to a straight line: at 150k psqm in 3 years at 6 %pa interest: this will bring it to about 179k psqm, much closer to the developer price. I surmise that if you do a NPV calculation with 80% balloon at the end, that you can get a figure close to 200k psqm. So both prices are roughly correct. The market is efficient. " > SSC CHECKING this: Type---------- : Upfront x106% : x106% : x106% + compl. = Total Cash- P143k : 143k : P151.6 : P160.7 : P170.3 --------- > P170.3k ( - 18%) Cash- P156k : 156k : P165.4 : P175.3 : P185.8 --------- > P185.8k ( - 10.5%) 20/80@200k : 40k : P42.4k : P44.9K : P47.6k + 160k = P207.6k ( 0% discount) ==== Looks to me that secondhand prices are definitely cheaper - & where can I get 6% on my Peso deposit? ADDED in edit: 1) ...Difference is closer to 20%, significant but not ridiculous. 2) Right now cheapest preselling unit (approx 24-28 sqm) is 5.4m peso, with delivery 2.5 years later. Shang Salcedo, which is in better location, higher positioning, has 35sqm studios that are ~5.5m (156k sqm) in secondary market and ~6.5m (180k sqm) from developer inventory. Even Shang Salcedo developer's inventory is cheaper than Rise on a per sqm basis. 3) Nearby Lerato's occasional reopened units are 30-32sqm at 4.3-4.5m (150k sqm). Resale market has units at 4.2-4.5m. I really don't understand the new Rise pricing. Though I am happy I got into Rise via resale a few months ago at ~130k sqm. If only I have money to buy more at that time, haha. BGC is interesting too. Existing condos there are selling 120k-150k sqm. Even Serendra has occasional deal at 160k sqm. However, preselling projects have reached 240k sqm, with many at 200k sqm. > ssc

Has COLOMBIA ended the NARCO WAR? - VisualPolitik EN Published on Oct 12, 2017 What happened in Colombia after Escobar? Who took Pablo's business? And then there is the most important question of all… Is there still cocaine trafficking in Colombia? Today in VisualPolitik we are gonna answer all of those / 2 / Why is COLOMBIA Not The Greatest Latin American Power? - VisualPolitik EN

UVSP Univest Corp. of Pennsylvania (NASDAQ) ... all-data : 10-yr : 5-yr : 2-yr : 6-mos / 10d - Last: $31.85 Corporate Profile Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania (UVSP), including its wholly-owned subsidiary, Univest Bank and Trust Co., has approximately $4.2 billion in assets and $3.2 billion in assets under management and supervision through its Wealth Management lines of business. Headquartered in Souderton, Pa. and founded in 1876, the Corporation and its subsidiaries provide a full range of financial solutions for individuals, businesses, municipalities and nonprofit organizations in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Univest delivers these services through a network of more than 50 offices in southeastern Pennsylvania extending to the Lehigh Valley and Lancaster, as well as in New Jersey, Maryland and online at www.univest.net.

Cameco Corp Quarterly Reports - 2017 - Q2 Replay webcast On July 27, 2017 Cameco reported its consolidated financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017 in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). “I am very pleased to announce that we have settled our tax dispute with the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the years 2009 through 2012,” said president and CEO, Tim Gitzel. “We are required to pay about $122,000 (US), compared to the originally proposed tax expense of $122 million (US). We are encouraged by this outcome as we believe it confirms, from an IRS perspective, our view that our structure and transfer pricing arrangements are appropriate. “We continue to face difficult market conditions, with the average year-to-date uranium spot price down 13% compared to the 2016 average. Our weaker outlook for 2017 compared to 2016 reflects the low uranium prices and the effects of the actions we have taken to address them. These actions are part of a very deliberate and disciplined strategy to strengthen the company in the long term. In the current environment, we have reduced supply, avoided selling into a weak spot market, resisted locking-in long-term commitments at today’s low prices, and of course, we have significantly reduced costs. For the first six months of the year, the average unit cost of sales (including depreciation and amortization) in our uranium segment was down 15%, our cash production costs were down 23%, exploration costs were down 41%, and direct administration costs were down 28%. Our planned capital expenditures for 2017 are also 20% lower than in 2016. We can’t control the market, so our focus is on our tier-one strategy. That strategy sets Cameco apart as both a financially stable operator generating solid cash flows in a discretionary market, and as an experienced producer positioned to grow as the market improves, delivering increased shareholder value in the long-term.” == > https://www.cameco.com/invest/financial-information/quarterly-reports/2017/q2

