Business News of Sunday, 27 July 2014

Source: Graphic Online

Ghacem Limited has presented 1,600 bags of cement worth Gh 42,900 to the Ghana Navy in support of the ongoing construction of the Navy headquarters office building in Accra.

A Ghacem delegation led by the Managing Director, Mr Morten Gade, accompanied by the Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director of Ghacem, Dr George Dawson-Ahmoah, handed over the cement bags at a ceremony at the project site of the Ghana Navy headquarters.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Real Admiral Geoffrey Mawuli Biekro, received the donation.

Presenting the items, Mr Morten Gade noted that both the Western and Eastern Command in the country, where the company has its two factories, had had good relations with the company.

Ghacem, as part of its corporate social responsibility which is normally targeted at assisting health and educational facilities in the country, also endeavour to support sensitive areas such as security which is paramount for the protection of lives and property, and, in this case, the citizenry, he said.

Ghacem, he stressed, must be the preferred cement for very important projects such as this because of its consistency in quality which had been tried and tested for over 45 years

Receiving the cement allocation chit on behalf of the Naval Force, the outgoing Minister of Defence, Mark Owen Woyongo,noted that the maritime security in recent times had become critical to the development of the country since the discovery of oil by Ghana.

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Ghacem supports Ghana Navy

By Meghan Moravcik Walbert, Special to The Morning Call

11:54 p.m. EDT, July 24, 2014

East Allen Township supervisors gave the go-ahead for a developer to move forward with plans for a medical office building that is one piece of a larger development plan near Route 512 and Silver Crest Road.

Arcadia Properties LLC received preliminary and final approval Thursday night to build the 20,000-square-foot building, and officials expect to start construction within the next two weeks, according to Shawn Langen, vice president of development with the company.

"We have not announced a user [of the building] yet," Langen said. "It could potentially be multiple users."

The building will be on the northeast corner of Route 512 and Silver Crest Road, west of three warehouse distribution facilities occupied by Trader Joe's and Fisher Scientific. The warehouses total 1.2 million square feet and were also built by Arcadia Properties.

Langen said the medical office building "is part of a larger overall project in that corridor."

There is no set completion date for the building, but Langen said they are "fast-tracking a completion."

Arcadia Properties' website advertises two other projects in that area for sale or lease: 42,500 square feet of retail and office space called East Allen Marketplace and 36,000 square feet of retail and office space called Shoppes at Route 512.

Meghan Moravcik Walbert is a freelance writer.

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East Allen supervisors OK medical office building on Route 512

MANILA, PhilippinesThe 12-story building cited in the plunder case filed at the Office of the Ombudsman is not entirely a parking building as it has office spaces in a number of floors, the city government of Makati clarified on Wednesday.

Named respondents in the plunder case for alleged overpriced construction of the building were Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Junjun Binay, and his father Vice President Jejomar Binay, among others.

But city administrator Eleno Mendoza Jr. explained that the 12-story building is actually an office building with parking floors, with five floors of parking spaces and six floors of office spaces.

We would like to clarify that the building being questioned is not merely a parking building, Mendoza said in a statement.

The parking areas are located in the basement and in the second up to sixth floors. The ground floor, seventh up to 10thfloors house various offices, including frontline service offices, while the 11thand 12thfloors hold the storage facilities and some office spaces, he said.

Mendoza said the building, which was completed last March 2013, is considered a green building with its green architectural design.

He said the building has a landscaped roof deck, atrium at the seventh floor, LED lighting, and glass walls and panels that allow for sunlight to provide natural illumination to most areas during daytime.

Vice President Jejomar Binay (left), his son Makati Mayor Junjun Binay (right) and 23 others face plunder case over the alleged unconscionable overpricing in the construction of an 11-story parking building (inset) that the city government supposedly built for P1.56 billion. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

To ensure the strength and stability of the building, which stands on an area with soil type classified as soft soil, the city administrator said, bored piles and steel sheet piling were used for its foundation.

It also has granite tile flooring, centralized air-conditioning, two elevators, conference rooms and mini-function halls, and other modern amenities, Mendoza said.

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Overpriced parking building in Makati houses offices too, city exec says

Construction is underway on one of Washington, D.C.'s national landmarks: the Old Post Office building.

The woman looking to convert it from an overlooked relic to must-see realty: Ivanka Trump. It's something of a family business, "CBS This Morning" co-host Norah O'Donnell reports.

The Trump name has never quite been synonymous with understatement or modesty, but these days the storied surname made famous by its patriarch has developed a softer, more feminine side in the form of 32-year-old Ivanka Trump.

Her latest project is no small undertaking. She's in charge of transforming the historic Old Post Office building in Washington into a luxury Trump hotel.

A proposed guest room at the new Trump Hotel

CBS News

It's a $200 million renovation that Trump, who joined her father's company soon after finishing Wharton business school, scored by outmaneuvering other industry titans.

"It's amazing. We beat out pretty much everyone in the luxury hotel space," Trump said.

