CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Years in the making, the deal has officially been signed on the dotted line for the Top of the Hill project.

City officials took the final step today (May 5) with the closing on the financial package, essentially turning the project over for construction of the $83 million catalytic gateway development that could get under way this month, beginning with a 550-space parking garage.

The developer, Flaherty & Collins of Indianapolis, and contractor Cleveland Construction anticipate an 18- to 24-month single-phase building cycle that should be nearing completion by the first half of 2022.

While the city remains focused on the challenges the COVID-19 crisis has created for our entire community in the weeks and months ahead, we are excited to be able to move forward with this project, City Manager Tanisha Briley announced.

It represents a major new investment and positions the city for additional growth and development in the future.

The closing includes a ground lease structure in which the city retains ownership of the 4-acre project site and the junction of Cedar Road and Euclid Heights Boulevard, just up the hill from University Circle, while the developer has the right to construct and own the buildings and other improvements to be made.

Those will include 261 market-rate luxury apartments, over 11,000 square feet of first-floor commercial-retail-restaurant space and close to 25,000 square feet of green space.

The development is expected to offer luxury-style living with unmatched amenities in a high-demand area, a city press release stated, citing amenities such as a first-floor co-working space, pet spa, dog park, indoor bicycle parking with a bike-wash station, fitness center, and a 10th-floor pool, terrace and common space for socializing.

The city selected F&C as its development partner three years ago after parting ways with the original candidate, Fairmount Properties, which had been in negotiations that started in October 2016.

The realization of this catalytic and transformative mixed-use redevelopment project at the western gateway to the city is a game changer for our community, City Economic Development Director Tim Boland stated in the release.

School district benefits

Boland added that the project will bring new residents, jobs, businesses, vibrancy and increased economic activity, as well as new tax revenue, to our city.

The same goes for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City Schools -- a tax increment financing agreement (TIF) is expected to generate over $12.3 million in new revenues for the district over 30 years.

This works out to about $421,000 a year, up from the roughly $21,000 that the CH-UH Schools have received up to now in taxes on City Parking Lot 9, which closed at the beginning of April in anticipation of construction.

The city stands to make a projected $14.3 million in net new revenue over a 32-year timeframe after the development agreement was amended in December.

"Earlier this year, City Council unanimously approved the final financing pieces for the mixed-use project, funded through private construction loan financing and TIF bonds, together accounting for roughly 90 percent of the project sources of funds," the city press release noted.

About $51 million was being sought by F&C through Goldman-Sachs, and while the coronavirus global pandemic wreaked havoc on the stock market in the interceding months, Briley said earlier that the private financing component was never in doubt.

Meanwhile, the city agreed to kick in $1.85 million -- about 2 percent of the project cost -- in low-interest economic development non-tax revenue bond anticipation notes as F&C provided the remaining equity and overhead.

At the prominent gateway between the Heights and University Circle, the Top of the Hills development has been a long-time goal of the city, the press release stated, noting that it was originally home to the 11-story Doctors Hospital, with the city acquiring the property in the 1960s and building the municipal surface parking lot.

Buckingham nix

Throughout the process, there has been opposition on numerous fronts, ranging from derision for the proposed architecture to the removal of original components that were considered selling points to the public, such as a boutique hotel, office space and for-sale town homes.

The latest resistance effort comes from residents of The Buckingham condominiums next door on Euclid Heights Boulevard, who contend that they have been overlooked or ignored throughout the process, which will result in their property values declining and their quality of life affected by a 10-story building blocking sunlight, as well as amenities such as the dog park right outside their windows.

Buckingham spokesman Don King said earlier that a group of residents has retained an attorney to assist in mounting a petition initiative to get what appears to amount to a no confidence vote against the city on an upcoming ballot, which will be the subject of an upcoming story.

More information is also available on the citys website at http://www.clevelandheights.com/toh.

Read more from the Sun Press.

See original here:
Top of the Hill real estate closing sets stage for start of construction at gateway to Cleveland Heights - cleveland.com

In the span of two months, the coronavirus crisis has demanded sweeping changes from the U.S. construction industry, and experts say many of them will remain in place even after the outbreak recedes.

As contractors prepare to return to work on sites that have been shut down by shelter-in-place initiatives, they will face an industry that has been drastically changed by the both public health and economic effects of the pandemic.

There are new factors coming into play now that you or I never thought about, said Joe Natarelli,leader of Marcum LLP's national Construction Industry Group.And people need to plan now to be prepared for the long term.

From a renewed emphasis on jobsite safety to longer project delivery times and the increased influence of organized labor, the virus has upended many facets of the industry. Companies that try to return to a business-as-usual mentality will face a harsh new reality, Natarelli said.

Theres been a paradigm shift in many areas of construction that is leading contractors to do many things differently than they did in the past, he said.

Here are eight ways that COVID-19 has altered the construction industry for the near future and beyond.

The virus put a spotlight on the importance of worker health and safety, and U.S. contractors responded by implementing new jobsite policies such as staggered shifts, employee temperature checks and top-to-bottom disinfections of jobsites, tools and machinery.

Superintendents at Bridgewater, Massachusetts-based Callahan Construction Managers have implemented a variety of protocols to promote social distancing and employee health, including a ban on carpooling, a 100% mask and glove policy and well-stocked handwashing stations, according topresident Pat Callahan. In addition, the company's safety team made 200 gallons of sanitizing soap that has been distributed across jobsites.

This emphasis on cleaner, less crowded work areas is one that wont recede after the virus does, Natarelli said.

Contractors cant be thinking that they can bring workers back after all this dies down and it will be the same as always, he said. Theyll have to include a lot more health and safety measures so that employees are comfortable returning to work.

The new normal will be reinforced by state, local and federal regulations, such as the ones recently proposed in Washington and Pennsylvania, and in the near future, OSHA could require employers to develop written infectious disease preparedness and response plans, said attorney Michael Rubin, chair of Goldberg Segallas national OSHA and Worksite Safety practice group.

Medical experts' belief that outbreaks across the world will come in waves for months or even years to come make safety plans important now and into the future.

Employers can no longer conduct business the same way as they did in the past, he said.Especially now, they need to be flexible and in many instances, creative, as they think of new ways to perform certain tasks that they have performed in the same way for many years in the past.

The current emphasis on social distancing on jobsiteswill likely continue even after the current health threat passes,Rubin told Construction Dive.We can expect to see less group activities and more clearly defined procedures and protocols for even some of the most routine work tasks, he said.

