Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The frame of Charleston's new 12-story, mixed-use, upscale apartment building is now complete with the placement of the last high beam, putting the structure on track to open later this year.

The 4-acre development of The Jasper at 310 Broad St. near Colonial Lake on the lower peninsula will include 219 rental units, 75,000 square feet of office space, 25,000 square feet of first-floor retail space and an enclosed garage along with views of Charleston Harbor and the Ashley and Cooper rivers.

Construction on the 12-story, mixed-use Jasper apartment building topped out this week. The 219-unit structure, with office and retail space, is on schedule to open later this year. Rendering/Design by Antunovich Associatesof Chicago in partnership with LS3Pand DesignWorksof Charleston/Provided

The Jaspers location, which allows for unmatched views in every direction, along with its premier amenities, is what makes this a one-of-a-kind legacy project and the finest building in Charleston, said John Darby, CEO of The Beach Co., which is the developer

With leasing underway for office and retail space and an open residential reservation list, the Harleston Village complex will include on-site dining, shopping, a fitness center, rooftop pool and garden, a club and lounge for residents, an attended lobby, outdoor seating, walkways and parks.

At least one major commercial tenant plans to set up shop in the new building. Wells Fargo & Co. said last year it will vacate the three floors it leases at 177 Meeting St. near the City Market in late 2020 and move about 60 employees who work in its commercial lending and wealth management businesses to the Jasper. The San Francisco-based bank will occupy about 30,000 square feet of office space.

The city's Board of Architectural Review signed off on the design for the development in early 2017, but it didnt come without a fight.

The Beach Co. worked for years toward a redevelopment plan for the site but met stiff public opposition along the way.

The initial proposal drew neighborhood criticism after the longtime Charleston-based real estate firm introduced plans in 2015 to raze the 159-foot-tall, 1950s-era apartments and replace the 14-story building with a low-rise development.

The Jasper, a 12-story, mixed-use, upscale apartment building will offer views such as this one with the Ashley River in the background. Rendering/Design by Antunovich Associatesof Chicago in partnership with LS3Pand DesignWorksof Charleston/Provided

After residents and preservationists fought the concept as too dense, the company then reverted to a high-rise, mixed-use building, which is allowed by the citys zoning. The BAR rejected the concept.

The Beach Co. sued the board, saying it overstepped its bounds by rezoning the site to limit the projects size.The height and mass of the project was settled through a court fight and city agreement, but it did not result in a different design.

Demolition was completed in early 2018 on the former Sergeant Jasper building, named for a Revolutionary War soldier. The current construction project broke ground in August of that year. The first residential units are expected to be ready for move in by late 2020.

Reach Warren L. Wise at 843-937-5524. Follow him on Twitter @warrenlancewise.

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12-story Jasper apartment building tops out, set to open later this year in Charleston - Charleston Post Courier

Map of Industry City Complex/Image Credit: Industry City Brochure

Despite two years of discussion, Industry City ownership unable to convince Council Member Menchaca and Community Board 7 to support expansion. On February 19, 2020, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing on an application for four land use actions to expand bulk and use requirements for Industry City, in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Industry City is a 5.3 million square feet mixed-use complex comprised of sixteen buildings with commercial, manufacturing, and community facility uses. Industry Park is located in an area bounded by 32nd Street to the north, 41st Street to the south, Third Avenue to the east, and the Brooklyn Waterfront to the west. The proposed actions will facilitate and support the redevelopment and expansion of Industry City. Industry City plans to construct three new buildings on the complex and include hotels, office spaces, academic centers, and more large scale retail establishments.

Industry City Complex

Map of the Industry City Complex/Image Credit: Council Member Carlos Menchacas Office

The Industry City complex is comprised of sixteen buildings located within two building clusters, the 39th Street Buildings cluster and the Finger Buildings cluster. The 39th Street Buildings cluster is bounded by 39th Street to the north, 41st Street to the south, 2nd Avenue to the east, and the Brooklyn Waterfront to the west. The Finger Buildings cluster is bounded by 32nd Street to the north, 37th Street to the south, and 2nd Avenue to the west. The buildings from 32nd Street to 35th Street extend out to front 3rd Avenue to the east. The buildings from 35th Street to 37th Street extend out to part of the block. Directly north of the Finger Buildings cluster is Liberty View Industrial Plaza, another former four story industrial hub that was redeveloped into a mixed use development with manufacturing space and large scale retail such as Bye Bye Baby and Bed Bath and Beyond.

