Years after completion of the Bridge to Nowhere, developers dreams are still hanging on a three-quarter-mile stretch of road between Mercy Regional Medical Center and the Highway 160 interchange at the bottom of Grandview Hill.

But those dreams soon may be coming true. The city is requesting contractors bid on the project this month, and construction is planned to start soon after, City Manager Ron LeBlanc said.

The estimated $8.2 million Wilson Gulch Drive is key in wooing large retailers to move to the space, developers said.

The city is hopeful new big box stores will help stem the flow of Durangoans going to Farmington to shop, which is redirecting $40 million in sales-tax revenue, LeBlanc said.

The city has approved a development called The Gateway at Three Springs that would consist of 256,000 square feet of retail space. But no stores have officially signed on to come to the shopping center yet, said developer Patrick Vaughn, president of GF Real Estate Group.

He said his company has spoken with more than 60 different stores. But they all have said essentially the same thing: Show me the road. Without the road it is impossible for retailers to access the site and start construction.

However, Vaughns company already has brought in all the necessary utilities to the site such as water and sewer lines, he said. But each of the businesses still must pay to hook up to the infrastructure.

Crader Properties LLC owns two parcels totaling 71 acres that could be developed. It has submitted preliminary site plans for some of the property, said Tom Caver Jr., real estate broker for the property.

But the company also is waiting for construction to start before getting back in touch with big box stores, said Rowean Crader, managing member of Crader Properties.

Its just something you cant do until its a sure thing, she said.

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Will they come?

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Westward view from corner of 4th Street and 6 Avenue SE

CALGARY Two new residential towers and a retail podium are part of the design plans for Calgarys oldest community.

RioCan Investment Trust and Embassy BOSA announced their commitment Thursday to build 500 new condominiums in East Village.

The project will also include approximately 200,000 square feet of retail space. An urban Loblaws Market is the first committed tenant.

Construction is expected to start in the summer of 2015 at 6th Avenue and 3rd Street S.E.

Development of the retail space and 40-storey residential tower will take approximately three years.

The second phase a 23-storey residential tower is expected to take an additional 12 months.

The concept for the towers includes sheets of glass, layered to open up to views of the city and Bow River. It will also include a rotating balcony.

The development is part of the greater master plan for the East Village. The area, on the east end of the downtown, is expected to become home to more than 11,000 residents upon completion in 2027.

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$300 million dollar multi-family project coming to East Village

AURORA Construction on a new, full service Hyatt Hotel and conference center in the Fitzsimons Village across from the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora began Wednesday after a groundbreaking on site.

The City of Aurora partnered with Kentucky-based commercial developer Corporex Colorado on the $90 million project nearly three years ago, shortly after Corporex opened a 153-room Springhill Suites Hotel by Marriott at 13400 E. Colfax Ave.

The new Hyatt Hotel and city-owned conference centerwill go up directly south of the Springhill Suites, on about three acres of land. The Fitzsimons Village project is about 20 developable acres of mixed use and retail space on the south side of Colfax Avenue, between Peoria to Potomac streets. Corporex is the developer for the Fitzsimons Village project.

"This is something the Corporex has always envisioned since we started working out here," said Mark Witkiewicz, chief operating officer of Corporex. "It's something that that Aurora has always wanted, too. The city is truly our partner in this project."

Aurora issued just under $28 million in bonds to help pay for the development. All of the money will be paid back to the city through property and sales taxes on the 249-room Hyatt Hotel.

The city will own and operate its first business-centric conference center, which tops off around 30,000 square feet, as well as an adjacent, 500-space parking garage.

"This hotel and conference center will only add to the betterment of the neighborhood, the campus and the city,"Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan said. "I think when we look back on it, this is what we'll say really marked a change in what's happened in this part of Aurora."

In February, the Aurora Urban Renewal Authority was authorized to slice the Fitzsimons Village project out of the original, more than 500 acre Fitzsimons Health Science District urban renewal plan and create a new urban renewal plan for what it now calls Fitzsimons Boundary Area II.

A new, 25-year tax increment financing option was then set in motion to help fund all Fitzsimons Boundary Area II projects, which will eventually include 490 apartments and a seven-story, 208,000 square foot office building by Corporex.

John Harney, president of the University of Colorado Hospital, said the hotel will help to fill a dire need for temporary patient and family accommodations around the medical campus, as well as keeping teaching seminars and business conferences on site, instead of in Denver.

