In Q1 2014, Bulgaria's municipal authorities have issued building permits for the construction of 1015 residential buildings, 44 office buildings and 917 other buildings.

As compared to the previous quarter, the building permits for residential buildings decreased by 1.6%, their dwellings-by7.2%, while the gross building area rose by 4.8%, according to the latest data provided by the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The issued building permits for administrative buildings increased by 22.2%, but their gross building area fell by 42.8%. The number of issued building permits of other buildings decreased by 17.8% and their gross building area-by 21.3%.

As compared to the first quarter of 2013, the issued building permits for new residential buildings increased by 32.9%, their dwellings-by 80.7% and the gross building area-by 69.0%. The issued building permits of administrative buildings increased by 37.5% and the other buildings-by1.6%. The gross building area of the administrative buildings increased by 38.1% and the gross building area of other buildings rose by 1.9%.

In the first quarter of 2014 began the construction of 504 residential buildings, and 30 administrative buildings/offices. As compared to the previous three months, the number of new residential buildings construction decreased by 14.7%, and the new administrative buildings increased by 25.0%, but their gross building area dropped by 55.1%.

As compared to the first quarter of 2013, the new residential buildings under construction increased by 26.3%, their dwellings-by 6.8% and the gross building area-by 21.9%. The number of new administrative buildings rose by 36.4%, and their gross building area-by 16.5%. An increase is observed in the other buildings under construction by 25.6% and in their gross building area-by 48.5%.

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Bulgarian Office Building Construction Sees 25% Increase in Q1, 2014

ALLENTOWN, Pa. -

Allentowns Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority at Wednesdays committee meeting approved plans for a seven-story office building expected to bring up to a thousand jobs to the citys downtown district.

The Five City Center is one of numerous developments being built by City Center Investment Corp. surrounding the currently under construction Allentown hockey arena that will host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Philadelphia Flyers minor-league affiliate.

Occupying a whole block of Walnut Street between Seventh and Eighth streets, the complex will be utilized as an office space during the day and for arena-related activities at night.

City Center representatives were recently granted additional tax cuts for further developments, but had to seek board approval before beginning construction.

A couple months ago this board approved the expansion of our [Neighborhood Improvement Zone] credit facility by $15 million, said City Center CEO J.B. Reilly. This building will house potentially 700 to 1,000 workers, which we believe will have a positive impact on the downtown.

Although currently no tenants have been officially disclosed, Reilly said he is confident the location will be filled and generate revenue for local government and nearby businesses.

Therell be new office workers. Its going to create some demand on residential [and] on retail, Reilly said. That will potentially have an impact. I would argue a positive impact.

Although tentative plans have been laid out before the development authority, officials say there may still be changes before the buildings construction begins in 2015.

The final dimensions of the building are really going to be driven by the tenant or tenants that will be moving there, Reilly said. All of our projects are really driven by tenant demand.

Excerpt from:
Five City Center to bring 1,000 jobs to Allentown

Senate office project foe objects to bond request

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A former Minnesota lawmaker is objecting to the states demand that he cover millions of dollars in costs if he ends up delaying construction of a new Minnesota Senate office building.

An attorney for former St. Cloud Rep. Jim Knoblach filed a response Wednesday with the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

State lawyers contend Knoblach should post and forfeit an $18.6 million bond if his lawsuit to block the project doesnt succeed on appeal and the project is delayed.

Knoblach argues the amount is excessive and premature. He also contends the state apparently is trying to get him to put up money thats already been appropriated for relocating the senators while the state Capitol is renovated.

The state hopes to break ground on the new Senate building by July.

___

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A Minnesota man who allegedly participated in war crimes during the Bosnian war has been arrested on immigration fraud charges.

Authorities say 45-year-old Zdenko Jakisa was arrested Wednesday for failing to disclose his military service and crimes he committed in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the conflict there in the 1990s.

According to a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday, Jakisa is a former member of the armed forces of the Croatian Defense Council in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Authorities say records and witnesses from Bosnia show he committed crimes that he didnt disclose on his refugee or green card applications.

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Minnesota news in brief at 7:58 p.m. CDT

By Carl Rotenberg crotenberg@21st-centurymedia.com

An April 7 hearing on several zoning variance requests was continued by the board so Watson could address several construction and zoning issues raised by Zoning Officer Christine Stetler, Solicitor David Nasatir and board members.