The buildings were once part of the former Bush Terminal, a privately owned industrial hub that was abandoned in the 1960s. The buildings were vacant and unused until the properties were bought by Industry City in 2013. In 2015, Industry City renovated the complex and brought in small and large scale retail stores, eating establishments, manufacturing spaces, office spaces, warehousing space, event space, and public open courtyards.

Land Use Actions

To facilitate Industry Citys expansion, Industry City proposes four land use actions. The land use actions will affect the Industry City complex and an additional ten lots located adjacent to the complex. Seven of the lots are located along 3rd Avenue on the northeast corner of 36th Street. One lot is located on the northwest corner of 1st Avenue and 39th Street. Industry City plans to acquire these lots and construct two new buildings on them. Two of the lots are located on the southeast corner of 36th Street and 3rd Avenue. These lots will remain in separate ownership and there are no plans to redevelop those lots.

The first action is to create a special district within the area. Special districts modify use and bulk regulations to meet and support the unique needs and characteristics of the area. Industry City proposes a special district in order to have flexible use and bulk regulations that support the complexs mixed uses, protect the complexs existing built form, and support a pedestrian friendly environment.

The second action is to rezone the area from a light manufacturing zoning district to a medium manufacturing zoning district. The current zoning only allows the complex to have manufacturing spaces, small scale retail space, offices, and a limited amount of large scale retail space. The rezoning will expand the permitted uses and bulk in the area to allow academic facilities, hotels, and more large scale retail establishments on the complex.

The third action is for a special permit to modify bulk, use, and other requirements. The fourth action is to demap 40th Street, a privately owned unused street, in order to create more floor area for new construction.

Map of Proposed Construction of Three New Buildings on Industry Citys complex./Image Credit: Council Member Carlos Menchacas Office

As a part of the expansion, Industry City plans to construct three new buildings: Building 11, a thirteen story building, Gateway Building, a twelve story building, and Building 21, a ten story building. The construction would add about 1.45 million square feet to the existing development. Building 11 and the Gateway Building will be built on the Finger Buildings cluster. Building 11 is proposed to have two floors of retail space, three floors of parking space, and eight floors of academic space. The Gateway Building is proposed to have ground floor retail space and eleven floors for a hotel. Building 21 will be built on the 39th Street Buildings cluster and is proposed to have two floors of retail space, three floors of parking, three floors of manufacturing, production, and office spaces, and five floors for a hotel.

Public Review

In September 2017, Industry City announced their plans to expand Industry City and the community was concerned about the projects impact on gentrification and displacement, manufacturing and industrial jobs, traffic and congestion in the community, and access to the Sunset Park waterfront. This resulted in two years of working group meetings and public hearings between local Council Member Carlos Menchaca, Brooklyn Community Board 7, and Industry City from Summer 2018 to Fall 2019 to discuss those concerns.

Originally, Industry City submitted their land use application to City Planning to begin the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) in March 2019; however, Council Member Carlos Menchaca and Brooklyn Community Board 7 Chair Cesar Zuniga urged Industry City to withdraw their application because the Community Board still needed more time to evaluate the project and address community concerns before the application enters the ULURP process. In response, Industry City withdrew their application and discussions continued between the Council Member, Community Board, and Industry City.

On September 17, 2019, Council Member Menchaca sent a letter to Industry City with a set of modifications for Industry City to include in their application. Modifications included removing hotels from the complex, creating more space for industrial and manufacturing uses, restricting retail uses, and creating a public technical high school at Industry City. He also stated that there needs to be a Community Benefits Agreement between the local community and Industry City. The Community Benefits Agreement would legally bind Industry City and future tenants to follow through with community commitments. On September 19, 2019, Industry City agreed to the Council Members terms and planned to resubmit the application to City Planning on September 23rd. On the same day, Council Member Menchaca responded that while Industry City agreed to his terms, more time was needed to come up with a fully negotiated Community Benefits Agreement that would work for the community. This led to Industry City postponing their application submission again.

On October 28, 2019, Industry City submitted their application and it was certified by City Planning. Industry City explained in a letter to Council Member Menchaca and Cesar Zuniga that they submitted the application because they felt that the past delays were enough time for the community to have some framework for a Community Benefits Agreement and stated that the community concerns could be adequately addressed during the ULURP process. In response to the certification, Council Member Menchaca stated that he is prepared to vote against the application when it comes before the City Council.

On January 15, 2020, Brooklyn Community Board 7 was divided on the creation of the special district and the rezoning and the Board took no action on the two land use actions. However, they disapproved the special permit and the demapping of 40th Street. The Community Board explained that the special permit will exempt Industry City from complying with certain bulk and use regulations that will protect waterfront access, prohibit self-storage uses, and require new construction to align with the street wall. The Board wants Industry City to be exempt from those regulations. The Community Board did not explain their decision to disapprove the demapping.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams has not released his final recommendation on the application.

