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Something is rotten in suburbia, the popular thinking goes, and now there's a fix. It's called the New Urbanism, an architectural movement that seeks to halt the spread of walled, homogeneous subdivisions and proposes to replace them with something like a traditional town.

Led by Miami architects Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, the revival of neo-traditional town planning has enchanted the media, repeatedly getting favorable coverage in, among others, Metropolitan Home, Time and Newsweek, which last May devoted a 13-page cover story to New Urbanist concepts.

Know these key terms for purchase contracts

Spring is the busiest time of year for real estate agents because this is when most home sales take place. But finding the residence you want to buy is just the first step. An essential part of successfully negotiating to buy that home is preparing a sales contract that protects the buyer, seller and realty agent.

Buyers can sue sellers for failure to disclose defects

Q. Almost three months ago we bought our first home. But it has turned into a nightmare. The refrigerator stopped working. The water heater barely heats the water. The roof leaks. The floors are soft and spongy. We foolishly bought direct from the seller without the benefit of a realty agent. How can we get our money back?

Pet chinchilla that bites may be frustrated and lonely

Q. We are the second owners of a pet chinchilla, and we feel the former owners weren't honest when they gave us this pet. He was fine and fun for the first month, but then he began to bite the hand that feeds him.

hi, composing! this is for page 4, south zone, in home

TOGETHERNESS: Chinchillas were initially bred in captivity for their fur. Q. We are the second owners of a pet chinchilla, and we feel the former owners weren't honest when they gave us this pet. He was fine and fun for the first month, but then he began to bite the hand that feeds him.

Pet chinchilla that bites may be frustrated and lonely

Q. We are the second owners of a pet chinchilla, and we feel the former owners weren't honest when they gave us this pet. He was fine and fun for the first month, but then he began to bite the hand that feeds him.

Bodkin commemorates death of Princess of Wales

Q. An American relative of German descent recently died. In his possessions, I found his mother's sewing basket. His mother was born around 1890, and in her sewing basket was, or what seems to be, a commemorative darning needle stamped ``Princess Charlotte Died'' on one side, and ``Nov 6 1817 Aged 21'' on the other. Does this commemorative piece have a history or any value beyond sentimental?

5-channel amps: sound compromise

When most people think about building a multichannel home theater, they focus on speakers. Yet the real conundrum is choosing amplification for the system. The easiest way is with an all-in-one A/V receiver that holds an FM/AM tuner, audio/ video switcher, preamp/ surround decoder and five channels of amplification -- for left-front, center-front, right-front, left-rear and right-rear speakers -- all on one chassis. The most complex, and arguably the best sounding, approach is to use all separate components, including five state-of-the-art, mono-block amplifiers -- one for each of the five channels.

Age of owners not only factor to keep out kids

Q. Our condo board called a vote of the unit owners to make our project an ``adult community'' for people 55 years old and older in an effort to keep kids out. Most of us, however, recognize that the condo, built in the '70s, is full of 80-year-olds who soon may need to put their units up for sale. They would find the value of their apartment and the depth of the market would be greatly reduced if the age limitation restriction were passed.

Cleaning's almost fun with vacuums

I have always been a fan of products that can accomplish more than one task. That's why I like Bissell's new Little Green Deluxe. It's a portable spot remover, upholstery cleaner and window cleaner in one easy-to-use package.

Development challenges traditional notions of suburbia

`NEOTRADITIONAL' COMMUNITY: A rendering of a typical street in Abacoa, a planned community designed to avoid the traditional trappings of modern suburbia. Among the features: narrowed streets, and front porches placed near the sidewalks to encourage interaction.

Antique or copy? Finding originals becoming tougher

Lesson No. 1 for beginning collectors of antique furniture starts with realizing that just about every style or period has been copied, faked and reproduced. This goes for finely carved English Chippendale as well as for French Provincial pieces with their simple charm.

Chemical remover best bet on molding

Q. I moved into a house with crown molding along the edges of the ceiling and a medallion in the middle. These items have been painted so often that they are losing detail. How can I remove the paint?

The best time to appreciate mom is now

Dear Readers: Today is Mother's Day. I have been looking for something appropriate. What I selected for this very special day appeared in my column in 1987. I believe it is perfect for the occasion, and I hope you will think so, too. Here it is:

A warm Mother's Day story: Love that old stove!

