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Dave Hansen, left, and his son Austin Hansen work on a new seating area Thursday at Scooter's Chillin'-N-Grillin' in Twin Falls.

A new bar top has been installed at O'Dunkens Draught House Thursday in downtown Twin Falls.

New patio flooring has been put in place Thursday at Twin Falls Sandwich Co. in downtown Twin Falls.

Original flooring was found during the renovations to the theater, built in 1921, on Friday at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Twin Falls.

Downtown businesses have been keeping busy in spite of of COVID-19 closures by doing renovation projects in Twin Falls.

TWIN FALLS Sometimes even the darkest clouds have silver linings.

Magic Valley restaurants have lost huge sums of money because of COVID-19. Hundreds of food service workers have lost their jobs. Business wont return to normal for a long time if ever.

But there is one major benefit to shutting, or slowing, down business. Lots of business owners have done remodels to take advantage of their empty stores, and for some, theyve been able to do big projects that would have been more challenging under normal circumstances.

Financially it was the worst time, but as far as affecting customers it was the best time for sure, Twin Falls Sandwich Co. owner Shane Cook said. It took the entire time we were closed.

Owner Shane Cook stands over his new patio flooring Thursday at Twin Falls Sandwich Co. in downtown Twin Falls.

Many Twin Falls business owners have spent the past two months renovating their establishments, in some cases doing much of the work themselves or with the help of friends.

Cook said his business did a ton of deep cleaning, and also repainted, re-tiled and added new artwork by local artists to the walls.

Wed planned on doing it in two years, Cook said, noting that the restaurant is now brighter and more colorful.

Scooters Chillin-N-Grillin started working on major renovations even before Gov. Brad Little ordered restaurants to close. Manager Jamie Carlton said the restaurant decided to get a jump start since it was clear business was going to virtually disappear anyway.

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Watch Now: New business (re)models Store owners make the most of closures - Times-News

In March, states undertook dramatic and unprecedented measures to stem the spread of the SARS2-COV virus. And yet COVID-19 has claimed 100,000 lives in the U.S. Was the lockdown effective? Economists frequently address such questions in our research.

Seeing the unseen, or the path that we did not choose, is the key here. It is the fundamental challenge of economics, as illustrated by Frederic Bastiats parable of the broken window. A shopkeeper must replace a broken window. A neighbor, perhaps offering solace, points out that if windows never got broken, the town glazier would starve. To avoid believing that broken windows boost the economy, we must recognize what the shopkeeper did not buy due to replacing the window.

Economists visualize the alternative paths we could choose. What would have happened if we didnt pass NAFTA, or hadnt bailed out banks during the financial crisis, or if we raised the minimum wage to $15 per hour? The term counterfactual refers to the unchosen path.

Economists devise principles for constructing counterfactuals. Scenarios must be logically coherent and consistent with the available evidence. We must avoid overly optimistic or pessimistic alternatives.

I have never estimated potential deaths in an outbreak of a disease but have researched tornado warnings and worst case tornadoes. Like most economists, I recognize the challenges in evaluating the lockdown.

Heres a first challenge. WalletHub has scored the strictness of states COVID protection measures. The average COVID fatality rate for the ten states with the strictest lockdown policies is 686 per million residents, versus a fatality rate of 68 for the ten least strict states, or one tenth as much. The three highest fatality rate states are among the ten strictest states.

Does this show that lockdowns cause COVID-19 deaths? No. The states suffering the worst outbreaks will impose the strictest measures. This is the endogeneity of policy problem. Ignoring this issue would lead us to conclude that hospitals cause death because many people die there. Controlling for policy endogeneity is a major research focus.

Another problem arises because states imposed policies and Americans realized that COVID-19 was a serious health threat at about the same time. The NBA suspended its season March 11, people sharply reduced travel around March 15, and the first state stay-at-home order took effect March 19. We have very few data points to tease out the effect of various policies from behavioral changes.

The United States was slow in rolling out testing for COVID-19, creating another challenge. If we compared the number of COVID-19 cases in the month before and after lockdowns to test effectiveness, the total would rise simply because many more people were tested. Can we detect a decline in infections during a period of expanding testing?

Even if Marchs lockdown was effective, the policies may not be effective in another time or place. Policy effects may not transfer for several reasons. For the COVID lockdown, an important factor is peoples willingness to comply. If Americans do not favor shutting down the economy for a second wave of the virus, stay-at-home orders may prove ineffective when reimplemented.

Researchers at Columbia University have evaluated the lockdown, based on computer simulations with travel data between cities and reported cases and deaths. The policies appear to have stemmed the illness; indeed implementation of the same policies two weeks earlier could have avoided 83 percent of U.S. deaths through May 3.

