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Many ovens, toaster ovens, and microwaves have a convection setting, but sadly, many go unused. We either forget to use the setting or never knew what it was for in the first place. Convection ovens offer faster, more even cooking by using a fan and exhaust system to circulate heat through the oven. That warm, moving air keeps the temperature around the food constant, reduces cooking times, and crisps food in ways a conventional oven cant. And because cooking times are reduced, convection ovens also save energy and money.

Convection settings can be found on full-size ovens, as well as wall-mounted and microwave ovens. Convection lets you make pizza, rotisserie chicken, casseroles, and desserts in less time, but what makes a good convection oven? The following list includes a selection of the best convection ovens, each with features and functions to diversity your cooking options.

Convection ovens come in many sizes and with a wide range of features. Some are simple and straightforward, and others are 12-in-1 models with presets and accessories that let you use a variety of cooking methods.

The convection function is available in different kinds of ovens, ranging from wall ovens with 6-cubic-foot capacities to small countertop convection ovens with .5-cubic-foot capacities. Many countertop models measure size in terms of slices of breadas in how many pieces of bread the oven can toast at once. The capacity of these countertop ovens ranges from 4 to 18 slices of bread. Wall ovens and full-size ovens with a convection setting generally have a capacity of 4 to 6 cubic feet.

A good rule of thumb is to buy the largest convection oven you can afford that fits within the available space. Convection ovens rely on heat circulation to evenly cook food. The more space there is for that air to freely move and circulate, the more evenly the food cooks.

All convection ovens have a fan to circulate air. True convection ovens have a heating element near the fan to warm the air and maintain a more consistent temperature. The terms third-element and European convection mean the same thing as true convection. If youre comparing convection and true convection, true convection offers the most accurate cooking temperature.

Countertop convection ovens are typically less expensive than wall-mounted models. Theyre also portable and often come with a long list of extra functions like air frying, browning, roasting, rotisserie, and toasting. Many people use these ovens as second ovens in addition to their full-size ovens.

Wall-mounted convection ovens can be more expensive, but they are full-size ovens that can cook larger dishes and meals. Many of these ovens also function as conventional ovens, giving cooks the flexibility to make foods like bread and souffles that dont cook as well with convection.

Both countertop and wall-mounted ovens can be convection or true convection. Gas ranges may also have a convection option. However, to use it the oven must also work with electricity because gas cannot power convection.

Convection relies on a fan and exhaust system. The fan blows while the exhaust pulls the air and heat throughout the oven. As the hot air circulates around the food, it maintains the ovens temperature, reducing cooking times while crisping and browning food. True convection adds a heating element near the fan to more efficiently regulate the temperature.

Convection oven displays range from bright LED-lit buttons and backlit displays to mechanical dials with no digital display. Backlit displays are the easiest to see, with LED-lit displays and buttons coming in close behind them.

High-tech countertop convection ovens may have touch screens instead of manual dials or knobs to adjust settings, time, and temperature. In general, the more settings and presets an oven has, the higher quality and more complex its display. However, that also means its price tag is probably higher, too.

Theres a wide variety of settings on convection ovens. A simple countertop oven may roast, broil, bake, and toast. Newer models boast air frying, rotisserie, dehydrating, fermenting, and warming modes, too. Its worth spending a little more on a fancier oven if youll actually use those extra settings. If baking pizza and roasting meat and vegetables is as adventurous as your cooking gets, however, you really only need a basic convection oven that will cook enough food for your family.

Cooking modes arent the only extra settings to think about. Many convection ovens simplify your baking even further by including preset options for bagels, toast, pizza, or cookies. These settings are handy for some home cooks but may not be necessary for others. The best convection oven for your needs is one that simplifies and improves cooking youll be doing anyway, not one that complicates a simple culinary routine.

The more settings a convection oven has, the more likely it will come with extra accessories like a rotisserie fork, fry basket, one or two removable wire racks, food trays, and cookbooks. The kind of food you plan to cook in the oven should inform which accessories you prioritize; a vegetarian chef wont lose sleep if his oven doesnt accommodate two chickens on its rotisserie. If you dont think about which accessories are important to you as youre shopping for the oven, you may end up buying them later on.

Other useful oven features are timers, automatic shutoff, and interior lights. Timers and automatic shutoff features often go together: The auto-shutoff feature turns off the oven once the timer has run out. These features can save you from overdone or burned food or an oven thats left on after you leave the house.

Interior lights arent a dealbreaker, but they do make it easier for you to monitor your food as it bakesand they illuminate the oven as you are cleaning it.

The top convection oven picks offer consistent heating and convenient settings, and some have long lists of extra features. Weve included countertop and wall-mounted models, so you can find an oven that works in your available space.

Photo: amazon.com

The Breville BOV800XL Smart Oven brings Element IQ to the kitchen. This technology transfers and adjusts heat across five quartz heating elements to maintain an even temperature throughout the oven. Of course, its supported by a built-in fan that adds convection to the already effective elements. The combination results in fast, even cooking in its six-slice interior.

Among the ovens nine cooking functions are bells and whistles not found on every convection oven, like presets for cookies, pizza, bagel, and slow cook. A bright backlit LCD display is easy to read, and all the dials are simple to understand. Overall it heats quickly and evenly and brings a sense of predictability to your cooking routine.

Photo: amazon.com

The Oster comes at half the price of comparable convection ovens, but it still offers seven preset cooking functions, including favorites like toast and pizza. You can adjust the temperature or time settings to bake, roast, or brown your favorite dishes to your specifications.

The Oster heats quickly and efficiently and will help you cut your cooking times and save energy. This model comes with a baking pan and a removable crumb tray that makes cleanup simple. Two rack positions accommodate deep and shallow dishes. This Oster does the basics well, and it can cook enough food for two or three people.

Photo: amazon.com

The Osters extra-large convection oven has ample room for up to 18 slices of breadthats enough space to accommodate a whole chicken or two pizzas. We also like that it has a defrost setting and a 90-minute timer with an auto-shutoff feature.

This ovens digital display and preset buttons are intuitive: You can set the temperature and time manually or operate the oven in one of the six preset modes. It comes with two racks, a baking pan, and an integrated broiling rack so you can start cooking right away.

Photo: amazon.com

Any appliance that has multiple functions gets bonus pointssaving counter space is always welcome. This Toshiba offers the convenience of a microwave with the precision of a convection oven. With four auto-roast menus and four auto-bake menus, it really takes presets to a new level. Fear not if the foods you want to cook arent on the preset list, because this oven also has a smart sensor that monitors humidity to adjust cooking times and temperatures.

This oven is a terrific bet for families who eat meals at different times because it has a warming setting that can keep food at safe temperatures for up to 99 minutes. At cleaning time, the durable stainless steel interior is easy to wipe and resists rust and scratches. Another bonus: the Toshiba has an ECO mode to save energy and money.

Photo: amazon.com

The Breville BOV900BSS offers super convection technology. By super, the manufacturer means two speeds for the convection fan and six quartz heating elements controlled with smart Element IQ. Fan control lets you adjust the speed based on what youre cooking. Meals that dry easily can be cooked at a lower fan speed, for example. Element IQ automatically adjusts the temperature of each heating element to maintain even cooking temperatures.

This ovens large capacity and the fact that it air fries makes cooking for a crowd a cinch: It is spacious enough to hold a 14-pound turkey or even a 5-quart Dutch oven. In addition, it has 13 cooking functions that range from proofing, air frying, and cookies to dehydrating, slow cooking, and warming. This is truly a multi-use appliance that reduces cooking times and diversifies your options in the kitchen.

Photo: amazon.com

With a 60-minute timer and an auto-shutoff feature, this Cuisinart makes burnt food a thing of the past. It gives you all the benefits of a convection oven, like baking, broiling, warming, and toasting, with the added benefit of air frying. This model also has a cool toast-shade selector that browns your bread just the way you like it.

The TOA-60 comes with a baking pan, air fryer rack, and oven rack to get you cooking as soon as you open the box. Its a great option because it is simple to use, but the features it does have are actually useful.

Photo: amazon.com

The Empava wall oven is designed to maximize the use of a small under-counter space. It offers 2.3 cubic feet of cooking space and five rack positions. Sensitive-touch controls with a rotisserie setting among nine other options provide a wide range of cooking techniques.

The convection heat cuts preheat times and evenly circulates air well enough that you can cook large and small meals with equal precision. The interior is covered in an easy-to-clean stain- and heat discoloration-resistant enameled surface. Because its designed with three layers of tempered glass, its exterior remains cool to the touch. For those with bigger kitchens, this oven is also available in 30-inch and 36-inch models.

Photo: amazon.com

Minimalists will love the COSORI, which combines several functions into one versatile convection oventheres no need for a multitude of single-function appliances anymore. Its brightly lit LED display helps you see letters and digits clearly as you select presets or adjust the temperature. Some of its 12 presets are really cool, tootheres a rotisserie and warm, of course, but theres also a ferment selection.

Another advantage of this 12-in-1 is that it comes with a bunch of useful accessories including a rotisserie form and rotisserie handle, recipe book, food tray, wire rack, fry basket, and crumb tray.

There are distinct advantages to owning a convection oven rather than a conventional model:

Certain types of food do better in convection ovens than conventional ones: meat, vegetables, and anything that you cook covered works well in convection because of the even, consistent heat. Convection also speeds up the dehydration and toasting processes because the circulating air evaporates moisture.

It takes some trial and error at first, but cooking with convection can change your cooking habits for the better. Once you understand how the convection feature affects your cooking, you can speed your way through many of your favorite recipes.

A convection oven has a fan and exhaust system that pushes and pulls air through the oven. The resulting air circulation maintains an even cooking temperature that reduces cooking times. Conventional ovens rely on heat alone rather than heat and air circulation.

While there are many great countertop convection ovens on the market, the Breville BOV800XL Smart Oven is a definite standout. This oven has 10 cooking functions and an Element IQ system that maintains temperatures with a fan and five independently adjustable quartz heating elements.