Unlisted Philadelphia: Locust Theatre 52nd St. and Loctus September 14, 2017 | Unlisted Philadelphia Ben Leech spotlights unique and significant buildings not listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places with his architectural illustration series, Unlisted Philadelphia. In this installment, a marvelous movie house in West Philly BUILDING: Locust Theatre/Bushfire Theatre of Performing Arts LOCATION: 228-36 South 52nd Street ARCHITECT: Stuckert & Sloan YEAR: 1914 Philadelphia once boasted more than 400 movie theaters. Only 135 or so still stand. Of those, few can match the show-stopping charm of the former Locust Theatre at 52nd and Locust Streets. Draped in terracotta and studded with incandescent light bulbs (look closely and you’ll see many still screwed in place), the Locust opened as a vaudeville and silent movie house in 1914. Since 1977, it has been home to the Bushfire Theatre of Performing Arts. > more

DETROIT's Pitch... for Amazon's 2nd HQ With numerous cities offering tax breaks and subsidies (and even hashtagged holidays), does this create a race to the bottom, with Amazon ending up with the city willing to pay the most for the privilege? (It certainly seems less transparent than Toronto’s celebrated victory yesterday in landing Sidewalk Labs as a development partner for a future smart city district, since Toronto offered no subsidies or tax breaks). Is this how we should fund transformative urban development in the United States, a contest to impress a retail giant as opposed to a larger version of the Smart City Challenge, which spurred on progressive tech and city design in multiple cities? Curbed broke down the good, the bad, and the somewhat embarrassing submissions made by cities around the country. Best production value: Detroit’s “Move Here Move the World” video As a Curbed Detroit reader commented, this plays like a “21st century version of the glossy chamber of commerce brochure.” Produced by Bedrock, the real estate development firm owned by billionaire Dan Gilbert, a big force in downtown Detroit, it’s glossy, well-narrated, and daresay poignant. Detroit has gotten some positive press for its bid, which is the only trans-national bid, due to the inclusion of Windsor, Canada. Even urbanist Richard Florida listed the city as his sleeper pick. The city seems to be playing off its past, and well as its potential, and this video hits both those points perfectly. == > https://www.curbed.com/2017/10/19/16504426/amazon-hq2-bid-urban-planning Conor Sen's Top Five Cities : Toronto, Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Dallas - I'm not buying this list ! Five Cities With the Best Shot to Get Amazon Sep.19 -- Conor Sen, a Bloomberg View columnist, discusses the race to become the site of Amazon’s second headquarters and what cities will do to attract companies. He speaks on “What’d You Miss?” Which cities are front-runners for Amazon's 2nd headquarters? Philly has got to be in the Top 2-3. And may well be the winner