The sophisticated technical analysis here, I think, obscures a bigger point. Nonpharmaceutical interventions, as epidemiologists call such policies, do not prevent COVID-19 deaths. Americans who did not get COVID this spring can still get sick next fall. Only a vaccine or effective treatment will truly prevent deaths.

Whether school closings and stay-at-home orders slow an outbreak is an important and really challenging research question. This question must be answered before we compare economic costs and health benefits. Ultimately a lockdown is merely a delaying action. Delaying actions are only worth fighting as part of a larger strategy.

Daniel Sutter is the Charles G. Koch Professor of Economics with the Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy at Troy University and host of Econversations on TrojanVision. The opinions expressed in this column are the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Troy University.

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Dan Sutter: Did the lockdown save lives? - Alabama Today

The Beacon Hill Architectural Commission approved an application as submitted for the renovation of the Boston Athenaeums south balcony during a virtual hearing on Thursday, May 21.

The applicant, Matthew Bronski, a principal with the Waltham engineering firm Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, said the scope of the project includes removing existing waterproofing and slate paving from the balconies at the second- and fifth-floor levels at 10 Beacon St. facing the Old Granary Burying Ground and replacing them with new waterproofing and non-slip bluestone paving. The proposed work also includes the replacement of non-original existing railings on the second- and fifth floors with equivalent railings that would be up to code, as well as the installation of a new copper gutter on the fifth floor.

The commission approved an extensive renovation of the Athenaeums north faade and terrace at its previous monthly hearing, which was held virtually on April 16.

In a matter continued from September of 2018, the commission approved the applicants to plan to construct an interior staircase at a two-story carriage house owned by the Park Street School at 55-57 Brimmer St., as well as planned changes to the design of the faux carriage house doors on the adjoining one-story garage while denying the proposed window reconfiguration and additions on the garage building to preserve the integrity of the historic building.

The Park Street School intends to convert the garage into a science lab and classroom while the former single-family residence upstairs would be repurposed as a meeting room and administrative offices.

On an application for a building owned by the Park Street Church at 3 Park St to replace insulated glass in kind; to replace an existing intercom system; and to replace an existing copper chimney-cap with a vented copper chimney-cap to restore the chimney to its original use, the commission gave its approval, with the provisos that the chimney cap be made of copper and not painted black, and that the modern intercom system be housed inside a brass box in keeping with the character of the neighborhoods Historic District.

The commission also approved an application for 19 Myrtle St. to remove existing panel antennas at the roof level and replace them with new ones of similar size while painting them to match the existing structure, with the proviso that the antennas be housed inside a fiberglass screen enclosure painted the same color as the existing structure, and that the applicant submit drawings of the enclosure to staff for approval.

In another matter, the commission approved an application for 34 West Cedar St. to repair and repaint trim in kind, and to repair and replace slate in kind at the dormer level, with the proviso that the applicant provide a sample of new slate to staff for approval, and that the entire dormer be clad in slate for consistency with the district standards.

In considering an application for the installation of a new gas line at the front faade garden level at 41 Beacon St., the commission approved it, with the proviso that the connection is made beneath the building to avoid penetrating any granite walls, and that the applicant submit drawings showing a trellis wood screen painted grey to staff for approval. The applicant will also need to provide a letter from the city indicating that the location of the gas meter is the only possible option, and that it can t be installed inside the building.

The commission also approved an application to install new street numbers on the Archer Residences at 45 Temple St., with the proviso that the numbers not exceed 12.5 inches in size and match the material and color of the adjacent window mullions.

Meanwhile, the commission approved an application to install an alarm bell in the entryway of the front door at 54 Pinckney St., with the proviso that it be painted black or dark grey if permitted by the Boston Fire Department.

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BHAC Approves Application for Renovation of the Athenaeums South Balcony - Beacon Hill Times

Looking to save some cash and still stay entertained? Swap out all of the services you pay for -- that includes Netflix, Hulu, Apple Music, DoorDash and Grubhub -- for free alternatives. The free choices may not get you the exact same thing, but can often get you pretty close, especially if you're one of the millions of people whose employment has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and you're looking to cut costs where you can.

A lot of these free services operate with ads, unlike their paid counterparts. And the streaming services won't let you download stuff to watch or listen to offline. But some have deals to go ad-free for free during the pandemic, which you can take advantage of now.

Here's how to replace all of the services you pay for with free ones.

Replaces: Netflix

Sony's Crackle is an ad-supported streaming service that offers movies and some TV shows, including original content. You can find a variety of flicks old and new including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Adaptation, The Big Chill, Dr. Strangelove, Glory, It Happened One Night, La Bamba, The Natural, The Social Network and Star Trek: First Contact. In terms of TV, you'll find more than 100 different shows, including a lot of sitcoms such as All in the Family, Roseanne and Who's the Boss. But not every series has all seasons available.

