Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

To determine the home warranty companies ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 54 companies, with each companys star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics and subcategories, including:

When looking at pricing, we looked at subcategories such as example pricing as shown on the website, instant quotes and highest and lowest service fees.

The number of covered items in the policies and the number of optional items available for coverage determined the included coverage rating.

Credibility and customer satisfaction ratings were determined by each companys BBB grade, accreditation, reviews, complaints and the number of years in business, as well as consumer ratings on Trustpilot and Google Maps.

When ranking each company on customer support, we looked at service request methods and availability.

Sign-up and restriction ratings were based on the number of plans available, whether or not an inspection is required, available contract terms and whether or not age is a factor for denying system coverage.

Category rating was based on whether customers have the option of choosing their technician or if the company assigns one.

We looked at any fees or penalties resulting from discontinuing coverage before the companys threshold.

Discount ratings for each company were determined by the availability of veteran or military discounts and any sign-up price reductions.

When rating for property types covered, we examined coverage availability for homes such as mobile or manufactured houses, condos and rental properties in addition to typical single-family home coverage.

Ratings for nationwide availability includes the number of states plus DC in which coverages are available.

We added or removed additional points based on average service fees and customer representative responsiveness.

All figures and facts were accurate at the time of first publication.

More here:
Best Home Warranty Companies In Virginia Of 2024 - Forbes

To determine the home warranty companies ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 54 companies, with each companys star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics and subcategories, including:

When looking at pricing, we looked at subcategories such as example pricing as shown on the website, instant quotes and highest and lowest service fees.

The number of covered items in the policies and the number of optional items available for coverage determined the included coverage rating.

Credibility and customer satisfaction ratings were determined by each companys BBB grade, accreditation, reviews, complaints and the number of years in business, as well as consumer ratings on Trustpilot and Google Maps.

When ranking each company on customer support, we looked at service request methods and availability.

Sign-up and restriction ratings were based on the number of plans available, whether or not an inspection is required, available contract terms and whether or not age is a factor for denying system coverage.

Category rating was based on whether customers have the option of choosing their technician or if the company assigns one.

We looked at any fees or penalties resulting from discontinuing coverage before the companys threshold.

Discount ratings for each company were determined by the availability of veteran or military discounts and any sign-up price reductions.

When rating for property types covered, we examined coverage availability for homes such as mobile or manufactured houses, condos and rental properties in addition to typical single-family home coverage.

Ratings for nationwide availability includes the number of states plus DC in which coverages are available.

We added or removed additional points based on average service fees and customer representative responsiveness.

All figures and facts were accurate at the time of first publication.

Read more:
Best Home Warranty In Georgia Of 2024 Forbes Home - Forbes

To determine the home warranty companies ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 54 companies, with each companys star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics and subcategories, including:

Credibility and customer satisfaction ratings were determined by each companys BBB grade, accreditation, reviews, complaints and the number of years in business, as well as consumer ratings on Trustpilot and Google Maps.

Ratings for nationwide availability include the number of states, plus DC, in which coverages are available.

When looking at pricing, we looked at subcategories such as example pricing as shown on the website, instant quotes and highest and lowest service fees.

The number of covered items in the policies and the number of optional items available for coverage determined the included coverage rating.

Sign-up and restriction ratings were based on the number of plans available, whether or not an inspection is required, available contract terms and whether or not age is a factor for denying system coverage.

This category rating was based on whether customers have the option of choosing their own technician or if the company assigns one.

We looked at any fees or penalties resulting from discontinuing coverage before the companys threshold.

We added or removed additional points based on average service fees and customer representative responsiveness.

When ranking each company on customer support, we looked at service request methods and availability.

Discount ratings for each company were determined by the availability of veteran or military discounts and any sign-up price reductions.

When rating for property types covered, we examined coverage availability for homes such as mobile or manufactured houses, condos and rental properties in addition to typical single-family home coverage.

All figures and facts were accurate at the time of first publication.

Read more here:
Best Home Warranty In Kansas Of 2024 Forbes Home - Forbes

To determine the home warranty companies ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 54 companies, with each companys star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics and subcategories, including:

When looking at pricing, we looked at subcategories such as example pricing as shown on the website, instant quotes and highest and lowest service fees.

The number of covered items in the policies and the number of optional items available for coverage determined the included coverage rating.

