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Home business Bangkok retail market recovered from floods
Bangkok Retail
The Nation June 21, 2012 1:00 am
CBRE measured the level of shopping-centre development in 180 of the world's major cities to identify the most active markets, both in terms of 2011 completions and space currently under construction.
The research found that development activity had reached significant levels, with 29.6 million square metres under construction globally - equivalent to all the combined existing space in France, the United Kingdom and Germany - while 7.8 million square metres of new space opened last year.
Emerging markets such as China, Turkey and India are far more active than the more mature markets of Western Europe and North America.
Last year, new shopping centres opened in 63 of the cities covered in the survey, of which 50 were in emerging markets. In contrast, only five cites in Western Europe saw the opening of a new centre.
"In Bangkok, the retail market saw a full recovery from the floods of 2011. All retail stores closed during the floods were reopened and retail sales improved," said James Pitchon, executive director - head of CBRE Research in Thailand.
"The two key trends are community malls in Bangkok and expansion of major retail developers to upcountry; CPN, the country's leading retail property developer with a 22-per-cent market share of leasable area of Bangkok's shopping malls, plans to open five new malls upcountry within this year."
The company said the total retail supply in Bangkok as of the first quarter of this year had risen to 5.75 million square metres, an increase of 1 per cent from the final quarter of last year and 5 per cent from the same period a year ago, with the majority of new additions in the community mall format.
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Bangkok retail market recovered from floods
The owners of California Shabu Shabu, a Japanese restaurant chain where customers cook their own food in boiling pots of water seasoned with kelp, plan to open a new eatery in Belmont Shore.
Located at 5242 E. Second St., between Legends and Peets Coffee & Tea, the fourth installation of California Shabu Shabu is scheduled to open this summer, likely in August, said owner Ash Chan. The Second Street location was formerly a shoe store.
The original California Shabu Shabu opened 15 years ago in Fountain Valley, Chan said. We believe in Belmont Shore and I just moved here, to Belmont Heights. We are so excited to open our doors in the center of Second Street and Belmont Shore.
Chan said it has taken several months to renovate the space and transform what once was a retail store into a venue with a kitchen and dining room.
The biggest problem was engineering and the repairs that needed to be done so that we could install the proper ventilation and equipment for this to be a restaurant, Chan said. Its probably been about eight months of work, maybe more. We are really hoping to be open in August.
Meanwhile, the business owner is applying for a beer and wine license and completing the restaurants design, which includes brick facades, wall murals, window frame television mounts and a modern, industrial style that mirrors the industrial history of Long Beach.
Derek Burnham, city planning administrator, said permits have been issued for construction of the restaurant. Although the restaurant is taking the place of a retail storefront, he added that the owners have worked with the city to ensure that parking will not be impacted.
Parking is always complicated in Belmont Shore, Burnham said. Using typical zoning code calculations for parking requirements, he explained that because California Shabu Shabus dining area will be considerably smaller than the former shoe stores total square footage, no additional parking spaces would be required.
Restaurants need to have more parking per square foot than retail spaces, but restaurant square footage is based on the dining area only, whereas retail parking requirements are based on total square footage.
If we keep the dining area small enough, then the business really cannot accommodate extra patrons, he said. This has been typical for other buildings in the area that have gone from retail to restaurant space.
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Shabu Shabu Restaurant Fills Vacant Retail Space In Belmont Shore
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (APOG) today announced fiscal 2013 first-quarter results. Apogee provides distinctive value-added glass solutions for the architectural and picture framing industries.
FY13 FIRST QUARTER VS. PRIOR-YEAR PERIOD
Commentary We started the new year with strong earnings on revenues that grew 1 percent, said Joseph F. Puishys, Apogee chief executive officer. With strong orders and awards leading to an architectural backlog increase of 13 percent, we have confidence in our planned growth for the full year.
