WASHINGTON Close to 100 businesses in Wheaton that could be impacted by the ongoing construction of a new, 14-story Montgomery County office building and town plaza, may get compensated for interruption of their businesses.

The Montgomery County Council has created a Small Business Assistance Program to provide both technical and financial assistance to qualified downtown Wheaton, Maryland, businesses that can demonstrate financial impact to their businesses since construction began in June on the Wheaton Town Plaza project.

Construction is expected to last for three years.

Under the program, businesses could be eligible to receive up to $75,000 over the three year construction period for documented declines in their business directly attributable to the construction project.

The new, 308,000-square-foot Wheaton Town Plaza office building will be home to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, which is relocating from downtown Silver Spring.

It will also house several county departments and will have street level retail space.

Adjacent to the building will be a 20,000-square-foot entertainment plaza being built on the current site of the Mid-County Regional Services Center, which is moving into the new office building.

Big plans sometimes have growing pains, and to ease the pain of the existing small businesses that we want to be part of the revitalized Wheaton, we have created this innovative program, said County Executive Isiah Ike Leggett.

Before this project began, we promised these businesses that have been the fabric of Downtown Wheaton that we would provide help to them, and through this program, we are doing just that in a way rarely found in any development project in the nation.

Many of the businesses in the area are small, single-proprietor businesses with Latino ownership.

The program also includes nonfinancial assistance, including help with marketing and business planning that take into consideration the changes during construction.

The County said businesses can apply for assistance to the Countys Department of Finance, which is overseeing the program, starting Sept. 5 online.

The first of quarterly reimbursements could be made to businesses owners within weeks of applications, the County said.

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Businesses disrupted by Wheaton Town Plaza construction may be compensated - WTOP

Gardendale is preparing for a number of new developments in the city that could mean a major financial windfall for the city. The construction of a UAB medical facility and freestanding emergency room is expected to begin off Mt. Olive Road (near Buffalo Wild Wings) this Fall.

The City Council recently approved work to begin preparing the roadway for the entrances and exits needed to support the facility. City leaders are also optimistic that the medical facility will draw other businesses to the immediate area, where there will still be more than 13 acres available.

The UAB construction process had been delayed by red tape in getting all of the approvals needed at a state level to begin the construction, but earlier this year, a UAB representative reaffirmed the commitment to the project at a State of the City luncheon with the Greater Gardendale Chamber of Commerce.

The city also recently committed to an $11 million development deal with GBT Realty to develop the area between Odum Road and Interstate 65 into an upscale destination retail center consisting of not less than 125,000 square feet of gross leasable area, according to the legal notice.

The developer spoke at a May council meeting and said they anticipate the final project will create approximately 250 new jobs and generate approximately $30 million in revenue for the city. The property includes retail space and out parcels for restaurants or independent stores. No potential tenants were formally announced, but the developers said they were currently in talks with several potential tenants.

In addition, this year saw the opening of the long-awaited Shrimp Basket as well as the remodeling of the shopping center at the corner of Fieldstown Road and Odum Road, which now houses Aspen Dental and Pet Supermarket.

Business development hasnt been the only project for the city, as it also opened a renovated green space area adjacent to the Kenneth Clemons Athletic Complex on Fieldstown Road. The complex has long housed the citys soccer fields and Splash Pad, but now also boasts an 18-hole disc golf course, Magnolia Links, and an extensive walking trail. Work is also underway to complete a dog park and skate park at the facility.

During the last year, the city also finally got the Raymond G. Doss Playground of Miracles completed and opened. The park, which is outfitted with playground equipment for children with special needs, backs up to the citys existing baseball park for those children and adults who have special needs.

The city also finally got its day in court on the battle to create a Gardendale City School System by breaking away from the Jefferson County Board of Education. The week-long trial resulted in a ruling from the federal judge that caused the city and the plaintiffs in the case to appeal. The case currently rests with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. Although city officials were disappointed by the decision and the further delay, they have expressed their desire to continue forward on the path to forming a city school system.