DETROIT's Pitch... for Amazon's 2nd HQ With numerous cities offering tax breaks and subsidies (and even hashtagged holidays), does this create a race to the bottom, with Amazon ending up with the city willing to pay the most for the privilege? (It certainly seems less transparent than Toronto’s celebrated victory yesterday in landing Sidewalk Labs as a development partner for a future smart city district, since Toronto offered no subsidies or tax breaks). Is this how we should fund transformative urban development in the United States, a contest to impress a retail giant as opposed to a larger version of the Smart City Challenge, which spurred on progressive tech and city design in multiple cities? Curbed broke down the good, the bad, and the somewhat embarrassing submissions made by cities around the country. Best production value: Detroit’s “Move Here Move the World” video As a Curbed Detroit reader commented, this plays like a “21st century version of the glossy chamber of commerce brochure.” Produced by Bedrock, the real estate development firm owned by billionaire Dan Gilbert, a big force in downtown Detroit, it’s glossy, well-narrated, and daresay poignant. Detroit has gotten some positive press for its bid, which is the only trans-national bid, due to the inclusion of Windsor, Canada. Even urbanist Richard Florida listed the city as his sleeper pick. The city seems to be playing off its past, and well as its potential, and this video hits both those points perfectly. > https://www.curbed.com/2017/10/19/16504426/amazon-hq2-bid-urban-planning Conor Sen's Top Five Cities : Toronto, Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Dallas - I'm not buying this list ! Five Cities With the Best Shot to Get Amazon Sep.19 -- Conor Sen, a Bloomberg View columnist, discusses the race to become the site of Amazon’s second headquarters and what cities will do to attract companies. He speaks on “What’d You Miss?” Which cities are front-runners for Amazon's 2nd headquarters? Philadelphia has got to be in the Top 2-3. And may well be the winner

Awaiting the Queen (Amazon Corp.) 30th St. Station master developer search delayed due to Amazon HQ2 Amtrak has postponed its search until early 2018 by Melissa Romero Oct 3, 2017 Rendering by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP Amtrak’s search for a master developer to take on its 30th Street Station District Plan just came to a halt in light of all of the Amazon hubbub. Amtrak sent an e-mail to interested developers yesterday announcing the postponement of its request for qualifications (RFQ) for a master developer, the Inquirer first reported. The search will pick up again in early 2018. The RFQ was issued in late August, seeking a developer to implement Amtrak’s 30th Street Station District Plan, a $6.5 billion venture to improve the station and create a mixed-use development all around the station. Why the halt? Amazon. It sounds like Amtrak is seriously considering Philly’s pitch to bring Amazon’s second headquarters to the city. The area surrounding the 30th Street Station District Master Plan, which includes Schuylkill Yards, is said to be one of the spots being pitched by the city to Amazon. > https://philly.curbed.com/2017/10/3/16404122/amtrak-30th-street-station-rfq-delay-amazon-headquarters

Plans Coming Into Focus For Red Bell Brewery Oct, 09, 2017 | 3 Comments | Brewerytown 1500 N. 31st St. is a roughly 200K sqft building that was once home to the F.A. Poth Brewery, one of the many breweries that resulted in the neighborhood being dubbed Brewerytown. The brewery closed its doors shortly after the end of Prohibition, but the building survived and was used for furniture and appliance storage. Red Bell Brewery took over the property in the 1990s and closed down in the early 2000s, with the building sitting vacant ever since. [...] / 2 / We Took a Tour of the Pyramid Lofts Oct, 11, 2017 | 11 Comments | Brewerytown Wow, MM Partners. That didn't take long at all. It was only about 15 months ago that we first told you that MM Partners had purchased 3101 Glenwood Ave., a six-story industrial building that was home to the Pyramid Electric Company from 1980-2000. The building was designed by Leroy B. Rothschild and constructed in 1922, originally housing a furniture business. We told you that the developers would be thoroughly renovating the building, with plans for 50 residential [...] / 3 / Several Old Buildings Going or Gone on Marston Street in Brewerytown Oct, 20, 2017 | 0 Comment | Brewerytown We've visited the 1300 block of N. Marston St. a couple of times over the years, both times promising some major change on the horizon. In 2015, we showed you three rehabs on the western side of the block and speculated that the former industrial buildings across the street could soon get redeveloped. Earlier this year, it seemed like our predictions were coming true, as we learned about plans for an addition to a former [...]