The proposal for the 384-by-120-foot office building (Millennium Block A) would be connected to an existing 360-foot long shed office building called Millennium III on the 17-acre site at 200 Washington St. The plans presented by engineer Mike Engel include an open-air amphitheater between the new building and the riverbank and a new six-story parking garage for about 900 vehicles.

Attorney Edmund Campbell Jr., representing the developer, ONeill Properties Group of Upper Merion, said, The revised plans on May 3 have dimensions on the buildings as requested by the board. The parking structure is not fronting the Schyulkill River because we have a buffer lot between the river and the garage.

Stetler said, This is the open space required when Tower Bridge was built.

We worked with the staff to work on a skin for the parking garage to make it not be a garage, said Brian ONeill, the CEO of OPG. The metal mesh would be lit from behind to make the garage lighting less visible.

Zoning board Chairman Richard Barton said the buffer lot allowed the parking garage to be located in the proposed location.

Board members Russ Cardamone and Vivian Angelucci said it appeared the garage was located parallel to the riverbank. ONeill disagreed with that interpretation.

Board member Janis Vacca said the intent of the zoning was to make the garage less visible. Continued...

A cellphone image of a similar screen and backlighting on a Philadelphia building was shown to the board members.

Originally posted here:
Conshohocken Zoning Hearing Board approves variances for office building, garage

A private index of construction activity shows residential building rising, while commercial and engineering fell.

The Australian Industry Group - Housing Industry Association Performance of Construction Index (PCI) dipped 0.3 points in April to 45.9 - below the 50-point level that separates expansion and contraction for the fourth consecutive month.

However, the index shows a split between the expanding residential sector and declining commercial and engineering construction sectors.

The PCI's house building sub-index rose 3.8 points to 54.6 points, while apartment building surged 12.3 points to hit 57.9, indicating that both sectors were growing strongly.

In contrast, the commercial slumped 10.8 points to 45.7, indicating a contraction in office, industrial and retail building.

Engineering construction also fell 6.3 points to 39.2, as the end of the mining investment boom begins to bite in earnest.

The Ai Group's head of public policy Peter Burn says the fall in mining engineering is so big it is outweighing the rise in residential building.

"The deepening slide in engineering construction is overshadowing the growth in residential building activity and the tentative recovery of commercial construction as seen in the expansion in April of new commercial construction orders," he noted in the report.

"Against this background, the Commonwealth Budget provides a timely opportunity to boost non-mining infrastructure investment and address business concerns about an excessive withdrawal of public sector demand."

Housing Industry Association economist Diwa Hopkins says the success story of construction is house building, which has improved for the eighth straight month.

Read this article:
Home building grows, but commercial and engineering contract

Developers who own a key property in Dallas' Uptown district plan to build a high-rise office and residential project.

RED Development of Phoenix has teamed up with Dallas' StreetLights to build the $200 million Akard Place mixed-use project at Field Street and Cedar Springs Road.

The 16-story office tower and 20-story residential building will occupy all of the vacant block, which is just north of Woodall Rodgers Freeway and the Perot Museum. It's one of the last large building sites in the neighborhood.

Groundfloor retail and a large public plaza will connect the two buildings.

"There is a great demand now for restaurants and retail in Uptown," RED Development managing partner Mike Ebert said. "There is big demand for offices.

"We think the timing for this project is outstanding."

RED has been working on the Akard Place development for several years. In 2012 it bought the land from the Dallas Police & Fire Pension System. Ebert said the Dallas pension fund is a partner in his firm's holding company.

RED hired Seattle-based Graphite Design Group as architect of Akard Place. And landscape architect OJB - which designed downtown Dallas' Klyde Warren Park - is also working on the project.

Commercial real estate firm CBRE Group has been hired to market the office building to business tenants.

StreetLights Residential - which just built the Taylor apartment tower in Uptown - was selected as the apartment developer.

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New project in the works for Dallas' Uptown will have office and apartment towers

CHARLESTON The Regional Office of Education Committee called an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss bids for a new roof on the 18-year-old building.

