DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/m23w88/intellinews_bulg) has announced the addition of the "Intellinews - Bulgaria Construction And Real Estate Report - 2012" report to their offering.

The IntelliNews Bulgaria Construction and Real Estate Sector Report offers an extensive summary of the most recent topics related to the Bulgarian construction market, segmented into residential, office, industrial and retail space, as well as construction materials. It includes a complete coverage of the latest market developments and news, accompanied by thorough statistics and comments. The report pays particular attention to new development projects and investment inflows in the sector. This sector report is ideal to keep you abreast on recent company and industry news. Written by local professionals, it is a unique market and business intelligence analysis, tailored to save time by providing in-depth information, while helping you to make confident and informed business decisions.

The available data provide a mixed picture for the construction and real estate sectors in Bulgaria.

On macroeconomic level, IMF made a new downward revision of its forecast for the economic growth in the country in 2012. In addition, the data showed poor Jan-Feb performance of key economic variables such as retail trade turnover, exports, industrial production and unemployment. Construction output has not managed to return to sustained positive annual growth yet, and the business climate indicator in the sector deteriorated in February and March. The prices of dwellings monitored by the statistics office continued to fall last year.

On the other hand, annual growth of new building permits has been positive and accelerating throughout 2011, and the new buildings' construction starts have been rising as well. Notably, foreign direct investment in the real estate sector nearly doubled on the year in Jan-Feb, although it is still far below the pre-crisis levels. The sector stock index BG REIT has posted impressive growth ytd and the agricultural land market had very strong performance in 2011...

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/m23w88/intellinews_bulg

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Research and Markets: Intellinews - Bulgaria Construction And Real Estate Report - 2012

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photo courtesy of city planning board Above is a rendering of the proposed development by the Dickinson Development Corp. at the old Fairhaven Mills site. The existing Market Basket is seen in the background, while the proposed retail building is shown in the foreground with a Taco Bell at right. The existing mill structure is shown at left.

By NATALIE SHERMAN

June 08, 2012 12:05 AM

NEW BEDFORD A Taco Bell and 1-story retail space has been proposed for several sites at Riverside Landing, a prime development spot near the Acushnet River that city officials have been trying to remake for more than half a decade.

The Dickinson Development Corp. plans for the old Fairhaven Mills block come after two years without construction in the plaza, where a popular Market Basket opened in 2010 after the controversial demolition of the historic mill.

The proposal, which goes before the Planning Board Wednesday, shows an 11,723-square-foot retail building on Coggeshall Street with space for six offices, including a Verizon. A smaller, 2,600-square-foot Taco Bell franchise situated slightly to the north would include a drive-through.

The plans, which would add buildings to a strip that already includes a McDonald's, a privately owned mill structure and a 7-Eleven, are in line with what Dickinson put forward in 2007 when the city agreed to sell its portion of the 14-acre property to the Quincy firm, said acting City Planner Jill Maclean.

"This is more or less what they proposed from the beginning," Maclean said. She said the design also reserves green space for the display of public art, likely a sculpture.

"That corner will be a very attractive gateway into what is a very, very highly visible development in the city," New Bedford Economic Development Council Director Matthew Morrissey said, adding that the new businesses should add at least 60 jobs to the area.

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Developer proposes Taco Bell, retail for Fairhaven Mills site

Beleaguered construction mogul Dan Catalfumo is fending off a fresh set of real estate woes: The company he heads defaulted on its mortgage at Ocean Mall, Riviera Beachs economic crown jewel. Catalfumos company, which rents Ocean Mall from the city, also missed its annual lease payment to Riviera Beach.

And the city doesnt just want its estimated $20,000 in lease money. Theres talk of dumping the highly contentious six-year-old lease and taking the property back.

The lease the city got into with Catalfumo is a very bad lease which did not favor the city, said Riviera Beach City Council member Dawn Pardo.

This is a great opportunity to get the lease back and do it right this time.

Catalfumo did not respond to requests for comment.

