Dubai's Under Construction One Za'abeel Tower Holds the Longest Cantilever in the World

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Designed by Japanese firm Nikken Sekkei, and developed by Ithra Dubai, the latest addition to Dubais skyline is a mixed-use two towers project with a horizontal connection housing one of the worlds largest cantilevers. Currently, under construction, One Za'abeel Tower is scheduled for completion by 2021.

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Located at a crossroads between the old and new city, the project is in close proximity to Dubais International Financial Centre, International airport, and the Gold Souks of Deira. The innovative design of One Za'abeel puts in place twin skyscrapers, rising over a total built-up area of 470,700 square meters. Tower A, standing at 300 meters tall, will host offices and a hotel, the worlds first vertical resort, whereas Tower B, standing at 235 meters tall, will be primarily oriented towards residential units.

The 3.39 billion AED development will include 37,000 square meters of office space,263 residential units, 12,000 square meters of retail space, 497 hotel rooms and 77 high-speed lifts. Currently, at 35% complete, the project also incorporates 3 floors of high-end retail and leisure podium, and a horizontal structure, the Link, suspended perpendicularly to both towers at a height of around 100 meters above ground. The Link will hold a number of restaurants and bars, an observation deck, gym, spa, pool, banquet hall, and a rooftop terrace. Weighing at 9,000 tonnes when lifted and 13,000 tonnes when completed, the project hosts one of the worlds largest cantilevers.

Granted two prestigious awards in 2019, the Construction Innovation Awards for Best Innovative Project of the Year and Big Project MEs Mixed-Use Project of the Year, One Zaabeel is aiming for a Gold LEED certification. In fact, the towers use water-to-water heat pumps for centralized domestic hot water systems, [and] treated sewage effluent water for irrigation. The energy-efficient design also focuses on faade systems and incorporates the latest smart technologies to provide automation and energy optimization of office electrical, lighting, air conditioning, and ventilation systems.

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Dubai's Under Construction One Za'abeel Tower Holds the Longest Cantilever in the World - ArchDaily

Coweta County

This site plan shows the proposed rezoning and road realignment at Ga. Hwy. 16 East and Old Highway 85.

A convenience store and fast-food restaurant are proposed for property on Ga. Hwy. 16 next to Coweta Charter Academy.

Frazier Properties/Bruce Frazier has applied to have 6.27 acres, which sits between Old Highway 85 and the charter school property, rezoned from RC-Rural Conservation to C-6, Commercial Minor Shopping District.

According to the application, there would be a convenience store with gas pumps, with operating hours of 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week, and a fast food restaurant.

The site plan submitted with the application shows the fast food restaurant as being connected to the convenience store.

The site plan also shows a 5,000 square foot retail space, as well as a relocation of Old Highway 85. On the site plan, Old Highway 85 is moved to come into Hwy. 16 at a right angle, splitting the property. A roundabout intersection is shown. The retail space on the site plan is shown as being across the re-aligned Old Highway 85 from the convenience store.

Part of the property where the proposed retail center would be located is within the current right-of-way of Old Highway 85. If the rezoning is approved and the road is moved, that section of the road would have to be abandoned and rezoned.

The property is owned by Beverly Mitchell and currently has two houses on it, according to tax records.

The application states that Frazier Properties will donate right-of-way for the realignment of Old Highway 85, and will contribute 25 percent of the cost of the realignment and roundabout project, up to $250,000. The application also states that Frazier properties will provide engineering and construction documents for the realignment project.

A public hearing on the rezoning application will be held March 3 at 6 p.m.

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Gas station, fast food planned for 16 and Old Highway 85 - Newnan Times-Herald

Located at 450 N. Dearborn St. in Chicago, the new Rivere office tower will feature a glass facade and activated terraces for its office tenants.

CHICAGO Friedman Properties and the City of Chicago have finalized the development agreement of their public-private partnership for Rivere, a 30-story high-rise office building coming to downtown Chicagos River North district. The 674,000-square-foot tower will be situated at 450 N. Dearborn St., a block south of the intersection of Illinois and Dearborn streets.

Rivere will feature a little more than 50,000 square feet of retail space, as well as high-end amenities including concierge services, meditation space, on-demand meeting space, an upscale fitness and wellness center, secure bike room with shower facilities, onsite valet, below-grade garage parking and a food and beverage program operated by Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises.

The property will also house a new engine house for Engine Co. 42, the District 1 headquarters for the Chicago Fire Department.

