Imagine an amphitheater surrounded by a perfect circle of water ringed by palm trees planted right at the doorstep of Jacksonvilles downtown. Theres a seven-story apartment complex and 18,000 square feet of retail space.

Think about what it could do to jump-start a sluggish downtown.

Alex Coley has. He started planning 220 Riverside about 10 years ago. Its an ambitious plan that combines residential multifamily housing with retail space and a community area.

One of two founders behind the development company NAI Hallmark Partners, Coley was one of the speakers at the groundbreaking for Unity Plaza Sunday night.

There will be kiosks around the man-made pond, and there are also plans for mini libraries where people can pick up a book and read in the shade, he said. The half park, half amphitheater has a capacity for 2,000 people.

Coley sees Unity Plaza as connecting downtown to the neighborhoods that surround it.

The notion is its a place where we can kick off our shoes and all be comfortable to recognize one another and coalesce as a community in a way that we have never been able to do in the past, he said.

Mayor Alvin Brown also spoke at the groundbreaking. Hes been a champion of the project and said hes excited to see it progress.

What is happening here is a team effort and it shows what can happen when the public and private sectors work together, Brown said.

The city in December provided about $2.6 million in funds for construction of Unity Plaza. Total construction cost of the 220 Riverside project is more than $30 million.

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Project to revitalize Jacksonville's downtown another step closer

Caf to open in northSpokane

Sonia Schumacher will open Ephata Caf, Juice and Java in 1,040 square feet of retail space at 1908 W. Northwest Blvd. in northSpokane.

Following improvements to the building, Ephata Caf expects to open inJune.

The landlord and property owner is 1908 NWB LLC, which paid $390,000 for theproperty lastyear.

Nick Brumback of Brumback Commercial Real Estate, along with Colin Conway of Kiemle & Hagood and Kevin Edwards of Hawkins Edwards brokered thedeal.

Annette Silver, who has leased space in downtown Spokane for her business

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Sonia Schumacher will open Ephata Caf, Juice and Java in 1,040 square feet of retail space at 1908 W. Northwest Blvd. in northSpokane.

Following improvements to the building, Ephata Caf expects to open inJune.

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The Dirt - Sun, 30 Mar 2014 PST

Fox Point-based real estate development firm General Capital Group plans to build a mixed-use development along Oakland Avenue in Shorewood with an 80,000-square-foot Roundy's Metro Market grocery store, 80 upscale apartments and 15,000 square feet of additional retail space.

The development is planned for two blocks on the west side of Oakland Avenue between Kenmore Place and Olive Street. It would replace the current Pick 'n Save grocery store there and the vacant former Schwartz book store and Walgreens buildings.

The Metro Market store will be the first phase of the development and is expected to be complete in the fall of 2015. It will be a two-level grocery store and will be the flagship for Roundy's Metro Market stores. Parking will be available for shoppers with 360 spaces on four levels.

The second phase of the project will be a mixed-use building with 80 upscale apartments and 15,000 square feet of retail space. Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2015 and be complete in 2016.

Oakland Avenue in Shorewood has attracted several multi-story mixed-use developments in recent years, including Mandel Group's LightHorse 4041 development, and WiRED Properties' Ravenna and Cornerstone developments. All of those projects have apartments above first floor retail space.

"(General Capital Group's) development is another example of Shorewood's vibrant growth and ability to successfully blend its residential and commercial district landscape," said Shorewood Village President Guy Johnson. "We are fortunate to have such an experienced team working together to make these plans a reality."

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Mixed-use development anchored by Metro Market planned in Shorewood

Century Properties Group, Inc. has opened Century City Mall, the listed property firms first retail development within the master-planned development Century City in Kalayaan Avenue, Makati.

This retail development, with a construction cost of P1.4-billion, is the newest mall to open in Makati City in close to 10 years, and is called the Mall of Modern Makati for its unique architecture and good mix of Filipino and global retail and dining establishments.

Century City Mall serves as an exciting new complement to the current retail centers in Makati City. The general reception during our soft launch last month showed that people are very much open to new retail concepts and are excited to see a public space that is architecturally distinct, said Mr. Graham Coates, the General Manager of Century City Mall.

At the malls ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, Coates was joined by Century Properties Chairman Jose E.B. Antonio and wife Ms. Hilda Reyes Antonio, Chief Operating Officer Marco R. Antonio, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay, Jr. and Rep. Monique Lagdameo of the First District of Makati.

Century City Mall is one of four developments that Century Properties has scheduled for completion in 2014, along with the recently-turned over St. Tropez tower and Paris Beach Club at the Azure Urban Resort Residences in Paraaque City, and Centuria Medical Makati, which will be completed by the end of the year.