Credibility and customer satisfaction ratings were determined by each companys BBB grade, accreditation, reviews, complaints and the number of years in business, as well as consumer ratings on Trustpilot and Google Maps.

When ranking each company on customer support, we looked at service request methods and availability.

Sign-up and restriction ratings were based on the number of plans available, whether or not an inspection is required, available contract terms and whether or not age is a factor for denying system coverage.

Category rating was based on whether customers have the option of choosing their technician or if the company assigns one.

We looked at any fees or penalties resulting from discontinuing coverage before the companys threshold.

Discount ratings for each company were determined by the availability of veteran or military discounts and any sign-up price reductions.

When rating for property types covered, we examined coverage availability for homes such as mobile or manufactured houses, condos and rental properties in addition to typical single-family home coverage.

Ratings for nationwide availability includes the number of states plus DC in which coverages are available.

We added or removed additional points based on average service fees and customer representative responsiveness.

All figures and facts were accurate at the time of first publication.

Go here to see the original:
Best Home Warranty Companies In North Carolina Of 2024 - Forbes

To determine the home warranty companies ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 54 companies, with each companys star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics and subcategories, including:

When looking at pricing, we looked at subcategories such as example pricing as shown on the website, instant quotes and highest and lowest service fees.

The number of covered items in the policies and the number of optional items available for coverage determined the included coverage rating.

Credibility and customer satisfaction ratings were determined by each companys BBB grade, accreditation, reviews, complaints and the number of years in business, as well as consumer ratings on Trustpilot and Google Maps.

When ranking each company on customer support, we looked at service request methods and availability.

Sign-up and restriction ratings were based on the number of plans available, whether or not an inspection is required, available contract terms and whether or not age is a factor for denying system coverage.

Category rating was based on whether customers have the option of choosing their technician or if the company assigns one.

We looked at any fees or penalties resulting from discontinuing coverage before the companys threshold.

Discount ratings for each company were determined by the availability of veteran or military discounts and any sign-up price reductions.

When rating for property types covered, we examined coverage availability for homes such as mobile or manufactured houses, condos and rental properties in addition to typical single-family home coverage.

Ratings for nationwide availability includes the number of states plus DC in which coverages are available.

We added or removed additional points based on average service fees and customer representative responsiveness.

All figures and facts were accurate at the time of first publication.

See the rest here:
Best Home Warranty In Texas Of 2024 Forbes Home - Forbes

February 28, 2024

The town of Kittery, Maine has approved a plan to demolish an under-utilized outlet shopping center to make room for a new hotel, restaurant and housing near the Kittery Trading Post on Route 1.

Theplans call for a 119-room hotel and 107 new apartments, including 11 that are considered affordable, at the site of the Outlets of Kittery plaza.

The town's planning board approved the project late last week. Chairman Dutch Dunkleberger said the town has been exploring the possibility of redeveloping the under-utilized retail space for several years, particularly as some outlet stores began to leave.

"What do you do with all that space? We started noticing some vacancies and thought about how can we make use of that?" he said. "We have, in the past, approached the various owners about the potential for developing it into a mixed use space."

The project will be built in three phases, starting with the hotel, according to the developer, the New Hampshire real estate company Two International Group.

During phase two, the existing retail space would be razed to make room for the construction of the new apartments closer to I-95. A potential restaurant would be built next to the Trading Post during the project's third phase.

"It will be a good move for Kittery," Dunkleberger said. "It's not huge; it's not overwhelming."

He said the town needs more housing, particularly for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employees and retail workers. And he believes the new apartments will bring more stable traffic to the remaining outlet malls during the winter, when fewer people travel from Massachusetts and New Hampshire to shop.

Dunkleberger said he's hopeful the three stores that remain at the shopping center will consider moving to other available retail space on Route 1, instead of leaving the area entirely.

This story is a production of the New England News Collaborative. It was originally published by Maine Public.

Read the original post:
Kittery, Maine will demolish one of its outlet malls to make room for new housing - WBUR News

The Minnesota Legislature is considering borrowing $8.5 million to renovate the pedestrian tunnel that connects the Capitol and the State Office Building which houses the offices of the 134 members of the House and some widely used committee rooms to make it compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

The current slope has a grade of over 10.5%, which exceeds the ADAs permitted grade of 8.3%.

The Department of Administrations bonding request cites the tunnels steep slope, which makes traversing the Capitol campus virtually impossible for people with disabilities without a powered wheelchair, especially during the winter months.