The mortgage and lease payment default are the latest in a series of multimillion-dollar setbacks for the builder, whose commercial construction empire is buckling under the weight of a string of lawsuits.

In total, Catalfumo has been hit with lender suits seeking $100 million-plus in the past 2 1/2 years, several of them naming the builder personally.

Its a sharp fall from grace for Catalfumo, easily the best-known - and most controversial - builder in Palm Beach County. The Port of Palm Beach and the West Palm Beach waterfront bear the Catalfumo imprint; so do several other landmark buildings. But along the way, he has left a trail of high-profile lawsuits against everyone from ex-fiancees to spurned business partners. As construction business has declined, his business interests have turned to specialty scooters and a boneless chicken wing operation.

Most recently, BankAtlantic won a $40.9 million judgment against Catalfumo companies. Prior to that, Seacoast National Bank secured a $32.6 million judgment against a Catalfumo company and foreclosed on its prime property at PGA Boulevard and Interstate 95.

The Ocean Mall mortgage default comes after Catalfumo borrowed millions to construct the ocean-side complex, which called for a hotel, retail outlets and community beach space. Lender Branch Banking & Trust last year transferred $11 million left on the loan to another company, GSF Trust. GSF contends it is owed a total $11.3 million for the defaulted loan.

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Construction king Catalfumo defaults on Ocean Mall mortgage

Thursday, June 7, 2012 9:43 PM EDT

By Steve Collins Staff Writer

BRISTOL The amount of retail space called for in the revitalization plan for the former mall site is only half of what a Long Island-based developer figured it would be last year.

Instead of having 150,000 square feet of retail space, the new plan before the citys Zoning Commission would create 73,000 square feet for shops and restaurants.

But Ryan Porter, the project manager for Renaissance Downtowns, said Thursday the change makes sense for Bristol.

He said the existing downtown regulations, which Renaissance helped create, require that all ground floor space in every building be dedicated to retail establishments.

If Renaissance were to follow the dictate to the letter, Porter said, it would have to build hundreds of thousands of square feet of retail space on the 17-acre former mall site, most of it with little commercial appeal.

Thats way too much, said city Councilor Henri Martin. It has to be cut back, he said, in order to work at all.

Porter said Renaissance is aiming to make sure all of the ground floor space facing Riverside Avenue, Main or North Main streets house retail shops and restaurants.

There would also be retail facing the piazza slated for construction as part of the first construction phase, which may begin next spring.

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Retail re-vision: Renaissance reduces plans for shops and restaurants by half

by KING 5 News

KING5.com

Posted on June 6, 2012 at 1:28 PM

Updated yesterday at 2:48 PM

SEATTLE -- Two of the SODO neighborhood's largest developers plan to build two new high-rise towers in the second phase of Stadium Place, the urban development project just north of CenturyLink Field, and hope to begin construction by summer of 2013.

Daniels Real Estate and American Life Inc. unveiled plans for Stadium Place East in the Pioneer Square neighborhood. The development will complement Stadium Place West, currently under construction, and will be located next to the regional transit hub at King Street Station.

The new development will include two towers with a 23-story 278-room conference hotel, ballroom, health club, 16,000-square feet of retail space, 14,000-square feet of restaurant space and 376 parking stalls. A 170,000-square-foot office tower will be added later. (more below)

When the King County Council approves the final agreements on parking and the affordable housing components later this summer, developers say construction can begin in summer of 2013; early phases of the project are expected to be complete by early 2015.

City and county officials, along with community members, have been working on redeveloping the site for years and say the ambitious urban development project was critical for revitalizing Pioneer Square.

"We heard the residents and business-owners of Pioneer Square when they told us that the Stadium Place project was crucial to the well-being of the neighborhood. This announcement brings the full development together, serving as an example of how neighborhood, government and a development team can work together to ensure that urban places are lively, livable and viable," King County Councilmember Joe McDermott said in a released statement.

