CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WoHo (World Home), a technology company that transforms the way spaces are conceived and created, today announced it has raised $4.5 million in seed funding. The company integrates architecture, engineering and construction into a single, streamlined platform to quickly design and construct high quality buildings.

The investment round was led by The Engine, the venture firm spun out of MIT that invests in early-stage Tough Tech companies that are solving the worlds most urgent problems, such as addressing the housing affordability and shortage crisis, through the convergence of breakthrough science, engineering, and leadership.

WoHos systems are made up of a series of discrete foundational components which can be scaled and configured to span residential and commercial buildings such as multifamily housing, hotels, dormitories, labs and offices. These components are optimized for fabrication, transportation, assembly and operation. WoHos systems reinvent reinforced concrete technology and building performance, serving as competitive solutions for low-to-high-rise construction.

While modular construction has existed for decades it has suffered from an association with low-end, low-quality materials. Its lack of momentum can be attributed to segmented supply chains for materials sourcing and transportation, said Israel Ruiz co-founder and CEO of WoHo. Creating a single, standardized platform for design, manufacture and construction will disrupt home and multi-use buildings, as developers and suppliers can more quickly and efficiently meet sustainability standards to address affordability and the housing shortage.

WoHo also announced a partnership with LafargeHolcim in the United States, which shares a commitment to push the boundaries of green construction. We look forward to partnering with WoHo as we work to develop innovative and environmentally friendly products for this application, said Josep Maset, VP, US Commercial Development for LafargeHolcim.

According to a McKinsey report, by 2030 nearly $130B will be spent on modular home construction in the U.S. and Europe yet theres a backlog of supply in regions with labor shortages or high variability in onsite construction conditions due to weather seasonality. WoHo expects to lower the costs of construction by more than 20%, shrink project delivery time by 50%, and reduce the ecological footprint of buildings by 70%, all while improving project predictability and construction quality.

WoHo plans to build lean, modular factories that balance automation and handwork close to construction hubs, simplifying the logistics, lowering the costs, and reducing the environmental footprint of its buildings. The factories will produce WoHo components with span widths ranging from 16 to 20 ft that can be connected or separated three-dimensionally based on specific project needs. These components assemble into a structural grid, particularly suited for residential and other compatible retail, lab or parking uses.

WoHos founding team is cross-disciplinary, led by Israel Ruiz, an engineer and former EVP and Treasurer of MIT and renowned architects Anton Garcia-Abril, a professor of the School of Architecture at MIT and his co-founder of Ensamble Studio, Debora Mesa, who is the Ventulett Chair in Architectural Design at Georgia Tech. Garcia-Abril and Mesa have worked over the last two decades to prototype and test the approach and partnered with Ruiz, who they met at MIT in 2012, to form WoHo with the goal of reimagining the way buildings are designed and made.

WoHo is pioneering construction through technology, said Katie Rae, CEO & Managing Partner of The Engine. The ability to design, build and manufacture living and working spaces to be shipped and assembled quickly at a construction site provides more control, less waste and quicker time from design to occupancy. In some areas where housing prices and demands outpace the ability to meet them, this technology will shorten the gap.

WoHo is conducting its first pilot at WoHo Lab in Madrid and plans to build one in Boston in early 2021. WoHo is headquartered at The Engine and WoHo Lab functions as the companys research and development, IP and design operations for its modular factories. This seed capital will be used to build out U.S. manufacturing, further partner pilots, broaden the team and help the company scale.

About WoHo

WoHo (World Home) is transforming the way spaces are conceived and created, enabling a new way to build. WoHos systems construct low-to-high-rise structures with unprecedented quality, precision and efficiency. By integrating design, manufacturing and assembly, our systems allow for quality and collaboration at scale, with maximum efficiency. Find WoHo online at: http://woho.us/

About The Engine

Launched by MIT in 2016, The Engine is a Cambridge, MA-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage Tough Tech companies. It provides the long-term capital, knowledge, connections, as well as the specialized equipment, space, and labs these transformative startups need to thrive. For more information, visit http://www.engine.xyz

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WoHo Raises $4.5 Million in Seed Funding, led by The Engine, to Transform the Design and Construction of Resilient Living and Working Spaces -...