Even as the current outbreak subsides in many areas, state and local officials are putting measures in place to mitigate risk on construction sites going forward. For instance, new guidance in Washington state requires that jobsite employees keep 6 feet away from each other and non-compliance could lead to a project shutdown.

The need for social distancing has also changed how contractors interact with project teams and with customers and companies have developed unique solutions to stay in touch. Los Angeles-based AECOM has launched an interactive web-based toolthat allows clients to hold virtual public meetings, a crucial component in the process of creating public projects such as town halls, stadiums and concert venues. The platform allows AECOMemployees and customers to engage with the public about the impact and benefits of proposed projects without leaving their homes.

"It's exactly like a real public meeting, but without the in-person element," Kevin Carlson,AECOMsglobal lead for digital transformation, told Construction Dive.

In addition, in some areas of the country,building departments are implementing remote technology for inspections, a trend that will continue after the health crisis is over, according to Stephen Poposki, a building official in Cape Coral, Florida.

For instance, when faced with a recent inspection delay on a project in Nashville, Tennessee, general contractor DPRsubmitted 360-degree photos and videos to the local fire marshal for a virtual inspection, allowing it to turn the project over on time.

"I think we're going to come up with some really efficient ways of doing business," said Poposki. "And because people are also very aware of what's going on in the news, they're really more willing to accept change right now, and this is the perfect time to do it."

Many of the major safety changes on construction sites will add to the time it takes to complete projects. While crucial to keeping workers healthy, techniques such suiting up with PPE, only allowing one trade on a site at a time and staggering work shifts will slow down progress and the days of fast-tracking a project may be over at least for now, experts say.

Construction schedules will not be the same as they used to be, said Mike Benike, executive vice president at Rochester, Minnesota-based Benike Construction, duringa recent COVID-19 webinar sponsored by Destination Medical Center, a public-private economic initiative in Rochester, Minnesota.Things will take a little longer because we wont be able to have lots of people in the same place at the same time.

Natarelli advises contractors to consider time constraints when bidding out new jobs to make sure the contract reflects a reasonable construction schedule. The entire project team, including owners, architects, subs and other partners, needs to understand that at least in the near term,projects will take longer than before.

Well be planning jobs differently going forward, he said. These longer completion times aren't going to go away anytime soon and we need to be prepared going forward that if another wave of the virus does come back were in much better shape and were much better prepared.

The coronavirus has also brought major changes to constructions back offices. Forced to stay at home, many office employees have kept business operations running via remote work, relying on technology like videoconferencing, emailing and texting to stay in touch.

This nationwide experiment in telework will likely cause many leaders to think about making the practice permanent. A recent Gartner study found that 74% of American companies will move at least 5% of their office workforce to permanently remote and nearly a quarter of respondents said they will move at least 20%to permanently remote positions, according to a survey of the company's chief financial officers.

CFOs, already under pressure to tightly manage costs, clearly sense an opportunity to realize the cost benefits of a remote workforce, said Alexander Bant, practice vice president, research for the Gartner Finance Practice.

While the trend toward remote work will lead to a dramatic reduction in the need for office space for many companies,others may think about expanding, Ross Forman, managing director of business advisory firm BDO, told Construction Dive.

These firms may seek to take advantage of lower rents to expand their office space to allow for greater social distancing in the workplace. This could mean a move away from the popular open office space layouts to allow for additional private space to reassure skittish staff long after the worst of COVID-19 infections have passed, he said.

Since World War II,the percentage of the U.S. construction industry involved in union memberships has steadily declined, from about 87%of the workforce in 1947 to 12.8% in 2018.Nevertheless, since the pandemic began, trade unions have taken on renewed influence in many areas of the country by advocating for members best interests in keeping sites operational and safe.

Trade unions in New York state were instrumental last month in persuading government officials to shut down projects that were previously allowed to continue,and in Massachusetts, two unions staged walkouts earlier this month in protest of what they deemed to be unsanitary working conditions.

Other unions have wielded their influence to keep members on the job. Last month, North America's Building Trade Unions teamed up with the Associated General Contractors of America to ask government officials at all levels to make construction an essential service and exempt it from regional, state and local shutdowns.

During the crisis, unions have provided a voice for workers who are struggling to decide whether they should stay home or go to work, said Mark Erlich, a fellow at Harvard Universitys Labor and Worklife Program. Unions also help laborers find new work after a layoff.

Clearly, being a union member has been enormously beneficial in the past few weeks, he said.

The appeal of unions will be stronger than ever going forward, Erlich said, a trend that will likely come into conflict with cost-cutting measures that construction employers will inevitably be considering once they reckon with the financial losses from the crisis.

To get ready for this trend, general contractors should be prepared to collaborate with unions and ensure they create work environments that meet their high standards for jobsite health and safety, even if they operate in traditionally open shop states.

Its going to cost more money and not going to be as efficient as in the past, but the market is going to force those types of changes, Natarelli said.

There are new factors coming into play now that you or I never thought about. And people need to plan now to be prepared for the long term.

The coronavirus outbreak has reshaped the types of projects that will be built this year and for many years to come. Hospitality, retail and entertainment projects are likely to be in less demand while healthcare construction and healthcare-related manufacturing projects could see more activity, according to Charles Hewlett,RCLCOReal Estate Advisors' director of strategic planning.

In addition, demand for distribution and warehouse space may likely increase as U.S. companies favor higher inventory levels and emphasize supply chain resiliency over efficiency, Hewlett said.

In the long run, expect more manufacturing facilities to locate in North America to ensure supply and access to markets during episodes like this one, a boon to economic growth and industrial and logistics facilities in the U.S. and Mexico, he said.

Keith Prather, market intelligence expert for Olathe, Kansas-based business management consulting firm Pioneer IQ,agreed, saying that less reliance on Chinese-made building products will create a surge of new manufacturing- and supply chain-related construction projects such as factories and warehouses.

Experts are divided on how infrastructure initiatives will fare in the near future, with some noting that projects like road and bridge construction could suffer as state DOT revenue declines because of decreased fuel tax revenues and that federal infrastructure funding may be waylaid as Congress turns its attention to COVID-19 mitigation measures for business and unemployed Americans.

Nevertheless, some public works projects have received a shot in the arm because of the pandemic. The Airport Improvement Program will invest $3.2 billion in the development and modernization of aviation facilities across the country, and the governors of some states, including Florida and Minnesota, have accelerated billions of dollars of transportation projects in an effort to lessen the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and to take advantage of fewer vehicles on the road.