At the February 19th City Planning Hearing, Industry City was represented by Andrew Kimball, CEO, Jesse Masyr, Land Use Council, and Crystal Rivera, Community Engagement Director, talked about how Industry City has turned into an economic opportunity area that has created jobs, provided workforce development, supported small businesses in the neighborhood. Kimball stated that the expansion would allow the team to continue this progress and provide about 20,000 new jobs and more amenities for Sunset Park.

In response to Vice Chair Kenneth J. Knuckless question about how Industry Citys expansion would create new jobs at Industry City, Kimball stated that the rezoning would allow Industry City to create new retail spaces, office spaces, and academic facilities in the complex and the creation of these spaces would expand the types of jobs available including entry level retail jobs, manufacturing jobs, and security positions.

John Fontillas, Brooklyn Community Board 7s Land Use Committee Chair, and Cesar Zuniga, Brooklyn Community Board 7 Chair, testified on behalf of the Board. Both Fontillas and Zuniga expressed their frustration with the limited amount of time the Board had to fully understand and come up with a decision on a large, complex project like Industry City. Fontillas later told CityLand that although the Board had time to review a draft scoping document prior to certification, the final application was not submitted to the Board until early November 2019. He explained that this did not give the Board enough time to review, learn about, and evaluate a 3000 page application in the midst of the holiday season.

Fontillas also testified that the final application did not reflect community requests such as limiting the amount of retail and office spaces to increase more manufacturing and industrial spaces and removing hotels from the complex.

Supporters of the project, which include Industry City tenants and members of labor union, 32BJ SEIU, testified that Industry Citys expansion will bring more jobs, bring more educational and vocational training opportunities, provide resources for small businesses, and create infrastructure improvements to Sunset Park.

Opponents of the project, which include some local residents and organizers from Protect Sunset Park and UPROSE, two Sunset Park based advocacy groups, testified that the expansion will contribute to the ongoing gentrification of Sunset Park, contribute to rising housing and commercial rents within the overall neighborhood, and take away industrial and manufacturing jobs by adding in more large scale retail and offices. Opponents are also concerned that the expansion does not include any climate adaption or mitigation components that would protect the Sunset Park community from climate change effects.

City Planning will vote on this application at a later date.

By: May Vutrapongvatana (May is the CityLaw Fellow and New York Law School Graduate, Class of 2019)

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Public Hearing on Contested Industry City Expansion - CityLand

Grand Hyatt | February 24, 2020

Miami Beach, FL Feb. 24, 2020 The development team behind Miami Beachs new Convention Center hotel announced today that an 800-room property will be operated by Hyatt under the luxury Grand Hyatt brand, when it opens to guests in 2023. Grand Hyatt Miami Beach will create a new hospitality option for visitors attending events at the adjacent Miami Beach Convention Center, which underwent a $600 million renovation that was completed last year, and anchor the Convention Center District.

The hotel development is being led byDavid Martinof TerraandJackie Sofferof Turnberry, whose plans for the hotel were overwhelmingly approved by Miami Beach voters in 2018. The 17-story hotel will be situated at the intersection of 17th Street and Convention Center Drive, within walking distance of the beachfront, Lincoln Road Mall, New World Symphony, The Bass Museum and The Fillmore Miami Beach.

For years, Miami Beach has served as a global destination for arts, culture, shopping, dining and entertainment, but the City has lacked a true headquarters hotel for top-tier conventions and meetings, said Martin and Soffer. South Floridas first Grand Hyatt hotel will maximize Miami Beachs investment in its re-imagined Convention Center while bridging the physical gap that exists between the Convention Center District and surrounding neighborhoods.

The new hotel will become only the second Grand Hyatt property in Florida, joining Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. Grand Hyatt hotels are designed to connect guests with iconic experiences, landmarks and cultural touchstones in captivating destinations around the world. Hallmarks of the brand include bold and vibrant design and architecture, elevated amenities and welcoming service that creates moments of more.

At Hyatt, we believe in growing with intent and expanding our footprint in markets that matter most to our guests and World of Hyatt members, said David Tarr, senior vice president, development, Americas, Hyatt. Hyatt is proud to play an integral role in this project as hotel operator, under the luxury Grand Hyatt brand, which will help guests and locals alike celebrate the iconic, captivating city of Miami Beach.