Designed by Goettsch Partners, Rivere will feature a glass faade with activated rooftops and sustainable features, including efficient mechanical systems that will help reduce water and energy use. Other design team members include construction management firm Lendlease and engineer DLR Group.

Office managers and staff at Rivere will be able use an app to facilitate parking, concierge services, fitness class appointments, guest passes, thermostat control, restaurant reservations and conference room bookings.

Jack McKinney Jr., Matt Lerner and Mark Gunderson of Cushman & Wakefield will market the office tower on behalf of the public-private partnership. Anthony Campagni, Elan Rasansky and Cooper Annenberg of A.R.C Real Estate Group will market the retail space. No tenants have been announced at this time.

Friedman Properties is a local owner, developer and manager of real estate projects and is credited with spearheading River Norths transformation into a 24/7 neighborhood. The firm has been buying, rehabilitating and re-tenanting historic buildings in the once-blighted district beginning in the 1970s. Frideman Properties owns more than 50 properties in River North.

We are pleased to lead this innovative partnership with the City of Chicago in River North, while further developing this premier location, says Albert Friedman, CEO and chairman of Friedman Properties. This significant city investment and contemporary office building offers tenants the opportunity to situate their offices and employees in the most desirable downtown neighborhood.

Friedman Properties did not disclose a construction timeline and did not provide financial details for the funding of Rivere, but the Chicago Sun Times reported the targeted opening date is mid-2023.

Crains Chicago reported Friedman Properties will pay the City of Chicago for the estimated $20.2 million Engine 42 location that will be relocated to Rivere, as well as pay $5 million for the existing one nearby at 55 W. Illinois St.

John Nelson

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Friedman Properties, City of Chicago Move Forward with High-Rise Office Tower in Downtown's River North District - REBusinessOnline

Midtown Gainesville

Midtown was in the news a good bit in 2019, and for good reason: Gainesville is angling to finally close the deal on a revitalization of the area that has been in the works, or at least in the hopes, for years.

In 2019, a real-deal developer signed on to build a multi-use project on the other side of the midtown bridge. Construction of more than 200 apartments and 10,000 square feet of retail space could start as early as May and take up to two years.

But things are already happening in midtown. In December, Diletto Bakery opened on Bradford Street also near the midtown bridge. The bakery spent years building a fanbase by plugging away at the Gainesville Farmers Market on Fridays.

While Diletto is in midtown, the business offering on South American flavors is finding itself well placed to fill the space left by Midland Coffee Co.s exit from downtown in 2019.

And then theres the skate park and new pond coming to the Midtown Greenway deeper into midtown. Not far from the park, Let There Be Rock School got rolling on Main Street, and has stayed rolling, in 2019. The Inked Pig is rolling out a new menu item smoked sausages. The sausages are ground, stuffed and smoked at the restaurant on Main Street. - photo by Nick Bowman

Midtown has also been the new, trendy home for home decor shops and one of Gainesvilles most interesting new restaurants: The Inked Pig.

That gravel lot downtown

If you thought you read a lot about midtown in 2019, how about the fourth side of the square in downtown Gainesville?

With retired Coca Cola Co. CEO Doug Ivester buying into the project after developer Tim Knights plans collapsed in 2019, this could be the year work begins on something, anything, in Gainesvilles favorite parking lot at the corner of Main and Spring streets.

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Midtown, downtown, South Hall and wine: Four cool things we're watching in 2020 - Gainesville Times

Bob Perry slings vinyl at Cheapo Records in Central Square, and every sale in his Cambridge shop is critical.

Perry hustles to stay ahead as he watches more and more of the city's funky shops shut down.

"Every year, when the rents go up and the workers want a little bit more money, it gets a little bit harder," Perry said.

Retailers like Perry are feeling the squeeze from soaring rents, disruptive construction projects and the growth of online shopping.

Not all survive; in greater Boston, about 10 percent of storefronts are now empty.

The numbers are better in Cambridge, but in busy places like Harvard Square, they're seeing more than twice as many vacancies as in the rest of the city.

Harvard Square has been losing spots its eclectic identity was built on: The World's Only Curious George Store, John Harvard's Brew House, Tealuxe, Black Ink. Eye-popping rents helped force many out, and the city is reckoning with how to stem the tide.

"You always want somewhere to feel active and vibrant," said Pardis Saffari, the city's senior economic development manager.

Data from November 2019.

Saffari said when storefronts are dark, city officials worry about vandalism, blight and the toll shuttered stores take on other businesses.

