Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

FLORENCE, SC (WMBF) - A multi-million dollar renovation is happening in a building to improve its safety rating.

The Florence County Complex was rated as one of the worst municipal buildings in the U.S. last year.

In July, when the county was given the news, county council was not sure how it would pay for the upgrades.

Funding for this big project was found in the Penny Sales Project.

"The consultant said that this is one of the most dangerous courthouses they have ever visited," Florence County Administrator Rusty Smith said.

It's the message that is now fueling the $5 million renovation happening inside the Florence County Complex.

Last year, the county hired a consulting firm who gave the building a poor rating 3.4 out of 10.

The mechanical, electrical and safety concerns surrounding the courtroom were just some of the issues brought before county council.

"The capital sales project is funding most of this construction and we feel that it is very beneficial and enhances this facility," Smith said.

Our cameras were given the first look at some of the updates going on inside of the 40-year-old building.

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Florence County Complex gets big time renovations

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HARTFORD Details of how the city might generate revenue to lease a minor league baseball stadium from a developer will be revealed in the coming days, the city's development director said.

Thomas Deller said Tuesday that he would present a plan to Mayor Pedro Segarra and the city council for making millions of dollars in payments to DoNo Hartford LLC, a group formed by developers Centerplan Development Co. and LeylandAlliance. The firms were chosen to lead a $350 million redevelopment project in an area north of downtown an effort that includes the construction of a 220,000-square-foot baseball stadium.

Hartford would pay $3.77 million annually for the first five years of a 25-year lease, according to projections in city documents. Its rent payments would then go up by 5 percent in the 6th, 11th and 16th years of the lease.

The city plans to sublease the ballpark to the New Britain Rock Cats, who would begin playing there in 2016. The Rock Cats would pay the city $500,000 a year for the first 15 years of a 25-year sublease, and $600,000 annually in the final 10 years.

The projected cost of building the stadium is $47.13 million, according to a proposal from Centerplan.

City officials have not yet offered specifics on how Hartford would fund its lease payments, but have said that parking fees and revenue from the naming rights, among other things, could help make up the difference.

Addressing a crowd of local business and economic development officials at MetroHartford Alliance's Rising Star breakfast Tuesday, Deller said the project "has to generate an income stream that allows us to pay for it."

"We are right now coming up with final dollar numbers to understand how that payment gets made," he said. "We're comfortable that we can make this happen and make it happen in a rational way."

Rock Cats owner Josh Solomon and Centerplan Vice President of Development Yves-Georges Joseph II said they have received numerous calls from interested corporations, grocery store chains and other business owners who want to be part of the project. Centerplan's proposal includes 210,000 square feet of municipal office space, more than 600 residential units, retail space and a brewery. The project would be paid for with private debt and private equity capital, officials have said.

Joseph said he envisions an urban-style grocery store with structured parking that is "a little smaller" than suburban supermarkets, but would "still serve a full complement of groceries."

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Hartford Vows To Release More Details On Paying Stadium Lease

New centers of retail and housing growth are starting to pop up in Flagstaff, but not in the usual places.

According to the book, Mountain Town, Downtown Flagstaff was the hub of business for the community since before 1897. In the 1960s, stores started moving out of the downtown area because of a lack of space to expand and parking. They were replaced beginning in the 1990s with a variety of boutiques and small restaurants.

Flagstaffs new business hubs started congregating on Fourth Street, East Route 66, South Milton Road, the Flagstaff Mall and Woodlands Village Boulevard.

The mall still has room to expand, but for now at least one new center for shopping is growing closer to the downtown area.

Another is ready to build for the first time on the south side of East Route 66 in the space opened up by the construction of the Fourth Street overpass.

And a third is set for Country Club Drive and Soliere Avenue.

APARTMENTS OVER STORES

RED Development is starting construction on the first phase of the Village at Aspen Place. Perhaps drawn by the more than 5 million tourists that visit each year and more than 20,000 students at Northern Arizona University, the complex is located near Butler Avenue and Lone Tree Road. The project includes 222 one- and two-bedroom luxury apartments situated over more than 30,000 square feet of retail. It also includes a five-level parking garage.

The first series of apartments are expected to be finished in the summer of 2015 with three additional phases to be completed in September 2016 and January 2016.

At the same time, RED continues to expand the shopping options at its retail shopping center, Aspen Place at the Sawmill. The shopping plaza is expected to have more than 135,000 square feet of retail and restaurants when it is completely built out.

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Flagstaff retail is on the rise

With the city's Urban Redevelopment Authority expected on Thursday to select a firm to redevelop the Strip District's Produce Terminal, a company once lined up for the project has turned the page.

The Strip-based Buncher Co., which acquired a $1.8 million option on the Produce Terminal four years ago, received approval from the Pittsburgh Planning Commission to remove the crumbling terminal from a subdivision plan for riverfront property it owns.

It's no longer in our development plans, said Buncher President and CEO Tom Balestrieri.

Buncher owns more than 50 acres between the Allegheny River and Smallman Street. It is laying a road parallel with Smallman, between 16th and 21st streets, that crews will mostly complete by the end of the year, Balestrieri said.