Weather-related damage to the Regional Office of Education No. 11 (ROE) building, 730 Seventh St., caused the need for reconstruction work to shingles on the roof that blew off, according to Bobbi Mattingly, regional superintendent of schools.

The ROE committee consists of a representative from the seven counties that the ROE serves, which include Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie and Shelby Counties. Also in attendance at the meeting were Mattingly, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Kyle Thompson and members of the Coles County Building Commission.

Five bids were discussed on Monday and it was unanimously voted to go with the lowest bid of $17,700 from Beechy's Construction Siding and Overhang of Sullivan for the construction of a metal roof. If the agreement is accepted by Beechys, it would include a 40-year warranty on the roof.

During the March 11 Coles County Board meeting, States Attorney Brian Bower said that the counties should be paying into a fund for building maintenance, in addition to the rent they already pay, which has never happened since the establishment was built in 1996.

Since the building, which is owned by the Coles County Building Commission, was constructed no major repairs were needed until now and because the seven counties have not paid into a fund for building maintenance, they will now have to pay a one-time lump sum to fix the roof, according to Mattingly.

The amount of money that the seven counties would have to pay include: $1,455 for Clark County; $5,408 for Coles County; $1,057 for Cumberland County; $3,047 for Douglas County; $2,280 for Edgar County; $1,775 for Moultrie County; and $2,678 for Shelby County. Coles County is asked to contribute the most money because it is the biggest county and Cumberland is the smallest, so it pays the least amount.

Mattingly said that at this time it is unknown when the roof repairs will start taking place.

The next scheduled meeting for the ROE committee is June 2, when members plan on discussing the long-term maintenance for the building, in addition to establishing a major building maintenance fund.

Contact Bilharz at sbilharz@jg-tc.com or 217-238-6839.

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Counties asked to kick in for ROE building repairs

The Moss & Associates construction management firm has started work on a $5.1 million office building at 800 N. Orange Ave. in downtown Orlando.

The four-story building, developed by Ustler Development Inc., will have 17,124 square feet and is scheduled for completion in early 2015. It's fully pre-leased to three tenants: R.D. Keene Trust, the Ustler Group of Companies and Moss & Associates. The building will include surface parking with ground-floor garage parking and a lobby with adjacent meeting space on Orange Avenue.

"We're excited to build this new first-class office building in downtown Orlando," said Rob Baker, vice president of Moss in Central Florida. "We're also proud to continue building on the great momentum of the North Quarter."

The North Quarter, as it's being called, includes a five-block area along Orange Avenue, from Colonial Drive north to Lake Ivanhoe. The NORA and SteelHouse apartments are located there.

The architect is Baker Barrios and the construction lender is Orange Bank.

Sales

Daryl M. Carter, president of Maury L. Carter & Associates Inc., represented the buyer in the $3.9 million acquisition of 29 acres that were added to the owner's existing 45 acres at the Western Beltway/New Independence Parkway interchange. Buddy Brown, of 828 Realty LLC, represented the seller of a 10-acre tract that was part of the 29-acre sale.

Morrison Commercial Real Estate completed the $1.1 million sale of a manufacturing/office building with 19,980 square feet at 120 Maritime Drive in Sanford Central Park. Christi Davis, vice president at Morrison, represented the seller, Carl W. Brantley Jr. Trustee. The buyer was MMCC LLC.

NAI Realvest, completed the $325,050 sale of a 24-acre townhouse development on Primo Court in Holly Hill.Chris Butera, investment associate at NAI, represented the buyer, Mirage HH Partners. The seller was Eagle FL V SPE LLC, of Montgomery, Ala. The development, called The Mirage, consists of 33 developed lots and 108 platted lots.

Leases

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4-story office building underway in downtown's 'North Quarter'

Building construction permits over $10,000 in value that were approved in Boulder between Apr. 21, 2014 to Apr. 27, 2014. Listed below are: the case number; address; total project valuation; owner name; contractor (if applicable); and description.

PMT2013-04777 2136 Bluff St.; $27,801.34; John Roemer; New accessory garage and shop at alley associated with PMT2013-02257 for construction of new residence. Garage/shop building will be 698 square feet total with 480 square feet for garage (unconditioned) and 218 square feet for shop (conditioned). See TEC2014-00026 for required access easement with 2130 Bluff.

