June 28, 2014: Rescue workers clear debris at the site of a building collapse in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

NEW DELHI Rescuers using gas cutters and shovels were searching in construction rubble Sunday for more than a dozen workers feared trapped in the second of two building collapses in India that together have killed at least 19 people.

The 12-story apartment structure the workers were building collapsed late Saturday while heavy rains and lightning were pounding the outskirts of Chennai, the capital of southern Tamil Nadu state. Police said 26 construction workers had been pulled out so far and the search was continuing for more than a dozen others.

Four of the workers died on the spot and another four succumbed to injuries later in a hospital, said police officer George Fernandes.

Twelve injured workers have been hospitalized, while six others were allowed to go home after medical attention on Saturday night, Fernandes said.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse.

Nearly 300 policemen and fire service workers worked overnight, looking for survivors in the debris. They used gas cutters, iron rods and shovels to reach those trapped in the rubble.

Earlier Saturday, a four-story, 50-year-old structure toppled in an area of New Delhi inhabited by the poor. Eleven people died and one survivor was being treated in a hospital, said fire service officer Praveer Haldiar.

Most homes in that part of the capital were built without permission and using substandard materials, police officer Madhur Verma said.

The Press Trust of India news agency said the New Delhi collapse was triggered by construction work on an adjacent plot.

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India building collapses kill at least 19 people

Rescue workers carry the body of an injured man at the site of a collapsed 11-storey building that was under construction on the outskirts of the southern Indian city of Chennai. Photo by Reuters

Ten people including five children were killed in New Delhi after a 50-year-old apartment block with 14 occupants collapsed early on Saturday, a police spokesman said.

"Building collapse in Delhi brings forth need to adhere to safety requirements," tweeted Vijay Goel, a lawmaker from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party that controls the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Numerous building accidents in India's large cities have killed about 100 people in the past year, according to local media reports. More than 50 people were killed when an apartment block collapsed in Mumbai last September.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Madhur Verma told reporters an investigation into the cause of Saturday's building collapse in New Delhi had been launched.

Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal called the incident a "nexus between the builder mafia and the municipal corporation". The corporation did not a answer phone call requesting comment.

Later on Saturday, an 11-storey building under construction in southern Tamil Nadu state came down, killing one worker, said K. Shanmugasundaram, a spokesman for the state police.

"Some 10 workers are in hospital and one of them is in the intensive care unit," he told Reuters. "Many more are still feared trapped."

Local media reports said more than fifty people were feared trapped in the debris of the block.

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Building collapses kill 11 in India

The five-story Proctor Station development will soon begin to rise in Tacoma's Proctor Business District. The project will include 154 apartments and several ground-floor retail spaces. RUSHCOMPANIESBCRA

Proctor Station, a five-story, 154-unit apartment and retail building once criticized by neighbors as too large for the Proctor Business District, will soon begin construction.

Demolition is nearly complete on the site, said Devin Page, Rush Companies vice president of construction. Rush is the buildings principal developer. Excavation of the site will begin the week after Independence Day, he said.

The $20 million development, the largest in the history of Gig Harbors Rush, is due to be completed in late 2015. The building will include studio, one and two bedroom units built over a two-level garage. Ground-floor spaces will be available for retailers to lease.

The building site, adjacent to Mason Middle School, had been occupied by a small strip mall and three houses. The developers allowed the Tacoma Fire Department to conduct fire training exercises in the vacant buildings before demolition was completed.

The plans for Proctor Station encountered opposition from some neighboring homeowners when Rush sought to vacate an alley that bisected the property. Those neighbors complained the building at five stories was too large for the neighborhood business district where existing structures are a maximum of two stories.

A hearings examiner ruled the plans were in compliance with Tacomas zoning codes provided the developers built the structure in a way that would allow fire and garbage trucks access to the back side of the building through a ground-level corridor. The Proctor Business District is one of several neighborhood business districts within the city that the City Council had previously approved rules allowing higher and denser development.

Former City Councilman Bill Evans, a Proctor businessman and one of the co-developers of the project, contended the additional population that the building will bring to the business district merchants more traffic from new residents who live within walking distance of the district shops.