Construction of as many as 200 apartments could begin along the riverfront near the 21st Street edge of the property next year, Balestrieri said. Simultaneously, townhouses that include so-called live-work units designed to house tenants and their businesses could be built nearby.

Balestrieri said Buncher spoke with about a dozen developers, including seven national firms, but Buncher could opt to use its own real estate and development division.

Tentative proposals have included 100 to 200 apartments in the first building, which could be five to 12 stories tall. Some firms proposed building a neighboring apartment building at the same time.

Buncher's plan to demolish about one-third of the URA-owned building drew opposition from Mayor Bill Peduto and some preservationists. In a deal brokered in February, Buncher agreed to step aside while the city considered alternate proposals.

Three groups are in the running. The URA is expected to choose a developer to negotiate with for up to 90 days. The board will vote to terminate URA's option with Buncher and pay the company $640,000 for doing so, its meeting agenda said.

Buncher is as anxious as everybody to see that project completed, company Vice President Mike Kutzer said.

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URA expected to select developer for Produce Terminal this week

Tenants are being told they will benefit from being back in central Christchurch.

Doing business in Christchurch's city centre will cost more than before the earthquakes, but will offer good value for money.

That's the message from real estate firm Colliers in its latest overview report into the city's commercial property market.

While office and retail tenants have been slow to return to the central city, a shift is now well under way. New buildings in Victoria St and west of the Avon River will soon be followed by others - either planned or under way - in the retail, justice and emergency, and innovation precincts.

Colliers researchers estimate the amount of office floorspace leased in the central city since the quakes would fill 11 Forsyth Barr towers. This includes 50,000 square metres fully secured, with another 38,000sqm under conditional agreements from private tenants and government departments.

Colliers office broker Ryan Geddes says 16 of the city's major office tenants are returning. These include the big banks, law, accountancy and engineering firms, and government agencies.

High construction and refurbishment costs inevitably mean they face higher lease costs. Annual rents for newly built top- grade space are now as high as $425 a square metre, while operating costs have also risen.

Despite this, total occupancy costs for businesses will be only 20 to 30 per cent higher than before, Geddes says. This is because tenants are using space much more efficiently, with some taking as little as 10sqm per staffer.

"As people started to understand construction costs and a new way of doing business, with open-plan offices, they came to realise they could afford to pay the [CBD] rents".

Geddes says after the quakes there was genuine uncertainty whether business would return to the central city. Fear of unsafe or tall buildings was a key reason.

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Higher rents, but better value tipped

(MENAFN - The Peninsula) Qatar Industrial Manufacturing Company (QIMC), announced that it has awarded the consultancy services for their mixed use tower project to Arab Engineering Bureau (AEB), to be located in the West Bay area.

Following an international design competition, the team's design for three towers of various heights joined at the base by a 4-storey high podium has been chosen. AEB was awarded full architectural and engineering design services.

QIMC is a 24 years old company with prime focus on industrial manufacturing. It has equity interest in 17 operational projects in various industrial sectors. Having a share capital of QR396m, QIMC is listed in the Qatar Stock Exchange.

Hill International is the Project Management consultant and a global leader in managing construction risk.

The new project includes three towers, joined at the base, planned for hospitality, commercial and residential use. Drawing on its experience as designer of multitude of high-rises in the West Bay area, AEB's design is highly effective, both in terms of space planning and energy conservation. The outer faade design is based on the repetition of Titanium Dioxide molecular structure forming a uniform honey comb pattern, and will help reduce overall heat gain by the building.

The podium that connects three towers is intended for a retail space which perfectly complements the 23-storey grade A office tower, 29-storey hospitality hotel tower and 38-storey residential tower. The QIMC tower will offer ample amount of parking bays located on four basement levels.

Project valued at QR1bn, with a total build-up area of 120,000 square meters, is slated for completion in 2018.

AEB's design of the project intends to redefine skyscrapers as connecting agent between architecture and the city through the re-composition of surrounding urban context. Analyzing urban environment, project is situated along the inclined interlinking circulation system in order to enhance human interaction and extend streets throughout the entire building.

Abdulrahman Al Ansari, CEO at QIMC said: "Our decision to appoint AEB highlights our commitment to transform our current headquarters into an iconic building that reflects the highest standards and specifications. With over 48 years of experience being lead consultant of most successful developments in Qatar and the region, AEB brings a unique mix of local and international expertise that we and our future tenants will benefit greatly from."

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Qatar- QIMC awards consultancy deal to AEB

Matawan, NJ (PRWEB) September 09, 2014

"Are you looking to accomplish a home improvement project this year? Are you having second thoughts about being able to complete the project yourself? Stop by our booth number 605 and come visit us to see if we can help you, Diane one of our Sales/Business Manager will be there to assist you", said Mike Bruno owner of Stone Creek Builders.

