Don't have a kitty picture, only a kitty/renovation story. Papageno is usually a very quiet cat--easily spooked and often would hide for long stretches, panicking me. He and brother Tamino were both indoor cats, so I eventually belled Papageno, so that even when he disappeared in the house somewhere for a day (or more), I would hear his bell and know he was there and OK. When my last house underwent a major addition and renovation, the workers cut several square holes into the oak floor in the living room, hall and dining room area for central AC. But we ended up putting the AC in the ceiling and the holes were open for weeks before the oak was finally patched. Meanwhile, Papageno discovered that one open hole was a shortcut to the back basement and another led to a great new hiding place...between the drywalled ceiling of the basement family room and oak first floor above. Since I never knew exactly when those holes were going to be closed back up, every day, I'd move a box or a bucket or something over the open holes to prevent Papageno from sneaking in and getting caught and a big sign for the workmen to keep them covered. Everyday,when I came home from the office, the sign would be gone, the hole uncovered and Papageno nowhere to be found. One day, the holes were patched...and you guessed it Papa couldn't be located. It wasn't entirely unheard of for him to lie quietly somewhere for hours and hours, so I didn't panic yet. But throughout the evening, I thought I sort of could barely hear his bell tinkling. By AM...I called the GC , told him I was sure Papa was caught between the ceiling and floor. To his credit he showed up within a half hour, cut a hole in the drywall below the place where the floor was patched and shone a flashlight up there...no Papa. But I was still sure he was there, so I wouldn't let him patch the drywall right back up. Sure enough, when I came home from work that night...Papageno had gradually crept back to the opening, and was sitting there in the ceiling, sadly mewing. He still disappears for up to 24 hours or more, sometimes...but thank goodness, has never been in danger of live entombment again!

We're general contracting ourselves, also...and during the demolition I was there, watching like a hawk over everything. And supervising every last bit of drywall and wall framing that was removed. Basically, you have to do what a GC would have done anyways...hire good people, and watch them carefully.

I’m in a hcol area and that does seem high. It says delivery of granite: is he getting it from the stone fabricator and transporting? Maybe he’s including risk of damage for that. If the counter and vanity and faucets are at your house, that seems high. That said, it’s impossible to get people to show up to do small jobs around here, so I wouldn’t be surprised to pay that to just get it done.

I think there was another story about it an another local paper. They had presented to the zoning commission an explanation of how the existing layout just didn't work, and there was no way to modernize the layout, may as well tear it down. I guess I get it, my parents' house while not on THE lakefront (though it is on a lake just a few miles away from this one) certainly doesn't suit today's buyer, and it was built in 1970. I fully expect it to be torn down when it sells. The funny thing is, though the existing house is probably expensive to renovate and maintain, building a new house (including permits and demolition and the whole legal process AND maintenance on the other end) can't be any cheaper. I know, it's not about the money, it's about what they want. It does make me sad to see these treasures go. My favorite way home from Chicago or Evanston is up Sheridan Road. It "soothes the soul". The new builds just don't have the same feel. I always dreamed of living in one of the coach houses...then when I grew up I learned what they go for. Ouch. omg, i reread it, and it's a developer who's demolishing? Oh, that really breaks my heart.