DANBURY The citys post-pandemic landscape is busy with development activity, from new car dealerships opening and proposals for hundreds of new apartments on the booming west side to commercial and residential projects slated for the downtowns Main Street.

The city is doing amazingly well people are coming in from all over the planet it seems to do business in Danbury, said Paul Rotello, the City Councils minority leader and a member of a task force that recently completed work on a master plan for the next 10 years.

The citys top planner agrees.

The diversity of these projects and the variety of uses is an indication of Danburys attractiveness as a place to live and work and expand your business, said Sharon Calitro, Danburys planning director. It shows that our economy is diverse and robust; people want to be here."

The approved building projects and proposed developments 17 of which are highlighted here, coincide with a growth spurt in Danbury that demographers project could put the city of 86,000 at 95,000 by 2040.

The surge of development activity is healthy for the citys bottom line, leaders say, so long as commercial and residential development is managed responsibly.

We have to do it in a focused way, Rotello said. The plan is working.

Here is a snapshot of 17 high-profile construction projects and proposals that have been in the headlines over the past year.

1. Danbury Career Academy, 40 Apple Ridge Road (approved/not built)

A rendering of Danbury's career academy at the former Cartus Corp. headquarters.

The citys much-anticipated campus for 1,400 students will not only alleviate overcrowded classrooms when it opens for the 2025-2026 school year but will mark a new era in Danbury and the rest of the state. High school education will be reorganized into a freshman academy and six career academies, where every student is on an individualized track for college or a job after graduation. The $164 million project, which involves retrofitting the formerCartus Corp. building and 24-acre campus into a new west side high school and middle school, broke ground in February.

2. Hundreds of apartments at The Summit, 100 Reserve Road (approved/not built)

The newly renamed The Summit at Danbury is converting to mixed use to include offices, residential and retail. Thursday, December 19, 2019, in Danbury, Conn.

The short version of this project is when the sprawling 1.2-million-square-foot office park known as The Summit was negotiating with the city to locate its career academy in a section of the office park, The Summit wanted a contingency deal that if the career academy fell through The Summit would be able to retrofit the office space reserved for the school into 400 apartments. The city agreed. Shortly afterword, when negotiations about the career academy broke down, The Summit went back to its plan to build 400 apartments. As of late April, The Summit was yet to submit formal plans to the city for the apartments. Developers envision offering a "city within a city" and have already begun to fill commercial and retail space.

3. WestConn Park commercial and residential development at 3 Mill Plain Road (proposed)

A rendering of one of three apartment buildings at WestConn Park, a proposed 1.3 million-square-foot development on Mill Plain Road in Danbury.

This large-scale 31-acre development near Western Connecticut State Universitys west side campus on Mill Plain Road has been out of the headlines recently as the developer negotiates with the state transportation department to improve the sight lines for the proposed project. Plans call for an 11-building campus of apartments, offices, stores and an assisted-living facility. The project, which would include a bank, a restaurant, a coffee house and retail shops would attract 650 more vehicles during rush hour on the already congested stretch between the Stop & Shop and Amity Lane. The developer calls the project a lifestyle center where people can live, work, shop and play in one area.

4.Savings Bankof Danbury building at Main and White streets (proposed)

A rendering of a new office building at Main and White streets in Danbury proposed by the Savings Bank of Danbury.

This $14 million office building project includes the demolition of the defunct night club Tuxedo Junction, which the city sold to the bank as part of the deal to provide better access for the new building. The proposed red brick building with white trim and anoctangular tower shown on the plans would be used as the banks headquarters.

5. Old Courthouse renovation and 100 units of workforce housing at 71 Main St. (proposed)

The former Fairfield County Courthouse at 71 Main St, Danbury, Conn. Tuesday, July 12, 2022. A complex, multi-party deal would transform a downtown corner with 100 apartments and restore the empty 1899 old state courthouse for new city uses.

This complex, multi-party deal would transform a downtown corner with 100 apartments and restore the empty 1899 old state courthouse for new city uses. The plan, which has been approved by the City Council, authorizes Mayor Dean Esposito to apply with a nonprofit for a $9.9 million in state economic development money to buy the courthouse and four other properties on Main Street and Park Place. Blueprints call for a restored courthouse and a new parking lot for city use, such as the Danbury Museum. The nonprofit would seek the rest of the projects $70 million cost to build the workforce apartments.

6. Conversion of office building into apartments and construction of apartment building at 30 Main St. (proposed)

Rendering of a 208-apartment project on Danbury's south Main Street known as The Legacy on Main.