Even before the outbreak hit the U.S., the coronavirus created major global supply chain disruptions, especially of goods from China, the source of about 30% of U.S. building materials last year.Government containment efforts and quarantines in China slowed or shut down factories in dozens of cities and provinces, leading to a falloff in production of everything from cars to smartphones. U.S. builders have noted delays and shortages in items like steel, surfacing and case goods.

Wendy Cohen, vice president of operations for Sacramento, California, construction management firm Kitchell CEM, said she has experienced some delays in material availability since the crisis began. Kitchell project teams are working with clients, architects, contractors and trade partners to identify shortages and develop creative solutions for the projects that the company continues to build for essential clients such as schools, colleges and the Los Angeles Department of Public Works.

With so many sourcing challenges on the horizon, many American construction firms will be hesitant to resume orders from Chinese suppliers, according to Prather.

How we source projects has a lot of weaknesses, he said.We believe that going forward there will be a lot of reshoring back in the U.S., where well see an increase in our manufacturing ability here as well as heading into Mexico.

Natarelli said many of his large contractor clients that are bidding out jobs include clauses in their contracts that call for as many as five backup sources for materials. Many are willing to pay higher prices for supplies coming from less risky locations.

Alternative suppliers are very big right now, and contractors are weighing the risks with the rewards, he said.

An enhanced focus on worker safety will help accelerate the industrys move to offsite construction methods. While contractors like PCL, Clark and Mortenson have relied on prefabrication for many years, Natarelli said the coronavirus pandemic will motivate more firms to investigate the benefits of offsite building.

The assembly-line efficiency and climate-controlled environment of factory production can save on labor costs and shorten project schedules, but other advantages will take center stage in post-pandemic construction, according to Natarelli, including increased site safety and reduced congestion.

It reduces the amount of time youre in the field, and keeping the labor force in a controlled environment is good from a health standpoint, too, he said. So maybe now you have a job that went from six months to nine months and maybe this can shave that to eight months while youre also promoting social distancing, too.

Read more here:
The new normal: 8 ways the coronavirus crisis is changing construction - Construction Dive

Minnesotas builders were bustling in 2019 as they remodeled or built hotels, libraries and a soccer stadium, among many other projects. From among this impressive collection of projects, an independent panel selected 50 honorees for Finance & Commerces annual Top Projects awards.

Projects honored this year include Allianz Field, home of Major League Soccers Minnesota United FC; One Discovery Square, part of Rochesters Destination Medical Center effort; and the new headquarters of construction company McGough in Roseville.

One Discovery Square in Rochester is one of the projects being honored as a Top Project of 2019. (File photo: DMC Corp.)

A panel of judges looked at the degree of difficulty, creativity in design, innovative construction techniques, cooperation among contractors and management, and sustainability efforts.

The projects will be featured in a magazine and in a series of stories and photos in the Finance & Commerce daily newspaper and on the F&C website starting in July. The people and companies behind the projects also will be honored at a July 23 event (with an Oct. 15 alternate date) at the Nicollet Island Pavilion.

The Top Projects of 2019 are:

3701 Wayzata Boulevard Multi-Tenant Repositioned Office

3701 Wayzata Blvd., Minneapolis

Owner: The Opus Group

Contractor: Opus Group

Architect: Perkins and Will

Engineer: Faith Group LLC

Allianz Field

400 Snelling Ave. N, St. Paul

Owner: Minnesota United FC

Contractor: Mortenson

Architect: Populous

Engineer: Walter P Moore, ME Engineers, Loucks Associates Inc.

Amplifon

Fifth Street Towers, 150 S. Fifth St. No. 2300, Minneapolis

Owner: Amplifon

Contractor: Crawford Merz

Architect: ESG Architecture & Design

Engineer: Meyer, Borgman Johnson

The Andrus Building

500 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

Owner: TriCostal Group, The Davis Companies

Contractor: Mortenson

Architect: RSP Architects

Anoka County Library Centennial Renovation and Expansion

100 Civic Heights Circle, Circle Pines

Contractor: ICS

Architect: Leo A Daly

Engineer: Leo A Daly

Arvonne Fraser Library

1222 Fourth St. SE, Minneapolis

Owner: Hennepin County Facility Services

Contractor: Shaw-Lundquist Construction

Architect: MacDonald & Mack Architects, Quinn Evans Architects

Engineer: Mattson Macdonald Young Inc., Nelson-Rudie & Associates

Bluff View Elementary

1156 W. Lakewood Ave., Lake City

Owner: Lake City Public Schools

Contractor: Kraus-Anderson

Architect: MLA Architects

Engineer: LSEngineers, Larson Engineering of Minnesota

Celeste Hotel of St. Paul

26 E. Exchange St., St. Paul

Owner: Rebound Hospitality

Contractor: Flannery Construction

Architect: LJA Minnesota

Engineer: ERA, Elan Design Lab, Faircon Service Co.

Central Lutheran Church

333 S. 12th St., Minneapolis

Owner: Central Lutheran Church

Contractor: Jorgenson Construction

Architect: Kodet Architectural Group Ltd.

Engineer: Cain Thomas Associates, Mattson MacDonald Young, Hansen Thorp Pellinen Olson Inc.

City Club Apartments,

95 S. 10th St., Minneapolis

Owner: City Club Apartments

Contractor: Frana Cos., USAquatics

Architect: BKV Group

Engineer: BKV Group, Odeh Engineers, Loucks

Commission House

282 E. Sixth St., St. Paul

Owner: Ackerberg, Northland Real Estate Group

Contractor: Weis Builders Inc. Weis Builders, Inc.

Architect: Pope Architects

Engineer: Mattson Macdonald Young, Cain Thomas Associates Inc.

Delta Dental Bemidji Operations Center

2017 Net Way NW Technology Park, Bemiji

Owner: Stratacor

Contractor: Kraus-Anderson

Architect: ESG Architects

Engineer: Meyer Borgman Johnson, Hunt Electric Corp.

Eden Prairie Senior Living

8480 Franlo Road, Eden Prairie

Owner: Southview Senior Communities

Contractor: Eagle Building Co.

Architect: Kaas Wilson Architects

Engineer: Civil Site Group, BKBM Engineers, J-Berd Mechanical Contractors

Elevate at Southwest Station

12900 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie

Owner: Timberland Partners, Carlston Developments

Contractor: Frana Cos.

See the original post here:
Finance & Commerce announces Top Projects of 2019 honorees - Finance and Commerce

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW-TV) Over the past few years, there has been a trend toward 'open-air' office space that puts employees closer together without barriers between them. Those designs are thought, by some, to improve the interaction and communication of employees.