Grand Hyatt Miami Beach will be designed by internationally acclaimed architectBernardo Fort-Bresciaand his firm, Miami-based Arquitectonica. The team also includes partnerCraig Robinsof Dacra, who is the visionary behind the Miami Design District and helped revive Miami Beachs Art Deco District in the 1990s;Stonehill Taylor, which is designing the hotels interior lobby and lounges, ballroom and meeting rooms, hotel rooms and all common areas;EOA, which is designing the pool deck hospitality features of the hotel; andArquitectonica GEO, which is creating lush pedestrian promenades and landscapes.

Hotel features are expected to include 12 floors of guest rooms offering views of Miami Beach, two floors of meeting spaces and ballrooms that will complement the Convention Center, a resort-style pool deck with panoramic views, and limited retail space that will activate the district at street level. An elevated skybridge will enable event attendees to move freely between the hotel and Convention Center in a climate-controlled, art-filled corridor.

Plans also include landscaped pedestrian promenades on surrounding streets, bike sharing stations, connectivity with public transit routes, dedicated ridesharing pick-up and drop-off zones, and direct access between the Convention Center and Lincoln Road. The projects resiliency and sustainability measures include storm water management and reuse, flood risk mitigation, and the use of solar power all of which are designed to ensure operational continuity during weather events.

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) joins Terra, Turnberry and The City of Miami Beach in welcoming the Grand Hyatt Miami Beach as the newly named brand for the 800-room headquarter hotel connected to the Miami Beach Convention Center, said William D. Talbert, III, CDME, President of the GMCVB. Grand Hyatt Miami Beachmakes it possible to better compete for citywide conventions which fuel jobs in our community and generates business for all of Greater Miamis hotels and merchants.We look forward to the hotel ground-breaking which once completed will finalize the Miami Beach Convention Center District.

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The Grand Hyatt Brand Selected as Flag for New Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel - Hotel-Online.com

(TNS) The downtown area envisioned for the Stafford County, Virginia, courthouse may someday be so technologically advanced that the amount of garbage in each trash can will be electronically monitored.

Ultra-wide broadband will be abundant, as will smart energy, lighting, water and temperature controls that will be built into energy-efficient housing units and commercial buildings.

Were looking to build a secure facility from the ground up, said David Ihrie, chief technology officer of the Center for Innovative Technology. Our goal is to make Stafford a model community for all of Virginia.

The CIT, an extension of the state government, works with early start-up companies, manages grants and focuses on economic development.

The original plan for Downtown Stafford, which featured 673 residential units, a museum, boutiques, restaurants and family-friendly things to do, has been talked aboutand kicked down the roadfor years.

But the project was reinvigorated when Ihrie met Mike Cannon, Stafford director of information technology, at a symposium in October 2018. Cannon discussed Downtown Stafford with Ihrie and the two saw it as a perfect publicprivate partnership opportunity.

County supervisors recently were briefed on the project by John Holden, Staffords director of economic development. He told supervisors the first step of the process would be to use the area in and around the government center as a proving ground for technology that could someday be incorporated into the larger Downtown Stafford area.

Ihrie said CIT would bring a host of interested partners to Stafford to help boost economic development in the region and realize his vision.

We want to make Downtown Stafford the states first standalone smart community, Ihrie said.

Supervisors overwhelmingly supported the concept.

Holden told supervisors that the county share of the buildout would be limited to roads and supporting infrastructure, with private partners funding the construction of buildings within the new community.

Holden said construction of Downtown Stafford, which is anticipated to be along Courthouse Road, across from the existing courthouse, will begin in mid-2022.

This could be a five- to 10-year development process for full completion, said Holden.

The existing urban zoning in the area must be modified in coming months to accommodate an increase in density and parking.

Supervisors will hold a public hearing to discuss the rezoning in the spring. In the meantime, county staff is fine-tuning the project after receiving direction from supervisors.

Supervisor Mark Dudenhefer said to have pedestrian-friendly communities like this, the zoning in the area must be more dense. He said the proposed downtown area has many advantages, including potential jobs and office space within walking distance of the government center.

If we can get jobs down here, hopefully people wont be driving to D.C. all the time, said Dudenhefer. The only issue I see with rezoning ahead of construction is builders willing to build to county specifications.

Ihrie envisions Downtown Stafford as a smart community, where government, businesses and residents use the latest technical innovations.

The project brings private partners in to develop technologies and other vendors to develop tools to implement smart city applications, said Holden.

Holden said Downtown Stafford will feature fewer brick-and-mortar retail outlets on its 28 acres. Instead, Holden said, shoppers can expect an experiential retail experience, such as augmented reality clothing stores with holographic technology to allow customers to try on different outfits.

