Growth in construction activity has slowed, as the strength in the housing market is offset by weakness in engineering construction.

The Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Performance of Construction Index fell 5.7 points to 53.4 points in October.

But, it was the fifth straight month the index has stayed above the 50 level that separates expansion from contraction.

Ai Group director of public policy Peter Burn said the data reflect the changing nature of the Australian economy, away from one that was driven by mining investment.

"Residential and commercial construction continued to lead the rebalancing of the economy away from the emphasis on mining investment that has been such a feature of domestic economic activity in recent years," he said.

"With official data showing housing loan approvals flat, construction businesses appear to have wound back the exuberance of recent months with only a marginal lift in employment levels in October."

Housing Industry Association chief economist Harley Dale said the housing sector was consolidating after stellar growth earlier in 2014.

"The activity and new orders indices for both detached houses and apartments are consistent with the maintenance of elevated levels of residential building approvals, rather than further growth," he said.

Of the four construction sub-sectors, engineering was the only one to record a fall in activity in the month.

House and apartment building were robust and growth in commercial building activity moderated.

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Construction in expansion for 5th month

DELRAY BEACH, FL (WFLX) - Police in Delray Beach are looking for three men suspected of breaking into a penthouse apartment and stealing more than $100,000 in jewelry.

Detectives said surveillance footage shows two men enter the apartment building at about 6 p.m. Saturday, October 25. They eventually entered a tenth floor apartment. The third suspect stayed outside as a lookout, the surveillance camera captured.

Investigators hope someone might recognize the men in the video and call police with information.

Police told us the crime happened while the victims were at church. They're in the process of moving to Delray Beach on a full time basis.

Detectives aren't sure why the thieves targeted this penthouse. The apartment building is undergoing big renovations. Police said a woman let the thieves into the secure building because she thought they might be construction workers.

Investigators said the recent trend among thieves is to target jewelry, guns and cash."Jewelry is so easy to get rid of and unload," explained Detective Paul Pitti. "It doesn't have serial numbers like a television, for example."

Police believe the same men tried to break into a business about an hour before entering the apartment. A camera at that location captured them outside, but they did not get inside.

The men left in a gray mini-van. Investigators believe they may be from Broward or Miami-Dade County.

If you have any information, call Det. Pitti at 561-243-7800.

Excerpt from:
Police looking for men suspected of stealing $100k worth of jewelry from Delray penthouse apartment

Dormont has extended its lease negotiation period for one year with the potential developer of borough-owned property at the Dormont Junction light-rail transit stop.

Borough council on Monday voted to continue to negotiate exclusively with Fore Property Co. of Washington, D.C., which proposes building a 240-unit luxury apartment complex as a transit-oriented development. Councilman John Maggio voted against the measure.

The borough property is next to the Port Authoritys 165-space park-n-ride lot near the intersection of Biltmore and West Liberty avenues. The Port Authority also has approved extending the lease negotiation period.

A lease agreement must gain approval from several entities, including the Federal Transit Administration, before construction can take place.

Unfortunately, the FTA will not approve any leases at this time that are not fully funded, borough manager Jeff Naftal wrote in a memorandum to council. The borough is working with state lawmakers for public funding toward the project.

Fores concept is for a five-story apartment building, The Junction, with a primary entrance facing West Liberty Avenue and a second entrance connecting to the light-rail station. The complex would include 500 parking spaces, 100 of them available for public use.

The project will be designed and built with sustainable principles and practices to create a healthy living environment, minimize energy consumption and use materials responsibly, Fore wrote in its proposal to the borough.

As part of the project, Biltmore Avenue would be widened to create an additional lane, and a new traffic signal would be placed on West Liberty, at Fores expense.

Council President Bill McCartney said the value of the property when developed is estimated at $40 million to $42 million, which would increase the value of all property in the borough by about 10 percent.

In voting against extending the lease negotiation period, Mr. Maggio said he is concerned about increasing Dormonts population density, which is among the highest in Pennsylvania.

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Luxury apartment complex plan still alive in Dormont

Construction of Lynn Apartment Building
Construction time lapse of Lynn Apartment Building by: Avalon Building Systems http://www.avalonbuildingsystems.com info@avalonbuildingsystems.com 888-764-1297.

By: Avalon Building Systems

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Construction of Lynn Apartment Building - Video

By Adam Shanks

ashanks@berkshireeagle.com @EagleAdamShanks on Twitter

NORTH ADAMS >> At least nine people were displaced on Sunday after a fire spread quickly through their Loftus Street apartment building.

The North Adams Fire Department received word at 3:13 p.m. of smoke alarms activated at 5 Loftus St., and the fire was already spreading by the time firefighters arrived just three minutes later. But an "aggressive attack" contained the fire to a single apartment and nobody was injured, according to North Adams Fire Director Stephen Meranti.