You can stream on Crackle without signing up for an account, and can watch on virtually any device, with apps for all mobile platforms, game consoles and major streaming devices. If you do create an account, you can save favorites, get recommendations and resume playback if you switch between devices.

Read more: The best free stuff while you're stuck at home

Replaces: Hulu Plus Live TV(or your whole cable subscription)

Two big caveats here: Pluto TV is, like CNET, a division of ViacomCBS, and you'll find plenty of CNET, CBS and Viacom content on the docket here. And much of the programming on Pluto isn't the same live TV channels you'll find on pay cable or satellite, even if the channels have the same names. So, while news junkies will find live programming from CBSN, NBC News Now and Bloomberg TV, Pluto's versions of MTV, AMC and CNN are time-shifted or alternate programming from those providers.

Ultimately, none of that matters, because you're still getting a wealth of streaming video that's truly free (it's ad-supported, of course). And because there are literally dozens of in-progress streams to toggle through in real-time, Pluto offers the best analog to flipping through the myriad channels on a traditional cable system (or paid streaming alternative, like Hulu). You can also browse channels by categories like news, sports, comedy and movies, and find on-demand TV content, though it's mostly crime and reality shows.

Pluto works on desktop browsers, through a Windows client, or through apps for Android, iOS and different smart TVs and channels for Apple TV, Fire TV and Roku.

Read more:Best free TV streaming services: Roku, Sling TV, IMDb, Pluto TV, Tubi TV, Plex and more

Replaces: Apple Music

Spotify tops CNET's list of the best music streaming services thanks to its easy-to-use interface, extensive catalogue and device compatibility. Plus, you can always listen to its full music catalogue for free, with ads. And now there's even better news: In the wake of the pandemic, Spotify is letting you sign up to get three months of Spotify Premium totally free. This would normally cost you at least $9.99 per month.

You can get the free offer if you have Spotify Free or it's your first time subscribing to Spotify Premium. If you've subscribed to Premium in the past and cancelled, you can get three months for a flat $9.99.

Read more:Netflix alternatives: The 10 best free movie streaming services

Read more:Best food delivery service: DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats and more compared

Replaces: Your gym, or Peloton

Nike Training Club is a free app for iOS and Android with a variety of home workouts and programs to help you set a workout schedule. You can filter workouts based on what equipment you have at home, and find bodyweight-only exercises, yoga and training programs.

Replaces: Online classes

MasterClass offers thousands of online lessons taught by veritable masters in their fields -- we're talking Gordon Ramsey on cooking, Ken Burns on documentary making and Helen Mirren on acting. While an annual membership costs $180, you can find a series of free courses called MasterClass Live available now. These include a session on building suspenseful thrillers with Dan Brown, the importance of science with Neil deGrasse Tyson and poker tips from six-time World Series of Poker champion Daniel Negreanu.

Read more:Gym closed? Here are some of the best home workout options

Replaces: Magazine subscriptions, cooking classes

If you're spending your quarantine experimenting with cooking projects such as sourdough, banana bread or dalgona coffee, grow your cooking chops even more with the Food Network Kitchen app and subscription service. It brings live and on-demand cooking lessons from celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis and Ree Drummond to iOS and Android devices, the Amazon Echo Show 8, Fire tablets, Fire TV and Alexa. The app's goal is to become your personal kitchen companion, helping you step by step while you cook.

While the service usually costs $4.99 per month or $40 per year, Food Network is offering a 60-day free trial right now.

Now playing: Watch this: Do this first if you've been laid off or furloughed

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Money-saving tip: Replace Netflix, Apple Music and more with these free alternatives - CNET

I have used many of my previous columns to help accountants and other tax professionals alert their clients to perfectly legal, easy-to-understand strategies that save taxes. Im going to devote this column and two subsequent ones to the selection and implementation of strategies that help homeowners.

Long-standing rules authorize valuable tax breaks for owners who itemize their deductions on Form 1040s Schedule A. Theyre able to claim annual write-offs, within limits, for payments of mortgage interest and property taxes.

Owners cant claim current deductions for money spent improvements that add to the value of their homes, prolong their useful lives, or adapt them to new uses. The law requires them to add the money to their homes cost basisthe figure used to determine gains or losses when they sell their homes. Consequently, improvements decrease any taxable gains on eventual sales.

Big breaks for sellers with big profits:The law permits sellers to exclude, meaning they escape, federal and state income taxes on sizable portions of their profits from sales of their principal residences.

The profit exclusions are as much as $500,000 for married couples filing joint returns. They drop to $250,000 for single persons or married couples filing separate returns.

How do things work out when sellers reap gains greater than $500,000 or $250,000? Theyre liable for taxes on the excess.

IRS audits (or examinations, as the agency prefers to call them):In the event the IRS questions how seller Sarah determined her gain, the audit will be less traumatic and less expensive if she has kept meticulous records that track the dwellings basis.