California's future hangs in the Balance - VDH saw this coming years ago 'Two-States of California'- Victor Davis Hanson at American Freedom Alliance Classical scholar, Victor Davis Hanson, resides in Central California, educates at Stanford in Palo Alto, and addresses the political, economic, and cultural disparity between the liberal elites along the Pacific Coast and the rest of the state, 40 miles east of the coast. At the American Freedom Alliance's "California: From gold to dust" conference in L.A. 20 August '17. "It's like two states: Mississippi & Massachusetts... in the same location" Comments Free Thought 1 month ago The Left is the bane of humanity. Everywhere they have ruled turned to ashes. 169 Likes EntropyFan 3 weeks ago I am one of those people who left CA. At the height of the housing boom, my $200K house that I had owned for 8 years was suddenly worth $950K. I jumped on that! I now lead a much more relaxed lifestyle, & have no plans to ever move back. Where I am now, I can even drink water right out of the tap, imagine that! 90 Likes rctube1958 3 weeks ago Startling and sobering. / 2 / Victor Davis Hanson: California's decline & remedies for erosion- at A.F.A. "We don't have an opposition to keep the administration honest" "$79 Billion in unfunded obligations" "When you question the authority of the law, you kick off an un-ending process of erosion" == > New thread: California Succession Bid? Can Federal Law be enforced? http://www.greenenergyinvestors.com/index.php?showtopic=21714

Philly’s five most walkable neighborhoods by Melissa Romero Sep 19, 2017, Philly’s most walkable neighborhoods are all based in Greater Center City.Courtesy of Shutterstock One of the more recent accolades that Philly likes to pat itself on the back for is its walkability. Year after year, the city has ranked among one of the most walk-friendly cities in the U.S.; the most recent list named Philly the fifth most walkable. Even Philly’s new construction is the most walkable in the country. A 2016 report found that 91 percent of new Philly homes built in 2016 had a Walk Score higher than the actual city score, which was 78 at the time. This year’s stats place Philly’s Walk Score at 79. (Its transit score is 68 and its bike score is 68.) But Philly is a big city, and not every single neighborhood is as walk-, transit-, or bike-friendly as the other. Here, we present the top five most (and least) walkable neighborhoods in Philadelphia, according to Walk Score. (Hint: They’re all located in Greater Center City.) Walk Score: 99 Transit Score: 100 Bike Score: 96 1. Center City West With a Walk Score of 99, Center City West is the most walkable neighborhood in Philly Where to walk: Rittenhouse Square is just below Walnut Street, Schuylkill River Trail runs along the edge of the neighborhood, and Philadelphia’s City Hall is right next door. Walk Score: 99 Transit Score: 100 Bike Score: 94 2. Avenue of the Arts (South) This stretch of South Broad Street is lined with Philly’s major arts institutions, from the Kimmel Center to the Academy of Music.... Where to walk: Its name as Avenue of the Arts says it all: Philly’s most popular theater venues literally line the street. R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia™ Walk Score: 99 Transit Score: 100 Bike Score: 94 3. Rittenhouse Square No surprise here: Rittenhouse Square is the third most walkable neighborhood in Philly, and happens to be located right by Center City West. Where to walk: Rittenhouse Square is within the neighborhood limits, while Schuylkill River Trail is a short jaunt away (we highly recommend meandering through Rittenhouse and Fitler Square’s idyllic side streets to get there!). Photo by Walk Score: 99 Transit Score: 100 Bike Score: 96 4. Washington Square West This leafy neighborhood is bound by Broad Street to the east, 7th Street to the west, Chestnut Street to the north, and South Street to the south. . Where to walk: Where not to walk? If you want food, there’s the stretch of restaurants like El Vez, Bud and Marilyn’s, and Double Knot along the 1300 block of Sansom and Walnut. For tourist attractions, Independence Hall is right on the edge of the neighborhood at 7th and Chestnut. If you need some peace and quiet, escape to the neighborhood’s hidden gem, Quince Street, one of the most beautiful strolls in Philly. Courtesy of Shutterstock Walk Score: 99 Transit Score: 100 Bike Score: 96 5. Center City East First things first: Center City East actually includes a number of neighborhoods, including Market East, Old City, Society Hill, and Washington Square. But the entire area has a walk score of 98, making it Philly’s fifth most walkable neighborhood. Where to walk: For a good lay of the land, start your walk in Old City and wander past the art galleries, many bars and restaurants, and Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously inhabited residential block in the country (and typically car-free!). Then, walk down to the Delaware River Waterfront with a stop at Race Street Pier. You can continue walking down the waterfront or head back into Society Hill, which is filled with Federal- and Georgian-style buildings, as well as a few modern homes, as well. === > https://philly.curbed.com/2017/9/19/16328238/philadelphia-walk-bike-transit-score-rankings-by-neighborhood