Gross and operating margins for both our architectural and large-scale optical segments improved year on year, and we operated well throughout Apogees businesses, he said. Cash and short-term investments ended at $58 million after normal first-quarter seasonal uses and capital investments for growth and productivity enhancements, with ongoing positive working capital performance.
FY13 FIRST-QUARTER SEGMENT AND OPERATING RESULTS VS. PRIOR-YEAR PERIOD
Architectural Products and Services
Large-Scale Optical Technologies
Financial Condition
OUTLOOK With our first-quarter earnings and strong backlog, we are more confident in our revenue forecast and have greater visibility into the mix of projects we will be executing over the remainder of the year, allowing us to increase our earnings outlook for fiscal 2013 to $0.48 to $0.58 per share, from $0.40 to $0.50 per share, on mid single-digit revenue growth, said Puishys. Our anticipated revenue growth for fiscal 2013 will come in part from continued U.S. geographic expansion in our installation and storefront businesses, while earnings for the year are expected to benefit from improved architectural glass pricing, higher project margins in the second half and the ongoing strong performance of our picture framing glass and acrylic business.
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Apogee Reports Improved Fiscal 2013 First-Quarter Earnings
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - 11:53am
AUSTIN As the massive restoration of the Texas Governors Mansion nears completion, pieces from the historic Governors Mansion Collection are being moved back into the home. Owned and curated by the non-profit Friends of the Governors Mansion, the collection was removed when the deferred maintenance project started in October 2007. The return of the collection marks the first stage of the move phase of the Governors Mansion restoration. The first family is expected to move back into the Governors Mansion, the home of 40 Texas governors, when the project is completed late next month.
The historic Texas Governors Mansion has been a symbol of Texas pride and resilience for decades, and now as its restoration nears completion, we enter a new chapter in its history, Texas First Lady Anita Perry said. Returning these important pieces to their rightful place in the Governors Mansion brings us one step closer to completing the restoration of this Texas treasure, which is one of the cornerstones of our states rich heritage.
The Governors Mansion Collection is composed of historic state-owned pieces that have been in the Governors Mansion and museum-quality American antiques dating back to the earliest years of the states history, including the bed used by Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austins writing desk and portraits of Gov. and Mrs. Pease, who was in office when the Governors Mansion was built in 1856. The collection also includes the Governors Memento Collection, a tradition started in the l960s by Texas First Lady Jean Houston Daniel. Additionally, last week, historic large chandeliers were installed throughout the first floor.
What began as a deferred maintenance project of the Governors Mansion in October 2007 became a major restoration effort following a massive fire set by an unidentified arsonist in June 2008. The restoration has been made possible by nearly $3.5 million in private donations and a $21.5 million appropriation by the Texas Legislature.
No arrest has been made in the arson case at this time. The Texas Department of Public Safety has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the arsonist. Anyone with information related to the Texas Governors Mansion arson is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 252-TIPS (8477) or the State Fire Marshals Arson Hotline at (988) 252-8477.
For more information about the status of the Governors Mansion Restoration, please contact the State Preservation Board at (512) 463-5495.
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Furnishings moving back to Governor’s Mansion as construction nears finish
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Traveling by airboat through the Delta National Wildlife Refuge on Wednesday, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar repeated the Obama administration's commitment to using large chunks of money paid by BP to rebuild Louisiana wetlands. Salazar asked Garret Graves, chairman of Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, whether it might make sense to use part of the BP money paid in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill for a half-dozen freshwater and sediment diversions that the state has included in its master plan for coastal protection and restoration.
Salazar said the administration is supporting the Restore Act, which would dedicate 80 percent of any fines levied against BP and other responsible parties to restoration projects in Gulf states. But he said the Justice Department also is attempting to ensure that any settlement of legal claims now pending in federal court in New Orleans would include similar requirements to spend money on restoration projects.
Salazar's impromptu five-hour tour of Louisiana's coastal erosion problems followed his kicking off the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's successful sale of leases in the central Gulf of Mexico.