The fan will run continuously as long as the oven is on the convection setting. It will turn off if the oven door is opened. Some models allow you to manually turn the convection setting on or off, which turns the fan on or off as well. That allows you to choose the cooking environment thats best for the dish youre cooking.

Convection ovens can be cleaned just like conventional ovens. Remove the racks or any other accessories and wash them with soap and water. Use an oven cleaning solution inside the oven to remove grease and buildup. Scrub spills, and return the racks to the oven when theyre clean and dry.

Flan, souffles, cakes, and breads dont do well in convection. The moving air can cause some foods like souffles to collapse. Cakes and breads often dehydrate on the inside due to the circulating air, which is why they taste better when baked in a conventional oven.

You can use ceramic, glass, aluminum, and clay cookware in a convection oven. Cookware thats thinner often works better because the heat can reach the food from all angles. You may also want to use pans and cookie sheets with lower sides to put as much of the food as possible in direct contact with the heat.

Originally posted here:
The Best Convection Oven Options in 2020 for the Kitchen - BobVila.com

The latest Countertop Platelet Incubator Market Research Report 2026 contains complete Industry outlook, market manufacturers and key statistics analysis. The industry sales & Share, trends are all discussed, explained and analyzed. It provides marketing strategy analysis, distributors/traders list, raw materials analysis, import and export analysis, Key success factors and Supply Chain Analysis.

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Latest Study explores the Countertop Platelet Incubator Market Witness Highest Growth in near future - Cheshire Media

The official Best Buy eBay store is now offering the Calphalon Precision Air Fry Convection Oven for $119.99 shipped. Also matched as part of its Deals of the Day. Regularly up to $200, with similar models fetching around $250 at Amazon, this is up to $80 in savings and the lowest we can find. Like much of Calphalon kitchenware, this one is about as attractive on the countertop as it is useful and versatile. Not only does it act as a typical toaster oven, but it also sports eight preset cooking functions for everything from air frying and baking to roasting, defrosting, and a special pizza setting. The internal dimensions measure out at 12.5- by 13- by 4.47-inches (large enough for a 12-inch pizza) while a removable crumb tray makes for easy clean-ups. Rated 4+ stars. More details below.

For something in the air fry oven category thats even more affordable, take a look at the Black+Decker Crisp N Bake. It comes in at $71 on Amazon where it carries solid ratings from over 1,800 Amazon customers. While now quite as large overall, you can still fit a 12-inch pizza in there and make use of built-in air fryer settings.

In case you missed it, the best Black Friday Instant Pot deals are actually still live right now starting from $49. But be sure to browse through our home goods deal hub for additional price drops on household essentials, DIY tools, and much more.

The Calphalon Precision Air Fry Countertop Oven offers versatility with 8 cooking functions in a modern, space-saving design. This premium convection oven features Quartz Heat Technology, which delivers 40% more even heat* for consistent crisping and even browning, and preheats quicker* to save you time. Add a delicious crisp to foods with the Air Fry function or choose from any of the other precision cooking functions including Bake, Toast, Roast, Broil, Bagel, Pizza, and Defrost. The large capacity fits a 12-inch pizza and up to 6 slices of bread, and includes a removable crumb tray for easy cleanup.

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Calphalons Convection Oven doubles as an air fryer, now $120 shipped (Reg. up to $200) - 9to5Toys

High-quality knives are essential tools in any kitchen, and the way your knives are stored can affect their longevity and accessibility. Available in many shapes and forms, knife storage solutions can help organize your knives while keeping you and your family safe from accidents and preventing your knives from dulling prematurely. The best knife block for your kitchen depends on your cooking workflow, available space in your kitchen, and design style.

There are many options when it comes to buying a knife block. Learning about the four commonly used methods of storing high-quality knives can help narrow the choices.

The standard knife block that sits on your countertop is known as an upright knife block. Countertop knife blocks ensure that your knives are close at hand when you need them. They come in a variety of materials and styles to suit you and your homes decor.

While some are designed to be paired with specific knife sets, others are made with a universal design that offers flexibility with the size of blades that fit into them. This design includes a tight arrangement of vertical flexible plastic or rubber rods that can conform to the shape of your knives and hold them in place. These rods can often be removed for easy cleaning.

Upright knife blocks do take up counter space, so they may not be a good choice for those with small kitchens. Knife blocks that allow you to insert the knives at a diagonal angle take up more counter space, while knife blocks that let you insert the knives vertically are more compact.

Storing your knives loose in a drawer can be dangerous and simultaneously risks causing damage to the blades of your knives. In-drawer knife blocks are inserted into your kitchen drawers and allow you to store your knives off the counter while keeping them organized and protected. These are ideal if your counter space is limited. They typically come in single-tier or dual-tier designs. Both offer varying options for how many knives they can hold. Because in-drawer units typically have knives resting on their blades, this type of storage can cause premature dulling.