The project, known as The Legacy on Main has already been through the land use wringer once,gaining permission from the citys wetlands commission. The citys Planning Commission is reviewing blueprints for the 208-apartment project, which call for the conversion of the existing five-story office building into studio and one-bedroom units, and the construction of a 70-foot apartment building in the parking lot with more studios and one-bedroom apartments. A small percentage of two-bedroom apartments would be distributed between the two buildings.

7. Affordable housing project for seniors behind headquarters of Connecticut Institute for Communities at 70 Main St. (proposed)

A $2 million federal grant secured by U.S. Rep.Jahana Hayes, will help pay for a parking garage upon which a three-story apartment building would be built behind the headquarters of the nonprofitConnecticut Institute for Communities. The congresswomans grant brought the nonprofits fundraising to $4.7 million toward the $8 million cost of project. The apartment would have 79 units of affordable housing for seniors.

8. Apartment building at former headquarters of The News-Times, 333 Main St. (nearly complete)

A second-story pool overlooking downtown Danbury and retail shops that open onto Main Street are among the finishing touches to be completed at the 149-apartment house known as Brookview Commons II, across the street from the Kennedy Flats apartment complex. Other features of the six-story apartment building include a car bridge over Padanaram Brook in the back of the property and a pedestrian bridge connecting the new complex to developer Dan Bertrams existing apartment building on Crosby Street called Brookfield Commons.

9. Panera Caf at 5 Sugar Hollow Road (approved/not built)

Panera Bread is moving from leased space on the citys west side and will build a free-standing drive-thru caf nearby. Plans call for Panera to move out of leased space at The Shops at Marcus Dairy and build a 5,000-square-foot single storydrive-thru buildingin the parking lot.

10. Chipotle restaurant and medical office at 1 Sugar Hollow Road (underway)

Demolition and ground clearing has begun at the former Pier 1 Imports store near the Danbury Fair mall to make way for a new drive-thruChipotle restaurant and medical office space. The new Chipotle will be across Backus Avenue from the free-standing Shake Shack and Texas LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants on the Danbury Fair mall property.

11. Mercedes Benz dealership near Danbury Municipal Airport (under construction)

Mercedes dealership under construction at Miry Brook and Sugar Hollow roads. Tuesday, April 25, 2023, Danbury, Conn.

Work is underway to transform a vacant 2.5-acre storage lot into a $7 million Mercedes-Benz dealership at the gateway of an emerging high-end auto corridor. Plans for the property at Miry Brook and Sugar Hollow roads call for Curry Automotive to move its dealership from Federal Road on the citys east end to the new gateway location. The stretch is already home to North American Motor Car, a custom garage and luxury vehicle storage facility that bills itself as the largest of its kind in Fairfield County, and a film directors company that produces $450,000 sports cars.

12. Nissan-Infinity dealership at 13 Sugar Hollow Road (completed)

Nissan / Infinity dealership on Sugar Hollow that was previously a Sports Authority. Tuesday, April 25, 2023, Danbury, Conn.

Nissan / Infinity dealership on Sugar Hollow that was previously a Sports Authority. Tuesday, April 25, 2023, Danbury, Conn.

Nissan / Infinity dealership on Sugar Hollow that was previously a Sports Authority. Tuesday, April 25, 2023, Danbury, Conn. | H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media Nissan / Infinity dealership on Sugar Hollow that was previously a Sports Authority. Tuesday, April 25, 2023, Danbury, Conn. | H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media

Doors recently opened at a Nissan-Infinity dealership at the former location of Sports Authority and Bed, Bath and Beyond next to Danbury Municipal Airport. The new dealership, which occupies a 78,000-square-foot building on 8 acres, was approved one year ago.

13. Renovation of former Meekers Hardware building 88-90 White St. (proposed)

An entrepreneur who wants to convert the distinctive red-brick Meekers Hardware building in the shadows of the Uncle Sam statue at the downtown train station into a dance hall will have to work around restraints on the building, because it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The entrepreneur, who owns the Billy Beans Caf next door, wants to build a 92-seat dance hall and sit-down bar in the front half of the first floor of the Meekers building. If the entrepreneur has his way, the Meeker building will not only be the only former hardware store in the country listed on the national register, but it will be the only dance hall located in a former hardware store on the national register.

