Clvlndr in LV

^ I was under the impression they asked for relief but were denied. Are you saying they (NCC) never asked for TARP assistance?

First I'll say this has made me so ill I couldn't even post on the subject until now. dmerkow perhaps you can help me understand this. If the TARP program was designed to provide relief from the type of bad debt that kept NCC from being a healthy institution, and as recently as this past week 7th largest bank in the country, why were they not given those funds? Conversely why give PNC the TARP money to cover the bad debt of NCC if they acquire them? Does the government believe creation of mega banks is better than competition?

:whip: Agreed!

I'm startin' to feel that westerninterloper is gonna give us their version of the month long, MTS, wait wait just give me a minute deal. Where you at snappy I'm bored. :-D

As far as I know, they are "rebuilding" the top of the tower, and the main cornices on all parts of the building with fiberglass material. The main body of the tower will be completely cleaned, and areas repaired as necessary. All 2,050 windows on the structure will be replaced. And I believe we are 2 years and 9 months into the 5 year project (about 55% complete), so we've still got a ways to go. Thanks for the breakdown McCleveland, I'm sure it's been answered before I just couldn't find it.

^ Interesting stuff, are you saying this is the genesis of the branding "Panther District". If so it still sounds ridiculous, might as well just call it Browns Town (not serious).

Thanks for the update MayDay. Does anyone know the extent of the renovation, that is to ask will it continue all the way down the entire tower portion? I'm reasonably sure the answer is yes but can any one confirm this. BTW still LMAO...."Panther District" WTF!

seriouslyeric - you have got to be joking... correct on the first guess, and I thought it would be tough. ^ you're up! :clap:

^Technically not all the contenders are in Dubai. I like the designs but I don't understand why each building is so isolated (does anyone know?). I would love to see something like 1001 Arabian Nights in Manhattan with first floor retail! I don't think they are all that isolated. If you go to the link I posted for the Jumeirah Gardens project you'll see this tower (One Dubai) is part of a massive project, and it's adjacent to their main avenue Sheikh Zayed Rd. and their new metro line.

This should be a tough one so I'll give a clue. It is a nations capital.

Neville you had me looking all over Germany for that but I was convinced from the start I had the correct country. Is it Bonn, Germany?

The tower listed as Dubai 1 (I've seen it referred to as One Dubai) has its height listed in other sources as 850 meters (2,789 ft.). I'm fairly sure the article is incorrect. If you care to see it in context with the entire Jumeirah Gardens project here is the link. http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=150505&page=3 Be prepared to have your jaw drop. Here is a small taste (the stand alone model) :drunk:

Well done Rob, welcome to the forum.

This is a tough one, perhaps a little clue please. :-D

Very tough to choose between New York and Chicago with San Francisco barely missing the 3-way tie. As far as the south is concerned I have to say a really like New Orleans, though I haven't been there since three months before Katrina.