This is an opportunity for the county to be the showcase for the whole commonwealth and beyond, said Cannon. [The technology] will enhance the quality of life and safety of those living, working and shopping in Downtown Stafford.

CIT has already invested $100,000 to develop a strategy and a vision for Staffords downtown area. It has engaged Optimal Solutions and Technologies to test out ideas.

OST, a Tysons Corner-based technology firm, enhances physical assetssuch as buildings, roads and lightingto create efficient infrastructure. The firm completed specifications for Staffords downtown area last summer.

This summer, OST and other contractors will install equipment and software in government center, which will serve as the operations center for the endeavor. Even after Downtown Stafford is built, the center will remain in operation, continuing to test and evaluate new technology for the county to consider including in the new town center.

For now, Ihrie said a wide range of equipment and sensors will be tested, and some will tie into existing traffic cameras.

Were paying a lot of attention to cameras and their use, and where to use them, said Ihrie. There are ways we can improve traffic flow and congestion and improve the community experience, like whens the best time to leave for work.

Ihrie said sensors inside buildings could help save energy, while monitoring daily operations. During emergencies, other technology could provide critical information to first responders, monitor pollution along the Interstate 95 corridor, and could keep a watchful eye on the landscape.

Well test if [sensors] can sense and detect a wildfire, if they can distinguish between a barbecue or a fire pit, said Ihrie.

To sweeten the pot even more, Fredericksburg-based Jarrell Properties Inc., which owns 6 acres at the corner of Courthouse Road and U.S. 1, has agreed to join the publicprivate partnership. Its property will serve as the gateway for visitors to the countys new town center.

Holden said Jarrell Properties will start building a mixed-use development around communal open space. The county anticipates 309 apartments will be built on the property, known as Fountain Park. There will also be office space, which thee county plans to occupy, serving as the anchor tenant.

Several old buildings that now sit on the site of the future Fountain Park will be demolished as part of the Courthouse Road widening project that begins this year. Next month, the former law office of Robert Hyman, the bank building next to it, and the Aquia Medical Center building situated directly across the street from the courthouse will come down before attention is turned to structures at the Fountain Park site.

After demolition, a portion of the land will serve as a temporary parking area during the construction of the new $45 million county courthouse. That building, which is in the design phase, will be adjacent to the Chichester Building at 1245 Courthouse Road.

After the new courthouse is open, the existing one will be used by the countys legal and law enforcement departments.

2020 The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Va.).Distributed byTribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Virginia Wants to Install Tech and Make a Smart Stafford - Governing

"We're very confident about the local office market," he said, pointing to Vicland's leasing success at 11 Wilson Street in South Yarra.

The 5500sq m office project across nine levels, which is due for completion in July, is 75 to 85 per cent leased.

In August, Mr McNee told The Australian Financial Review the development would appeal to Toorak's wealthy residents seeking to escape the commute to offices in the city.

"Most family offices are based in the CBD, even though the owners live in Toorak," he said.

"We'll be looking to appeal to these people as office tenants, allowing them to relocate closer to home."

A smaller format Coles Local supermarket will anchor the retail portion of the development, with Vicland considering a Spanish-influenced food hall concept on the upper retail level.

The inner suburbs of Melbourne, including Toorak, South Yarra, Cremorne, Richmond and Collingwood, have become hubs for commercial development amid record low office vacancies in the CBD and the recent downturn in the residential market.

At 627 Chapel Street, another Melbourne developer, Goldfields, secured non-bank finance for a $300 million speculativeoffice tower in November last year. Just down the road at the Jam Factory complex, owner Newmark Capital is progressing plans for a mixed-use project, including multiple office towers.

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Vicland secures permit for Toorak office tower - The Australian Financial Review

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New office will serve demand for future master-planned free-hold communities in Abu Dubai

Chestertons has opened a new office on Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi in a move to better serve demand for future master-planned free-hold communities in the area and the Abu Dubai real estate market generally.

The new office, located at The Marina Square, is in a prime position to capitalise on several new launches taking place this year, including Aldars The Bridges, comprising six mid-rise towers, each offering 212 homes, the tech-enabled Reem Mall which will feature 2.8 million sqft of retail space for 450 stores, 85 F&B outlets and a family entertainment offering as well as Reem Forest, an urban forest promoting biodiversity which is expected to pique the interest of investors.

Nick Witty, Managing Director, Chestertons MENA, said: The new office is part of a strategic move to reinforce our position as a leader in Abu Dhabis real estate market. We will offer a broad spectrum of property services expertise which will be complemented by the office location and its excellent connections to Abu Dhabi International Airport and City Centre as well as Al Maryah and Saadiyat Island and of course, Al Reem Island.