"It can maybe make people not stop and shop or explore the neighborhood," Saffari said.

So city leaders got creative, employing strategies like paying local artists to exhibit artwork in vacant buildings to help liven up the spaces.

"So instead of seeing something maybe dark or empty, you now see some wonderful artwork to hopefully brighten up your day," Saffari said.

Cambridge also helped facilitate pop-up stores in vacant buildings. For example, a group of vintage clothing sellers is paying month-to-month to rent a former mattress store in Cambridge that sat empty for years.

Perry, the record store owner, filled another vacant storefront with vintage rock 'n' roll gear. Perry wants to gauge demand in the neighborhood, and the arrangement allows him to dip his toe in the water without a lot of risk.

"This is a real store in a real space on Mass. Ave in this neighborhood with the clientele that walks around here," he said.

Cultivating an invested clientele is important, particularly for a place like Harvard Square, which took another hit when the iconic Out of Town News newsstand shut down after 60 years in business.

"It was a place where Joan Baez came and played her music, and where Julia Child would get her cookbooks from," explained Aaron Greiner, director of CultureHouse, a nonprofit that filled the empty building where Out of Town News was located.

Hoping to maintain that community feel while they figure out what to do with the building, the city provided the space to CultureHouse, which functions as a community gathering spot open for anyone to hang out as long as they like.

Many visitors patronize other businesses in the area, Greiner said.

"The businesses that are still open, [visitors] are going to go and buy a coffee there, buy a lunch there," Greiner said.

And the benefits of filling the empty space aren't solely economic, he said.

"We're seeing increased problems of loneliness in cities, of isolation, which is a bit ironic because we think of cities as places that are full of people, yet people are feeling more and more disconnected," he said.

CultureHouse aims to be a community living room, for everything from book clubs and brainstorming sessions to ping pong tournaments.

"People can come in and read a book. They can come in and bring a coffee, bring their lunch. They can use the space as they like. They can meet a friend. They can meet someone new," Greiner said.

Cities hope landlords will meet someone new, too: potential tenants to open their minds to creative solutions.

Read more:
In Cambridge, Artists and Nonprofits Liven Up the Retail Landscape - nbcboston.com

Amazon is expected to break ground on HQ2 in 2020.

Arlington County

Amazon's second headquarters in northern Virginia is taking shape.

Earlier this month, the company cleared the last hurdle to begin building its second headquarters, called HQ2, when its plans received unanimous approval from the Arlington County, Virginia board. Amazon now expects to break ground on the 2.1-million-square-foot development in early 2020 and construction is slated to be complete in 2023.

Amazon will transform a group of vacant warehouses in Arlington's Pentagon City neighborhood into two 22-story buildings. The towers will be part of a larger, mixed-use site, called Metropolitan Park, that's expected to house new retail, restaurants and a daycare center open to the public, as well as 2.5 acres of green spaces designed for dog parks, farmers markets and other uses.

The company expects HQ2 will add 25,000 jobs over the next decade, with half of employees working out of the Metropolitan Park site. So far, Amazon said it has hired more than 400 employees to work out of leased offices in Crystal City, Virginia with some working on its cloud computing and Alexa teams.

Amazon submitted renderings to the Arlington County board that give a closer look into what the campus could look like when it's finished.

Here's a map showing how Metropolitan Park will be designed.

The development site, called Metropolitan Park, includes two 22-story towers, as well as new retail, restaurants and green space.

Arlington County

The 22-story towers will be built at S. Eads St. and 15th St. in Pentagon City.

This rendering shows suggested designs for public spaces in Metropolitan Park, taking inspiration from Amazon's Seattle headquarters.

Ground-floor space is allocated for retail shops and restaurants.

This rendering shows a 700-person-capacity indoor event space that will be available to the public.

An overview of all of the HQ2 developments in Arlington.

The final phase of Amazon's HQ2 includes another 2.1-million-square-foot development, located north of Metropolitan Park, at a 10-acre site called Pen Place.

Amazon is still putting together plans for the Pen Place development, a spokesperson said. The company expects to submit the plans to the Arlington County board next year.

See more here:
Amazon will break ground on HQ2 soon here's what it will look like - CNBC

In 2019, developmental pressures continued to dominate news headlines in St. Johns County.

The year featured a host of construction projects, a major land acquisition and other issues pertaining to the explosion in growth the county is experiencing. But other topics caused a stir as well.

