Orlando, FL (PRWEB) May 06, 2014

Commercial properties, warehouses, retail centers, and mixed use or office buildings, will all, at some point need expansion or renovation to maintain maximum appeal and serviceability. Old buildings will need updates, and new owners will need improved spaces to serve their specific needs. Universal Contracting has been providing commercial construction services in the greater Orlando area since the companys conception in February 1993.

Jeff Grow, Commercial Manager and Jordan Grow, Commercial Estimator, weigh in on the growth that Universal Contracting has experienced lately in commercial build out and commercial renovation activity.

Commercial build out and renovation is working with a developer or owners property to bring it up to their standards. An example would be an investor who buys an old rundown hotel and they hire a contractor to come in and give it a facelift and bring it up to their standards for their needs such as a themed hotel. Another example would be to take a doctors office and upgrade it to code, or make it nice and presentable to patients.

Universal Contracting brings the design team together - owners, architect, engineer, sub-contractors and contractors - to create a concept of what the owner wants for his business. Typically these renovations are cosmetic; new floors, new paint, new doors, ceilings, lighting. They can take it a step further and recreate new spaces using existing space. Older buildings are renovated with a goal for higher efficiency and increased value; interior offices, retail space and mixed use buildings are transformed to have higher value and better usability. The recent build out and renovation of Universal Contractings own office space is a great example of a typical office project. Four adjacent units - about 6,000 square feet were built out halfway and renovated throughout. Floors, ceilings, walls, and counters, along with bathrooms and kitchens, were renovated to create three adjoining departments: the reception, front offices and conference room; the administrative offices; and a sales and construction department with offices and showroom. There is still warehouse space for production equipment and storage.

Jordan Grow remarks, Any build out or renovation is a niche trade; some contractors can only do one thing, but we at Universal Contracting know it all. He went on to discuss future renovation projects that include several multi-family projects in the Central Florida area, plus an anticipated project in the next couple of years that involves multiple seven-story buildings that will need complete interior build outs and external renovations. Universal Contracting plans to expand their reach to include other Florida regions such as Tampa, Jacksonville, and South Florida. The company is currently undergoing growth with an expansion in business development and project management personnel.

What commercial build out and/or commercial renovation insights should business owners gather from this? Now is a good time with the economy improving; people are going out to eat more, owners want a fresh look to update their business, etc. There are new plazas and more updates all over the area. Business owners need to bring their building up to date to keep up, especially with the addition of various smart and eco-friendly technologies.

Jeff Grow adds, It is better to do any exterior renovation before the rainy season. Also, pricing is always going up on building materials. As construction picks up, so do costs - because with supply and demand, as labor materials increase, costs increase. All building material prices are expected to go up in May and there is a general industry price increase anticipated within the next few months. Also, as construction becomes busier now, the backlogs on construction projects increase. Starting the planning process now means less delay in starting the actual work.

About Universal Contracting: Jared Mellick and his father Ken Mellick are the owners of Central Floridas premier construction company Universal Contracting, a family-run business which has been serving homeowners and business owners in the Greater Orlando area for more than 20 years. Together they host a local radio home improvement and construction talk show called In the House with Ken & Jared.

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Universal Contracting Sees Rise in Commercial Renovation Projects

Gov. Phil Bryant

A stroke of Gov. Phil; Bryants pen April 23 brought to a close Mississippis short-lived experiment in granting sales tax rebates to new retail shopping as a way to boost visitor numbers and create jobs.

The Mississippi Development Authority so far has awarded up to $155 million in potential subsidies for three shopping malls since legislators widened the sales tax rebate program last year to include cultural retail attractions, or what are more commonly known as retail centers and shopping malls. House Bill 1358 puts an end to the rebates at least for now.

HB1358 sponsor Rep. Rita Martinson, a Madison Republican, proposed in an earlier bill HB1233 to extend the incentives for three more years. Lawmakers balked at giving the renewal a vote, arguing the state has a dearth of evidence that the incentives brought much value to the state beyond creating low-paid retail jobs and created unfair competition for merchants not receiving the tax incentives.

With more study and hard data to provide their value, the sales tax rebates could return.