W hen it comes to loyalty and long-term relationships, Ellen Teagarden considers herself especially fortunate. Her Magic Chef stove has lasted more than 55 years, a longevity she attributes, in part, to dedicated scouring. ``The beauty of the stove is that I can take it apart and really clean inside those burners,'' said the 84-year-old Dallas resident.

5-channel amps: sound compromise

When most people think about building a multichannel home theater, they focus on speakers. Yet the real conundrum is choosing amplification for the system. The easiest way is with an all-in-one A/V receiver that holds an FM/AM tuner, audio/ video switcher, preamp/ surround decoder and five channels of amplification -- for left-front, center-front, right-front, left-rear and right-rear speakers -- all on one chassis. The most complex, and arguably the best sounding, approach is to use all separate components, including five state-of-the-art, mono-block amplifiers -- one for each of the five channels.

Wicker's appeal: flexibility, durability

The term ``wicker'' refers to a particular style of ornamental, woven furniture, not to a specific material. Wicker furniture uses the techniques of basket-weaving through supporting spokes. It may be made of materials like cane, willow, reed, rattan, rush, raffia, or Oriental sea grass. The term ``wicker'' comes from the Swedish words ``vikker,'' meaning willow, and ``wiker,'' to bend.

Home loan rates easy to research on Internet

Q. I like to keep up with real estate rates. Is there any way to use the Internet to do this? Also, are there some sites that have good consumer information about loans, rates, etc.?

What's ailing South Florida's palms? The diagnoses vary

Many bedraggled royal palms in South Florida seem to be having bad hair days, their brown fronds full of brittle and split leaflets. Coconut palms nearly everywhere you turn are clutching hayfields of lower brown or yellowish fronds, made more conspicuous by the new greens of spring adorning the mahoganies, seagrapes and pigeon plums.

BOOK REVIEW
What agents must know for continued prosperity

THE FUTURE OF REAL ESTATE; PROFITING FROM THE REVOLUTION. By Gail G. Lyons, Donald L. Harlan and John Tuccillo. Real Estate Education Co., Chicago, 190 pages, $26.95. Reviewed by ROBERT J. BRUSS

What: A planned development of 6,000 homes, a main shopping street, an office/industrial park and a university branch.

Where: Jupiter. Size: Abacoa covers 2,050 acres, more than three square miles, roughly the size of Wilton Manors. Why: The intent is a town design that fosters community.

MEETINGS

MONDAY Tropical Flowering Tree Society. When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Garden House, Fairchild Tropical Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd. Speaker: Luc Vannoorbeeck, Florida Colors Nursery, ``Plumerias of Hawaii.'' South Florida Fern Society. When: 8 p.m. Where: Corbin Building, Fairchild Tropical Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd. Program: Joyce Kelly will present products that are designed to help grow and maintain ferns. Members will discuss how to groom ferns for the fern show June 8-9 at the garden.

MEETINGS

MONDAY Tropical Flowering Tree Society. When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Garden House, Fairchild Tropical Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd. Speaker: Luc Vannoorbeeck, Florida Colors Nursery, ``Plumerias of Hawaii.'' South Florida Fern Society. When: 8 p.m. Where: Corbin Building, Fairchild Tropical Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd. Program: Joyce Kelly will present products that are designed to help grow and maintain ferns. Members will discuss how to groom ferns for the fern show June 8-9 at the garden.

IF TODAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: You are interested in so many things simultaneously that you scatter forces. You are versatile,
possess sense of the ridiculous, have innate knowledge of fashion, current events, members of opposite sex have been known to describe you as ``devastating.'' Geminis, Sagittarians play significant roles in your life. Current cycle coincides with lifestyle, where you live, domestic adjustment that includes martial status. November memorable.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You'll be ``consulted'' by family members and others on subjects varying from money to marriage. Go slow, meditate, define terms clearly. Pisces plays role. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Needed material obtained, promise of funding legitimate. Focus on organization, renewal of special relationship with one who means much to you. Cancer native figures in memorable scenario.

DO NOT WAX--TUBE TO HERALD H&D Deliver to Max Roberts

TRAVEL section, May 12, 1996 FLORIDA ISSUE FLA THEMES: Major additions are opening this summerin the theme parks: A Terminator ride at Universal, a whole new section at Disney called BoardWalk, a new section at Sea World called Key West, and Busch's biggest single expansion ever, called Egypt. Jay Clarke.