Multifamily developer Northland on Monday announced it has acquired a four-parcel 0.76-acre high-rise development site located at the corner of 17th and Spring streets in Midtown. Northland paid $19 million, according to property records held in Fulton County.

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17th and Spring represents the most compelling multifamily development site in Midtown Atlanta today, according to a press release. The site is in the heart of Midtown, surrounded by nearly 30 million square feet of office space that is either existing, under construction or proposed. 17th and Spring is also directly adjacent to Midtown Union, a mixed-use project currently under construction that will bring 32,000 square feet of retail to the developments front door.

Northland will design, entitle, capitalize, and develop the project without joint venture partners, and its vision for the site is a generational multifamily-anchored high-rise tower, activated by engaging street level retail.

This site represents one of the few generational opportunities nationally to create an iconic example of thoughtful urban placemaking through a dynamic housing and retail mixed-use development, Santo Dettore, Director of Development at Northland, who will lead the upcoming 17th and Spring development project, said. Atlantas incredibly exciting North Midtown neighborhood exemplifies the perfect ecosystem to execute on this vision.

Northland also acquired SLX Atlanta, a 306-unit luxury mid-rise apartment community located in Chamblee, complete with 24,189 square feet of wellness-focused retail space, at 5211 Peachtree Blvd.

We are excited to welcome SLX into our portfolio and to have secured the most compelling remaining development site in Midtown Atlanta, Matthew Gottesdiener, Northlands Chief Executive Officer, said. Our investing horizon at Northland is fifty years, and we believe Atlantas current nation-leading growth trajectory is just getting started. In only thirteen months during a challenging investment climate, we are grateful to have solidified one of the highest quality multifamily portfolios in the city, with anchor assets in Sandy Springs, Chamblee, and Buckhead, and a Midtown site that will enable Northlands development platform to deliver much-needed housing to the city.

These acquisitions come one year after Northland Chairman Larry Gottesdiener and President and COO Suzanne Abair furthered the organizations commitment to Atlanta by teaming up with former All-Star Renee Montgomery to become the new owners of the WNBAs Atlanta Dream.

Together, Larry, Suzanne and Renee have cultivated a new chapter for the franchise, which was awarded ESPNs Humanitarian Team of the Year award for their heroic social justice work in 2020.

Northland owns and operates a multifamily portfolio that includes more than 26,000 units across the U.S. These acquisitions add to Northlands portfolio of long-term markets within New England, Austin, and Southwestern and Southeastern United States.

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Northland Acquires Land at Corner of 17th and Spring Streets For Multifamily Project - What Now Atlanta

The largest residential development in the U.S. one thats been decades in the making is officially ready to rise.

Post Brothers and Tower Investments have closed $400 million in financing for their 1.9 million-square-foot mixed-use project at Broad Street and Washington Avenue in Philadelphia, Commercial Observer has learned, and have now broken ground on the mega-development.

Bank OZK and Starwood Property Trust provided the debt, with the lenders providing $250 million and $110 million in senior and mezzanine financing respectively, and the remaining $40 million being invested by sponsorship.

The development called Broad and Washington for now will be constructed over several phases, with Bank OZK and Starwoods loan funding the first phase.

Ackman-Ziffs Russell Schildkraut and Christine Zivkovic negotiated the financing, which acts as a construction and project recapitalization loan.

When completed in 2026, the $750 million project will span 1.9 million square feet and include 1,457 apartments, more than 65,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, and a parking garage. The first phase scheduled for completion in 2024 will see the building of 600 apartments across four interconnected structures plus 50,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.

Broad and Washington, at 1001 South Broad Street in South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the largest project in the U.S. to be built to date using prefabricated load-bearing wall panels, allowing the developers to save 25 percent on hard costs versus traditional concrete and steel construction while producing Class A housing.

Bart Blatstein, founder and CEO of Tower Investments and a native Philadelphian, has long proposed a residential complex at the site, and now, with Post Brothers as a joint-venture development partner, construction is finally underway. Post Brothers and Tower Investments plans for a 15-story structure were approved by Philadelphias Department of Licenses and Inspections in August 2021, per the Philly Voice.

Bank OZK and Starwood have previously provided construction financing within the Post Brothers portfolio, for projects including The Atlantic, Presidential Cityand Piazza Alta.

Lot of lenders were interested [in the financing], Matt Pestronk, co-founder of Post Brothers, told CO. We had transacted with both of these lenders multiple times. Its a big project, especially for outside New York City where there are more projects of this size being built. We found there was a lot of competition for the deal, but we ultimately went with lenders we were comfortable with.

Due to the size and complexity of the project a capital stack was required that included the most sophisticated capital providers in the marketplace today, Schildkraut said. All parties including the sponsor, senior and subordinate lenders, their legal and closing teams, and Ackman-Ziff worked cohesively to effectuate this transformative project.

And it wasnt an overnight accomplishment, by any means.