Link:
2 high-rises to take over parking lot near CenturyLink Field

TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) Construction crews are putting the finishing touches on the University of Toledo's new Dorr Street Gateway Project. When completed, the development will feature student housing above retail stores including Barnes and Noble, Starbucks, Verizon Wireless, Gradkowski's Sports Grill, Great Clips, Jimmy John's, Yogurt U and a sushi/rice bowl restaurant called Rice Boulevard.

"[It is] very exciting, not only for the university, but for the rest of the community. What we're really trying to do here is not only transform the intersection of Dorr and Secor, but really transform how the university and the community interact," said Matt Schroeder of the UT Foundation.

All of the businesses at the Gateway development will be open to the public, which Schroeder says will encourage community members to mingle with students and other members of the UT community.

Barnes and Noble is expected to open in July, with the other businesses opening a few at a time after that.

Copyright 2012 Toledo News Now. All rights reserved.

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Construction nears completion on UT’s Gateway project

The alms Shopping Plaza

The Palms at Town and Country celebrates new beginnings as the center announces new restaurants coming to its retail mix. Sweet Tomatoes, Corner Bakery and Devon Seafood Grill will be located in the Lifestyle Center at The Palms.

In addition, Outback Steakhouse is relocating into a new space next to Corner Bakery and will debut its new digs in December. Outback Steakhouse will remain open in its current location until the move.

As one of only two new developments under construction in all of Miami-Dade County, The Palms at Town and Country is referred to as the new Downtown Kendall. This destination brings the local flavor of Miami together with an unmatched depth of retail options to South Florida.

Bringing in restaurants such as Sweet Tomatoes, Corner Bakery and Devon Seafood Grill is what makes The Palms at Town and Country stand out as a destination for families and entertainment, said Joy Medlock, The Palms general manager.

Sweet Tomatoes: Scheduled to open in mid-June, the 5,434-square-foot Sweet Tomatoes will be located next to Hagen- Dazs. Celebrating over 30 years, Sweet Tomatoes was founded in 1978 in San Diego and currently operates 124 salad buffet-style restaurants across the western, southern and eastern portions of the United States.

Sweet Tomatoes has a daily selection of made-from-scratch soups and salads and hand-crafted muffins, focaccia, breads and tasty desserts. The restaurant concept is built around fresh prepared, great-tasting recipes with a salad bar full of seasonal vegetables and tossed salads prepared exhibition-style every 20 minutes.

Sweet Tomatoes is open daily for lunch and dinner and also for a special Sunday Breakfast that features a variety of delicious morning favorites in addition to regular selections.

Corner Bakery: Opening in spring 2013, Corner Bakery will be located in a 4,046- square-foot space near Hagen-Dazs. Corner Bakery Cafe is a fast-casual restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Founded on a philosophy of creating a place for people to relax and gather with family and friends, Corner Bakery features innovative, seasonal menu options while delivering a premier bakery cafe experience in the heart of neighborhoods everywhere.

Continue reading here:
The Palms at Town and Country to add trio of new restaurants

Posted on June 5, 2012, Tuesday

ON TRACK: Photo shows an artists impression of the pedestrian sky bridge across the terminals. KLIA2, the new LCCT in Sepang is on track for full operations by April 2013.

KUALA LUMPUR: KLIA2, the new Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang is on track for full operations by April 2013, OSK Research said.

In a research note yesterday, it said with the construction now 51.78 per cent complete, the project was 89.9 days ahead of its original works schedule.

This will provide room for the its existing operations to make the transition to the new terminal, it said.

The research house said for the first time, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) had organised a site visit for the investment community to witness the progress of construction at KLIA2.

We note that the upcoming KLIA2, which will be the worlds largest low cost carrier terminal with an annual capacity to handle 45 million passengers, is designed with the flexibility to accommodate future growth and expansion, it said.

It added that KLIA2 would offer retail space of close to four times that in the current LCCT, and the revenue to be potentially chalked up might amount an additional RM120 million, at the very least.

The response from retailers had been overwhelming, with over 700 applicants eyeing the 225 outlets up for rental.

We see MAHB generating strong cash flow not only from the rising demand for travel but also from the development of townships near KLIA.