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State of the City: Gardendale moves forward with two new developments - North Jefferson News

The citys Metropolitan Development Commission on Wednesday will consider whether to extend deadlines tied to a downtown apartment project so the developer can still qualify for a property tax abatement.

Louisville-based Investment Property Advisors LLC completed the first phase of the 9 on Canal Apartments in 2014. The development included 304 apartment units, 7,877 square feet of retail space and a 278-space parking garage.

In November 2015, the MDC granted a 10-year real property-tax abatement for a $37.2 million second phase that would add 219 apartments, more than 20,000 square feet of retail space and 188 underground parking spaces along downtowns Central Canal.

The developers agreement with the city required it to complete the six-story project by the end of 2017 and add 63 jobs at an average wage of $15 per hour by the end of 2018.

But, in May, a representative from Investment Property Advisors notified the Department of Metropolitan Development that it was not likely to complete its commitments by the deadlines, according to the resolution to extend the timeline.

The MDC will consider extending the deadline for completion to May 31, 2019, and the deadline for the creation of jobs to Dec. 31, 2020. Commissioners also want a construction schedule from the developer.

Work on the second phase should start by October, said Chase Sorrick, a co-owner of Investment Property Advisors, noting that the new construction schedule aligns better with the spring leasing season.

We wanted our building to open in the early springtime, and so we didnt want to put a lot of pressure on our construction schedule, he told IBJ.

9 on Canal is about 95 percent occupied, Sorrick said.

Apartments in the second phase will range in size from 650 square feet for a one-bedroom unit to 1,322 square feet for a three-bedroom unit.

Investment Property Advisors would build the second phase at 350 W. St. Clair St., immediately south of the existing development, and would save an estimated $2.4 million (or 40 percent) in property taxes on the project over the 10-year abatement period.

The company would still pay an estimated $3.5 million in property taxes on the development over that period and an estimated $634,400 annually on the improved property after the abatement period.

The 1.7-acre site, which is occupied by a warehouse, currently brings in less than $6,500 in annual property taxes.

The developer has acquired the property and would need to demolish the warehouse to make way for the apartments.

Also on Wednesday, the MDC is set to sign off on $7.2 million in developer-backed bonds to help finance the $41 million Ardmore development. The five-story mixed-use project by the base of Massachusetts Avenue is to be developed by Gershman Partners Inc. and Deylen Realty Inc. and owned by GP-Deylen LLC.

Plans for The Ardmore call for 126 apartments ranging from 553 square feet to 1,631 square feet; 20,000 square feet of retail; and 302 below-ground parking spaces. It is slated to be built on 2.8 acres at the southwest corner of North Delaware and East New York streets on property that is now used for surface parking.

Under traditional tax-increment financing deals, the city assumes the risk of a bond issue and must make up shortfalls if additional property tax revenue generated in a defined district falls short of debt payments. Under the developer-backed strategy, the developer is on the hook for shortfalls.

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Developer of $37M downtown apartment project seeks new construction schedule - Indianapolis Business Journal

Projects that range from the ground-up building of college facilities to renovation of retail buildings keep local construction firms busy these daysand could for years to come.

LeChase Construction LLC, which has offices all over the East Coast, generally takes on two primary types of projects in the Rochester area.

Over the last 10 yearsweve been back and forth, with health care being our top market or education being our top market, says William Mack, the firms president.

For about the last three years, projects for educational institutions have made up a high percentage of LeChases business.

In western New York, theres a tremendous number of great public and private colleges and universities, and theyre competing for a set amount of students, Mack explains. In order to continue to attract students, these colleges and universities need to continually upgrade their facilities, because students are choosing colleges based on whats offered from a facilities standpoint.

LeChase is the construction manager for one such bricks and mortar upgrade at Nazareth College. Last April, the college broke ground on its $15.5 million Jane and Lawrence Music Performance Center. Slated to open next spring, the 550-seat music performance venue is designed for large instrumental ensembles.

LeChase doesnt limit its work to higher education: According to Mack, the firm is managing two construction projects for the Rochester City School District right now.