M&T Bank touted the benefits of the open-environment work space in February 2020 when it shared renderings of its new Tech Hub under construction in the Seneca One Tower. The bank felt the modern design with its communal spaces would inspire conversation, innovation, and collaboration.

Will Covid-19 change that?

M&T Bank sent us the following statement:

"Regarding the Tech Hub, we temporarily paused construction back in late March. We have a task force working to determine the best approach to ensure the safety of our employees, suppliers and customers, and construction will resume as soon as it is deemed safe for workers to return to the job site."

7 Eyewitness News asked Jake Schneider, CEO of the Schneider Family of Services in Buffalo, what impact he thought the pandemic would have on office design going forward?

"Nobody really knows, yet, how the Covid pandemic will play out," explained Schneider. He said no drastic long-term design changes are being undertaken by architects because they "could be obsolete" if the crisis continues.

However, companies are asking what they should do to keep employees and customers safe.

There is a big focus on cleaning, explained Schneider. "Some companies are requiring place mats and table cloths on work surfaces." Building designers are looking at things that are easier to clean, such as bathroom fixtures, and ways to minimize 'tough points,' such as doors without knobs," added Schneider.

The prominent Buffalo businessman said he has questions about how effective some of the measures being considered will actually be because there are still too many unanswered questions. "Will people be required to wear masks? Will there be reduced occupancy in the office going forward?," commented Schneider. In particular, he doesn't know how successful it will be to keep people properly spaced apart in lobbies.

Construction continues on Schneider projects and that has been affected by new job site rules. Workers must have their temperature checked when starting a shift, otherwise, they are sent home to avoid infecting co-workers.

Cubicles are one office item that could see a resurgence. Schneider said the now under-construction Evans Bank headquarters in Williamsville (scheduled to open in September) includes cubicle spaces for the employees - which makes it safer from a health perspective. "The cubicle is still a very affordable way of providing a semi-private work space," explained Schneider.

For businesses with open-air office layouts; "You may see more six and seven-foot workstations defined with partitions to help with that social separation."

While it is unknown which office changes will be long-lasting, Schneider thinks the way people do their job will be drastically changed by those who effectively worked from home. "I think that is a paradigm shift that we are going to see. There are a lot more people and companies that are more comfortable having their employees work at home."

The downside, said Schneider, is it could make it harder for landlords to find tenants to rent office space in downtown Buffalo - an area where there is a wealth of office space.

See the rest here:
Rebound Will Covid-19 change the design of your workspace? Ed Reilly 6:15 PM, May - WKBW-TV

According to the American Association of Retired Persons, "memory care is a form of senior living that provides intensive, specialized care for people with memory issues." Memory care faciltiies are often combined with assisted living communities.Here are five recent projects that define some of the best in memory care communities in the U.S.

ATRIA ENGLEWOOD | ENGLEWOOD, COLO.

BRINKMANN CONSTRUCTORS BUILTthis six-story, 150,000-sf structure over a parking garage. The 106 assisted living apartments and 24 memory care units are detailed with crisp colors, modern finishes, and natural wood elements to create a contemporary yet warm environment that has become increasingly popular among the boomer set.

Memory care residents, whose units are on the first floor, have a dedicated community space with a serving kitchen, dining room, activities room, salon, and private garden.

Atria Englewood was designed by OZ Architecture and built by Brinkmann Constructions for CA Ventures (developer) and Atria Senior Living (owner). Photo: Steve Mohlenkamp

Generously sized independent/assisted living units, located on floors two through six, range from 379-sf studios to 1,161-sf one-bed- room apartments.

Denvers OZ Architecture (design architect/AOR) made the bold decision to locate all the amenities from their customary spot at ground level to the top floor so that residents could take in the sweeping vistas of the Rocky Mountains.

The Fourteener Restaurant on the sixth floor. Other amenities: a demo kitchen, caf, theater room, and clubroom, as well as two separate rooftop terraces. Photo: Steve Mohlenkamp

A two-story lobby has a grand fireplace and a bistro where breakfast is served; it becomes a full-service bar in the evening. Theres also an outdoor garden and courtyard.

Fortis Structural (structural engineer), PE Services (mechanical-electrical-plumbing engineer), and Brinkmann Constructors (general contractor) also participated in the enterprise.

The beauty salon in Atria Englewood. Photo: Steve Mohlenkamp

HUNTERS WOODS AT TRAILS EDGE | RESTON, VA.

MORE AND MORE, DEVELOPERS of senior living centers are selecting sites and demanding designs that connect and engage residents with their neighborhoodsa goal that is being fulfilled at Hunters Woods at Trails Edge, which abuts Restons Turquoise Nature Trail.

The 210-unit community is accessible to the Reston Community Center, which offers residents an aquatic center, theater arts, and communal spaces. Walking trails feature age-appropriate workout stations.

Hunters Woods at Trails Edge, Reston, Va., a 210-unit community providing memory care as well asindependent and assisted living. Photo: Kevin Weber Photography

Moseley Architects was charged by developer Atlantic Realty Companies and operator IntegraCare Corporation with preserving views to the forest that surrounds the property. Working with civil engineer Urban Engineering and general contractor Balfour Beatty Construction, the team organized Hunters Woods as two connected buildings over a subterranean parking garage with more than 200 spaces.

A pergola creates a landscape focal point at Hunters Woods at Trails Edge, designed by Moseley Architects for Atlantic Realty Companies. Photo: Kevin Weber Photography

In addition to independent and assisted living and memory care, Hunters Woods offers much-needed short-term/respite care for abbreviated stays. Its high-end amenities include restaurant-style dining, a fully equipped fitness center, a surround-sound movie theater, and an art studio. A state-of-the-art security and call system uses smart keys and automatic apartment door openers for ease of entry.

Moseley Architects (designer) led a project team consisting of Urban Engineering (civil engineer), Direct Supply Aptura (interior design). Lilker EMO Energy Consulting (building commissioning), and Balfour Beatty Construction (general contractor).

Owner IntegraCare Corporation included abarber shop in itsHunters Woods at Trails Edge. Photo: Kevin Weber Photography

ARBOR TERRACE AT FULTON | FULTON, MD.

THE MISSION OF THE DESIGN TEAM for this 72,486-sf assisted living/memory care community in Howard County, Md.,was to emulate a boutique-style hotel. BCT Architects design, created for developer and owner Capitol Seniors Housing, reflects the view that more and more seniors are looking for the kinds of amenities demanded by younger renters.