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Construction on Hyatt Hotel, conference space in original Aurora begins

Projects Proposed

1. Residential and commercial project. Timothy Brandywine Investment 1 & 2, Crofton. A site plan was submitted for proposed grading and infrastructure work at the Villages of Timothy Branch. The 334-acre project calls for 1,200 residential units and 305,000 square feet of commercial space on the east side of Route 301, south of Short Cut and Brandywine roads, Brandywine.

2. Student housing. Knox Village Partners, Horsham, Pa. A building permit application was filed to construct an $8million student housing complex, called Terrapin Row, with 445 units and 12,000 square feet of retail space at 4301 Hartwick Rd., College Park.

3. Lodge. Facchina Construction, La Plata. A building permit application was filed to construct a $4.75million lodge for the Alice Ferguson Foundation, based at 2201 Bryan Point Rd., Accokeek.

4. First Watch Restaurants, Rockville. A building permit application was filed to construct a First Watch restaurant that will serve breakfast and lunch at 15606 Emerald Way, Bowie. Another restaurant is planned at the Towne Centre at Laurel, on Route 1.

Projects Approved

5. Hotel and retail. Buena Vista, Lanham. A rezoning application was approved that will change 30.6acres of industrial and residential land into mixed-use space. The property owner plans to build a hotel and retail space on the land that forms a triangle at Martin Luther King Jr. Highway, Route 450 and Business Parkway, Lanham.

6. McDonalds. McDonalds Corp., Bethesda. A building permit application was approved for a 4,000-square-foot restaurant on the south side of East-West Highway, opposite Toledo Terrace, adjacent to Home Depot, in Hyattsville.

7. Senior living. Conifer Realty, Columbia. A site plan was approved for a 120-unit apartment complex for senior citizens on 4.3 acres at 2011 Brooks Dr., District Heights. The property will offer rents capped at affordable rates.

8. Casino. MGM National Harbor, Las Vegas. A site plan was approved for a 1million-square-foot entertainment and casino complex south of the Wilson Bridge, along the Potomac River, National Harbor.

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Prince Georges County development projects

Exterior view of H&M Store in New York. (Provided by H&M)

H&M, a Swedish international apparel brand known for its discount prices on trendy clothing for young men and women, will open two stores in Sarasota County within a year, a move that baffles some retail analysts, but shows that there may be enough business to support more than one mall in the region.

H&M will open its second store in Sarasota County inside Westfield Groups Sarasota Square Mall.

The chain committed to its first store inside the Mall at University Town Center, a $315 million mall opening at Interstate 75 and University Parkway on Oct. 16.

This is a surprise to me. H&M is the type of retailer that, usually, would wait to open a second store until after they can see how the first in the market was doing, said Jeff Green, a Phoenix-based retail analyst. Westfield must have offered them a very good deal.

The second store will take over a 21,000-square-foot space inside the Westfield Group mall, officials confirmed Thursday morning. Westfield has been preparing for months for H&M. Building permits filed with the county show that several of the malls tenants, including a Verizon Wireless store, Bond Jewelers and the mall management offices, have moved to make room for the new H&M space.

Construction is ongoing, and the retailer is set to open in the spring 2015, well after the opening of the Mall at University Town Center.

H&M has grown in size and popularity in the U.S. during recent years and has expanded into Florida.

The first store to open south of Tampa on the Gulf Coast was in Naples during 2012. Tampas Westfield Citrus Park also will see an H&M soon.

The chain has 2,500 stores in 53 countries worldwide.

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H&M to open in Sarasota Square mall

AURORA Construction on a new, full service Hyatt Hotel and conference center in the Fitzsimons Village across from the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora began Wednesday after a groundbreaking on site.

The City of Aurora partnered with Kentucky-based commercial developer Corporex Colorado on the $90 million project nearly three years ago, shortly after Corporex opened a 153-room Springhill Suites Hotel by Marriott at 13400 E. Colfax Ave.

The new Hyatt Hotel and city-owned conference centerwill go up directly south of the Springhill Suites, on about three acres of land. The Fitzsimons Village project is about 20 developable acres of mixed use and retail space on the south side of Colfax Avenue, between Peoria to Potomac streets. Corporex is the developer for the Fitzsimons Village project.

"This is something the Corporex has always envisioned since we started working out here," said Mark Witkiewicz, chief operating officer of Corporex. "It's something that that Aurora has always wanted, too. The city is truly our partner in this project."

Aurora issued just under $28 million in bonds to help pay for the development. All of the money will be paid back to the city through property and sales taxes on the 249-room Hyatt Hotel.