Because the knives blades have limited contact with any other material, magnetic knife storage is considered to be ideal for the longevity of knives. This option is sanitary and allows you to see all your knives so that you can easily select the right one. There are two types of popular magnetic knife storage solutions:

Under-cabinet knife blocks are installed securely on the underside of your upper kitchen cabinets. They are typically constructed with hinges to allow you to pull the block down or out to access your knives. Under-cabinet knife storage is a great space-saving solution for those who dont have room on their counters or in their drawers for knife storage. This also is a great option for families with young children, because the knives will be safely out of reach.

After figuring out which type of knife block would most efficiently serve your needs, there still are more factors to think about. Read on to find out what to consider when shopping for the best knife block for your home.

Perhaps the most important consideration when shopping for a knife storage solution is the available space you have in your kitchen. The model that makes sense for you may depend on whether you have room for storage in your drawers, on your counters, or on your walls. Those with extremely limited space would be better served by an under-cabinet knife block which doesnt take up valuable counter space in your kitchen.

Knife blocks are made from a variety of materials. Not only can the material affect the performance of your knife block, but it also can determine the style that suits your home.

The size of your knife collection will dictate what kind of knife block you need. Its also essential that the knife storage method you choose is compatible with the knives you own. Since some knife blocks are meant to accommodate only blades of specific dimensions, it can be preferable to choose a knife block with a universal design that can hold knives of varying sizes, including smaller steak knives and paring knives. Knife blocks typically hold between seven and 20 or more knives, with most models having a capacity of between 12 and 18 knives.

Safety is a primary concern when it comes to knife storage. When using an upright countertop knife block, its important that its stable and that there is no risk of it tipping over. While heavier wooden and bamboo knife blocks easily stay upright, more lightweight plastic products are at risk of toppling if they do not have weighted bases to keep them balanced.

Keeping your knives sharp is essential to ensure optimal performance. Some knife storage solutions come equipped with built-in knife sharpeners that can be used to refresh the blades of your knives. Many experts advise against using knife blocks with built-in sharpeners, especially for high-end knives, because they run the risk of causing damage to the blades. Typically, knife sharpeners that are included with knife blocks are not an ideal substitute for using a dedicated sharpener or having your knives professionally sharpened.

Your cooking workflow is another important consideration when it comes to choosing a knife block. Its ideal to store your knives near the area where users are most likely to perform food preparation tasks.

While countertop knife blocks may seem to be the most accessible, they do obscure the blades of your knives, potentially making it difficult to find the one you need at that moment. Some modern upright knife blocks, however, are made with translucent materials that allow you to see the blades of your knives so you can quickly grab the correct one.

Depending on the style of your kitchen, you may or may not want your knives to be on display. If you like to keep your knives out of sight, either in-drawer or under-counter options are ideal. Countertop models come in a variety of materials and colors to better suit your particular aesthetic preferences. Most knife blocks have a wood-grain or metal finish, but there also are plastic options in a multitude of colors. Magnetic, wall-mounted strips lend an industrial look to your kitchen.

Knife blocks require occasional cleaning, but some types are easier to clean than others. There are options that are dishwasher safe, while others may require handwashing and have slots that are tricky to access.

Whether you need an upright, magnetic, in-drawer, or under-counter storage solution for your knives, weve gathered our top picks recommendation for each of those categories. These products include features mentioned above, including accessibility, storage capacity, aesthetic, and ease of cleaning.

Photo: amazon.com

While this knife block may not have a traditional appearance, it allows you to easily see all your knives blades so that its easier to find the one you need. It has an upright style and a universal design. The flexible blade separator keeps your knife blades from touching one another, helping prevent damage or dulling prematurely. It can hold up to 18 knives or other kitchen tools with blades up to 8 inches in length.

It has four rubber feet to keep the block securely in place. The insert and base can be separated and cleaned by hand with warm soapy water.

The dimensions of the block are 8.5 inches long by 3 inches wide by 8.5 inches high.

Photo: amazon.com

While more modern, innovative knife storage styles are becoming increasingly popular, many shoppers still prefer the aesthetic of a traditional upright knife block. This model by Shenzhen is made from bamboo, which is more durable than many hardwood alternatives and is less likely to warp over time. Because the angled knife slots have wide openings, theres less risk of damaging your knives when inserting or removing them.

This block is made with two tiers. The lower tier can hold knives with blades of up to 5.75 inches, while the deepest slots on the upper tier can hold knives with blades of up to 10.5 inches. This knife block accommodates 19 knives and has an extra slot for scissors or a honing rod.

The dimensions of this block are 5.25 inches wide by 8 inches high by 11 inches long.

Photo: amazon.com

The transparent barrel of this universal knife holder allows you to see the blades of your knives, helping you easily choose the right one for the task at hand. Even though knives are stored close together, this knife holder is made with parallel slots that prevent the knives from touching one another. Because the blades wont come into contact with any hard material, this knife block wont accelerate dulling. Depending on the size of your knives, it can hold between eight and 12 blades, and it has a slot for scissors.

This knife holder can accommodate knives with blades of up to 8.9 inches long and 2.5 millimeters thick. The base features a stainless steel plate to help with balance and prevent it from tipping over. The components of this knife block are detachable for ease of cleaning.

Photo: amazon.com

Magnetic knife storage is ideal for the longevity of your knives and provides a sanitary option that allows you to easily see and access the knife you need. This magnetic countertop knife block provides the easy accessibility of a traditional wooden knife block but doesnt run the risk of dulling your knives blades. It can store up to seven knives of varying lengths due to the cascading design.

Its dimensions are 11.25 inches high by 10 inches wide by 6 inches deep. Because there are no slots to worry about, this knife block is easy to clean with soap and water.

Photo: amazon.com

With an exterior of bamboo, this upright knife block has a traditional look, but the universal design means that it can fit a wide variety of knives. It uses flexible plastic fiber rods to hold the blades in place and prevent them from incurring damage. It can accommodate knives and other kitchen tools with blades that are up to 8 inches long.

The universal plastic rods are removable and are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. The dimensions are 5.5 inches wide by 5.5 inches long by 10 inches high.

Photo: amazon.com

This magnetic knife strip from Woodsom uses niobium magnets along its length to keep your knives securely in place. This means there arent any nonmagnetized dead zones, so you can attach your knives safely from end to end. The magnets are faced with a natural wood surface that is made to withstand scratching.

This strip comes in a variety of lengths from 8 to 36 inches but also can be customized to the exact length you need for your kitchen. It is available in several different materials, including walnut, pine, maple, oak, and hickoryall of which have a different aesthetic to fit your homes decor style. The wood has been treated with food-safe butcher block oil for a lustrous finish.

It includes a mounting kit for easy installation to walls or cabinets.

Photo: amazon.com

This in-drawer knife block is a two-tier system, with the upper tier made to fit smaller knives and the bottom tier meant to accommodate larger blades. This makes it a great pick if you have a collection of steak knives that youd like to store alongside your task knives.

Because the block features an angled handle-rest, the knives will stay in place when your drawer is opened and closed, preventing the blades from scraping against the bamboo. It holds 12 knives and has a designated space for a honing steel. Its made with eco-friendly Moso bamboo which can be washed with soap and water.

It can fit bolstered blades up to 10.25 inches long or unbolstered blades up to 15 inches long. Its made to fit the majority of standard kitchen drawers, with dimensions of 17 inches by 9 inches by 2 inches.

While this option holds 12 knives, those with larger knife collections could be well served by the 16-knife option.

Photo: amazon.com

If you dont have counter or drawer space to spare, an under-cabinet knife block is a space-efficient choice. This product by The Drop Block features three strips of rare earth magnets that can hold a collection of knives of varying sizes. Two strips are horizontal for storing larger knives while one is vertical for paring knives, steak knives, or scissors. The heavy-duty hinges allow you to lower the knife block to view and access your knives, keeping them safely stowed away from children.

This block is available in three sizes. The dimensions of the small version are 18 by 9 inches, while the exterior dimensions are 19.5 by 10.5 inches.

Photo: amazon.com

This block, which can hold up to 16 knives, actually comes equipped with two separate knife sharpeners to suit different needs. The first is a ceramic rod to finely sharpen and polish metal blades, while the second is ultra-hard tungsten steel meant to coarsely sharpen V-shaped blades.

It also has two-tiered storage, with the bottom tier built to accommodate smaller knives with blades up to 5 inches and the top tier made for larger knives with blades up to 8 inches. The case is made from eco-friendly Brazilian bamboo, which is naturally water resistant.

This knife block lends itself to easy cleaning because the plastic rods used to hold the knives in place are removable and washable. The rods prevent your knives from dulling because they offer a soft and flexible surface for the blades to rest.

With so many choices available, shopping for the best knife block can be a bit overwhelming. If you still have some lingering questions, these answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about knife storage may help.

Whether a knife block is sanitary or not depends on the style of knife block. Because ease of cleaning varies depending on the type of knife storage solution you choose, some blocks are more sanitary than others. Traditional wooden knife blocks are the least sanitary because they can more easily accumulate dirt and food particles, and the knife slots can be difficult to clean.

Magnetic knife strips are used in many professional kitchens and should not damage your knives. A good rule of thumb when using magnetic storage is to avoid forceful contact by touching the spine of your knife to the magnet first, rather than the blade.

In order to avoid dulling the blades of your knives, its important to put pressure on the spine of your knife, rather than the blade, when sliding it into a slot in a knife block. If your knife block allows for it, its actually ideal to slide your knives in upside down, so that the spines are on the bottom.

The cleaning method depends on the style of knife block. Traditional wooden knife blocks, which are difficult to clean, should be held upside down and shaken to release crumbs and debris that may have accumulated inside. The block can then be handwashed with soapy water. A pipe cleaner or baby bottle brush may help clean inside the slots.

See more here:
The Best Knife Block Options for the Kitchen in 2020 - BobVila.com

Located on the rail trail at 2151 Hawkins, The Line will have:

The project doesnt have any other office or retail tenants have been lined up yet. The Line will open sometime in the fall of 2021, the team said in a statement. Eventually, a new light rail station will be added next to The Line.

Here are some new renderings of the project. All are by Bogza.

