BENGALURU :The three-week lockdown to contain the covid-19 pandemic has deeply impacted Indias real estate sector, which was already reeling from a liquidity crunch and weak residential sales.

The impact on discretionary spending may disrupt the retail mall business for a long time, while a sharp drop in home sales will heighten liquidity and cash flow pressures for developers. Affordable housing, which has held up in the five-year-long slowdown, may also get hit by the ongoing crisis.

However, the commercial office business, which has been an outlier of sorts, may face limited impact though this may be determined by how the information technology (IT) sector, one of the largest occupiers of office space, performs in the near future.

Residential sales are down by 70-80% because of the lockdown and distancing, and there is a postponing of decisions by buyers that may take some time to return to normal. However, housing is a necessity and we hope that those who need homes will buy at some point. The situation is critical and the impact on the sector would depend on how the government handles the situation and the incentives it gives," said Niranjan Hiranandani, co-founder and managing director, Hiranandani Group.

Shopping malls would see a 10-12% year-on-year erosion of rental income, given the temporary closure of malls and the risk of reduced footfall and discretionary consumption spends in 2020-21, a 27 March note by India Ratings and Research said. Cash flow gaps could widen in the residential sector, with limited sales in the coming months and debt servicing could be a challenge, especially for non-Grade 1 developers, it said.

The situation has added to the liquidity and cash flow crunch in the sector, said Gautam Chatterjee, chairman, Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA).

There is a lot of uncertainty now on how long this crisis will last and what happens after that. How long will construction remain stalled? When will migrant labourers return because it is a labour-intensive sector? Lack of money had stopped construction work in many cases and with this crisis now, its important that the construction cycle resumes soon," Chatterjee said.

On Thursday, Maha-Rera extended the completion deadline of registered projects by three months. However, Hiranandani said the impact could last longer and a one-year moratorium would be better.

Given the impending economic slowdown and job losses, if housing finance companies and banks were to tighten their home loan disbursements criteria, sales or collections could see further pressure especially in the affordable segment, the India Ratings report said.

Bengaluru-based Brigade Groups residential sales were good until the lockdown, said its chief financial officer, Atul Goyal. However, once the lockdown kicked in, customer bookings stalled, though Brigade is now taking bookings online. Payments are still coming but the run rate is down. A lot will also depend on job and salary cuts and how the IT sector performs. It helps that Brigade has a diversified real estate portfolio because those only into residential or retail projects may face challenges. Well-capitalised developers will survive, but many others may go for loan deferments," Goyal said. Brigade has already made interest repayments for March, he said.

Embassy Group chairman Jitu Virwani said fund-raising may be a problem if this continues, but so far, there has been no significant impact on the office leasing business.

The liquidity crisis has been a concern for over a year, with non-banking lenders staying away. The epidemic couldnt have come at a worse time, when the residential sector was expected to slowly recover over the coming months.

Originally posted here:
Realty braces for the worst amid cash flow pressures - Livemint

The coronavirus pandemic has affected every part of business, especially after the UK lockdown was announced on 23 March.

In the first of a series of features, we take a look at how different sectors are coping with with the measures brought in by the UK Government. In the first of a two-part article, we look at how the commercial property sector in the East Midlands is faring.

Bradgate Estates is a family-owned property development company that specialises in student and PRS blocks.

The company has built and sold over 90m worth of property over the last four years, consisting of Private Rented Sector and student blocks in Russell Group university cities such as Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield.

Joseph Levy, managing director, said: The investment side of our business has been put on ice, with 100m of pipeline projects paused until at least September and maybe beyond.

The developments that are currently in construction are continuing, if maybe a little slower than before. But we are proud of our contractor, J A Ball and his team, who are continuing to stay on site until the supply chain or the Government dictates otherwise. But we are under no illusion that delayed completion will be inevitable.

We have circa 350 flats in the city [Leicester] and a large part of my business is being a landlord to both students and residential tenants. This is the sector of the business that has been affected the most.

We are trying to make sure our tenants feel as safe as possible, so we have a brave team of dedicated cleaners who constantly patrol all of our properties, ensuring that all the communal areas are continuously disinfected.

Our student tenants are also a concern as we are expecting a fall in rent, particularly from overseas students.

Richard Sutton, managing director of commercial property agent NG Chartered Surveyors, has grown his business on being accessible to clients, something, which for the moment, has been taken away in a

physical sense. He said: At the moment its hard to say how this is affecting our business. Of course, we have been impacted, like all in our sector, but, as yet to what extent, its hard to say.

Our technology, remote working protocol and the quality of our team has made us as if not more resilient and adaptable than other firms.

Were using remote working platforms, keeping in contact via teams and zoom and continuing to deliver the service needed by our clients, above all we are still here for the them.

Haroon Shaikh, director at Obstrat, which offices, residential, retail and leisure space In Leicester, says his firm has stopped work on one of its landmark schemes in Leicester.

He said: We have temporarily paused construction works at Universal Business Park on Humberstone Lane. Although the UK Government have not suspended construction, the health and safety of our workers and supply chain is our primary concern during these unprecedented times. We fully support the recommendations to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.

