Home construction is occurring at a rapid pace in towns a short driving distance from Red Deer, with residential building permits in high demand at Blackfalds, Penhold and Sylvan Lake.

Hammers are swinging particularly fast in Blackfalds, where the town approved $65.8 million worth of residential construction last year, up from $45.5 million in 2012.

Right from the beginning it was strong, said planning and development manager Terry Topolnitsky.

And this year doesnt look like its slowing down.

Staff in Topolnitskys department approved a record $75.6 million in construction last year. That surpassed the previous high of $72 million, set in 2012 when the $17.3-million Abbey Master Builder Centre hit the books.

Last year was driven primarily by the housing market, said Topolnitsky, including $51.3 million for single-family dwellings and $7.9 million for townhouses.

Really, all we had was small commercial, and then in industrial we had the $6-million My Garage World project, he said, referring to a garage-storage bay complex being developed in town.

Blackfalds has become a popular destination for many home-buyers, added Topolnitsky, suggesting that the towns rapid growth should further enhance its appeal.

With the new Abbey Centre opening up, that will bring more people in too.

South of Red Deer, the Town of Penhold churned out building permits for $13.8 million worth of housing in 2013.

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Residential permits driving construction

A plan for 12-story luxury apartment building in the Central West End moved ahead Monday by earning two favorable votes from the citys Preservation Board.

Opus Development Co. wants to construct the building at the northeast corner of Lindell Boulevard and Euclid Avenue.

After about an hour of discussion over various design and parking issues, the board by unanimous voice vote approved the $61.5 million project, subject to further design review. The board also approved demolition of the sites existing building.

The board is involved because the site is in a city historic district.

Opus has designed a building of 217 apartments, ground floor retail space and three parking levels two underground and one on the second floor.

The Preservation Board deferred a vote on the proposal at its meeting in December to give Opus more time to discuss the project with Central West End residents. As a result, Opus changed the planned buildings exterior in an effort to satisfy neighborhood concerns.

The project still requires approval from various city panels but Joe Downs, senior director of Opus, said after the Preservation Board meeting he hopes construction will begin this year.

Tim Bryant covers commercial real estate, development and other business stories for the Post-Dispatch. He blogs at Building Blocks, the Post-Dispatch development blog.

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Central West End apartment project moves ahead

Photo by: Heather Coit/The News-Gazette

The expanded portion of Kraft's building at 710 N. Mattis Ave is seen in Champaign on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014.

Last year proved a strong one for construction in the Champaign-Urbana area, with the two cities issuing building permits for $170 million of work.

That was a 12 percent bump-up from 2012, when the two cities gave the go-ahead to $152 million in projects.

Champaign had the lion's share of the work last year, with $140 million in projects, compared with Urbana's $30 million.

Champaign's figures were boosted by two immense jobs the $22.4 million Hyatt Place hotel at Church and Neil streets downtown and the $16.6 million warehouse for Kraft Foods Group on North Mattis Avenue.

In 2012, the city issued permits for $114 million worth of work.

Urbana's totals for 2013 were lower than those of 2012, when the city had $38 million in projects. Last year's projects included a lot of commercial remodeling, said John Schneider, the city's building safety division manager.

Already, 2014 is shaping up as a promising year for construction.

Larry Happ, building safety supervisor for the Champaign Fire Department, said he can foresee $125 million in construction in 2014, just from five projects in the works. Those include:

Originally posted here:
Building momentum

When the housing industry collapsed six years ago, that implosion slammed the door hard on what had been a vigorous multifamily construction development business in the South Sound and across the country.

In Tacoma, Auburn, Kent and other cities, construction halted abruptly midproject.

But now, little by little, that door to multifamily development is reopening. The projects, predominantly condominiums before the recession hit, have in most cases been recast as apartments, and developers and the banks that are backing them are moving forward. Their commitment this time is more cautious because they remain concerned that the hollow construction boom could be re-created.

In Tacoma alone, nearly 800 new apartment units are near groundbreaking with as many as 1,200 more in the planning stages. In Auburn, two projects are moving forward on vacant land near that citys commuter rail station. And in downtown Kent, a mixed-use development under construction has reached the fifth floor near that citys station.

Most of the planned projects will have retail components on their first floors. At Point Ruston, one mixed-use structure will be built over a multiscreen theater. On the Foss Waterway, the first floor of The Henry apartments will include retail and restaurant space.

In many cases, new projects are being built or planned on the rubble of projects that failed during the recession.

Many of those sites still sport their basic appeal despite the fact that the original projects were stillborn half a decade ago.

DEMAND, MONEY FLOWING

Whats behind the resurrection of residential construction?

Developers have several answers.

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Apartment revival: Multifamily housing market cautiously coming back

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Steve Kinderman

Construction continued in December on a new building for JAMF Software.