Pestronk joked that the deal came together in three weeks, but in actuality it was more than four years in the making. Post Brothers had a long relationship with Blatstein, and the site was already on the firms radar, even before it entered the Broad and Washington partnership in 2017.

The site was something lots of people were very aware of for a long time, Pestronk said. Every person in development in Philadelphia, and in the northeast, was aware of the site and its prominence.

Ultimately, getting to the construction stage required patience, plus the ability to work closely with the community and the City Planning Commission in order to get their full backing, Pestronk said.

It took the project four years to come together from when we first shook hands with Bart on it, he said. The site had sat vacant for four decades at the time. At one point, the city of Philadelphia owned it and implemented restrictions around what could be built, meaning there were various zoning complications to surmount.

But now, the developers are ready to roll.

The anticipation of the transformative nature has been extensively discussed in the civic and development domain, and the execution of the project itself will greatly exceed all expectations, Pestronk said. The project is now financed to go forward and we are excited to deliver what people have been waiting to see.

Post Brothers also teamed up with Blatstein in the past, on the expansion of the Piazza Alta apartments in Phillys Northern Liberties neighborhood.

Its an honor to work with Post Brothers in developing such a monumental community in our own backyard that will not only set a record for mixed-use housing in Philadelphia, but also the entire country, Blatstein said. Post Brothers is known for offering the most exceptional apartment living in only the most desirable neighborhoods, and the Broad and Washington development will set a new national standard.

BKV Group is the projects architect while Post General Contracting Is the general contractor.

A spokesperson for Bank OZK declined to comment. Starwood officials werent immediately available for comment.

Cathy Cunningham can be reached at ccunningham@commercialobserver.com.

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Post Brothers Closes $400M Construction Loan for Philly Megaproject - Commercial Observer

The Beechwood Organization, one of Long Islands most prolific residential developers, is embarking on some major projects down south.

Jericho-based Beechwood plans to break ground shortly on 319 luxury homes in four different communities in the Charlotte, N.C. metropolitan area.

Were going to the Carolinas because we see strong demand for our quality of home construction and design, said Steven Dubb, a Beechwood principal. We are also following our buyers. While most love living on Long Island, and in their Beechwood home here, there are many who have decided to make a move south for the easy climate and attractive cost of living.

Rendering of homes to be built at Weddington Glen. / Courtesy of 505Design/The Beechwood Organization

In Weddington, an upscale suburb to the southeast of Charlotte, Beechwood is building 35 estate homes in a 48-acre subdivision called Weddington Glen. The homes, to be built in a mix of wooded and meadow homesites, will be priced in the $900,000s with custom homes selling for $1.2 million and up.

In Marvin, known as one of the wealthiest towns in the state, Beechwood will be building 62 custom homes on 86 acres. The new residential community, called Broadmoor at Marvin, will feature homes priced from $1 million to $1.5 million.

Beechwood closed on the Weddington and Marvin properties in December and site development of both are expected to begin soon, with home construction underway in the spring.

A third community for Beechwood is called Ferncliff at Cotswold, where the developer will build five townhomes priced from $750,000 to $1.2 million. Located in Charlottes Cotswold neighborhood, not far from the SouthPark residential and business district, the location of the townhomes provides a convenient commute to downtown Charlotte. Construction on the Ferncliff at Cotswold development is expected to start in the summer.

Site plan for Lakeside Pointe on Lake Norman. / Courtesy of Shook Kelley/The Beechwood Organization

The largest of Beechwoodsfour Charlotte-area projects is Lakeside Pointe on Lake Norman, a mixed-use development of 217 residences that include cottage homes, townhomes and single-family homes and 68,000 square feet of commercial space. The homes at Lakeside Pointe, many with frontage on the lake or water views,will be priced from the $300,000s to $1 million or more.

Amenities at Lakeside Pointe feature 26 acres of natural open space, parks and walking trails and a community center overlooking the lake that will have an outdoor pool, clubhouse, outdoor recreational activities and a privatemarina for residents.

As we grow our presence in the Carolinas, Beechwood explored Weddington, and each additional site under development, as the locations where we could thoughtfully expand our portfolio, said Robert Kardos, Beechwoods regional president for the Carolinas. We are excited to introduce our style of estate and custom homes befitting of these incredible locations and their residents to enjoy for years to come.

Still in the planning stages is Beechwood biggest project yet in the Tar Heel state, a proposed new mixed-use development on 120 acres in Chapel Hill called South Creek by Beechwood. The developer is currently working with the Town of Chapel Hill and local stakeholders to help shape the project, which could include mid-rise condominium buildings, townhomes and duplex homes. Public trails through the large nature preserve on the back portion of the property will likely be part of the plan.

In Chapel Hill, Beechwood is in close consultation about its South Creek proposal with the Town of Chapel Hill and is proposing approximately 600 middle-income townhomes and condos, Dubb said. The housing would sit on 40 acres with an additional 80 acres preserved for green space plus 42,000 square feetfor commercial and retail space.