The city will own and operate its first business-centric conference center, which tops off around 30,000 square feet, as well as an adjacent, 500-space parking garage.

"This hotel and conference center will only add to the betterment of the neighborhood, the campus and the city,"Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan said. "I think when we look back on it, this is what we'll say really marked a change in what's happened in this part of Aurora."

In February, the Aurora Urban Renewal Authority was authorized to slice the Fitzsimons Village project out of the original, more than 500 acre Fitzsimons Health Science District urban renewal plan and create a new urban renewal plan for what it now calls Fitzsimons Boundary Area II.

A new, 25-year tax increment financing option was then set in motion to help fund all Fitzsimons Boundary Area II projects, which will eventually include 490 apartments and a seven-story, 208,000 square foot office building by Corporex.

John Harney, president of the University of Colorado Hospital, said the hotel will help to fill a dire need for temporary patient and family accommodations around the medical campus, as well as keeping teaching seminars and business conferences on site, instead of in Denver.

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Constrction on Hyatt Hotel, conference space in original Aurora begins

DALLAS, Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) helped kick-off construction of the $508-million Terminal 1 Modernization Program at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) today with a groundbreaking ceremony featuring Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, City Councilman Mike Bonin, City Councilman Tom LaBonge, Los Angeles Airport Commission President Sean O. Burton, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey, and Southwest Airlines Vice President of Airport Affairs Bob Montgomery.

The modernization of the aging terminal, built in the early 1980s, is expected to transform the entire Passenger experience from the curb to the gate, and will include a new 12-lane security screening checkpoint; a fully automated checked-baggage inspection and sortation system; a new and expanded dining and retail collection featuring activated gate hold rooms with lounge-style seating; refurbished arrival/baggage claim area; replacement of the passenger boarding bridges; renovations to airline support office space; modernized aircraft parking/apron pavement and hydrant fueling system; improvements to the building facade; and relocation of the main terminal entrances to the west end of the building to ease traffic congestion.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2018 and will be phased to minimize inconvenience to Customers, Employees, and guests.

"The Terminal 1 improvement project will bring a better passenger experience and 1,500 construction jobs to LAX," said Mayor Eric Garcetti. "As part of our $7 billion investment in LAX, we're remodeling every terminal and creating 40,000 jobs.Because Los Angeles deserves a world-class airport."

"The partnership we have with Southwest Airlines will create the world-class experience we want for all LAX passengers," LAWA Executive Director Lindsey said. "As our passenger base continues to grow and change, we are working hard to increase efficiency and accommodate their needs today and in the future."

"The Modernization of Terminal 1 at LAX has long been in our sights," said Bob Montgomery, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Airport Affairs. "The renovation within our current space at Terminal 1 will allow us to better serve our Customers today as well as provide the opportunity to expand our network options alongside any growth in Customer demand."

When completed, the Passenger's journey from curb to aircraft boarding bridge will be transformed and designed to provide a more efficient and exciting travel experience. By reorganizing the interior uses of the building and shifting the ticketing lobby and main entrances to the west, passenger drop off and pick up areas are anticipated to improve, as well as congestion in front of Terminal 1 reduced.

Once inside the terminal, Passengers will enjoy a brightened Southwest Airlines ticketing lobby with sleek design features and additional windows for more natural light. New, more-efficient security screening systems and added lanes are anticipated to shorten federal passenger security screening lines.

In collaboration with Southwest Airlines and LAWA, the modernized concourse design by Westfield will feature a hip, modern Californian feel that taps into the LA feeling and energy of the Southwest brand. The design vision forges the unexpected with efficiency, which is expressed through simple but sculptural forms curated with artisanal, creative and fun products, palette, and finishes. The design is expected to bring the terminal to life with opened and expanded views to flight operations and inviting sightlines outside, as well as authentic layers of materials and finishes, sculpted facades, and pops of color inside.

Westfield's new retail and dining collection in Terminal 1 will offer 24 spaces across 25,242 square feetnearly double the existing program. Plans include full-service restaurants along with a variety of casual and grab-and-go food offerings, as well as new high-end retail and traveler essentials. The program will open in a phased approach, with the first Westfield developed spaces scheduled to open late Summer 2015.

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Southwest Airlines Helps Kicks Off Construction Of $500-Million Terminal 1 At LAX

TROY The city will receive $650,000 from a developer for the former City Hall site at 1 Monument Square, according to a draft agreement given the City Council.

The proposed contract between Kirchhoff Properties LLC and the city also outlines construction of an 85-space parking garage and 150,000 square feet of mixed-use commercial and retail space.

Kirchhoff Properties would buy 1.19 acres along the Hudson River, according to the proposed ordinance scheduled to be voted on at the council's Finance Committee meeting on Thursday.

The city also agrees to make "reasonable efforts" to provide $3,688,631 in state grants to assist in developing the project, according to the proposed contract.

Details of Kirchhoff's plans for the site will be unveiled to the council's Planning Committee at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The city had the option to forgo a payment for the site in return for development of a new City Hall at the location. Last week, Mayor Lou Rosamilia said the city would not exercise this choice and would remain in its current site at the Hedley Building, 433 River St.

Also set for a vote Thursday by the Finance Committee is a $60 monthly fee for parking in the new Front Street garage that would be built as part of the project.

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Troy would get $650,000 for former City Hall site

An additional 100,000 square-foot of retail space is expected to begin construction next year on 10-acres just south of Wal-Mart at the Fox Mill Center in Gloucester County.

6:18 p.m. EDT, September 15, 2014

GLOUCESTER Construction is expected to begin next year on an additional 100,000 square feet of retail space at the Fox Mill Center, Gloucester's largest commercial development.

"Our objective is to make this [center] a one-stop shop in Gloucester," said Chris Rouzie with Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer. The addition "will fill in the missing retail components in Gloucester."

Thalhimer is the leasing agent for the property, which is under development by Bob Kubicki of Evergreen Development.

Rouzie said he could not yet release the names of tenants but said it will range from a pet supply retailer to a fashion or shoe store. He also said a restaurant is possible.

The proposed expansion, at the corner of Fox Centre Parkway and W. Main Street, will be laid out similar to Wal-Mart and Home Depot with a large parking lot and a driveway along the storefront.

Rouzie said a second entrance into Fox Mill Center is planned for just north of the Burger King on Route 17.

Garrey Curry, Gloucester's assistant county administrator, said he expects to receive a final version of the site plan soon.

Curry said the expansion continues the county's efforts to keep people shopping in Gloucester.

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Fox Mill Center in Gloucester expanding

USC on Monday is to unveil the final and somewhat altered design of the biggest construction project in the university's history: a $650-million housing and retail complex just north of the main campus.

Replacing a now-demolished shopping center along Jefferson Boulevard and Hoover Street, the new USC Village is to include living space for 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in five-story residence halls, a large grocery store, a drugstore, a fitness center, restaurants and other shops. The design, all in the so-called Collegiate Gothic style that echoes much of USC's campus, surrounds a plaza that officials said they hoped would become a public gathering place.

The formal groundbreaking is Monday, with the target completion date in fall 2017.

"This is by far the biggest thing USC has ever done and probably ever will do. We are growing to the north in a big way," USC President C. L. Max Nikias said in a statement. Nikias is to lead the groundbreaking ceremony, which will be attended by other campus leaders and representatives of city and county government.

The project, however, has at least temporarily dropped a hotel and movie theater that were prominent in previous designs. That change was made in part because more hotels and cinemas have been built in downtown Los Angeles in recent years, officials said, adding that they might still consider adding those features in future developments.

The eateries and stores are aimed at the wider neighborhood, not just students, said Thomas Sayles, USC's senior vice president for university relations. "Bear in mind that students are here only nine months a year. So for this to be as economically viable as we think it will be, we need to serve the community," he said. "And the community needs these options for better dining and better retail."

The plan faced earlier opposition from some neighborhood activists about its large scale and possible effect on hastening gentrification in the area south of downtown Los Angeles. As a result, during the city's review of the 15-acre proposal, USC agreed to pay $20 million to support affordable housing in the area, among other pledges to help the neighborhood. Sayles said that USC already has paid $10 million of that to a city housing program.

Security measures have been beefed up at USC in the wake of the slayings of three Chinese graduate students near the campus over the last two years. Anti-crime efforts will be apparent at the University Village as well. Between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., only students, staff, faculty and registered guests will be allowed to enter the complex.

Sayles said that should not be a bother to non-USC neighbors because most shopping malls close at 9 p.m.; restaurant diners entering before 9 p.m. will be able to stay, and anyone with later reservations will be allowed in.

The University Village plaza will feature a symbol of female power, as a counterpoint to the Tommy Trojan statue on the main campus. A statue will depict Hecuba, the wife of King Priam of ancient Troy. Collegiate football did not figure much in tales of antiquity, but Nikias noted that Hecuba urged the Trojans to fight on "even when they were outnumbered, exhausted, facing impossible odds."

Continued here:
USC unveils design for $650-million housing, retail complex