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Tag: construction

  • New construction underway at UNC System campuses, with more buildings in the works

    New construction underway at UNC System campuses, with more buildings in the works

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    A design illustration of the expansion of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler School of Business.

    A design illustration of the expansion of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler School of Business.


    UNC System

    RALEIGH

    The campuses of several UNC System schools will be changing over the next few years, with several new academic buildings taking shape or being renovated.

    The majority of the projects are paid for by the State Capital Infrastructure Fund, which is funding from the state budget written each year by the General Assembly.

    Lawmakers return to Raleigh for a new legislative session on April 24, but some committees are meeting now, and one of them got a project update Wednesday from the UNC System Office.

    Here’s the status of the projects already under construction and those in the works.

    UNC-Chapel Hill

    ▪ UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School is getting an addition. The project will allow UNC to increase the number of students and is already underway. Costing $194 million, it is paid for half by the state budget and half from UNC. It is expected to be finished in 2025.

    ▪ Another project is a new Nursing Education Building that will replace the west wing of Carrington Hall. Already under construction, the project will allow the program to increase the number of students and will cost nearly $98 million, most of which is paid from the legislature’s State Capital Infrastructure Fund.

    ECU

    ▪ The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University in Greenville will be under construction by early next year, according to the UNC System.

    The medical education building will be nearly 200,000 square feet and have space for 120 students in classes each year. The budget is $265 million and entirely funded by the legislature’s State Capital Infrastructure Fund. The project should take about two years to complete once construction starts in February.

    Design illustration of the East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine that will be constructed starting in early 2025. It is funded by the state budget.
    Design illustration of the East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine that will be constructed starting in early 2025. It is funded by the state budget. UNC System Office

    NC State

    ▪ A major project already underway on the NC State University campus in Raleigh is the Integrative Sciences Building, a new STEM building for teaching and research. It is already under construction and has a livestream of the work.

    It will cost $187 million, with about half each funded by the state and the university.

    The Integrative Sciences Building, now under construction at N.C. State University in Raleigh.
    The Integrative Sciences Building, now under construction at N.C. State University in Raleigh. UNC System

    ▪ Renovations are set to begin this summer on Dabney Hall at NC State. The renovations will cost $140 million and are funded by the State Capital Infrastructure Fund as well as the university. The work will be done in phases, floor by floor, and include upgrades to the chemistry lab, according to the UNC System.

    Dabney Hall at N.C. State University in Raleigh, which will be renovated starting in the summer of 2024.
    Dabney Hall at N.C. State University in Raleigh, which will be renovated starting in the summer of 2024. UNC System

    UNC-Greensboro

    ▪ The Jackson Library and Tower will both be renovated at UNC-Greensboro. The renovations are aimed at making the buildings up-to-date and more accessible. With a cost of about $98 million, it is still in development.

    UNC-Pembroke

    ▪ A new Health Sciences Center is planned for UNC-Pembroke. Still in the planning phase, the new building will house the university’s Advanced Practice of Optometry, Occupational-Physical Therapy, Anatomy, Behavioral Health and Nutrition programs. It is estimated to cost $91 million and is entirely funded by the State Capital Infrastructure Fund.

    UNC School of the Arts

    ▪ At UNC School of the Arts, the Stevens Performing Arts Center will be renovated at a cost of nearly $81 million. Renovations include replacing the windows and renovating the lobby and basement, according to the UNC System.

    What’s next

    This year’s legislative session will be used to pass a budget adjustment bill, making changes to the two-year spending plan that was passed last year. UNC System officials told lawmakers on Wednesday that they will ask for increases in capital project funds because of inflation, as well as more funding for campus safety upgrades and infrastructure upgrades at multiple HBCU campuses.

    Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan is the Capitol Bureau Chief for The News & Observer, leading coverage of the legislative and executive branches in North Carolina with a focus on the governor, General Assembly leadership and state budget. She has received the McClatchy President’s Award, N.C. Open Government Coalition Sunshine Award and several North Carolina Press Association awards, including for politics and investigative reporting.