During the flight, he mused on the complaints raised over the past two years by Republicans, including Gov. Bobby Jindal, about the speed at which oil and gas production has returned to the Gulf.
"I think that the attacks of the Republican Party on what was done in the Gulf are simply wrong," Salazar said. "They don't stand up to the truth of the light of day.
"The number of permits that have now been issued, and the rigs that are operating out here in the Gulf of Mexico, the bids we saw this morning in the lease sale in the central Gulf, all are measurements that should tell the world that the Gulf is back in business and doing well," he said.
Salazar said the administration's efforts to resume drilling in the Gulf in a responsible manner match its efforts to ramp up regulation of drilling for natural gas and oil in deep shale deposits, using a method called hydrofracturing or "fracking."
He said federal officials are on track to require release of information about the chemicals used to fracture the hard shale deposits, while promoting the method to produce enough natural gas to meet the nation's needs for the next 100 years. The cheaper prices for natural gas resulting from the new exploration method have been seen as an opportunity by the administration to push big business to switch their commercial fleets to natural gas, he said, which will result in the production of less greenhouse gases.
Salazar passed over the rapidly eroding Chandeleur Islands and Breton Island, which are part of the Breton National Wildlife Refuge.
Unusual high tides that prompted coastal flood warnings on Wednesday made the remaining barrier islands look even smaller from the air.
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Interior Secretary Ken Salazar repeats commitment to use BP money for coastal restoration
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McGuinty’s Trojan horse budget -
June 21, 2012 by
Mr HomeBuilder
Like Stephen Harpers controversial omnibus bill, Ontarios proposed budget legislation is a Trojan horse, one chock full of unexpected surprises.
Under the guise of implementing Finance Minister Dwight Duncans March budget, the Strong Action for Ontario Act would casually whittle away at environmental protection.
More alarmingly, it would appear to give Premier Dalton McGuintys cabinet extraordinary authority to restructure or privatize public institutions such as hospitals and schools without consulting the legislature.
McGuinty and Duncan are furious that the opposition New Democrats, having agreed to the broad strokes of his budget, are balking at this bill a bill that at one swoop would amend or create 69 statutes.
But the real question is why Andrea Horwaths NDP didnt dig their heels in earlier.
So far, most attention has focused on McGuintys threat to call a snap election if his budget bill isnt passed intact.
Given that no party including McGuintys Liberals wants an election, thats a hollow threat.
The more interesting and largely unexamined issue is what happens if the bill is passed.
First, Ontarios budget bill aims to weaken environmental regulations that might interfere with resource activities such as mining and forestry.
It would amend the Crown Forest Sustainability Act to let cabinet exempt timber companies from their current obligation to prepare management plans every five years. And it would give the cabinet broad authority let such companies ignore cutting limits.
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McGuinty’s Trojan horse budget
Ponte Vedra -
June 21, 2012 by
Mr HomeBuilder
The Recorder
Many new trends were reported by experts in the housing industry at the start of 2012 for the custom home and remodeling markets, but which ones are showing up throughout Florida?
According to Michael Lenahen, president of Aurora Custom Homes and Remodeling in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., the hottest trends in 2012 are found in new color schemes, outdoor living spaces, "task zones," and advances in technology. "We attend tradeshows and conferences at the beginning of every year to learn about the latest trends coming our way, but its not until mid-year that you begin to see which trends enter our local market," Lenahen said in a news release. "In 2012, we have seen an increased demand for unique outdoor living spaces, the latest high-tech gadgets and a color palette conducive to the Florida lifestyle."
Colors and textures create the mood
Light, bright and airy rooms are the desired look for Florida residents.
Walls in a soft, pale shade of off-white allow for the vibrant colors of artwork, accent pillows, accessories, and the richness of wood flooring and cabinetry to provide the splash of color.
On occasion, the primary wall of a room is highlighted in a rich texture, such as applied stone, ceramic tile or colored fabric to act as a visual backdrop and enhance the feel of the space. This color strategy allows homeowners to control the focus in each room and provides maximum flexibility for making simple, inexpensive changes to the room as needed.