Century City Mall is a key addition to the companys 3.4-hectare master-planned Makati development, Century City, which is home to Century Properties upscale high-rise residential and office structures the Gramercy Residences, Knightsbridge Residences, Milano Residences, Trump Tower, Century Spire, Forbes Media Tower, and the IT-medical outpatient building Centuria Medical Makati.

The five-level lifestyle center has a gross floor area of 50,000 square meters and 17,000 square meters of net leasable space, of which 99% has been leased out.

Century City Mall forms part of Century Properties pipeline of projects that are expected to transform the Company from being a premiere residential developer to a more diversified property company that will have significant recurring revenue streams in the near to mid-term.

Century City Mall is accessible via Kalayaan Avenue near the corner of Salamanca Street, as well as General Luna Street coming from Makati Avenue (near A Venue). Valet services are available and three basement floors are open for visitors parking.

Free Wi-Fi service is available throughout the mall.

Original post:
Century City Mall in Makati opens

Plans for the empty building at 10 Front Street include splitting the space into multiple retail, office and residential spaces.

image credit: Megan Hansen photo

Plans for Front Streets only vacant building could breathe new life into the historic structure and offer multiple retail and office spaces in the commercial district.

Proposed changes to the old Mad Crab building, owned by Thom Kroon, include a mixed use of retail, office and residential space.

Kroons proposal calls for the creation of four spaces on the street level floor, two retail and two retail/office spaces. The floor below street level, which was once a bar, is proposed to be turned into two spaces, one residential and one undetermined use, said Coupeville Town Planner Bridget Smith. An attic space on the third level is also proposed to be turned into a residential space.

The project has been informally presented to the Historic Preservation Commission, but will be presented formally in April.

Smith said the next meeting of the HPC is Thursday, April 24, but if a meeting is called earlier she will present the proposal then.

Former Coupeville Town Planner Larry Kwarsick is serving as the applicant agent on the project.

He said in addition to getting approved by the HPC, the project must also obtain a shoreline substantial development permit.

There is no expansion of the building footprint or height being proposed, Kwarsick said, and the project does come with a new stairway to the beach that will be available for the public.

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Plan in works for Front St. building

Douthit Hills and Core Campus

New construction awaits state approval.

Clemson University recently announced plans to provide new housing and dining options through new construction at Douthit Hills and Core Campus; the project, pending state approval, will begin in fall of 2014 with the replacement of historic Johnstone Hall and the addition of upper-classmen and Bridge student housing options.

These plans were first introduced in 2008 with the development of a 20 year Housing Master Plan, with Douthit Hills and Core Campus designated as the first construction projects.

Douthit Hills is planned to provide apartment-style living for upperclassmen and more traditional dorm options for Bridge to Clemson students in the area behind Clemson House; it will also potentially include new dining options, retail space and the bookstore, relocated from its current home in the Hendrix Student Center.

Core Campus, an area geared toward underclassmen, will also receive new housing and dining options, specifically new construction to replace Harcombe Dining Hall and Johnstone Hall. According to University Housing and Dining, a current lack of funds has prevented plans to replace the Edgar Allen Brown University Union.

University Housing and Dining spearheaded the project, with support from university administrators, consultants, and Campus Planning and Design. Joy Moss, director of business operations for Housing and Dining, reports, University Housing has been at the center of these projects and continues to provide direction and momentum to see these projects for life.

Clemson University Student Government has also played a role in the project, with former Undergraduate Student Body President Kayley Seawright encouraging students to tweet the hashtag #ClemsonNeeds in order to show their support for the new renovations and construction.

Underclassmen students, many of whom will be on campus for the construction and completion of the new buildings, look forward to their new housing and dining options. Freshman microbiology major Courtney Hundsinki says in reference to the future hoptions at Douthit Hills, I like the idea, I like that its so close on campus. I mean its basically like Daniel Square, where its off campus but youre still so close you can walk home from game days and everything. I think Ill definitely consider it.

Many graduating upperclassmen also agree about the benefits of the project. Senior computer science and English double major Jeff Kinnison jokes, Honestly, Im a little annoyed, because how dare they improve campus after Im gone ... But really, its good that theyre actually doing stuff to make the campus better for future generations of Tigers.

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Douthit Hills and Core Campus

A supermarket, hotel, offices, restaurants, retail shops and outdoor gathering spots are part of the Newbury Market plan approved by South Fayette commissioners.

Board members voted March 19 to pave the way for construction of the long-awaited commercial center, scheduled to open in late 2015.