With MIPIM 2020 postponed we have had to reschedule meetings and travel arrangements, we look forward to continuing to support Team Leicester when it returns.

But what is the East Midlands property sector doing to try and minimise the disruption brought about by the coronaviurus outbreak.

Stephen Pratt is Group land director at Godwin Developments, and works across both the East and West Midlands. He says that keeping communication flowing is key.

We are deploying technology to keep us all talking, growing and developing relationships, and winning business, he said.

In fact, we are encouraging all our staff to interact via video conference using Microsoft Teams rather than emails and messages, and we are working successfully across platforms with landowners, national and regional agents, planners and all other stakeholders.

Levy said: Like most sensible businesses, we are taking every step we can to minimise the loss of profit during this disruption. And to do this we must be flexible to change, adapt to the ever-changing situation as it unfolds and look for opportunities that may arise out of adversity.

An example being, we now unexpectedly have 250 empty flats for the next three months and we have developed many great ideas which will both fill them and help the community.

The effects will be minimised if we all help each other were we can.

With physical contact all but put on hold then it wouldnt take a great leap of imagination to assume that many property deals have been put on hold.

Wayne Oakes, director at engineering consultancy Dice, is refreshingly candid when he is asked if any deals he was working have fallen through since the lockdown was announced.

He said: In short, yes. A significant portion of our private work with developers has been placed on hold, along with schemes and projects in and around the retail and leisure sectors.

The retail sector has been on life support for a long time and we have grave concerns that COVID-19 could cause British high streets to decline even further as more people become reliant on online food shopping and on-demand orders via retailers like Amazon.

However, said Oakes, even though we have seen some schemes placed on hold, there are still some areas of positivity most notably in the public sector where there appears to be added resilience and a desire to proceed as planned.

He added: Weve also held numerous discussions with longstanding clients regarding innovative procurement measures. We cannot reveal too much of course, but were excited at the prospect of altering our working pattern and procurement routes with certain clientele, so there are definitely still opportunities there if you are prepared to innovate.

Simon Gardiner, managing director at Peter James Homes, told us his company is in a fortune position.

He said: No deals have fallen through. We were in a fortunate position having just completed our 48 housing scheme in Bestwood Village with two larger sites in the design/procurement phase. Our sites have been paid for and consequently with do not have issues on this front.

Fellow housebuilder, Ian Hodgkinson, said he is thankful to his legal team: We havent lost any deals and finances are still in place, there has been a remarkable effort by our legal team and our clients to move the deals on. I expect that this is just in case funding is impacted due to the coronavirus.

Architects and design teams have also been active with regards to still bringing opportunities to us most people are being positive at the moment.

Pratt says his firm is still actively looking for opportunities. We are actively seeking to hear from landowners and agents who may have brown or greenfield land for development. Because we work across the entire property lifecycle from site identification and acquisition through to development and asset management we are in the best position to advise on the optimum outcome for their assets in the current climate. In addition, we are pleased that all deals that we secured prior to the lockdown are still progressing well and on schedule.

In the next part of this feature, well look to the future and ask: how will the crisis change the property industry?

Read the original post:
Communication is key as commercial property industry fights the coronavirus crisis - The Business Desk

Chances are that the world returns to normal. From SARS to Bird Flu to Ebola, it seems there is always some type of health scare that we are told will alter the course of our existence. Hopefully, a few years from now we are able to put coronavirus into the category of other close calls. But this one feels different. And it is already altering our lifestyle in dramatic ways that prior health scares did not.

Just this week, the NCAA said that it will hold March Madness without crowds, SXWS canceled its annual event, the Coachella Festival announced that it will be postponed, Google told its 100,000+ employees to work from home, countless other companies encouraged their employees to telecommute, and toilet paper has become an unusually hot commodity. While the real estate industry as a whole appears (at least so far) to not be affected to the same degree as the travel and entertainment industries, what impact can we expect the coronavirus to have on the real estate industry over the course of the next few months and years?

The answer, of course, depends on numerous factors, such as how quickly the outbreak spreads, the duration of the outbreak, and the actual impact of the coronavirus on humans once we are able to analyze data from the inevitably larger sample size that we are certain to get. Even if the coronavirus is gone tomorrow, the impact on the real estate industry could be significant.

James Bond is a director at Fennemore Craig.

Telecommuting has certainly gained momentum in the past few years. But with more and more employers now encouraging their employees to work from home during the outbreak, employers are getting an unexpected preview of what a significantly smaller office footprint could look like in the future. Technology companies such as Zoom and Slack are being thrust into the spotlight as businesses try not to skip a beat with their employees working from home. If the technology companies can facilitate a work environment outside the office that delivers results for employers during this outbreak, then expect demand for smaller office footprints to accelerate as a result of the coronavirus.

On the other hand, demand for co-working spaces could decline significantly. As people try to avoid interacting with others in the office environment, the allure of leasing space in a co-working environment could diminish. The operators of co-working spaces will need to innovate in order to retain and attract new tenants.