Flexible spaces for entertaining and outdoor living Homes that provide flexible living spaces for dining and entertaining are growing in popularity.
Kitchens, dining areas and family rooms are now an integrated triangle to allow for more socialization and entertaining.
This concept is being expanded to the outdoor living area where entire walls of stacking or folding glass doors are combining the indoor and outdoor living spaces.
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Ponte Vedra
SARATOGA SPRINGS At Putnam Market, cheese is revered in fact, it even has its own climate-controlled room.
The gourmet market on Broadway recently completed construction of a special cheese room, a glass-enclosed tasting space designed to maintain an optimal temperature and humidity for the stores wide variety of cheese.
The key thing for me is that it was designed for our customers, said Cathy Hamilton, co-owner of the store.
The display of cheese wheels and slices behind thermal-glass walls looks almost like an exhibition, but Hamilton welcomes shoppers through the glass door to interact with the merchandise.
Its not a cheese museum. Its a cheese-tasting space, she said, cutting a thin slice of Parrano a Gouda with a mild Parmesan-like flavor for sampling.
With a temperature between 50 and 55 degrees, the cheese room might be the coolest spot in the Spa City.
It opened just in time for summer. You can come in here and stand in a refrigerated room and actually taste stuff, Hamilton said.
Experienced staff members brave the chill to provide customers with samples of choices like Brie de Meaux sometimes call the king of cheeses or Manchego a firm cheese with a buttery texture made from sheeps milk.
From Midnight Moon to PsycheDILLic, the inventory is meant to be enticing.
Its a process for people. They can actually get involved, and the staff makes it more enjoyable, Hamilton said.
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Putnam Market becomes the big cheese in Saratoga Springs
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LEESBURG, Ga. (AP) Authorities are asking people to avoid a popular swimming hole on a south Georgia creek as they try to clean up hundreds of roofing nails dumped at the site.
The Albany Herald reports (http://bit.ly/NfO1IO) that members of the Lee County Fire Department's dive team and volunteers will attempt to collect the nails from the "blue hole" underground spring on the Kinchafoonee Creek.
Lee County Chief Marshall and Code Enforcement Officer Jim Wright said vandals are suspected of dumping the nails.
Wright said a local company provided authorities with very strong magnets they hope will attract most of the nails.
The code enforcement office has posted signs asking people not to swim around the blue hole until after the cleanup effort.
___
Information from: The Albany Herald, http://albanyherald.com
2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Hundreds of roofing nails dumped at swimming hole
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HOMOSASSA SPRINGS Art Yerian carefully cradled the speckled beige object in his rubber-gloved hands, recognizing it as a rare and precious possibility.
He slid it slowly down into a bright stream of light.
"You see that air sack,'' he said, as the high-intensity egg candler lit up the large egg making it appear to glow in the dark.
Then he carefully did the same thing with the second egg. "There's an air sack on that one also,'' he said. "You can see that there's some kind of embryo.''
While not proof that the eggs were viable, it was enough to give hope that, in about three weeks, there may be new additions to the population of endangered whooping cranes, America's tallest bird.
And these additions would be the first ever conceived at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Federal and state officials said they did not know of any captive whooping cranes in Florida that have produced viable eggs.
Billy Brooks, a recovery biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said he was hopeful but realistic about the Homosassa Springs eggs. The crane experts worry that these will be infertile.
But if the eggs are fertile, Brooks said, they are likely bound for one of the whooping crane reintroduction or research programs based out of the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland.
Chicks would mean that the Homosassa park's resident whooping cranes, Peepers and Levi, were not only serving their fellow cranes as an educational display, but they were also contributing more directly to the species' survival.
"It's a good thing, a really good thing,'' said Yerian, the park's manager. He will candle the eggs every several days until it can be determined for sure whether embryos are growing inside.
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Captive whooping crane eggs offer hope for endangered species
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