Beechwood closed on the Chapel Hilldevelopment site last August. The seller, Obey Creek Ventures, had proposed to buildabout 1.6 million square feet of retail, offices and apartments with an 85-acre public park, but the plan never advanced.

Beechwood is hoping to complete the zoning application process with the town and begin site construction soon after, with its first homes at South Creek to be completed in 2024.

And while the developer is making a big investment in North Carolina, Beechwood continues to be busy here on Long Island. The company is in the final phases of 55 and over condo communities with 400 homes in Yaphank and 750 homes plus 118,450 square feet of retail in Plainview. Beechwood is also building 156 condos in East Meadow and a new 237-unit apartment complex in Westbury.

Link:
Beechwood going big with multiple projects in North Carolina - Long Island Business News

A development team is proposing converting the vacant Varsity Theater building into a 35-unit apartment building with nearly 10,000 square feet of ground retail space that would wrap around the alley to the adjacent Bookmans Alley property.

Steve Rogin, the longtime owner of the property, teaming up with developer Campbell Coyle, presented details of the project at a virtual 1st Ward meeting Jan. 13.

Chris Dillion, President of Campbell Coyle Real Estate, said the plan calls for ground-floor retail to wind from the Varsity building on the 1700 block of Sherman Avenue to Bookmans Alley.

Obviously this is a beloved place and we really have a vision of enhancing and celebrating the space, Dillion said.

The developers are proposing what they term a readaptive reuse of the Varsity building. The ground floor of the building has had a number of retail shops, including The Gap clothing store, which closed shortly before the pandemic.

The theater, meanwhile, with its bowl-like auditorium theater, has sat vacant atop the building overlooking the street since closing in August 1984.

The 35 apartments will include studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units, Dillion said.

Three units would be affordable housing, in conformance with Evanstons Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.

And the one thing Id say that I think is important about this project, given the size of the Varsity Theater in general, these units will tend to be a little bit larger than a lot of the other comparable bed-count units in the market, Dillion said.

Dillion said the project is expected to generate a significant increase in real estate taxes. And, were so excited about this opportunity to reimagine and enhance Bookmans Alley, he said, and really think about that as a destination for downtown Evanston obviously, as we are emerging from the pandemic thinking about the wonderful experiences that everybody can share in that space.

Some residents at the virtual meeting expressed regret about the loss of the Varsity movie theater under the plan and wondered if there were any steps that could be taken to save it.

When it opened Dec. 24, 1926, the 2,500-seat theater was one of the largest suburban Chicago movie palaces ever built and was also one of the most spectacular, according to the website cinematreasures.org.

It was designed as a French royal chateau of the era of Francois I, and no expense was spared on luxury by its original owner, Clyde Elliot, an Evanston native who had worked in Hollywood for many years.

First Ward Council member Clare Kelly, moderating the meeting, and a lifelong Evanston resident, recalled that she used to go to movies at the theater and remembered the stars in the ceiling and the castle. So of course, many of us would love if that could stay, she said.

In 2018, Landmarks Illinois named the Varsity Theater block as one of its most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois.

The preservation group noted that the 1700 block of Sherman is one of the last remaining historically intact blocks in Evanstons downtown.

A survey of historic buildings in the downtown district was conducted in 2007 by the Evanston Preservation Commission, the group reported. This survey identified the former Varsity Theater, a 1926 J.E.O. Pridmore-designed building located at 1706-10 Sherman Avenue, as possessing historical and/or architectural merit, making their landmark potential a topic for future discussion. These buildings are important contributors to the desired physical context and character of downtown Evanston.

Several community members at the meeting submitted questions, asking whether historic tax credits could be used to save the theater.

Rogin, the property owner, said tax credits apply only if the original use of the space is maintained. That is not an economic model that works, he said.

Weve had many conversations with professionals knee-deep into that, he added. So unfortunately, both from a financial standpoint for the development as well as other things in terms of use of the space, weve yet to find anybody that says thats a viable option.

Fielding another question about the possibility of an establishment like the Music Box movie theater moving into the space, Rogin said he has had conversations with theater architects and others to explore the possibilities.

This is an incredibly large space, he said. When it opened in the mid-20s, it was the largest theater outside of the City of Chicago. And today that model is not viable. The way audiences congregate and the size of space, it just isnt a viable model in Evanston anymore, or in any small community.

Ive scratched my head many times over the years, long before I bought this theater, about Why dont these theaters get repurposed, reused? Rogin continued.

If there is a reason, he said, its the economic model. Unless you have a super-big donor or a huge check from a municipality, its just not feasible, he said.

Carl Klein, a resident and historic preservation specialist, pointed to the blocks status as one the last blocks in downtown Evanston with historic buildings intact.

Weve been waiting since 1980 when the Varsity Theater closed, to develop this space, he said. Whats another two years to find a use that could generate a lot more income than housing and help spark the revitalization of our downtown?