Heres a look at some of the top stories of 2019:

GROWTH

As the decade drew to a close, the influx of more construction, more residents and more infrastructure began to near a boiling point, clashing with concerns about land preservation, traffic congestion and overcrowded schools.

The battle over Fish Island especially highlighted the issue of development pressures in St. Johns County.

Located on the Matanzas River adjacent to the State Road 312 bridge, Fish Island was once home to a sprawling citrus grove in Florida and had remained untouched since.

But when developers called for plans to build residential units in 2018, residents worked with nonprofit Matanzas Riverkeeper to fight the project.

In late-November, the North Florida Land Trust, in partnership with the State of Florida, negotiated to buy the property from the owners for $6.5 million. The state is now the owner of Fish Island, and the city of St. Augustine agreed to manage the property.

In July, local developer Chris Shee submitted an application with the county for a site off State Road 207 to build as many as 3,700 new homes, 3 million square feet of commercial space, 500,000 square feet of office space, another 500,000 square feet of industrial space, 600 hotel rooms and a new school site.

The most ambitious part of the Parrish Farms plan, which is still early in the approval process, involves constructing a new interchange on I-95 between S.R. 207 and State Road 206.

At the same time, established commercial and residential corridors in the county have become busier.

Parcel by parcel, over the last couple of decades State Road 16 has been filled in with development, including two outlet malls, numerous hotels, restaurants and other retail. More commercial projects are on the way.

Comparatively, S.R. 207 had remained less dense commercially. But that has begun to change. Over the last couple of years, several large residential communities have grabbed up land off 207, among them Treaty Oaks, Deerfield Preserve and the Arbor at Valencia.

A 256-unit, multi-family rental community called Brisa at St. Augustine fronting on S.R. 207 is under construction. Other plans in various stages of approval include two subdivisions west of I-95 on 207. Winding Oaks would encompass 250 homes, and another project called Black Gold would have 400 homes.

Growth at the St. Augustine Shipyards off U.S. 1 near S.R. 207 and adjacent to the San Sebastian River could also bring more activity to that area of town.

A deal struck in November transferred ownership of the property to the Windward Marina Group, and the leadership team wants to establish more of a connection between the Shipyards and its operations across the river on Riberia Street in St. Augustine.

MOTHER NATURE

For over a week in early September, the threat of Hurricane Dorian put life on hold for residents, businesses, schools and emergency officials all waiting and watching its fickle path from the Caribbean up the Florida coast.

In the end, the storm shifted direction, producing gusty winds and rainfall for most, though some properties in St. Augustine received flood damage.

Employers who didnt want to put workers in the way of danger and hospitality businesses betting on cancellations closed down, erring on the side of caution.

While many were unscathed by Hurricane Dorian, the storm caused a breach in sand that fronts the Summer Haven river, which caused a small section of the waterway to get clogged and prompted St. Johns County government officials to get involved to repair the breach.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

A couple of top local government officials left their positions, but for different reasons.

County Commissioners fired Michael Wanchick in November, ending his contract early after Commissioner Jeremiah Blocker said he had lost confidence in Wanchicks leadership.

Im making this motion because its my opinion that our county administrator is no longer able to execute the wishes and directions given by this board, Blocker said at the time.

Firing Wanchick early cost the county $161,080.29 in severance pay and accrued sick and vacation time as well as about $7,700 in estimated costs for continuing insurance coverage for Wanchick and his family, according to the county.

Hunter Conrad, former county clerk of court and comptroller, has taken over as interim county administrator. Commissioners plan to discuss the search for Wanchicks permanent replacement at their Jan. 21 meeting.

In other local leadership changes, Mayor Nancy Shaver resigned after having a stroke in February, and the Commission appointed former Mayor Tracy Upchurch as her replacement.

A major traffic project finally came to a close in 2019.

The intersection of May Street and San Marco Avenue, delayed long beyond its initial estimated finish date, opened in its final configuration.

The new, unique traffic pattern is a drastic departure from what was there before. The intersection is like a modified roundabout, though its not round.

Plans for a key intersection in St. Augustine were unveiled.

Barry Broudy and city officials announced a vision for the northwest corner of U.S. 1 and West King Street, the location of Broudys Liquors.

The plan would bring a pedestrian and bicyclist walkover across U.S. 1 and many new features to the Broudys lot: a parking garage, new police station, workforce housing and commercial space.

Commissioners voiced concerns about the height of the workforce housing buildings proposed at 50-55 feet and 60-65 feet high but supported allowing the city to keep exploring the idea.

