AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Drexel University and American Campus Communities (NYSE: ACC - News) will transform Chestnut Street between 32nd and 33rd Streets into a new gateway for Drexel and University City featuring approximately 361,200 square-feet of mixed-use student housing and retail space. The groundbreaking event for the estimated $97.6 million project is scheduled for February 21, with a targeted construction completion date of September 2013, announced Drexel University President John A. Fry.

“This innovative partnership combining dynamic urban retail with high-quality student housing will serve as a catalyst in continuing the revitalization of our campus and surrounding community,” said Fry. “We look forward to partnering with American Campus Communities to create a more vibrant gateway to University City.”

The development was structured via American Campus’s American Campus Equity (ACE®) program under which the company will develop, own and manage the project through a 70-year ground lease structure and make annual ground rent payments to Drexel.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with such a prestigious institution of higher learning such as Drexel and assisting President Fry in achieving his vision for the University,” said Bill Bayless, American Campus CEO. “This transaction stands as an example of a premier university benefiting from private sector investment to deliver world-class housing to its students while preserving its own debt capacity for core capital projects.”

Designed by internationally acclaimed Robert A.M. Stern Architects, the development will include two eight-story buildings that front Chestnut Street while maintaining an open entry corridor to the adjacent Creese Student Center. The broad use of glass at the street level combined with limestone will continue Drexel’s progress toward creating a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use campus district enlivened by retail amenities.

The building design will also include a 19-story residential tower at the corner of Chestnut and 32nd streets. The two-story street-level space will include retail outlets, neighborhood restaurants, and a new corner entry into the Barnes and Noble – activating student life in an urban setting. Upper floors feature student apartments with both shared and private accommodation options.

“At a time of tremendous growth in our residential student population, this development will allow us to continue to offer Drexel students the very best in quality housing, dining, and services, while transforming Drexel’s Chestnut Street corridor into a community destination,” said James R. Tucker, senior vice president for Student Life and Administrative Services.

About 860 beds of high-quality housing will be available for students. Student residents may select from a variety of unit types, including shared accommodations in a two-bedroom/two-bathroom design or private accommodations in two unit options – a four-bedroom/two-bathroom apartment and an innovative four-bedroom/two-and-a-half-bathroom townhome configuration with in-unit washers and dryers.

The development includes a 14,800-square-foot community center with space for residence life operations and student amenities that include a social lounge with gaming area, a fitness center furnished with modern workout equipment, meeting space, a theater and laundry facilities.

About American Campus Communities

American Campus Communities, Inc. is the largest owner and manager of high-quality student housing communities in the United States. The company is a fully integrated, self-managed and self-administered equity real estate investment trust (REIT) with expertise in the design, finance, development, construction management, and operational management of student housing properties. American Campus Communities owns 119 student housing properties containing approximately 74,100 beds. Including its owned and third-party managed properties, ACC’s total managed portfolio consists of 149 properties with approximately 98,000 beds. Visit http://www.americancampus.com or http://www.studenthousing.com.

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American Campus Communities Commences Construction on Owned On-Campus Project at Drexel University in Philadelphia

GLENS FALLS -- The downtown Glens Falls building where Twigs rustic furniture and gift shop closed recently will soon have a new owner.

Elizabeth Miller, president of Miller Mechanical Services, confirmed Tuesday she is in the process of buying the 19 Ridge St. building.

"I hopefully would put some retail in there to give more business downtown. That's what I'm hoping to do," she said.

Miller said she has not determined exactly what type of retail operation she would operate.

"I've got some ideas, but it's a little bit premature," she said.

"The closing is in a couple of weeks. So once I get it closed, I'll certainly move forward into getting something in there."

Jacqueline Koch, who is selling the building, closed Twigs in late December, after nearly a decade in business.

At the time the business closed, Koch said business downtown had always been good, but she was ready to retire.

Glens Falls Mayor John "Jack" Diamond said he heard about Miller's interest in developing a retail business at the 19 Ridge St. building, but he did not know details of her plans.

Diamond said Miller Mechanical has been a progressive, community-minded business, and he's certain whatever Miller does in retail will be positive for downtown.

Miller Mechanical is a metal fabrication business that has clients in the pulp and paper, chemical/pharmaceutical, construction and utility industries.

Read more from the original source:
New owner plans new retail for downtown space

Universal Steel Buildings Construction Division recently announced the supply and construction of two pre-engineered metal buildings to DDM Properties for Jo's Globe Distributing CO, a retail beer distributorship in Morgantown, West Virginia. The project includes the supply and construction of a fifteen hundred square foot building attached to a new five-thousand six-hundred twenty-five square foot building also supplied and constructed by Universal Steel Buildings Construction Division.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (PRWEB) January 31, 2012

Universal Steel Buildings Construction Division recently announced the supply and construction of two pre-engineered metal buildings to DDM Properties for Jo's Globe Distributing CO, a retail beer distributorship in Morgantown, West Virginia. The project includes the supply and construction of a fifteen hundred square foot building attached to a new five-thousand six-hundred twenty-five square foot building also supplied and constructed by Universal Steel Buildings Construction Division.

The attractive new building has “lightstone” exterior wall sheeting with “fern green” trim, gutters and downspouts. The innovative paint used by Universal Steel Buildings on their Olympia Steel Buildings comes with a forty-year warranty, making for a maintenance-free exterior that never needs painting. This high-technology paint coating is a “cool coating” designed to act as a thermal barrier to reflect the sun’s rays, keeping the insides of metal buildings up to twenty percent cooler and reducing HVAC costs year-round.

“The building is great,” stated Mike Marrara of DDM Properties. “The building has everything we need – office space, cool warehousing for the beer we distribute, easy-access truck bays for loading and unloading the product and a showroom where customers can choose from the many different types of beer and wine that we have on display.” Jo’s Globe Distributing Company is committed to providing outstanding customer service, selection and value. They pride themselves on being a company where customer service means fast, quality service and a friendly attitude. The retail beer distributor’s products include wheat beer, non-alcoholic beer, American and imported beers, wine and other quality products.

“Olympia Steel Buildings can be used for just about anything you need,” explained Jonathan Mass, company Design Estimator. “The quality of the buildings is unbeatable and we’re proud to be supplying them and putting them up. It gives a great sense of satisfaction when you can look at a great looking building and say, we did this, we supplied and put this building up.”

About Olympia Steel Buildings

Olympia Steel Buildings® are supplied by Universal Steel Buildings Corp, an industry leader in pre-engineered steel buildings for over 40 years, and sole supplier of Olympia Steel Buildings® to commercial, industrial, agricultural, residential, government, military and civilian agencies.

Olympia Steel Buildings come with their outstanding weather-resistant PBR roof, or you can opt for their patented Zeus-Shield® standing seam metal roofing system. GSA approved Olympia Steel Buildings set themselves apart by using better materials, better quality control, exceptional customer service and industry-leading warranties, including a 25-year rust through perforation warranty.

###

Jonathan D. Mass, Construction Department Design Estimator
Universal Steel Buildings
(888) 449-7756
Email Information

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Universal Steel Buildings Turnkey Construction Division Supplies Two Metal Buildings To DDM Properties

The developer of the Black Hills Center has reconfigured its site plan so it can offer space for more, smaller retail stores and restaurants around the Walmart under construction at Fifth Street and Catron Boulevard.

THF Realty originally proposed a 27,000-square-foot "mini-anchor" adjacent to a 19,000-square-foot retail strip, all north of Stumer Road and east of the new Walmart.

Now, THF plans to build one 33,900-square-foot strip center with as many as 15 storefronts, said Justin Brockman, who is handling leasing for the property from his Denver office.

"We've gotten overwhelming demand from retailers smaller in size, so we wanted to accommodate them," Brockman said.

About half of the space in the strip center has been committed to, Brockman said, and some tenants might take more than one storefront.

He declined to name any of the signed tenants, but said there would be a mix of new names and second or third locations for businesses already in Rapid City.

Plans for 14 parcels surrounding the city's second Walmart and the strip center haven't changed. Brockman said three parcels in particular have seen interest from tenants. Tenants might include retailers, fast food and full service restaurants, medical offices and hotels. Separately, on land not owned by THF, a bank and a gas station are planned at the corner of Fifth and Catron.

Construction on the strip center will be finished in May or June, giving tenants time to build out their shops so then can be open when Walmart opens in August and be ready for the back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons, Brockman said.

But the entire development could take several years to complete.

"It's important to have the right tenant mix that's going to be a complement to the community and the project. You want to make sure you can accommodate users when they're ready for the site."

He said interest should pick up more now that Walmart itself is under construction.

"We're excited to be doing business in Rapid City, and we are excited to become a part of the community with this project," Brockman said. "We're committed to making the best new retail project in Rapid City."

Contact Barbara Soderlin at 394-8417 or barbara.soderlin@rapidcityjournal.com.

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Walmart development offers space for more retailers

For the past 25 years, the Blue Star Arts Complex has been a haven for the arts. Now its owner is looking to make room for more retail.

James Lifshutz, the property's owner, said that he's looking to increase foot traffic at the complex by adding retail in space along South Alamo Street. Currently, he's in talks with gallery owners to find a way to reconfigure and update the buildings to make space for new retail tenants.

“We're looking to reconfigure the frontage along Alamo Street to create better retail and several of the artist-run galleries will be affected. So we're working with them to try and figure out a way to keep them there. I'm hopeful and expectant that we'll be able to keep them there. Not in their existing spaces, but in reconfigured space.”

The plan is in preliminary stages, but Lifshutz said he hopes to have new tenants in place by midyear. The property owner already has talked to several interested parties that could bring a neighborhood grocery market, coffee shop, bakery and an icehouse with a music venue. Some of the prospective tenants Lifshutz has spoken to also have existing businesses locally and in Austin, he said.

“This is not Payless Shoes. This will be retail that enhances and improves the life of an arts community,” Lifshutz said.

No leases have been signed for any of the space that's expected to be reconfigured. A lease was signed for a new bar, but it's located toward the middle of the complex. Bar 1919 will have the feel of an upscale speakeasy that's expected to open in late March, said Jeremy Jessop, the asset manager for the complex.

While everything is still in the planning stages, Jessop did say they will look to make updates such as adding central air and heat and new walkways to make the area more pedestrian friendly. Also, the galleries could have glass fronts that would allow visitors to enjoy the art without the galleries being open.

Blue Star's current footprint is about 160,000 square feet of art, retail and residential space. The cost for retail space there is about $15 per square foot, Jessop said. With the anticipated changes Lifshutz also said he plans to raise rents there.

Lifshutz added that he plans to secure financing to start construction on the second phase of Blue Star at the old Big Tex property by the end of this year.

“The art is the soul of the complex. With the improved retail, it really fulfills and brings to full blossom the original intent of Blue Star. It was never intended to just be a place where people make, look at, teach, buy and sell art. It was always intended to be all those things along with a vibrant 30-day a month life to it.”

Stella Haus is one of the art galleries that could be affected by the proposed changes. It has operated in the same space for nearly 10 years and Dayna De Hoyos, the gallery director, said that she and others hope to stay in their current spaces.

“We enjoy being in the Blue Star Arts Complex. We'd love to continue renting our spaces,” De Hoyos offered as a statement for her gallery and two others: Cactus Bra and Three Walls.

Neither De Hoyos nor the other gallery owners wanted to comment further until the negotiations concluded. But De Hoyos did say that raising rents would make things more difficult since the galleries don't make much money throughout the year.

The anticipated additions would bring added competition to the complexes current retail tenants, but Joey Villarreal, owner of the Blue Star Brewery, Blue Star Bike Shop and Joe Blue's, said he welcomes it.

“A synergy of different businesses can help bring more people to the area. There could be a nice exchange of clientele. I think it will be good.”

vlucio@express-news.net

Original post:
Blue Star to make room for retail

Developer gets financing for new O.C. Costco January 30th, 2012, 10:49 am · · posted by Jon Lansner

Sketched of the planned Costco at Bella Terra

Click to see demolition to start Costco construction; photos by Sam Gangwer

Commercial real estate investment bankers George Smith Partners arranged $16 million in construction financing for DJM Capital Partners to clear retail space for Costco at the Bella Terra shopping center in Huntington Beach.

Costco’s 30-year ground lease required DJM to create a “construction ready” pad for a new Costco.

Construction included DJM demolishing a 120,000-square-foot former Montgomery Ward‘s and an 80,000-square-foot former Mervyns plus adding utility lines and bays for gasoline tanks.

DJM is also building a 467-unit apartment complex adjacent to the shopping center that’s already sold to landlord UDR.

Smith Partners’ Steve Bram: “Although both the client and the property are very solid, this particular loan presented a challenge due to the state of the current commercial real estate industry. Construction financing, especially for retail centers, is not easy to achieve in today’s economic climate.”