WoHo co-founders Israel Ruiz, Debora Mesa and Anton Garcia-Abril.

A technology company that produces environmentally friendly, cost-effective building components has raised $4.5M in seed funding from a venture firm launched by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Cambridge, Massachusetts-based WoHo, or World Home," claims its materials can lower construction costs by 20% and cut project delivery time in half for a multitude of uses. Co-founded by former MIT Treasurer Israel Ruiz, WoHo raised funds through MITs venture capital firm The Engine, the companies announced Thursday.

WoHos offerings can be assembled into structural grids for residential, retail, lab or parking uses, and WoHo claims its materials reduce a sites ecological footprint by 70%. Among its offerings are"Suites," spanning 16-20 feet geared toward residential and commercial use, and column-free "Tower" components spanning 32-64 feet for mid-rise projects, the company says.

MIT School of Architecture professor Anton Garcia-Abril and Georgia Tech Ventulett Chair in Architectural Design Debora Mesa worked over the last two decades to develop the environmentally conscious system and formed WoHo with Ruiz, who they met in 2012.

Ruiz, a former co-chair of MITs building committee, told Bisnow Thursday WoHos technology works well in cities where space is scarce, but said the easier-to-handle materials are well-suited for the suburbs, such as those near WoHos headquarters at The Engine at MIT.

You think about the Boston area, you think Somerville, inside the [Interstate-495] ring, Ruiz said. Its the perfect technology to do that at the mid-rise level. We can be competitive at low-rise as well.

WoHo, which also announced a U.S. partnership with Swiss building materials multinational LafargeHolcim, will conduct its first pilot at a lab in Madrid and pledges to build a production facility in Boston in 2021.

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MIT's Former Construction Head Launches Green Building Startup With $4.5M Seed Raise - Bisnow

CASSVILLE, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Midwest Retail Properties (MRP) is excited to announce a 10-year lease with Westco Home Furnishings Co. for 13,325 square feet in Cassville, MO. Westco Home Furnishings is a well-established regional furniture retailer with 12 Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma locations. MRP owns and manages Cassville Plaza, a Walmart-Anchored retail center with national credit tenants, Tractor Supply and Dollar Tree, in Cassville, Missouri. Westco Home Furnishings is relocating from its current location on 8th Street to Cassville Plaza.

MRPs construction administrator, Tom Heintz, is working with the team at Westco to manage the retailer's build-out. Westco hopes to be open for business in February 2021 at their new location.

Westco Home Furnishings was founded by Mr. Dail West in 1944. The first small store was located on Main Street in Miami, Oklahoma and was known as Miami Sales Company. Furniture was added in 1955 with the opening of Commerce Sales Company in Commerce, Oklahoma. Westco has continued to grow over the years and now has stores in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. Additional information can be found at westcohomefurnishings.com.

Midwest Retail Properties is a St. Louis-based private equity real estate firm that owns and manages Walmart-Anchored Shadow Centers in secondary and tertiary locations nationwide. MRPs current portfolio is comprised of over 1 million square feet of retail space across 15 states. Additional information can be found at http://www.mrpstl.com.

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Midwest Retail Properties Signs 10-Year Lease With Regional Furniture Chain for 13325 sf - Business Wire

Development plans for a site west of West Allis Farmers Market include 110 apartments and several commercial buildings.(Photo: Mandel Group Inc.)

Plans are proceeding for the next phase of a large mixed-use development just west of the West Allis Farmers Market.

Mandel Group Inc. plans to begin construction in the first half of 2021 on 110 apartments as well as 23,000 square feet of commercial space south of West National Avenue and west of South 66th Street.

That's according to plans being reviewed by city officials.

The West Allis Community Development Authorityon Tuesday night approved moving forward on those plans. The projectincludes selling the city-owned development site to Mandel Group for $1and other possible publicfinancing.

The apartments and commercial buildings would be part of Mandel Group's Six Points development.

Construction of just over 17,000 square feet of commercial space, dubbed Makers Row, is to begin in Januaryand open by August.

It will include a coffee shop and cafe, other food vendors and retailers,and unspecified production space.

Mandel Group has an anchor tenant for Makers Row, but is not yet ready to announce its name, said BobMonnat, senior partner.

Construction is to begin in April on the three-story apartment building, named SoNa Lofts, with completion by May 2022, according to the plans.

SoNa Lofts will include nearly 6,000 square feet of retail space, enclosing parking and an outdoor swimming pool.

Other plans for the 6.5-acre site, which isbordered by West Mitchell Street to the south, include a second phase of Makers Row.

That second phase would have three additional buildings totaling 18,600 square feet, with construction to begin in August.

The development also would have anotherbuilding totaling 19,200 square feet, with construction to begin in December.

That building would likely be for a food producer or other compatible light manufacturing use,Monnat said Wednesday.

Mandel Group in May completed the first phase of the development between National and Greenfield avenues, west of Six Points Crossing.

It featurestwo three-story buildings, totaling 177 apartments, known as The West.

Mandel Group also built anAurora Health Careclinic,at 6609 W. Greenfield Ave., which opened earlier.

Financing for the Six Points development so far includes $16.9 million provided by the city through a tax incremental financing district, according to a 2019 city report.

Those funds are being provided to Mandel Group in annual payments throughnew property taxes generated by the project. Those payments will be made for an estimated 20 years.

Other financing includes two loans, totaling $4 million, from theCommunity Development Authority, as well as a $2.7 million environmental cleanup grant, the report said.

Additional city financing, which would need Common Council approval, could be forthcoming for the development's next phase.

The preliminary agreement reviewed Tuesday night by the authority includes a provision saying the city will be responsible for securing public financing that could include grants, low-interest loans, tax credits and tax increment financing.

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.comand followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

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Construction to start in 2021 on more retail space, apartments at mixed-use project near West Allis Farmers Market - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

By Lisa Kopochinski

DENVERThe University of Colorado Denver recently celebrated its official topping out for its new City Heights Residence Hall and Learning Commons.

The 182,000-square-foot residence hall will add approximately 555 beds and is the first on-campus student housing complex for the university.

The $62.4 million project comprises a seven-story residence hall comprised of two wings connected vertically by internal communal scaled to encourage student interaction between floors.

Stantec is providing architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, lighting, and sustainability services on the project. JE Dunn is the general contractor

The residential tower offers students mountain or downtown views, and the L-shaped configuration of the buildings upper floors flank a sunny courtyard space that will provide a new campus gathering place and connection between the CU Denver campus neighborhood and the Tivoli Student Union.

The lower floors include a central campus dining hall on the ground floor, and a 30,000-square-foot student services center called the Learning Commons, designed to enhance faculty development and support students outside the classroom.

The Learning Commons will centralize student academic support and tutoring services into a collaborative facility that will serve residents and non-residents with the aim of making academic support approachable and convenient. The Learning Commons will also feature faculty development programs and expanded space supporting online educationa rapidly evolving and critical component of the academic landscape, even prior to the COVID pandemic.

As another prominent addition to the CU Denver neighborhood on the Auraria Campus, the project will complement the universitys refined masonry palate while showcasing public spaces with expanses of glass, including a new retail space.

The City Heights Residence Hall is pursuing a LEED Gold rating and will include a green roof on the Learning Commons, as well as five beehives to support the campus pollinator habitat.

The City Heights Residence Hall is an exciting project that brings together on-campus student life and academic success by merging housing with student academic support services, said Stantec Principal Dominic Weilminster, in a statement.

Once complete, the facility will dramatically shift the campus culture, celebrating the diverse student body that makes CU Denver so special.

Set to open August 2021 for residents, the building is in alignment with the potential ongoing impacts of COVID-19. Operational and physical design adaptations could include modified dining operations to allow for longer meal periods and reduced density at mealtimes, modified cleaning procedures, and touchless faucets for handwashing throughout.

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University of Colorado Tops Out Residence Hall Project - School Constructions News

Portland, Ore., has been diversifying its economy in the past few years, becoming better-positioned toface the coronavirus-generated fallout and uncertainty. According to Yardi Matrix data, the metros development pipeline included some 2.5 million square feet of office space as of October, and a little over 665,000 square feet was delivered year-to-date. The years largest delivery was 250 Taylor, a built-to-suit projectacquired by Prospect Ridge last October.

A diverse economy also calls for diverse asset types. The pipeline includes Portlands first biotech facilitiesboth developed by Summit Development Groupits first luxury hotel, a massive lifestyle community, and the largest project since U.S. Bancorp Tower. More than 1.1 million square feet of office space is scheduled for completion by year-end, with the bulk expected to come online in 2022 due to a delay in construction attributed to the pandemic. The list below includes the largest office projects underway in the metro, based on Yardi Matrix data.

Portland General Electrics Integrated Operations Center is an upcoming facility taking shape at 12150 SW Tualatin Sherwood Road in Tualatin, Ore. The company broke ground on the 108,000-square-foot building in February 2020, with completion scheduled for the end of 2021. The $200 million projectdesigned byDreyfuss + Blackford Architecture and SERA Architectsis expected to house between 250 and 350 PGE employees.

Gerding Edlen is currently working on 5 MLK, a 440,000-square-foot mixed-use project in Portlands Central Eastside neighborhood. The property encompasses 120,400 square feet of office space, 15,000 square feet of first-floor retail and 11 stories of residential space. The local developer broke ground on the 17-story building in November 2017 and plans to complete it by year-end.

Bank OZK provided construction financing through a $79.4 million line of credit. The GREC Architects-designed project is situated at 5 SE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., at the base of the Burnside Bridge, an area popular for its vibrant nightlife, restaurants, breweries and distilleries.

BPM Real Estate Groups Block 216 is the largest project in Portland in a decade. The asset totals a little over 1 million square feet, which encompass 180,000 square feet of office space and 7,800 square feet of ground-floor retail. Additionally, the development will include a 251-key Ritz Carlton Hotel, the citys first luxury hotel, as well as 138 Ritz Carlton-branded condominium residences.

Construction on the 35-story tower started in July 2019, with completion scheduled for the third quarter of 2022. Mosaic Real Estate Investors originated $460 million in construction financing. Howard S. Wright serves as the general contractor, GBD Architectsdesigned the projects exterior, HKS Architects worked on the interior design and Idaho-based PLACE served as the landscape architect.Located at 936 SW Washington St., the building is taking shape on the last undeveloped full block in downtown Portland.

What Portland lacks, Summit Development Group delivers. The company is currently developing the only life science project in the metro, aiming to provide the much-needed space the regional biotech industry needs. The largest one is NIR Center, a 314,889-square-foot facility encompassing flexible laboratory space, creative office, a ground-floor retail component, and a private courtyard. The 10-story timber and steel structure consists of two identical towers joined by a central core. Development started in March 2020, with completion scheduled for the second quarter of 2021.

The developer selected Hennebery Eddy Architects to design both of its lab science and research facilities. The first one, Eastside Innovation Hub, is just two blocks from the upcoming NIR Center, which is emerging at 920 SE Stark St. The facilities are situated in the heart of the Portland Innovation Quadrant, close to various science and tech communities.

Nike is expanding its campus with the addition of four new structures. The largest one is The Serena Williams Building, a 1 million-square-foot building spreading across three city blocks at 1 Bowerman Drive in Beaverton, Ore. The four-story asset will include 762,000 square feet of office and 238,000 square feet of auxiliary space and is scheduled for completion in the last quarter of 2020.

The design plans were spearheaded by ZGF Architects, SRG Partnership and Skylab Architecture, while PLACE handled the landscape architecture. Hoffman Construction is providing construction services. Additionally, the facility will feature a parking garage with 1,400 spaces inspired by the sporting heritage of New York City.

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Top 5 Office Projects Under Construction in Portland - Commercial Property Executive

Mon, Oct 19th 2020 08:10 am

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, last week, announced the start of construction of a $2.5 million mixed-use redevelopment project in the City of Batavia. The Ellicott Place project, awarded $1.15 million through Batavia's $10 million DRI and managed by Empire State Development, will improve a 48,899-square-foot building by renovating 10,000 square-feet of vacant first-floor space for commercial use, and adding first-floor interior parking, 10 second-floor one/two-bedroom units, a new elevator, and faade upgrades. Once completed, this project will create approximately 30 jobs in the newly developed commercial space.

"For many New Yorkers, the economic recovery from the pandemic is tied directly to the availability of quality homes and jobs," Cuomo said. "This new mixed redevelopment project continues our commitment to investing in communities across the state, improving quality of life for residents and building back a better, stronger New York for all."

"Batavia is on the rise with development projects underway and a renewed sense of energy and optimism,"Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said."The start of construction onEllicott Placewill serve as a gateway to downtown and create new jobs and opportunities. The Downtown Revitalization Initiative is transforming communities across the state, including Batavia, as we work to build back better and reimagine New York state for the post-pandemic future."

Secretary of State Rossana Rosado said, "Thanks to the vision of Gov. Cuomo, Batavia's Downtown Revitalization Initiative is bringing a new development project that will expand the city's transformation into the area where people can work, live and play. We are celebrating this mixed-use project that will help the local economy with its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and will become a centerpiece of resurgence of commercial and residential buildings at the heart of downtown. I am proud of the role that the Department of State has played in this project and look forward to the continued transformation of Batavia."

Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President and CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, "Our strategic investments in smart mixed-use projects, like the redevelopment of Ellicott Place, will create a more livable and vibrant downtown Batavia. The DRI continues Gov. Cuomo's vision of encouraging regionally based economic momentum by creating communities where people want to build their lives and futures."

Located at 45-47 Ellicott St., in Batavia's downtown, the building was originally constructed for a department store and is now occupied by a retail grocer that utilizes approximately half of the first level. The remainder of the structure is currently vacant.

V.J. Gautieri Constructors will construct this project, which will reactivate the entire building and bring additional activity and residents to downtown Batavia. The DRI award for this project is $1.15 million with a total estimated project cost of $2.5 million.

New York State Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer said, "I am happy to hear that Batavia will be receiving more funding for redevelopment. Investing in our upstate communities is extremely important."

Assemblyman Stephen Hawley said, "The continued revitalization of our community through dedicated donations and the hard work of community members shows just how strong Western New York is. I'm thrilled to see that redevelopment of Ellicott Place is well on its way to starting, and like many other members of the community, I eagerly anticipate seeing the fruits of the labor of this project."

Project owner Victor Gautieri said, "This project is deeply important, as my family has been involved with Ellicott Place from its original construction in downtown Batavia. Our commitment to the revitalization of Ellicott Place was met by the strong support of the DRI, and we are excited to see this project welcoming new residents and new business to our community very soon."

Batavia wasnameda DRI round two winner. The downtown area is a mixed-use, affordable neighborhood with access to jobs, anchor businesses, and city and county services. A press release said, The area has an excellent foundation upon which to continue its revitalization, including amenities such as recreational sites, health care facilities, food markets, a library, and various retail and restaurant venues in a walkable environment.

The Strategic Investment Plan for downtown Batavia is working closely with private partners and local assets to implement the other eight projects awarded. These projects, alongside all the projects that will be awarded through the DRI Building Improvement Fund, will create opportunities for economic development, transportation, housing, and community projects that align with the community's vision for downtown revitalization and that are ready for implementation. The downtown Batavia Strategic Investment Plan is guiding the investment of DRI grant funds in revitalization projects that advance the community's vision for its downtown and that can leverage and expand upon the state's $10 million investment.

In 2016, Cuomo launched the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.Through the DRI, the governor moved to aggressively accelerate and expand the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhood to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for investment in all 10 regions of the state. The DRI represents a plan-to-act strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation.

In the first four years of the DRI, the state has committed $400 million to invest in downtowns that are ripe for revitalization and have the potential to become magnets for redevelopment, business, job creation, greater economic and housing diversity, and opportunity.Participating communities are nominated by the state's 10 Regional Economic Development Councils based on the downtown's potential for transformation, and each community is awarded $10 million to develop a downtown strategic investment plan and implement key catalytic projects that advance the community's vision for revitalization.

