When residents of any community hear that there will be a manufacturing and logistics project close to home, they often fear what it will do to the environment around them. St. Tammany Parish residents are questioning the rezoning of a part of the Wadsworth property at the intersection of La. 1088 and Interstate 12 close to Mandeville.

John Crosby, a developer, wants to build an 800-plus acre industrial corridor on the site. He assures the St. Tammany Parish that the project will bring good jobs to the area and will not harm the environment. Residents spoke their concerns at the Parish Council at a town hall meeting about the impact on traffic and drainage.

Currently, the land is zoned for a mixture of different residential zones and a planned business campus zoning. Crosby is no stranger to these kinds of projects. His company developed The Sanctuary in Mandeville and has a good reputation for being environmentally friendly.

The plan for the site is to have 15 to 20 sites with the smallest being 25 acres. The buildings will be large and look like office buildings.
He also promised to use surfaces that allow rainwater to reach the underlying soil, such as crushed limestone or pavers with plantings in them, sometimes known as living concrete. Other features will include large swales covered in vegetation. With these steps in place, there will be less runoff and better water quality that does run downstream.

“It will not be a wasteland. It is something you are going to be proud of,” he said.

Target or Office Depot, Amazon, FedEx, or UPS are some of the businesses looking to locate distribution centers at the proposed project. He explains that what they will be using the land for will not be noxious or offensive and will not pollute the air or water.

This is not enough for Nancy Wagner, who fought a high-profile and successful battle against the proposed Medline medical equipment distribution center that was planned to be built near Covington. She does not see how they will keep from destroying the environment such as plastics and paint manufacturing. Deed restrictions can only go so far, and she believes they cannot be relied on to enforce zoning matters.

Residents still questioned the project even with the jobs that could potentially be generated there. Crosby does point out that more people who grew up in the area, will stay in the area if they have jobs to go to. The kind of companies that are in discussion to be part of the project will be companies that will attract and hire college graduates.

“Where are we going to put all those people,” David Jones, a member of Concerned Citizens of St. Tammany asked. “Apartments,” someone in the audience replied.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

Designing your home is a fun task but it can also be overwhelming. The key is to find the right balance of form and function. Here are ideas from the pros when it comes to how to design and decorate your home.

Use Your Wall Space

Many designers today are taking the rug off the floor and adding it to the walls of a home. A beautiful rug can accent the wall behind a sofa giving a living space a warm and colorful design. ELLE Decor designer Sheila Bridges also uses rugs to add color to any space. In her home, she uses an emerald green sheepskin throw rug draped across a bench to add texture and color. Laura Sartori Rimini of Studio Peregalli in Milan uses wallpaper to give a bedroom in a Milan apartment a wow factor. “We created the missing parts—the plinth and the ceiling frame—to depict an Italian capriccio, a fantastical and bucolic landscape with architectural features,” says Sartori. Another designer-inspired idea is to use curtains as a backdrop for art.“Curtains just create a great, calming energy in which you feel very shrouded and comforted, making for a luxurious and restful environment,” says Kelly Framel, creative director, stylist, and founder of online magazine The Glamourai. “And being able to put a really great pop of artwork in front of that textural colored backdrop has a lot of impact.”

Go Bold

A great idea anyone can use is creating a bold gallery on a wall. A gallery of eye-catching artwork can make a bright and bold statement in a room. Adding color to the floor can also brighten a space. A great example would be to use a bright blue rug in a nice all-white living area that looks out onto the ocean. If you have a small space, go bold. Graphic prints can give a small room a major impact. Sara Ruffin, a New Orleans designer uses Ellie Cashman floral wallpaper in a small powder room.

Experiment with patterns

Christene Barberich, former Refinery29 global editor-in-chief, says to layer patterns to create visual interest in a room. She did this by layering patterns in a range of styles and scales in a bedroom. She put black and white pillows with green chevron bedding to add this look. “I think a room balances out better when you have different levels of price and craftsmanship,” she says. “It helps you notice the statement piece more,” Kate Reynolds, co-owner of Studio Four NYC. Emilie Munroe of Studio Munroe says to play with texture. Use shiplap but instead of installing it horizontally, install it vertically in a room with high ceilings.

Use Color in A Hallway

Most of the time, home owner’s choose a neutral color for the hallways of their home. David Hicks used Vigorous Violet, Sherwin-Williams in a small hallway and added an art collection to the walls making it a beautiful space. He recommends using a bold color for a hallway giving the space an unexpected look.

Display Collectables and Antiques

Using collectibles and antiques can give your room a perfect look. Every room can benefit from accessories with a history. Showcasing your collectibles on a table instead of a shelf will maintain a sense of balance in your display. In order to make sure your display does not look kitschy, group your pieces by color according to Rebecca Robertson of RR Interiors. Another great designer tip by Kathryn M. Ireland, a textiles and interior designer, is to “mix things up with old and new.” “Bringing a touch of the old world into the mix creates a home that will never feel dated,” designer Alex Papachristidis explains of the art-studded Manhattan apartment he designed for a family friend. Acclaimed chef Ludovic “Ludo” Lefebvre’s home a designer used floor-to-ceiling shelving to hold his collection of over one thousand cookbooks. Floor-to-ceiling shelving never fails to add character to a room.

Designing your space can be done as many times as you want. Remember to invest where it matters and do your homework if purchasing an antique piece for your home.  A good rule of thumb is to maybe switch out a couple of pieces with new pieces once a year.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.