He could have dealt directly with RTA. Doing this was divisive! According to his letter posted on the previous page he had been dealing with the RTA. Their response, again according to his letter, was to make the cuts less wide spread but the date of the cuts apparently was just released which does pose a legitimate concern of disenfranchisement. Again it may not have been the most constructive approach but it was effective. ** THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BELOW ARE MY PERSONAL OPINION, AND WILL BE MY FIRST, LAST, AND ONLY STATEMENT ON THIS MATTER ** I fail to see anywhere in the entire text of his letter there was an indication, implied or expressed, of "dealing with the RTA". Our reduction in the service cuts had absolutely ZERO to do with any actions on Kucinich's part, and everything to do with Governor Strickland's instructions to NOACA and the other regional planning agencies to free up available CMAQ funds for use by transit. The specific date of the service reduction implementation was announced on or about September 23, so the idea that the date of the cuts was "just released" is also erroneous. Had Kucinich chosen to constructively work with the Authority, he'd have been in the know and could have voiced his concerns in a manner that might have yielded the same results, albeit in a less public fashion. My apologies JetDoG, I should have been more precise as to the letter I was referencing. The letter dated Sept, 24th written to John Conyers Jr. of the House Committee on the Judiciary. "... I contacted RTA earlier this year to voice my opposition to a series of draconian service cuts and fare increases which I believe would have greatly compromised RTA's ability to serve the people of Northeast Ohio. Public outrage at those actions caused RTA officials to rethink the service cuts and fare increases. While yesterday's announced cuts are not as severe as those originally planned, as recently as yesterday morning at an RTA board meeting, fare hikes and service cuts were not on the agenda...." I did not qualify the nature of the dealing simply that there was contact with the RTA. You've confirmed that implementation of the cuts were announced on or about Sept 23. Congressman Kucinich wrote his letter on the 24th this is only two weeks ago; one day after the RTA announcement and with roughfly only five weeks to the election. These facts clearly do not make my comment of just released "erroneous" when it is an obvious reference to a short period of time. You have made it clear you do not want to continue this discussion and it is not my intent to antagonize only clarify. You are correct that in my post I implied that it was his actions earlier in the year that brought about the changes in the cuts and that was simply sloppy writing on my part: the congressman did not imply that in his letter. I do not want to turn this thread into a discussion on the pros and cons of Dennis Kucinich but I will say I respect and admire him. I would hope he could, on occasion, visit this thread to read some of the many constructive and knowledgeable posts concerning RTA and mass transit. Perhaps he would be enlightened, by the constructive ones that is.

He could have dealt directly with RTA. Doing this was divisive! According to his letter posted on the previous page he had been dealing with the RTA. Their response, again according to his letter, was to make the cuts less wide spread but the date of the cuts apparently was just released which does pose a legitimate concern of disenfranchisement. Again it may not have been the most constructive approach but it was effective.

^^ 327 Keep in mind that qualifying is based on gross income and the desired debt to income (DTI) ratio is 45%. The DTI takes into account all borrowed money including student loans unless they're deferred. In your scenario the borrower would have a DTI of 25%. This is based on todays rate of 6% (8.25% would be predatory lending) on a 30yr loan, and the principal and interest would be $599/mth. You must of coarse add taxes and insurance bring the housing expense to approx $800/mth. Now this may seem to pricey in your opinion but remember most people are paying near that or more on rent. Home ownership is about not throwing away that rent money and building equity. Your borrower would technically be approved with $700 of additional monthly debt, or for that matter, a $200,000 mortgage.

I feel like I'm venturing into shark infested waters here but I for one congratulate Congressman Kucinich on ensuring there would be no disenfranchising due to a cut back of RTA service. His method may have seemed like grandstanding but with little time left before the election it was probably the quickest way to get action.

As it turns out people are still moving here in droves but not with the gobs of money from equity in their California homes. Since many are taking casino jobs, with a large portion of their income coming from unreported tips, verifying enough income to obtain a mortgage becomes difficult. In the past these folks would simply apply under the SISA (Stated Income Stated Assets) programs which of coarse no longer exist.

^My mother is a German immigrant but has been a citizen for over 50 years; does she now have a right to gripe or will that offend your sensabilities. :roll:

Completely agree. I suggest that if we continue this discussion we should do so based on David's insightful post (#3). David the only thing I would add is that the key component that created the supply and demand issue was not that "... immigration and transplanting was curbed", rather it was climbing interest rates. I know of what I speak because I happen to be, and I can't believe I'm going to admit this, a mortgage broker here in Las Vegas :angel:. In 2003 a good FICO score of >720 could get you a par rate of 3.625%. In 2006 that same borrower would get a rate of 6.5% and when you combine that with what was the median home price here at the time, approx 320K, homes became unaffordable for most borrowers and the glut of homes began. I agree that there were many unscrupulous loan originators out there but they were a small part of the overall problem. In my own personal defense I can say I have NEVER placed one of my clients in what yo refer to as a Re-cap loan; they were known as Option ARM's.

^ This might have something to do with his poor outing: From an article on SI.com "Pitching on three days' rest for the fourth consecutive start, Sabathia had his worst outing since joining the Brewers in a trade with Cleveland on July 7."

Welcome to the forum and yes yes post away!

^Welcome to the forum :wave: