The frame of Charleston's new 12-story, mixed-use, upscale apartment building is now complete with the placement of the last high beam, putting the structure on track to open later this year.

The 4-acre development of The Jasper at 310 Broad St. near Colonial Lake on the lower peninsula will include 219 rental units, 75,000 square feet of office space, 25,000 square feet of first-floor retail space and an enclosed garage along with views of Charleston Harbor and the Ashley and Cooper rivers.

Construction on the 12-story, mixed-use Jasper apartment building topped out this week. The 219-unit structure, with office and retail space, is on schedule to open later this year. Rendering/Design by Antunovich Associatesof Chicago in partnership with LS3Pand DesignWorksof Charleston/Provided

The Jaspers location, which allows for unmatched views in every direction, along with its premier amenities, is what makes this a one-of-a-kind legacy project and the finest building in Charleston, said John Darby, CEO of The Beach Co., which is the developer

With leasing underway for office and retail space and an open residential reservation list, the Harleston Village complex will include on-site dining, shopping, a fitness center, rooftop pool and garden, a club and lounge for residents, an attended lobby, outdoor seating, walkways and parks.

At least one major commercial tenant plans to set up shop in the new building. Wells Fargo & Co. said last year it will vacate the three floors it leases at 177 Meeting St. near the City Market in late 2020 and move about 60 employees who work in its commercial lending and wealth management businesses to the Jasper. The San Francisco-based bank will occupy about 30,000 square feet of office space.

The city's Board of Architectural Review signed off on the design for the development in early 2017, but it didnt come without a fight.

The Beach Co. worked for years toward a redevelopment plan for the site but met stiff public opposition along the way.

The initial proposal drew neighborhood criticism after the longtime Charleston-based real estate firm introduced plans in 2015 to raze the 159-foot-tall, 1950s-era apartments and replace the 14-story building with a low-rise development.

The Jasper, a 12-story, mixed-use, upscale apartment building will offer views such as this one with the Ashley River in the background. Rendering/Design by Antunovich Associatesof Chicago in partnership with LS3Pand DesignWorksof Charleston/Provided

After residents and preservationists fought the concept as too dense, the company then reverted to a high-rise, mixed-use building, which is allowed by the citys zoning. The BAR rejected the concept.

The Beach Co. sued the board, saying it overstepped its bounds by rezoning the site to limit the projects size.The height and mass of the project was settled through a court fight and city agreement, but it did not result in a different design.

Demolition was completed in early 2018 on the former Sergeant Jasper building, named for a Revolutionary War soldier. The current construction project broke ground in August of that year. The first residential units are expected to be ready for move in by late 2020.

Reach Warren L. Wise at 843-937-5524. Follow him on Twitter @warrenlancewise.

Go here to see the original:
12-story Jasper apartment building tops out, set to open later this year in Charleston - Charleston Post Courier

Map of Industry City Complex/Image Credit: Industry City Brochure

Despite two years of discussion, Industry City ownership unable to convince Council Member Menchaca and Community Board 7 to support expansion. On February 19, 2020, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing on an application for four land use actions to expand bulk and use requirements for Industry City, in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Industry City is a 5.3 million square feet mixed-use complex comprised of sixteen buildings with commercial, manufacturing, and community facility uses. Industry Park is located in an area bounded by 32nd Street to the north, 41st Street to the south, Third Avenue to the east, and the Brooklyn Waterfront to the west. The proposed actions will facilitate and support the redevelopment and expansion of Industry City. Industry City plans to construct three new buildings on the complex and include hotels, office spaces, academic centers, and more large scale retail establishments.

Industry City Complex

Map of the Industry City Complex/Image Credit: Council Member Carlos Menchacas Office

The Industry City complex is comprised of sixteen buildings located within two building clusters, the 39th Street Buildings cluster and the Finger Buildings cluster. The 39th Street Buildings cluster is bounded by 39th Street to the north, 41st Street to the south, 2nd Avenue to the east, and the Brooklyn Waterfront to the west. The Finger Buildings cluster is bounded by 32nd Street to the north, 37th Street to the south, and 2nd Avenue to the west. The buildings from 32nd Street to 35th Street extend out to front 3rd Avenue to the east. The buildings from 35th Street to 37th Street extend out to part of the block. Directly north of the Finger Buildings cluster is Liberty View Industrial Plaza, another former four story industrial hub that was redeveloped into a mixed use development with manufacturing space and large scale retail such as Bye Bye Baby and Bed Bath and Beyond.

The buildings were once part of the former Bush Terminal, a privately owned industrial hub that was abandoned in the 1960s. The buildings were vacant and unused until the properties were bought by Industry City in 2013. In 2015, Industry City renovated the complex and brought in small and large scale retail stores, eating establishments, manufacturing spaces, office spaces, warehousing space, event space, and public open courtyards.

Land Use Actions

To facilitate Industry Citys expansion, Industry City proposes four land use actions. The land use actions will affect the Industry City complex and an additional ten lots located adjacent to the complex. Seven of the lots are located along 3rd Avenue on the northeast corner of 36th Street. One lot is located on the northwest corner of 1st Avenue and 39th Street. Industry City plans to acquire these lots and construct two new buildings on them. Two of the lots are located on the southeast corner of 36th Street and 3rd Avenue. These lots will remain in separate ownership and there are no plans to redevelop those lots.

The first action is to create a special district within the area. Special districts modify use and bulk regulations to meet and support the unique needs and characteristics of the area. Industry City proposes a special district in order to have flexible use and bulk regulations that support the complexs mixed uses, protect the complexs existing built form, and support a pedestrian friendly environment.

The second action is to rezone the area from a light manufacturing zoning district to a medium manufacturing zoning district. The current zoning only allows the complex to have manufacturing spaces, small scale retail space, offices, and a limited amount of large scale retail space. The rezoning will expand the permitted uses and bulk in the area to allow academic facilities, hotels, and more large scale retail establishments on the complex.

The third action is for a special permit to modify bulk, use, and other requirements. The fourth action is to demap 40th Street, a privately owned unused street, in order to create more floor area for new construction.

Map of Proposed Construction of Three New Buildings on Industry Citys complex./Image Credit: Council Member Carlos Menchacas Office

As a part of the expansion, Industry City plans to construct three new buildings: Building 11, a thirteen story building, Gateway Building, a twelve story building, and Building 21, a ten story building. The construction would add about 1.45 million square feet to the existing development. Building 11 and the Gateway Building will be built on the Finger Buildings cluster. Building 11 is proposed to have two floors of retail space, three floors of parking space, and eight floors of academic space. The Gateway Building is proposed to have ground floor retail space and eleven floors for a hotel. Building 21 will be built on the 39th Street Buildings cluster and is proposed to have two floors of retail space, three floors of parking, three floors of manufacturing, production, and office spaces, and five floors for a hotel.

Public Review

In September 2017, Industry City announced their plans to expand Industry City and the community was concerned about the projects impact on gentrification and displacement, manufacturing and industrial jobs, traffic and congestion in the community, and access to the Sunset Park waterfront. This resulted in two years of working group meetings and public hearings between local Council Member Carlos Menchaca, Brooklyn Community Board 7, and Industry City from Summer 2018 to Fall 2019 to discuss those concerns.

Originally, Industry City submitted their land use application to City Planning to begin the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) in March 2019; however, Council Member Carlos Menchaca and Brooklyn Community Board 7 Chair Cesar Zuniga urged Industry City to withdraw their application because the Community Board still needed more time to evaluate the project and address community concerns before the application enters the ULURP process. In response, Industry City withdrew their application and discussions continued between the Council Member, Community Board, and Industry City.

On September 17, 2019, Council Member Menchaca sent a letter to Industry City with a set of modifications for Industry City to include in their application. Modifications included removing hotels from the complex, creating more space for industrial and manufacturing uses, restricting retail uses, and creating a public technical high school at Industry City. He also stated that there needs to be a Community Benefits Agreement between the local community and Industry City. The Community Benefits Agreement would legally bind Industry City and future tenants to follow through with community commitments. On September 19, 2019, Industry City agreed to the Council Members terms and planned to resubmit the application to City Planning on September 23rd. On the same day, Council Member Menchaca responded that while Industry City agreed to his terms, more time was needed to come up with a fully negotiated Community Benefits Agreement that would work for the community. This led to Industry City postponing their application submission again.

On October 28, 2019, Industry City submitted their application and it was certified by City Planning. Industry City explained in a letter to Council Member Menchaca and Cesar Zuniga that they submitted the application because they felt that the past delays were enough time for the community to have some framework for a Community Benefits Agreement and stated that the community concerns could be adequately addressed during the ULURP process. In response to the certification, Council Member Menchaca stated that he is prepared to vote against the application when it comes before the City Council.