What theyre saying: We are beyond excited to be a part of this amazingly cool space. With an expansive beer garden, second-story patio, house-roasted coffee offering, and a dynamic chef-driven food and beverage program, this experience is going to be second to none in the Queen City, said Sycamore co-owner Sarah Brigham.

The brand: The team behind the project includes: Developer Portman Holdings, owner National Real Estate Advisors, and Foundry Commercial, which is handling the leasing. The architect is Gensler, and DPR is handling construction.

Why it matters: This kind of project further positions South End as one of the hottest office submarkets in the country. To name a few other major projects either underway or recently opened in the neighborhood:

South End is one of the top markets in the country that mixes local culture and creative commerce, Charles Pinkham, SVP of development for Portman Holdings, said in a statement.

Join us:This coverage is made possible and free to all (no paywall) with the help ofAgenda Members. If youd like to support more reporting like this,become an Agenda Member.

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The 16-story South End tower that'll house Sycamore Brewing has a new name: The Line - Charlotte Agenda

This information was provided by the city of Athens:

Buc-ee's will reap the benefits of tax breaks when it comes to Limestone County.

Buc-ee's Athens will be located at the intersection at Huntsville-Browns Ferry Road and Interstate 65.

That interchange is getting a $27 million renovation right now because of the nearby Mazda Toyota plant.

The store will bring about 170 new jobs. The $35 million investment on 25 acres will bring about 53,000 square feet of retail space as well as more than 100 gas pumps.

Buc-ee's is doing geotechnical testing and various environmental studies. The company would like to start construction in the middle part of 2021. Construction could take about a year.

The Athens City Council also voted to annex into the city about 30 acres of property owned by Red Stick Partners, located east of the planned Buc-ee's site, which is already in the city limits. The city expects more retail development there.

"Buc-ee's is a huge retail economic development project for us that opens up more retail development in that area," Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks said. "Forty percent of our city budget is comprised of sales tax, so this is a major win for Athens."

In an agreement with the city of Athens, Buc-ee's will pay $3.5 million to help cover the costs of designing, developing and constructing sewer and infrastructure, plus give $35,000 per year to the city for community groups, activities and programs for 20 years after Buc-ee's Athens opens.

The city would then reimburse the $3.5 million by first giving back 100 percent of the city's 3-cent sales tax generated by Buc-ee's Athens and 100 percent of the 1-cent motor fuel tax received from the center until two-thirds of the full amount is paid back.

After that, the amount drops to one-third of the 3-cent sales tax and 100 percent of the 1-cent motor fuel tax received from Buc-ee's Athens, and the city has 20 years to reach the full amount.

Limestone County Commission approved an incentive to give one-third of the gas tax revenue generated each contract year by Buc-ee's Athens, up to $180,000 per year, for up to 10 years, as long as Buc-ee's Athens met certain benchmarks in fuel sales.

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Buc-ee's Athens gets tax breaks as part of multimillion dollar investment in Limestone - WAAY

Noblesville is the historic seat of Hamilton County. But the once-sleepy community is now undergoing major change to attract new businesses and residents. Wochit

A four-story apartment building, retail shops and a parking garage are being proposed along the White River in Noblesville at the site of a Hamilton County employeeparking lot.

Officials with thecity, J.C. Hart Company and Republic Development said the $47.9 million project at 5th Street and Maple Avenue will have 219 apartments, 5,000-square feet of retail space and parking for 295 cars.

The spot is just east of the river on the 3.4-acre area that also houses McMillan's Auto Care.

One of our citys great assets is the White River and this project will bring people to the heart of our city and increase the vibrancy along the river, Mayor Chris Jensen said a written statement. Investing in our downtown livability and quality of life attracts more talent to our community, which ultimately drives our economic development.

In Hamilton County: Here's why most schools still have an in-person learning option

The project is the second piece in an arrangement between the county, city and developers.

The county is planninga 430-space employee parking garage at 8th and Clinton streets to replace the two lots at 5th Street and Maple Avenue, which the county sold to thedevelopers for $4.5 million.

Commissioner Mark Heirbandt said the county had long sought a garage because it is safer for the employees who now must cross Ind. 32 to get to the Hamilton County Government Center.

Preliminary plans are for the$9.5 million employee garage to have four floors one underground with 430 parking spaces and the capacity to add another floor later with 150 more spaces, Heirbrandt said. The parking lots being replaced hold 332 cars. It would be open to the public on weekends and after work hours. RQAW Architects is working on the final design and construction could begin in 2021.

The mixed-use project includes an outdoor sports and activity area, greenspace along the river, a pool and a clubhouse. The apartments will rent for between $850 to $2,000 per month.

The project continues a string of rental unitsplanned in or neardowntown. Among them are:

John Hart, president of J.C. Hart, saidhis project will help the city achieve its goal of increasing densityand vibrancydowntown.

Our vision for this development is to provide diverse housing options across a wide demographic to both attract millennials, working professionals, and folks who are looking to downsize, Hart said in a news release.

Theplanwill be presented to the CityCouncil at an upcomingmeetingand the developer expects to break ground on the project in late spring or early summer 2021, if approved.

