Newsletter:  December 2004 a "Infill projects are well received by communities and consumers". – Craig Lawson, President of Pinnacle Homes "I like to work with the best people. LeDuc & Dexter are the best in town". – Duke Lang, President of Manor Development Company "LeDuc & Dexter's reputation and the increase of work in the residential department have given us the opportunity to add the fire sprinkler work to our plumbing contracts". – Mike Ruzicka, LeDuc & Dexter Fire Sprinkler Project Manager

Pinnacle Homes	RESIDENTIAL

Pinnacle Homes has recently begun construction on their latest community, Bel Terreno, an infill project in Sonoma, adjacent to the historic Sebastiani Vineyards winery on Fourth Street East. Bel Terreno will consist of 13 homes including a remodeled historic Sebastiani bungalow and 3 homes with detached garages and granny units.

Infill projects have been a specialty of Pinnacle Homes since they founded the company in 1993. "Infill projects are well received by communities and consumers," says Craig Lawson, President of Pinnacle Homes. "The communities like the size of these projects, which typically range from 10 to 20 homes. Consumers like the uniqueness and quality we incorporate into our homes".

This Bel Terreno home's Craftsman styling includes horizontal lap siding with wood trim and tapered columns. The covered front porch, batt and board siding accents and decorative outriggers at the gables further enhance the exterior. (click image to enlarge)

Part of Bel Terreno's uniqueness is its location. Nestled between East Napa Street and Sebastiani Vineyards in a quiet, old established neighborhood, the project has a serene and historic setting. Another feature that adds to this serenity is that Bel Terreno is on a cul-de-sac with no through traffic.

This Bel Terreno home displays brick accents on its horizontal lap and shingle siding,  oval windows, a covered front porch and decorative shutters and gable end vents. (click image to enlarge)

LeDuc & Dexter is working with Pinnacle Homes at Bel Terreno and have worked with Pinnacle Homes since its inception. "We've had a great relationship with LeDuc & Dexter. Although the relationship has not been exclusive, when we've worked with LeDuc & Dexter they have been very competent with excellent service," says Lawson.

Jim Kempers, Residential Manager at LeDuc & Dexter, has been impressed with Pinnacle Homes over the years. "When they say it's ready, it's ready – and they always come out with good accurate specs. They are also very nice people to work with." Bel Terreno is an all Kohler subdivision with options and upgrades for homeowners to choose from in regards to their plumbing fixtures.

Manor Development Company	COMMERCIAL

Manor Development Co. is completing this 17,000 square foot building for Pace Supply Corporate Headquarters and overflow warehouse. (click image to enlarge)

On Duke Court, off Dutton Avenue, in Santa Rosa, Manor Development Company is working both sides of the street, literally. On one side of the street Manor Development is building a 34,000 square foot concrete tilt-up distribution warehouse for Slakey Brothers, a plumbing supply company. On the other side of the street Manor Development Co. is building what will be the corporate headquarters for Pace Supply Corporation, another plumbing supply company.

Office entrance side of the building features steel and glass design by the building's architects Hedgpeth Architects. (click image to enlarge)

The 17,000 square foot steel building for Pace Supply Corp. was designed by Hedgpeth Architects of Santa Rosa, "They're the best architectural team I've ever worked with," says Duke Lang, President of Manor Development Co., "They have great service and their plans were outstanding." Pace Supply will use 7,000 square feet of office space for their corporate headquarters and the remaining 10,000 square feet for overflow warehouse space.

"Originally this building was going to be split up into six units for 6 tenants," says Lang, "but Pace Supply saw it, liked it and made an offer to lease the whole building."

LeDuc & Dexter is working on both projects. At the Pace Supply building they have put in the drainage system for the 27-foot high roof, under slab plumbing, restroom plumbing, and gas piping with many tenant improvements still to be completed.  At the Slakey Brothers building LeDuc & Dexter has completed the under slab plumbing and the slab was recently poured.

Building interior with office mezzanine to left has plenty of windows and skylights to offset lighting costs. (click image to enlarge)

Across the street Coleman Concrete Co. prepares for the concrete pour for Slakey Brothers building. (click image to enlarge)

Lang made a point about the companies he chooses to work with at Manor Development Co., "I like to work with the best people. LeDuc & Dexter are the best in town. I also use Super Service. They're good people and they do outstanding work."

Fire Sprinkler Boom	FIRE SPRINKLERS

Most of LeDuc & Dexter's Fire Sprinkler work is in custom homes including this remodeled home in Sonoma. (click image to enlarge)

Since the Sonoma County fire sprinkler ordinance went into effect in July 2003, LeDuc & Dexter has been extremely busy installing residential fire sprinklers. "It's the fastest growing part of our company right now," says Tom LeDuc, President and CEO of LeDuc & Dexter. The new ordinance makes fire sprinkler systems mandatory for new construction.

Mike Ruzicka creates all of fire sprinkler design/build drawings in-house at LeDuc & Dexter. (click image to enlarge)

Mike Ruzicka , LeDuc & Dexter Fire Sprinkler Project Manager, started his tenure with the company in June of 2003. He agrees that the fire sprinkler ordinance was a catalyst, but he sites other factors that have contributed to the boom in business, "LeDuc & Dexter's reputation and the increase of work in the residential department have given us the opportunity to add the fire sprinkler work to our plumbing contracts." All of Sonoma County, except the city of Santa Rosa, is under the mandate of fire sprinklers for new construction. "Santa Rosa has a formula that takes into account the water supply from fire hydrants and fire stations, but it really hasn't slowed us down," says Ruzicka.

"We're doing design/build systems for custom homes mostly although we have the Davidon Homes subdivision (at Black Point in Novato) and Parkland Hills in Healdsburg," adds Ruzicka. Ruzicka works under Jim Kempers, Residential Manager at LeDuc & Dexter, and has three full time installers. Ruzicka is responsible for all the fire sprinkler design drawings. Most of the work is taking place in Sonoma County, "We have some jobs in West Marin and Tiburon, but we don't need to travel very far to get work right now."