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  • Construction Projects Celebrate Milestones – Los Angeles Business Journal

    Construction Projects Celebrate Milestones – Los Angeles Business Journal

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    Construction Projects Celebrate Milestones
    Work has begun on this interchange located near the Port of Los Angeles.

    Last month saw milestones on two major road and highway projects at opposite ends of the county.

    Construction began last month on a $130 million project to reconfigure a major interchange in San Pedro near the Port of Los Angeles. Specifically, the project, jointly overseen by the Port of Los Angeles and the California Department of Transportation, or Caltrans, tackles the interchange at State Route 47/Vincent Thomas Bridge and Front Street/Harbor Boulevard, both in San Pedro.

    At the north end of the county, Los Angeles County officials announced a $250 million improvement project for the Old Road that runs immediately parallel to the Interstate 5 Freeway near Stevenson Ranch in the Santa Clarita Valley.

    The San Pedro interchange project is designed to reduce the interactions between freight trucks coming into and out of the Port of Los Angeles and other vehicles.

    “We have all experienced a significant increase in trucks interfacing with passenger vehicles at the Harbor Blvd./SR47 Interchange, which is both difficult and dangerous as we work to move cargo and as residents go about their daily commute,” Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker said in the announcement.

    The project will completely replace one of the ramps at the existing interchange, realign another ramp and modify two additional ramps. 

    The ramp to be replaced is an off-ramp from the Vincent Thomas Bridge portion of State Route 47; that structure currently sits on the south side of the interchange. The new ramp will be built on the north side.

    The ramp to be realigned serves as the onramp to the northbound connector to the nearby 110 Freeway. 

    In addition to the ramp changes, Front Street and Harbor Boulevard will be upgraded to feature new curbs, storm-drain improvements, street lighting, traffic signal updates, bike lanes, curb ramps and crosswalks.

    “This interchange project will greatly enhance traffic safety for our communities while improving port efficiencies and traffic flow,” Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said in the announcement.

    The port will be contributing at least $57 million toward the project. Another $49.3 million is coming from Metro Measure R; $13.4 million from the state’s Trade Corridor Enhancement Program; and $9.9 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation Port Infrastructure Development Program.

    Skanska USA, a subsidiary of Stockholm, Sweden-based Skanska, has been selected as the prime contractor for the project, which is expected to be completed in 2026.

    As for the Old Road project in the Santa Clarita Valley, it targets the stretch of road along the unincorporated communities by Stevenson Ranch – from Magic Mountain Parkway to Henry Mayo Drive.

    The project would reconstruct and widen portions of the Old Road to six lanes and add a protected bicycle lane in each direction. It would also replace two bridges. One of those bridges that traverses the Santa Clara River is currently classified as structurally deficient by the Federal Highway Administration for seismic, flood, and highway design.

    A draft environmental impact report for the Old Road improvement project was released last month, kicking off a months-long approval process. County officials said they hope to break ground by the end of this year; no completion date was announced.

    “It has taken six years to get to this point and there are still important milestones ahead – including obtaining an environmental clearance – but we’re getting closer,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in the county’s announcement.

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    James Brock

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  • Construction company leaders drive pink Barbie car

    Construction company leaders drive pink Barbie car

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    Two Nebraska construction guys are quickly becoming gas station celebrities, because of the vehicle they drive.“You guys like my ride?” Mike Langford shouts to people taking photographs as he fills his old Honda minivan with fuel. The vehicle has 210,000 miles on it and an unusual new paint job. Langford is the Chief Operating Officer of Ronco Construction Company in Omaha, Nebraska. And he’s also a self-admitted terrible golfer. Langford’s golf skills earned him a special prize in the latest company golf outing. Ronco President, Zak Olsen, will likely earn his own time behind the wheel. “We saw the unraveling and now Mike is oh for two,” said Olsen, laughing. A few years ago, the two were once again on the losing end of a golf game and were teased by co-workers when they were forced to wear hotdog costumes at 72nd and Dodge. The hilarious video lives on thanks to a drone crew and photographer who captured the notorious event.Now, there’s a new scenario. The company purchased and painted a bright pink, Barbie-themed minivan complete with a working cassette player and fuzzy pink keychain. “A pink car! There’s pretty pink flowers on it,” said Michelle Hurt, co-founder of Chariots 4 Hope, a non-profit that helps people in need find affordable transportation.Langford must drive the car for the number of days that coincide with the number of golf strokes that put him on the losing end of the game. And while he drives it for 23 days, the company figured a non-profit should benefit. “I’m grateful that Mike lost the bet because they’re doing it for the community and the common good,” said Hurt. Each time someone snaps a photo of the pink Barbie car, dubbed the Pink Chariot, and posts it on social media with the hashtag #RoncoGives, Ronco will make a donation to Chariots 4 Hope. “Our most popular program is a vehicle ownership program and that’s finding a reliable vehicle and teaming up a with a single mom or dad,” said Jason Hurt, President of Chariots 4 Hope. After Mike takes a turn driving the Barbie car, others in the office will as well, driving it to construction sites, hosting guests and popping up at events to show off their pretty wheels for all of 2024. Mike loves the attention.“It’s the chuckles, the double takes, the cameras are coming out,” he said.

    Two Nebraska construction guys are quickly becoming gas station celebrities, because of the vehicle they drive.

    “You guys like my ride?” Mike Langford shouts to people taking photographs as he fills his old Honda minivan with fuel. The vehicle has 210,000 miles on it and an unusual new paint job.

    Langford is the Chief Operating Officer of Ronco Construction Company in Omaha, Nebraska. And he’s also a self-admitted terrible golfer.

    Langford’s golf skills earned him a special prize in the latest company golf outing. Ronco President, Zak Olsen, will likely earn his own time behind the wheel.

    “We saw the unraveling and now Mike is oh for two,” said Olsen, laughing.

    A few years ago, the two were once again on the losing end of a golf game and were teased by co-workers when they were forced to wear hotdog costumes at 72nd and Dodge. The hilarious video lives on thanks to a drone crew and photographer who captured the notorious event.

    Now, there’s a new scenario. The company purchased and painted a bright pink, Barbie-themed minivan complete with a working cassette player and fuzzy pink keychain.

    “A pink car! There’s pretty pink flowers on it,” said Michelle Hurt, co-founder of Chariots 4 Hope, a non-profit that helps people in need find affordable transportation.

    Langford must drive the car for the number of days that coincide with the number of golf strokes that put him on the losing end of the game. And while he drives it for 23 days, the company figured a non-profit should benefit.

    “I’m grateful that Mike lost the bet because they’re doing it for the community and the common good,” said Hurt.

    Each time someone snaps a photo of the pink Barbie car, dubbed the Pink Chariot, and posts it on social media with the hashtag #RoncoGives, Ronco will make a donation to Chariots 4 Hope.

    “Our most popular program is a vehicle ownership program and that’s finding a reliable vehicle and teaming up a with a single mom or dad,” said Jason Hurt, President of Chariots 4 Hope.

    After Mike takes a turn driving the Barbie car, others in the office will as well, driving it to construction sites, hosting guests and popping up at events to show off their pretty wheels for all of 2024.

    Mike loves the attention.

    “It’s the chuckles, the double takes, the cameras are coming out,” he said.

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  • Office tower planned for Hollywood gets new design and billion-dollar price tag

    Office tower planned for Hollywood gets new design and billion-dollar price tag

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    At a time when office landlords are struggling to attract and keep tenants, a Hollywood real estate developer is forging ahead with plans for a visually arresting high-rise on Sunset Boulevard that would cater to the entertainment industry.