Any discussion about the coronavirus often includes recommendations about social distancing. In its simplest terms, health experts suggest that avoiding crowded areas can be a helpful tool in avoiding the coronavirus. If the population at large follows this advice, the immediate impact on the retail sector could be significant as people avoid grocery stores, shopping centers, and malls.

But what will this mean long term? People still need food, clothes, and other essentials. And of course, they want other non-necessities. More and more people are already using Amazon and other online services to do their shopping from home. But there is still a large untapped market of people who have never used online shopping. There will be a significant number of these people who try online shopping for the first time as a result of coronavirus fears. This could be a tipping point that forever alters some brick and mortar stores and how they accommodate the online consumer. As at-home and curbside deliveries increase in popularity, retailers will need to consider store sizes, layouts, and pick-up points when they design stores.

The industrial sector will also feel the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, both good and bad. If online shopping becomes more prevalent as a result of the coronavirus, more industrial space will be required to house inventory at distribution centers. However, larger industrial spaces likely will mean more employees in close proximity to each other, so employers will need to be cognizant of how this will impact their operations during future outbreaks of the next major virus.

The coronavirus outbreak has led to a sharp decline in U.S. Treasury rates, which has driven down the interest rates on real estate loans. Many borrowers who were already in the process of refinancing existing loans will reap the benefits of these lower rates. If rates continue to stay low, more borrowers will rush to refinance and lock in rates that are at historically low levels.

While the coronavirus may not seem like it will have a major impact on the real estate industry, a closer examination suggests that it actually may have a far-reaching impact. From office to retail to industrial, expect that the real estate industry could see major changes regardless of whether the coronavirus is short-lived or is here to stay.

James Bond is a director at Fennemore Craig.

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The coronavirus impact on the real estate industry - AZ Big Media

Living Space Housing has secured a 6.3-acre site off Majestic Way in Telford, with the disposal being managed by Telford & Wrekin Council as part of the Telford Land Deal.

Living Space will develop a scheme of 39 affordable homes, following approval of a Reserved Matters application.

The Majestic Way in Telford scheme will be developed on behalf of a Registered Provider and Living Space is currently in discussions with a number of regional and national interested parties.

Living Space is a development-led residential planning, design and construction services solution for Registered Providers, PRS Funds, the NHS, Universities and Defence Estates. Having launched to the market last year, the company is already on-site at its first three developments.

Steve Davies, managing director of Living Space Housing, said: It is rewarding to be working with Homes England and Telford & Wrekin Council to bring forward this residential development site, which is within easy reach of Telford town centre.

While the coronavirus pandemic has led to construction work pausing on many development sites to keep everyone safe, our land team is working hard to secure many more projects like this one.

We are actively seeking immediate and longer-term development opportunities and have the funding in place to progress these deals. We would be delighted for agents, developers and landowners to get in touch and explore how Living Space Housing can offer a safe and viable alternative for your residential land.

The newly secured Majestic Way site is located within the established residential area of Aqueduct, less than two miles south west of Telford town centre. Aqueduct forms part of Telfords urban area and benefits from convenient access to a wide range of educational, retail and leisure services and amenities.

Living Spaces first three live development sites comprise 26 homes located off Britannia Way in central Telford, 51 homes at Pixiefields in Cradley, on the outskirts of Malvern, Herefordshire and 48 homes at the former Victoria Carpets Sports Ground on the outskirts of Kidderminster town centre in Worcestershire.

Continue reading here:
Living Space Housing to build new affordable homes in Telford - Planning, BIM & Construction Today

The official list of essential services in Ontario just got shorter. After widespread criticism over the length of the initial list released ten day ago, the government has come back with a slightly revised, shorter list.

Grocery stores, the LCBO and restaurants doing takeout and delivery still all made the cut but some construction is being shut down among other revisions.

Businesses no longer deemed essential will be required to shut down by 11:59 p.m. this Saturday April 4. The closure will be in effect for at least 14 days before the list is re-evaluated.

Here's the list as written by the government of Ontario.

1. Businesses that supply other essential businesses or essential services within Ontario, or that supply businesses or services that have been declared essential in a jurisdiction outside of Ontario, with the support, products, supplies, systems, or services, including processing, packaging, warehousing, distribution, delivery, and maintenance necessary to operate.

2.Businesses that primarily sell food, beverages and consumer products necessary to maintain households and businesses including:

3. Pharmacies.

4. Gas stations and other fuel suppliers.

5. Laundromats and drycleaners.

6.Security services for residences, businesses and other properties.

7. Vehicle and equipment repair and essential maintenance and vehicle and equipment rental services.

8.Courier, postal, shipping, moving and delivery services.

9.Funeral and related services.

10.Staffing services including providing temporary help.

11.Veterinary services (urgent care only) and other businesses that provide for the health and welfare of animals, including farms, boarding kennels, stables, animal shelters, zoos, aquariums and research facilities.

12.Home child care services of up to six children as permitted under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014, and child care centres for essential workers authorized to operate in accordance with Ontario Regulation 51/20 (Order Under Subsection 7.0.2 (4) of the Act - Closure of Establishments) made under the Act.