14. Renovation of a former rental shop into a retail cannabis store at 108 Federal Road (approved/not built)

Look for the citys second retail cannabis location to open at the end of summer on the busy east end. Unlike the hybrid medicinal cannabis and retail location known as The Botanist on the west side that serves both medical patients and adults buying cannabis for recreation, the Federal Road shop known as BUD-R will sell recreational cannabis only. Danbury is the only location in the 10-town region where retail cannabis sales are allowed, under city regulations passed in August. State law provides the cannabis businesses will generate a special 3 percent tax for Danbury.

15. Renovation of former Sears anchor store at Danbury Fair mall into aTarget store (approved/not built)

Target is planning a new entrance plaza and a redesigned parking lot for its new two-level store at the Danbury Fair mall. Targets new 126,000-square-foot store in the former Sears location could open as soon as a year from June.

16. Conversion of the former Crowne Plaza hotel into 'innovation studios at 18 Old Ridgebury Road (proposed)

Developer Dan Bertram wants to convert the 240 hotel rooms at the former west side hotel into 195 innovation studios with three floors of maker space for artists and entrepreneurs. What will that look like? The nonprofit DanburyHackerspace will manage the three floors as creative workspace for entrepreneurs, inventors, artists and start-ups as part of a larger plan to convert upper-level hotel rooms into apartments and micro-studios. Plans for the new venture, called Bright Ravens Innovation Studios, include a machine shop, a wood shop, a computer lab, and fine art studios for photography, video and sound recording, for use by artists, do-it-yourselfers, and prototype builders.

17. Clancy warehouse, 100 Reserve Road (status unclear)

A New York moving company in late April withdrew its controversial plans to locate a 210,000-square-foot warehouse on part of the Summits 100-acre campus. This was the second time the company has pulled its proposal off the table in response to neighbors' objections to its size and potential for truck traffic to degrade the neighborhood. Clancy Moving System's future plans were unclear on Thursday, but a valid wetlands permit the company was awarded last year is still in effect. The company aimed to a build a warehouse, an office-maintenance building, and a 28-foot-wide road crossing a wetland.

Continue reading here:
17 major development projects set to transform Danbury for years - Danbury News Times

Leaving the heavy wooden door cracked at 331 N. Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach is a sure recipe for conversation. Even if its just propped open a few inches, for a few minutes, someone is sure to poke their head in from the sidewalk to peek at the darkened scene inside. Most simply want to know whats going on with all the new construction; others carry a story at their hip, ready to pull at the first opportunity. Absolutely everyone asks the same question, though:

So, are you really bringing back the Royal Hawaiian?

It might be difficult for folks outside of certain hardcore communities to understand the appeal of this light green building set just off the shoreline in the suburban heart of Orange County. For locals, the address is a mainstay, the kind of 100-year-old building that has always been something over the years. People have stories about feeding their kids inside or stopping by for a nightcap on some special sunset evening. For the ravenous fans of Americas colorful tiki and cocktail culture, the Royal Hawaiian is a relic in desperate need of a steward. It may have found just that in new owners Boulevard Hospitality Group, the large nightlife and restaurant outfit that oversees spots like the TCL Chinese Theatre and Yamashiro in Hollywood, Kodo in the LA Arts District, and Comedor in Laguna Beach.

First opened in 1947 by the Philippines-born Francis Cabang and Harold Hal Hanna, two World War II veterans, the Royal Hawaiian was an important hangout for decades for tiki fanatics and families alike. The earliest menus leaned on roasted meats and Japanese-Pacific Islander flavors, weaving in the boozy, semi-sweet cocktails made famous by names like Trader Vic and Donn Beach along the way. While the Royal Hawaiian has shuffled through various new iterations and restart attempts more recently, the property was seen as a glittering jade jewel in Southern Californias tiki crown in its heyday.

Following the 2022 closure of the last iteration of the Royal Hawaiian (a pared-back modern attempt with spare walls and a more muted menu), the space was turned over to Boulevard Hospitality for a complete transformation. Ownership has since brought on the legendary fabricator Ignacio Notch Gonzales, famous for building spaces like Smugglers Cove in San Francisco and Inside Passage in Seattle, to oversee the new-look Royal Hawaiian, and hes been busy. Onlookers who manage a peek inside might find Gonzales darkening the thatched roof strands by hand, or burnishing the bamboo corners that frame out several palapas and dining areas. Seemingly every corner of the 10,000-square-foot space now has a story to tell, some of it made anew and lots of it pulled from the original familys archives. Here the glass blowfish might hang from the ceiling with a flickering light inside, and the antique lamp behind the bar may just wiggle its hula hips when clicked on. There will be totems and masks and other carved ephemera around, with Gonzales and the team trying their best to balance the historical accuracy of the original restaurant with more modern thoughts around cultural erasure and overdue discussions of appropriation.

