Washington U.S. homebuilders slowed the pace of construction in January, breaking ground on fewer single-familyhousesahead of the spring buying season.

Housingstartsslipped 2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.07 million last month, down from 1.09 million in December, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

Leading that decline was a sharp 6.7 percent monthly drop instartsfor single-familyhouses. Still, a healing economy has caused building activity to move at a faster clip, with single-familystartsclimbing 18.7 percent over the past 12 months.

Despite the monthly decline, the broader economy should help boost home sales and apartment construction this year.

"We have strong job growth, strong consumer confidence, still low borrowing costs," said Jennifer Lee, a senior economist at BMO Capital Markets.

In the past three months alone, the economy has gained more than a million new paychecks. Employers are adding workers at an annual clip of 2.3 percent, the fastest rate in the more than five-year recovery from the Great Recession.

The hiring has also fueled expectations that more millennials will sign leases on apartments. Builders have prepared for the additional demand, with apartment construction surging 12.1 percent in January and 24.5 percent over the past 12 months.

The improving labor market is expected to trigger greater demand to buy homes, boosting prices and then causing builders to further ramp up construction.

Metro areas with the fastest job growth are experiencing larger increases in home prices, Jed Kolko, chief economist at the real estate firm Trulia, said in a report last week.

"A growing economy fuelshousingdemand," Kolko said. Among the 10 metro areas with the biggest year-over-year price increases, nine had at least 2 percent job growth, he noted.

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US housing starts fall in January, but construction is speeding up

A torch used to thaw frozen pipes has been blamed for starting a fire Monday in a three-unit apartment building in Brigden that left several people temporarily homeless, and caused damage estimated at between $250,000 and $300,000.

Walt Anderson, chief of the St. Clair Township Fire Department, said Brigden firefighters were called out at approximately 5:30 p.m. to the fire on Boswell Street.

"The landlord was thawing some pipes and the fire got into the walls," he said.

"With the type of construction, she just went up the walls and into the attic."

The shell of the building was still standing Tuesday, but "it's pretty well gutted," Anderson said.

"Apparently, it was an old creamery so the walls are like three-foot thick of brick. It's a pretty solid building."

Anderson said all of the building's tenants escaped safely, and are reported to be staying with family, or found other accommodations.

"Everybody is out of the cold."

Anderson said firefighters were told four people lived in one apartment, one person lived in a second, and the third unit was vacant.

"It was very stubborn to fight," Anderson said, with cold temperatures and ice adding to the challenge, but no firefighters were injured.

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Tenants escape burning building

The amount of snow on the roof of 600 Pennsylvania Ave., in the Liberty Place apartment complex in North Leominster, is measured. David Dore photoA building at the Liberty Place apartment complex was evacuated for a couple of hours Monday after residents called the Fire Department to report a creaking roof and cracks in the walls and ceilings.

Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Davis said the Fire Department was contacted around 11:30 a.m. Monday that someone at 600 Pennsylvania Ave. heard some creaks and thought they saw new cracks in the walls and ceilings. Liberty Place is located off Industrial Drive in North Leominster.

The Fire Department contacted the building inspector because we did have some concern, just with the cracks, Davis said.

A structural engineer brought in by building co-owner Peter Bovenzi and the building inspector checked out the building once it was evacuated, Davis said. They checked out the attic and the snow load on the roof, he said, and the engineer deemed it safe.

There was at most 12-13 inches of snow on the roof, Bovenzi said, and the construction of the building allows it to support three to four times that amount.

Asked about the cracks reported by residents, Bovenzi replied there were no cracks that he could see.

After almost a couple of hours, residents were allowed to return, according to Davis. In the meantime, a resident said, they either stayed with family or friends or went to the citys emergency shelter at Southeast Elementary School.

The several feet of snow that has fallen on southern New England in recent weeks has raised concerns about roof collapses, and caused several of them around the region. Davis said the Leominster Fire Department has gotten calls from people concerned about a roof collapse, but as of Monday there have been none in the city.

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Apartment building evacuated over roof concerns

MIDDLETOWN A proposal for a six-story, 89-unit apartment building at the corner of Broad and College streets has all the necessary approvals, and construction is scheduled to start in the spring.

Massachusetts-based Hajjar Management Co. received approval Wednesday from the town's planning and zoning commission and its redevelopment agency. The Design Review and Preservation Board also issued a favorable opinion on the project.