Rogin challenged that statement. Specifically, what is it that you would propose that would spark that vitality? he asked.

Klein observed that Evanston already had many housing developments downtown.

Im not asking that, said Rogin, who has spent a number of years seeking city backing for a renovation of the theater space. What specifically would you propose? he asked.

The development group will next go in front of the citys Land Use Commission, seeking at least one major variation: permission to use only the current three on-site parking stalls when the citys zoning code would require a minimum of 28 spaces. In similar situations, such as with the Northlight Theatre project, a developer has agreed to make up the difference by leasing spaces at a nearby lot or at one of the city garages.

Were working through, obviously, the zoning process, Dillion said. This [Ward meeting] marks kind of the beginning of that process. And so were looking to work with the city and the community to navigate that process.

He said the hope is that construction could start this summer, leading to a late 2023 completion.

Continue reading here:
Some arent ready to close curtain on Varsity Theater for proposed apartment development - Evanston RoundTable

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) has announced that the centrepiece of the Uptown Dubai District, Uptown Tower, has topped out at 329m. The final concrete pour for the buildings roof on level 79 has also been completed by the project team. The steel crown of Uptown Tower will be completed in Q1 2022, which will take the final height of the tower to 340m.

Uptown Tower is expected to be fully complete in Q3 2022.

More than 23,000 trucks delivered approximately 140,000m3 of concrete to the project, with around 30,000 tonnes of steel used as reinforcement to achieve this project milestone.

Since the project began in July 2019, over 13 million manhours have been completed on-site, which will become the first supertall tower in the Uptown Dubai District. This was achieved without any time lost due to injury.

The buildings faade works are 90% complete and proceeding at pace in tandem with structural works the project team are taking just two days to complete the faade for each floor. The buildings outer faade consists of over 8,500 glass panels with installation works completed to level 70.

Commenting on this, Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chairman and chief executive officer, DMCC, said:With the topping out of Uptown Tower, we are about to see one of the most exciting urban districts in Dubai come to life. From the very start of the project, we set out to build Uptown Tower using the very latest smart and sustainable construction practices, which has enabled us to build an exceptional tower without any disruptions during what has been an incredibly challenging period for the global economy.

Paul Ashton, executive director property, DMCC,added:The Uptown Dubai District will serve a diverse community of businesses, residents and visitors with premium office and residential spaces as well as a carefully curated mix of retail and lifestyle destinations. At the heart of the district will be the iconic Uptown Tower, which has already seen nearly a quarter of its commercial space preleased with strong interest in the remaining space. We are delighted to have reached this important milestone in the development of Uptown Tower.

The Uptown Dubai district is set to become one of the most dynamic and sought-after mixed-use communities in the emirate. There has been strong interest in the tower so far, with 22% of office space already leased. Tenants that commit to space early benefit from priority fit-out access and a wider choice of space and floor layouts.

David De Visscher, resident manager UAE, BESIX,said:BESIX is extremely proud to be part of this project and very pleased that we are now reaching structural topping out as well as 90% of faade completion which is demonstrating once again our companys engineering and construction management expertise.

Designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, the design of Uptown Tower replicates the brilliance of diamonds through its faceted glass faade that illuminates the interior spaces with natural light while filtering out harsh glare.

The 340m-tall tower is set to be a LEED Gold certified building and will be home to a state-of-the-art DMCC Headquarters. It will also feature a 188-key 5-star luxury hotel SO/ Uptown Dubai exclusive restaurants, extensive conference facilities, Grade A offices and 229 signature SO/ branded residences.

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DMCC's Uptown Tower tops out at 329m, steel crown to complete in Q1 2022 - Construction Week Online

Though still in the trenches of construction, the new exterior walls of the museum are up which now encompass an additional 4,000 square feet of landmost of which is dedicated to the Main Gallery, an impressive near-3,000 square foot windowless expanse that will be built with moveable walls, allowing for multiple exhibitions at a time.

Two galleries were typically the most the museum could host before.

The remaining square footage11,000 in total including new outdoor gardens and seating areaswill feature a state-of-the-art education laboratory, a reading and archives room, an office space, a visitors lobby and reception area, a retail shop, a temperature-controlled storage room and three permanent gallery spaces, some of which will have multipurpose uses.

Expanded, professional-grade galleries will host several different exhibitions at a time and allow the museum to deepen its leadership in the exploration of abstraction, said newly appointed museum director Paul Baker Prindle in a statement.

Clark Construction Group began working on the museum in June 2020, alongside renovations to the museums neighboring Horn Center which is in the process of retrofitting and converting its computer lab and undergraduate advising center into 10 classrooms, two lecture halls, and additional all-gender restrooms.

The total cost for both projects is $24 million, according to CSULB. While state funding is paying for the Horn Center, private donations are footing the bill for the new museum. Its greatest benefactor is the museums new namesake, artist Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld, who donated $10 million, as reported by the Daily 49er.