To round out the new experience, the Royal Hawaiians owners have brought on famed barman Dushan Zaric of Employees Only to build a bespoke cocktail menu that riffs, weaves, and rethinks the rum-forward staples of tiki lore. Jae Hee Lee, the Guam-born chef of Hollywoods Yamashiro, will command an opening menu that includes Korean, Filipino, Japanese, and Chamorro influences. There will be battered and fried shrimp of course, as well as a curry pineapple fried rice and a grilled ribeye. If everything goes according to plan, the Royal Hawaiian should reopen in early summer as a hangout for all, precisely the kind of place where families, tiki obsessives, tourists, and travelers can all coexist just as they did under Cabang and Hannas watch for so many decades.

Hopefully, by early June, customers will be able to stop pulling on the locked front door and simply walk inside the reborn Royal Hawaiian for a night of immersive revelry. It would be a dream re-fulfilled for this historic Laguna Beach address and a promise kept to the original Cabang family, who always hoped that the space could live on as an island-infused home for great hospitality. Plus, if done right under the watchful gaze of Notch Gonzales and Dushan Zaric, there wont be a more complete, compelling tiki bar for many, many miles.

Sign up for our newsletter.

The rest is here:
Royal Hawaiian Orange County to Reopen for Tiki Fans With New ... - Eater LA

RACINE A Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) project team will soon be considering whether to schedule the replacement of the Highway 38 (Northwestern Avenue) bridge over the Root River into a single construction season or spread it out over two years. The work would start in 2024.

Regardless of the decision, motorists on the citys far northwest side will see delays and possibly detours for many months. The six-lane bridge carries more than 25,000 vehicles per day.

The 60-year-old bridge spans the river just downstream from the Horlick Dam. Traffic feeds onto the bridge from County Highway MM and Northwestern Avenue to the west, and from Northwestern Avenue, Rapids Drive and North Green Bay Road to the east.

Tuesday afternoon, about 100 people crowded into a gym at a WisDOT-hosted public input meeting at the Cesar Chavez Community Center, 2221 Douglas Ave., to view easel-mounted aerial photos depicting how traffic patterns would be affected by the project. WisDOT engineers and designers mingled about to take questions.

Visitors were invited to fill out comment forms at the meeting or submit comments online by next Tuesday, May 2. Email: justin.suydam@dot.wi.gov.

Were working on improving traffic flow by adding an extra (westbound) lane on the north side (of the bridge), said Janet Cannon, a WisDOT team member.

The project will also reconfigure the Highway 38 and Rapids Drive intersection, replace the pavement between County Highway MM and Rapids Drive, install new traffic signal equipment at Rapids Drive and add sidewalks and wider shoulders to accommodate bicycles.

The project overview map can be downloaded by clicking the button.

The first alternative would close the bridge to all traffic while the structure is removed and replaced; the new pavement and sidewalks completed, and the traffic signals installed. Traffic would be detoured away from the bridge crossing via Highway 31 and County C (Spring Street).

The reconstruction work would begin in the spring of 2024 and take about a year.

Justin Suydam, WisDOT project manager, said the estimated price tag is about $6 million.

The single construction season alternative for the Highway 38 bridge had originally been in the works with the replacement taking place this year (2023). The project was delayed, however, by the removal of a natural gas line and fiber optic cable lines across the bridge plus objections to the full closure.

In the second alternative, the north side of the bridge would be constructed in the first year (2024) and the bridges south side would be constructed in the second year (2025). The bridge would be restricted to single-lane local traffic in each direction. In addition, some left turns in the area would be prohibited and the lane reductions could cause delays.

Some types of traffic would be sent on alternative routes around the bridge.

Transporting 150-foot bridge girders to the construction site would require temporary roadway closures at times.

In both project timetables, construction within the Root River could not take place during certain times of the year so as not to interfere with spawning trout and salmon.

WisDOTs Suydam said the two-year staged project timeline would add about $2 million to the project bringing the price tag to about $8 million.

Pasquale Infusino, who operates a restaurant and banquet hall on nearby Rapids Drive, was all-in on the two-year option. He presented the WisDOT team with copies of petitions that he said held about 1,500 signatures. The signatures were collected at his business and other area locations over the past several weeks.