CHIPPEWA FALLS New home construction was up in Chippewa Falls in 2013, with a noticeable increase in single-family and multi-family dwellings. Altogether, 29 new houses, duplexes or apartment complexes were constructed in the city.

City building inspector Paul Lasiewicz released his annual report last week, which shows the city issued permits for 13 new multi-family dwellings in 2013, including two 12-unit complexes and five eight-unit complexes.

In comparison, there were no multi-family complexes constructed in the city in 2011 and eight were built in 2012.

Additionally, 10 new single-family homes were constructed in the city in 2013, at a combined cost of $1.35 million. That total also is up from recent years, when there were only four single-family homes built in 2011 and six new homes constructed in 2012.

Six duplexes were built in 2013, up from two in 2012 and none in 2011.

The total permits issued were relatively flat, increasing just two, from 302 permits in 2012 to 304 last year. However, the building permit fees collected by the city jumped from $78,859 in 2012 to $91,996.

The total revenue collected by the city inspectors office including building, electrical, heating and plumbing permits jumped from $128,069 in 2012 to $146,198.

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Year-end permits strong for Eau Claire

DBOX for CIM Group/Macklowe Properties

432 Park will tower over the neighboring buildings once it's completed.

We recently saw renderings of the apartment building's interiors, and the designs are magnificent.

Designer Deborah Berke's says her focus was to make the most of the apartments' perch above the city. Double-height ceilings and beautiful oak flooring are highlights, while huge square windows provide an unparalleled view.

This is just one in a series of super-tall buildings rising on the southern end of Central Park, an area that's already earned its "Billionaires' Belt" nickname.These skyscrapers are so tall they needed approval from the Federal Aviation Administration before construction could start. 432 Park, however, will be the tallest.

The building hastwo penthouses, one on the 96th floor that sold for $95 million and another on the 95th, currently priced at $85 million.

The building's architect Rafael Violymade news back in September when his Walkie Talkie building wreaked havoc on London's streets, emitting a reflection so hot itmelted carsandliterally fried eggson the sidewalk. But if these renderings are any indication, this building should be more of a success.

From the outside, rows of six 100-square-foot windows give the building the square look of a waffle iron.

DBOX for CIM Group/Macklowe Properties

DBOX for CIM Group/Macklowe Properties

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New York's Future Tallest Apartment Building Looks Insanely Luxurious

Childress Klein Properties celebrated the topping out of its new 22-story apartment tower in uptown Charlotte Friday with a barbecue lunch for the construction workers laboring on the project.

In biting January cold, officials and workers gathered under a heated tent in nearby Romare Bearden Park to mark the occasion.

Fred Klein III, a partner with Childress Klein, announced that the 352-unit apartment building will be called Element Uptown. He touted the $100 million-plus projects location next to Bearden Park and the nearly finished BB&T Ballpark.

Those factors, along with its luxury studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, will make it one of the most desirable rentals in the city, he said.

People want to live in an urban environment where theres lots of stuff going on, Klein said. We just felt it was the right time. Charlottes ready for it.

His father, Fred Klein II, said the project marks the firms seventh major project in uptown, but its first apartment tower there.

We felt this was a great site, a great location, he said.

Fred Klein III said pricing for the apartments hasnt been set, but the firm hopes to start preleasing in the next few months. JE Dunn Construction should finish the building sometime this summer.

It will include a seventh-floor outdoor pool as well as penthouse apartments with panoramic views featuring Bank of America Stadium and other uptown landmarks.

The project comes amid a post-recession surge in apartment construction locally. Complexes have been popping up throughout the South End; luxury apartment tower Catalyst sits next door to Element.

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Childress Klein tops out new 22-story apartment tower uptown

The Dodge Index of New Construction Starts. (PRNewsFoto/McGraw Hill Construction)

NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --New construction starts in December grew 5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $554.5 billion, according to McGraw Hill Construction, a division of McGraw Hill Financial. Although both nonresidential building and housing settled back during the final month of 2013, the nonbuilding construction sector (public works and electric utilities) finished the year on a strong note. For 2013 as a whole, total construction starts advanced 6% to $516.8 billion. This follows the 10% gain reported for 2012 (which drew support from a record amount of new electric utility starts that year) and modest 2% gains in both 2010 and 2011. If the volatile electric utility category is excluded, total construction starts in 2013 would be up 14%, following a 9% gain in 2012 and essentially flat activity during 2010 and 2011.

The December statistics produced a reading of 117 for the Dodge Index (2000=100), compared to 111 in November. This marked the third highest month for the Dodge Index during 2013, after September's 118 and October's 125. During the first eight months of the year, the Dodge Index had hovered within the fairly narrow range of 100 to 108, but then showed a stronger pace of activity during the final four months, reflecting in part the impact of several very large projects. In December, large projects that were entered as construction starts included the $1.5 billion Goethals Bridge replacement project in New York and New Jersey, two large natural gas-fired power plants, and two large manufacturing plants. For all of 2013, the Dodge Index averaged 109, up from 103 in 2012.