Hotel development isn't the only project occupying Trump's time; she's also a mother.

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Ivanka Trump following in her dad's footsteps

Cedar Rapids, IA (PRWEB) July 23, 2014

The Fountains complex, a 6-building, 19+ acre lot development in NE Cedar Rapids is growing daily and has already captured the communitys attention because of its size, unique personality and collection of businesses that either already, or are scheduled to occupy the class-A buildings.

The first two retail buildings are complete and are occupied except for the two spacious end-cap suites that are still available for rent. These suites overlook the landscaped pond and fountain and have been designed for upscale restaurants with extensive outdoor patio space. The fountain where the development gets its name was installed earlier this summer and is fully operational, providing relaxing views from both patios. Businesses that are already enjoying immediate exposure and success by their newest locations include: Jimmy Johns, Olives Oil, Red Wing Shoes and Pepperjax Grill.

Retail Building #3 is on target to have space available as early as October of this year and will include Burst Cycle, a spin studio that features the very latest in exercise fad and fashion. This facility will exclusively offer spin classes ranging in different endurance and difficulty challenges for attendees of all levels. The upbeat, colorful and lively environment will contribute to The Fountains overall individuality.

Several office tenants are currently also in negotiation and will soon initiate their build-outs in the first office building within the complex.

The Fountains is an extensively involved project that has been under construction since April of 2013, but ideas and negotiations began long before the first shovel broke ground. Compass Commercial Services is proud to develop and present this complex to the community to meet a strong need in the area for further commercial growth and additional class A rental space.

About Compass Commercial Services: Compass Commercial Services is a full-service General Contracting and Construction Management firm in the Cedar Rapids area specializing in a wide range of commercial construction projects including interior and exterior renovations, remodeling, building additions and the complete construction of new buildings. As a TRUE design-build firm, Compass Commercial Services is poised to complete projects from the ground up. From the initial design through the entire building process, customers have the advantage of working directly with one company, and a team that is structured to deliver final projects on time, and on budget.

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Compass Commercial Services Pours the Foundation on the Fourth Building in the Corridors Newest Commercial/Office ...

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS A referendum question asking voters whether office buildings taller than 35 feet should be allowed in the borough will be placed on the November ballot unless the Borough Council repeals a zoning ordinance that currently permits construction of such buildings.

The council unanimously approved the wording of the non-binding question this week. Officials inserted a so-called "escape clause," however, saying that the question should be taken off the ballot if a new proposed ordinance that would return the building height limit to 35 feet is in effect by Aug. 29.

That ordinance, introduced by the council earlier this month, was sent to the Planning Board for review on Tuesday, Borough Attorney E. Carter Corriston Sr. said.

The board has 35 days from the time it gets the ordinance to make a recommendation to the council, which doesn't have to follow it. A public hearing on the ordinance, which had been tentatively set for Tuesday, is now expected to be held during the council's next meeting, Aug. 13. The Planning Board's next regular meeting will be Aug. 14, but Corriston said he hoped the board would hold a special session before then.

Height limits have been a source of controversy in the borough, where LG Electronics USA unveiled plans to construct a 143-foot building as part of its new North American headquarters at 111 Sylvan Ave. Critics say it would be the first building to rise above the Palisades treeline north of Fort Lee.

LG was granted a variance in 2012 allowing it to exceed the borough's 35-foot height limit. Then, after two residents filed suit, the council rezoned the stretch of Sylvan Avenue where LG's campus is located to allow buildings of up to 90 feet on lots between 5 and 25 acres and buildings of up to 150 feet on parcels 25 acres or larger. LG's property is 27 acres.

Opponents have decried the zoning changes, which they say will open the door to high-rise development along the Palisades.

A referendum was first proposed in May by the two Republican candidates in the upcoming council election, Mario Kranjac and Kinga Zamecki.

Kranjac and other Republicans object to the "escape clause," saying residents should have the chance to express their opinion on high-rise development.

They also have raised a concern that, without a referendum spelling out residents' wishes, the council might later decide to once again raise the borough's building-height limit.

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Building height heads to ballot

(PRWEB) July 24, 2014

Gilbane Building Company is pleased to announce the addition of Kevin Cooke as Senior Project Executive in the Boston Office. Kevin retains 29 years of construction industry experience and operational leadership expertise. Kevin has led significant construction programs (up to $250 million) for some of New Englands leading higher-education institutions including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, UMass Boston, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Dartmouth College and Boston University.

Kevins significant industry experience in higher-education aligns with Gilbanes client base and workload in these markets locally, said Ryan Hutchins, Senior Vice President and Regional Manager. Kevin offers a proven track record and his expertise is a key component to the implementation of innovative construction and operational excellence solutions for our clients in the Boston market."

Prior to joining Gilbane, Kevin served as the Managing Principal/Director of Operations at Bond Brothers and also served as Senior Project Manager at Skanska USA for more than 12 years. Kevin resides in Pembroke, Massachusetts and is a graduate of Tufts University and is a member of CMAA.