Its gonna cripple us just like having another (COVID-19) virus, Infusino told the Racine County Eye. Replacing this bridge half at a time is the way to go. Its still complicated, but it would help us tremendously.

Infusino said from talking with customers he learned that 65% of his traffic comes from the other side of the bridge.

But, Infusino added, the inconvenience isnt borne by just his restaurant.

Youve got school buses that use that bridge. People use it to get back and forth from work. Its just a mess, he said.

Other residents told WisDOT team members of concerns they had about a long-term bridge closure sending additional traffic to other nearby roadways and intersections, such as North Green Bay Road and Four Mile Road in Caledonia.

Maxwell Love, City of Racine communications specialist, attended the Tuesday meeting. He later provided a statement.

The Mayor of Racine heard concerns from local businesses and residents regarding the Highway 38 bridge construction project, the statement read. He requested that the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) reinitiate the community engagement project.

In addition, the statement said that Mayor Cory Mason has spoken with Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson about the bridge project issue and directed various city departments and staff to engage with the process.

The mayor has not suggested a preferred construction alternative, according to the statement.

Suydam said the team will review the public response from Tuesday and submissions received through the May 2 deadline during the next few weeks.

WisDOT plans to hold another public meeting in a month or two to inform residents of its decision and disclose project details.

The Racine County Eye, which includes the Kenosha Lens, is your source for local news that serves our diverse communities. Subscribe today to stay up-to-date with local news.

Follow us on Facebook: Racine County Eye or Kenosha Lens, and Twitter to make sure you get the latest news.

Racine County Eye and Kenosha Lens Journalism that serves.

Like Loading...

View original post here:
Highway 38 bridge project: One year or two? WisDOT weighing ... - Racine County Eye

All Star Catering ownerBrian Medlinrecently opened Opies, a new restaurant on Florida Boulevard serving Louisiana classics.

The restaurant, which opened in early April in the former La Boilers building across from the Bon Carr office park, is a sister business to Medlins existing catering company. Medlin says Opie is his longtime nickname.

A lot of people would see us at events and ask where they could come for a plate lunch, Medlin says. Weve been looking for a good location for a while.

He was attracted to the property because its a corner spotat Florida Boulevard and Croydon Avenueand near the under-constructionRouses. Herelocated his catering companys operationsto Florida Boulevard in 2019.

I believe Florida Boulevard is at a turning point, like Government Street, says Medlin, noting that he owns multiple investment properties along Government Street. I wanted to invest in this area.

The restaurant specializes in boudin, cracklins, fried fish and boiled seafood, but also offers barbecue specials twice a week.

Medlin is in the process of doubling his restaurants staff to keep up with demand.

This story originally appeared in an April 26 issue of Daily Report. To keep up with Baton Rouge business and politics, subscribe to the free Daily Report e-newsletter here.

Read more:
Local caterer opens sister restaurant serving up seafood and ... - 225 Baton Rouge

COLDWATER Road construction season will begin Monday in Coldwater when the Michigan Department of Transportation starts work on U.S. 12 from the city limits east to Western Avenue.

The work on the $2.4 million project will take all summer.

"Traffic will be restricted to a single lane in each direction," said City manager Keith Baker. This is the project that will now bring access across the river on the north side of the bridge and some other aesthetic improvements to the bridge in the immediate area.

Since it is not part of the highway, the manager said the city pays for the additional improvements.

The city will pay to repave Willow Lane into Pilot Knob and the north Oakgrove Cemetery entrance drive. The road on old U.S. 12 by The Willows bar and restaurant will also get new asphalt.

The city will use half of its $1.2 million American Rescue Plan Act grant to fund the citys portion of the U.S. 12 /Coldwater River bridge work.

Prior story City of Coldwater upgrades US-12 road work at Coldwater River bridge

The council awarded two bids for summer road construction. Baker said both bids were around $100,000 lower than estimates.

Thompson Construction Co., LLC of Coldwater was low bid at $532,550 for street milling and repaving from local road funds.

Prior experience with Thompson Construction have been mixed. But there is a difference of $99,554 between the low bid and the next lowest of the four bids, Baker said.

The manager said prior issues were resolved and as part of its standard process, To ensure a quality outcome, the city will be employing a full-time construction inspector through Fishbeck Engineering and utilizing asphalt, concrete and aggregate material testing through SME.

The following streets are slated for work:

One section of repaving, the cut-off on West Pearl Street between US-12 to Jay Street, surprised the council. The council approved closing off Pearl from U.S. 12 and routing traffic to Pearl from Jay Street. The change would slow traffic through the residential area.