The plan would need various city approvals and hasnt come back to the city for review.

Local government officials also tried to make the area a little greener this year, but the effort was met with challenges.

The city of St. Augustine Beach passed a ban on plastic bags and Styrofoam products but repealed the rules to avoid a lawsuit.

The city has pursued other initiatives as well, including designating cigarette butts as litter smokers face a $50 fine for leaving butts on the ground.

THINGS THAT GOT PEOPLE TALKING

St. Augustine Beach Police Chief Robert Hardwick and Chris Strickland, a former director with St. Johns County Sheriffs Office who resigned in 2016, filed to run for St. Johns County Sheriff. They will face each other in the Republican primary in August.

Tom Reynolds, a St. Augustine Beach resident, has filed to run with no party affiliation.

Investigations into allegations of inappropriate behavior by a teacher at R.J. Murray Middle School led to the resignation of the teacher and the reassignment of the principal, a series of events that came to light in 2019.

The Stanley Cup, professional hockeys top prize, made a stop at the Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine for public view and attracted hundreds of people.

Kelvin Bernie Blue was removed as Nease High School track and field coach. He had served as a teacher or coach at the school for 38 years. School Athletic Director Matt McCool said Blue had done a fabulous job but that the school had decided to go in a different direction.

After drawing national headlines as the alligator on the loose in Chicago, Chance the Snapper ended up making his home at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park. Hes now known as Chicago Chance and is featured in a coloring book about his adventures with his rescuer, Frank Robb.

St. Augustines famous carousel, which had been in Davenport Park, was removed after owner Jim Soules died. Because of his wishes, Soules family moved it to The Shell Factory and Nature Park in North Fort Myers. Plans are in the works to bring a new carousel to St. Augustine.

For more on these stories, go to staugustine.com.

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A look at the top stories of 2019 in St. Johns County - St. Augustine Record

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. As the calendar flips to 2020, several construction projects are nearing completion around Evansville. A couple other big ones will get going during the year, with finishing dates anticipated in 2021.

Here's an update of those projects:

Thisluxury apartment complex isin the heart of downtown and is a $40 million development. The project was announced in 2018 and is nearing completion.

The apartment has 144 units ranging from studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms.Amenities include an elevated outdoor pool with a tanning shelf, fitness center, yoga room and a bike storage area with a repair center.

Their website currently shows availableunits and prices. In mid-January,they will have an on-site building manager to coordinate leasing.Construction is set to be completed inspring of 2020.

This historicbuilding is being renovated into a mixed-usefacility with apartments and a restaurant on the lower level at 401 NW Second St.Architectural Renovators is taking on the project, which is expected to be done by late spring.

Pictures of old Nabisco factory and rendering of new restaurant and apartments after renovations are complete(Photo: Architectural Renovations)

The apartments, which don't yethave a name,will consistof 23 one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. The architect wants to keepmany of the old elements intact as they add modern touches. All units will be equipped with modern appliances but historical features such as the original hardwood floors and brick walls that will still be part of the apartments. Leasing will begin in February.

The facility will also house a new restaurant from Pangea owner Randy Hobson. It hasn't been named yet but is expected to serve Asian street food and international pastries.

Construction has been going on since the groundbreaking for this project back in March of 2018.The more than $18 million, privately financed development will have 139 guest rooms.The developer is Kinship Hospitality LLC, founded locally in 2016.

Completionis now slated for late spring of 2020. There were various delays along the way due to utility-related issues and unforeseen issues with the foundation thatrequired aredesign.

Exterior work continues on the Hyatt Place hotel in Downtown Evansville, Ind., Wednesday, July 3, 2019. (Photo: MaCabe Brown / Courier & Press)

Deaconess Health System began construction of a new Downtown clinic in February. Itwill offerprimary and specialty care physiciansas well as aDeaconess Clinic EXPRESS, which will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

The new building also will have10,000 feet of clinical research space to be used by students and staff of Indiana School of Medicine-Evansville, who study at the Stone Family Center for Health Sciences, nearby on Walnut Street. Construction is expected to be finished in spring.

Sheetmetal worker Brian Wagner descends the stairs at the construction site for the new Deaconess Clinic Downtown at Fifth and Walnut streets in Evansville on a rainy Monday afternoon. "Pretty much everyone we have on site are local contractors," said General Superintendent Joe Scheberle of the Barton Malow Company project, which he says will completed in May 2020.(Photo: Christiana Botic / Courier & Press)

Deaconess is also building a primary care clinic at Washington Avenue and South Green River Road, with a 2020 completion expected.