Those records should include what she originally paid for her home, plus certain settlement or closing costs, such as title insurance and legal fees. They should also include what she subsequently shells out for improvements, as opposed to repairs.

Improvements, both big and small, boost basis:Qualifying improvements can be big projects, as when Sarah puts a recreation room in her unfinished basement, adds another bedroom or bathroom, puts up a fence, or paves her driveway. Or they can be small projects, as when she upgrades closets, or installs built-in bookcases, new faucets, towel racks, or medicine cabinets.

Repairs dont boost basis:An adamant IRS insists that Sarah cant count routine repairs or maintenance that add nothing to the places value. They just maintain it. Some examples: Sarah repaints her home inside or outside, fixes her gutters or floors, repairs leaks or plastering, and replaces broken window panes.

Bundle ordinary repairs into bigger jobs:It might pay for Sarah to postpone repair projects until she can do them in connection with an extensive remodeling or restoration project. Adding the smaller job into bigger jobs may allow Sarah to include some items that would otherwise be considered repairs, such as the cost of painting rooms.

In two subsequent columns, Ill discuss more strategies to impart to your home-owning clients.

Additionalarticles.A reminder for accountants who would welcome advice on how to alert clients to tactics that trim taxes for this year and even give a head start for next year: Delve into thearchive of my articles(more than 350 and counting).

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Why It Pays to Keep Track of Home Improvements - Accountingweb.com

Here's why there's a backlog of claims for unemployment and why it's only getting worse. USA TODAY

Joshua Sinko can see the jobless benefits sitting in his online account. But he can't access them.

Joshua Sinko has cooked in high-end restaurants, fished oncommercial boats, sold bicyclesand built houses.

For the past eight years, the 43-year-old established himself in Columbus as a remodeling and restoration expert the guy you call if you need a bathroom overhauled,or a deck rebuilt. He's made a career oflong hours and a versatileskill set.

"I've never asked for anything, because it seems like when times are rough,you just go out and put your nose to the grindstone, and make it happen," Sinko said this week."Youdon't expect handouts."

Once, in 2016, Sinko broke two bones inhis back after falling through a ceiling and was back on the job five days later. But when the first coronavirus cases struck Mississippi in mid-March, he knew he was out of options.The remodeling work "just dried up," and no onewas hiring for other jobs.

For the first time, he would be forced to collect unemployment.

Unemployment claims are soaring as the coronavirus pandemic shuts down businesses.(Photo: USA Today file photo)

But more than two months after applying, Sinkostill hasn't received benefits. He sees the money sitting online in his Mississippi Department of Employment Security account, but can't get his hands on it. Over a recent two weeks, he spent 27 hours on hold with the agency and got fewsolid answers.

The several thousand dollars Sinko saved up "for a rainy day" quickly evaporated. His bank accounts are now totally emptyone overdrafted by 67 cents and remodeling jobs are likely still days or weeks off.

"I'm at my breaking point and on the verge of being homeless here," Sinko wrote to the Clarion Ledger earlier this month.

Sinko is far from alone.

More than two months into the coronavirus crisis, and in every corner of the state, Mississippians are strugglingto apply for and obtain unemploymentbenefits. They face an overwhelmed and glitchy computer and phone system, and an agency with dozens of new employees still learning the nuances of the state's unemployment laws.

State leaders are aware of the problem. MDES Executive Director Jackie Turner has discussed the agency's issues several times publicly, including before state legislators earlier this month.

Turner has said the department brought on hundreds of new staff and volunteers, including from other agencies, to help field calls. It's sought to quickly train them on how to answer questions and resolve problems, she said, and taken other steps to streamline the claims process.

RELATED:'It's madness': They lost their jobs to coronavirus. Now they can't file for unemployment

Gov. Tate Reeves ordered certain requirements relaxed for those seeking assistance during the coronavirus, such as temporarily eliminating the one-week waiting period, and nixing the work-search mandate.

But the agency is sometimes sending mixed messages on these changes. Despite Reeves' order, it hassent letters to recipients stating theystill need to prove they are searching for a job. Online questionnaires that unemployed or furloughed people must fill out weekly to keep receiving assistance include confusing language, with some instructionsunclear.

And the phone line problems persist: Applicants report waiting on hold for hours, or a constant busy signal, or reaching a person only for the line to go dead. Even whenthey are approved, many complain of waiting weeks before the money shows up in their bank accounts or on a state-issued debit card.

Meanwhile, a wave of new unemployment claims continues to arrive each week, even as Reeves slowly reopens the economy. More than 270,000 unemployment claims have been reported by the state since the crisis began in mid-March, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

Last week,another 23,697 Mississippians applied for unemployment, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In a normal week, before the pandemic, the number was below 1,000.

Stories of Mississippians fed up with the state's unemployment systemaren't hard to come by.