A team of real estate experts will provide a range of services including, local investment, leasing and sales, property management, strategic consulting, valuation and international global new homes.

Market research will continue to be an integral part of the remit of the office and will provide the cornerstone for the Chestertons Observer Market Report research series.

According to the latest research by Chestertons, the Abu Dhabi real estate market witnessed marginal declines in the last quarter of 2019 with average sales prices for apartments falling by 2% and villas by just 1% while apartment rents fell by 1% and villas by 2%. Al Reem Island was one of only a handful of Abu Dhabi districts to see stable rents and one of only two areas to see stable capital values, the other being Saadiyat Island.

A favourable supply and demand equilibrium, a range of market reforms and a more muted slowdown of sales and rental decreases are shining a positive light on the real estate market in the capital, something we hope to capitalise on from our new location, added Witty.

The new office can be found at Office No. 802, Tamouh Tower, Building 12, The Marina Square, Al Reem Island.

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Chestertons opens new Al Reem Island office in Abu Dhabi - MEConstructionNews.com

Published 25 February 2020

Architect Oliver Wilson on the changing residential neighbourhoods being created in Scottish city centres.

On moving to Edinburgh as a child, myfirst impression was that it seemed complete. It was like a drawing where all the elementsand perspective fittedtogether perfectly. Im sure visitors arriving in the citynowhave the same formative view with theCastle as the centrepiece and the logic and symmetry of the adjacent New Town.

However,its not until you live, work and play in a city that you really notice that each has a character and style of its own and that theyare never finished - constantlyevolving from one generation to the next.

Industry often dictates change.The transformation of major cities in Scotland is evident from the number of cranes across the skyline. As an architect, I see this as a good thing. It means the promise of big renewal projects and a chance to find new purposes for underused and neglected spaces.

For example, as a student in Liverpool, I watched howcity planners andfellowarchitects worked together to turnthe derelict and disused Albert Dockarea into anew commercial, residential and cultural landmark.

City populations are set to keep expanding and so more homes will beneeded.Population forecasts show that millennials will make up 40% of the workforce by 2030. Quite apart from the desire of this age group tolive in the city rather than the suburbs, there is also the reality of the climate emergency with the younger generation eager to walk and cycle to reduce their impact on theenvironment.

The pendulumisshiftingto favourliving inurban areas. That is why there is a move towards mixed-use developments in Scotland. In many cities, this type of living is commonplace, normally when land is at a premium. Property owners, investorsand developers see many opportunities to maximise limited landuse and to create places where people want to live. This is reflected by policy makers and city plannerswho want to improve the city centre andbring derelict land into productive use.

BDPs Glasgow studio designedBuchanan Gardens, a residential development of 49 apartments above a major retail space onBuchanan Street, the main shopping thoroughfare in Glasgow.

The bespoke apartments are designed to offer contemporary living in the heartof the city. They incorporate existing architectural features from the past: one of the entrances uses theoriginal facade of The Baltic Chambers. All have beenawarded eco-home status, in keeping with the next generations strong environmental concerns.

A sense of community is also increasingly important as an antidote to the isolation and stress of single city living. Our design includes communal areas at both entrances to create shared spaces in the buildings encouraging interaction and inclusivity. Opportunities to meet and spend time with neighbours are further encouraged with the addition of a shared sky garden. Many of the apartments also have their own private outdoor spaces to promote an appreciation of the outdoors in the heart of the city, with terraces and balconies away from the busy streets below.

Back in Edinburgh,BDPis collaborating with other architects to design and deliver Edinburgh St James, with an emphasis onmixed-use development. This isone of the largest and most significant urban regeneration projects currently underway in the UK.It will include 85 retail units, over 30 catering units, 152 new homes, a 244-bedroom five-star hotel, 75 room aparthotel, 5 screen cinema and 1600 car parking spaces.

When working onthese landmark projects with clients,our priority must be that we are creating buildings and communities that will last. Projects in the city should also beabout community and well-being, creatinghomes which are truly part of neighbourhoods,featuring a mix of homes, shops, offices,restaurantsand entertainment venues,where people feel happy, safe and part of a community.

Architecture should be about creating spaces that allow people to feel good in a space. It is also about buildings that will last and may be regenerated in the future. I look out the window from my office and still see empty spaces above shops. For me, that isan opportunity for a newhomein the city.