This cost is on top of the $454 million Minnesota borrowed last year before interest to fund the State Office Buildings renovation, which is underway and scheduled to be completed in time for the start of the 2027 legislative session.

The tunnel renovation includes construction of a new 15-by-85 foot section adjacent to the existing tunnel. This new section will include an ADA-compliant slope and a new elevator that will assist pedestrians between the new ADA-compliant tunnel and the basement of the Capitol building.

In 2021, lawmakers created an account to fund the renovation of the State Office Building, but the statutory language did not include renovation of the tunnel. Therefore, the tunnel renovation needs to be approved separately.

House Majority Leader Jamie Long, DFL-Minneapolis, said it was probably an oversight for lawmakers to omit the tunnel from the State Office Building renovation.

Long said that his colleagues many times over the years had to push former Rep. Rod Hamilton, R-Mountain Lake, up the tunnels steep slope in his wheelchair so he could make it to the House chamber for votes.

Long also said hes invited family members to tour the State Office Building and the Capitol, but some had difficulty making it up the tunnels steep slope. They had to stop and catch their breath multiple times, he said.

It was a real barrier for them to be able to participate fully in what the Capitol complex has to offer, so I think it is a really key accessibility point to get into the Capitol building, Long said.

Wayne Waslaski, assistant commissioner with the Department of Administration, said renovating the tunnel now construction would begin in August aligns with completion of the State Office Building renovation.

The tunnel is currently closed, as its being rerouted to connect with the State Office Buildings new addition. Minnesota House members and the public must walk outside and cross the street to access the Capitol and vice versa.

In December 2022, former Rep. Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, during the committee hearing that gave final legislative approval to the State Office Building renovation, said he had helped push even motorized wheelchairs up the slope near the Capitol.

Then House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler during the hearing said that lawmakers tried to include the tunnel renovation in with the State Office Building project, but they were told it wasnt within the projects scope of authority.

I think it was an oversight of ours, probably, not to include (the tunnel) when we did the Capitol building, Daudt said during the hearing. The Capitol renovation was completed in 2017.

House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, recently referenced the $8.5 million renovation to the tunnel as another example of Democrats wasteful spending, arguing it should have been included in the State Office Building renovation.

Read more from the original source:
MN lawmakers consider $8.5 million renovation to tunnel connecting State Office Building, Capitol Minnesota Reformer - Minnesota Reformer

Data at a Glance:

Healthcare expenditure made up 16.6% of United States GDP in 2023, totaling over $4.5 trillion. This represents the largest share out of GDP worldwide, even as U.S. healthcare volume is estimated to increase a further 10% by 2027. Consequently, it comes as no surprise that medical office buildings remain a niche yet resilient commercial real estate asset even amid difficult capital conditions.

Looking to draw a bottom line when it comes to the medical office building (MOB) market in yet another transformative year, CommercialSearch compiled current inventories and construction pipelines of medical office buildings larger than 25,000 square feet nationally. Using that data, we then analyzed the state of the industry from the following perspectives:

Medical offices are commonly touted as a recession-proof investment thanks to increasing demand for healthcare and very low tenant turnover. At the same time, speculative medical office development by REITs and institutional investors is rare, and demand for new construction is mostly tenant-driven. The result is evident in the amount of medical office space currently being developed, with no market exceeding 1 million square feet under construction. Still, three markets New Jersey, Houston and Miami came close to the 1 million mark, being home to the most medical space underway by a large margin.

New Jersey is home to the largest medical office building pipeline with 964,500 square feet, narrowly surpassing Houston to take the crown. The square footage underway in the Garden States MOB market will increase its total inventory by 5.3%, making it one of the fastest-growing markets nationwide. The state is home to over 2,000 licensed hospitals, nursing homes and medical care facilities, with almost 500,000 people being employed in the healthcare industry, making it a significant healthcare hub on the East Coast and justifying the markets considerable medical office pipeline.

At #2, Houston currently has 963,000 square feet of medical office buildings currently under construction, narrowly missing first place by 1,000 square feet. Once completed, these facilities will increase the markets inventory by around 3.1%. This points to the fact that medical properties in the metro are experiencing a period of accelerated growth, since MOB deliveries in 2023 also added another 3.3% of inventory after several years of sub-2% growth. Of course, healthcare plays a key role in Houstons economy, providing an estimated 12% of the metros employment. In fact, the Texas Medical Center alone the worlds largest medical complex cares for over 10 million patients a year.