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KLIA2 on track operate by April 2013, construction in progress

Suffolk Downs unveiled its plans Tuesday to team up with Caesars Entertainment on a $1 billion casino development on the site of the aging, 1935 horse track, revealing a development plan that includes retail shops, nightclubs and a luxury spa that proponents said would create 2,500 construction jobs and 4,000 resort jobs for local residents.

The hopeful developers of the seaside race course in East Boston and Revere, who enjoy the backing of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, are competing for the eastern regions lone casino license against another proposal to locate a casino resort on a larger tract of forest in Milford next to Interstate 495.

The plan calls for up to 5,000 slot machines and 200 table games in 200,000 square feet of gaming space that developers said would generate an estimated $200 million in annual tax revenue and $150 million a year in annual spending at regional vendors.

Project officials also listed members of their development team, including architect Elkus Manfredi of Boston, general contractor Suffolk Construction of Boston, transportation specialists Vanasse Hangen Brustlin of Boston and Seagull Consulting of Winthrop, and engineers Haley & Aldrich of Boston, Nitsch Engineering of Boston, and McNamara/Salvia Inc. of Boston.

Meanwhile, the developer of the proposed Crossroads Casino in Milford has allegedly not met with the towns administrator since before the actual signing of the gaming law in November 2011.

The Board of Selectmen is waiting to hear an actual, definite proposal. To this day they havent had anything to weigh, Milford Town Administrator Louis Celozzi told the News Service. We just havent gotten to that point.

Crossroads developer David Nunes, a Bolton native who now lives in Colorado, disputed Celozzis take, writing in response to an email that he is in constant touch with the community and its officials. Earlier on Tuesday, Nunes told the News Service that his proposal was the first to secure an exclusivity agreement with the host community, a step Celozzi discounted as minor.

Its not that weve been inundated with proposals, Celozzi said.

Two of the three selectmen in Milford had different levels of optimism about the proposal, but both said they had not spoken with Nunes in nine months to a year.

Im questioning the seriousness of the proposal at this point, Selectman William D. Buckley said.

Original post:
Suffolk Downs offers casino proposal; Milford rival stands by plan

A public hearing lasting more than three hours Monday was still not enough for the Cupertino City Council to come to a decision on an apartment complex project slated for the corner of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Blaney Avenue.

A majority council's desire to see more retail and fewer apartment units is sending Prometheus, a San Mateo-based real estate and property management group, back to the drawing board.

The project as of now would see the demolition of a number of retail shops and restaurants at Blaney Plaza. Prometheus is seeking permission to demolish approximately 21,000 square feet of existing commercial space and construct a mixed-use project consisting of roughly 80 apartment units and a new 7,000-square-foot commercial building.

Construction will likely mean the bulldozing of nearby businesses such as Chili's Grill and Bar, Shan Restaurant and a number of retail shops in the rear of the property. A number of the retail pads date back to the 1960s and '70s.

Current businesses at Blaney Plaza include M&M Food Mart, Out of the Blue Consignment, Pinky Nail Spa, Ernie's Barber Shop and a cleaners. The Village Falafel is the only retail pad that was not acquired and will remain standing.

The loss of retail was a sore spot for residents and members of the council, who requested that Prometheus meet with city staff again to find a way to add more parking and more retail, while lowering the number of apartment units

"I want to see retail that works here, and I think parking is important to making it work," mayor Mark Santoro said.

As proposed, the project would see a 7,000-square-foot commercial building built along Stevens Creek Boulevard, with about half of the retail space going toward some kind of dining establishment.

Prometheus acquired the property at 20300 Stevens Creek Blvd. with plans to build apartments that will align with the already established Biltmore Apartments on S. Blaney Avenue. The project would add an additional 12 units to the Biltmore complex, and recreational facilities and entryways onto the property would be shared by the two properties.

The Biltmore Apartments include 179 apartment units. The apartments have been in operation since 1970s and most recently went through a renovation in 1999.

Continued here:
Cupertino apartment project stalls, as city council wants to see more retail, fewer units