"It was a really good stop by the guys," Meranti told The Eagle on Monday. "They did an excellent job keeping the fire to the one apartment."

The blaze appears to have been caused by the electrical failure of a porch light, Meranti said.

The building, owned by local developer Michael Deep, contained three occupied apartments, according to Meranti. Though the fire was contained to the single apartment, utilities to the to the entire building had to be shut off by city staff, forcing every apartment to evacuated. Deep and the Red Cross were able to help relocate the tenants, and Meranti hoped to have utilities turned back on by Monday afternoon.

The fire spread quickly from the first floor through the attic and roof, Meranti said. The building has what's known as "balloon frame construction," common in older homes throughout New England that allows fire to pass quickly from floor to floor.

"It's like a chimney, it goes right up through into the attic," Meranti said. "It's very common in this area. During renovations they install fire stops all that is they put a block of wood across at floor levels ... to prevent the fire from spreading."

North Adams Ambulance Service and North Adams Police, who had to shut down River Street while the fire was ongoing, also responded to the scene. All off-duty firefighters were called to the fire.

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Nine people displaced after fire at North Adams apartment

By Michele Lerner November 3 at 5:30 AM

Real estate development company Kettler is starting construction on m.flats Crystal City, a LEED Silver-designed 11-story luxury high rise one block from the Crystal City Metro station.

The building is anticipated to be complete in October 2016. The 198-unit building will be marketed to single renters, young professionals and couples looking for a smaller yet luxurious apartment.

The apartments will mostly be one- and two-bedroom units with oak flooring, quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances. Building amenities will include a two-level clubhouse on the upper two floors with multiple outdoor seating and dining areas, outdoor kitchens with grills, a fireplace and a sundeck next to a swimming pool.

Other amenities include underground garage parking, a lounge with a game area, a fitness center, a bike room and a landscaped all-season courtyard. Rents have yet to be determined.

For more information, go to http://www.kettler.com.

Construction starts on low-income housing in Southeast

Transitional Housing Corporation recently broke ground on the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Commons, a project that will transform three blighted buildings in Southeast Washington into affordable apartments for low- and moderate-income families.

When completed by mid-2015, the buildings at 5010 Southern Ave. SE will provide apartments for 36 families including 12 formerly homeless families at below-market rents.

Employment services and other support for youth and families will also be provided on site. One-third of the units will be reserved for families with more intensive needs.

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Town Square | New luxury high-rise coming to Crystal City

Published: November 2, 2014 | Last Modified: November 2, 2014 01:01AM

By Molly Callahan Record-Journal staff

MERIDEN Through a combination of bonds and tax credits from state agencies, Charles Place apartments will receive extensive improvements, according to building owner Bill Collins.

Were renovating from the roof all the way down, Collins said.

The former mill buildings at 122 Charles St. sit on 4.38 acres. The work will be paid for by $4.9 million in bonds from the state Department of Housing and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority and the proceeds from $3.4 million in housing tax credits.

The funds are part of more than $100 million available for affordable housing through an application-based process.

With funding being sourced from various state agencies, its kind of like taking this puzzle and bringing to bear as many different resources as possible to solve it, said Lisa Kitter, director of communications for CHFA.

Charles Place includes 80 apartments at 25-, 50-, and 60 percent of the area median income.

Though no new units will be added, at least two will be designated for homeless veterans with services provided by the Veterans Administration of West Haven.

Collins said the complex is in need of updates and renovation; an issue brought to light in January, when the wall collapsed in the back of an East Main Street apartment building.

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Owner talks about state-financed work on Meriden apartment building

Clients of a Citigroup Inc. (C) unit backing the construction of New Yorks tallest apartment building are funding a new project in Boston.

The firm has finished raising money from clients of its private bank to invest in a 60-story tower being built in Bostons Back Bay neighborhood, according to a person briefed on the matter. The wealthy individuals invest directly in the project and returns will be based on proceeds from the sale of about 180 condominiums in the building, the person said.

The residential tower also will include a hotel managed by Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, the person said, requesting anonymity because the details of the project havent been finalized. Saudi billionaire Alwaleed bin Talals Kingdom Holding Co. owns stakes in Four Seasons and New York-based Citigroup.

Justine Griffin, a spokeswoman for project developer Carpenter & Co., declined to comment. Ryan Jimenez, a spokesman for Four Seasons in Boston, didnt reply to phone and e-mail messages seeking comment.

Citigroups private bank, led by Peter Charrington, pooled more than $400 million from wealthy clients to invest in New Yorks 432 Park Ave., where a penthouse is under contract for $95 million. The building will reach almost 1,400 feet, making it the largest residential tower in the Western Hemisphere, according to its website.