On January 15, 2020, Brooklyn Community Board 7 was divided on the creation of the special district and the rezoning and the Board took no action on the two land use actions. However, they disapproved the special permit and the demapping of 40th Street. The Community Board explained that the special permit will exempt Industry City from complying with certain bulk and use regulations that will protect waterfront access, prohibit self-storage uses, and require new construction to align with the street wall. The Board wants Industry City to be exempt from those regulations. The Community Board did not explain their decision to disapprove the demapping.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams has not released his final recommendation on the application.

At the February 19th City Planning Hearing, Industry City was represented by Andrew Kimball, CEO, Jesse Masyr, Land Use Council, and Crystal Rivera, Community Engagement Director, talked about how Industry City has turned into an economic opportunity area that has created jobs, provided workforce development, supported small businesses in the neighborhood. Kimball stated that the expansion would allow the team to continue this progress and provide about 20,000 new jobs and more amenities for Sunset Park.

In response to Vice Chair Kenneth J. Knuckless question about how Industry Citys expansion would create new jobs at Industry City, Kimball stated that the rezoning would allow Industry City to create new retail spaces, office spaces, and academic facilities in the complex and the creation of these spaces would expand the types of jobs available including entry level retail jobs, manufacturing jobs, and security positions.

John Fontillas, Brooklyn Community Board 7s Land Use Committee Chair, and Cesar Zuniga, Brooklyn Community Board 7 Chair, testified on behalf of the Board. Both Fontillas and Zuniga expressed their frustration with the limited amount of time the Board had to fully understand and come up with a decision on a large, complex project like Industry City. Fontillas later told CityLand that although the Board had time to review a draft scoping document prior to certification, the final application was not submitted to the Board until early November 2019. He explained that this did not give the Board enough time to review, learn about, and evaluate a 3000 page application in the midst of the holiday season.

Fontillas also testified that the final application did not reflect community requests such as limiting the amount of retail and office spaces to increase more manufacturing and industrial spaces and removing hotels from the complex.

Supporters of the project, which include Industry City tenants and members of labor union, 32BJ SEIU, testified that Industry Citys expansion will bring more jobs, bring more educational and vocational training opportunities, provide resources for small businesses, and create infrastructure improvements to Sunset Park.

Opponents of the project, which include some local residents and organizers from Protect Sunset Park and UPROSE, two Sunset Park based advocacy groups, testified that the expansion will contribute to the ongoing gentrification of Sunset Park, contribute to rising housing and commercial rents within the overall neighborhood, and take away industrial and manufacturing jobs by adding in more large scale retail and offices. Opponents are also concerned that the expansion does not include any climate adaption or mitigation components that would protect the Sunset Park community from climate change effects.

City Planning will vote on this application at a later date.

By: May Vutrapongvatana (May is the CityLaw Fellow and New York Law School Graduate, Class of 2019)

View original post here:
Public Hearing on Contested Industry City Expansion - CityLand

Grand Hyatt | February 24, 2020

Miami Beach, FL Feb. 24, 2020 The development team behind Miami Beachs new Convention Center hotel announced today that an 800-room property will be operated by Hyatt under the luxury Grand Hyatt brand, when it opens to guests in 2023. Grand Hyatt Miami Beach will create a new hospitality option for visitors attending events at the adjacent Miami Beach Convention Center, which underwent a $600 million renovation that was completed last year, and anchor the Convention Center District.

The hotel development is being led byDavid Martinof TerraandJackie Sofferof Turnberry, whose plans for the hotel were overwhelmingly approved by Miami Beach voters in 2018. The 17-story hotel will be situated at the intersection of 17th Street and Convention Center Drive, within walking distance of the beachfront, Lincoln Road Mall, New World Symphony, The Bass Museum and The Fillmore Miami Beach.

For years, Miami Beach has served as a global destination for arts, culture, shopping, dining and entertainment, but the City has lacked a true headquarters hotel for top-tier conventions and meetings, said Martin and Soffer. South Floridas first Grand Hyatt hotel will maximize Miami Beachs investment in its re-imagined Convention Center while bridging the physical gap that exists between the Convention Center District and surrounding neighborhoods.

The new hotel will become only the second Grand Hyatt property in Florida, joining Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. Grand Hyatt hotels are designed to connect guests with iconic experiences, landmarks and cultural touchstones in captivating destinations around the world. Hallmarks of the brand include bold and vibrant design and architecture, elevated amenities and welcoming service that creates moments of more.

At Hyatt, we believe in growing with intent and expanding our footprint in markets that matter most to our guests and World of Hyatt members, said David Tarr, senior vice president, development, Americas, Hyatt. Hyatt is proud to play an integral role in this project as hotel operator, under the luxury Grand Hyatt brand, which will help guests and locals alike celebrate the iconic, captivating city of Miami Beach.

Grand Hyatt Miami Beach will be designed by internationally acclaimed architectBernardo Fort-Bresciaand his firm, Miami-based Arquitectonica. The team also includes partnerCraig Robinsof Dacra, who is the visionary behind the Miami Design District and helped revive Miami Beachs Art Deco District in the 1990s;Stonehill Taylor, which is designing the hotels interior lobby and lounges, ballroom and meeting rooms, hotel rooms and all common areas;EOA, which is designing the pool deck hospitality features of the hotel; andArquitectonica GEO, which is creating lush pedestrian promenades and landscapes.

Hotel features are expected to include 12 floors of guest rooms offering views of Miami Beach, two floors of meeting spaces and ballrooms that will complement the Convention Center, a resort-style pool deck with panoramic views, and limited retail space that will activate the district at street level. An elevated skybridge will enable event attendees to move freely between the hotel and Convention Center in a climate-controlled, art-filled corridor.

Plans also include landscaped pedestrian promenades on surrounding streets, bike sharing stations, connectivity with public transit routes, dedicated ridesharing pick-up and drop-off zones, and direct access between the Convention Center and Lincoln Road. The projects resiliency and sustainability measures include storm water management and reuse, flood risk mitigation, and the use of solar power all of which are designed to ensure operational continuity during weather events.

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) joins Terra, Turnberry and The City of Miami Beach in welcoming the Grand Hyatt Miami Beach as the newly named brand for the 800-room headquarter hotel connected to the Miami Beach Convention Center, said William D. Talbert, III, CDME, President of the GMCVB. Grand Hyatt Miami Beachmakes it possible to better compete for citywide conventions which fuel jobs in our community and generates business for all of Greater Miamis hotels and merchants.We look forward to the hotel ground-breaking which once completed will finalize the Miami Beach Convention Center District.

Go here to see the original:
The Grand Hyatt Brand Selected as Flag for New Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel - Hotel-Online.com

(TNS) The downtown area envisioned for the Stafford County, Virginia, courthouse may someday be so technologically advanced that the amount of garbage in each trash can will be electronically monitored.

Ultra-wide broadband will be abundant, as will smart energy, lighting, water and temperature controls that will be built into energy-efficient housing units and commercial buildings.

Were looking to build a secure facility from the ground up, said David Ihrie, chief technology officer of the Center for Innovative Technology. Our goal is to make Stafford a model community for all of Virginia.

The CIT, an extension of the state government, works with early start-up companies, manages grants and focuses on economic development.

The original plan for Downtown Stafford, which featured 673 residential units, a museum, boutiques, restaurants and family-friendly things to do, has been talked aboutand kicked down the roadfor years.

But the project was reinvigorated when Ihrie met Mike Cannon, Stafford director of information technology, at a symposium in October 2018. Cannon discussed Downtown Stafford with Ihrie and the two saw it as a perfect publicprivate partnership opportunity.

County supervisors recently were briefed on the project by John Holden, Staffords director of economic development. He told supervisors the first step of the process would be to use the area in and around the government center as a proving ground for technology that could someday be incorporated into the larger Downtown Stafford area.

Ihrie said CIT would bring a host of interested partners to Stafford to help boost economic development in the region and realize his vision.

We want to make Downtown Stafford the states first standalone smart community, Ihrie said.

Supervisors overwhelmingly supported the concept.

Holden told supervisors that the county share of the buildout would be limited to roads and supporting infrastructure, with private partners funding the construction of buildings within the new community.

Holden said construction of Downtown Stafford, which is anticipated to be along Courthouse Road, across from the existing courthouse, will begin in mid-2022.

This could be a five- to 10-year development process for full completion, said Holden.

The existing urban zoning in the area must be modified in coming months to accommodate an increase in density and parking.

Supervisors will hold a public hearing to discuss the rezoning in the spring. In the meantime, county staff is fine-tuning the project after receiving direction from supervisors.

Supervisor Mark Dudenhefer said to have pedestrian-friendly communities like this, the zoning in the area must be more dense. He said the proposed downtown area has many advantages, including potential jobs and office space within walking distance of the government center.

If we can get jobs down here, hopefully people wont be driving to D.C. all the time, said Dudenhefer. The only issue I see with rezoning ahead of construction is builders willing to build to county specifications.

Ihrie envisions Downtown Stafford as a smart community, where government, businesses and residents use the latest technical innovations.

The project brings private partners in to develop technologies and other vendors to develop tools to implement smart city applications, said Holden.

Holden said Downtown Stafford will feature fewer brick-and-mortar retail outlets on its 28 acres. Instead, Holden said, shoppers can expect an experiential retail experience, such as augmented reality clothing stores with holographic technology to allow customers to try on different outfits.

This is an opportunity for the county to be the showcase for the whole commonwealth and beyond, said Cannon. [The technology] will enhance the quality of life and safety of those living, working and shopping in Downtown Stafford.

CIT has already invested $100,000 to develop a strategy and a vision for Staffords downtown area. It has engaged Optimal Solutions and Technologies to test out ideas.

OST, a Tysons Corner-based technology firm, enhances physical assetssuch as buildings, roads and lightingto create efficient infrastructure. The firm completed specifications for Staffords downtown area last summer.

This summer, OST and other contractors will install equipment and software in government center, which will serve as the operations center for the endeavor. Even after Downtown Stafford is built, the center will remain in operation, continuing to test and evaluate new technology for the county to consider including in the new town center.

For now, Ihrie said a wide range of equipment and sensors will be tested, and some will tie into existing traffic cameras.

Were paying a lot of attention to cameras and their use, and where to use them, said Ihrie. There are ways we can improve traffic flow and congestion and improve the community experience, like whens the best time to leave for work.

Ihrie said sensors inside buildings could help save energy, while monitoring daily operations. During emergencies, other technology could provide critical information to first responders, monitor pollution along the Interstate 95 corridor, and could keep a watchful eye on the landscape.

Well test if [sensors] can sense and detect a wildfire, if they can distinguish between a barbecue or a fire pit, said Ihrie.

To sweeten the pot even more, Fredericksburg-based Jarrell Properties Inc., which owns 6 acres at the corner of Courthouse Road and U.S. 1, has agreed to join the publicprivate partnership. Its property will serve as the gateway for visitors to the countys new town center.

Holden said Jarrell Properties will start building a mixed-use development around communal open space. The county anticipates 309 apartments will be built on the property, known as Fountain Park. There will also be office space, which thee county plans to occupy, serving as the anchor tenant.

Several old buildings that now sit on the site of the future Fountain Park will be demolished as part of the Courthouse Road widening project that begins this year. Next month, the former law office of Robert Hyman, the bank building next to it, and the Aquia Medical Center building situated directly across the street from the courthouse will come down before attention is turned to structures at the Fountain Park site.

After demolition, a portion of the land will serve as a temporary parking area during the construction of the new $45 million county courthouse. That building, which is in the design phase, will be adjacent to the Chichester Building at 1245 Courthouse Road.

After the new courthouse is open, the existing one will be used by the countys legal and law enforcement departments.

2020 The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Va.).Distributed byTribune Content Agency, LLC.

Continued here:
Virginia Wants to Install Tech and Make a Smart Stafford - Governing

"We're very confident about the local office market," he said, pointing to Vicland's leasing success at 11 Wilson Street in South Yarra.

The 5500sq m office project across nine levels, which is due for completion in July, is 75 to 85 per cent leased.

In August, Mr McNee told The Australian Financial Review the development would appeal to Toorak's wealthy residents seeking to escape the commute to offices in the city.

"Most family offices are based in the CBD, even though the owners live in Toorak," he said.

"We'll be looking to appeal to these people as office tenants, allowing them to relocate closer to home."

A smaller format Coles Local supermarket will anchor the retail portion of the development, with Vicland considering a Spanish-influenced food hall concept on the upper retail level.

The inner suburbs of Melbourne, including Toorak, South Yarra, Cremorne, Richmond and Collingwood, have become hubs for commercial development amid record low office vacancies in the CBD and the recent downturn in the residential market.

At 627 Chapel Street, another Melbourne developer, Goldfields, secured non-bank finance for a $300 million speculativeoffice tower in November last year. Just down the road at the Jam Factory complex, owner Newmark Capital is progressing plans for a mixed-use project, including multiple office towers.

Continued here:
Vicland secures permit for Toorak office tower - The Australian Financial Review

Share

Share

Share

Email

New office will serve demand for future master-planned free-hold communities in Abu Dubai

Chestertons has opened a new office on Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi in a move to better serve demand for future master-planned free-hold communities in the area and the Abu Dubai real estate market generally.

The new office, located at The Marina Square, is in a prime position to capitalise on several new launches taking place this year, including Aldars The Bridges, comprising six mid-rise towers, each offering 212 homes, the tech-enabled Reem Mall which will feature 2.8 million sqft of retail space for 450 stores, 85 F&B outlets and a family entertainment offering as well as Reem Forest, an urban forest promoting biodiversity which is expected to pique the interest of investors.

Nick Witty, Managing Director, Chestertons MENA, said: The new office is part of a strategic move to reinforce our position as a leader in Abu Dhabis real estate market. We will offer a broad spectrum of property services expertise which will be complemented by the office location and its excellent connections to Abu Dhabi International Airport and City Centre as well as Al Maryah and Saadiyat Island and of course, Al Reem Island.

A team of real estate experts will provide a range of services including, local investment, leasing and sales, property management, strategic consulting, valuation and international global new homes.

Market research will continue to be an integral part of the remit of the office and will provide the cornerstone for the Chestertons Observer Market Report research series.

According to the latest research by Chestertons, the Abu Dhabi real estate market witnessed marginal declines in the last quarter of 2019 with average sales prices for apartments falling by 2% and villas by just 1% while apartment rents fell by 1% and villas by 2%. Al Reem Island was one of only a handful of Abu Dhabi districts to see stable rents and one of only two areas to see stable capital values, the other being Saadiyat Island.

A favourable supply and demand equilibrium, a range of market reforms and a more muted slowdown of sales and rental decreases are shining a positive light on the real estate market in the capital, something we hope to capitalise on from our new location, added Witty.

The new office can be found at Office No. 802, Tamouh Tower, Building 12, The Marina Square, Al Reem Island.

Content supplied by Chestertons

Go here to see the original:
Chestertons opens new Al Reem Island office in Abu Dhabi - MEConstructionNews.com

Published 25 February 2020

Architect Oliver Wilson on the changing residential neighbourhoods being created in Scottish city centres.

On moving to Edinburgh as a child, myfirst impression was that it seemed complete. It was like a drawing where all the elementsand perspective fittedtogether perfectly. Im sure visitors arriving in the citynowhave the same formative view with theCastle as the centrepiece and the logic and symmetry of the adjacent New Town.

However,its not until you live, work and play in a city that you really notice that each has a character and style of its own and that theyare never finished - constantlyevolving from one generation to the next.

Industry often dictates change.The transformation of major cities in Scotland is evident from the number of cranes across the skyline. As an architect, I see this as a good thing. It means the promise of big renewal projects and a chance to find new purposes for underused and neglected spaces.

For example, as a student in Liverpool, I watched howcity planners andfellowarchitects worked together to turnthe derelict and disused Albert Dockarea into anew commercial, residential and cultural landmark.

City populations are set to keep expanding and so more homes will beneeded.Population forecasts show that millennials will make up 40% of the workforce by 2030. Quite apart from the desire of this age group tolive in the city rather than the suburbs, there is also the reality of the climate emergency with the younger generation eager to walk and cycle to reduce their impact on theenvironment.

The pendulumisshiftingto favourliving inurban areas. That is why there is a move towards mixed-use developments in Scotland. In many cities, this type of living is commonplace, normally when land is at a premium. Property owners, investorsand developers see many opportunities to maximise limited landuse and to create places where people want to live. This is reflected by policy makers and city plannerswho want to improve the city centre andbring derelict land into productive use.

BDPs Glasgow studio designedBuchanan Gardens, a residential development of 49 apartments above a major retail space onBuchanan Street, the main shopping thoroughfare in Glasgow.

The bespoke apartments are designed to offer contemporary living in the heartof the city. They incorporate existing architectural features from the past: one of the entrances uses theoriginal facade of The Baltic Chambers. All have beenawarded eco-home status, in keeping with the next generations strong environmental concerns.

A sense of community is also increasingly important as an antidote to the isolation and stress of single city living. Our design includes communal areas at both entrances to create shared spaces in the buildings encouraging interaction and inclusivity. Opportunities to meet and spend time with neighbours are further encouraged with the addition of a shared sky garden. Many of the apartments also have their own private outdoor spaces to promote an appreciation of the outdoors in the heart of the city, with terraces and balconies away from the busy streets below.

Back in Edinburgh,BDPis collaborating with other architects to design and deliver Edinburgh St James, with an emphasis onmixed-use development. This isone of the largest and most significant urban regeneration projects currently underway in the UK.It will include 85 retail units, over 30 catering units, 152 new homes, a 244-bedroom five-star hotel, 75 room aparthotel, 5 screen cinema and 1600 car parking spaces.

When working onthese landmark projects with clients,our priority must be that we are creating buildings and communities that will last. Projects in the city should also beabout community and well-being, creatinghomes which are truly part of neighbourhoods,featuring a mix of homes, shops, offices,restaurantsand entertainment venues,where people feel happy, safe and part of a community.