13.Hotels, motels, other shared rental accommodation including student residences, except for seasonal campgrounds and any pools, fitness centres, meeting rooms and other recreational facilities that may be part of the operations of these businesses.

14.Cheque cashing services.

15. Stores that sell any of the following items and provide them to the customer only through an alternative method of sale such as curb side pick-up or delivery, except in exceptional circumstances:

16. Businesses that provide the following financial services:

17. Information Technology (IT) services, including online services, software products and the facilities necessary for their operation and delivery.

18.Telecommunications providers and services (phone, internet, radio, cell phones etc.) and facilities necessary for their operation and delivery.

19.Newspapers, radio and television broadcasting.

20. Maintenance, repair and property management services strictly necessary to manage and maintain the safety, security, sanitation and essential operation of institutional, commercial, industrial and residential properties and buildings.

21.Businesses and facilities that provide transportation services, including,

22. Businesses that provide and support online retail, including by providing warehousing, storage and distribution of goods that are ordered online.

23. Businesses that extract, manufacture, process and distribute goods, products, equipment and materials, including businesses that manufacture inputs to other manufacturers, (e.g. primary metal/ steel, blow molding, component manufacturers, chemicals, etc. that feed the end-product manufacturer), regardless of whether those other manufacturers are inside or outside of Ontario, together with businesses that support and facilitate the movement of goods within integrated North American and global supply chains.

24. Businesses that produce food and beverages, and agricultural products including plants, including by farming, harvesting, aquaculture, hunting and fishing.

25.Businesses that process, manufacture or distribute food, beverages, crops, agricultural products, animal products and by-products.

26. Businesses that support the food or agricultural products supply chains and the health and safety of food, animals and plants.

27. Construction projects and services associated with the healthcare sector, including new facilities, expansions, renovations and conversion of spaces that could be repurposed for health care space.

28. Construction projects and services required to ensure safe and reliable operations of, or to provide new capacity in, critical provincial infrastructure, including transit, transportation, energy and justice sectors beyond the day-to-day maintenance.

28. Critical industrial construction activities required for,

31. Construction and maintenance activities necessary to temporarily close construction sites that have paused or are not active and to ensure ongoing public safety.

32.Businesses that provide and ensure the domestic and global continuity of supply of resources, including mining, forestry, aggregates, petroleum, petroleum by-products and chemicals.

33.Electricity generation, transmission, distribution and storage and natural gas distribution, transmission and storage.

34. Businesses that deliver or support the delivery of services including:

35. Businesses and organizations that maintain research facilities and engage in research, including medical research and other research and development activities.

36. Organizations and providers that deliver home care services or personal support services to seniors and persons with disabilities.

37. Businesses that sell, rent or repair assistive/mobility/medical devices, aids and/or supplies.

38.Regulated health professionals (urgent care only) including dentists, optometrists, chiropractic services, ophthalmologists, physical and occupational therapists and podiatrists.

39.Organizations that provide health care including retirement homes, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, independent health facilities and mental health and addictions counselling supports.

40. Laboratories and specimen collection centres.

41.Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers of pharmaceutical products and medical supplies, including medications, medical isotopes, vaccines and antivirals, medical devices and medical supplies.

42.Manufacturers, distributors and businesses that provide logistical support of or for products and/or services that support the delivery of health care in all locations.

43.Not-for-profit organizations that provide critical personal support services in home or residential services for individuals with physical disabilities.

44.Not-for profit organizations that support the provision of food, shelter, safety or protection, and/or social services and other necessities of life to economically disadvantaged and other vulnerable individuals.

See the original post:
Here's the new list of essential services in Ontario - blogTO

Celeb-favorite Third Ward restaurant The Turkey Leg Hut is about to get even bigger. The perpetually packed restaurant announced last week that it just received permits from the City of Houston to begin construction on an expansion of its restaurant at 4830 Almeda Road. The plan is to add on 1,061 square feet to provide additional indoor restaurant seating, restrooms, and a bar area.

The restaurant expansion is slated to be completed by the summer, but construction will depend on state and city directives on timing to safely perform services during coronavirus containment efforts.

We are thrilled to have the green light to move forward with this expansion, Turkey Leg Hut founder Nakia Price said in a press release. Our first priority is keeping everyone safe during this pandemic, but as we make our way through this as a community, we look forward to brighter days ahead with more indoor seating capacity and additional accommodations to better serve our guests once we are able to do so.

This is just part of the companys rapid ramping up: the Turkey Leg Huts owners rolled out a food truck in the Galleria, and have been working on Savoy Urban Beer Garden, Daiquiri Hut, and Breakfast Hut, all in the Third Ward. It hasnt been without bumps in the road. Neighbors recently suspended a suit claiming the Turkey Leg Huts smokers infused smoke into nearby homes, causing serious breathing issues.

The Turkey Leg Hut at 4830 Almeda Road is currently open for take-out ordering and delivery only, with social distancing measures in place.