432 Park Ave stands in New York. Close

432 Park Ave stands in New York.

Close

432 Park Ave stands in New York.

As the U.S. economy powers a global expansion now in its fifth year, the worlds rich are investing in the nations real estate and companies to bolster their fortunes. Citigroups private bank targets individuals with a net worth of $25 million or more.

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Citigroup Private Clients Said to Back Boston Skyscraper

In this Nov 1, 2013 photo, a resident peeps in to morning street-market from a second-floor window of a little apartment building at 41st street, Yangon, Myanmar. The building whispers of a past of solid middle-class lives of a cosmopolitan, colonial city that was once a great Asian crossroad, the capital of a country once called Burma. But that was a long time ago. (AP Photo/ Gemunu Amarasinghe)(The Associated Press)

In this Jan. 22, 2014 photo, a man pulls a rickshaw with a passenger through a street market on the 41st Street passing by a little apartment building in Yangon, Myanmar. The building whispers of a past of solid middle-class lives of a cosmopolitan, colonial city that was once a great Asian crossroad, the capital of a country once called Burma. But that was a long time ago. (AP Photo/ Gemunu Amarasinghe)(The Associated Press)

In this Aug. 25, 2014 photo, weeds and mold grow on the facade of a little apartment building on 41st Street in Yangon, Myanmar. There is an elegance in the arched windows now covered with grime. Its in the ornamental pillars, coated with paint so faded that its hard to say if the building is yellow or white. Its in the wide windows kept open through the endless hot months, bringing in the breeze from the Yangon River. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)(The Associated Press)

In this Aug. 28, 2014 photo, residents gather around an elderly man who mediates a dispute among neighbors as others watch through windows and doorways from a little apartment building on 41st Street in Yangon, Myanmar. This is the story of one apartment building, two stairwells, 12 tiny apartments and the 60 or so people who live in them. In some ways, it's also the story of a country wavering between a decades-long era of brutal military rule and the promise of some vague new golden age. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)(The Associated Press)

In this Aug. 28, 2014 photo, some residents look out of their windows as the night falls at a little apartment building on 41st Street in Yangon, Myanmar. This is the story of one apartment building, two stairwells, 12 tiny apartments and the 60 or so people who live in them. In some ways, it's also the story of a country wavering between a decades-long era of brutal military rule and the promise of some vague new golden age. (AP Photo/ Gemunu Amarasinghe)(The Associated Press)

YANGON, Myanmar The little apartment building was graceful once. Maybe even beautiful. There is an elegance in the arched windows now covered with grime. It's in the ornamental pillars, coated with paint so faded that it's hard to say if the building is yellow or white. It's in wide windows kept open through the endless hot months, bringing in the breeze from the Yangon River.

The building whispers of a past. Of middle-class lives. Of a cosmopolitan, colonial city that was once a great Asian crossroad, the capital of a country once called Burma. But that was a long time ago.

Now, in the late afternoons when the breeze starts to pick up, two old friends carry out plastic chairs to sit in front of a building battered by time, monsoons and history. They talk about the neighborhood and their children. They worry about money.

U Tin Win has spent 67 years in the building on 41st Street, moving in when he was 6 years old. His friend Round Namar isn't sure how long it's been. Sixty-five years? Seventy? "All I know," Namar says, "is my mother told me I was born here."

All those years the two have lived next door to one another, in ground-floor apartments each a little bigger than a shipping container.

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In a once-graceful building, Myanmar's story is told by the residents of 12 tiny apartments

ST. PETERSBURG One of the two pile drivers at a downtown construction site will continue to clang away through the holidays, further aggravating some nearby residents.

DPR Construction of Tampa, which is building the 19-story apartment tower and adjacent 596-space parking garage at 330 Third St. S, has announced that the pile driving on the portion of the 3-acre site nearest Publix will continue through the end of the year.

Originally, the pounding was to end by Oct. 15, city officials said.

Residents at the nearby Madison condos were urged by their board of directors last week to email city officials and demand immediate noise mitigation and reduced hours for the loud hammering, which started in late April.

"I'd like every single person who works in City Hall to put a desk in the parking lot (next to the work site) and try to work," said Leslie Scanlon, 57, a Madison condo owner.

Next month, the city will organize a meeting with downtown residents and developers to discuss possible solutions and keep everyone informed, top building official Rick Dunn said.

Dunn said he can't tell DPR what kind of construction equipment to use.

"The building code doesn't give me that authority," Dunn said.

St. Petersburg City Council member Karl Nurse wants to look at changing that, or at least finding a solution to calm residents' nerves. Nurse thinks moving the start time for pile driving from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on weekdays would help, something he plans to raise at the Nov. 6 City Council meeting.

Nurse would also like to explore ways to muffle the noise.

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Pile driving to last until end of year on downtown St. Pete apartments