Amazon's Official deadline (Oct.20) now passed - Winner to be named in early in 2018? Philly’s official Amazon HQ2 bid names University City, Navy Yard as possible sites “We’re gonna win this” - says Mayor Kelly by Melissa Romero Oct 19, 2017 The city also launched an immersive website that include the official bid, interactive maps, the three proposed sites, and all of the videos that tout Philly’s livability, talent, and logistics, with cameos from restauranteurs and entrepreneurs to Penn’s president Amy Gutmann to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts. More than 200 local business leaders, as well as various community development groups, students, and people from all over the city participated in the creation of the bid. Although the the announcement was made six weeks ago, much of the bid process was squeezed into three weeks, said Marc Coleman of Tactile Group, which developed the website. Related Here’s your Philly megadevelopment cheat sheet Amazon first broke the internet a little over a month ago when it announced that it was looking for a new place in North America for its second headquarters. It is currently located in Seattle on a 8.1-million-square-foot campus. The requirements included a location within a North American city and metro area of more than one million people that could attract and retain tech talent. And of course, enough land to build its mega-campus. Philly was one of the first cities to pitch itself as a “prime” location from Amazon HQ2. Over the past few weeks the city put out an open call to residents to help shape its proposal, started a social media campaign called #PhillyDelivers, and finally, published a series of videos in the final days leading up to the October 19 deadline that touted its location, transit systems, talent pool, and livability. > https://philly.curbed.com/2017/10/19/16502752/amazon-hq2-philadelphia-rfp-schuylkill-yards-navy-yard-ucity / 2 / Amazon HQ2 bids: The good, bad, and the totally embarrassing Cities are thirsty for Amazon. Is that a good thing? by Patrick Sisson / October 19 The pursuit of Amazon’s #HQ2 has been compared to an urbanist’s Super Bowl. But as today’s final deadline for proposals has led to a flurry of activity by planners, mayors, and civic boosters, it seems more like a reality show: Lots of squirming for attention, occasional displays of desperation, and one unlikely suitor winning the rose in a over-the-top finale. As Recode noted, anxious cities are already reading into anything tweeted out by an official Amazon account. It’s true that Amazon has taken the entire process, including its detailed request for proposals, very seriously. The potential boon to cities, estimated to be 50,000 high-paid employees and $5 billion in investment from the retail giant, could be transformative. But, as more than 100 cities submit bids, including all the U.S. cities Curbed covers, would landing Amazon’s second home have it own set of downsides? Seattle’s experience suggests that cities need to plan far ahead to deal with the growing pains and transit issues Amazon may bring to their neighborhoods, and studies suggest HQ2 may bring rising rents at a time when cities are already dealing with shortages of affordable housing. == Cities mentioned: Detroit, Calgary, Kansas City, Birmingham, Missouri hyper-loop, Denver, Toronto, Newark, Little Rock > https://www.curbed.com/2017/10/19/16504426/amazon-hq2-bid-urban-planning > source: https://www.curbed.com/2017/10/19/16502988/amazon-hq2-bid-rent-apartment-housing / 3 / How might Amazon’s HQ2 impact Philly rents? Amazon could bring 50,000 employees to whatever city it chooses for its HQ2. What does that means for rents in Philly, a city that consistently touts its affordability? A new report finds out. If Amazon picks Philly to build its second headquarters, it could mean colossal changes—both good and bad—for the city, including an influx of an estimated 50,000 new jobs. But with potentially thousands of people moving to Philly, what does that means for rents in Philly, a city that consistently touts its affordability? Rents in the Philadelphia metro will increase an additional 0.6 to 0.8 percent each year with Amazon HQ2, costing a Philly renter up to $6,506 more over the next 10 years, according to a new report released today by Apartment List. Those numbers are on top of the already 3.1 percent average baseline rent growth that Philly has experienced each year from 2005 to 2015. Compared to the 15 other major metros that Apartment List analyzed, a 0.6 to 0.8 percent additional increase places Philly in the “moderately impacted” category. Meanwhile, fellow Pennsylvania city Pittsburgh, also in the running for Amazon HQ2, would experience a much larger rent hike, estimated at 1.2 to 1.6 percent each year. . . . For Philly, the analysis found that with a vacancy of 9.0 percent, Philly is actually pretty well-equipped to handle the 50,000 Amazon employees, if you compare its current stats to other cities. Take San Jose, for example, whose average rent already rose an astonishing 57 percent between 2005 and 2015. It also has the lowest vacancy rate out of all the 15 metros studied. Therefore, the researchers suggest that the Philly metro’s population size and high vacancy rate will prevent any extreme rent increases. But, things aren’t all perfect. The researchers caution that rents will still rise no matter what, “due to the difficulty of building in the metro.” Historically, the metro has issued 10,882 building permits on average each year. That rate would need to increase, says Apartment List, if the metro wants to be able to handle the job growth and new Amazon folks. This finding is in line with a separate report, which found that Philly already isn’t building enough housing—affordable housing, at that—for its projected population growth. . . . This report does account for potential Amazon employees opting to buy versus rent. Their expected salaries are estimated to be around $100,000 (Philly’s median household income is currently around $41,000) so they could certainly afford a downpayment a one of the homes in Philly’s market. It’s a different story though because although the city’s rental market has a decent vacancy rate, the amount of homes for sale in Philly is at an all-time low. That means with Amazon’s influx of workers, even more people bidding to buy a home. Only, Amazon’s employees would likely be able to afford the increased home prices.