Read the rest here:
Turkey Leg Hut Gets the Green Light to Add More Restaurant Seating - Eater Houston

The "Oman Construction Industry Databook Series - Market Size & Forecast by Value and Volume, Opportunities in Top 10 Cities, and Risk Assessment" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

According to the publisher, the building construction industry in Oman is expected to record a CAGR of 5.8% to reach OMR 3.9 billion by 2024. The residential construction industry in value terms increased at a CAGR of 3.4% during 2015-2019. The commercial building construction market in value terms is expected to record a CAGR of 7.9% over the forecast period.

This report provides data and trend analyses on building construction industry in Oman, with over 80 KPIs. This is a data-centric report and it provides trend analyses with over 120+ charts and 100+ tables. It details market size & forecast, emerging trends, market opportunities, and investment risks in over 30 segments in residential, commercial, industrial and institutional construction sectors.

It provides a comprehensive understanding of construction industry sectors in both value and volume (both by activity and units) terms. The report focuses on combining industry dynamics with macro-economic scenario and changing consumer behavior to offer a 360-degree view of the opportunities and risks.

In addition to country level analysis, this report offers a detailed market opportunity assessment across key cities, helping clients assess key regions to target within the city.

Companies Mentioned

Reason to Buy

Key Topics Covered:

1 About this Report

2 Oman Construction Industry Dynamics and Growth Prospects

2.1 Construction Industry Growth Dynamics

2.2 Analysis by Building and Infrastructure Construction Sectors

2.3 Trend Analysis of Key Macroeconomic KPIs

2.4 Global Construction Industry Attractiveness Snapshot

3 Oman Residential Construction Industry Market Size and Forecast

3.1 Residential Building Construction Market Size by Value, 2015 - 2024

3.2 Residential Building Construction Market Size by Volume, 2015 - 2024

3.3 Residential Building Average Construction Value, 2015 - 2024

3.4 Residential Construction Analysis and Growth Dynamics by Number of Units, 2015 - 2024

4 Analysis by Residential Construction Markets Outlook by Construction type

4.1 Snapshot by Residential Building Construction Markets by Construction Type

4.2 Multi Family Residential Building Construction Market Size by Value, 2015 - 2024

4.3 Multi Family Residential Building Construction Market Size by Volume, 2015 - 2024

4.4 Multi Family Residential Building Average Construction Value, 2015 - 2024

4.5 Multi Family Construction Analysis and Growth Dynamics by Number of Units, 2015 - 2024

4.6 Single Family Residential Building Construction Market Size by Value, 2015 - 2024

4.7 Single Family Residential Building Construction Market Size by Volume, 2015 - 2024

4.8 Single Family Residential Building Average Construction Value, 2015 - 2024

4.9 Single Family Construction Analysis and Growth Dynamics by Number of Units, 2015 - 2024

5 Analysis by Residential Construction Markets Outlook by Key Cities

6 Analysis by Residential Construction Markets Outlook by Price Point

7 Residential Building Construction Growth Trend Analysis by Development Stage

8 Oman Commercial Construction Industry Market Size and Forecast

9 Office Building Construction Outlook

10 Retail Building Construction Outlook

11 Hospitality and Luxury Building Construction Outlook

12 Restaurant Building Construction Outlook

13 Sports Facility Building Construction Outlook

14 Entertainment Building Construction Outlook

15 Commercial Building Construction Growth Trend Analysis by Development Stage

16 Oman Industrial Construction Industry Market Size and Forecast

17 Outlook and Growth Dynamics by Industrial Building Construction Sectors

18 Industrial Building Construction Growth Trend Analysis by Development Stage

19 Oman Institutional Construction Industry Market Size and Forecast

20 Outlook and Growth Dynamics by Institutional Building Construction Sectors

21 Institutional Building Construction Growth Trend Analysis by Development Stage

22 Oman Building Construction Analysis by Key Cities

23 Oman Utility System Infrastructure Construction Industry Market Size and Forecast

24 Oman Transport Infrastructure Construction Industry Market Size and Forecast

Story continues

Read more from the original source:
Outlook on the Construction Industry in Oman (2015 to 2024) - Identify Growth Segments and Target Specific Opportunities - ResearchAndMarkets.com -...

Havana Cigar Lounge, a new bar and restaurant at The Yard in Fishers, donated the meals from its grand opening to first responders. Indianapolis Star

Plans have been delayed by actions taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but restaurant owners have not given up on their dreams

The novel coronavirus pandemic hasnixed dine-in service but it hasn't crushed the spirits of owners whowere scheduled to open new Indianapolis restaurants this spring.

Plans have been delayed by precautionsmeantto slow the spread of the coronavirus, but the owners of these restaurants have not given up on their projects. Keep a look out for a new breakfast place in Broad Ripple, a few brunch options, a European bistro in Noblesville and a Havana-themed lounge in Fishers.

9707 District North Drive, havanacigarlounge.vip.

March 23 was the scheduled debut date for former Delicia chef Ricky Martinezs contemporary Latin menu at this Yard at Fishers District newbie.