Arbor Terrace at Fulton memory care/assisted living complex in Fulton, Md., about 20 miles north of the District of Columbia. Photo: Green Sofa Productions

BCT incorporated open common areas, natural light, and warm, modern architecture into the 86-unit complex. A floor-to-ceiling glass wall and grand staircase in the lobby adds dramatic effect. Interior designer Faulkner Design Group used sleek finishes with the look of marble and dark wood, natural materials, and a soft color palette.

A coffee bar/casual dining space at Arbor Terrace at Fulton. Photo: Green Sofa Productions

Residents, guests, and employees can walk to shopping opportunities via the pathways connecting the community to the stores and restaurants next door at the Maple Lawn development.

Carroll Engineering (structural engineer), Gutschick, Little & Weber (civil engineer/landscape architect), SRBR Engineers (mechanical-electrical-plumbing engineer), Faulkner Design Group (interiors), Food Strategy Inc. (kitchens), and Forrester Construction (general contractor) contributed to the enterprise.

The dining room in the Arbor Terrace at Fulton facility, designed by BCT Architects and Faulkner Design Group (interior designer). Photo: Green Sofa Productions

YOURLIFE OF PALM BEACH GARDENS | PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA.

YOURLIFE PALM BEACH GARDENS FUSES the South Florida resort lifestyle with a physical environment that promotes healthy living for seniors. The 234,000-sf, four-story community consists of two interconnected buildings with 143 assisted living and 91 memory care units. The buildings share a common core of support spaces and amenities.

YourLife offers 91 memory care units and 143 assisted living residences intheluxury setting of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Photo: Island Studio Productions

Taking cues from hospitality design, architecture/engineering firm LEO A DALY blurred the lines between interior and exterior to create a sense of openness and luxury. The designer incorporated the eyebrows from neighboring roof lines to fashion a sculpted massing that frames the front entrance, which enhances a sense of arrival and helps residents and guests with wayfinding.

Resort-style pool at YourLife of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., designed by architecture/engineering firm LEO A DALY for owner YourLife Senior Living. Photo: Island Studio Productions

The designer partnered with MT Fuller Functional Arts to fulfill a municipal requirement for art in public places, leading to the creation of a striking, lighted metal-and-glass pyramid sculpture set on the front lawn.

Interior designer Mosaic Design Studio amped up the resort feel in the lobby with a dramatic, curved wooden ceiling that frames boldly colored light fixtures.

Michael B. Schorah & Associates (structural/civil engineer), TLC Engineering Solutions (mechanical-electrical-plumbing engineer), Mosaic Design Studios (interiors), Cotleur & Hearing (landscape architect), and KAST Construction (general contractor) added their expertise to the enterprise for owner YourLife Senior Living.

REGENCY PALMS | LONG BEACH, CALIF.

MANY SENIORS PREFER TO BE close to shopping, dining, and transportation, but land that fits the bill is expensive, if it is even available. As a result, developers are looking at sites for 55+ communities that they once would have dismissed out of hand.

One such case is Regency Palms, which offers 32 assisted living units (52 beds) and 24 memory care units (30 beds) in the Long Beach Professional Building, a restored 1929 Art Deco office building. The eight-story edifice has a cafe and urgent care clinic on the ground level that create a connection to the highly walkable, transit-oriented neighborhood.

This eight-story professional building from the 1920s was converted into Regency Palms assisted living/memory care, Long Beach, Calif. Photo: Paul Turang

Former office spaces were redesigned into residential units fitted out with kitchenettes. Two office spaces on every floor were converted into great rooms with enhanced natural light. The basement was made into an activity room, fitness center, and salon.

Because the building was on the National Register of Historic Places, changes to the exterior were severely restricted. The original windows were no longer being made, so the design team worked with manufacturers to match the windows and facade as closely as possible to their originals.The building takes up the entire site, leaving no room for an outdoor memory care patio. The team found the perfect spot on the roof, which became an inviting space for residents to enjoy the views from the tallest building in the neighborhood.

Lobby at the Regency Palms memory care/assisted living center, designed by KTGY Architecture + Planning. Photo: Paul Turang

KTGY Architecture + Planning, along with Studio Six5 (interiors) and Urban Community Builders (general contractor), performed the work for client Global Premier Development.

The Regency Palms won Best 55+ Repositioned Project at the 2020 NAHB International Builders Show.

Amenities deck at Regency Palms. The restoration won an award at the 2020 International Builders' Show. Photo: Paul Turang

Read more from the original source:
5 memory care communities with a strong sense of mission - Building Design + Construction

Embattled coworking giant WeWork isin talks todrop out of a West Midtown Atlanta development before its planned opening later this year.

Rendering for SJ Collins Enterprises' The Interlock mixed-use project in West Midtown.

Armada Hoffler Properties is in talks to either shrink or kill WeWork locations at two properties in which it has invested, at The Interlock in Atlantaandits planned location at the Wills Wharf development in Baltimore, CEO Louis Haddad said during the firm's Q1earnings calllast week.

We opened discussions with WeWork early this year to reduce or eliminate their leases in these two locations in order to limit our exposure to this tenant. WeWork is also interested in reducing their exposure to us, Haddad said. We expect to announce the results of these discussions within the current quarter.

Armada Hoffler agreed toinvestup to $65M inThe Interlock, which is being developedby S.J. Collins Enterprises, as part of a mezzanine loan in December 2018. AWeWork spokesperson declined to comment.

S.J. Collins partner Jeff Garrison said WeWork signed a lease in December 2018 to occupy 120K SFof the mainoffice and retail building at the Interlock mixed-use project and is still on track to move in in the late third quarter.

We are not having any conversations with WeWork about changing their lease at all, Garrison toldBisnow. We don't expect any change.

The Interlock is located off Howell Mill Road in West Midtown, near the corner of 14th Street. The $750M project's first phase includes 200K SF of office, 100K SF of retail, 350 apartments, a 160-room hotel and a smattering of single-family houses and vacation rental homes.

Aside from WeWork, which Garrison expectsto account for30% of the project's total revenue, business incubatorGeorgia Tech VentureLab agreed to fill 50K SF in the office building, and Marriott International's boutique hotel chain Tribute Portfolio isslated to operate the hotel.

WeWork's location at Wills Wharf, being developed by Beatty Development Group, was set to become the company's first location in Baltimore. It signed a 60K SF anchor lease for a 330K SF office tower, a piece of a mixed-use project, and originally expected to open in the beginning of the year, the Baltimore Business Journal reported. WeWork's website now lists the locationas due to open in October.