Architecture should be about creating spaces that allow people to feel good in a space. It is also about buildings that will last and may be regenerated in the future. I look out the window from my office and still see empty spaces above shops. For me, that isan opportunity for a newhomein the city.

Read more:
Oliver Wilson: Mixed-use changing the shape of Scottish cities - Scottish Construction Now

Construction is set to begin this spring on an apartment building in downtown Rosemount that city officials say will drive more commercial growth in the area.

Ron Clark Construction and Design was given approval this month to redevelop Shenanigans Pub and the nearby Rosemount Plaza Shopping Center along Highway 3 into market-rate apartments. A second phase of the project will add about 4,000-square feet of retail space on the northeast part of the nearly three-acre site.

The project will cost between $25 million and $28 million to build and have an estimated taxable market of around $21 million, said Kim Lindquist, community development director.

The city has been told we need more rooftops to continue attracting commercial downtown, Lindquist said this week. The apartments bring more residents downtown and increases activity and vibrancy. This will benefit existing businesses and entice new businesses into our downtown.

The L-shaped, four-story apartment building will be among several new housing projects in downtown constructed in recent years, following the creation of a redevelopment plan. Others include Waterford Commons, Cambrian Commons senior housing, and the Steeple Center and adjoining senior living apartments.

To make the latest project work, the city council approved a $3.4 million tax-increment financing plan for the developer that will stretch over 25 years. With TIF, the developer will pay the incremental difference in taxes paid between the old site development and the new one.

A rendering of the four-story, 124-unit apartment project approved for Highway 3 in downtown Rosemount. (Courtesy of City of Rosemount)

A rendering of the four-story, 124-unit apartment project approved for Highway 3 in downtown Rosemount. (Courtesy of City of Rosemount)

A rendering of the four-story, 124-unit apartment project approved for Highway 3 in downtown Rosemount. (Courtesy of City of Rosemount)

A rendering of the four-story, 124-unit apartment project approved for Highway 3 in downtown Rosemount. (Courtesy of City of Rosemount)

They will use money for land write-down, demolition and utility improvements as redevelopment is more costly than greenfield development, Lindquist said.

The developer is required to have the retail project built by 2025.

Most of the project site was developed as a shopping center in 1962, which gave the community a retail boost and was robust for the next three decades or so. But as the retail landscape changed toward mega-malls and big-box retailers, small local shopping malls like Rosemount Plaza suffered.

Moreover, the center has seen minimal economic investment in recent years, leaving it in rough shape and making it difficult nearly impossible to bring it up to modern construction standards, according to Lindquist. Nowadays, the center includes Medic-Car Auto Repair, Chill Salon, The Guitar Shop and Divas & Denim Boutique.

Link:
Redevelopment plan to bring 124 apartments to downtown Rosemount - St. Paul Pioneer Press

KENNETT SQUARESo many people want to live in Kennett Square, developers are running out of space to build homes, businesses and restaurants.

"We are constantly getting building requests from developers," Kennett Square Matt Fetick told members of the Longwood Rotary Club this week. "Our borough codes department is staffed by three people and they have dozens upon dozens of applications sitting in front of them for rehabs and new construction and development. Our planning commission constantly hears from developers who want to build."

A real estate development company based in West Chester is building the Lofts, which will include nearly 100 high-end luxury apartments in the western section in the 600 block of West State Street, within easy distance of the downtown historic district. Work is also underway for a four-story, 175-unit luxury apartment complex on a 14.4-acre tract on Millers Hill Road, very close to the Kennett Area YMCA which includes underground parking. And construction will finish soon on Kennett Crossing, located at 753-754 West Cypress Street that includes 7,500 square feet of retail and office space.

In the past few years, Kennett Square has become known throughout the region as a destination town, with events like the Mushroom Festival, the Mushroom Drop, the Kennett Run, Brewfest, and many more. In fact, in the past five years, five brewpubs have popped up, and council even handcrafted an ordinance encouraging them.

According to official census figures, Kennett Square, which encompasses 1.1 square miles, is home to nearly 7,000 residents, but Fetick says it's closer to 12,000 due to undocumented citizens. The borough is entering its fifth year without a tax increase, boosted largely through income received by new construction.

Fetick said officials are at a point they have to balance whether they encourage more construction, which keeps tax hikes at bay and increases the tax base, or to turn it away and let residential homeowners pay more in taxes."