Closing out the podium at #3, Miami is the fastest-growing MOB market in the top 10 except for Madison, with the 960,000 square feet of space under construction here marking a future 11.9% in the markets inventory. Being home to a surging population and one of the top retirement destinations in the U.S., the Miami healthcare industry is scrambling to keep up, best evidenced in the rapid growth of medical offices here. One area particularly benefiting from the growth is the Health District, home to a large concentration of medical facilities as well as the University of Miamis Miller School of Medicine. Additionally, the metros many healthcare and life sciences startups further stand to support Miamis large healthcare and medical tourism industries.

Back in Texas, Dallas currently has 560,000 square feet of space currently under development, granting it fourth place on the list of fastest-growing markets for medical space. While Houston is likely the first Texas healthcare hub that comes to mind when healthcare is the subject, the Metroplex is certainly not to be ignored. DFW is home to a healthcare industry that makes up 15% of its annual GDP according to the Dallas Regional Chamber, making it an industry centerpiece within the Texas Triangle and one of the major healthcare centers of the South.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles currently the largest medical office market nationally is set to add the fifth-most inventory with 530,000 square feet across just two properties larger than 25,000 square feet. The relatively slower growth of MOB construction in Los Angeles compared to the three top markets can be attributed to factors such as the markets greater fragmentation, with medical facilities being spread across Greater LAs numerous cities rather than concentrating in medical centers. At the same time, LA also faces less medical office supply pressure than other markets in conjunction with slower population growth.

While Los Angeles remains the largest market by medical office inventory nationwide, development over the last 10 years highlights a potential reversal as the two highest-volume Texas markets are rapidly catching up. See the graph below for the growth of the largest medical office markets in the U.S. by current inventory over the last 10 years:

Looking at 10-year trends for the nations largest medical markets, there are several clear winners. First and foremost, Houston was home to the largest boost of medical office space with 4.9 million added between 2014 and 2023. This brings the markets total to 31.1 million square feet, just 6 million behind Los Angeles total inventory. The disparity in construction between the nations two largest medical markets means that the gap is much lower compared to 10 years ago, when Houston totaled 26 million square feet compared to LAs 35 million.

Not far behind Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth had an almost equal level healthcare property construction in the same time period with 4.75 million square feet in total. After overtaking Chicagos inventory in 2017, lagging construction in 2023 and a comparatively smaller current pipeline means that the Metroplex remains slightly behind its fellow Texas entry in terms of total inventory.

Up next, Atlanta added 3.8 million square feet of medical office space in the last decade, resulting in market growth exceeding 20% helped by the markets relatively smaller size, marking the fastest 10-year growth out of all 10 largest MOB markets. Home to health organizations including the CDC and the Carter Center, Atlanta is also experiencing a temporary hike in demand for medical space due to the late 2022 closure of Atlanta Medical Center.

Chicago medical office developments between 2014-2023 totaled 3.5 million square feet of space, making for a growth of 13.7% in that period. The city is a major healthcare hub, being home to multiple academic medical centers and close to 100 hospitals. However, the brain drain experienced by the Chicago healthcare industry since the pandemic is still affecting accessibility to care as well as appetite for new investments in developing further properties.

In the last decade, Philadelphia saw just under 3 million square feet of space in medical office buildings delivered, marking the fifth-largest increase by square footage as well as the fourth-largest percentage growth out of the 10 largest markets nationwide. Home to a robust healthcare sector, Philly also benefits from the positive influence of innovative startups in the field such as AI-powered pathology platform Proscia and mental health software developer NeuroFlow.

Recently, the trend in the medical office industry was toward increased consolidation of medical services. To that end, medical providers attempt to offer a retailized medical service experience, adding more medical facilities within the same building or complex. The consequence of this change is a shift to construction of outpatient facilities spanning hundreds of thousands of square feet.

At 469,000 square feet, UW Healths Eastpark Medical Center in Madison the citys only MOB larger than 25,000 square feet currently underway is the fruit of these aforementioned trends in MOB development. Aiming to offer patients the opportunity to see various providers during the same visit, this seven-story outpatient facility will house facilities pertaining to adult oncology, womens specialty care and numerous other specialty clinics, as well as laboratory services and advanced imaging. When it opens in Q3 this year, patients will benefit from advanced proton cancer treatment, innovative upright treatment technologies and more.