PMT2013-05487 3818 N. 26th St.; $50,000; William Snowden and Randy Crittenden; Addition (180 square feet) and remodel (235 square feet) of existing single-family dwelling. Scope includes new rear deck ( more than 30 inches from adjacent grade). Includes associated electrical and plumbing.

PMT2013-06986 3885 Chippewa Drive; $115,871; Daniel and Julie Cohen; Addition and remodel for existing single-family dwelling residence. Addition to include 66 square feet in basement; 314 square feet on main level for larger living room, entryway, and laundry area; and 6 square feet on upper level for new windows in master. Remodel to include 1,415 square feet on main level for new kitchen, dining, family room, living room, office and bath. New front porch of 155 square feet. Includes associated MEP.

PMT2014-00363 2245 Pine St.; $85,826.94; Kegan and Suzanna Paisley; CDC Development/Porchfront Homes; Addition (613 square feet) and remodel (208 square feet) of existing single-family dwelling. Scope of work includes small section of new crawlspace, main level play room addition, and upstairs bathroom and master bedroom addition. Remodel primarily associated with kitchen and bathroom reconfiguration. Work also includes construction of a new front porch. Includes associated MEPs.

PMT2014-00472 420 Spruce St.; $650,000; Luis and Julia Garza; Morningstar Homes; Construction of new single-family dwelling (reuse existing 880-square-foot basement). New home will have four bedrooms, three baths, and will be comprised of a total of 3,652 square feet of conditioned space. Scope of work includes all associated MEPs and construction of attached deck/ porch.

PMT2014-00530 4363 13th St.; $110,000; David Brode; Grant Place Builders Inc.; Addition to existing single-family dwelling. Includes 222-square-foot conversion of existing attached garage into conditioned area. MEPs included.

PMT2014-01041 2525 13Th St.; $50,000.00; Clinica Campesina; Faurot Construction Inc.; Commercial remodel 580 square feet of interior, non-structural work including new bathroom, exam room, conference room, and 'point-of-care' laboratory in existing medical clinic. Includes associated MEPs.

PMT2014-01082 4850 Sterling Drive; $100,000; Emerald Investment; Quinlan Construction Inc.; Hospira New breathing air compressor room located between Building 1 and Building 2. See ADR2014-00007 for approval.

PMT2014-01212 1220 17th St.; $24,575.76; 1220 Seventeenth; Duncan Hansson General Contractor; Second story addition to existing residence, over existing garage and storage. 220-square-foot addition, 68-square-foot remodel. Reference HIS2013-00267

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Boulder building permits: May 5, 2014

April 2014 courtesy image of of a legislative office building proposed to be built just north of the Capitol. It will house members of the Minnesota Senate. (Image courtesy of the State of Minnesota)

State lawyers argued Tuesday that a foe of a new Minnesota Senate office building should be on the hook for $18.6 million if his lawsuit doesn't succeed on appeal and construction is delayed.

Former Rep. Jim Knoblach's lawsuit is the final obstacle to the office tower, and his attorney told the Associated Press that a court ruling requiring a bond would effectively end the case.

"We wouldn't be able to forward the surety bond," said attorney Erick Kaardal. "It's too much money."

The Minnesota attorney general's office filed the request with the Court of Appeals, which is considering Knoblach's appeal of an earlier legal defeat. Knoblach, of St. Cloud, has argued that the process for approving the building was flawed and the courts should block it.

The building and related parking ramp adjacent to the Capitol are projected to cost $90 million. Taxpayers would cover all but $13 million.

In the motion, Assistant Attorney General Nathan Hartshorn says the state expects to start incurring delay costs in mid-May, with those rising if ground isn't broken by July 1. The state is holding off on selling bonds until the case is resolved.

Hartshorn writes that Knoblach's "continued pursuit of meritless legal claims threatens significant injury to the public treasury."

"From our standpoint we're trying to save the taxpayer $77 million and we feel we have a reasonable case and the court should hear the case expeditiously," Knoblach said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

The planned office building is intertwined with the state Capitol renovation. Senators with Capitol offices are being displaced and the Senate plans to use space in its new building as a temporary chamber for the 2016 session. The timeline is tight and Department of Administration officials say they may need to make alternative plans if the project stalls.

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$18.6M bond sought from foe of Minnesota Senate building