About Gilbane Building Company Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, close-out and facility management services for clients across various markets. Marking its 141st year in operation and still a privately held, family-run company, Gilbane has more than 50 office locations around the world. For more information, visit http://www.gilbaneco.com.

Gilbane has been a leading Boston construction firm since 1946, serving commercial, institutional, and public clients in the Commonwealth on a range of projects, including the MBTA Green Line Extension currently underway. Gilbane is also managing construction projects for the University of Massachusetts, Massport and municipalities throughout the Commonwealth. Additional select clients include Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Tufts University, Verizon, Genzyme, Fidelity Investments, and Bank of America. The district office was named one of the Best Places to Work in MA by the Boston Business Journal in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011 and was named to the Boston Globes 100 Top Places to Work 2009 and 2010.

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Gilbane Building Company Announces Addition of Senior Project Executive in Boston Office

By Chelsea Keenan, The Gazette

Mixed-use development The Fountains has completed two of the site's three retail buildings with construction underway for the final building.

When completed, the development will have more than 40,000 square feet of retail space.

The 19-acre development at the corner of Blairs Ferry and Edgewood roads NE, just north of Hy-Vee, also will house three office buildings, the first of which is under construction.

Kristina Schoell, project coordinator for Compass Commercial Services, said the majority of the bays are full in the first two retail buildings, with the exception of the end caps.

We're hoping for an upscale restaurant to go in each of those end caps, Schoell said. That's what they were designed for.

Phase one opened in October and has attracted Sanctuary Spa, Salon Jude (formerly New Millennium) and Jimmy John's. The second retail building has signed Red Wing Shoes, specialty grocery store Olive's Oil, State Farm Insurance and fast casual restaurant PepperJax Grill.

Schoell said the shell is up on the final retail building and the development company hopes to have it completed by fall. It already has signed one tenant, Burst Cycle, a spinning studio, which plans to open Nov. 1.

Compass Commercial Services is in talks with several parties interested in office space, Schoell added, with one that could occupy an entire building.

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The Fountains retail area nears completion

By Chelsea Keenan, The Gazette

Mixed-use development The Fountains has completed two of the sites three retail buildings with construction underway for the final building.

When completed, the development will have more than 40,000 square feet of retail space.

The 19-acre development at the corner of Blairs Ferry and Edgewood roads NE, just north of Hy-Vee, also will house three office buildings, the first of which is under construction.

Kristina Schoell, project coordinator for Compass Commercial Services, said the majority of the bays are full in the first two retail buildings, with the exception of the end caps.

Were hoping for an upscale restaurant to go in each of those end caps, Schoell said. Thats what they were designed for.

Phase one opened in October and has attracted Sanctuary Spa, Salon Jude (formerly New Millennium) and Jimmy Johns. The second retail building has signed Red Wing Shoes, specialty grocery store Olives Oil, State Farm Insurance and fast casual restaurant PepperJax Grill.

Schoell said the shell is up on the final retail building and the development company hopes to have it completed by fall. It already has signed one tenant, Burst Cycle, a spinning studio, which plans to open Nov. 1.

Compass Commercial Services is in talks with several parties interested in office space, Schoell added, with one that could occupy an entire building.

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The Fountains retail area nears competition

(UPDATED) The Makati officials are accused of overpricing a parking building contract by more than a billion pesos

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) Vice President Jejomar Binay has been accused of plunder in relation to an over-priced multi-million-peso New Makati City Parking building contract.

In a 9-page complaint filed with the Office of the Ombudsman, Renato L. Bondal and Nicolas "Ching" Enciso VI accused Binay of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in relation to the Anti-Plunder Law.

They said the contract for the parking building described in the complaint as the most expensive parking builidng in the entire country, if not the entire world was supposed to have amounted to only P245.56 million but was overpriced by more than P1.314 billion. The final contract price was pegged at P1.56 billion.

In their affidavit filed Tuesday, July 22, the complainants said Binay and his son, incumbent Mayor Erwin "Junjun" Binay, "violated every rule in construction manuals and government procedures in pushing for a project that was grossly overpriced and funded by various loans" which were irregularly passed through the City Council through supplemental budgets for 5 years.

An 11-story building with a roof deck, one-level basement parking and 5 floors of parking area with a total area of 31,928 square meters, the parking building, in effect, cost P48,859/sqm. An additional P350 million and P46.62 million were also appropriated for the transfer of Urban Development Department of Makati City to the new building, the complainants said.

Based on figures from the National Statistics Office, the average construction cost should have been only P7,691/sqm. This means that the Makati City Parking Building was over 6 times the official cost.

Mayor Binay rejected the complaint as fabricated and clearly connected to the 2016 elections but did not address the allegations raised against him and his father.

In a statement, the mayor only said that the Binays will face the complaint.

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Plunder case filed vs VP Binay, Makati officials