Learn about 9 store openings, 5 closures in O.C.

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Developer gets financing for new O.C. Costco

SALT LAKE CITY — The clock is ticking
toward the highly anticipated opening of Utah's top retail
development.

Less than 60 days remain until the
scheduled March 22 grand opening of City Creek Center, a $1.5
billion downtown project that is expected to revitalize Salt
Lake City's central business district.

Upon completion, City Creek will
feature approximately 700,000 square feet of shopping and
dining space, along with 536 new condominiums or apartments.
Among the unique features of the 23-acre development are a
30,000-square-foot fully retractable glass roof, a sky bridge
over Main Street and a re-creation of City Creek, the snow-fed
stream that once meandered through the city.

City Creek general manager Linda
Wardell of Taubman Centers Inc. said the project is on schedule
for its planned March opening.

"The construction of the core (retail)
building is really already complete," she said. "We've been
(testing) all of our systems and know how they are going to
operate."

She noted that the individual retail
stores are in their "crunch time" as they work to meet their
own deadlines for the impending opening.

Experience is a big part of shopping today. Shopping really
is entertainment for a lot of people, so it has to be an
experience every time they visit.

–- Linda Wardell

"Usually, everything is simultaneously
constructed," she said. "With City Creek, because of its
mixed-used nature, the core part of our building was built
first and then the stores were built in."

Taubman will operate the retail portion
of the project, which will contain approximately 80 stores and
restaurants. Wardell said one-third of the stores at City Creek
will be unique to Utah, which will "keep bringing people back
over and over again."

Headquartered in Bloomfield Hills,
Mich., the company currently operates 26 retail shopping
centers across the country, with six others in development —
including properties in Asia and Puerto Rico.

To date, Taubman has invested about $76
million into the project.

The International Council of Shopping
Centers has said that City Creek Center will be the only retail
center opening in the U.S. in 2012, meaning the opening will
likely garner national and even global attention, Wardell
said.

Inquiries have come from media
worldwide to attend the grand opening as well as other retail
developers from around the globe. One local industry analyst
said the new development would likely help bolster the overall
strength of the entire downtown retail sector, including The
Gateway.

"Retail growth will be slower at the
beginning, but overall both projects will in time will become
thriving destination projects in the downtown area," said J.R.
Moore, vice president of retail properties with commercial real
estate firm CB Richard Ellis in Salt Lake City. "They'll fuel
each other and make downtown an even more attractive place for
shoppers and retailers."

Meanwhile, the finishing touches are
being made on one of the more fascinating retail centers of its
kind, she said.

"Experience is a big part of shopping
today," Wardell explained. "Shopping really is entertainment
for a lot of people, so it has to be an experience every time
they visit."

She noted, however, that providing the
"right collection of stores" is also essential to the overall
shopping experience. In addition, the project will also include
some of the best residential properties in the region — making
City Creek a destination for visitors from across the Mountain
West.

"You can come to this one central part
of the city and be engaged with the city in such a unique way,"
Wardell said.

Email:jlee@ksl.com

Read the rest here:
City Creek on schedule, only shopping center opening in U.S. during 2012

Published: Friday, Jan. 27, 2012 11:26 p.m. MST

Read the rest here:
$1.5B City Creek Center on schedule for March 22 opening

16-01-2012 10:45 Watch in HD and Full Screen to enjoy the detail. Favorite, Like, Share and Subscribe Please! Information about Tower Cranes: http://www.deckrane.com Information on the CitySquare redevelopment project: http://www.telegram.com "Leggat McCall and Consigli Construction Co. of Milford are partway through a $110 million job that includes tearing down something old, building something new and doing it without disrupting people or traffic http://www.worcesterma.gov CitySquare is a $563 million multi-phased private/public commercial real estate project and the largest development project in the Commonwealth outside of the Boston area

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Tower Crane Construction Site and Demolition - Video

08-01-2012 21:31 Another Video where I cross over to the dark side with LEGO clones... :-O This Best Lock Fire Engine was just $1.79 (US) at Ollies Outlets. About Best Lock from best-lock.com: Best-Lock Construction Toys is a private manufacturer and marketer of Best-Lock building blocks, a line of children's plastic building blocks that is available at popular retailers worldwide

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LEGO Clone Unboxing and Review #4 - Best Lock Fire Truck With Minifigure - Video