The Lofts, the latest development, will bring in significant tax revenue, Fetick said.

"The tax revenue alone from that development from the school district and the borough is more than twice per year what the last two tax increases were across the entire borough," Fetick said. "That's huge."

And there is still one huge chunk of land that, if developed, could necessitate the construction of a new school in the Kennett Consolidated School District. It's NVF.

The 27-acre NVF property off Mulberry Street has had environmental issues. At one time, the Nozesky junkyard was located next to NVF, or National Vulcanized Fibre. More than 20 years ago, more than 2,000 drums at the junkyard were dug up by the Environmental Protection Agency.

But remediation of the site should be finished sometime this year. Owner George Beer, the founder and president of the Delaware Valley Development Company, could sell it off to a developer.

"That single parcel makes up 18 percent of the entire borough mass," Fetick said. "One developer will control 18 percent of this town. That's a really big deal."

But it can't happen without borough council's approval. The land is zoned industrial, and would need to be rezoned.

"I expect to see mostly housing there," Fetick said. "I don't want to take traffic away from the center of town. The worst thing we can do is create another retail district in another part of town that may have perceived better parking, and downtown Main Street deteriorates."

At one time there was talk of a developer's interest to build 60 units of affordable senior housing to the site if concessions were granted by borough officials.

"I am passionate about senior housing and allowing seniors to age in place," Fetick said.

Developers are choosing to build high-end luxury apartments in Kennett Square because demand is high.

A recent marketing survey of 466 employees of Genesis, Chatham financial, Exelon and Kennett Consolidated School District, among others, found that living close to work is very important. And a majority said they would consider downsizing to a luxury, maintenance-free apartment.

"Everybody wants to build here," Fetick said.

View original post here:
Kennett Square mayor: 'Everybody wants to build here' - Daily Local News

A gas station that has sat unused and derelict on the corner of 19th and South Van Ness for some 16 years has been razed. Next, a seven-story, 75-unit building will rise up in its place under the guidance of developer Joe Toboni.

Were just getting the site ready, said Toboni, who initially proposed the project some five years ago. Were doing demolition and going to assess the site.

He said construction will likely begin in earnest in the next 60 days.

Its great, Toboni said about getting started. In all these things you start out very energetic and ready to build right away, and as time goes on, we have a lot of different things happen and the market changes.

He said he expects the building to be completed within 18 to 20 months after construction begins. But on the phone, Toboni seemed more excited to talk about his affordable housing plan. The project includes a slim 11 below-market-rate units (14.7 percent). But the developer said hes hoping to get those units filled quickly and use the money on more below-market-rate units.

We hope to raise $10 million by selling all BMRs and build in the neighborhood of 50 to 100 units with that money, he said, noting that he has 11 to 15 more units approved or in the pipeline, which he also expects to generate revenue.

This will be done through the nonprofit development business hes creating with his son, Joey, aimed at affordable housing construction. Developers usually build on- or off-site affordable units by city mandate or pay a so-called in-lieu fee to a city fund. But, to the best of Tobonis knowledge, developers have not used revenue from affordable units to fund more affordable units.

A preliminary rendering of 799 South Van Ness Avenue, a project proposed for 19th Street and South Van Ness Avenue, by Ian Birchall + Associates.

Were forming the board as we speak, Toboni said. He, his son and wife Mary will head the board along with a few developers, community and civic leaders, Toboni said.

Toboni said hes hoping to get that $10 million matched, and his son has already met with some tech companies to do that (he would only say they were among some of the largest in the area). The prospect of tech companies getting involved is not just a wish, Toboni emphasized. Theyre all excited about it and wanting to do something.

He said hes currently eyeing five sites, which he could not specify because they were still in play.

Toboni said he hopes other developers will begin to join the cause and sign onto his model for private affordable housing construction. That way, he said, it could be 1,000 units and then 2,000 units, and then it really is giving back.

As Mission Local has previously reported, Toboni, a city native, once lived in the Mission and began his development career building a 42-unit section 8 project in the Excelsior at 4770 Mission St.

His development company, the Toboni Group, which he runs with his son, completed a 27-unit market-rate project at 600 South Van Ness in 2017. The project under construction at 19th and South Van Ness was approved by the Planning Commission in December 2017. In addition to housing, it will also include around 4,500 square feet of retail space and 41 parking spaces.

The site of the former gas station at the corner of 19th and South Van Ness. Photo: Joe Rivano Barros / Mission Local.

Read more here:
Developer Joe Toboni breaks ground on 75-unit project on South Van Ness and a new affordable housing model - Mission Local