10 things to watch out for the first time you view a home Spot the good, bad, and expensive before making an offer. From Curbed Spot the good, bad, and expensive before making an offer. The first walkthrough of a home is when potential owners get that gut feeling and come with their buying wishlist in tow. And while you’ll know if a potential home meets your basic requirements—from the number of bedrooms to the availability of outdoor space, you won’t know every detail of a home the first time you view it. One of the most important factors to consider is how much work it’ll require. Is it move-in ready, will it need a few upgrades to accommodate your needs, or is it a full-on gut? Curbed spoke with a home inspector and architects who specialize in home renovation on what you should look out for before you pull together a down payment and take the plunge on a new home. 1. Meet the homeowner 2. Check the floors 3. ...And cracks in the wall 4. Don’t always trust fresh paint 5. Look for water in the basement 6. Check the windows 7. Don’t forget the roof... 8. ...or the trees outside 9. The tough stuff: electrical and piping 10. Follow-up on building violations and permits ==== EXCERPTS: The tough stuff: electrical and pipingElectrical and plumbing issues will be hard to decipher with the naked eye. Ingui says he likes to check how the electrical boxes are sorted. Is there a lot of exposed wiring? Does it look like it was installed correctly? Take a look at the electrical panel and ask the homeowner if they experience regular electricity shorts, and be very wary if the system hasn’t been replaced in a few decades. For both electrical and plumbing matters, it’s a good idea to bring an expert along for a second walk-though. You can also follow up and test the pipes using a water kit, which you can secure cheaply, or in some places free through the state. “It’s a way to check how much lead, or anything else, is in your water,” Briggs says. Follow-up on building violations and permitsIf you’re feeling good after the walk through, get to work investigating any open violations or permit issues the home may be saddled with. Check the local building department, fire department, and historic agencies to make sure the building comes out clear. “It’s very important the home has a clean bill of health with local government agencies,” says Briggs. He also recommends checking if a neighbor has filed complaints with the home—and follow up with the neighbor, if so. Numerous complaints may signal that there are problems with the property, or that the home will come with a sensitive neighbor. Make sure, too, all work that’s been done in the house was filed with the local buildings department. “Sometimes you’ve got home extensions that the town never knew about,” Ingui says. == > https://www.curbed.com/2017/10/20/16507626/home-buying-tips-advice-viewing