Martinson said in an interview with The Associated Press she thinks incentives have been helpful, but conceded: It might be at the point to sit back and see what weve done.

The incentives that expire on July 1 returned 80 percent of sales taxes collected at a development over 10 years, until the total collected reaches 30 percent of the construction price.

Many economists voice doubts about subsidizing retail development. Good Jobs First, a nonprofit group that is skeptical of business subsidies, is particularly critical of giving money to retailers, saying they dont pay well or create spinoff jobs, the AP reported.

Building new retail space doesnt grow the economy, it just moves sales and lousy jobs around, the group writes.

The first retail development to qualify for the widened incentives was Pearls Outlets of Mississippi, where Spectrum Capital could get up to $24 million of its $80 million investment back. That mall opened in November.

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Bryant signing kills sales tax rebates for new retail developments

A developer is proposing a new business park, north of Palladium Drive and west of Huntmar Drive, in Kanata.

(Stock image)

The proposal, for a subdivision, calls for the eventual construction of a little over three million square metres of office and industrial space along with more than 300,000 square feet of retail space, spread out over 193 acres.

In the planning rationale filed with the city, the developer is identified as West Ottawa Land Holdings. That company shares an address and phone number with Taggart Realty.

The plan calls for the extension of Palladium Drive to the north, where it would bisect the development. At the moment, the development plan calls for building heights of below four storeys, though that could change.

Current plans call for each of the 27 lots designated for development in the subdivision to be dealt with independently by city planning officials. The rationale also says that a planned expansion of rapid transit to the area would allow for taller building heights in the future.

Organizations: West Ottawa Land Holdings

Geographic location: Kanata

(Stock image)

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Developer requests office space rezoning for large swath of land in Kanata

Another Campustown building will soon come down for a new structure with student housing and retail space.

Later this month, the Minneapolis-based Opus Group will begin demolishing the former Campus Book Store, located across the street from Iowa State University at the corner of Lynn Avenue and Lincoln Way.

The new building, The Foundry, will be six stories high and feature 53 units. The ground level will have 7,500 square feet of retail space. It is yet to be determined how many stores the building will contain.

The residential units will have two to four bedrooms and will include amenities such as a fitness center, study lounges, game room, common areas and underground parking.

The building is slated for completion in August 2015. Pre-leasing has begun.

When you look at whats going on at the university and how fast ISU is growing and couple that with lack of student housing both off and on campus, it creates a real opportunity, said Jason Conway, real estate director of Opus.

Conway said the location next to campus was also a plus.

What we have found in our model building in other university markets is we like to be adjacent to the campus, he said.

The current building was built in 1973 for the Campus Book Store, which closed in 2012 after 39 years. The store was owned by Floyd and Sandra Ballein.

A Halloween boutique opened for a few weeks in the fall of 2012 and 2013 prior to Halloween.

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Campustown project brings more housing, retail space

Developer Soho Properties has acquired 560 Seventh Avenue in New York City. The property, which once housed Parsons The New School for Design, will be transformed into a new mixed-use building with a 20,000 square foot retail space and Hampshires third Dream Hotel in Manhattan.

New York-based SOMA will design the ground-up build, which is valued at more than $300 million and slated for late 2015 construction. Due to the buildings mixed-use program, SOMAs vision of structural cubes will divide the property into four segments.

The first volume will offer three floors and the retail space, while the second will host hotel suites with a metal screen facade that allows for visibility, but privacy. In addition to a sky lobby, restaurant, pool, and lounge, the hotel will boast a rooftop space and three additional terraces.

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SOMA Designs Manhattan's Third Dream Hotel

Austin, TX (PRWEB) May 01, 2014

Austin waste management company At Your Disposal (AYD) is currently assisting general contractor Zapalac/Reed Construction Co. on the construction of a new office building in the San Clemente office and retail park in West Austin. AYD is providing two 40-yard roll off dumpsters to collect construction debris and is servicing the dumpsters with weekly hauls.

The new five-story building will be 250,000 square feet and will join six existing buildings and retail properties in the park. Located on Westlake Drive on the west side of Capital of Texas Highway, construction is scheduled to be completed in May, and several tenants have already signed on to lease space. The building was designed by GSC Architects of Austin.