At the same time, LeChase continues to serve its second biggest set of customersthose in health care. Among other projects, the firm is managing the construction of the Rochester Regional Health Systems Sands-Constellation Center for Critical Care.

Rochester Regional Health broke ground on the seven-story, 312,000-square-foot Sands-Constellation Center last May. The facility, which will include 20 operating rooms, 108 private acuity-adaptable patient rooms and a large special-care nursery, is slated for completion in 2020.

Health care projects can account for as much as 40 percent of the business of DGA Builders LLC, depending upon the year, but currently dont make up the majority of them.

Multi-residential comprises 50 percent to 60 percent of our volume, says CEO Michael Szuromi. We have numerous new construction projects in New York, Pennsylvania and Florida.

Closer to home, the firm is working on a number of multi-residential projects in the Rochester area, including 933 the U. The 99-unit complex on Rochesters University Avenue is slated to open in late 2018.

Multi-residential construction is one of The DiMarco Groups mainstays.

Multi-residential is something that the company has done for the last 30 years, says Paul Colucci, the firms vice president of construction and development. We either own, operate or have constructed approximately 8,000 multi-residential units throughout the Northeast, and we have a fairly significant portfolio of for-rent properties.

Renovations of existing buildings, either for DiMarcos customers or for re-use or rental by the firm, make up a big part of its construction work, according to Colucci. DiMarco is redeveloping as a retail space the former Wal-Mart store at BayTowne Plaza, one of the local properties it owns in Webster.

Were redeveloping that into seven different spaces for future tenants, Colucci says.

DiMarco also redevelops or renovates local properties for use by educational institutions.

Were just wrapping up a very large project in the city of Rochester, which is Monroe Community Colleges new downtown campus, Colucci says.

Once renovation is completed this fall, MCC will occupy 255,000 square feet of four buildings that were once part of Eastman Kodak Co.s State Street headquarters complex.

Though much of DiMarcos business is in redevelopment, the company builds from the ground up as well. The firm just received approval for building a 384-apartment complex in Canandaigua. Its slated to begin erecting the first 96 apartments in September. Just that section of the job will come to $10.5 million, according to Colucci.

Two local construction firms make up The Pike Companies Ltd. While LeCesse Construction Services primarily focuses on multi-family constructionincluding a major construction and renovation project at the Jewish Home of RochesterThe Pike Company Inc. takes on other types of jobs.

On the Pike side, were doing a lot of manufacturing and health care-type work, says Rufus Judson, CEO of The Pike Companies, Ltd.

Among other health care projects, Pike is working on one at Golisano Childrens Hospital.

Were excited to be turning over, at the University of Rochester Medical Center, a couple floors in the new Golisano Hospital, Judson says. Weve been doing the fit-out of the interior.

While that job is being completed, Pike is also overseeing construction of a new manufacturing plant in Chili.

Were in the middle of the American Packaging Corporations new flexible packaging plant, Judson says.

American Packaging broke ground on the 350,000-square-foot plant in June. The company plans to invest nearly $170 million in the facility.

Though Pike is involved in many other types of projects, health care facility, multifamily residential and industrial construction could figure prominently in the firms future.

There seems to be a good push across New York with manufacturing technology, so were hopeful for that sector to grow, Judson says.

DGA also appears to look forward to the coming years.

We will be starting several new multi-family residential construction projects in New York, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, Szuromi says. Numerous regional health care projects are also completing their pre-construction phases and will transition to active construction this fall or winter.

Colucci expects the coming years to be neither rosy nor rotten for the areas construction firms.

Rochester and the Northeast is generally three to four percent growth over the long term, he says. I think were still going to see that.

Mike Costanza is a Rochester-area freelance writer.

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Construction firms report steady parade of projects - Rochester Business Journal

WACO, Texas (KWTX) A new mixed retail and restaurant space in downtown Waco is set to open its doors to visitors in 2018, adding to the growing boom of business in the area.