The museum also includes a 521-square-foot gallery built in her honor that will be outfitted with barrel ceilings and hardwood floors. The Kleefeld Gallery room will house a permanent collection of some of her works in addition to a rotating selection by other artists.

The Kleefeld Gallery room will be the only space with hardwood flooringthe rest of the museum, save for the carpeted offices, will be laid with concrete. With this cozy feature, the gallery room will also be used as a community hall where visitors can reserve quiet, loud, evening or weekend hours for use.

We definitely dont want to be another ivory tower in the museum space, thats really the antithesis of what were working towards, Amanda Fruta, public affairs and communication specialist for Kleefeld Contemporary explained. With the quiet hours, loud hours, extended hours, gardens, multi-use spaces, learning spaces and all-gender bathrooms, we want really want everyone to feel welcome here.

Pfeiffer Partners Architects will be adding a new, glass vestibule to the original mid-century faade designed by famous architect Ed Killingsworth. The near 15-foot-tall diamond offset structure will act as an eye-catching attraction, hopefully encouraging passersby to stroll through the museum, something the space had previously struggled to do, Fruta said.

Pfeiffer Partners Architects continued the angular theme with three triangular points on the expansions roof. Once finished, the exterior walls of the expansion will be lined with sturdy, seam metal panels and stucco.

The entire expanse of the original museum building has been renovated; the floor plan also revamped. What was formerly the main gallery space will now be the Constance W. Glenn Court (named after the museums founding director) that features a visitors lobby and check-in, a modest retail shop, and two small, rotating art galleries.

Upon entering the 8-foot-tall double doors of the museum, visitors will immediately notice a small retail space that will sell handmade or wearable artworks by recently graduated CSULB art students from the School of Art, School of Industrial Design and other interdisciplinary programs.

We recognize that its hard to be a fresh fish out of water jumping into the cold ocean of the art marketplace, Fruta said. We want to help these emerging artists have a kind of bridge way so that they have a higher likelihood of success.

Lining the wall along the retail space will be a small selection of works from the museums permanent collection and other curated pieces. From June to July, an art history student will be awarded the chance to curate and present an exhibition from the museums collection on the wall as well.

The Community Gallery (200 square feet) in the Glenn Court will line the wall space leading toward the Horn Center and showcase three shows, two from local professional artists and one local call exhibition for interested Long Beach residents.

So, we really wanted to make this front and center to show that we embrace the community and that we see ourselves as not just a part of the community, but a community ourselves, Fruta said.

In keeping with the universitys push toward sustainability and environmental proficiency, the museum will be upgraded to LEED Silver standards with solar panels on the roof to help power the building. The gallery will be lit throughout with LED strip lighting and LED spotlights, which are significantly more energy-efficient than conventional bulbs.

The new LEED Silver Certified Museum is being built to serve the campus as a living laboratory for cultural exploration and a showcase of the campus aggressive sustainability commitment, said CSULB Director of Design and Building Services Mark Zakhour in a statement. Intentional selection of native plants in landscaping, use of sustainable and local building materials, integration of solar panels, energy-efficient design, green cleaning and maintenance plans, and investment in long-lasting learning technologies were key aspects of the build that contributed to the sustainability rating.

A costly new HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) system throughout the museum will ensure temperature control and protect the presented art as well as the works kept in the museums new storage vault. The new vault will allow the university to finally house its permanent collection on campusthe works are currently kept in storage areas all around the South Bay.

All of our American modern masterpieces of the Gordon F. Hampton collection were housed off-site, Fruta said. Now we can have them here and have much better access not just for that collection, but for our works on paper collection, which includes extensive printmaking, drawings and photography that will be available for research requests for study.

The Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum anticipates it will open publicly by February 2022.

Interested in more Kleefled Contemporary content? Click below:

PODCAST: The art of museum navigation with Kleefeld Contemporarys Paul Baker Prindle

PODCAST: Back to school at CSULB; journalism, art and the B word

Editors Note: The story has been updated to correct the name of the artist George F. Hampton, not Hanson as previously reported and the correct height of the glass vestibule, which will be close to 15ft tall, not 8.

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Construction at massive new CSULB art museum promises more art and community inclusion the Hi-lo - Long Beach Post

July 13, 2021

Sometimes the path to a rewarding career is straightforward, and sometimes it has many roadblocks and detours along the way.

For Tiffany Sharp, principal and founder of general contractor Sharp Construction, forging her way into the male-dominated Phoenix construction industry establishment was especially challenging, but has made her success all the sweeter. Tiffany Sharp, an Arizona State University construction management alumna, worked her way up in the Phoenix construction industry, then took a chance on herself and started her own company, Sharp Construction. Photo courtesy of Tiffany Sharp Download Full Image

Sharp has been recognized as one of the Phoenix Business Journals 40 Under 40 for 2021. Chosen from nearly 450 applicants, the construction management alumna from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University will be honored at a virtual event on Aug. 5.