Bisnow

S.J. Collins partner Jeff Garrison

On Dec. 21, 2018, S.J. Collins secured a mezzanine loan with Armada Hoffler for The Interlock with a maximum principal of $67M, charging a 15% annual interest rate, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Including collateral, the loan could fund up to $95M.

The loan matures at the end of this year, but S.J. Collins has the right to extend the maturity date for an additional five years, according to the filing.

Terwilliger Pappas, the developer of the apartment buildingat The Interlock, also received a mezzanine loan from Armada Hoffler for its piece of the project: $25.2M that charges a 13% interest rate and matures at the end of 2021, according to SEC filings.

Haddad said the risks of making these loans are low for Armada Hoffler, given the quality of the project.

We believe in the long-term value of these assets, as we've said every quarter for the last several, we'd be happy to own them, Haddad said. We don't wish ill of our partners, but I mean, I think it's important to note, you don't build real estate for what you think is going to happen over the next few months. That's a fool's errand."

"We underwrite projects for the long haul, long-term value in good locations, which is why we decided to undertake those as well as our development projects," Haddad continued."We've been right for 40 years. We expect to be right this time.

WeWork is in the midst of renegotiating leaseswith landlords across the country. Columbia Property Trustleases three spaces to WeWork,including the entirety of an under-construction Manhattan development where the coworkinggiant is scheduled to open this summer. WeWork occupies250K SF inCXP's buildings, according to the REIT's April 30 earnings call.

They did pay 90% [of its rent] for the month of April. We are in discussions with them about the future and working with them just on various options, CXPCEO Nelson Mills said onthe call. They paid that 90% in good faith as those discussions continue, so we're very optimistic that we'll maintain at least that number.

Piedmont Office Realty Trust also has three WeWork locations in its portfolio, but the company isonly paying rent for one of them. Another location is in its free-rent window and a third in Orlando, Florida, is still under construction, Piedmont Office Trust CEO Brent Smithsaid last weekduring an earnings call.

We have been very pleased with their performance and working with them as a customer and tenant, Smith said. "They continue to pay rent and meet all their obligations."

Office landlords in Metro Atlanta had a strong start to 2020, but few expect thatmomentum to continue in light of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic fallout. While some deals that were close to being done did go through completion, most companies placed talks on ice until shelter-in-place orders are lifted and businesses are allowed to gear up again.

Georgia is among the very first states to do that with Gov. Brian Kemplifting restrictions on many residents and a host of retailers, including restaurants, gyms and nail and hair salons.

But for Atlanta's office market, vast shelter-in-place orders have alreadyimpacted the brokerage business.

The consensus from brokers was everything is on pause. Nothing's died. It's just a re-evaluation of what their world looks like and what the new world looks like, Newmark Knight Frank Executive Vice President Sean Moynihan said. I think we're a good 30 days away from knowing. But I also said that 30 days ago.

Transwestern Vice President of Research Keith Pierce said the firm expects corporate office space searches to fully resume bythe end of the year.

If you're looking at delivering in '21 and '22, you're talking to your lenders and you're staying the course with your fingers crossed, Pierce said.

But Pierce said he expects companies to focus more on renewals instead of moving to new projects.

My hunch is that anybody who has a lease-up in the next six to nine months, maybe longer, is very interested in maybe a straight-up renewal or an extension so they don't have to contemplate the move, he said. They'd rather kind of keep their powder dry and wait until more data is available.

Garrison said S.J. Collinsis in talks with two other companies to lease the remaining 30K SF in the office building. At the same time,the firmhas fielded interest from larger potential tenants and has been referring them to WeWork as possible enterprise customers, Garrison said.

Garrison also said he expects that the low interest rates will play in the firm's favor when it comes time to pay off the Armada Hoffler loan. That will come by either refinancing the loan or selling the project within the next three years, Garrison said.

We are so substantially leased and in a good financial position, and we continue to get leasing interest in the office and the retail, he said. "We see no concern at all going forward."

Read more here:
Lender In Talks With WeWork To Drop Out Of 2 Major Developments - Bisnow

At least three construction workers who are renovating the Smithsonians prized Air and Space Museumin Washington, D.C., have contracted COVID-19, stirring fears among the workforce that they are risking their health for a project that could wait until the pandemic passes.

The general contractor on the job a joint venture between the construction firms Clark, Smoot, and Consigli informed its subcontractors of the COVID-19 cases in recent days and confirmed them to HuffPost. A fourth worker also received a positive result from a so-called rapid test, and has been asked to undergo a more reliable lab test.

The illnesses have prompted the general contractor to temporarily close portions of the site for deep cleaning, and required workers whove been in close contact with the sick to self-quarantine. A spokesperson said all the workers who contracted the virus were asymptomatic while working, and none of have been onsite since April 30.

One worker on the project,who spoke on the condition of anonymity because employees arent allowed to talk to the press,said the anxiety has led some crews to call out sick rather than risk contracting the virus, with some workers out for days at a time. The majority of his colleagues, he said, believe they should not be working at a time when the U.S. death count due to COVID-19 has surpassed 70,000.

The Smithsonian and construction firms have continued with the years-long revitalization project even though the entire Smithsonian system is closed to the public due to the pandemic.

Were talking about a few months here in a very long project, said the worker. There are 400 working people on this job. Are they willing to risk all their lives and their families lives? Thats a really unnecessary risk in my opinion.

He added, They just dont understand why theyre working in a museum thats shut down to the public.

Paul Morigi via Getty ImagesThe Smithsonian is closed, unless you happen to be a construction worker.

A Smithsonian spokesperson said the project was allowed to continue because construction has been deemed essential under the District of Columbias stay-home order, and provided a legal memo from the Smithsonian declaring the project mission critical.

A spokesperson for the three construction firms told HuffPost the companies have done contact tracing to identify any other workers who may have been put at risk. They have also done regular cleanings, installed hand-washing stations, and required the use of masks on site.

The health and safety of our team members, their families, and our communities is [our] highest priority, the spokesperson said. We are working closely with the Smithsonian Institution and our trade partners to share accurate information as it becomes available and remain committed to safely operating in accordance with guidance from government and public health officials.

The COVID-19 cases among the Smithsonian crew highlight the dangers steelworkers, ironworkers, steamfitters and other laborers face across the country as they continue to work through the pandemic. Many work in close proximity to one another and often travel through the same choke points to access construction sites.

In many states and D.C., construction workers have been declared essential even on projects that dont appear time-sensitive or critical for the public, like condominiums and long-term renovations. The stay-home order put in effect by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser includes a blanket carveout for the industry, declaring it part of the essential infrastructure.