Meanwhile, standing at 462,000 square feet, Philadelphias only medical facility larger than 25,000 square feet scheduled for delivery this year the Honickman Center spans 20 stories of state-of-the-art medical office space, home to several specialty programs including cancer and respiratory care, gastroenterology and more. Intended as Jefferson Healths flagship medical building in Philadelphias Center City, the facility will bring prime healthcare to the heart of Philadelphia.

The next two largest properties have already opened their doors to patients in early 2024. The first is Wellness Way in metro Albany, N.Y., the new, 263,000-square-foot home of multispecialty medical group Community Care Physicians. With 22 specialties including audiology, pediatrics and dermatology and 142 specialty providers, the new facility aims to offer a comprehensive patient experience for Albany County residents.

Additionally, NYU Langone opened a new ambulatory care facility at 1111 Franklin Ave. in Garden City, Long Island, totaling 260,000 square feet and 32 clinical specialties. The property was previously a Bloomingdales and Sears building which has now been converted into a state-of-the-art medical facility with a capacity of 400,000 patients per year. Conversions to medical offices have picked up in recent years especially in areas with scarce developable land. Besides full-building conversions, individual office spaces are also being converted into medical space as office building owners try to prop up occupancies.

The largest MOB to be completed in Houston in 2024 is Kelsey-Sebold Clinics development at 8303 North Sam Houston Pkwy. East, totaling 256,000 square feet and making it this years fifth-largest completion nationwide. The company one of metro Houstons largest multispecialty practices invested a reported $77.5 million in the facility which is scheduled to open its doors around August this year.

Besides fifth-place 8303 North Sam Houston Pkwy. East, Houston was the site of five more of the 20 largest medical facilities set to open in 2024. These included (1) Building 3 of Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Medical Plaza; (2) Building 2 of the Kelsey-Seybold Fort Bend Clinic; (3) the Kelsey Sebold Clear Lake Ambulatory Surgery Center and (4) the 1715 Project. One additional Texas entry made it among the top 20 largest MOB completions this year: UT Health at Kyle Seale Parkway in San Antonio at #19.

Florida boasted the second-most properties among the 20 largest with three, while New York state was home to an additional 2.

Looking at the largest properties completed last year, the Joan & Paul Rubschlager Building took home the title, standing at a total of 487,600 square feet. Home to the Rush Cancer Center, Chicagos newest location for cancer, neuroscience and digestive diseases care, the $450 million facility opened in early 2023. Up next were the OQuinn Medical Tower in Houston and the James Outpatient Care and Proton Therapy Center in Columbus. See the table below for the remaining largest 2023 MOB completions.

All property and market data courtesy of CommercialEdge. Individual building data and market stats were extracted on February 8, 2024 and is subject to change. For the purposes of data accuracy, only medical office buildings or mixed-use buildings containing medical office space larger than 25,000 square feet were included.

The list of largest medical office building completions in 2024 includes properties that have already been completed as of the publication of this article. While CommercialEdge attempts to ensure the accuracy of projected completion dates, final completion and opening dates may differ.

Read more here:
Medical Office Building Report | CommercialSearch - CommercialSearch

Designed as executive office space, a 3,517-square-foot redevelopment project by Franklin Real Estate Development has opened at 107 E. Park Ave. in downtown Greenvilles East Park Historic District.

The Franklin features 12 offices ranging from 90 to 225 square feet, a shared break area and conference room. Walls and floors of the 107-year-old structure have been insulated to reduce sound transmission and improve energy efficiency. Leases include utilities, fiber-optic internet service, access to printers and copiers, cleaning services and parking, according to a news release from The Franklin.

Built as a private residence in 1917, The Franklin was converted into office space several years ago. The two-story, columned structure across from Greenvilles McPherson Park is on the National Register of Historic Places, the release stated.

The Franklin is the second historic redevelopment project undertaken by Greenville developer and broker Kurt Wallenborn in the past year. Prosper, a 7,000-square-foot office redevelopment project, opened in February 2023 at 832 Wade Hampton Boulevard in the former McBride Office Supply store.

Related content: Food service company to open Greenville HQ in Landmark Building

Related content: New affordable housing apartment community breaks ground in Greenville

Projects like The Franklin and Prosper fueled Wallenborns passion for adaptive reuse projects and historic preservation, according to the release. Both projects received historic tax credits, with Prospers addition to the National Register of Historic Places expected this spring, the release said.