The space at South 8th Street and Jackson Avenue, formerly owned by Cornerstone Plumbing, was acquired by Blake Batson and Chris Clark in June.

"We picked this spot because of the current development in Waco. Jackson Avenue is a central spot for pedestrian access from the river all the way to downtown past Magnolia, Batson said.

Batson also owns Common Grounds and Heritage Creamery.

The 9,700 square foot property will be called Jackson Station because of its proximity to nearby train tracks.

People would come to Jackson Station as if they're going to a train station to sit, to eat, and to wait for their next passage, he said.

Jackson Station will feature an anchor restaurant inspired by Nashvilles famous hot chicken, space for five to six local retail spaces, as well as an additional 5,000 square foot outdoor patio area facing the Magnolia Silos.

Batson and Clark worked with Sterling Thompson Architects to create the plans and renderings, and have engaged with Mitchell Construction to bring the space to life.

"We're really excited about the space. We think it has a lot of potential for a creative and fun environment to really jive well with what's happening downtown. It's going to take us some time to renovate but we're really hoping to get it open by January 2018, Clark said.

The space will be similar in concept to the Mary Avenue Market on 300 South 6th Street.

"Were using a big space and subdividing the space to have different tenants that kind of fits a common synergy, Batson said.

Clark said theyve recently turned in demolition plans for Jackson Station with the city and are planning on sending TIF applications next month.

Andrea Barefield with City Center Waco said downtown has experienced tremendous growth in businesses coming to the area the past two years.

We've seen at least 38 new business starting that produced about 143 new jobs in downtown Waco, and that's on both sides of the river, Barefield said.

She said growing tourism, population, and development will only continue to increase over the years.

I look forward to many more businesses just like them [Jackson Station] coming in to make downtown Waco just a better place to be, Barefield said.

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Waco: New mixed retail, restaurant space set to open doors in 2018 - KWTX

Clark Construction Group has been selected by University of California San Diego (UCSD) to build the$608 million North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood, a 10-acre project designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification. HKS Architects will lead the design team for the project and Safdie Rabines Architects will also assist with design.

The mixed-use neighborhood will blend academic residential, commercial and cultural programming and will house 2,000 beds. The development will have tenants such as Sixth College, Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities. The campus will incorporate student housing academic buildings and research spaces, general assignment classrooms and community service programs. Additionally, the project will include the Craft Center, a space providing non-curricular classes that will engage the campus and surrounding community and will feature 9,000-square-foot retail space.

The Living and Learning Neighborhood at North Torrey Pines community will consist of seven buildings featuring outdoor space, approximately 1,200 parking spaces, as well aswalking and bike paths. Construction will begin in summer 2018 and is slated for completion in 2020.

Innovative universitieslike many leading urban centersare transforming their campuses into vibrant mixed-use neighborhoods. The Living and Learning Neighborhood will be among the most progressive campuses in the country, as it will offer students, faculty and visitors a truly integrated experience, David Harper, HKS principal & global higher education sector leader, said in prepared remarks. Unlike many traditional universities that silo academic, residential and administrative facilities into separate areas on campus, we are fusing together all aspects of the university experienceliving, learning, socializing and workinginto a single environment.

UCSD has been expanding its campus recently, with other projects in the works including a partnership with BioMed Realty to develop a 110,000-square-foot research hub focused on finding treatments and cures for cancer and other chronic diseases.

Video courtesy of HKS

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Clark Construction Leads $608M San Diego Mixed-Use Project - Commercial Property Executive

Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post

Strong job and population gains continued to support Denvers office and industrial markets in the second quarter, and even the struggling retail sector got some relief as the number of vacant big-box stores declined.

New jobs have created demand for new space, said Matt Vance, an economist and director of research for CBRE in Colorado, which provided a market update Monday.

Of the three major commercial real estate segments, industrial remains the strongest in metro Denver. Tenants have absorbed more space than they have let go for an unprecedented 29th consecutive quarter, with no signs that is about to end.

That is the longest run in my 30-year career, saidJim Bolt, executive vice president with CBRE Industrial & Logistics Services.It is hard to get less vacancy than what we have.