The project broke ground in late January of this year and construction has been on-going for several months. AYD will continue to provide hauling services until construction is complete.

New construction in Austin is required to recycle debris as part of an on-going initiative to reduce waste in the city, said Chuck Herb, owner of AYD Waste. As a LEED-certified waste management company, we are able to assist on all LEED-designated jobs and we provide recycling of all construction debris. These services are not limited only to LEED jobs and we offer recycling to all of our construction and demolition clients.

At Your Disposal Waste Services, Inc. (AYD) provides recycling and refuse hauling to the greater Austin, TX area. The company offers roll-off dumpster rental, waste disposal services, compactor rentals, construction debris removal, and hauling of recyclables, junk and more. AYD offers same-day service. Committed to protecting the environment, AYD is a LEED-certified waste collection company and participates in the Texas Environmental Quality Initiatives Program as well as local community beautification projects. To learn more about AYD and the services offered, please visit http://www.aydwaste.com.

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Austin Dumpster Rental Company Providing Roll Offs for LEED Construction of New Building in Office and Retail Park

Plans for construction of 101 York, a mixed-use project of student housing, commercial space and parking, advanced a step last week when County Councilman David Marks, who represents Towson, introduced a resolution April 21 to approve the continued review of a proposed planned unit development for the project. The council is expected to act on the measure May 22.

The project, which faced criticism from Towson leaders when it was introduced last year, has been revised, according to Marks.

Additional parking, bike racks, a stop for the future Towson circulator, changes in architecture and a community benefit package directed to the three closest neighborhoods adding $15 million to the original $60 price tag have been added to the project, Marks said.

If the project proceeds as proposed it will have room for 611 students, 495 parking spaces, 9,300 square feet of retail on the ground level, as well as an option to lease 150 additional parking spaces from the Baltimore County Library garage, according to Wendy Crites, executive director of DMS Development, the project's developer.

The newest proposal, she said, adds 40 more beds as well as another level to accommodate the additional parking. The project, located on the west side of York Road, will have access to both York Road and Burke Avenue

"It is strictly student housing," Crites said.

Units will have either two or four beds with two baths, although there will be some one-bedroom studio apartments as well. The front desk will be staffed at all times.

Revisions came in response to neighbors' concerns, Crites said. "I feel like we reached out there to meet people's needs," she said.

The project has the support of Nancy Hafford, executive director of the Towson Chamber of Commerce.

"It makes sense," she said. "Towson University has grown by leaps and bounds over the last 15 to 20 years."

Originally posted here:
A step forward for 101 York project in Towson

Plans for construction of 101 York, a mixed-use project of student housing, commercial space and parking, advanced a step last week when County Councilman David Marks, who represents Towson, introduced a resolution April 21 to approve the continued review of a proposed planned unit development for the project. The council is expected to act on the measure May 22.

The project, which faced criticism from Towson leaders when it was introduced last year, has been revised, according to Marks.

Additional parking, bike racks, a stop for the future Towson circulator, changes in architecture and a community benefit package directed to the three closest neighborhoods adding $15 million to the original $60 price tag have been added to the project, Marks said.

If the project proceeds as proposed it will have room for 611 students, 495 parking spaces, 9,300 square feet of retail on the ground level, as well as an option to lease 150 additional parking spaces from the Baltimore County Library garage, according to Wendy Crites, executive director of DMS Development, the project's developer.

The newest proposal, she said, adds 40 more beds as well as another level to accommodate the additional parking. The project, located on the west side of York Road, will have access to both York Road and Burke Avenue

"It is strictly student housing," Crites said.

Units will have either two or four beds with two baths, although there will be some one-bedroom studio apartments as well. The front desk will be staffed at all times.

Revisions came in response to neighbors' concerns, Crites said. "I feel like we reached out there to meet people's needs," she said.

The project has the support of Nancy Hafford, executive director of the Towson Chamber of Commerce.

"It makes sense," she said. "Towson University has grown by leaps and bounds over the last 15 to 20 years."

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A step forward for 101 York project

Bangalore has been ranked 31st among the global cities actively adding shopping centre space in 2014, according to the latest Global Viewpoint from CBRE Research.