The warship's move to the riverfront is almost finished. Various city entities are coming together to pay for theproject with a total cost of $3.6 million. The city is contributing $2.2million, $1million is comingfrom Tropicana and$175,000 each from the Evansville Visitors Bureau and LST.

The ship is moving from Inland Marina to a Downtown site, across Riverside Drive from Tropicana Evansville. City officials are hopeful the ship will see increased visitation at the busier riverfront spot.

LST officials anticipate completing the ship's move by April, with a grand opening in early May. There were several steps to prepare for the move and three different contractors were hiredto handle the work.

The area of the river where the ship will be moored hadto be dredged, avisitors centerwhich will have the LSTs gift shop and offices is under construction andtwo barges were built.

Ground recently broke for Deaconess Aquatic Centerin Garvin Park. The new state-of-the-art facility will have stadium seating for 800 people, a four-lane teaching and leisure pool, a new 50-meter stretch pooland an outdoor spray park.

US Olympian Lilly King, third from right, turns dirt during the groundbreaking of the Deaconess Aquatic Center in Evansville, Ind., Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 11, 2019. (Photo: MaCabe Brown / Courier & Press)

Construction began in December andthe current timeline shows it's projected to open in late summer of 2021.

Owner George Yerolemou has been working to renovate what used to be theold Riverhouse Hotel, located at Walnut and First streets, into an upscaleboutique hotel.

Construction has been ongoing for almost three years. Yerolemou plans to finish by mid-April of 2020. The hotel will have 79 rooms, and there are plans to add an open rooftop bar to the hotel.

This tower, at 420 Main St.,used to be the headquarters for Old National Bank and at 18 stories, it is the tallest building within 120 miles. Domo Development Co. of Carmel, Indiana, obtained ownership and plan a redevelopment project with restaurant and retail spaces on the ground level and offices and apartments on the upper floors.

A rendering of the proposed redevelopment at the 18-story tower at 420 Main St. A private company has obtained ownership and plans a major project with restaurant and retail spaces on the ground level, and offices and apartments on upper floors.(Photo: Furnished)

Domo officials said construction on the $25 million to $30 million projectwill start in spring 2020 and last about 18 months. Thetower turns 50 years old next year. Renderings show the renovated building is to have walls of glass and a new sheath on the parking area.

The exhibit at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden will feature Humboldt penguins, which are warm-weather penguins native to Peru.

The cost of the entire project will be between $6-$7 million, and it will be a combination of public funds and private donations. It will be near the zoo's front entrance.

Construction is slated to begin early next year with a projected opening in2021.

Rendering of the Penguins of Patagonia exhibit planned for Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden.(Photo: Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden)

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Some big projects in Evansville are poised for 2020 completion; others about to start - Courier & Press

TIM WEIGHT/FOR THE EXPRESSThe landscape of downtown Bellefonte will be changing in 2020, as the borough looks to add a boutique hotel along with parking and new shops. Groundbreaking is expected to be done soon and the project completed by spring of 2021.

BELLEFONTE 2019 certainly was an interesting year for Bellefonte and the Centre Region. And there are going to be plenty of changes on the horizon in Bellefonte and the Centre Region in 2020.

With that in mind, lets take a closer look at some things to watch as we flip the calendar to 2020.

CENTRE COUNTY

GOVERNMENT

In 2019, Centre County rolled out its new voting machines. It also installed special netting to prevent black vultures from tearing up the roof of the countys Willowbank Building.

CHRIS MORELLI/THE EXPRESSThe construction of a Rutters convenience store along the Benner Pike in Bellefonte is picking up steam. The new store will be sandwiched between a pair of Sheetz stores in Bellefonte and State College and will likely provide some much-needed competition in the Centre Region.

All three Centre County commissioners Steve Dershem, Mark Higgins and Michael Pipe earned re-election in November. In 2019, they signed off on renovations to the historic Centre County courthouse.

Pipe, chair of the Centre County Board of Commissioners, looked ahead to 2020 and said that big things are on the horizon in the county.

This upcoming year will be full of opportunities to start anew with family, friends, and ourselves. County government is no different. As a team, we will work on important issues that impact our community such as mental health, infrastructure, elections and so much more, he said.