Rosado chairs the DRI. Communities receivesupport fromprivate sector experts and a team of state agency staff led by the Department of State in close partnership with Empire State Development, and NYS Homes and Community Renewal. Other agencies are also involved in reviewing and implementing projects.

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Start of construction of $2.5 million mixed-use redevelopment project part of downtown revitalization initiative in Batavia - Niagara Frontier...

Were so accustomed to the landscape as we know it that it can be jarring when old buildings are demolished and replaced with new ones.

Similarly, we tend not to think about predecessors to the buildings we see every day or about the fact that they were as obvious as it sounds actually built at some point, rising from an empty lot over months or years.

Consider the so-called Landmark Building at 316 N. Milwaukee St., in the Third Ward, long home to Sandy DAmatos beloved Coquette Cafe and, for the past six years, Holey Moley Donuts, as well as many other businesses over the years, too.

The five-story, 100,000-square-foot brick building, erected as a warehouse in 1914, has a permanence about it. Id guess most of you have never given a thought to its history or construction. I know I hadnt, until Ben Dahlman shared with me a series of photos tracing its construction by his familys eponymous construction company.

Based on the photographs, Id guess the building was begun in spring 1914. The earliest image, dated July 7, shows a foundation already in. The last construction photo in the set is dated Oct. 28 and theres still a ways to go before completion.

A photo of the finished building is undated, but one would guess perhaps early 1915. Alas, there are no trees that could offer clues to the season and the only figure is tiny and blurry, so its difficult to accurately read the clothing (heavy winter coat vs. shirtsleeves, for example).

The building, made of concrete loft construction and faced with brown pressed brick, has a copper cornice, projecting stone window sills, and a copper entrance canopy with green art glass.

Designed by Herman Schnetzky and his son Hugo, the Landmark has been called architecturally significant for its intact condition and fine materials, by the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Perhaps even more interesting than the architecture, however, is the man who built the Landmark.

The structure was built as a warehouse for the Standard Paper Company, founded in 1883, which among its many paper products were the giant rolls of newsprint that were supplied to most of the major Midwest newspapers of the late 19th and early 20th century.

But Standard also made printers stock, wrapping paper, paper towels, toilet tissue, bags, adding machine paper and paper cups. It also sold twine and hand soap.

Standard was founded by Charles Blanchard, who was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and had arrived in Milwaukee in 1857 with his parents, who made their home at 4th and Wisconsin.

Blanchard joined the Union Army at the age of 18 and served four months in the 40th Wisconsin Infantry Company D in Memphis.

When the war ended in 1865, Blanchard came back to Milwaukee, where he married and started a family, and was a teller in the Mitchell Bank.

In 1883, he started the paper business and worked as its manager and financial secretary until his retirement in 1929.

He also lived an extremely long life for the era, dying at the age of 96 in 1942. When he passed, he was the last surviving Civil War veteran in Milwaukee County.

In the 1940s, the Milwaukee Street building also became home to Key Llthographers. In 1953, Standard sold the building to Gugler Lithographic Co. and leased it back until it moved in mid-1954 to a newly constructed $400,000 building near Capitol Drive at 4040 N. Richards St.

At that time, the Journal noted that Standard was a division of Chicago's Butler Paper Co. "For the last 86 of its 110 years, Standard Paper has been affiliated with the Butler Co."

In 1974, the Sax and Wasserman design firm bought the building for its Sax Arts and Crafts business and moved its offices, wholesale business and warehouses there.

Though it changed the lobby and the fifth floor, Sax left most of the original building intact. In 1987, Milwaukee real estate businessman George Bockl bought it, renovated it into office and retail space and renamed it the Landmark Building.

James Beard Award-winning Sanford chef Sandy DAmato and his wife Angie opened Coquette Cafe in a large first-floor space in 1999 and it closed 19 years later. It was briefly replaced by a restaurant called Fauntleroy, which, too, has closed.