    The owner of the property at 6061 Sunset, Los Angeles investor and developer Maggie Miracle, has doubled down on an earlier $500-million proposal for the site near Gower Street with a $1-billion greenery-laden “vertical campus” designed by esteemed English architect Norman Foster.

    Miracle’s family-run company on Tuesday submitted to the city revised design plans for the office tower, which has been dubbed “the Star.” Renderings show a cylindrical high-rise stitched with colorful gardens spiraling from street to roof. A rooftop restaurant will be open to the public.

    A rendering of the building, looking east on Sunset Boulevard.

    (Foster + Partners)

    Miracle made waves in 2021 with the initial plan for the tower, which was designed by MAD Architects, a Chinese firm known for daring designs such as the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, under construction near the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

    Ultimately, Miracle said, she decided to scrap that design because she wanted to incorporate garden-like outdoor spaces, which have proved increasingly attractive to office tenants since the pandemic temporarily drove workers out of confined quarters.

    Foster, who holds the title of lord, designed the pickle-shaped Gherkin skyscraper in London and the master plan for the $2-billion One Beverly Hills condominium and hotel complex under construction in Beverly Hills.

    Foster + Partners’ vision for the 22-story Star includes the type of indoor-outdoor work spaces commonly found in low-rise office campuses and is intended to appeal “to the needs of the creative community and innovators we hope to attract,” Miracle said.

    “Since COVID, the importance of a healthy workplace and access to fresh air and outdoor space has been a driver, especially for those in the entertainment and tech industries,” Miracle said. “The change in design is meant to respond to those demands.”

    The new tower would also be thinner than the one previously proposed, in order to be “more respectful to the people in the hills” who look down on Hollywood, Miracle said.

    Plans for the Star office building in Hollywood call for landscaped outdoor terraces serving tenants on each floor.

    Plans for the Star office building in Hollywood call for landscaped outdoor terraces serving tenants on each floor.

    (Foster + Partners)

    The Star’s landscaped outdoor decks, indoor gardens and rooftop restaurant would distinguish it from other office buildings, Miracle said.

    The plans also call for a pathway to loop around the tower, accessible from Sunset Boulevard on both sides of the building. A lower structure next to the tower would be wrapped with an expansive LED video screen showing digital art and images generated by tenants, Miracle said. Current rules would not allow it to be used for advertising.

    The proposal calls for restaurants, entertainment production space, a theater and exhibition space for art shows and other events on the Star’s ground level. Parking for nearly 1,300 vehicles would be underground.

    Although the plans haven’t been approved by the city, Miracle hopes to start work on the 525,000-square-foot building by late 2026 and open its doors in 2029. The Star is the first commercial development for Miracle, who is known for building deluxe single-family properties.

    With completion that far away, predicting what the office rental market will be like is difficult. Real estate brokerage CBRE reported that 22.7% of Hollywood office space was vacant in the fourth quarter, about the same as Los Angeles County overall. A healthy vacancy rate is closer to 10%, when neither landlords nor tenants typically have the upper hand in lease negotiations.

    But Hollywood has been one of the most active office leasing markets recently, analyst Petra Durnin said; the newest buildings, sporting such amenities as outdoor decks and restaurants, are getting the most attention.

    “These highly amenitized office buildings command the highest rents in the Hollywood market and account for some of the largest deals signed in the last nine months,” said Durnin, head of market analytics at Raise Commercial Real Estate. She is not involved in the Star project.

    Pent-up demand has increased leasing activity in Hollywood, in “a huge boon to a neighborhood that was disproportionately affected by the pandemic, downturn in the tech industry and strikes by writers and actors,” Durnin said.