"They say they want to start construction as soon as spring begins," Planning Director Michiel Wackers said on Friday.

He said the planning and zoning approval came with a condition that Hajjar officials meet with the Design Review and Preservation Board to go over the materials that will be used on the exterior of the building.

Hajjar only needs to apply for a building permit before it can begin construction.

The company owns the 12-story MiddleOak office tower, and will build the new apartment building on a vacant lot next to the tower.

The $20 million project will include 3,400 square feet of retail space on the first floor and a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments on the five floors above that.

Each unit will be between 570 and 1,150 square feet, with rents ranging from $1,100 to $2,300 a month, Hajjar said last year.

"It's been a longstanding goal of the city to bring high-quality housing that can attract a diversity of income downtown," Wackers said. "We want downtown to be home to a broad range of Middletown residents."

The common council on Feb. 3 approved an incentive plan for the project that will freeze taxes at the current level for seven years and caps building permit fees at $142,600.

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Downtown Middletown Apartment Proposal Wins All Needed Approvals

Residents of a Garden City apartment building say they had to scramble to find new places to live Wednesday.

Horry County code enforcement officials deemed the building in the Cambridge Apartments complex to be unfit for occupancy Tuesday, and tenants in four of the eight units were given 24 hours to move out.

The tenants say the sudden eviction caught them off-guard.

"All we can do is look for another place to live," said tenant David Brouwer.

The Noble Company manages the property, serving as agents for the homeowners association.

Company representatives told us Thursday they gave the owners of the condo units repeated notices, starting January 22nd, that the front stairwell would need to be replaced, and that during the construction, the tenants would have to vacate for four days.

The managers say the tenants, for whatever reason, wouldn't leave.

Manager Jennifer Harmon says at one point, the contractor put up plywood over the front to try to keep the tenants out so the work could get started, but the tenants took the plywood down.

"Unfortunately the tenant in one of the units began removing those boards, and so the contractors put them back up, they took pictures again of both the before and the after, and the tenant took them down again," said Harmon.

Harmon says it got to the point The Noble Company asked Horry County Code Enforcement to step in and condemn the front of the building, to force the tenants out so the delayed work could begin.

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Apartment tenants say sudden eviction was surprise, company says they had repeated notices

SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- The LaSalle hotel has been vacant for nearly 15 years but is now one step closer to reopening its doors to the public as an apartment building. The Redevelopment Commission approved an agreement to help in renovations.

The new developer, Real America, checks in weekly on the location and has a strong background in projects like this. The Redevelopment Commission approved a budget of $1.8 million to help with construction costs of the roof, windows and elevators. While it seems like a hefty investment, it's one that will help the city's future.

"It certainly would have cost the city a considerable amount of money to demolish a building and it's an historic structure," Scott Ford, Department of Community Investment said. "I think the ability to return it onto the tax rolls and introduce new residents downtown, and rehabilitate a jewel in our heritage. I certainly think it's worthwhile."

"The building has sat empty for 15 years so to have it back on the tax rolls is a big win for tax payers," Chris Fielding, Director of Business Development said. "But also to see it really become a thriving landmark in the downtown is huge for the vitality of downtown."

The former developer, Great Lakes Capital out of South Bend, had the initial winning bid but hadn't started work on the actual building in nearly a year.

The apartment building will have 67 units and parking in the lot next door between it and the Morris. There are 90 available parking spots. Construction is expected to begin in April and last 12 to 18 months.

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LaSalle Hotel one step closer to opening as apartment building

Deveraux Developments Chief Operating Officer Jamie McDougald has some clarifications to make regarding prefabricated modular units.

Submitted photo

The Strathmore -- a 24-unit condo complex in Reginas Cathedral area -- is seen. This Deveraux Developments complex earned the 2013 Regina and Region Home Builders Association Multi-Family Complex of the Year award, beating out traditional builds for the commendation.

Passionate about the work that his company does, Deveraux Developments Chief Operating Officer Jamie McDougald has some clarifications to make regarding prefabricated modular units.

Last month, the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region issued a request for proposals for a three-storey, 22-unit apartment building comprised solely of prefabricated modular units.

The tender had sparked opposition from the Prince Albert Construction Association, which notes in a letter to the health region that the criteria listed in the tender eliminates local contractors, subtrades and suppliers.

McDougald said that if the health region goes with a prefabricated module build they will get their apartment complex built faster and less expensively than with a traditional build.