Here are the photos of this stalwart Third Ward structure with an interesting history:

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Urban spelunking: Building the Third Ward's Landmark Building - OnMilwaukee.com

A four-story office building was recently completed at the International Business Park campus. (Courtesy Chad M. Davis)

The four-story building, constructed by Adolfson & Peterson Construction and developed by Billingsley Company, is part of a 300-acre mixed-use development near Coit Road and the President George Bush Turnpike. In addition to housing businesses, the business park has apartments and retail units.

Located at 6201 Plano Parkway, the office building includes indoor-outdoor space and a coffee bar in the lobby, according to the release.

Adjacent to the offices is a campus amenity center that was also recently completed, according to the release. It includes a fitness center, locker rooms, a grab-and-go food service and a large conference room as well as more than 600 parking spaces.

The design for this new campus is rooted in what matters to employees right now, said Lucy Burns, Partner at Billingsley Company.

Retail stores were supposed to line the developments main street, according to the original plan approved in 2014. However, due to uncertainties around the future of retail post-pandemic, the developer asked the city of Plano in June to greenlight a reduction in the amount of store space on the property. The city granted the request.

This is an interior street and spinal road without visibility, Billingsley wrote in a letter to the city. We do not believe retail can be leased or succeed in this location in todays world.

In place of some of these retail concepts, the developers plan to incorporate nine live-work units, which provide space for small businesses to operate near multifamily housing units.

The business park currently has over 100 businesses and more than 4,000 employees on its campus, according to Billingsley Company.

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Construction on new office building, amenity center complete at International Business Park in Plano - Community Impact Newspaper

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the start of construction of a $2.5 million mixed use redevelopment project in the City of Batavia. The Ellicott Place project, awarded $1.15 million through Batavia's $10 million DRI and managed by Empire State Development, will improve a 48,899 square foot building by renovating 10,000 square feet of vacant first floor space for commercial use, and adding first floor interior parking, ten second floor 1-2-bedroom units, a new elevator, and faade upgrades. Once completed, this project will create approximately 30 jobs in the newly developed commercial space.

"For many New Yorkers, the economic recovery from the pandemic is tied directly to the availability of quality homes and jobs," Governor Cuomo said. "This new mixed redevelopment project continues our commitment to investing in communities across the state, improving quality of life for residents and building back a better, stronger New York for all."

"Batavia is on the rise with development projects underway and a renewed sense of energy and optimism,"Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said."The start of construction onEllicott Placewill serve as a gateway to downtown and create new jobs and opportunities. The Downtown Revitalization Initiative is transforming communities across the state, including Batavia, as we work to build back better and reimagine New York State for the post-pandemic future."

Secretary of State Rossana Rosado said, "Thanks to the vision of Governor Cuomo, Batavia's Downtown Revitalization Initiative is bringing a new development project that will expand the city's transformation into the area where people can work, live and play. We are celebrating this mixed-use project that will help the local economy with its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and will become a center piece of resurgence of commercial and residential buildings at the heart of downtown. I am proud of the role that the Department of State has played in this project and look forward to the continued transformation of Batavia."

Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, "Our strategic investments in smart mixed-use projects, like the redevelopment of Ellicott Place, will create a more livable and vibrant downtown Batavia. The DRI continues Governor Cuomo's vision of encouraging regionally-based economic momentum by creating communities where people want to build their lives and futures."

Located at 45-47 Ellicott Street in Batavia's downtown, the building was originally constructed for a department store and is now occupied by a retail grocer that utilizes approximately half of the first level. The remainder of the structure is currently vacant.

V.J. Gautieri Constructors will be constructing this project, which will re-activate the entire building and bring additional activity and residents to downtown Batavia. The DRI award for this project is $1.15 million with a total estimated project cost of $2.5 million.

Senator Michael Ranzenhofer said, "I am happy to hear that Batavia will be receiving more funding for redevelopment. Investing in our Upstate communities is extremely important."

Assemblyman Stephen Hawley said, "The continued revitalization of our community through dedicated donations and the hard work of community members shows just how strong Western New York is. I'm thrilled to see that redevelopment of Ellicott Place is well on its way to starting, and like many other members of the community, I eagerly anticipate seeing the fruits of the labor of this project."

