Newsletter:  July 2004 a "Projects like this will allow police, firefighters, teachers, nurses and others in the work force to purchase a home in the community they work in." – Rich Ryan of Rich Ryan Construction, speaking about affordable housing project in Healdsburg. "The landlord doesn't want to say 'no' to any perspective tenant, but we don't always know who that might be, so we have to have the tenant space ready for anyone." – Bill Zeeb, on Commercial tenant improvements. "I was totally blown away by this." – Tom LeDuc, referring to his CAPHCC Contractor of the Year Award.

Affordable Housing In Healdsburg	RESIDENTIAL

Affordable housing in Sonoma County has been a hot issue for the past few years. With the median home price soon to pass $500,000, low and medium income families have resorted to apartment living in order to work and live in Sonoma County. This is a huge concern for businesses that rely on labor, service and administration personnel to operate within the high-priced community, not to mention the quality of life that is sought by people who work here but can not afford to purchase a home here.

Rich Ryan of Rich Ryan Construction

Rich Ryan and survey crew laying out the new residential building site. (click image to enlarge)

The city of Healdsburg has addressed affordable housing and is offering a solution in the form of a silent second deed of trust to help homebuyers purchase affordable housing. Rich Ryan Construction has recently begun a 15-home project located in the northern foothills of Healdsburg. The homes will be situated upon terraced pads on a picturesque hillside cul-de-sac and range in size from approx. 1,200 to 1,400 square feet. "Projects like this will allow police, firefighters, teachers, nurses and others in the work force to purchase a home in the community they work in," says Ryan. Rich Ryan Construction specializes in spec and custom homes, additions, remodeling and custom cabinetry.

One of 15 home sites in  the affordable housing development. (click image to enlarge) Terraced home sites above connecting street to existing community. (click image to enlarge) Cul-de-sac surrounded by future home sites. (click image to enlarge)

Rich Ryan Construction has been in business for over 30 years and has worked with LeDuc & Dexter on commercial and residential projects in the past. "With this subdivision we're working in phases and we have engaged LeDuc & Dexter to work with us because they have the manpower to handle each phase of this project."

The Tenant Improvements – Getting Started	COMMERCIAL

LeDuc & Dexter's commercial department has completed under slab plumbing for a beauty salon at a retail tenant improvement project at the Mendocino Market Place at Mendocino Ave. and Steele Lane in Santa Rosa. Midstate Construction is the general contractor on the project that includes two large buildings adjacent to the new Safeway supermarket. The two buildings will be divided into separate retail spaces including Cold Stone Creamery and Starbucks. LeDuc & Dexter has previously contracted with Cold Stone Creamery at two other locations that have been built in Sonoma County. LeDuc & Dexter has also worked with Midstate Construction on a tenant improvement project at Bed Bath & Beyond and PETCO on Santa Rosa Ave.

Bill Zeeb, Commercial Manager at LeDuc & Dexter says tenant improvements are about 20% of their work.

Building B slab will be cut to lay plumbing for individual tenant needs. (click image to enlarge)

With the shell construction underway the slabs have been poured and framing is underway. When Cold Stone Creamery is ready to build their space LeDuc & Dexter will cut the cement slab to layout the plumbing lines to fit the plans, which haven't been submitted yet. The beauty salon had plumbing plans ready before the slab was poured so in wasn't necessary to cut the slab to complete their plumbing.

"Most of the time the slab will be poured before the landlord has all of his tenants signed up," says Bill Zeeb, Commercial Manager for LeDuc & Dexter Inc., "or the tenant is signed up but hasn't made up their mind completely about their floor plan. It's very common to perform slab cutting, wall sawing and core drilling for tenant improvements and businesses come and go so there are always changes when the new business comes in."

The shell of Building C at Mendocino Market Place is under construction. (click image to enlarge)

Gas, sewer and water lines have been stubbed out for each tenant at the Mendocino Market Place. Future bathroom plumbing has been installed and a grease line is in place, which was drawn up by the Safeway mechanical engineers. "With the grease line a restaurant can tie into it within their suite without disrupting another business space and the grease trap is located outside the building," explains Zeeb, "The landlord doesn't want to say 'no' to any perspective tenant, but we don't always know who that might be, so we have to have the tenant space ready for anyone."

Tom LeDuc Named PHCC Contractor Of The Year	THE INDUSTRY

Tom LeDuc , President and CEO of LeDuc & Dexter Inc., has been named California PHCC Contractor of the year. California PHCC (Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors) Outgoing President Eric Hancock listed many of LeDuc's accomplishments including his leadership in apprenticeship issues with service on the PHCC-PUAC Master Committee and the PHCC-NA/NCCER Apprenticeship Curriculum Committee . LeDuc also belongs to PHCC's CCA enhancement groups and is a strong supporter of legislative activities.

Steve Lehtonen, Executive Vice President of the CAPHCC, presents Tom LeDuc with the California PHCC Contractor of the Year award. The large trophy is the perpetual award with every year's winner engraved on it. The small trophy is LeDuc's personal trophy. (click image to enlarge)

According to Steve Lehtonen, Executive Vice President of the CAPHCC, the committee considers several criteria for this award including the candidates' contributions to their local, state and national PHCC, as well as other ways they serve their industry. LeDuc is a two-time President of the North Coast Builders Exchange and will serve on their board of directors as Past President in the upcoming year.

Lehtoneri made the award presentation at the June 16th Redwood Empire PHCC General Membership Meeting in Petaluma. Prior to the presentation Lehtonen had this to say about LeDuc, "Tom is very deserving of this award. I'm looking forward to having the priveledge of recognizing him for his outstanding leadership and contributions to our industry." LeDuc is a past president of the Redwood PHCC.

Tom LeDuc was honored to receive the prestigious award as well as he was surprised, "I was totally blown away by this. I'm not a chairperson of any committee in the CAPHCC. I never even thought about the possibility." In fact, LeDuc did not even attend the CAPHCC convention in Phoenix were the award was announced. "I've concentrated my efforts on education and other areas where I thought I could help and be effective," says LeDuc, "to be given this award for that effort really means a lot to me."