In Corinth, Angie Sorrell was forced home from her fast food job in mid-March after feeling sick she's still unsure if it was coronavirus and applied for unemployment shortly after. Her claim was placed under investigation, however, and was only approved about two months lateraftershe said she threatened to call the mayor and media about the delays.

Angie Sorrell was forced home from her fast food job in March due to the coronavirus. She still hasn't received her first unemployment benefit payment.(Photo: Courtesy)

Sorrellsaid the wait was so long she's already returned to work at Wendy's part-time. The 40-year-oldstill hasn't received her first benefit check, and she already missed two rent payments due to the lost income. Her landlord says if she misses another, she has to leave.

Im scared of being kicked out on the streets," said Sorrell, who added her boyfriend has faced similar delays receiving benefits.

RELATED: Does your small businesses qualify for $300M COVID-19 relief money? What you need to know

In Oxford, Sara Hill was recently down to 52 cents in her bank account after losing her server job at Ajax Diner. The 22-year-oldfiled her claim April 5, and there appearedto be money in her unemployment account but she hadn't received it, and could not reach anyone on the phone for help. She enlisted family members to call, too. No one could get through.

Sara Hill lost her restaurant server job in March, and couldn't get through the state unemployment office's overwhelmed phone lines for help.(Photo: Courtesy)

Last week, more than a month after she applied,her first payment "just kind of showed up." She never did talk to anyone at MDES.She's still waiting for Ajax to reopen.

"I'm a 22-year-old from a middle class family, but what about people with children?" Hill said, adding the long wait for funds and leaning on her parents for help took a toll on her mental health.

In Biloxi, James Murphy is caughtin limbo between unemployment agencies in Mississippi and Florida, where he recently lived, and he has yet to receive assistance from either state after being laid off in late March.

Mississippi says it can't help, given his last full-time jobwas in Florida. But Florida hasn't processed his claim, or transferred the necessary funds to Mississippi, and he can't get through to figure out why. He's turned to family and friends for financial help while he waits.

I'm not even sure where were going to go from here, said Murphy, 48, who had recently moved to Mississippi hoping to land a casino job."You're at the mercy of the state, or at the mercy of the federal government, to pass the next rule."

Many reportthey are struggling to pay bills or buy food. One man wrote to the Clarion Ledger that he was no longerable to afford rent, adding he planned to live "in the wild by means I'm not yet sure of."

Sinko sees about $5,000 in benefits in his online account that he still can't access. MDEStexts him frequently saying his claim has been processed butno money comes through.

He first signed up to receive the money through direct deposit. When that didn't work, he called MDES and talked to an employee who said he wasn't allowed to change to the debit card form of paymentthat he must stick with the form of payment he already signed up for.

That's not true, however, and Sinko said another employee later clarified he could switchto the debit card, so he did. But now he's not being paid on the debit card, either, and the debit card vendor MDES told him to speak with didn't have his information on file.

"I'm not getting rich out here," Sinko said of his remodeling job. "I'vehave never asked for anything. The one time you ask for something in life ... it's frustrating."

When he's not calling MDES, Sinko said he's mowed a local preacher's yard, tried his hand at woodturning, and tested new recipes though the cooking is less ambitious now that money is running low.

He also has a few leads on remodeling jobs. But he isn't sure how he'll pay for thematerials upfront when his bank accounts are empty, noting "you have to have money to make money."

"My gas light's on in my truck, I'm 67 cents in the hole, and I'm just frustrated," Sinko said. "I'm gonna call again, and get no answers."

Contact Luke Ramseth at 601-317-7476or lramseth@gannett.com. Follow @lramseth on Twitter.

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Mississippians struggling with unemployment claims. Payments on hold after more than two months - Clarion Ledger

Courtesy of Monday Properties

A rendering of Monday Properties' project at 2000 North Beauregard St. in Alexandria.

The coronavirus pandemic has not stopped developers from starting new D.C. projects, with the latest groundbreaking coming in westernAlexandria.

Monday Properties announced Tuesday it secured a $66.8M construction loan from EagleBank and broke ground on the development at 2000 North Beauregard St.

Theproject is planned to include300 units in six toseven stories of wood-frame construction atop a two-level concrete podium. The apartments will be wrapped around an internal, 420-space parking garage.

The site, near the intersection of Beauregard Street and Seminary Road, previously housed an aging office building. Monday Properties acquiredit in 2017 and receivedAlexandria City Council approval for the conversion in May 2019.

The property is located in an opportunity zone, and Monday Properties brought on an equity partner thatwill benefit from the federal tax incentive program. Through a spokesperson, Monday declined to disclosethe name of the partner.

EagleBank Senior Vice President Bryan Leigh originated the loan. It is the latest in a series of D.C.-area projects the bank has financed during the pandemic, including projectsin Greenbelt, Deanwood and Northwest D.C. Several additional projects have received financingand broken ground in recent months, as D.C.-area jurisdictions allowed construction to continueduring stay-at-home orders.