"The show has become the go-to place for Shore Region homeowners to locate high caliber home improvement professionals to perform needed home improvements. The Home Improvement Show features companies that specialize in small home improvement tasks, routine maintenance chores, large renovations, and new construction", said a SCB representative. Stone Creek Builders will be exhibiting our expertise for the duration of the show. We will be available to answer home improvement questions, explain the benefits of specific renovations, offer estimates, and showcase previous home improvement work the company has accomplished.

The Fall Home Improvement show will be held on September 20th and September 21st at Monmouth University. Monmouth University is located in West Long Branch, New Jersey. The show will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Passes to the show are only 7 dollars for adults and 5 dollars for youth between the ages of 12 and 17. Children 11 and under can enter the show for free when accompanied by a parent. Seniors can attend the show at the reduced cost of 5 dollars on Friday only. Questions about the show can be answered by calling the information number 848-221-8074. Interested parties can also visit the event's website at http://www.macevents.com.

Stone Creek Builders is proud to attend an event with such a high concentration of professional contractors and home improvement specialists. We will be exhibiting at booth number 605 for the duration of the Home Improvement Show. Be sure to visit us to discover how our affordability and expertise can greatly improve your home. Our staff looks forward to meeting you at the show.

Don't procrastinate your home improvement projects any longer. If you have decided a certain project is above your skill level, attend the show to discover how your home improvement visions can be easily accomplished. Whether you are looking to repair a small problem or construct an entire luxury home, the Home Improvement Show is the place to be, said Mike Bruno.

About Stone Creek Builders

The founder of Stone Creek Builders has been a leading provider of building, remodeling and restoration services for over 20 years. Stone Creek Builders provides general contracting, remodeling, insurance restoration, house lifting, and storm reconstruction services to clients in central and shore regions of New Jersey. Contact us at (732) 566-0395 or visit our website at http://www.stonecreekbldrs.com for more information.

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Stone Creek Builders Will Be Exhibiting at the Fall Home Improvement Show

EXTENSIVE plans for Yorks new community stadium also set to include a leisure complex and swimming pool - have been given the go-ahead by cabinet.

City of York Councils cabinet last night approved borrowing 4million towards financing the project, and full council is now due to debate and make a final decision on whether the borrowing of the funds should be granted.

The total cost of the stadium and leisure complex - plus the replacement athletics track at Heslington West and rugby facilities at York St John - is 37 million. Of that, the City of York Council will contribute a total of 8million - 4million of which is due to be borrowed.

The latest plans for the Huntington site include a leisure complex and a newly built swimming pool to replace Waterworld, a cinema, restaurants and a library.

Cllr James Alexander, leader of the council, said: This is a huge potential for the city. This is a massive thing we can bring forward for the public.

This is genuinely a huge opportunity to show members of this city these are facilities for them. These are good quality, nationally recognised facilities. I think that is the right thing to do.

Other Labour councillors spoke of their approval of the scheme with Cllr David Levene stating that getting 37 million of facilities for 8million seems to be value for money and Cllr Sonja Crisp describing the site as a health and wellbeing hub for the city.

Project manager Tim Atkins told the meeting the cost of the stadium project was more than anticipated as original estimates had been conservative. But he said the commercial opportunities were positive with the arrival of John Lewis and Marks and Spencer at the site putting York on the map.

However, speaking at the beginning of the meeting, Conservative councillor Paul Healey questioned whether the council could afford to be drawn into another major out of town development.

He expressed doubt over whether the council could justify borrowing 4 million at a time when concerns were continually expressed about restricted budgets.

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York community stadium plan is given go-ahead

LARGO Four new magnet programs, two new schools, a major remodeling project and new technology in every classroom are a few of the items on the Pinellas County school districts spending list for this school year.

School board members approved a nearly $1.3 billion budget for the 2014-15 school year, as well as a lower tax rate, during the final public hearing Tuesday.

Two years of tight budgeting under Superintendent Michael Grego has helped reverse the school districts trend of spending more money than it takes in, he said. Balancing the budget, and drawing more students into county schools with new programs, allowed the district to launch new programs and to open its first new schools in a decade, he said.

Im incredibly proud that this is the first time in three years our budget is in the black, were building our contingency as a district and keeping our fingers on the pulse of our improvement, Grego said.

The school districts general operating fund, which pays for day-to-day operations and salaries, increased about $8.9 million this year to $881 million.

The district also will receive an extra $24.9 million in state funding, though much of that money is earmarked for special projects, budget specialist LouAnn Jourdan said.

About $1.1 million of the state funding will ensure schools meet the technology requirement for online testing and classrooms assignments under the new Florida Standards, which will be adopted fully next school year.

The increase also has to pay for 16 schools to remain open for an additional half-hour a day for reading intervention because of students low Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test reading scores, a requirement from the Department of Education for the lowest-performing 300 schools in the state.

Overall, the district has a slightly smaller budget than last years $1.33 billion. The district received less from the state for construction and maintenance projects. It has trimmed its capital budget to $267 million compared with last years $301.8 million.

Palm Harbor University High is adding 38 classrooms, eliminating the need for portables. The $13 million project could be completed by June.

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Pinellas school budget has room to grow