INDIANAPOLIS -

A large fire engulfed an apartment building under construction on the near north side Friday night.

The fire broke out around 9 p.m. on the northeast corner of East 16th Street and Broadway. Large flames could be seen from a camera atop the television tower in front of the WTHR studios. Smoke from the fire could be seen from several counties around Indianapolis, viewers reported.

The fire destroyed two apartment buildings under construction.

"We have a four-story wood frame structure, actually two of them, in that location," said Joe Langybartels, a manager on the construction project who was at the scene.

Langybartelstold Eyewitness News he didn't believe there was anything on the construction site that could have caused the fire.

"Not right off hand, no, 'cause everything...all the sprinkler system's poly, the drain lines are poly, the wires were being pulled, there's no power," he said.

Neighbors say the fire started small, then suddenly took off.

"I dialed 911, I said, 'It's a fire!'," said Regina Morris. "Next thing you know, all of them just went to blaze. I'm on the phone with 911, I'm telling them, 'They need to get here! Y'all need to get here!' They said, 'Where you at ma'am?' I said, 'I'm at 16th and Park.' I said 'It's a small fire.' Next thing you know, everything is popping and it went to blaze."

Construction materials across the street also ignited and a nearby church reportedly caught fire as well. Propane tanks at the scene also were seen exploding.

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Fire engulfs north side apartment construction site

Patrick Kennedy, executive director with Housing Assistance Corporation, talks about the new Oak Haven Apartments a senior community located off of Old Spartanburg Road.

Oak Haven apartment building on Old Spartanburg Road is nearing completion, and interest in the units for mostly low-income senior citizens and the disabled has been so strong that 24 more units will be under construction in the fall.

The 56-unit building cost about $6.5 million, and the site manager expects leases to be signed starting July 1. Already, about 32 of the units are committed to future tenants.

Executive Director Patrick Kennedy said construction on 24 more units will begin in the fall, for a total of 80 apartments.

The building is the biggest development for Housing Assistance Corp. and will become home to mostly low-income senior citizens.

"It's really a great location for seniors," Kennedy said.

On Wednesday, site managers with Partnership Property Management of Greensboro held an open house and toured local human service agencies. A grand opening for the apartments will be planned for mid-August. Prospective tenant Phyllis Strickland filled out paperwork Wednesday in a common room of the new building. Strickland has been at Hendersonville Health and Rehabilitation in Flat Rock for the past three years. She's lived in some form of nursing home for the past eight, after her leg was amputated.

"They're more like mainstream apartments than traditional handicap places," she said of Oak Haven. "I don't feel like I'm being put into an ugly, utilitarian place. These are beautiful."

Strickland, who is 65, fits the niche for the complex. Rooms are built to standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Cabinets are lower. There are safety alarms in the bedroom and bathroom. Strickland said that without such accessibility, she wouldn't be able to get around. She toured one of the apartments, trying out every light switch and reaching for every plug.

Strickland said the move to living on her own is a scary, but exciting, prospect.

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Apartments for low-income seniors, disabled near completion

Home sales up. Inventories down. Prices rising in many cities. New houses being built at the fastest pace in years. Interest rates hovering at historic lows. A vibrant rental market.

A growing body of data in recent months has suggested that better days are on the horizon for the nations battered housing market, though it remains clear that a turnaround wont come quickly.

The latest harbinger of (mostly) encouraging news: the annual State of the Nations Housing report released Thursday by Harvard Universitys Joint Center for Housing Studies, which details more signs of revival.

While still in the early innings of a housing recovery, rental markets have turned the corner, home sales are strengthening, and a floor is beginning to form under home prices, Eric S. Belsky, the centers managing director, said in a statement accompanying the report.

The Harvard report, released annually since 1988, assesses nearly every aspect of the countrys housing and rental markets. The findings this year offer glimmers of optimism that have been largely absent in recent years. Among them: an increase in sales of existing homes, fewer homes lingering on the market, an uptick in residential construction, signs of stabilizing prices in many areas, falling rental vacancy rates and low interest rates that make purchasing more affordable.

In addition, a new National Housing Survey released by mortgage giant Fannie Mae shows that despite the turmoil of recent years, most Americans still have strong aspirations to own a home, though fewer people than in the past see it as a lucrative investment.

In spite of the impact of the housing crisis on home values and homeownership rates across the country, Americans by and large still hope to become homeowners, Doug Duncan, Fannie Maes chief economist, said in a statement accompanying the survey results. Some may not be financially positioned to own a home in the near future, but Americans may begin to revisit that aspiration as employment and household balance sheets improve over the coming years.