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Oliver Wilson: Mixed-use changing the shape of Scottish cities - Scottish Construction Now

By BECKY GILLETTE

The current mood of home builders in Mississippi and across the country is better now than it has been since the Great Recession, said David Saulters, immediate past president of the Home Builders Association of Mississippi (HBAM) and owner of Sigma Companies and RE-MAX Real Estate Partners in Hattiesburg.

It took a long time for the construction business to make it through the Great Recession, Saulters said.

According to the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), builder confidence is at an all-time high. However, in both Mississippi and the rest of the country, there is a lack of inventory, particularly when it comes to affordable housing.

I see that from the real estate side of my business, Saulters said. The question is, Can builders deliver homes that are affordable for the buyer and still profitable for the builders to be able to make a living? The cost of materials and labor has moved up and home prices have moved up, too, but not enough to have an adequate margin for builders.

Risks builders take include constructing spec houses that either dont sell or sell slowly. Another factor can be homes failing to appraise for the sales price needed to allow builders an adequate profit margin.

Custom homes have done pretty well, but I dont think consumers understand the risks builders take with spec houses, he said. Not only does the builder take risks from the selling standpoint, but the warranties require builders stand behind the homes structural items for six years.

Saulters said Hattiesburg is a super market for homes. Petal in Forrest County, as well as Oak Grove in Lamar County, have traditionally done well, but now so are Sumrall and Purvis.

Finding an adequate skilled labor force continues to be a challenge for homebuilders, said HBAM Executive Vice President Jimmie B. Reynolds.

There is definitely a shortage of construction workers, Reynolds said. There are more jobs than people to fill those jobs. From comments Gov. Tate Reeves has made, he is focused on that. One of governors big things is workforce development and we want to be a big part of that. The leadership in the legislature also knows there is a shortage.

One strategy for filling the need now and in the future is to introduce young people to careers in the building trades such as electrical, plumbing, masonry and carpentry. Reynolds said it is important to get past the mindset that everyone needs to attend a four-year college.

There are incredible opportunities for lifetime careers for young people to go into the construction trades, and we want to make sure that public schools are providing educational opportunities to show students what good-paying jobs are out there for them, Reynolds said. There is great money to made without graduating from a four-year college or university with a large amount of student loan debt.

Home builders want to protect the public by preventing unscrupulous people from taking advantages of consumers. Reynolds said one way to do this is to make sure home builders are licensed and meet minimum requirements set by the state.

The Mississippi State Board of Contractors requirements set minimum standards, he said. We encourage the public to use licensed and insured contractors and builders.

But it is important to prevent onerous legislation that raises costs for builders and buyers. Reynolds is at the Mississippi Legislature on a regular basis monitoring legislation that would impact the home building industry.

Right now, the strong economy has created a good environment for home builders, Reynolds said. But it is important to keep track of regulatory changes.

Our association has a lot to offer builders. There are many benefits to being a member of the association. A lot of times folks dont realize HBAM and NAHB are all about advocacy, working really hard every day to make sure to look out for the home building industry and the consumer.

Nationally, there is an affordability issue which is partly related to government regulations, said Kenneth Estes, owner, Estes Building & Remodeling, Tupelo, president of the Homebuilders and Remodeling Association of Northeast Mississippi, a HBAM state representative, and immediate past chairman of the Area 8 region of NAHB.

The president has tried to ease some of the regulatory burden, Estes said. He has gone back and reversed some of the laws President Obama put in effect. NAHB has estimated that out of the average cost of a new home, 25 to 30 percent is some form of local, state or national regulations.

One example he gave is the standards dictating toilets use less water. Estes said there is a proposal to lower it once again from the current standard, which would drive up construction costs even more. Another proposal would require attic insulation in some climate zones go up from R-30 to R-49. While more energy efficient, it might take 15 years to recover the costs in energy saving. Estes said this would be a cost difficult to pass on to buyers.

Other proposals he thinks would unnecessarily drive up costs are requiring mandatory electric car charging stations in all residential construction, and mandatory air testing for tightness in all duct work.

There is no appraisal value for that, Estes said. It is just an expense the builders would have to incur and try to pass on to the consumer. NAHB is working to combat those changes.

Estes agrees home building is healthy overall. The economy continues to grow in Mississippi and the nation, and people are still building new homes across the nation.

There are some pockets doing better than others, Estes said. You always have that even in a down economy. The market in Tupelo is pretty good, although still not back to pre-Recession levels. Right now, in Tupelo there is still a lot of residential construction and commercial construction is very hot.

Estes agrees with others in HBAM that there are major issues with workforce availability.