The Franklin is a great example of what can be done with old buildings, Wallenborn said. These structures are built better than any new construction. The wood is so solid, so tight. This is like a custom house from one hundred years ago. It cant be replicated today.

Wallenborn has preserved the structures original pine floors. The double hung casement windows were removed and restored then reinstalled.

Layers and layers of paint were removed, and window weights restored so that all of the windows now open and function properly, Wallenborn added.

The Franklin engineering, design and building partners include SHLTR Architects, Bluewater Civil Design, Studio Main, Creative Builders, Amy Emery Interior Design, Ivey Communications and Design the Experience. Equity in the project was raised from 33 individual investors through Greenville crowdfunding company Vicinity Capital, with additional financing by United Community Bank, according to the release.

Franklin Real Estate Development is a development, consulting and brokerage firm founded by Kurt Wallenborn, MRED.

See more here:
Office space opens in redeveloped historic building in Greenville's East Park District - GSA Business

An entrance to the Capitol - State Office Building tunnel as seen on March 4, 2024. This entrance is where the steep slope descending into the tunnel begins. Photo by Michelle Griffith/Minnesota Reformer.

The Minnesota Legislature is considering borrowing $8.5 million to renovate the pedestrian tunnel that connects the Capitol and the State Office Building which houses the offices of the 134 members of the House and some widely used committee rooms to make it compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

The current slope has a grade of over 10.5%, which exceeds the ADAs permitted grade of 8.3%.

The Department of Administrations bonding request cites the tunnels steep slope, which makes traversing the Capitol campus virtually impossible for people with disabilities without a powered wheelchair, especially during the winter months.

The Capitol-State Office Building tunnel slope. It has a grade of over 10.5%, which exceeds The Americans with Disabilities Acts permitted grade of 8.3%. Photo courtesy of the Department of Administration.

This cost is on top of the $454 million Minnesota borrowed last year before interest to fund the State Office Buildings renovation, which is underway and scheduled to be completed in time for the start of the 2027 legislative session.

The tunnel renovation includes construction of a new 15-by-85 foot section adjacent to the existing tunnel. This new section will include an ADA-compliant slope and a new elevator that will assist pedestrians between the new ADA-compliant tunnel and the basement of the Capitol building.

In 2021, lawmakers created an account to fund the renovation of the State Office Building, but the statutory language did not include renovation of the tunnel. Therefore, the tunnel renovation needs to be approved separately.

House Majority Leader Jamie Long, DFL-Minneapolis, said it was probably an oversight for lawmakers to omit the tunnel from the State Office Building renovation.

Long said that his colleagues many times over the years had to push former Rep. Rod Hamilton, R-Mountain Lake, up the tunnels steep slope in his wheelchair so he could make it to the House chamber for votes.

Long also said hes invited family members to tour the State Office Building and the Capitol, but some had difficulty making it up the tunnels steep slope. They had to stop and catch their breath multiple times, he said.

It was a real barrier for them to be able to participate fully in what the Capitol complex has to offer, so I think it is a really key accessibility point to get into the Capitol building, Long said.

Wayne Waslaski, assistant commissioner with the Department of Administration, said renovating the tunnel now construction would begin in August aligns with completion of the State Office Building renovation.

The tunnel is currently closed, as its being rerouted to connect with the State Office Buildings new addition. Minnesota House members and the public must walk outside and cross the street to access the Capitol and vice versa.

In December 2022, former Rep. Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, during the committee hearing that gave final legislative approval to the State Office Building renovation, said he had helped push even motorized wheelchairs up the slope near the Capitol.

Then House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler during the hearing said that lawmakers tried to include the tunnel renovation in with the State Office Building project, but they were told it wasnt within the projects scope of authority.

I think it was an oversight of ours, probably, not to include (the tunnel) when we did the Capitol building, Daudt said during the hearing. The Capitol renovation was completed in 2017.

House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, recently referenced the $8.5 million renovation to the tunnel as another example of Democrats wasteful spending, arguing it should have been included in the State Office Building renovation.

The post MN lawmakers consider $8.5 million renovation to tunnel connecting State Office Building, Capitol appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.

Go here to see the original:
MN lawmakers consider $8.5 million renovation to tunnel connecting State Office Building, Capitol - Voice Of Alexandria