Some nearby residents also complained that the building would increase traffic congestion in the neighborhood and create parking problems in the business district. The developers countered that the building would include parking for residents plus creating more street parking for merchants.

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Construction on a five-story, 154-unit apartment in Proctor Business District beginning soon

Melbourne to get 100-level apartment tower

A 100-level apartment tower is set to be built in Melbourne, giving the city the tallest building to the roofline in the southern hemisphere.

The tower, Australia 108, is one of three new skyscrapers to get state government approval for central Melbourne.

At a height of 319m above the ground, it will surpass Melbourne's Eureka tower by 22 metres.

"It'll be a large addition to Melbourne's skyline," Planning Minister Matthew Guy told reporters on Thursday.

He said it would also surpass the Q1 Gold Coast tower, whose spire reaches 323 metres.

"The top of Q1 is about 275m, so it is by far and away the tallest building to the roofline anywhere in Australia."

Another 75-storey apartment tower has been approved at 452 Elizabeth Street, along with a 54-storey building at 90 Queensbridge Street, Southbank.

Mr Guy says the new skyscrapers, involving investment of more than $830 million, will house 4000 people and generate 5800 construction jobs.

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Melbourne to get 100-level apartment tower

The downtown Los Angeles building boom is spreading outward.

Construction has begun on a 648-unit apartment complex just west of the financial district, in yet another example of downtown's resurgence expanding beyond the neighborhood's traditional boundaries.

When finished, two large apartment buildings will rise along 6th Street between Lucas Avenue and Bixel Street, with retail stores on the ground floor. The developer, Holland Partner Group, also is renovating an adjacent 1920s medical office building into apartments. Altogether, the project is expected to cost more than $200 million.

"We couldn't be more excited about what is happening in downtown Los Angeles," said Thomas D. Warren, who oversees Holland's Southern California operations.

The Vancouver, Wash., firm is looking to attract workers yearning for a slightly quieter home than those in downtown but who still want to live "very close to all the action," Warren said. The apartment complex across from Good Samaritan Hospital is less than a mile from downtown, across the 110 Freeway.

Projected rents range from $1,500 for a small studio to $3,750 for larger three-bedroom units, Warren said.

Seeking to capitalize on the real estate recovery, developers are looking for sites close to job centers and entertainment, while also factoring in price, said Richard Green, director of USC's Lusk Center for Real Estate.

"The land is a little less expensive as you get away from downtown," he said. "You can offer rents that are a little lower and justify the construction costs."

So more development is coming just outside downtown's traditional borders. A $1-billion residential, hotel and retail complex is planned along Broadway just south of the 10 Freeway near a Blue Line rail stop.

And more is slated beyond downtown's western boundaries. A developer plans a $60-million apartment and retail complex at Wilshire Boulevard and Valencia Street, several blocks west of Holland's project.

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Downtown L.A. building boom stretching west of financial district

Published Monday, 23 June 2014

Part of Dublin Rd is getting a facelift with the creation of apartments. (Richland Group)

Regent's Gate will be created by property developers The Richland Group and changed into 58 stylish one and two bedroom apartments, and two cafs on the ground floor.

Construction of the new development is expected to begin in January 2015 and finish in the summer of 2016.

It is estimated that the project will provide up to 200 construction jobs. When the complex is up and running, a further 20 long term commercial jobs will be created.

A free bicycle or one year travel pass will come with each apartment, and in the basement of the apartment block, there is a special storage area for bicycles.

According to an independent report carried out by Cogent Management Consulting, the Regent's Gate project will initially inject over 4.4m into the economy via the construction phase with a further 266,000 per annum from the commercial activities.

Richland Group Chief Executive Gary McCausland said that the project represents a significant step forward in the continuing regeneration of Belfast city centre.

"The Dublin Road scheme is a ground-breaking project for Belfast, based on a Tokyo / London concept that provides high quality, affordable, contemporary accommodation in strong and up and coming locations.