We were looking at a grant to maybe realign it and to eliminate this section of street. We werent successful in that grant," Baker said.

The manager said the engineering costs are substantial along with the construction.

The short stretch is one of the worst stretches of street in Coldwater.

"Were addressing immediate concerns," in repaving the cut-off, he said. The elimination project could come in the future.

subscribe Subscribe to the Daily Reporter to learn of public works projects in Coldwater and Branch County.

Reith-Riley of Goshen, Indiana, received the contract for $521,863 to reconstruct Butters Avenue from U.S. 12 south to Race Street.

As the primary entrance to the citys South Industrial Park, a detour is planned utilizing Jay Street to Race Street to redirect traffic around the work zone," Baker said.

For Butters Avenue, the city allocated the remainder of its $1.2 million American Rescue Plan Act grant.

City finance director Tom Eldridge told the council that because of the low bids and interest income, some funds will remain in the ARPA account.

The manager pointed out that the annual sidewalk repair program for the summer is underway. Crews are repairing and replacing sections of sidewalks along U.S. 12, Chicago Street.

---Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DReidTDR

Read the original post:
Coldwater summer road construction starts Monday - Coldwater Daily Reporter

Screen shot from a BTU document.

Bryan city council members learned during their April 19 workshop of changes at Lake Bryan, which is owned by BTU.

BTU general manager Gary Miller said visitors to the lakes restaurant no longer have to pay an admission fee. That is after a second gate was installed.

There is also a new dock ramp.

Later this year, construction is scheduled to start on a new maintenance building.

And Miller says next years goals is to do a master plan at Lake Bryan.

Millers report to the council was followed by a BTU board of directors meeting. A customer operations report during that meeting showed attendance numbers at Lake Bryan during the first six months of the fiscal year. Between October 2022 and March 2023, the number of visitors was down by more than 2,200. Attendance during march was down almost 1,000 compared with the same month last year.

Click below for comments from Gary Miller during the April 19, 2023 Bryan city council workshop meeting.

Read more:
Changes At Lake Bryan Includes No Fee To Go To The Restaurant ... - WTAW

Dive Brief:

After Berkeley, California, became the nations first city to ban natural gas hookups in new buildings in 2019, dozens of local governments followed suit, including New York City in 2021. At the state level, Washington state and California have encouraged new building electrification through building codes,but New York would be the first to do so with a law.

By mid-century, New York aims to reduce planet-warming emissions by 85% compared with 1990 levels. Hochul first voiced support for a gas ban in new construction over a year ago, in January of 2022, but the idea was repeatedly blocked by the Democratic speaker of the state Assembly, Carl Heastie, despite finding support in the state Senate, according to Energywire.

Building all-electric will save New Yorkers moneyon energy bills, reduce climate-heating pollution, create jobs in clean energy, and reduce childhood asthma, a win-win for New Yorkers, said Earthjustice, Food & Water Watch, New York Communities for Change and the New York Public Interest Research Group in a statement on Friday.

Gas bans have faced pushback nationwide, with the gas industry dedicating millions of dollars to fight local building electrification rules.

Last week, Berkeleys landmark ordinance prohibiting gas hookups in new construction was overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, following a lawsuit by the California Restaurant Association arguing the city overstepped federal energy regulations.

That decision was used by New York state Senate Republicans in their arguments against Democratssupport for the new building electrification law, reports The Washington Post. However, the decision only applies in the Ninth Circuit,which comprises Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Guam and the Northern Mariana Island.

In Washington state, opponents of the new building codes are also seeking to overturn them through the legal system, filing a lawsuit in February that argues the Washington State Building Code Council overstepped its authority and didnt account for the costs to homeowners, workers, businesses and developers.

The New York law may face similar opposition. Local governments that pass gas bans should prepare for litigation because the natural gas industry is fighting for its life, said Carra Sahler, staff attorney at Lewis & Clark Law Schools Green Energy Institute,in an interview earlier this week.

More here:
First state law banning gas in new buildings likely to pass in New York - Smart Cities Dive

Healthy and delicious food is an integral part of not only a high-quality life but also a productive working day. As it develops a range of additional services, the Verde office complex has signed an agreement on long-term cooperation with Lauris Aleksejevs, a well-known chef in Latvia. As a result, EUR 600,000 will be invested to open a day restaurant of new concept, Dia 36.line, at the office complex soon.