Deveraux Developments has introduced more than 1,000 modular multi-family units in Regina over the last five years, he said.

In 2013, their The Strathmore complex -- a 24-unit condo in Regina -- beat out traditional builds to earn the 2013 Regina and Region Home Builders Association Multi-Family Complex of the Year award one of a handful of commendations the company has earned in recent years.

The bulk of builds are done indoors, offering a factory-controlled setting that isolates materials from the outdoor elements.

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Deveraux Developments espouses benefits of modular builds

The Prince Albert Construction Association has issued the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region a letter to express their displeasure for a recent tender.

Herald file photo

Victoria Hospital

Last month, the health region issued a tender for a three-storey, 22-unit apartment building north of Victoria Hospital, which would be comprised solely of prefabricated modular units.

The tender closed on Jan. 30, and the Prince Albert Construction Association hopes that the region does not move on any of its bidders.

The tender has eliminated all local general contractors, subtrades and suppliers in the Prince Albert region because of the criteria listed in your tender documents, a letter to the health region from the association reads.

These criteria include the specifications that only those who specialize in modular housing units, have experience in at least 1,000 units of multi-family modular construction and the proviso that the prefabricated modular units be built indoors.

The request for proposals also limits the possibility of other innovate and cost-saving solutions to be presented, the letter cautions.

The construction companies in the Prince Albert region have been heavily involved in supporting the work of the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region, either through financial or in-kind support, the letter continues.

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Construction association very disappointed by health region tender

Rhythm, a seven-story 140-unit apartment development planned for the Lower East Side of Milwaukee, will begin construction around April 1, according to developer Tim Gokhman.

The building will be built at 1632-1640 N. Water St., a site formerly occupied by The Curve bar.

Gokhman and Jim Wiechmann are the developers for the project. They recently selected Catalyst Construction as the general contractor for the project. The architect is Kindness Architecture.

Financing for the project has been secured, Gokhman said.

Weve got the loan commitments, he said.

The first two floors of the building will have 120 interior parking spaces and amenities for the apartments, including a fitness center and club house with an outdoor terrace.

The apartments will be on the upper five floors. Rents will start in the low $1,200s. The apartments will be a mix of studios and one-bedroom units.

The finishes will bring a new standard of luxury to the Milwaukee apartment market, and each and every apartment will have a very generous balcony/terrace, Gokhman said.

Construction is expected to be complete in mid-2016, he said.

Rhythm will be built in one of the hottest neighborhoods in the region for apartment development. Across the street, Mandel Group is building the third phase of its North End development, which will have a 29,500-square-foot Fresh Thyme Farmers Market grocery store and 168 luxury apartments. Several other apartment projects have been built recently or are planned in the area.

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Rhythm apartment development to break ground around April 1

Princeton officials plan to tell the Christie administration how the state construction code can be improved in the wake of a fire at an AvalonBay apartment complex, the same company planning to build a development on Witherspoon Street.

Mayor Liz Lempert said at Tuesdays Princeton Council meeting that the administration is reviewing the code and seeking input from municipalities. The comment period ends March 1, she said.

She, Councilwomen Jenny Crumiller and Jo S. Butler and municipal staff will develop recommendations for the full council to consider at its meeting Feb.24 and then forward them to the state Department of Community Affairs.

Mayor Lempert has urged the administration to review the code before the DCA considers AvalonBays construction plans for a 280-unit development at the former Princeton Hospital. She has called for large multi-family buildings to have sprinklers throughout and concrete dividing walls.

An accidental fire broke out Jan.21 at an AvalonBay apartment complex in Edgewater, Bergen County. More than 500 people were left homeless by a blaze that tore through an apartment building.

Theyre still investigating exactly what happened with the fire there, and they cant be 100 percent sure that building was or was not built to code, Mayor Lempert said.

Municipal emergency management director Robert Gregory, in a response to a question from Ms. Crumiller, said he favored a change in regulations to require sprinklers in attics. He said that for most light-weight construction, there are sprinklers in egress ways and apartments.

Really what the sprinklers are for in that situation is life safety, he said.

Town engineer Robert V. Kiser, who has been monitoring the demolition, told council that the seven-story building on the site was brought down to grade level. Crews continue to work on the site.

Earlier in the meeting, Mayor Lempert briefed council on a phone conversation she had on Monday with AvalonBay Vice President Jon Vogel.

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PRINCETON: Council to recommend construction code improvements to governor