Monday Properties is also planningto replace two Rosslynoffice buildings with multifamily towers. The developer owns a large portfolio of office buildings in the Rosslyn area, including the 1812 North Moore tower that landed Nestlin 2017.

This project will help meet a critical need for new housing in the region, and we could not be more pleased to have closed our financing and started construction on this exciting development, Monday Properties Vice President of Development Frank Craighill said in a release. Were optimistic that this project will catalyze further development in the area and are proud to deliver new, Class-A apartments to residents in early 2022.

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Monday Properties Closes Financing To Begin Construction On Alexandria Apartment Building - Bisnow

Six million square feet of expensive, newly-minted and as-yet unleased office space coming to market in the midst of one of New York Citys most catastrophic times might sound like too big a pill to swallow.

Leading brokers such as Savills David Goldstein had downbeat takes on the new developments prospects in a recent Commercial Observer article. The New York Times foresaw a reckoning for real estate if more companies decide to let their employees work from home.

But things have looked bleak before, and its time to give the citys remarkable regenerative powers a fair shot.

On paper, the future of New York City office leasing, especially for new development, might appear dismal. Of some 12.8 million square feet of new product now in construction and due to open by 2023, only 53 percent is pre-leased, according to CBRE.

The statewide pause has halted work on nearly-finished towers, adding another layer of uncertainty for all parties. Tenants are retrenching. Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman said that working remotely has worked so well that his firm will shrink its footprint. Twitter announced it would let all its employees work from home permanently. Mark Zuckerberg said he aims to have 50 percent of Facebook employees work from home within ten years.

In such a fear-ridden climate, when the coronavirus has only been contained by extreme social distancing and no vaccine has yet been developed, what tenant in its right mind is going to sign large leases in new buildings that command net effective rents of up to $200 per square foot?

Although the towers have already signed marquee name occupiers such as Warner Media, BlackRock, Carlyle Group and Cravath Swaine, what will happen to unleased floors at One Vanderbilt, 50 Hudson Yards and 66 Hudson Boulevard, aka The Spiral?

Could failure to find tenants sink their developers?

But theres a big difference between on paper and in bricks and mortar reality. Theres likely going to be a big difference in the market between today and two years, or even one year, and perhaps even six months from now. We cant know how different, but history lends a clue.

Usually baseless fears of a glut and shadow space i.e., occupied floors that are quietly up for sublease are a forever part of New York real estate chatter. Even when they occur, as in the late 1980s due to undisciplined over-construction, they dont last long.

Nor do physical catastrophes produce the dystopian things will never be the same outcomes. It was an article of faith for some that Manhattan, and downtown especially, wouldnt ever be the same after 9/11. Who would ever again want to work there, close to an open mass grave and amidst possibly poisonous air? But downtown became the citys lowest-vacancy office district a few years later.

Ah, skeptics say but 9/11 was a one-time disaster, where the virus might be with us for years.

Counterpoint: New York City lived in dread of another terrorist attack for long after. We feared another airborne assault at least as much as we now fear the airborne virus.

In that light, those 6 million new square feet still up for grabs deserve a closer look. For one thing, CBRE tristate CEO Mary Ann Tighe pointed out that only 4.3 million square feet of availability exists in the jumbo skyscrapers that will be most closely watched as market bellwethers. The rest are in boutique projects with as few as 150,000 square feet, such as Moinian Groups 220 Eleventh Avenue due in 2022. Such properties will likely ask for lower rents and are less challenging to lease up.

Also in the largest new projects favor is that companies needing the most state-of-the-art workspaces wont have much choice elsewhere. Manhattan is almost out of buildable footprints on commercially-zoned land big enough to allow super-size new developments to go up which is one reason why, for example, ABC/Disney is building a new headquarters in the once-unappealing Hudson Square.

Even the 4.3 million availability figure needs an asterisk, said JLL tristate chairman Peter Riguardi, because some tenants that signed for the supertalls have expansion options beyond their original commitments.

Riguardi doesnt downplay the gravity of whats happened. Weve been punched real hard in the gut, he said. Well have to adapt.

Ever-optimistic Mitchell L. Moss, Henry Hart Rice Professor of Urban Policy and Planning at NYU, acknowledged, Everything will slow down because of the uncertainty.

Even so, brand-new towers that incorporate todays in-demand bells-and-whistles such as column-free floor plates, 14-plus-foot slab to slab floor heights, and environmentally attuned infrastructure have a huge advantage over the citys older office stock. Buildings a mere 25 years old are generations behind the new class.

Moss noted, Buildings like One Vanderbilt are sufficiently advanced that they can be easily modified to protect employees before they open.

Tighe said, The Covid crisis is going to cause anybody whos looking at their office needs to factor in elements ideally suited to new buildings but are challenges for older ones.