Once people realize youre off on the right foot and making headway, thats huge, Sharp said. Im thankful for the recognition and I think its going to push us in the right direction.

Sharps journey began when she started exploring different majors as an undergraduate student at ASU. Early on, she had an interest in bringing buildings to life, but she found architecture and structural engineering to be too narrow in their focus. What she wanted was a role that took her from a building projects conception to its completion.

Equipped with a bachelors degree in interdisciplinary studies which included forays into architecture and structural engineering as well as art and business and a structural engineering internship with TOR Engineering in Flagstaff, Sharp sought out her true calling.

She got a taste of what she was after as a project manager with the custom residential construction company Platinum Companies. She got to see whole projects through from start to finish.

Being part of the project at the very beginning stages and then being able to see it through is what I found fed my hunger, Sharp said. I knew this is where I needed to be.

Then the Great Recession hit, and the housing construction market tanked along with the rest of the economy.

Sharp managed to survive the layoffs during that unfortunate time and, as one of only a handful of employees remaining, was able to gain some unique work experience.

I was involved in every facet of the company, which really put me in a position to be successful moving forward, she said. These were things that a standard construction project manager wouldnt have typically been introduced to.

Sharp was then ready for a new challenge in the commercial construction industry. She sought out a construction project manager position at Intel that had eluded her over the years. The third time the position opened up, Sharp decided she needed to get creative. She figured out how to get in touch with someone by decoding the companys email address format. Thirty minutes later, she was on the phone with the hiring manager and getting called in for an interview. By the next week, Sharp had the job. It turned out her resume was being rejected because she didnt have a construction degree.

That changed once she was on board at Intel. In addition to offering Sharp opportunities to lead projects like the construction of a 385,000-square-foot clean room facility and revamping the interior of Intels Chandler campus, Intel also supported her graduate studies.

Sharp returned to ASU to earn her masters degree in construction management at the Del E. Webb School of Construction, part of the School for Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, one of the six Fulton Schools.

The classes I was taking fit really well with my career at the time, Sharp said. Intel and ASU had some amazing synergy. There were a lot of things we were doing at Intel that ASU was leveraging. The foundation I got from ASU led me down a path in which I could be successful in any project.

That foundation strengthened by courses in accounting, management and business would soon become even more valuable than Sharp had realized.

After more than four years of learning from excellent mentors and gaining new skills at Intel, a new opportunity knocked on her door.

Platinum Companies, where she had worked during the recession, was expanding again and looking for someone to take over the company after the current owner retired. At the time, Sharp was also looking into construction project management opportunities with Google and Facebook. Securing offers from all three, she chose Platinum Companies.

The opportunity to own or buy into the company and have that leadership position was ultimately where I wanted to go, Sharp said.

After several years at the company and rising to the position of president the pull of leadership was still there.

While she valued her time and experiences at Platinum Companies, Sharp decided to start her own company, giving her the opportunities to set her own path and develop her own business culture.

Sharp remembers being scared when she walked away from a great career at an excellent company and into the unknown.

I walked into the commercial construction industry unheard of with nobody to leverage. I just said Im going to do it, and I did it, she said. Four years later, we have 50 employees and were bringing in some significant projects.

One of her favorite projects is 16 North, a retail space near 16th Street and Bethany Home Road in Phoenix. Her company turned a Shasta Pools location complete with in-ground pools and spas into a modern neighborhood retail and office space.

When you went out onto the job site, it was filled with pools and spas in what was going to be the future parking lot, Sharp said. The demolition on that project was just amazing and fun to watch. It was a very interesting project that turned out beautifully.

Even in the best of times, it isnt easy for a new construction company to establish itself in Phoenix, but Sharps company also had to contend with a global pandemic within its first few years.

In March of 2020, I had four phone calls in a two-hour period where we lost $30 million worth of work and a project underway that completely stopped and shut down, Sharp said. Everything we were doing at the time was office, retail, restaurants and hospitality and our entire market went to sleep overnight. That was probably the hardest thing Ive dealt with in my entire career.

But as a trained problem-solver, Sharp adapted. The company survived by pivoting to industrial construction work the only market that was thriving at the time.

Now, the construction market in the Phoenix area is booming again and is presenting new challenges with rapidly fluctuating steel and lumber prices and a shortage of materials.

With a variety of construction projects under the companys belt, Sharp Construction is still looking to firmly establish its niche in the industry. Upcoming projects will focus on multifamily, office and industrial work. And Sharp says her team is ready to explore the possibilities in those areas.

Were still trying to figure where we fit in the construction market, Sharp said. I think as we continue to complete projects well have a better idea of where were going.

I know there are so many young girls out there who want to go into construction and engineering fields but theyre scared, Sharp said. I want to help pave that path and make sure they know they can do it. And not only can they do it, they can thrive.