Batavia City Council President Eugene Jankowski, Jr said, "The DRI award continues to support projects that are revitalizing downtown Batavia. The City of Batavia welcomes investments like the Ellicott Place that are producing more commercial activity and creating more market-rate housing in our downtown and more vitality for our city."

Batavia Development Corporation Board President Lori Aratari said, "The DRI and commitments by New York State are providing transformational projects like Ellicott Place to move forward. The Batavia Development Corporation is pleased to be working with our state partners and local investors to improve the city of Batavia with success for every project."

Genesee County Legislature Chair Shelley Stein said, "The Genesee County legislature recognizes the importance the economic vitality of the city of Batavia has for our county and region. All levels of government are working together and sharing in the benefit of so much private sector investment happening in Batavia."

Genesee County Economic Development Center President and CEO Steve Hyde said, "Having another of our downtown buildings transformed is an achievement in Genesee County's economic growth. The housing demand created by economic growth in our county is being answered by great projects like Ellicott Place, and I thank our leaders at the state for providing the DRI's benefits across a wide range of opportunities in Batavia."

Interim Batavia City Manager Rachael Tabelski said, "With the uncertainty that COVID-19 has brought to our economy and way of life we are excited to see DRI projects like Ellicott Place continue to move forward to provide downtown living and commercial space in the heart of Batavia. The Gautieri family has been investing in Batavia for years and I am proud they have sponsored this project and will continue to help Batavia grow and prosper."

Project owner Victor Gautieri said, "This project is deeply important, as my family has been involved with Ellicott Place from its original construction in downtown Batavia. Our commitment to the revitalization of Ellicott Place was met by the strong support of the DRI, and we are excited to see this project welcoming new residents and new business to our community very soon."

Batavia wasnameda DRI Round 2 winner. The downtown area is a mixed-use, affordable neighborhood with access to jobs, anchor businesses, and city and county services. The area has an excellent foundation upon which to continue its revitalization, including amenities such as recreational sites, healthcare facilities, food markets, a library, and various retail and restaurant venues in a walkable environment.

The Strategic Investment Plan for downtown Batavia is working closely with private partners and local assets to implement the other eight projects awarded. These projects alongside all the projects that will be awarded through the DRI Building Improvement Fund will create opportunities for economic development, transportation, housing, and community projects that align with the community's vision for downtown revitalization and that are ready for implementation. The downtown Batavia Strategic Investment Plan is guiding the investment of DRI grant funds in revitalization projects that advance the community's vision for its downtown and that can leverage and expand upon the state's $10 million investment.

About the Downtown Revitalization Initiative In 2016, Governor Andrew Cuomo launched a major new initiativethe Downtown Revitalization Initiative.Through the DRI, the Governor moved to aggressively accelerate and expand the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhood to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for investment in all ten regions of the state. The DRI represents an unprecedented and innovative plan-to-act strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation.

In the first four years of the DRI, the State has committed $400 million to invest in downtowns that are ripe for revitalization and have the potential to become magnets for redevelopment, business, job creation, greater economic and housing diversity, and opportunity.Participating communities are nominated by the state's ten Regional Economic Development Councils based on the downtown's potential for transformation, and each community is awarded $10 million to develop a downtown strategic investment plan and implement key catalytic projects that advance the community's vision for revitalization. The DRI is chaired by New York Secretary of State Rossana Rosado. Communities receivesupport fromprivate sector experts and a team of state agency staff led by the Department of State in close partnership with Empire State Development, and NYS Homes and Community Renewal. Other agencies are also involved in reviewing and implementing projects.

Accelerating Finger Lakes Forward

Today's announcement complements "Finger Lakes Forward," the region's comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The State has already invested more than $8 billion in the region since 2012 to lay the groundwork for the plan - investing in key industries including photonics, agriculture and food production, and advanced manufacturing. Now, the region is accelerating Finger Lakes Forward with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, announced by Governor Cuomo in December 2015. The State's $500 million investment will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion - and the region's plan, as submitted, projects up to 8,200 new jobs. More information is availablehere.

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Governor Cuomo Announces Start of Construction of $2.5 Million Mixed Use Redevelopment Project as Part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative in...