I look forward to watching these plans turn into reality, board President Joseph Horowitz said. Newbury Market will be a great asset for South Fayette. The design of the market is so different from other shopping areas in the region.

The site plan covering the first of three development phases includes about 50 acres and 340,000 square feet of commercial space near the Bridgeville interchange of Interstate 79.

Plans include a Giant Eagle grocery store, a Courtyard by Marriott hotel, two office buildings, five large retail stores and a pedestrian-friendly town center containing seven buildings of shops and restaurants.

Designed to be the focal point of Newbury Market, the Main Street-style town center features a concert plaza, a small park, a water-play area for children, outdoor seating and broad sidewalks.

Township engineer Mike Benton expected grading and utility work at Newbury Market to continue this summer, and construction of buildings to begin before the end of the year.

Following site plan approval, Newbury must start some type of construction within a year or seek a renewal, he said.

The developer is EQA Landmark Communities/Newbury Development Associates LP, represented by project manager Eric Newhouse and president Brett Malky.

The main entrance will be a driveway with a traffic signal at Route 50/Millers Run Road, across from the township-owned Star City Cinemas site and the $20.5 million pediatric center being built by Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

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Newbury Market wins approval in South Fayette

A mixed-use project is being proposed for the former site of a Super Save gas station on the northwest corner of Hastings Street and Madison Avenue.

Citimark-Omicron Madison Project Ltd. is seeking a rezoning to redevelop the vacant lot at 4295 Hastings St. to include retail space at ground level with three-and-a-half storeys of apartments above.

The design approach will be similar to one used in the Vancity development on the southeast corner of the intersection, said a city staff report.

In that case, it looks like a four-storey building from Hastings with a double-height commercial space at ground level below three levels of residential.

But from the rear lane, it appears as a five-storey structure, with four levels of residential above one level of commercial.

Meanwhile, the developers of a project at the southeast corner of Hastings and Gamma Avenue are applying for a second rezoning on its site.

Back in October 2012, Burnaby council gave final approvals to a rezoning of 418 Gamma Ave. to allow construction of a four-storey, mixed-use project. The building, on a triangular-shaped lot, was to include retail on the ground level, offices on the second floor and apartments on the third and fourth floors.

But Epta Properties has not built the project "due in large part to the difficulties the developer has had leasing or selling the office space in the previously approved development form," said a city staff report. "The office component is further challenged by the sites' irregular geometry."

Epta now wants to redesign the building to remove the office component, and go instead with one floor of retail underneath three storeys of residential.

The city's planning and building department will work with the applications to prepare development plans suitable for presentation to public hearings in the future.

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More change proposed for Hastings

The city of Bellevue has granted Best Buy conditional approval to remodel its storefront to may way for the ongoing Northeast Fourth Street extension project and recover lost retail and parking space.

A new five-lane arterial Northeast Fourth is planned to cut through the south end of the Best Buy store and parking lot during Phase Two of the project, slated to start in 2015 with the entire roadway opened by fall 2016.

The city is exercising eminent domain to run its transportation project through a portion of the Best Buy store, however, the retail company had also filed suit over the city's actions.

The Northeast Fourth extension, from where it ends at 116th Avenue Northeast to 120th Avenue Northeast, is part of several projects to improve mobility between downtown Bellevue, the Bel-Red corridor and Overlake area.

Best Buy will demolish 11,021 square feet of retail space on the south side of its Bellevue store and add 9,964 square feet to its north side. The store will add a single-story parking garage on its east side to accommodate up to 226 vehicles.

Phase One construction included condemnation of portions of other properties, which has been completed. Construction for Phase One of the project is anticipated to continue through 2014.

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Best Buy granted remodel, garage construction

SHANGHAI today unveiled its first luxury outlet project near the Shanghai Disney Resort thats opening in 2015, and said it will include some 50,000 square meters of retail and restaurant space.

The project, named Shanghai Village, will be next to the Disney resort in the Pudong New Area and 12 kilometers from the districts international airport.

Its a joint venture between the European outlet operator Value Retail and the Shanghai Shendi Group, who signed an agreement today.

The village will be home to over 100 international fashion brands, and some 80 percent will be first-tier luxury brands, officials said. At least 10 international fashion brands will open flagship stores at the outlet.

Construction will begin soon on the outlet in the Shanghai International Tourism Resort Zone.

Value Retail built La Vallee Village outlet near the Disneyland in Paris in 1999, and the Shanghai project will use the experience gained to benefit the Shanghai project, said Scott Malkin, chairman of Value Retail.

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City unveils first luxury outlet near Disneyland -Eastday