When Sharp joined the construction management graduate program in the Fulton Schools, she was one of only a handful of female students. And while it has been a difficult road to prove herself in a male-dominated field, she has had support along the way.

Allan Chasey, a former program chair in the Del E. Webb School of Construction who has now retired and is an emeritus professor, was one of Sharps biggest supporters at ASU.

I think I was only one of two females in the construction and engineering group at ASU, and (Chasey) was really understanding of the challenges that we were confronted with, Sharp said. He tried to encourage women to join the program and he encouraged women who were in the program to continue and prosper.

Sharp spoke to a construction management class last year and hopes to get more involved in mentoring and encouraging the next generation of women in engineering by telling her own story.

As a professional, she had to prove her value to many people in the industry, though she says it was harder 15 years ago than today as the industry has begun seeing more diversity among its ranks.

Sharp says she still encounters people who are not open to doing business in construction with a woman, but shes not letting that get in her way.

This is just one of the challenges we have as women who are breaking into an industry that women arent typically in, Sharp said. I think the positions I have been put in because I had to prove myself are reasons why I am successful today. Even if it was challenging, it was worth it.

Goals: Be very specific about what you want to accomplish and how youre going to get there. You have to manage the completion of your goals: Look at them, make sure you have focus and put in the right efforts.

Mentors: Find leaders in your industry or individuals you value and who will give you the right advice. Try to hold monthly meetings, have productive conversations and review your goals with them.

Networking: Get out there and build relationships in the industries youre trying to get involved in. Relationships are so important. You never know where those relationships are going to lead you or what theyll do for you in your future. That was something I learned way too late.

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ASU alum builds rewarding construction career from ground up - ASU Now

Construction on a $100 million, 20-story apartment building in Center City is scheduled to start in the coming months.

The apartment building, which will be located at 12th and Sansom streets, will have nearly 400 units and 11,000 square feet of commercial space.

Construction is estimated to end in the summer of 2023, the Philadelphia Business Journal reported. It will take the place of a current parking garage, set to be demolished over the next few months.

The project comes out of rental property company Greystar, which already manages 7,000 apartment units across the Philadelphia region, and was designed by BLT Architects.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the city's vacancy rates to increase slightly because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the end of the first quarter, the rate sat at 9% in the city and 3.3% in the suburbs, according to a report from Delta Associates, the Journal reported. Though, Delta says these conditions are "temporary and are pandemic-driven," and should improve as vaccination rates rise and the economy bounces back.

In fact, Philadelphia saw less of its residents leave during the pandemic compared to other large cities like New York City and Boston.

Despite the lower vacancy numbers, construction on several residential buildings are underway in the city. At the end of 2020, approximately 10,000 apartment units were under construction and several projects are moving through the application and approval process.

Greystar's executives said the company is not worried about vacancy levels across the city.

I think the depth of the market is very strong, George Hayward, senior director at Greystar, said to the Journal. We think that for many folks who are not familiar with the city, Philadelphia has been hiding in plain sight.

Hayward said the company hopes to use its retail space to draw in more residents, like coffee users, a restaurant or a small format market.

Greystar has more than 15 properties in Center City alone, according to its website. The company is partnering with Mesirow Financial, a Chicago firm, to fund the new building.

Excerpt from:
$100 million apartment building coming to Center City in 2023 - PhillyVoice.com

Enclave has broken ground for a 155,000-square-foot building that will add 110 apartment homes and nearly 5,000 square feet of first floor retail space to Phase II of its development bordering bustling Veterans Boulevard.

The West Fargo-based development, construction and management firm said Lyv at Uptown & Main, which will go up just east of McAlisters Deli and south of Plaza Azteca, should be completed by summer 2022.

Lyv will join the existing mixed-use Uptown & Main building, Caribou Coffee, Plaza Azteca, Gundersons Jewelers and McAlisters Deli in the development.

Tim Gleason, a developer at Enclave, said it's satisfying to be part of the tremendous growth along Veterans Boulevard.

Its fun to just contribute to the vibrancy of that area of town, Gleason said Tuesday, June 29. Southwest Fargo is one of the fastest growing areas in North Dakota, if not the fastest growing area in North Dakota, so its fun to be part of that, and to be part of the next phase of Uptown & Main.

Lyv was designed in collaboration with Fargo-based TL Stroh Architects. It includes sheltered green space and multiple community patios. The building also offers club level amenities on the top floor, including 10-foot ceilings. There is a rooftop patio and grill, ground level patio and fire pit, underground parking, bike room, fitness studio, pet spa, package room, and other conveniences, Gleason said.

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An office building is still planned for Phase I of the development. It will sit west of the original Uptown & Main building, Gleason said.

The $18 million first phase Uptown & Main building, seen Tuesday, June 29, 2021, opened in 2019. (Helmut Schmidt/The Forum)

The latest round of construction is being celebrated at the recently opened McAlisters Deli at 5600 28th Ave. S.