Of course, the slivers of heartening news about the nations housing situation are still outweighed by troubles, and those who talk of a future recovery also acknowledge the uncertainty of the present.

The Harvard report notes that more than 2 million homes were in some stage of foreclosure during the early part of 2012, with more facing a similar fate. The number of borrowers delinquent on their mortgages has fallen, but its still far higher than historical averages.

In addition, more than 11 million homeowners owe more than their houses are worth, and the total amount of that negative equity has stayed at about $700 billion. As banks have become more cautious, lending to only the most creditworthy borrowers, many would-be buyers are having trouble getting home loans. The lackluster job market adds to those difficulties and also makes it harder for many existing homeowners to simply make ends meet.

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Housing market shows hints of recovery, but economic troubles remain

Posted: 2:35 pm Thu, June 14, 2012 By ChrisNewmarker Tags: jobs, Mark Phillips, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Steve Hine, unemployment

Construction crews work Monday on the future Whole Foods at the site of the former Jaguar car dealership at 222 Hennepin Ave. in Minneapolis. Construction over the past 12 months has grown at the fastest rate among industrial sectors in Minnesota. (File photo: Bill Klotz)

Sector notched May gains while Minnesota lost jobs

An apartment building boom and other projects have made the construction industry one of the states few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing employment situation.

Minnesota gained 800 construction jobs in May and 4,200 over the past 12 months, a 4.5 percent increase over the past year that far outpaces the 0.4 percent growth in construction jobs nationwide over the same period, the state Department of Employment and economic development reported Thursday. All numbers are subject to revision.

The overall number of Minnesota jobs meanwhile shrunk by 900 in May, with the states unemployment rate remaining unchanged at 5.6 percent. The number of Minnesota jobs is up 22,600, or 0.8 percent, over the past 12 months, lagging behind the national growth rate of 1.4 percent.

The past three months weve really stagnated. Its pretty clear weve hit a soft spot in line with what were observing nationally, said Steve Hine, research director of DEEDs Labor Market Information Office.

Hine, though, pointed out that construction is presently growing jobs faster than any other sector of Minnesotas economy. Specialty trade contractors, who make up two-thirds of the jobs in the state, have seen a 10.5 percent increase in positions over the past 12 months.

Residential building construction jobs are up 5.5 percent aided by the 13,829 apartment units that are proposed or in development in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Despite the gain over the past year, construction still has a long way to go to gain back the roughly 50,000 jobs the sector lost during the recession.

Excerpt from:
In Minnesota, construction emerges as bright spot for jobs (update)

For the last few years, Rantoul Street has been the road of choice for developers looking to put up new buildings in Beverly.

Now, it's Cabot Street's turn.

A developer has filed plans with the city to build a three-story apartment building in a parking lot at 130 Cabot St., next to the Siam Delight restaurant and Sam's Cleaners.

If the plan is approved, it would be the first significant new construction in the main section of downtown in years.

"We think the downtown is moving toward the Beverly-Salem bridge a little more," said Jeff Holloran, the developer who plans to buy the property if the project is approved. "We wanted to bridge the gap."

The proposal calls for 13 apartments, with space for two retail stores on the first floor. Gin Wallace, executive director of Beverly Main Streets, said the plan meshes with her organization's efforts to bring both more residents and retail to the downtown.

"Most of the residential stuff is happening on Rantoul, but we're really excited about (this plan) because it fits right into our vision for the downtown with residential above and retail below," Wallace said. "The more people you have living downtown, the more people you have for the businesses."

The parking lot at 130 Cabot St., at the corner of Vestry Street, has been owned by Jay Levy since 1995. He has rented the lot to various businesses over the years, including the Registry of Motor Vehicles, but said the lot has essentially been a "hole" at that end of Cabot Street.

Levy, who has owned an office/retail building across the street since 1978, said the combination of an apartment building and retail stores should provide a boost for the area.

"This end of Cabot Street is kind of a neglected end of Cabot Street," he said. "Once you get past City Hall, the retail kind of falls off. If they put up a building and there's some retail, it will extend the retail on Cabot Street and help some of the other retail in this area."

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Cabot Street housing planned

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Construction is starting today on Circle South Park a $52 million luxury apartment community from developer Crescent Resources, LLC. The first apartments are expected to be available in summer 2013.