"The construction industry in 2013 made progress towards establishing a more broad-based recovery, after several years in which the upturn was more limited in scope," stated Robert A. Murray, chief economist for McGraw Hill Construction. "Housing continued to lead the way, strengthening throughout much of 2013, and it was joined by a faster pace for commercial building, albeit from low levels. The institutional building sector registered a considerably smaller decline than in prior years, as its lengthy downturn appears to be ending. The public works sector in 2013 showed surprising strength, helped by the start of several major projects even amidst restrained government spending. Running counter in 2013 was a steep drop for new electric utility starts, after the robust amount reported in 2012. For 2014, the prospects look good for total construction, with growth anticipated for housing and commercial building, while the institutional building sector at least stabilizes."

Nonresidential building in December slipped 7% to $168.6 billion (annual rate), pulling back for the second month in a row after its elevated pace in October, although its fourth quarter average was still 17% above what was reported in the first quarter. Several commercial categories in December paused from the improved activity registered earlier in the fall. New office construction dropped 44% from November which had been lifted by the start of such projects as the $336 million Transbay office tower in San Francisco CA; in contrast, the largest office projects entered as December starts were an $80 million office complex in Cary NC and a $73 million data center in West Des Moines IA. Similar December declines were registered by hotels, down 42%; and warehouses, down 46%; although the latest month did include the start of an $88 million Amazon distribution center in Windsor CT. Store construction, which was the one commercial category that did not post a November gain, managed to increase 6% in December. The December pause for nonresidential building was cushioned by a sharp 110% jump for manufacturing buildings, which reflected the start of two massive chemical plants in Louisiana, each valued at $500 million.

The institutional building categories in December were mixed. Educational facilities grew 5%, helped by the start of a $213 medical research building in Boston MA and a $151 million college science building in Chicago IL. Healthcare facilities in December jumped 30% from the prior month's subdued amount, and featured groundbreaking for an $80 million hospital in Virginia and a $70 million cancer center in Wisconsin. The smaller institutional categories generally weakened in December, with public buildings (courthouses and detention facilities) down 32%; churches, down 44%; and amusement-related work, down 46% (compared to the previous month which included the $763 million Vikings Multipurpose Stadium in Minneapolis MN). The transportation terminal category retreated a slight 1% in December, and included the start of a $230 million terminal renovation project at Los Angeles International Airport.

For 2013 as a whole, nonresidential building increased 7% to $168.6 billion, shifting to an upward direction after the 5% decline reported for 2012. The commercial categories overall advanced 16%, faster than the 13% gain witnessed in 2012. The strongest gain by commercial category was registered by hotels, up 28%; followed by warehouses, up 27%; office buildings, up 17%; and stores, up 1%. The small 2013 increase for stores was limited by the comparison to 2012 that included the $400 million renovation to Macy's flagship department store in New York NY. The manufacturing building category in 2013 surged 36%, helped by the two large chemical plants in Louisiana reported as December starts as well as by such projects as a $1.7 billion fertilizer plant in Iowa, a $1.7 billion natural gas processing plant in West Virginia, and a $1.5 billion industrial gas products plant in Louisiana. The institutional building group during 2013 decreased 3%, less severe than declines of 9% in 2012 and 11% in 2011. The two largest institutional categories performed as follows educational buildings, down 1%; and healthcare facilities, down 6%. The smaller institutional categories showed this pattern for 2013 amusement-related work, up 25%; transportation terminals, down 2%; churches down 11%; and public buildings, down 27%.

Residential building in December dropped 6% to $205.3 billion (annual rate), with both sides of the housing market easing back. Single family housing slipped 3%, as recent months have shown more of an up-and-down pattern after the consistently steady gains witnessed earlier in the year. When viewed on a quarterly basis, single family housing still registered consistent growth during 2013, with the fourth quarter up 8% compared to the first quarter. Multifamily housing in December retreated 13% after November's increase of the same magnitude. December's largest multifamily projects were smaller in scale than what had been reported in the previous month, but still included such substantial entries as a $159 million apartment building in Sunny Isles Beach FL, a $128 million condominium tower in Honolulu HI, and a $127 million apartment building in Brooklyn NY.