According to CBRE research, New Delhi is ranked 21st, Hyderabad 23rd, and Bangalore 31st, among the global cities with the maximum shopping centre space under construction in 2014.

India continues to see a wave of new shopping centre development despite some developers pushing back completion dates due to the financing issues.

Around 500,000 sq m of new retail space is under construction in New Delhi. The largest two projects, DLF Mall of India NOIDA (204,385 sq m) and Logix City Center Mall (111,483 sq m), are both located in Noida. Among tier II cities in India, Hyderabad is the most active market with a supply pipeline (483,000 sq m) presently three times greater than its existing stock. Buoyant occupier demand is pushing for a strong development pipeline in New Delhi with 500,000 sq m of new retail space presently under construction.

Globally, a total of 39 million sq m of shopping centre space is presently under construction across the major cities, representing a 3 million sq m increase from 2013, according to the report. Most of this development activity for shopping centre space around the world is focused in China. According to the report, over half of the shopping centre space under construction in the 180 countries surveyed is taking place within Chinas borders. Shanghai takes the first position with 3.3 million sq m of space under construction more than the combined total of all 86 European cities, excluding those in Russia and Turkey. Just behind Shanghai is Chengdu with 3.2 million sq m, followed by Shenzhen and Tianjin with 2.7 million sq m and 2.5 million sq m under construction, respectively.

Commenting on the findings of the report, Anshuman Magazine, CMD, CBRE, South Asia Pvt Ltd, said: Strong economic growth in many Asian markets has been attracting an increasing number of cross-border retailers. Though China remains by far the most active market for shopping centre development, the tier I and II cities of India are also among the most active globally.

He added, Unfortunately, however, there continues to exist a dearth of quality shopping space in many of our market places.

Along with the large-scale urbanization of our leading cities and a burgeoning middle class population, it is this that has been driving shopping center development forward.

The scale of new development in Asia and China in particular is staggering but there are a number of quite understandable factors behind it. The most reported is economic growth, which continues although now with some signs of slowing down. In addition, Chinese cities, and many others in Asia, present a physical environment that lends itself to environment-controlled shopping centres. Outdoor shopping can be too hot, too humid, too cold, too wet, too unsafe or too dirty and polluted modern shopping centres are none of these when managed properly, said Sebastian Skiff, Executive Director of CBRE Retail.

Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia falls just outside the top 10 coming in as the 11th most active market globally. Southeast Asia has 3.3 million sq m under construction and nearly 40 per cent of this is located in the Malaysian city. In Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have also seen a large number of new developments in suburban areas and are seeing strong leasing demand from retailers attracted by lower rents and the lower-to-mid income residences nearby.

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City 31st globally in shopping centre space additions in 2014

Rendering courtesy of Donahue Schriber

Shopping center owner and operator Donahue Schriber plans approximately $50 million in improvements at Del Mar Highlands Town Center in Carmel Valley, including a parking structure, movie theater expansion, and new stores and eateries.

Company officials said plans call for adding about 80,000 square feet of retail space to the centers current 283,000 square feet. There will also be a three-screen expansion of the centers existing eight-screen Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas, and a new building housing a KinderCare Learning Centers location.

The three-level parking structure will be built along Townsgate Drive, expanding an existing parking field behind the center. All of the centers current parking is in surface lots.

The parking structure will have about 600 new parking spaces and will include top-level walkways, three pedestrian entries and landscaped trellises.

Construction is expected to begin in late 2015 and conclude in mid2017, officials said. The center will remain open during construction, and operators will be conducting consumer surveys to gather input on coming improvements.

The retail center was entitled in the mid-1980s, with city-approved plans allowing for a total of 425,000 square feet of retail and a parking structure. The center opened in 1989 at the intersection of Del Mar Heights Road and El Camino Real, and completed a $20 million renovation in 2011.

Based in Costa Mesa, Donahue Schriber is a private real estate investment trust that owns and operates 74 retail centers in five states, totaling more than 11 million square feet.

For more on this story, see the May 5 edition of the San Diego Business Journal.

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Del Mar Highlands Town Center Plans $50 Million Expansion