Industrial lease rates continue to rise, supported by restraint in new construction. About three-quarters of what is in the pipeline will be built around Denver International Airport and on the north side of the metro area.

One reason industrial space is in such demand is that consumers are buying more goods online, necessitating more distribution centers and warehouses.

Traditional retailers, however, remain under pressure. Payless ShoeSource, RadioShack, JC Penny, Sears, Kmart, Macys, Guess,Abercrombie & Fitch, American Apparel, Bebe and Gordmans are some of the chains that have announced bankruptcies or wide-scale store closures.

But mixed-use retail, the smaller stores that fill the ground floor of some new urban apartment and office buildings, as well as space for restaurants, remains in demand.

Matthew DeBartolomeis, vice president with CBRE Retail Services, saidmetro Denver developers have nearly 1.2 million square feet of retail space under construction and delivered 313,000 square feet of new retail space, a 9 percent increase compared with the same period last year.

Just two projects, the second phase of the Stanley Marketplace and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in the Sloans Lake neighborhood, accounted for more than half the new retail space added. On the downside, the heavy hail storm in May knocked 50-plus stores at Colorado Mills out of commission until repairs are completed.

A year ago this month, Englewood-based Sports Authority, once the nations largest sporting goods retailer, closed its remaining 460 stores, including 31 in Colorado after failing to find a buyer in bankruptcy.

DeBartolomeis also noted that even the big-box retail spaces that dot the metro area are slowing getting absorbed. There were 92 of those a year ago and 76 at the end of the second quarter.

Chris Phenicie, senior vice president with CBRE Advisory & Transaction Services, notes that all theresidential development in central Denver is supporting both retail and office development, giving the area a vibrancy that appeals to educated millennials and the employers trying to locate near them.

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Denver's commercial real estate market hangs tough thanks to job gains - The Denver Post

GRAND RAPIDS After running into challenges with leasing retail space at a prominent downtown redevelopment, a DeVos-held entity got permission from the state to delay its incentive loan repayments.

The company behind The Morton, which was redeveloped and managed by Grand Rapids-based Rockford Construction Co. Inc. in 2015, has struggled to lease ground-floor and lower-level retail space in the facility, according to documents filed with the Michigan Strategic Fund.

While the developer has successfully rented commercial offices and market-rate apartments in The Morton, it has leased only 38 percent of the 38,000 square feet of retail space and has no negotiations underway currently with possible tenants, according to the MSF briefing documents.

That struggle to lease the retail space led DeVos family company RDV Corp., the investors in the project, to request an 18-month deferment on the loan repayment related to state incentives.

The MSF board approved the request in late June. The entity previously had awarded the $27 million project more than $4.3 million in incentives in February 2015.

For its part, Rockford executives attribute the challenges to the sites original design.

The Morton ground floor is a unique space and very well located along Monroe Center, Mike Mraz, managing partner of real estate development for Rockford Construction, said in an email to MiBiz. As a renovated former hotel, the available retail and restaurant opportunities are large spaces that are original to the building. We continue to receive interest, and it will take the right operator to utilize the location most effectively.

Lease rates for the available spaces are listed at between $12 and $20 per square foot and tenants are responsible for all utilities and upkeep of their spaces.

Additionally, the MSF documents note that 82 of the 99 residential units in the 13-story building have been leased.

According to commercial real estate sources, a combination of the low visibility related to the buildings original design as a hotel and the need for upfront investment from any new tenants serve as key challenges to getting the retail space leased up.

Its a unique space just waiting for the right user or concept, said Chris Prins, an associate at Grand Rapids commercial brokerage Colliers International Inc., who currently has the listing for The Morton retail space. But its going to take quite a bit for a build-out.

In late May, boutique retailer Apothecary Off Main moved into 779 square feet of space on the ground floor of The Morton building along Monroe Center. The company previously occupied space in the Rockford Construction-managed retail incubator known as MoDiv.