WAMU and DCist have tracked the predictable results of that policy, reporting that more than a dozen COVID-19 cases turned up among workers on a residential construction site in the citys booming Navy Yard neighborhood. Clark also helms that project. The possibility of other confirmed cases prompted the temporary closure of a construction project at the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill.

The Air and Space Museum renovations have been underway since late 2018. The facilitys doors remained open to the public during that work until the Smithsonian closed all its properties to guests on March 14 due to the pandemic.

According to the Smithsonian, the Air and Space revitalization project includes refacing the museums outdoor cladding and updating old mechanical systems. Congress is funding the renovations through appropriations.

Big projects involve a number of employees working under different subcontractors, who rely on the general contractor and other firms to let them know about infections among their crews; there are more than a dozen subcontractors working at the Air and Space site. Clark, Smoot, and Consigli have asked their subcontractors to notify them about any workers who are tested for COVID-19.

The worker who spoke to HuffPost said working through the pandemic has fostered a climate of mistrust on the site. Before the coronavirus, it had been one of the best jobs hed experienced in years.

That has completely changed since this all went down, he said. Its turned into one of the more hostile jobs Ive ever been on.

A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus

Calling all HuffPost superfans!

Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter

Read more:
Construction Workers At The Smithsonian Have Tested Positive For Coronavirus - HuffPost

Clockwise from top left: 180 Ashland Place. 180 East 125th Street, 35 Commercial Street and 2440 Fulton Street (Credit: Google Maps)

The coronavirus pandemic did not stop companies from filing plans for major construction projects last month.

The top 10 largest projects in April totaled more square feet than any other month of the year: about 2.6 million. That compared to 1.9 million square feet in March, 1.7 million square feet in February and 1.3 million square feet in January.

Overall, the list for April was split between five projects in Manhattan, three projects in Brooklyn, one project in The Bronx and one project in Queens. No Staten Island projects made the cut last month.

The full list of Aprils top 10 biggest real estate projects is as follows:

1. 180 Ashland Place, BrooklynThis is the site of Rockrose Developments first large-scale project in Brooklyn, which will span about 418,000 square feet and stand 47 stories tall with 609 apartments and ground floor retail. Rockrose filed its plans just a few days after closing on the Fort Greene site also known as 98 Dekalb Avenue for $81 million from the Kotler family in an all-cash deal.

2. 180 East 125th Street, ManhattanGary Barnetts Extell Development filed plans for a low-rise office building spanning about 354,000 square feet on its East Harlem development site. The project will stand nine stories and 120 feet tall with ground floor retail and about 41,000 square feet of community space. Extell spent $70 million on the block-long assemblage, which is known as the Harlem Pathmark site. Sale of the Pathmark supermarket there sparked controversy, with some local residents saying they felt betrayed by seller Abyssinian Development Corporation for sacrificing their local grocery store.

3. 2440 Fulton Street, BrooklynThe Leser Group filed plans for a roughly 325,000-square-foot commercial building in Ocean Hill. It will stand six stories and 100 feet tall. Abraham Leser acquired the development site in 2015 for $33 million.

4. 35 Commercial Street, BrooklynPark Tower Group is planning this roughly 344,000-square-foot residential building in Greenpoint. It will stand 22 stories and 213 feet tall with 374 residential units, and it will include a small amount of commercial space on the ground floor as well.

5. 53-16 Northern Boulevard, QueensThe New York City School Construction Authority is planning to build a new 308,000-square-foot school in Woodside. It will stand six stories and 86 feet tall.

6. 611 West 169th Street, ManhattanRoyal Charter Properties filed plans for this 193,000-square-foot mixed-use property in Washington Heights. It will be split between about 111,000 square feet of residential space, 74,000 square feet of community space and 9,000 square feet of commercial space, and it will stand 13 stories and 135 feet tall with 132 residential units and 62 parking spots. Retail will be part of the project, and the community facility will be for a nonprofit organization with sleeping accommodations, according to the filing.

7. 40 West 137th Street, ManhattanThe citys Department of Health filed plans for its new public health lab by the Harlem Hospital Center. It will span about 188,000 square feet and stand 10 stories tall. The citys current lab is located at 455 First Avenue in Kips Bay, and the new location aims to give the department more flexibility for its equipment and let employees work more easily during crises.

8. 72 East 120th Street, ManhattanBFC Partners is planning a roughly 185,000-square-foot mixed-use project in Harlem, split between about 181,000 square feet of residential space and 4,000 square feet of commercial space. The project will stand 20 stories and 216 feet tall, and it will include 110 parking spots and 218 residential units, at least some of which will be for low-income residents.

9. 1016 Fox Street, The BronxDeveloper Peter Fine filed plans for a roughly 184,000-square-foot mixed-use project in The Bronxs Longwood neighborhood. The project will be split between about 100,000 square feet of community space, 61,000 square feet of residential space and 23,000 square feet of commercial space. It will stand 15 stories and 148 feet tall with 278 residential units, at least some of which will be for low-income residents.

10. 77 East 118th Street, ManhattanAprils list closes out with another BFC Partners project in Harlem spanning about 172,000 square feet, split between 169,000 square feet of residential space and 3,000 square feet of commercial space. The project will stand 20 stories and 216 feet tall, and it will include 202 residential units and 93 parking spots. At least some housing units in this project will be for low-income tenants as well.

Go here to read the rest:
The top 10 biggest real estate projects coming to NYC - The Real Deal

Dallas-Fort Worths booming office market is being derailed by COVID-19.

Net leasing in the area was down more than 150,000 square feet in the first quarter before the worst of the pandemic hit, according to commercial property firm CBRE. It was the first such quarterly decline in years.

Overall office vacancy in the area rose to almost 21%.

Many office lease deals have been delayed or put on hold because of the coronavirus and shelter-in-place orders in North Texas.

The first-quarter office leasing decline follows a strong year of more than 3.5 million square feet of net leasing in the D-FW area.

But the pandemic and economic slowdown are quashing the office market here and nationwide.

Office leasing has slowed, vacancy is rising and sublease space is expected to come back to the market quickly, CBREs analysts said in a statement. But office properties and office-using employment remain relatively insulated compared to other property types.

More severe impacts will come in markets with a high concentration of oil and gas and travel and leisure jobs, they said.

During the last decade, North Texas has been one of the countrys fastest-growing office building markets, with net leasing totaling more than 30 million square feet.

