I suddenly noticed that I haven’t tried to stretch the meaning of the term “real estate” lately. Time’s a-wastin’:
For all I know, this could be the very thing that rescues the home-building industry, so who am I to scoff at the news that national builder KB Home is joining forces with Disney?
Yes, it’s true. Soon, you could have a new home outfitted with Disney-licensed flooring, window coverings, lighting and other products that will feature, as the press release explains, “the most beloved Disney characters and franchises.”
The features will be available next year, the company says.
This wouldn’t be the first foray into the world of animation for the builder, which years ago built a replica of the Simpsons’ home — complete with turquoise ceilings, mouse holes and Homer’s oil-stained driveway — in one of its developments near Las Vegas. People lined up to visit. The company later gave away the home in a contest.
The same company also has had a partnership with Martha Stewart, building “Martha-inspired” communities in several cities (though not here) based vaguely on the architectural styling of her homes and outfitted with amenities she has approved.
Taking names
A man walked into a model home in Bartlett, Tenn., and pointed a gun at the real estate agent’s head. He then demanded her jewelry and departed.
Nobody was hurt, and local police were able to track down the man and make an arrest rather swiftly: Seems he had filled out an information card when he came into the model home. Maybe he still wants to buy a house there.
Deal croaks
A real estate company in Hilo, Hawaii, advertised four acres for sale that promised that the eventual residents would hear waterfalls, but the would-be developers who put down a deposit to buy the land heard something different. Now, of course, there is a lawsuit to get the deposit back.
It seems the land is infested with coqui frogs, which are native to Puerto Rico but have become a “widespread irritant” on the island of Hawaii, according to the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper.
The suit charges that nighttime visitors to the property hear a “painful screeching noise as if small animals or birds were being tortured,” making the land thus undevelopable.
Celeb Realty
Oprah Winfrey’s father and stepmother plan to build a retail and residential development near the Nashville barbershop he has run for 49 years, according to the Tennessean newspaper.
Winberry Place will have six single-family homes, three townhouses, three apartments and retail space.
Actor Brad Pitt has announced plans to help rebuild as many as 150 homes in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, hard-hit by Hurricane Katrina. He has pledged $5 million to match contributions toward his Make It Right project, as has his business partner, Steve Bing.
The Pitt-led endeavor won’t develop and build — it will make forgivable loans to homeowners who want to rebuild their properties based on models designed by the project’s architects.
This is the actor’s second housing venture in the area; last year he worked with an environmental group to develop multifamily housing there.
Who knew?
I never realized there was a term for all of those signs that fill many intersections, touting such wonders as a way to build wealth by working at home, garage sales and, yes, new-home developments — the latter particularly prolific at Chicago expressway exits.
Apparently, according to the Ft. Wayne News-Sentinel, they are “road lice.”
The paper was discussing such signage recently after Ft. Wayne’s elected officials strengthened laws prohibiting the placement of signs — including campaign posters — on its rights of way.
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mumberger@tribune.com