Carmel-based J.C.Hart has also developed the Flats at Switch in Fishers, Midtown Flats in Carmel, Pebble Brook Village in Noblesville and Penrose onMass in Indianapolis.

Call IndyStar reporter John Tuohy at 317-444-6418. Email at john.tuohy@indystar.com and follow on Twitter and Facebook.

Read or Share this story: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/2020/12/03/noblesville-apartments-another-complex-planned-near-downtown-white-river/3796256001/

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$47.9M mixed-use project planned along White River in downtown Noblesville - IndyStar

Mill Creek Residential, a national multifamily developer with a substantial Texas presence, has contracted to buy The Lot and Local Traveler sites for conversion to a mixed-use development branded as The Trailhead.

The Lot and Local Traveler restaurants, located at the Gaston, Garland, Grand intersection, closed permanently during the pandemic. Sharing a property line, the two sites total 3.88 acres.

The Lot site is zoned mixed use, and the Local Traveler site carries a community retail zoning. Mill Creek has filed a re-zoning case with the City of Dallas proposing to combine the sites under a planned development classification that would allow construction of about 320 apartment units and between 10,000 and 20,000 square feet of commercial space a combination of retail and office space depending on forecasted demand.

The land is at the confluence of three City Council districts Paula Blackmons District 9, Dave Blewetts District 14 and Adam Medranos District 2, where the property is located. Mayor Eric Johnson likely drives by the property to and from City Hall from his home in Forest Hills. The property is down the street from the Dallas Arboretum and adjacent to the Santa Fe Trail.

Navigating these different constituencies during the rezoning process will be challenging.

We have assembled a team of designers and consultants from the neighborhood, says Michael Blackwell, senior managing director of Mill Creek. We, together with the sellers, are East Dallas people who were also fond of The Lot and Local Traveler and who use the lake and the trails daily. We want to do something special, unique, upscale and mixed use that would only work right there.

Multifamily builders have focused on transit-oriented developments in Dallas and other markets. Blackwell substitutes trail for transit in a nod to the sites location next to the Santa Fe Trail.

The Trailhead will be a trail-oriented development about the Santa Fe Trail and the connections to the broader system including White Rock and Trinity Forest to celebrate, engage, support, encourage and treat it like a great street, he says.

Mill Creek Residential has significant experience in developing mid- and high-rise multifamily in Dallas locations. Under its Modera brand, Mill Creek has developed Modera Hall, Modera Howell, Modera Uptown and the under-construction Modera Katy Trail. View Mill Creeks past projects in Dallas and other markets here.

City staff and plan commission meetings are anticipated to begin in late January or early February. Adjacent landowners will be notified of public meetings, and Mill Creek is sure to hold neighborhood gatherings as they seek support for the rezone. Now that the case is filed, the City will soon post the developers submittals here.

So many dynamics are woven into this land-use question density, height, affordability, architecture, scale, traffic, trails, topography, unique neighborhoods, multiple councilpersons, multiple plan commissioners, adjacent uses and what is allowed by right today. Buckle up.

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Rezoning proposed for The Lot and Local Traveler sites - Advocate Media

EAST BRUNSWICKThe Township Council introduced an ordinance authorizing the municipality to enter into a financial agreement with the redeveloper of the 110 Tices Ln. Redevelopment Project.

The property is currently owned by the redeveloper, Tices Developers, LLC.

The redeveloper proposes to redevelop the project area with the construction of 520 residential dwelling units consisting of apartments, townhomes, a clubhouse, maintenance facilities, 18,000 square feet of retail space, and adequate parking to accommodate the residential and retail components, according to the plans.

The redeveloper and the Redevelopment Agency have agreed to enter into a redevelopment agreement with the agency dated November 2020 to set in detail each parties undertakings, rights and obligations in connection with the development and construction of the project, according to the council.

On Nov. 9, before the council introduced and approved the ordinance, Mayor Brad Cohen said this ordinance is an attempt to use the redevelopment law to replace functionally obsolete industrial space in town and replace it with a modern mixed-use transit-oriented development for the needs of those who are living here now.

For those that are only concerned about the monetary effect, the tax effect on this is significant. The present tax revenues that we have for this property is about $500,000 a year, which only 20% comes to the township under the current tax code, Cohen said. With the new PILOT [payment in lieu of taxes] agreement it will bring upwards of [more than] $2.5 million over a 30-year period of time yearly. At 95%, which is how a PILOT works, it would net out to the town to $2.375 million or more per year going forward.

While its a five times increase in the amount of taxes coming to the township, Cohen said its a 23.75% increase in terms of what comes to the municipal government.

I think that people need to keep in mind that significant increase can be used to fund recreational programs, school programs that may be needed and in many other infrastructure programs in town that would otherwise fall to the current taxpayers and residents, Cohen said.

Redevelopment Agency Chairman and Councilman James Wendell said on Nov. 9 that this financial agreement will be a tremendous tax windfall for the town.

Its a great development coming to town. I think its going to add a lot of revenue. There were many months of negotiation between the developer, myself, Redevelopment Agency Director Michael Hughes, and the mayor and everybody else got involved and it took a long time to get to the point where were at, Wendell said. I think that were sitting on the high side from what the other towns get and I think developers understand what the township brings to them and the long-term investment that theyre going to make.

