Latest news with #MichaelDaniel
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Public Meeting for Inner Loop Study Raises Community Voices
BRYAN, Texas (FOX 44) — Hundreds of Brazos Valley residents attended a public meeting Tuesday to voice concerns over the proposed Inner Loop East roadway project, with many expressing strong opposition to potential changes in their community. The meeting, hosted by the Inner Loop East Study Team at Legends Event Center in Bryan, was the second in a series of public engagements meant to inform the community and gather input. Attendees were invited to review updated maps, traffic modeling, and refined alignment concepts — but for many, the meeting only deepened their concerns. Many residents arrived wearing buttons that read 'No Loop East,' signaling opposition to a project they say could displace homes, alter rural landscapes, and negatively impact their way of life. 'They're going to want to build more roads 20 years from now and before, you know, 50 years from now, you know, the Aggie land is basically like the Woodlands or Round Rock,' said Brazos County resident Michael Daniel. 'What makes Aggie land, Aggie land, which is farms and ranches and dairies and oil fields and. Yeah, and I just don't think that the average person living in Aggie land really wants that.' Officials say the study is being conducted in response to anticipated population growth and development in Brazos County. The goal, they say, is to identify and preserve a potential corridor for a future roadway that would relieve congestion and improve travel times across the region. 'Without proper transportation, our congestion will just continue to increase,' said Jacqie Wilson, a communications consultant with the project. 'We will have less reliable travel times, and it'll just be a lot more difficult for us to get from places that we work, play, and live.' Wilson said the meeting aimed to offer a deeper understanding of the study and allow residents to share their concerns directly with the study team. A third meeting is planned for the future, though a date has not yet been announced. Members of the Inner Loop East team assisted attendees during the meetings by answering questions and showing them how the project could impact where they reside. According to the Office of the Brazos County Judge, more than 600 people attended the first public meeting in November 2024, which generated over 1,300 comments. Based on that feedback and additional environmental studies, the study area has been revised to reduce potential impacts to existing homes and property. The study team emphasized that no construction is currently scheduled, and the process remains in its planning and evaluation phase. Residents can continue to provide feedback through the Brazos County website, where updated materials from Tuesday's meeting will also be made available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
The Herald Scotland
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Sawmill Contracts: Pioneers in astonishing property transformations
During the process, the building was stripped back to the brick, original features were restored and underfloor heating was installed, as work got underway in creating a property that combines period details with contemporary comfort and design. Michael Daniel, director, Sawmill Contracts, says: 'It was a hugely rewarding project to work on. Architect Kyle Cowper of K-ARC and the clients had a clear vision of what they wanted to create and together we were able to achieve an exceptional result.' Part of the project involved creating a huge living, dining and kitchen space, along with two sumptuous bedrooms and bathrooms, while on the lower floor another bedroom and bathroom, a welcoming 'snug' and a laundry room now occupy what was once a dingy bedsit. Along the way, intricate plasterwork was restored and the original sash and case windows upgraded, while one of the latter was removed entirely in order to allow direct access out to the garden. Creating the garden was all part of the brief and it involved taking a mini digger in through the front door and out of the back in order to remove 20 tonnes of rubble, which was then taken away by skip, something that had to be carefully coordinated so as not to cause hold-ups in what is one of Fountainbridge's narrowest and most congested streets. Sawmill Contract's ability to carry out such complex development projects to the highest possible standard comes from having all the necessary skills, along with the experience of working on challenging builds. The company is a member of the Edinburgh Trusted Trader scheme and also of The Association of Master Tradesmen and together its 16-strong team has been responsible for some of the finest extensions and restoration projects in the Edinburgh area. 'Part of the reason why we can work at such a high level is that we invest time in communication with our clients,' says Michael. 'During the Grove Street restoration, our project manager was in constant contact with the owners and the architect at every step along the way.' There the job of transforming the property involved resolving dampness and structural issues, installing steel beams to provide additional support, and sorting out problems that had built up over many decades. Now that the work has been completed and finished to the highest standards, it is possible to see the beauty of the original Georgian design, as well as appreciate the work of both the period and contemporary craftsmen who have contributed to the overall effect. 'It really has been transformed,' says Michael. 'It went from being a dark and damp flat and bedsit into a stunning home.' The clients are delighted with the results and other clients have praised Sawmill Contract's communication processes, along with the workmanship and professionalism not just of the company's own team, but also of their subcontractors. They have also welcomed the company's experience at resolving planning issues, something that is of particular relevance on projects involving listed buildings. One recent example of this was where Sawmill Contracts successfully completed a single-storey extension to a Grade A-listed period cottage near Linlithgow, in the process providing accessible accommodation for the owners' elderly relatives. In the course of a decade the company has also completed many loft and garage conversions and upgraded numerous homes with new kitchens and bathrooms, undertaking building work, joinery, plumbing, roofing, plastering, decoration and project management on behalf of clients. 'Converting a loft or garage can be cheaper than moving and at the same time it provides extra space for working from home or entertaining, while also increasing the value of the property,' says Michael. Whatever the size of the project, Sawmill Contracts can handle all the details, from design, through build, to decorating and snagging, providing a single point of contact for clients and dealing with all the paperwork, ordering and delivery of materials. This proved to be the ideal solution for one client in Morningside, a family with two children, whose two-bedroom home was turned into a spacious three-bedroom property, large enough to accommodate growing teenagers. The client's principal concern had been to find a contractor that she could trust and, afterwards, she said: 'The house now feels as if it is brand new. The space is so much more open and functional, and the whole process was smooth. We really appreciated the trust and transparency throughout, it made all the difference.' As well as completing builds for clients, Sawmill Contracts are about to complete one of their own, with the opening in early summer of new office space Bonnyrigg, along with a showroom for their sister company, which supplies luxury, hi-spec kitchens. For potential customers, this new facility will provide inspiration and ideas and provide them with a glimpse of the effects that could be created by opting for Sawmill Contracts to update, enlarge and improve their own homes.