The new Dia 36.line day restaurant, which will be operating as a cafe and snack bar, will be 537 m2 large and located on the ground floor of the Verde A building. Its design is created by Veronika Novika, adjusting it to the overall architectural style of Verde light premises combined with furniture in natural earthy colors, and of course, very many indoor plants, creating a special urban jungle atmosphere.

Iveta Lce, Verde Commercial Director: An A class office is unthinkable without an excellent caterer, and this is exactly what Dia 36.line restaurant will be. We are hopeful that it will be popular not just with our tenants, but also with residents of the Skanste neighborhood and Rigas quiet center.

Dia 36.line is scheduled to open already this summer. The restaurants daily menu will be dominated by seasonal products, including fish, meat, fruit, berries, and vegetables, with special attention paid to making nutritious meals for vegetarians and vegans.

Lauris Aleksejevs, owner and Chef of the 36. lnija restaurant: The decision to open the new Dia 36.line restaurant at Verde, the most advanced office complex to date, has been carefully weighed over a longer period of time. We have been working hard to develop its concept by combining all cutting-edge elements sustainable nutrition trends, tasty recipes, high quality service and modern design. We are looking forward to the restaurants opening as we are ready to not only cater to a couple thousand Verde employees every working day but to also serve food and drinks on the spacious 5th-floor terrace which offers a charming view on the quiet center.

As previously reported, Verde is the first project implemented by Capitalica Asset Management in Latvia, which invested more than EUR 65 million in the development of the project. The manager of the construction process is Notus Developers, a subsidiary of SBA Group, the general builder is construction company Velve, and the exclusive rent and management partner is the leading Latvian real estate agency Colliers. To date, such companies as Swisscom, Decta, KPMG in Latvia, Swetch, Merito Group, Workland, Enefit, VIA SMS Group, Tietoevry and Dia 36.line have become tenants of the office complex.

About Verde

Verde (www.Verde.lv) will be the greenest A-class office complex at the Skanstes area in Riga (R.Hira Street 1a), the place opposite the Latvian Fire Fighting Museum, and the only A-class office complex the first stage of which will be commissioned in June 2022. The Verde office complex comprises two office buildings with a total leasable area of 30 000 m2 (45 000 m2 together with underground parking area). Verde has been developed in line with BREEAM Excellent and the nZEB (nearly Zero Energy Building) standards. The special feature of Verde will be incomparable greenery on 600 m2 large terraces with trees and plants on each of the buildings and green outdoor workspaces in the yard. In the competition "Sustainability in Architecture, Construction and Design 2020", Verde was ranked among the most sustainable projects, and at the BREL Forum 2022, Verde was voted Project of the Year both by the jury and people. Verde embodies its green thinking in a sustainable and contemporary architectural solution designed by Latvian architects Andris Kronbergs and Janis Zvejnieks (ARHIS Architects), applying Class A energy efficiency and smart building management solutions.

About Capitalica Asset Management and SBA Group

Capitalica Asset Management (www.capitalica.lt) is an investment management company licensed and supervised by the Central bank of Lithuania and is managing investment funds investing in commercial real estate in the Baltic States. Capitalica Baltic Real Estate Fund I, managed by Capitalica Asset Management, owns office complex Verde in Riga, the business center 135 in Vilnius, the business center Kauno Dokas in Kaunas, and the shopping center Luiz in Klaipda. Capitalica Z114 Real Estate Fund currently manages an office a warehouse complex and plans to develop a new A class business center on algiris Street in Vilnius. Capitalica Green Logistics Fund owns 4 logistics complexes two in Tallinn, and two in Riga. The controlling stake (70%) of Capitalica Asset Management is held by SBA Group, one of the largest Lithuanian business groups, and another 30% is owned by A. Bartys' (CEO of Capitalica Asset Management) company Fox Holdings.

SBA is one of the largest Lithuanian capital multi-business groups, operating in real estate, investment management, as well as furniture and textile manufacturing. The group employs around 5,000 people in the Baltics. Consolidated sales in 2021 amounted to EUR 404.6 million. SBA Group develops a high-tech village on Lielirbes Street in Riga, as well as a residential quarter on akstes Street.

More:
Chef Lauris Aleksejevs to open the new Dia 36.line restaurant at the ... - Baltic Times

A new hotel called The Junto is preparing to open in Franklinton, marking a key moment in the $250 million development called The Peninsula.

With 198 rooms, a coffee shop, a bar, two restaurants, a walkup food window and multiple event and meeting spaces, The Junto is designed to be the beating heart of the Peninsula's first phase.