The sophisticated air-flow systems shared by the new skyscrapers can be made virus-resilient much more easier than older ones can. And, its easier to create touchless technology in new buildings, Tighe said. UV lights can kill off germs in buildings during the day. The entire process of access will be touchless, thanks to iPhone codes that can let employees in without having to pass through security gates.

As for the supposed stay-at-home revolution: although it might reduce some demand for office space, Moss points out that offices have the great advantage of face-to-face contact. It isnt the same when everyone is sitting alone. There are candor and nuance in an office that you dont get on a computer screen at home.

The remote-working success that companies such as Morgan Stanley have had might be relative and short-lived. It worked more smoothly than expected, but its only been for two months. Longer term is another story. Many executives suffer Zoom fatigue and are dying to go back to their desks. Lost in the news of Zuckerbergs work-from home announcement was that internal Facebook surveys showed that more than half of his employees said they really want to get back to the office as soon as possible, he said.

If anything, reduced demand for office space will hurt Class-B buildings and older Class-A buildings more than the new, ground-up crop. That trend has been ongoing for years as tens of millions of obsolescent commercial properties were converted to apartments.

Its part of the citys ever-evolving dynamic, which not even the most terrible plague in 100 years is likely to change.

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Yes, Everyone Still Wants That Shiny New Office - Commercial Observer

We are seeing an increased need to deliver projects that enable growth, support the introduction of new technologies, and meet dynamic demands from our clients and the communities they serve.

NEW YORK (PRWEB) May 27, 2020

Modern Healthcare has once again recognized the firm as the leading construction management company for healthcare facilities a distinction Turner has earned for 20 years.

More than ever before, creating world-class healing environments is a serious responsibility. It is a responsibility we do not take for granted, said Randy Keiser, vice president and director of Turners National Healthcare Group. We are grateful to our respected clients who continue to put their trust in us.

Todays healthcare needs also bring about a new kind of rapid response by builders. Turner was recently called upon to build space to deliver urgent patient care in 20 communities across the United States in response to COVID-19. The efforts resulted in the availability of 4,000 patient care beds in a matter of weeks including a temporary hospital for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Stony Brook University in New York. At Stony Brook, we built a 1,038 bed facility and its associated mechanical and electrical equipment in 24 days, said Keiser. The coordination and mobilization by everyone involved to design and build that project was remarkable.

During 2019, Turner completed projects in major cities and in rural communities across the United States. The projects ranged in size from billion dollar programs to renovations that adapted space to meet the individual needs of clients. We are seeing an increased need to deliver projects that enable growth, support the introduction of new technologies, and meet dynamic demands from our clients and the communities they serve, said Keiser.

Construction Management firms are required to have extensive, broad knowledge and experience to meet the unique demands of building in the healthcare environment. They also need to lead efforts in budgeting, supply chains, and technology to be effective, said Keiser.

We work on highly collaborative teams to complete complex projects. One such project was retrofitting space within a healthcare environment to house a pioneering Cell Processing Facility for the University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences, said Keiser. Our healthcare and manufacturing experience was called into one project.

We are honored to leverage our experience and expertise to help create successful projects, that cater to the needs of our most vulnerable citizens, and also consider the environment of care for our front line workers, continued Keiser.

Turner Construction Company delivers its services on more than 277 healthcare projects a year. In 2019 alone, Turner completed $3.7 billion of healthcare construction for clients in 23 states. Turners breadth and depth of experience has earned the company its reputation as a trusted, go-to builder for leading hospital systems and hospitals, clinics, specialty facilities, and medical office building clients.

About Turner Construction CompanyTurner is a North America-based, international construction services company. Founded in 1902, Turner first made its mark on the industry pioneering the use of steel-reinforced concrete for general building, which enabled the company to deliver safer, stronger, and more efficient buildings to clients. The company continues to embrace emerging technologies and offers an increasingly diverse set of services. With an annual construction volume of $13 billion, Turner is the largest builder in the United States, ranking first in the major market segments of the building construction field, including healthcare, education, sports, commercial, and green building. The firm is a subsidiary of HOCHTIEF, one of the world's leading international construction service providers. For more information, please visit http://www.turnerconstruction.com

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Turner is Making a Difference as Leading Builder in the Healthcare Industry - PR Web

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted regular activity across most of Houstons economy, but one sector has still been able to operate as an essential business throughout Harris Countys extended stay-at-home order: the construction industry.

Though day-to-day operations on work sites have slowed to allow for screening, social distancing and rigorous cleaning, several largedevelopments in Houston are still slated to deliver in 2020.

Courtesy of Hines

A rendering of Texas Tower in Downtown Houston.

Project Name: Texas Tower

Developer: Hines and Ivanho Cambridge

Address: 845 Texas Ave.