Havana Cigar Lounge chef Ricky Martinez grills skirt steak to serve to Fishers first responders and public service workers on March 21, when the lounge was supposed to celebrate its grand opening. The lounge's debut was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.(Photo: Jenna Watson/IndyStar)

Theluxury, tropical-escape was ready to go days in advance. Owner Omar Barham, who also runs the automobile sales business Coast to Coast Imports in Carmel and Fishers, had planned a grand-opening blowout, complete with ice sculptures and a live band under the lounge's palm trees.

Instagram eats: Follow Liz Biro's culinary adventures

Instead, he donated the grand opening to first responders in Fishers. Police, firefighters and public works department employees were able to pick up free meals curbside on March 21. The restaurant will resume full service when the the dine-in ban ends.

6331 Guilford Ave.

Thisshrine to biscuits was scheduled to open in late winter 2020 at the former Corner Wine Bar. Half-foot diameter biscuits hollowed like bread bowls and filled with sausage gravy were in the works, as well ascheesy and extra-spicyversions of biscuits and gravy. The restaurant is ready for inspections and will open once the dine-in prohibitions is lifted, co-owner Joel Bourke said.

B & G's will be abreakfast-all-day-and-night restaurant with a full bar and a pub area. Sit in acozy 28-seat breakfast caf serving classic breakfast favorites such as pancakes, eggs and bacon in addition to biscuits. Table service switches to quick service for the smaller, late-night menu.

56 S 9th St., Noblesville.

Chef Samir Mohammad and Rachel Firestone had planned to open their cozy, European-inspired bistro this spring. The couple is sitting tightas they consider retooling the menu for takeout.

We are still completely committed to accomplishing our goals and becoming a part of this community, they wrote on 9th Street Bistros Facebook page.

New north-side pizzeria: Lou Malnati's is on the way

Before arriving in Noblesville, Firestone, from Lafayette, and Mohammad, a New Mexico native, ran Bettola Bistro near Denver. The Italian restaurant garnered accolades from local food writers and crowd-source review sites. The chance to own their own restaurant brought Mohammad and Firestone to Noblesville.

1901E. 46th St.,goldleafindy.com

Nothing more than $10 on the menuand $5-$8 wine and beer by the glass are Chef Kristine Bockmans guidelines at this 60-seat eatery bringing breakfast, lunch and evening nibblesto theArsenal Park area.

Most of everything is completely built out now, Bockman said.

Once the dine-in cease order order is lifted, Gold Leaf could be ready to open in as little as two weeks.Meantime, were just going to kind of bide our time and perfect some things, Bockman said.

Atrained butcher who spent much of her cooking career at Italian restaurants in New York City and catering in Seattle, Bockman hasalso been a Smoking Goose sausage maker. Her Gold Leaf menu ideas include provolone-stuffed meatballs in tomato sauce and salted carmel pot de crme. By day, Gold Leaf will serve coffee, quick breads, breakfast sandwiches and light lunch.

1258 Windsor St.,kankanindy.com.

The team that created top Indianapolis top restaurant Bluebeard and its neighbor, Amelias Bakery, had planned to introduce this family-friendly theater/restaurant combo March 23. Opening day is up in the air, but Kan-Kan is already showing movies at virtual watch parties on its Slack channel and at Kan-Kan On Demand. Youll have to make your own popcorn for now.

When Kan-Kan Brasserie opens, Bluebeard chef and James Beard Awards semifinalist Abbi Merriss will helm the kitchen.She'll use locally sourced ingredientsin no-fussdishes like steak frites.An Amelia's Bakery cafe is under construction next door.

1101 N. College Ave.

Pastry chef Pete Schmuttes fans were thrilled to hear the dessert master would open his own place. AroundIndianapolis-area professional food circles, Schmutte has been described as probably the best chef in the city" thanks largely to showstoppers like the white chocolate tart he crowed with caviar for Beholder.

Pastry chef Pete Schmutte is developing Leviathan Bake House, a bakery, cafe and dessert bar scheduled to open sometime in 2020 in the downtown Indianapolis area near Mass Ave.(Photo: Michelle Pemberton/The Star)

The 40-seat bakery/caf/dessert bar he and Gallery Pastry Shop alum Matt Steinbronn are developing at the former R2GO specialty food marketnear Mass Ave. was scheduled to open in early 2020.

Were funded, Schmutte said. I can only say well open when were ready and it makes sense.

What Hoosiers want: Shake Shack and more

When that time comes, look for fancy treats alongside breads and simple cookies. Pop inmornings and afternoons for croissants, breakfast sandwiches, coffee andlight soup-and-sandwichlunches. At night, consider Leviathan a dessert bar.

130 E. Washington St.

ThisJapanese kaiseki experience was originally scheduled to open in November 2019. Construction delays moved the date to May 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has probably crashed that plan, but chef Akinori Tanigawa continues to tweak recipes for the sublime feasts of small plates Hinata owner Nobuharu Nobu Nakajima has in mind.