In recent years locally, Ive probably averaged a phone call a month from someone wanting a job in construction, Estes said. I havent had a call in ten months from anyone asking for a job. The phone is ringing off the hook with people wanting jobs bid, but there is not enough labor force to get the jobs done. It takes longer to get onto jobs once you get them bid because of the lack of labor.

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Home builder confidence high, but cost and availability of homes are issues | - Mississippi Business Journal

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Global Manufactured Housing Market : Full In-depth Analysis by Top Key Players, Regional Outlook, Latest Trend and Forecast to 2024 - Nyse Nasdaq Live

LAND O LAKES The empty land, fronting U.S. 41 and stretching westward toward Lake Thomas, is shared by small herd of cattle and a handful of egrets.

But its the potential for new occupants that has residents in the neighboring rural enclave objecting.

Youre about to kill a golden goose, said Joe Seidle who lives on Lake Thomas Road.

The golden goose, he says, is the natural beauty of Land O Lakes shorelines and old Florida neighborhoods that differentiate it from the cookie-cutter subdivisions that sit atop former ranch land elsewhere in fast-growing central Pasco.

The vacant land, nearly 42 acres, is positioned to become the site of more than 200 town homes vying for a view of Lake Thomas, the 164-acre centerpiece of serenity in the residential area that shares its name.

Current residents said they understand that development will happen. The countys long-range land-use plan designates much of the vacant property as suitable for three single-family homes per acre., known in government vernacular as Res-3. The front parcel, along U.S. 41, can be used for a combination of offices and higher-density housing of 24 units per acre.

What residents dont understand is why the future density for some of that land should double, as developer Tony Tanico of Eastern Meridian Property Group requested. If approved, the new zoning will allow up to six homes per acre and accommodate Tanicos plan to put 218 town homes there.

The new development would sit amid a mix of modest mid-century, cinder-block houses, manufactured homes and custom-built executive estates the owners of which use narrow roads minus shoulders and space for two cars to pass side-by-side to get to U.S. 41.

Neighbors wrote emails to Pasco County, used social media, appeared before the advisory Pasco Planning Commission and last week made their concerns known to elected county commissioners.

The proposed development, they said, could cause safety hazards on U.S. 41 because town home residents will need to drive south to Ehren Cutoff and then make a u-turn to head north to reach the nearest grocery, and the elementary and high school that will serve the community. They also fear more flooding in an area susceptible to high water.

"Theres no way. I mean, were going to flood again,'' said Linda Amason, 63, standing outside her home at 6005 Thomas Circle.

She and her husband, Mike, 69, have lived there 33 years. Their property has flooded four times in 10 years, requiring them to gut the house, install new flooring and sheet rock and put in a new septic system.

"If we flood again, were pulling back and moving on,'' she said.

Tanicos attorney, Barbara Wilhite, said the development team revised the initial plans to accommodate neighbors concerns. Access to the town homes will be from multi-lane U.S. 41, not narrow Little Lake Thomas Road. There will be a right-hand turn lane built on U.S. 41 to enter the project. There will be a pedestrian boardwalk, but no dock for motorized boat launches on Lake Thomas.

The state will review the drainage plans to ensure the project does not increase storm water discharge, cause flooding or damage water quality, said Joe Cimino of the civil engineering firm WRA. The plan is to retain water on the property rather than allow it to drain toward Little Lake Thomas Road and Thomas Circle, as it does now.

"It doesnt make any sense to continue discharging where there are flooding problems along those roads,'' Cimino told county commissioners.

Those accommodations, however, didnt answer the question of why 218 town homes should be built on land designated for 100 single-family homes. Seidle called it a dangerous precedent that will open similar vacant land to double its housing capacity.

"Whats the use of having a land plan if they wont follow it?'' Seidle asked in an interview.

The county called the proposed designation a "transitional land use and will be a means to gradually step-down in density and in lot size'' from a maximum of 24 units per acre that is available elsewhere in the vicinity.

Wilhite pointed out that higher-density housing in that location was encouraged in the 2008 Urban Land Institute report that Pasco County followed to establish higher-density urban service areas in the western and south-central portions of the county.

"This project is exactly what you said you wanted when you adopted that plan,'' she said.

"Its not ideal for best planning,'' Commissioner Jack Mariano acknowledged about the proposed in-fill development.

But both he and Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said they were satisfied with the developers attempts to try to accommodate neighbors concerns.

The commission voted 4-0, with Commissioner Mike Moore absent, to send the proposed land-use change to the state Department of Economic Opportunity for review. Final consideration by the commission is scheduled for April 7.

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Residents fear Lake Thomas townhouses will drown their quality of life - Tampa Bay Times