Also, we will wrap up the current phase of the renovations at the courthouse and the construction of a solar panel project at our correctional facility. The new year will see fresh initiatives such as Census 2020 and planning for the reuse of the Centre Crest facility. While a lot of work is in front of us, we celebrate the accomplishments the Centre County Government team achieved in 2019 and are hopeful for our future, Pipe said.

OPENINGS AND

CLOSINGS

Several businesses closed their doors in 2019.

In downtown Bellefonte, Dam Donuts said farewell. The popular donut-coffee shop closed its doors in February. The shop was in business for three years and had become a staple for fans of unique, freshly-made donuts. To pick up the slack, Dunkin Donuts opened its shop along the Benner Pike in Bellefonte.

Also along the Benner Pike, construction picked up just across the street from the Centre County Correctional Facility, where a Rutters is quickly taking shape. It is expected to open sometime in 2020, according to the Rutters website. Further out the Benner Pike, a new-and-improved Sheetz opened its doors just in time for Penn States football season. It also sells alcohol, something new for the location.

Back in Bellefonte, Wendys opened its doors along Buckaroo Lane, just across from Weis Markets. It joined Burger King as Bellefontes second fast food restaurant. Elsewhere, after closing his old restaurant and bar location in December of 2019, Bonfattos owner David Letterman brought the Bonanza subs back to downtown Bellefonte at the new and improved Bonfattos Italian Market and Corner Cafe near Talleyrand Park.

Also in April, Red Horse Tavern owners Justin Leiter and Courtney Confer announced plans to open Sammis at the old Bonfattos location. Sammis features cheesesteaks and a variety of sandwiches, French fries and salads.

Axemann Brewery announced plans to start construction at the former Cerro Metal Plant in Bellefonte. No timetable has been announced for its opening, although it is expected sometime in 2020.

Centre Care broke ground along the Benner Pike for its new facility. It will replace Centre Crest in Bellefonte when it opens.

COMING SOON:

BELLEFONTE

There are big things happening in Bellefonte.

The Bellefonte Waterfront project will aim to bring a hotel, restaurant, condominiums and retail space to the property that was formerly home to the historic Bush House. After years of sitting vacant, the property has a new owner. At a recent Bellefonte Borough Council meeting, members from Bellefonte Waterfront Associates spoke and said that construction could begin as soon as spring of 2020.

BWA is led by Torron Groups Tom Songer II and Hospitality Asset Management Companys Mark Morath. BWA entered into an agreement with Bellefonte Borough and Bellefonte Area Industrial Development Authority to buy and develop the four acres along Water Street between High and Lamb streets in August of 2018. The land is the former home of the historic Bush House, which burned down in 2006. Since then, the land has sat vacant.

There has been a lot of talk about developing that land. Now, it is coming to fruition.

According to Songer and Morath, the vision statement for the project says it is hoping to begin construction of the hotel and parking garage in a few months and the retail and condominium building next to Lamb Street in the spring of 2021.

Plans for the project include a promenade along Spring Creek from High to Lamb Street that will serve as a pedestrian walkway and gathering space. Plans also call for the reconstruction of Dunlap Street into a two-way street and will connect High Street to Lamb Street, adjacent to the existing Bellefonte mill race that fed water to the historic Gamble Mill.

The proposed five-story hotel will include approximately 80 guest rooms, along with meeting and banquet rooms and a restaurant. The hotel will be constructed at High and Dunlap streets with the main entrance on Dunlap Street, where a parking area with a covered patio is expected to be constructed. There are also plans for a pedestrian entrance from High Street.

The hotel would provide another location in Centre County for Penn State football fans to stay during the season, as there is always a need for hotel rooms from August through November in the Centre Region.

The project is just one of many big things happening in Bellefonte. Developers are looking to re-open the Gamble Mill, a once-popular historic restaurant that has sat vacant for several years.

Bellefonte mayor Tom Wilson agreed that big things are happening in the county seat.

Bellefonte is, and has been, on a positive trajectory. Much of the credit for the towns continued forward movement should be given to an influx of young professionals that have embraced this community and have invested their time and talents to help the Fonte become a go to place,' Wilson said. We still have plenty of work to do in this area. Our wish list includes the building of a proper band shell in Tallyrand Park. The building of the multi-purpose greenway trail between Bellefonte and Milesburg. Plus, the development and implementation of an artistic initiative called Water Fire along the waterfront.

According to Wilson, its important that Bellefontes history is preserved as areas of the town are re-developed.