New ramen shop: Now open at the old Milano Inn

Before stay-at-home orders hit Indiana, Tanigawa showcased his cooking at privatetastings where he creatededible works of art like perfectly rare, soy-poached beef tenderloin slices in broth under a tangle of slivered scallion. Sweet red bean paste filled strawberry mochi packets alongside green tea ice cream dusted in macha and blooming from the center of a yellow sunflower bowl.

Hinata Japanese restaurant chef chef Akinori Tanigawa prepares tasting plates at a private luncheon at Studio C in Indianapolis. Hinata, a kaiseki-style restaurant, is scheduled to open in 2020 in downtown Indianapolis.(Photo: Liz Biro/IndyStar)

5858 N. College Ave.

Owner Gino Pizzi was waiting for final inspections in the days before the coronavirus stoppeddine-in service at Indiana restaurants. Construction delays had already pushed the opening date of this seafood restaurant from spring 2019 to fall to early 2020.

Pizzi, the man behind Indys popular Italian restaurant Ambrosia, ran an oyster bar by the same name years ago in Broad Ripple. Expect raw East Coast oysters, clam bakes, lobster rolls, chowders, clams casino, oysters Rockefeller, mussels steamed in red chili broth andfrom-scratch linguini with fresh clams.

The Pizzi family has also been working on a new Fountain Square speakeasy named Bar Fontana.

gallerypastryshop.com.

Owners Allison Keefer and pastry chef Ben Hardyhave been working ontwo outposts of their popular Broad Ripple location since mid-2019.

Gallery Pastry Shop chef Ben Hardy of Indianapolis prepares bread pudding at the 2019 World Food Championships semi-finals in Dallas. New Gallery Pastry Bar in downtown Indy and Gallery Pastry Brunch on the city's Old Northside are scheduled to open sometime in 2020.(Photo: Nikki Acosta/Magnetic Focus Photography)

Gallery Pastry Bar, a haven for bubbles, dessert-inspired cocktails and brunch andevening bites around an open kitchen, was scheduled to start popping champagne corks in April at 130 S. Pennsylvania St. All-brunch-all-the-time Gallery Pastry Brunch was due late summer at 319 E. 16th St., on the bottom floor of the new Three 19 apartment and townhouse complex at North New Jersey Street.

While both projects are on hold, Gallery continues operating as a takeout bakery and caf. Order cakes, lunch boxes, mimosa kits and more.

9707 District North Drive, havanacigarlounge.vip.

March 23 was the scheduled debut date for former Delicia chef Ricky Martinezs contemporary Latin menu at this Yard at Fishers District newbie.

Theluxury, tropical-escape was ready to go days in advance. Owner Omar Barham, who also runs the automobile sales business Coast to Coast Imports in Carmel and Fishers, had planned a grand-opening blowout, complete with ice sculptures and a live band under the lounge's palm trees.

Instead, he donated the grand opening to first responders in Fishers. Police, firefighters and public works department employees were able to pick up free meals curbside on March 21. The restaurant will resume full service when the the dine-in ban ends.

Follow IndyStar food writer Liz Biro on Twitter: @lizbiro, Instagram: @lizbiro, and on Facebook. Call her at 317-444-6264.

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These 10 restaurants that were supposed to open this spring. They'll get here, eventually. - IndyStar

Amid the somber news revolving around the novel coronavirus, it is encouraging to see development reinvigorating once moribund areas of the City of Buffalo.

Thats whats happening on the East Side as a minority-owned construction management and general contracting company prepares to lease the third-floor space at Northland Central.

Northland Central is the hub in the 35-acre Northland Corridor light manufacturing business zone, an area that was once thriving but over the past several decades sat all but abandoned.

Rodriguez Construction Group is taking up more than 8,500 square feet of space at 683 Northland Ave. for its corporate offices under a five-year lease with a five-year option to renew. That places one of the last pieces of the puzzle on a remarkable and transformative project.

The Buffalo Urban Development Corp., maintaining momentum despite the stressful situation brought on by the pandemic, approved the agreement with Rodriguez Construction during a videoconference meeting. Rodriguez will also spend $400,000 to build out its own space.

The Northland Corridor, powered by $100 million in state and city funding, is evolving. Mayor Byron W. Brown deserves credit for envisioning the renaissance and revitalization in an area that had once been part of Buffalos manufacturing machine.

Inside this corridor is hope. Long mothballed buildings have been gutted down to the steel and remade to serve as a light manufacturing base, as well as a training center. BUDC redeveloped the 235,000-square-foot building, formally Niagara Machine & Tool Works, into the new home of the Northland Workforce Training Center and Buffalo Manufacturing Works, the anchor tenants.

This corridor is evolving into a hub of activity where people can learn a skilled trade, eat at a restaurant and browse some of the regions finest works of art the temporarily closed extension of the Albright-Knox-Gundlach Art Gallery is at 612 Northland.

Rodriguez now becomes one of the tenants at Northland, joining Manna restaurant, 43North winner SparkCharge and Retech Systems, a California clean furnace maker. Now there is only one small space vacant at Northland, putting the building at 97% occupancy.

Job well done.

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank-you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.