The 2013 amount for residential building was $205.5 billion, up 24%, and close to the 31% gain reported for 2012. Single family housing in dollar terms climbed 26%, similar to the prior year's 29% hike. The regional pattern for single family housing in 2013 showed increases for all five major regions, as follows the South Atlantic, up 33%; the Midwest, up 27%; the West and Northeast, each up 26%; and the South Central, up 18%. Multifamily housing in 2013 advanced 16%, showing additional growth on top of the increases in 2010 (up 23%), 2011 (up 33%), and 2012 (up 37%). By major region, multifamily housing revealed this performance in 2013 the Midwest, up 26%; the Northeast, up 24%; the South Atlantic, up 21%; the West, up 13%; and the South Central, down 6%. The top five metropolitan areas in terms of the 2013 dollar amount of multifamily starts, with the percent change from 2012, were New York NY, up 23%; Boston MA, up 74%; Washington DC, unchanged from the prior year; Miami FL, up 12%; and Los Angeles CA, down 24%. Metropolitan areas ranked 6 through 10 for multifamily starts were Dallas-Ft. Worth TX, down 6%; Chicago IL, up 52%; Seattle WA, unchanged from the prior year, San Francisco CA, up 12%; and Denver CO, up 17%.

Nonbuilding construction in December soared 40% to $180.6 billion (annual rate), which was the highest monthly rate during 2013. Bridge construction jumped 210%, boosted by the $1.5 billion Goethals Bridge replacement project in Staten Island NY and Elizabeth NJ. Other large bridge projects that were entered as December starts were $380 million for bridge construction in Stillwater MN and $297 million for bridge construction on the I-35W reconstruction project in Texas. The highway construction category also had a

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New Construction Starts in December Improve 5 Percent; Annual Total for 2013 Climbs 6 Percent to $516.8 Billion

JUST ABOUT everyone that I have spoken to about renting outside of the Center City district has a horrible slumlord story to tell. Every month thousands of tenants like myself pay their rent on time, but the landlords refuse to make what most professionally trained contractors would deem as necessary repairs.

There are at least 1,547,607 Philadelphians and, according to the National Multi Housing Council, at least 16 percent of them are renters. The number of renters who live in Philly comprises equal the populations of Reno, Nev., or Scottsdale, Ariz.

Every apartment building I have lived in in this city has had a bug and/or mouse problem, leaking/cracked ceilings, black mold issues and blatant fire and safety hazards; all have been owned by slumlords who own multiple properties in Philadelphia. All the apartment buildings have been below adequate standards according to the laws that govern our great city, yet the slumlords could care less about abiding by the laws because they don't operate with a moral code and they don't suffer any severe financial consequences.

I have been renting apartments for 10 years in Philadelphia and not once has a landlord provided me with a certificate of rental suitability, which is the law of the land according to the Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code (Section PM-102.6.4).

Where I currently reside in the Northeast - talk about a disaster in the making - we have only one repairman who possesses no certifications or licenses that would attest to his aptitude to properly fix the maintenance problems that occur in the 200 apartment units built with 1960s construction. How is this arrangement even legal? In most instances when you're lucky enough to get a hold of the property manager, he promises you the maintenance man is going to show up - but he rarely does.

A few years ago, a housing and fire inspector showed up at my apartment after I made a referral to the 3-1-1 service line. She saw firsthand that we still had no heat in November and the same for my neighbor. I also provided the inspector with written proof that I had notified my slumlord in October that we had no heat. My wife and I even showed her our gas bill to prove that we were current on the bill because, even though we had no heat in our apartment, we still got charged for cooking gas. I spoke to her on the phone a few days later to do a follow-up. The inspector started arguing with me about why I was bothering her with this matter, and said, "Your landlord said you have heat."

When slumlords sell their properties it's usually to another slumlord. This crisis has become so outrageous that even city employees get in on the act. The slumlord that owns the apartment building on Frankford Avenue where I once lived is an assistant division engineer for the Water Department.

On Dec. 4, I sent a certified letter to Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, the chairwoman of the committee that oversees Licenses & Inspections, detailing my slumlord experiences over the years while living in Philadelphia. I included several pictures and my contact information in the letter, but the only response I got from her office was a signature indicating that my letter had been received.

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Slumming it: Apartment living in Phila.

GLENDALE, Colo. (CBS4) The investigation into a massive fire in Glendale in December continues and its still not clear if it was arson.

The flames caused millions of dollars in damage to an apartment building that was under construction. The fire is still classified as undetermined, but sources say early into the investigation several gas canisters were found near the fire scene. That evidence is currently being tested in a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives lab.

(credit: CBS)

Sources say two gas canisters were found in a parking structure north of the raging fire off Cherry Street. A third gas canister was also found in an alley way. Investigators also found a backpack and gloves.

Sources say arson dogs were brought onto the scene, which is typical of a fire investigation and hits for accelerants were picked up by the dog.

The fire was so intense it melted cars across the street at an apartment complex and siding on the building.

The developer of the burned apartment building, MKS Residential, is now rebuilding and moving forward with construction of their 341-unit building. The site was released back to them by investigators. Solana Cherry Creek will be a four-story apartment complex.

It could be several weeks before forensic information from the ATF lab is released.

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Investigators Found Gas Cans Near Scene Of Massive Glendale Fire