"As one of the first major privately funded construction projects in the city since the recession, it signals that Belfast is once again open for business and will see the regeneration of a rundown part of the Dublin Road with an iconic building providing quality accommodation and commercial space for people to live in, work in and enjoy.

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Apartment block gives city jobs boost

BURLINGTON, Vt. -

At least 20 people have been left homeless after a fire in Burlington early Tuesday morning.

At 3 a.m., Barbara Adams woke to the sound of smoke detectors as her third-floor apartment filled with smoke.

"I ran on my porch and ran down the fire escape telling everybody to get out, get out now," said Adams.

Fire crews say the fire began on the second floor in the multi-unit apartment building at 238 College Street.

"It moved through the floor and up and through the walls, so it was a lot of work opening the walls up and finding hidden pockets of fire," said Joe Keenan, assistant fire marshal at the Burlington Fire Department.

"Seeing that fire, all that smoke coming out of these windows, and then my kitchen being lit up... that was too much, way too much," said Adams.

The 20 residents inside got out safely and waited for rescue crews to arrive.

"Everybody was saying, 'Get out, get out! Get out!' I just ran out in my boxers and then we started taking video when the fire trucks pulled up," said Jeff Abir, one of the displaced residents.

"Just looking at it, I'm like I can't believe its happening, number one and I'm like, I'm gonna be homeless, number two. I wanted to move, but not his way," said Pancho Trotman, one of the displaced residents.

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20 homeless after Burlington fire

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) June 24, 2014

PRG Real Estate, a leading multifamily real estate investment and management firm in conjunction with Richmond-based WVS Companies, announced today that they will be completing construction of South16, a contemporary apartment building in Roanoke, Virginia, located in the epicenter of the city's 110-acre riverfront redevelopment project.

South16 will be a 157-unit mid-rise apartment community with one, two and three bedroom units, along with a historic horse stable converted into modern restaurant and Starbucks. The property is situated on 22 acres with stunning views of the scenic Roanoke River and Blue Ridge Mountains. South16 is adjacent to the area's largest employers, the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute, and the 1,187 bed Carilion Clinic. South16 will offer area professionals luxurious waterfront living and easy access to work, all within the city's expanding cosmopolitan center.

The September 2013 initial development on the riverfront marked a new chapter in PRG's history, and the ribbon cutting's target date in late September will mark another. South 16 will mark PRG's first advance into ground up construction as well as the successive management of a new community's branding and lease-up effort. To that end, PRG Principal Steven Berger could hardly contain his exuberance, "For 30 years we've been bringing improvements and a higher standard of living than what was previously made available to our residents. Being able to approach a project from the ground up opens an entire new world of opportunity in terms of delivering the best service and creating the most value for our residents. To say we're very excited about it would be an understatement."

The standard of design, construction and management of South16 reflects PRG's focus to deliver the best product at a fair price with the highest possible value to both residents and investors alike.

About PRG Real Estate: Founded in 1985 by Steven Berger and Jon Goodman, PRG Real Estate is a Philadelphia based real estate firm that acquires and manages quality apartment communities throughout the eastern half of the United States. Since its founding PRG has acquired well over 50 communities and 13,000 apartment units. PRG also has been designated as an Accredited Management Organization by the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and also holds membership in the National Apartment Association (NAA) as well as the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC).

For more information, please visit http://www.prgrealestate.com.

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PRG Real Estate Unveils Ground-Up Riverfront Development in Roanoke, VA

BUFFALO, N.Y. Maggie Sperrazza wakes up every morning to the hum and growl of construction outside her Buffalo apartment building, but it doesnt bother her a bit.

Its about time! the 86-year-old said as she zipped on a scooter near the foot of Main Street, where construction cranes loom over hard-hat zones. Weve been in the hole long enough.

From her vantage point, Sperrazza has been witness to a building boom unseen in Buffalo in more than 50 years, with more than $4.4 billion in public and private development announced since 2012.

Mayor Byron Brown and other city leaders say theyve shifted away from elusive silver bullet fixes for a stagnant economy toward more doable projects that together create momentum.

Much of the development is concentrated in the citys 120-acre hospital and research corridor, which is expected to add nearly 5,000 employees over the next four years.