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With new tenant, Northland powers the East Side - Buffalo News

While the Chinese coronavirus shutdown continues to hurt millions of Texans and businesses across the state, small businesses in North Texas have united to give back to the community that has given them so much.

This Thursday and Friday, Colleyville restaurants Red Barn BBQ, Mother Clucker, Honey Teriyaki, Rio Mambo, Midici, The Neapolitan Pizza Company, and My Lanunited by Facebook group Colleyville Eatsare donating at least 120 meals to the COVID-19 teams of the Grapevine Baylor Scott & White Hospital.

We did dinner for [the Colleyville Fire Department and Police Department], and I was like, Well, if were doing [this] for them, Ive worked at Baylor Grapevine, said Candy Jaimes, whose husband runs Red Barn BBQ.

Candys donation idea just happened to coincide with a similar one at local chicken eatery Mother Clucker.

Originally, I had a customer call me, and she heard about local businesses being affected, so she actually wanted to donate $250 worth of food, which is roughly about 40 plates, said David Oun of Mother Clucker. Oun said the donor left it up to him where to donate the food, and he immediately thought of the hospital.

Right near us, a little bit north, is the Grapevine Baylor Scott & White Hospital. I was actually looking for a way to contact them until Lourdes from Colleyville Eats told me Candy used to work there, so she had contacts.

Oun and Candy joined forces, and the Facebook group Colleyville Eats helped spread the word.

Candy Jaimes from Red Barn BBQ has spearheaded the mission of delivering 120 meals to the COVID-19 unit of Baylor Scott & White in Grapevine this Thursday and Friday, Lourdes McWitheywho runs Colleyville Eatstold Texas Scorecard:

On Tuesday, March 31, she asked me to share this with Colleyville and Grapevine Eats members. So far, the response of local restaurants stepping up to help is tremendousRed Barn BBQ, Mother Clucker, Honey Teriyaki, Rio Mambo, Midici, The Neapolitan Pizza Company, and My Lan have offered to help. Colleyville Eats members are donating to restaurants by monetary donations with credit cards.

Leading the charge on giving is nothing new for Red Barn BBQ. The restaurant was started 15 years ago by Von Husbandsa man well-known in the community for his generosity and kindnesswho lost his battle with cancer last December.

Jaimes, whose husband Noel worked for Husbands for 14 years and now owns Red Barn BBQ, affirmed their commitment to continue his legacy of generosity.

Its 100 percent our goal to carry on his legacy and find different ways to help and just move forward with what he started. He was very generous.

And for this weeks generosity to the hospitals, it wasnt difficult to enlist others in the Colleyville community to help.

I want to do it. [Ive] got to do it, said Scott Choi of Honey Teriyaki. I cannot just receive and receive. I like to give some, too.

These restaurants are making this effort even though theylike many other small businesses in Texasare fighting for survival amid the coronavirus shutdown. Before this, these three Colleyville restaurants were already struggling with the Texas Department of Transportations road construction on State Highway 26 and its interference with business traffic.

Within two years that Ive been here in the business, because of construction on 26, theres about 11 or 12 businesses that went out of business, Choi said.

This is not new for us in [the] Colleyville area, but because of what was going on in Colleyville, because of the construction, there were so many businesses that just went out and they could not sustain the business. Construction is almost done. Now, the coronavirus, he added.

Ounwhose business is nine months oldwas just starting to see some growth when the coronavirus pandemic hit.

At a point in time in early March, late February, it was finally feeling like it was turning around, he said. And then the [coronavirus] started hitting hard. And then, boomovernight, customers just disappeared.

Clearly, its slowed our business tremendously, Jaimes said. We were just starting to see our business pickup, with the roads on 26 starting to be completed, and then this started. So, its just been a difficult time for us.

These businesses give credit to McWitheys Colleyville Eatsfor helping them the past few years.

Choi said McWithey just could not stand hearing about restaurants moving out or not being able to stay in business.

She put this group together pretty much just to help restaurants in the area, Jaimes added. It started off in Colleyville, and now they have Grapevine also.

She just pretty much advertises for small businesses in Colleyville. In situations like this, we have bonded together through Colleyville Eats to let people know which restaurants are open, which restaurants are taking things.

Because of how much the Colleyville community has helped them, these businesses are now giving back to the community and to each other.

Long story short is [were] trying to do what we can, Oun added.

And then the town is really pulling together to donate either food from the other local restaurants or money to provide more food for the nurses [and] the hospital staff. Its been a wonderful team effort, especially since we are a smaller town, so its nice to see our neighbors, our friends, coworkers, family all pulling together to try to support the people helping us.

As to how often theyll be able to make efforts like this, Jaimes says itll have to be a community effort.

It may get to doing a unit a week. It all depends on how many donations we get and how many restaurants that we get that would love to participate.

Financially, we cant do it by ourselves, she added.

Those interested in helping these businesses give to others may contact them and donate over the phone. They are also open for carryout. Red Barn BBQ offers limited delivery, whereas Mother Clucker and Honey Teriyaki offer delivery through third-party services.

Read more here:
Colleyville Businesses Giving Back to the Community - Texas Scorecard