Which helps explain the hotel's unusual name. No, it does not refer to a military takeover of Franklinton (that would be "junta"). Instead, Junto, pronounced "joon-tow," refers to a club founded by Ben Franklin in 1727 to gather people to improve society.

To encourage them on that mission today, all guests will find in their rooms the book "No Idea is Final," a 400-page collection of quotes from the online interview magazine "The Talks."

The Junto offers a variety of spaces to try out the quotes including:

The Junto also has empty space designed for a second restaurant to lease. With the exception of that space and Little West Tavern, all dining and drinking spots are expected to be ready when The Junto opens in time for Memorial Day.

More: 8 things to know about the Hilton's new tower in downtown Columbus

In addition, The Junto includes nearly 14,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including a ballroom with a dedicated kitchen that can seat 180 for dinner.

Other hotel amenities include a gym, patio, working spaces and the "Gear Garage," where hotel guests can borrow toys for the day including bicycles, kayaks, paddleboards, instant cameras, backpacks and GoPro video cameras.

Rooms come in 13 variations, including standard king rooms starting at $279 a night, multiple suite variations (including one layout with bunk beds) and a 1,200-square-foot one-bedroom apartment that rents for up to $2,000 a night. Many rooms come with a window seat large enough to double as a child's bed.

The Junto is an independent hotel developed by Columbus-based Rockbridge, under the company's Makeready division. This is Makeready's first Columbus hotel, following hotels in Savannah, Charleston, Nashville, Denver and Dallas. The company is planning a second hotel in the Merchant Building underway next to the North Market.

The Junto hopes to capitalize on a rebound in the hospitality industry, which was crushed during the early stages of the COVID pandemic, said Jason Delcamp, a former manager of Makeready's Denver hotel who moved to Columbus to become general manager of The Junto.

"Traditional business travel is still slow to come back," he said. "But group business has come back for sure, and leisure travel is strong. This is built for a leisure-style travel, so that's great for us."

The Junto will be one of six buildings to open in the first phase of The Peninsula, a 26-acre development next to COSI on the west side of the Scioto River. Ultimately, the project could include up to 2 million square feet of offices, 1,800 residences, 200,000 square feet of retail space and 400 hotel rooms.

So far, in addition to The Junto, the Peninsula includes:

Even though tenants have started moving into the offices and apartments, The Peninsula still has the feel of a construction site. Those involved in the project say they hope The Junto, and a summer of events planned at Dorrian Green park across the street from The Peninsula, will kick the development into gear.

"When The Junto opens, that's the heart of phase one and it will feel that way to the rest of the community," said Amy Taylor, president of the Downtown Development Corporation, which assembled the land for The Peninsula. "You come to the apartments if you live there, and you come to the offices to work. But The Junto is where youll come if youre just in the community."

Taylor is hopeful that the opening of The Junto and the apartment complex will also help developers lure tenants to the empty retail and restaurant spots remaining in the ground floor of the hotel, apartment and office buildings.

"We're working to find tenants for those spaces," she said.

Plans were announced for a 30-story office and residential tower on the corner of W. Broad and Belle streets in a $211 million second phase. Originally expected to start in 2022, the tower is now on hold, in the hopes of receiving a $21 million state tax credit.

"We're still in discussions with the developers and hope to have an announcement soon," Taylor said.

jweiker@dispatch.com

@JimWeiker

More:
Junto hotel hopes to be the heart of Franklinton's $250 million ... - The Columbus Dispatch

More pizza options are coming to Monument, with word that a brand new Pizza Hut location is currently under construction at 15932 Jackson Creek Pkwy, Suite F. The space is in a shopping plaza with other popular retailers like Supercuts, RE/MAX, and Rodolfos Mexican Grill.

Opt out at anytime

This is the citys first location of the chain, and is being opened by Grand Mere Restaurant Group, a Pizza Hut franchisee with more than 130 stores in nine states. Grand Mere Restaurant Group. MonicaSmith, vice president of real estate for the group, told What Now Denver that the spot should be expected to open in June.

Construction on the space started about three months ago, and the Pizza Hut sign went up in March. It is a traditional Pizza Hut Delco model, which is a carryout and delivery concept only. There will be no dine-in seating available at the Monument store.

The chain has been focusing heavily on its Delco stores and shying away from a sit-down dining space in recent years. Its the largest pizza company on the planet, with more than 19,000 locations worldwide.

Read this article:
A New Pizza Hut is Under Construction in Monument - What Now Denver