McAlister's Co-owner Steven Majkrzak says construction of Lyv at Uptown & Main will be a big boost for businesses in the area, his included.

I think its fantastic. Enclaves vision, its truly amazing what theyre doing (and) what theyve done in Phase 1 and now theyre continuing their vision into Phase II, Majkrzak said Wednesday, June 30. We view it as only being helpful for us. Thats more businesses, thats more individuals that are going to be living in our area, living in those premium facilities that theyve built. Its absolutely exciting for us.

Majkrzak said Enclave founders Austin Morris and Ben Meland shared their vision with him before he decided to build McAlisters in Uptown & Main.

Its exciting what those guys are doing, Majkrzak said. Its cool to see it all play out and see how theyve made changes and adapted along the way. Its really exciting stuff. I think theyre doing such a fantastic job on Veterans.

McAlister's Deli, pictured Tuesday, June 29, 2021, opened in May as part of Phase II construction for the Uptown & Main development next to Veterans Boulevard in southwest Fargo. (Helmut Schmidt / The Forum)

The $18 million first phase of Uptown & Main opened in 2019. The first floor of the building at 2633 55th St. S. has 24,500 square feet of retail, commercial or restaurant space, topped by three floors with 67 multi-family luxury condominium units.

Gleason said leasing interest has taken off as the COVID-19 pandemic has eased and businesses get a measure of the economic climate.

Its been a huge success. Weve been thrilled with how the building turned out, Gleason said. You cant ask for a better location in town.

The overall development is designed to be walkable, with easy access to areas to live, work, play and eat along the main boulevard, Uptown Way South, Gleason said.

Lyv at Uptown & Main will have 110 apartments and nearly 5,000 square feet of retail space. The addition to Enclave's Uptown & Main development is now under construction. (Rendering courtesy of Enclave)

Mixing apartments and condominiums, commercial and retail, works well with Fargo's Go2030 comprehensive plan, said Current Planning Coordinator Donald Kress.

"We do encourage that," Kress said Wednesday, June 30.

"They're trying to make it its own neighborhood," Kress said. "It's a popular style of development nationwide. Minneapolis, Chicago, you see these types of things. It seems attractive to the residents."

Enclave Companies was founded in 2011 in Fargo. This spring, it opened its new $13 million headquarters not far from Uptown & Main at 300 23rd Ave. E., in West Fargo.

Enclave specializes in multi-family housing and commercial and industrial spaces, with its focus primarily in North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota. It celebrates its 10th anniversary in July.

The firm has been busy over the years; in 2020 alone it took on 35 projects.

Just a few of Enclaves other projects, big and small, that are underway or completed include PRx Performance in north Fargo, the Variant1 distribution warehouse in north Fargo, the DECO mixed use building in Shakopee, Minn., Caliper apartment homes in Maple Grove, Minn., Reside luxury apartment homes in Savage, Minn., and the Mosaic apartment building in Fargo.

Other easily recognized spots in Fargo include the Fargo Center for Dermatology, MEDPark Medical Center, Cowboy Jacks in downtown Fargo, 300 Lime, and The Retreat in Fargos Urban Plains neighborhood.

The company is also in the planning process for redeveloping the former Kmart plaza along Fargos South University Drive. In January, the company told the City Commission that it hoped to build a mix of apartments, commercial buildings and perhaps a grocery store on the 11.7-acre site.

Gleason said it represented a unique infill opportunity for the city and could spur a renaissance for South University Drive.

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Enclave starts big expansion of Uptown & Main in southwest Fargo - INFORUM

Facebook is planting its roots in the real world, with a planned community near its Menlo Park, California, headquarterscomplete with a supermarket, restaurants, shops, and a 193-room hotel.

Willow Village will truly be a company townwith 1,729 apartments on-site, including 320 affordable units and 120 set aside for seniors.

The development of the 59-acre site, currently an industrial and research complex, is a collaboration between Facebook and Signature Development Group, a Bay Area real estate developer best known for the Hive, a mixed-use commercial, shopping, and residential space in Oakland.

The developments leafy Town Square.

The design for Willow Village is pedestrian-friendly, with bike lanes and ample sidewalks, and includes numerous public green spaces, including a quarter-mile elevated park akin to the High Line in Manhattan.

Plans also call for a new 1.25-million-square-foot modernist office building, including a massive glass-domed area envisioned as a collaborative area.

Facebook wants to modernize this and bring it into the 21st century, Mike Ghielmetti, president of Signature Development, told The Mercury News in January.

The company filed paperwork to redevelop the half-century-old Prologis Menlo Science and Technology Park in 2017, but was met with resistance during the two-year public comment period. Residents in nearby neighborhoods like Belle Haven complained it would worsen traffic and make housing even more scarce.

A rendering of the Facebook projects sizable master plan.

Original post:
Facebook Is Getting Into the Real Estate Business - Architectural Digest