While retail as a whole has suffered in recent years as more consumers have turned to e-commerce for their shopping needs, many sources still say that small, specialty retail particularly in urban environments can have a bright future.

Mraz shares that sentiment with regard to space at The Morton.

We continue to be confident in downtown retail, he said.

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DeVos-held firm gets loan deferment on GR facility amid struggle to fill retail space - MiBiz

Delray Beach has been explosive lately, and more development is on its way.

Shopping, local parking and luxury can be expected at 4th and 5th Delray, a mixed-use project by iPic and Samuel & Associates that broke ground on July 5.

The destination will feature an iPic Theaters complex, which offers an affordable, yet luxurious movie-going experience. The 528-seat theater will debut premium plus seating pods and premium chaise lounges, guaranteeing comfort and class for your night out.

On the professional side, 4th and 5th Delrays Class A office space, including iPics global headquarters, is expected to spur local economic development.

Shoppers should look forward to the 7,5000 square feet of retail space that will align the streets with new boutiques and retail opportunities.

The development will also include a six-level, 326-space garage adding 238 additional parking spaces. This parking lot will offer a rooftop green space, accessible to the public.

One of the most beneficial aspects of the project is the number of jobs being brought to the community. The theater, offices and retailers together will bring an estimated 421 jobs to the downtown area.

Currently, the local firm of Butters Construction & Development, serving as the general contractor for 4th and 5th Delray, has generated more than 400 temporary construction positions.

Photo courtesy of Samuels & Associates

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Construction Begins On 4th And 5th Delray, A Mixed-Use Project Downtown - Boca Life Magazine

This quarter was packed full of groundbreakings! After over a decade of planning, construction has finally commenced on the new St. Pete pier. Construction crews have started driving piles into Tampa Bay to support the over-water portion of the pier. It will take 6 months to complete the pile driving process, however construction on the pier deck is scheduled to begin as early as October.

In other groundbreaking news, located on Fourth Avenue North between Third and Fourth streets, the site of the Museum of the American Arts of Crafts Movementwas fenced off this quarter for site preparation. The $70 million privately funded museum will occupy 137,000 square feet and stand 5 stories tall. The museum will include a 100-seat auditorium, a resource library, a children's education center, a 300-seat upscale restaurant, a cafe, retail store and event space. The expected opening date is May 2019.

Two more city-funded projects broke ground this quarter, as well -- The Campbell Park Skatepark and the new St. Pete Police Headquarters. The 167,000 square foot police HQ, which includes an offsite shooting range, will cost the city $85 million. The old headquarters will be demolished sometime in 2019 after the new complex is complete.

Near Tropicana Field in Campbell Park, the Campbell Park Skatepark finally broke ground after over 2 years of anticipation. Once the 28,000 square foot skatepark is complete, it will be the largest skatepark in the entire state of Florida.

Also this quarter, some smaller townhome projects started going vertical. District on 9th (34 units) and Skye333 (10 units) started construction near the EDGE District. On 4th Ave South, The Sabal broke ground on four townhomes.

In May, we broke the news of First North Lofts, an 11-story apartment tower that will soon rise near the EDGE District. The 214-unit tower will also include 18,500 square feet of ground-level retail space. Groundbreaking is set for the first quarter of 2018.

ONEkeeps climbing into the St. Pete stratosphere. Currently the condo tower is on floor 30 of 41 and the parking garage is on the 6th and final floor. The Hyatt Place that sits on the same block is scheduled to open by the end of the year.

Lastly, with exciting news, we also bring some disappointing news. We've learned recently that 801 Conway, a 35-unit townhome community located on 8th St North, has been cancelled. Unfortunately, the project was never able to obtain the necessary permits to proceed with construction. No future plans have been made for the land intended for 801 Conway.

As always, be sure to check out our previous downtown development updates to track the progress of all active projects currently under construction (1Q16,2Q16,3Q16,4Q16, 1Q17).

1st Ave S. Retail

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Downtown St. Pete Development Update - Second Quarter 2017 - St. Pete Rising (blog)