About 5.4 million square feet of additional office space was under construction in the D-FW area at the end of March in 30 projects. About 30% of the space in the new buildings is already leased, and 80% of the projects underway are speculative developments.

Unlike in other recent quarters, CBRE did not detail any large local office leases in the first three months of 2020. But CBRE senior managing director Blair Oden said some deals are still getting done.

Anything that was on the tracks working toward conclusion for the most part is continuing down that path, Oden said. "Those were deals that were at the goal line, and they didnt have the luxury of waiting.

Anything that was still on the launching pad has probably been put on hold.

Some office tenants with existing leases that are expiring soon may be seeking short-term extensions rather than hunting new office space.

Building owners are more receptive to these deals, Oden said.

Everybodys tone has changed in the last 30 days, he said. If you had gone to the landlord 30 days ago and said youd wanted a one-year extension, you likely would have gotten a no.

Landlords and tenants, everybody, are all in this together.

D-FW areas with the most net leasing in the first quarter included Far North Dallas (326,505 square feet) and LBJ Freeway (94,659 square feet).

But big declines in office absorption in downtown Dallas, Uptown-Turtle Creek and Las Colinas more than offset those first-quarter gains.

Commercial real estate analysts are forecasting net negative office demand in many major U.S. markets this year.

"We are just beginning to see the full extent of disruption from this pandemic, and the second quarter will be very tough for commercial real estate and nearly all other industries, CBREs global chief economist and head of Americas Research Richard Barkham said in a statement. U.S. commercial real estate will need more than a year to get back to full strength.

The real estate recovery will be gradual and will lag the economy.

Read more here:
D-FWs office market has hit the brakes - The Dallas Morning News

There is not a construction worker in sight at the large apartment development at 2700 W. El Camino Real in Mountain View, after the county ordered the majority of construction come to a stop. Photo by Magali Gauthier.

Up until recently, the Bay Area's construction market was so red-hot that workers were traveling from other states to sate the heavy demand for skilled laborers. But under new restrictions imposed by public health officials, building activity that once peppered the region has abruptly reached a standstill.

In response to the spread of the new coronavirus, public health officers across six Bay Area counties introduced sweeping restrictions last month that banned numerous commercial activities, including some types of construction. Santa Clara County went a step further last week, with further prohibitions quashing most residential and commercial projects at least through the beginning of May.

Active construction sites throughout the region teeming with workers, tractors and heavy machinery have since been forced to "button up" and go dormant, pausing a yearslong surge in development in the Bay Area.

It also means one more sector of the economy with employees out of work.

"The construction economy has been devastated," said David Bini, executive director of the Santa Clara and San Benito Building and Construction Trades Council. "We have about 80% or 90% of our members out of work right now."

Under the March 31 order, only a narrow subset of construction is allowed to continue, including affordable housing projects and market-rate housing projects that include at least 10% affordable units. Public works projects deemed essential for health and safety reasons are also permitted, as are projects that provide temporary housing and shelter space.

Bini said his organization, which is affiliated with 25 labor unions, has been pushing back against the restrictions, arguing that active construction sites are not inherently a public health hazard. With some exceptions, he said more jobs fall within the recommendations on safe social distancing.

The trade council sent a letter to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors with its concerns on March 28, adding that professional boards had not been consulted, only to have the county crack down even harder on building activity three days later.

"It seemed to add insult to injury to have that second order tighten even further on construction," he said.

In the immediate term, Bini said emergency funding at the state and federal level should be enough to support Bay Area construction workers who have been forced to file for unemployment benefits. But the assistance is only a stopgap measure, and won't cover costs in the event that the prohibitions continue for multiple months.

"Most construction workers are sitting at home right now without a paycheck," he said.

What's baffling in the order, Bini said, is that it enumerates several types of construction activities that are exempt and will be allowed to continue under the public health order. Why is it not safe to build market-rate housing, he wondered, if it's safe to build affordable housing?

Another concern is that housing projects that barely penciled out financially before the crisis could wither on the vine because of delays. The cost of construction in the Bay Area -- largely considered the highest in the world and the smaller profit margin on housing projects makes them particularly susceptible to market fluctuations. In other words, entire projects may have to be scrapped.

A monthslong halt on construction definitely wasn't in the plans, said Robert Freed, president and CEO of SummerHill Homes. His company currently has four projects under construction in Mountain View, including a 211-unit project at 2700 W. El Camino Real, along with multiple others in the development pipeline. Freed said that SummerHill is in strong shape financially and will be able to keep all of its projects alive, but it is a "very big bump in the road."

Freed said he is reluctant to criticize public health officers making decisions to safeguard the public during the global pandemic, but that he does feel there is room for contractors to abide by social distancing and other safety precautions. He also found it odd that projects with affordable housing can proceed, while projects that provide in-lieu fees for affordable housing elsewhere must shut down.

Most Mountain View projects halted

As of last month, Mountain View's busy development pipeline reportedly had 24 projects currently under construction. When asked how many of them are permitted to continue and how residents are supposed to know which construction sites are exempt, city staff referred the Voice to a reference guide.

All but one project, the Shorebreeze Apartment complex at 460 N. Shoreline Blvd., appear to be prohibited by the county order. The developer for Shorebreeze, MidPen Housing, did not respond to requests for comment.

Community Development Director Aarti Shrivastava said the city is complying with the county order, and that there may have been ongoing work at construction sites over the last week as contractors finish tasks and ensure projects are safe and secure for the hiatus.

Anyone who believes building activities are continuing in violation of the county health order is asked to contact the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, which reviews and redirects complaints to local police departments for enforcement. As of Monday, the Mountain View Police Department had received 46 complaints from the DA's office for violators, resulting in three citations.

The city of Mountain View, for its part, has dropped almost all of its own municipal construction activity. Public Works Director Dawn Cameron said all but two projects have been suspended until the shelter order has been lifted, the exceptions being the Shoreline sewage pump system project and water and sewer main replacement work along Leong Drive, both of which have been deemed critical for public infrastructure.

Also still brimming with activity this week is a major landscaping operation off of Stevens Creek Trail, due south of Crittenden Lane, where tractors, workers and dozens of trucks outfitted with wood chippers are still busy. A PG&E spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday, April 8, that the location is a parking yard for contractors doing vegetation management work in the area, which is allowed to continue in the interest of public safety.

Caltrain electrification work along the train corridor is also scheduled to continue through the shelter order, with closures at the Castro Street intersection on April 11, April 13 and April 17.

Read the rest here:
Local construction, once brimming with activity, grinds to a halt - Mountain View Voice