TAMPA BAY AREA Labor Survey Pans Pulte Fifty-nine percent, or 236, of 400 Pulte and its Del Webb homeowners surveyed in Arizona reported construction defects in their homes in a report released Friday by Building Justice, which represents labor unions. Respondents with defects described faulty electrical wiring, peeling paint and bad air conditioners. The labor group says it plans to conduct the survey in other states where Pulte builds, including Florida. Pulte spokesman Mark Marymee said the group's motivation is to unionize the workers of subcontractors who build Pulte homes. Pulte has done well on other quality surveys, he said, such as J.D. Power & Associates'. "That is the survey we care about," he said. ...more

January 26, 2008

AVON PARK — The city's code enforcement office sent out 75 warnings to landlords for not holding rental permits since its enforcement began in December. The grace period ended last month, following the city council's passing of a minimum maintenance ordinance that gave code enforcement officers the right to annually inspect homes while also requiring landlords to get an annual $37.50-per-unit permit to lease within the city. Capt. Donald Simmons, Avon Park's head code enforcement officer, said he was going by "word of mouth" to find other landlords and rental properties in the city, since his office doesn't have an active list of residential rental properties in the city yet. His fellow officers sent the warnings so that landlords are aware of the requirement. "This is the first year this has been done in Avon Park," Simmons said. "This is brand new. A lot of people aren't aware of it." ...more

January 8, 2008

There's a new choice at Robb & Stucky Interiors, purveyor of fine furniture collections by designers including Ralph Lauren and Alexa Hampton. ...more

November 17, 2007