Historic preservation is always important in a town such as Bellefonte, he noted. We will endeavor to preserve our historic structures while also keeping in touch with projects that will high light our natural assets. Much of the economic future of Bellefonte lies in the area of outdoor recreation tourism fishing, boating, biking and hiking.

ROGERS STADIUM

The finishing touches were put on Rogers Stadium just in time for fall sports season at Bellefonte Area High School. The football team along with the boys and girls soccer teams played their seasons there. The new-and-improved version of Rogers Stadium features state of the art turf, locker rooms, new restrooms, two concession stands, new press box and ticket booth. The stadium was packed most Friday nights during the football season as fans watched the Red Raiders steamroll opponents on their way to a District 6 championship and an appearance in the PIAA State Playoffs.

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Downtown Bellefonte may look different by the end of 2020 | News, Sports, Jobs - Lock Haven Express

Amid Central Texas ongoing apartment-building boom, two of the latest projects to be announced will add several hundred new rental units to a market that continues to be primed by the regions job and population growth.

One complex, which is being developed by Dallas-based Trammell Crow Residential, is due to break ground early next year at 1919 East Riverside Drive, replacing the now-closed American Bingo hall and its parking lot.

The seven-story project, likely to be called Alexan Riverside, will have 308 apartments plus retail space, said Matt Enzler, senior managing director with Trammell Crow Residential.

The other project is being developed by Dallas-based Stillwater Capital Investments, partnering with Dubai-based Sweid & Sweid, The complex is under construction FM 1626 and Old San Antonio Road in South Austin. The first phase of the three-story development will have 372 apartments, said Brandon Easterling, Stillwaters Central Texas partner.

The first units are scheduled to be ready in late 2020, with final construction wrapping up in the summer of 2021.

Amenities will include a fitness center, pool, clubhouse, outdoor lounge and dog park.

A second phase is projected to have a similar number of units, Easterling said, although a site plan and design work havent yet been finalized. Phase two could break ground sometime in 2021 or 2022, Easterling said.

"Stillwater decided to double down in the South Austin submarket due to its continued low level of supply compared to the increased demand for rental units," Easterling said. "Historically we have noticed less concessions and quicker lease-ups in this submarket, and feel very fortunate and excited to deliver two high quality rental properties to this submarket."

Trammell Crow and Stillwater have not released the estimated cost of their developments or projected rent rates.

Easterling said hes bullish on South Austins demographics, and that over the next three to four years, the area's density will continue to increase.

As in other parts of Central Texas, Southeast Austins demographics also are spurring a surge of apartment building, including along the booming East Riverside corridor.

Stillwater is working on a 222-unit apartment project on Montopolis Drive, off East Riverside Drive. The first units are expected to open in the summer of 2020, Easterling said.

Meanwhile, at the 2.5-acre site of the former bingo hall at East Riverside and Royal Crest drives, construction is due to start in the first quarter of 2020 on the Alexan Riverside project, with an opening targeted for the fourth quarter of 2021. Enzler said

"We are excited to be building in the dynamic East Riverside corridor, with its ever increasing jobs, retail, restaurants and other resident amenities," Enzler said.

Further east along Riverside, construction has started on Zoey, a 307-unit apartment complex that will be built between Penick Drive and Country Club Road, on land originally platted for single-family homes in the 1950s by the late golf legend Harvey Penick.

At 6400 E. Riverside Drive, the previously announced Urban East mixed-use project is poised to break ground in the first quarter of 2020, said Cory Older, president of River City Capital Partners.

Urban East is slated to have 375 apartments, along with 100,000 square feet of office space and 20,000 square feet of retail/restaurant space.

One of the largest mixed-use projects to date is proposed for 97 acres at East Riverside Drive and Pleasant Valley Road that would bring about 4,700 new apartment units and several million square feet of office space and other commercial and retail development, in a project to be built in phases over more than two decades.

As of June 2019, Central Texas apartment rents reached an all-time high, according to Charles Heimsath, whose consulting firm Capitol Market Research tracks apartment rents and occupancy rates.

At mid-year, Capitol Market Research's forecast called for a record number of apartment units to be completed this year more than 12,000 with leasing activity matching the pace of new deliveries. Heimsath at that point was tracking about 25,800 units that were under construction and scheduled to open through the last half of this year to 2021.

"This is truly an amazing time in the market, from a development standpoint," Heimsath said at mid-year. "We are building and (leasing) a record number of units across the region."

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Projects to add hundreds of apartment units to Austin region - Austin American-Statesman