A site that once housed Republic Steel will be transformed into a clean energy manufacturing complex anchored by Elon Musks SolarCity, which this past week announced plans for one of the worlds largest solar panel production plants with as many as 1,000 employees within two years.

Instead of the home run, why dont we get a couple singles? You get two singles, you have somebody in scoring position, and thats the whole attitude, said Robert Gioia, chairman of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp., which has been coordinating waterfront improvements.

After decades of losses that have cut the population to 259,000, Brown predicts the 2020 census will show the first population gains for the city since the 1950s, helped by an influx of immigrants and refugees.

That, along with a $1 billion pledge by Gov. Andrew Cuomo intended to leverage additional investment, has brought new optimism complete with its own buzzword, Buffalove.

Buffalos challenges remain: Its 30 percent poverty rate places it among the nations poorest cities, and its school system graduates just 54 percent of its students. Abandoned homes and storefronts blight poor neighborhoods, while the citys tallest building, the 38-story One Seneca Tower, stands 94 percent vacant downtown after the pullout of two of its largest tenants last year.

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Building boom comes to long-suffering Buffalo, NY

Question: My apartment building is about 10 feet from a small, nine-unit complex. That building's homeowners association undertook reconstruction work involving significant re-landscaping, iron railing repairs, brick masonry, patios and common walkways. All this work faces our building's front doors.

I had incorrectly reasoned the homeowners association would be a considerate neighbor during this time. But when I returned home, I noticed six large trees had been removed and my kitchen and living room were covered with a thick layer of dirt, dust and wood debris that had been pushed through window sills and under my apartment door, covering my floors, rugs and walls.

I wrote to the homeowners association president and politely requested that she provide 24-hours notice of any further exterior renovation so I could take precautions. I also asked when the work would be completed. She apologized, then referred me to the homeowners association manager, who said they ran into unforeseen circumstances that created small but unavoidable impacts. He then said that not only could he not tell me when the work would be completed but that he didn't owe me any further response.

On a daily basis, I continue to suffer from mounds of dirt, dust and wood debris stuck to my sliding doors and windows and lodged throughout my unit and on my personal belongings. This is a time-consuming mess to clean up every day and has also exacerbated my allergies. Since the president and manager are dismissive of my concerns and requests for good neighborliness, what recourse do I have?

Answer: It may not be neighborly, but depending on your local ordinances this manager may be correct that no notice is required. But being potentially correct about a notice requirement won't prevent the homeowners association from being part of a lawsuit and subject to damages.

It may also be possible that notice was given to your landlord or the owner of your building but not to you directly. Most construction cannot be performed without the appropriate city permits. With a little bit of time spent at City Hall, you might find information related to the extent of the homeowners association's reconstruction plans.

Regardless of issues pertaining to notice and dissemination of scheduling information, the association cannot damage your property. It must take reasonable steps to reduce the effect of its construction and repairs on your unit. The intrusion of dirt, dust and debris is a nuisance and/or interference with the quiet enjoyment of your residence and may also constitute a physical trespass onto your property.

Even where the effects of construction are not invading your property, an action for a private nuisance may allow you to recover for the inconvenience and interference you have suffered. You should be diligent in recording and documenting your damages, which include time and money spent cleaning or taking time off work for illness or doctor appointments as well as other physical ailments or lack of sleep you may suffer. Keep the manager and association updated with your growing damages and repeatedly demand, in writing (return-receipt requested), compensation for the same. You may want to copy your landlord on that correspondence and request the landlord's assistance with your efforts.

Depending on the extent and urgency of the damages, you may also consider pursuing claims in civil or Small Claims Court for the association's failure to take adequate precautions with regard to its construction project. Clearly, the association has a duty to act reasonably with respect to its construction efforts and refrain from negligently taking actions, or from failing to take reasonable actions, that result in damage to you and your property.

Although Small Claims Court may be an expedient option for you to recover a monetary award, a restraining order or injunction in civil court may be necessary to preserve your health and quiet enjoyment.

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Debris from reconstruction work creates mess in neighboring building