Size: 1.14M SF

Status: On track

Estimated Completion: Oct. 21

Texas Tower is a new 47-story, 1.14M SF office tower on the 800 block of Texas Avenue, the former site of the Houston Chronicle. The building will feature multiple restaurants, networking spaces, a full-service conference facility, public gardens on level 12, a high-performance fitness center and an internal 11-level parking garage to accommodate more than 1,500 cars.

In addition to developing the project, Hines has agreed to relocate its global headquarters to the property, with a 15-year lease for 180K SF, or six floors. Law firm Vinson & Elkins signed a 16-year lease for 212K SF to occupy the top seven floors, and law firm DLA Pipersigned a 14-year lease for 31K SF on one floor of the building. Texas Tower is 40% leased.

Courtesy of MLB Capital Partners

A rendering of Houston Farmers Market.

Project Name: Houston Farmers Market

Developer: MLB Capital Partners

Address: 2520 Airline Drive

Size: 230K SF

Status:Delayed

Estimated Completion: Late 2020

Houston Farmers Market was originally established in 1941 by the Farmers Cooperative Marketing Association of Houston. Over the course of 77 years, the site grew from 9.5 acres to 18 acres. MLB Capital Partners acquired the market in 2017, with the goal of upgrading and modernizing the site.

The new iteration of Houston Farmers Market will feature renovated facilities, modern infrastructure, diversified products and community programming. There will also be dedicated green spaces, which will accommodate events such as chef demonstrations, wine tastings and local entertainment.

The estimated completion date for late 2020 is about six months behind the original schedule, owing to factors such as Hurricane Harvey and delays from the city of Houston's Planning and Development Department.

Courtesy of Weingarten Realty

A rendering of The Driscoll at River Oaks.

Project Name: The Driscoll at River Oaks

Developer: Weingarten Realty Investors

Address: 1958 West Gray

Size: 365.3K SF

Status: On track

Estimated Completion: First units delivered by July 1, project completion slated for January 2021

The Driscoll at River Oaks is a 30-story residential high-rise development, offering 318 one-, two- and three-bedroom luxury units for lease. The multifamily complex also includes 11.5K SF of ground-floor retail that will tie into the existing River Oaks Shopping Center.

Amenities include executive conference rooms and separate meeting spaces, an 18K SF pool deck on level eight, a landscaped terrace with a fire pit and lawn, a private media room and 24-hour gym. The property will be managed by Hanover Co.and pre-leasing of the complex is underway.

Courtesy of Moody National

A rendering of the Village Towers development at Bunker Hill and I-10.

Project Name:Village Towers (Tower One)

Developer: Moody National Development

Address: 9655 Katy Freeway

Size: 150K SF

Status: On track

Estimated Completion: Tower One is slated for completion on June 15, with tenants to move in on June 22

Moody Nationals multiphase, mixed-use development at Bunker Hill and I-10 sits just east of Memorial City. The development is composed of two six-story office buildings with ground-floor retail space. Each office building is 150K SF, and the development will also havea seven-story open parking garage.

Moody Nationals headquarters will occupy the top floor of the first tower, which is set for completion in June. That tower is 91% leased. Tower Two has an estimated completion date of March/April 2021.

Courtesy of Radom Capital

M-K-T development

Project Name: M-K-T

Developer: Radom Capital and Triten Real Estate Partners

Address: 600 North Shepherd

Size: 200K SF

Status:On track

Estimated Completion:Late summer/early fall

M-K-T is a collection of five adapted industrial buildings that sit on 12 acres in the Houston Heights. M-K-T is named after the historic Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad line, which has been converted to a hike-and-bike trail.

The development will comprise about 100K SF of retail and restaurant space, 100K SF of creative office space and 4 acres of green spacefor public usage, which will be programmed for events year-round. M-K-T will also have about 1,000 feet of linear frontage to the trail.

Courtesy of Luxigon

An aerial view of POST Houston in Downtown Houston

Project Name:POST Houston

Developer: Lovett Commercial

Address: 401 Franklin St.

Size: 670K SF

Status:Slightly delayed

Estimated Completion:Building construction slated for completion in late 2020, tenant fit-out in early 2021

POST Houston is a mixed-use project in Downtown Houston. The project is redeveloping the former Barbara Jordan Post Office, which was occupied by the U.S. government until 2015. The mixed-use project will have restaurants, retail, an international market hall, creative workspace and a 210K SF rooftop park and farm. Future expansion plans include a concert venue, a hotel and an entertainment room.

The project has remained mostly on track, barring some minor disruptions in the supply chain as a result of the pandemic. POST Houston was originally slated to open to the public in 2020, but public health concerns and tenant fit-out will delay the opening to 2021. The development has signed an undisclosed anchor tenant and pre-leasing is underway.

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6 Houston Projects To Watch In 2020 - Bisnow