Circle South Park will include 321 apartment homes on a Carnegie Boulevard site adjacent to Piedmont Town Center near SouthPark mall. Circle South Park, which will feature classical traditional architecture and blend with other buildings in the neighborhood, will be the third Circle community developed by Crescent Resources in the Charlotte region.

"South Park is an ideal location for our Circle brand and our next multifamily project," said Brian Natwick, president of Crescent Resources' multifamily division. "Like other Circle communities, Circle South Park will offer a unique lifestyle and provide residents with an opportunity to live, work and play within easy walking distances. South Park is the southeast's premier shopping and dining destination, and the opportunity to live within this neighborhood in a Circle community is unprecedented."

Circle communities offer unique programming from volunteering to pet happy hours aimed at enriching social experiences and fostering a sense of community among residents. Circle South Park will feature a cyber lounge, business center, Wi-Fi throughout the amenity areas, and a state-of-the-art clubroom with a show kitchen and gaming area. The project will also feature a multistory health club; resort-style saltwater pool with aqua sundeck, outdoor kitchen and lounging area; two-acre dog park and a scenic pond with a walking trail.

Apartments will include a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Interior features will include stainless steel appliances, washer and dryer, stone countertops, wood cabinetry, Moen fixtures, and a designer lighting package.

Circle South Park is being financed by an equity investment from Crescent, construction financing from J.P. Morgan Real Estate Banking and mezzanine financing from Nationwide Real Estate Investments. The project team includes architect The Preston Partnership, LLC; landscape architect LandDesign; civil engineer ColeJenest & Stone, interior designer Vignette Interior Design; general contractor State Building Group and property management firm Greystar.

In keeping with Circle's green philosophy, the project will seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council upon completion.

More information is available at http://www.circlesouthpark.com. The website also provides a signup form for people who wish to receive project announcements and leasing information.

About CircleCircle was inspired through extensive review and analysis of industry trends and marketplace needs. The progressive Circle communities are places where neighbors connect and become stewards of the larger community. In addition to presenting a new breed of apartments in which people are excited to live, Circle developments are infused with the exceptional quality and customer-oriented features that have become Crescent hallmarks. Visit http://www.liveinthecircle.com for more information.

Crescent is the developer of Circle at South End in Charlotte and Circle at Concord Mills in Concord, N.C. Crescent's multifamily communities under construction include The Venue at Cool Springs in Nashville, Tenn.; Circle West Campus in Austin, Texas; Gallery at Cameron Village in Raleigh, N.C.; Circle Crosstown in Tampa; and Circle Ninth Street in Durham, N.C. Crescent's planned multifamily communities include Circle Bayshore in Tampa, Circle Alexander Village in Charlotte and Circle Terminus in Atlanta, as well as four additional developments planned to start construction this year.

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Crescent Resources Starts Construction On Circle South Park

Items in this feature are gathered from company news releases, court documents and regular news-gathering processes. Southern Exposure Information ( 256-658-9297) compiles building permits and court documents for The Times. If you have company news to be published, mail the release to The Huntsville Times, c/o Business News, P.O. Box 1487, West Station, Huntsville, AL 35807, fax 256-532-4420 or email pacesetters@htimes.com. Items are printed as space is available. The deadline is noon Wednesday.

Huntsville

The largest building permit issued the week of May 25-June 1 in the city of Huntsville went to Edward Rose Millennial Development, $324,000, a multiple-family residence, 24803 Alabama 20.

Michigan-based Edward Rose & Sons is buildingthe first 36-unit apartment building and 20 garages that arepart of the planned 528-unit Limestone Creek Apartments near the Interstate 565-Mooresville Road interchange.

Other permits valued at $20,000 and more were:

Edward Rose Millennial Development, $324,000, a multiple-family residence, 24803 Alabama 20.

Medtech USA Southeast, $233,000, alterations to a building for Wes Kendall, 2124 Cecil Ashburn Drive, Suite 170.

Castelli EDB, $134,000, an addition to a single-family residence for Richard Harrison, 113 Wingate Ave.

Waynes Acoustical, $123,618, alterations to a building for West Wind Technologies, 2840 Wall Triana Highway.

Com Alabama Contractors, $116,855, alterations to a building for Huntsville Commons, 2250 Sparkman Drive.

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Building permits for Huntsville, Madison and Madison County listed

Workers continue construction at the 278-unit Integra Hills apartment complex in Collegedale, Tenn., on Friday morning. The complex is slated for completion by the end of 2012.