Wendell said the developer understands what the township brings to them and the long term investment that theyre going to make. The good part of this developer is now the agency will have a partner that is going to be a long-term investor in town.

These are not merchant builders that are going to look to build something and sell it, and I think to have a 30-year long term partner in town is a great thing to have , they know what it takes to keep these buildings going and keep these buildings successful, Wendell said.

The council approved and adopted the ordinance authorizing the financial agreement between the agency and the redeveloper for the 110 Tices Ln project on Nov. 23 during the council via video conference.

In order to enhance the economic viability of and opportunity for a successful project, financial assistance is necessary in order for the project to be undertaken in its intended scope, according to the council.

Councilman Kevin McEvoy asked Township Attorney Michael Baker if that means there is going to be a need for someone ask the township for money.

No, what that means is that this project couldnt happen without there being some different structure for the taxes that they would pay because it said. Its very common, particularly when youre developing an older industrial site that had some environmental issues, you have a large facility to take down and concrete to take out, Baker said. When youre also having to meet some of the significant portions of the townships requirements under the Fair Housing Plan, it makes for a much more expensive than usual project, as in anticipation of those things. The state legislature passed statutes that allow a town to structure differently.

The way that these properties would be taxed, its the long term tax exemption statute that allows for a special financial arrangement between the property owner and the developer to be made, and its in an effort to make sure that the project is viable, that the old industrial facility can be properly developed and that its fair to both parties, Baker said.

For this agreement, Baker said the developer and township professionals held weekly in-person meetings through March. Now, using the Zoom platform, the professionals have continued to meet and got to the point where everyone is comfortable that this is a very good deal for the township.

An application went before Cohen and the council for the approval of a long-term tax exemption in accordance with Long Term Tax Exemption Law (LTTE) for the improvements to be constructed as part of the project, according to the council.

Baker said the long-term tax exemption is the statute that allows the structure of taxes for a project in a redevelopment area to be raised differently instead of having an ad valorem tax which is the tax on the value of the property. There are two options, it can be a percent of the construction or a percent of the revenue, he said.

In this case, Baker said its a 12% of revenue for the first 10 years, 12.5 for the next 10 years and 13% for the following 10 years that will produce a revenue stream of taxation, to the town of about $2.3 million a year.

Right now the town is getting about $125,000 of the revenue from the property before development. Now the town will get a beginning 95% of the revenue from the project. The folks who get less money will be principally the county, but thats the way the statute is structured, Baker said. As a result of that, the town will be able to collect far more in revenue from this project, then the town will have to expand in cost of servicing the people and the project.

Any exemption from taxation as set forth in the financial agreement is granted to the redeveloper with respect to the project for the term set forth in the financial agreement; provided that in no event will the term of the agreement exceed the earlier 35 years from the date of execution of the agreement or to the extent permitted by the LTTE law, 30 years from the redevelopers receipt of a Certificate of Occupancy for the project, and only so long as the redeveloper remains subject to and in compliance with the agreement and LTTW law, according to the council.

This ordinance will take effect in accordance with all applicable laws, according to the council.

For more information, visit http://www.eastbrunswick.org/129/Agendas-Minutes.

Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.

The rest is here:
East Brunswick introduces ordinances entering into finance agreement with developer of Tices Lane property - centraljersey.com

A rendering of Wheaton Gateway, an 800-unit project planned by The Duffie Cos., Willco and the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County.

A major new residential project is slated for the Wheaton area in eastern Montgomery County.

A joint venture of The Duffie Cos., Willco and the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County is scheduled topresent Wheaton Gateway, an 800-unit project, to the community Thursday evening, Bethesda Magazine reports.

The team postedthe plans on the project website ahead of the presentation, which is being held virtually at 7 p.m. The teamis currently goingthrough the sketch plan process, and it aims to begin construction by 2023.

The project sits at the intersection ofUniversity Boulevard and Veirs Mill Road, across the street from the Westfield Wheaton shopping mall. It is about a half-mile from the Wheaton Metro station, the penultimate stop on the eastern branchof the Red Line.

The developmentsite, composed of five adjacent properties, currently houses a Lindsay Ford dealership with a large surface parking lot. The properties along University Boulevard previouslyhouseda Mattress Firm and an Ambassador hotel, which have both been demolished.

The Housing Opportunities Commission acquired the properties in multiple transactions from January 2019 to July 2020 totaling more than $12M, property records show.

The proposal calls for up to 800 units, roughly 30% of which would be set aside as affordable housing, withunits ranging from one to three bedrooms. It also calls for about 50K SF of commercial space and underground parking.

The project would be built over three phases, with the first phase consisting of about 325 units and 25K SF of retail.

The Duffie Cos., founded in 1953, is also the developer behind the two-buildingHillandale Gatewayproject in Silver Spring. Willco, which hired a new CEOin September, also has 4M SF of developmentplanned in Montgomery County's White Flint area.

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Duffie, Willco Propose 800-Unit Project In Wheaton - Bisnow