Name: Integra Hills Luxury Apartments

Location: 9198 Integra Hills Lane in Collegedale, off Little Debbie Parkway and north of County Highway 378.

Status: The clubhouse is being painted, and workers have hung the dry drywall in the interior, according to Jason Cromer, project manager for LandSouth construction. Rough-in work is complete on the first apartment building, and drywall work soon will start on the first 24 units. Most concrete foundations are poured, and vertical construction will start this week. The first units will open in August. The community will be complete in February 2013.

Price: $19 million for 278 apartment units in this gated community. Five floor plans range from 852 to 1,427 square feet. Rent is expected to be about a dollar per square foot, per month, Cromer said.

Features: Crown molding in living and dining rooms, wood plank floors, 9-foot ceilings, custom cabinetry, built-in computer niche, French doors. Fiber cement siding, similar in construction to Hardie board with wood-grain look.

Amenities: Residents will have access to a resort-style pool, a billiards and entertainment room, Internet cafe, fitness room, tanning studio, summer kitchen and playground. The entryway will be beautifully landscaped with 100 varieties of trees. Rooms are pre-wired for data, Internet and phone.

General contractor: LandSouth Construction

Developer: Integra Land Co.

-- Compiled by staff writer Ellis Smith, esmith@times freepress.com or 423-757-6315

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Under Construction: Luxury apartment complex begins in Collegedale

The Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral received approval Friday to demolish two historic buildings in the 3700 block of Chestnut Street, clearing the way for construction of a 25-story apartment tower.

At a lengthy hearing of the city Historical Commission, the cathedral and its private development partner agreed to conditions imposed by the commission that seek to insure that a portion of development profits flow into repair and renovation of the historic cathedral's bell tower.

"We are committed to preserving the church itself," the Rev. Judith Sullivan, cathedral dean, told the commission. "We are all about preservation."

The proposal before the commission was unusual in that the cathedral and its partner, the Radnor Property Group, argued that the demolition is "in the public interest."

By choosing to proceed in this fashion, they compelled the commission to weigh the relative value of historically designated properties and to consider the possibility that a commercial development, built on the ground of demolished historic properties, is good for preservation.

"We're placing a value judgment in saying that the cathedral is more important," said John Mattioni, a commission member.

The cathedral plans to demolish its own parish house and rectory known together as the parish house placed on the National Register of Historic Places and on the Philadelphia registry in 1981, to construct the apartment tower plus office and retail space.

Well-known church architect Charles M. Burns completely designed one of the three-story brownstone parish buildings in 1902 and redesigned the facade and additional features of the other to complement the cathedral.

At that time the cathedral, also designed by Burns, was known as the Church of the Savior; it was placed on the local registry in 1981 with the parish house and rectory.

At Friday's hearing, members of the historical commission grappled with the meaning of "public interest" and sought repeatedly to determine the amount of money the developer was willing to commit to cathedral restoration. The cathedral's proposal was based on the idea that the commercial development, built on church property, would provide revenues for restoration that the cathedral would not otherwise have. How much money, and how and when it would be used proved difficult for the commission to determine.

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Episcopal Cathedral gets OK to raze historic buildings, erect apartment high-rise

CHERRY HILL A building boom continues at Garden State Park on Haddonfield Road as construction has begun on a bank, a preschool and a 617-apartment complex.

But on the western edge of the sprawling, 240-acre former racetrack sits a vacant patch of dirt and grass, not a bulldozer in sight

. And the owners of the 18-acre parcel owe the township nearly $170,000 in property taxes.

Turnberry Cherry Hill LLC, a division of Florida-based Turnberry Associates, owns the parcel, which is assessed for tax purposes at $2.3 million. The land is northwest of The Home Depot across Garden Park Boulevard.

Turnberry also owns a half-acre property along Third Avenue off Chapel Avenue valued at $49,000. It owes a little more than $17,000 in taxes on that piece of land.

Several calls to Yamila Garayzar, Turnberrys vice president of sales and marketing, were not returned Thursday.

But Bob Dwyer, an owner representative for Turnberry in this area, said the arrears will be taken care of.

The taxes will be paid, asserted Dwyer, of Land Trust Properties in Berwyn, Pa. It must be some kind of clerical error.

If the debt is not paid by June 25, the land will be offered at a sheriffs sale, township officials said.

Dwyer did not say if there are any plans in the works for the parcel.

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$170,000 in taxes owed on Garden State Park parcel