    Miracle said she is betting that the neighborhood will continue to grow as a business center. Her Star complex would rise across the street from Sunset Gower Studios, a century-old movie studio that was once home to Columbia Pictures and now includes an office building housing Technicolor. Nearby is Columbia Square, the renovated former West Coast headquarters of CBS, and Emerson College, an architecturally noteworthy building where students live and study the arts. Netflix, the largest office tenant in Hollywood, has offices and studios nearby.

    “We believe Hollywood is a unique and irreplaceable market both geographically and from an industry perspective,” she said. “The growth of content creation and the demands of the companies that produce it are beyond what today’s current office products can accommodate.”

    The over-the-top design of the Star is intentional, she said.

    “Our goal is to create a landmark building that is synonymous with the images that Hollywood evokes: innovation, creativity, fantasy and imagination.”

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    Roger Vincent

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  • Lengthy approval process remains challenging for LI builders | Long Island Business News

    Lengthy approval process remains challenging for LI builders | Long Island Business News

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    Listen to this article

    A panel of Long Island construction industry executives said the sector continues to be challenged by the area’s plodding entitlement process and rising insurance costs. 

    More than 225 people came to hear the panel at the event titled “Challenges in a Changing Construction Environment,” hosted by the Real Estate Institute at Stony Brook University College of Business on Friday, March 8 at the Heritage Club at Bethpage in Farmingdale. 

    Moderated by Scott Burman, principal of Burman RE, the panel included Kelly Coughlan-Heck, executive vice president and partner at Tritec Real Estate; attorney Jason Samuels, shareholder at Polsinelli PC; Marvin Rosen, insurance advisor at Rampart Insurance Services/ HILB Group; and Frank Vero, CEO of Aurora Contractors. 

    Panelists said one of the biggest obstacles to the construction industry here is the amount of time it takes to get projects approved. 

    “Long Island is a challenge,” Samuels said. “There are so many layers of government you have to go through. “Other areas might take six months as opposed to six years. You have to convince everyone that there’s a benefit to them, where elsewhere they see that.” 

    Coughlan-Heck talked about how Tritec is working on a 424-acre mixed-use project called Kincora in northern Virginia, where the company had to build $180 million in infrastructure. 

    “If we were doing that here, our grandkids would still be talking about the entitlement process,” she said. 

    Rosen discussed the importance of securing the proper insurance for construction projects in an evolving market. 

    “There’s been consolidation of insurance carriers,” he said. “Part of the insurance broker’s job is determining who does what best, then you can make an informed decision. It’s complicated, but vital. Things can happen, people get hurt.” 

    Coughlan-Heck agreed that insurance rates have soared, creating a challenging market. 

    “We’ve seen a good number of subcontractors hunkering down and down renewing their umbrella policies,” she said. 

    Vero said his firm is proactive when it comes to making sure subcontractors have proper insurance. 

    “We have a pre-qualification process for our subcontractors,” he said. 

    Burman noted that New York has some of the highest insurance rates in the country because of the state’s scaffold law, which has long been blamed for driving up construction costs. 

    Samuels explained that the law, enacted in 1885 when skyscrapers started going up in New York City, holds the property owner and contractor liable for accidents, even if the worker was found to be negligent. He added that New York is the only state that still has the law and that insurance costs on construction projects in other states is about “1 percent or less,” in New York it’s at least 5 percent of the total project cost. 

    Another recently amended law is improving cash flow for construction contractors, as the state reduced the amount of money that developers can hold back from contractors from 10 percent to 5 percent. The change affects private construction contracts of $150,000 or more. 

    “I’m expecting prices to go down,” Vero said. “To get more cash flow quicker is going to be helpful.” 

    On the developer and ownership side, Coughlan-Heck said the change in the retainage law will alter project costs. 

    “We hold 10 percent typically and that’s going to change because of this new legislation,” she said. “You are putting out 5 percent more cash and there’s going to be a cost impact on the owner’s side.”  

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    David Winzelberg

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  • How Long Does It Take to Repair Foundation? 4 Time-Saving Tips – Southwest Journal

    How Long Does It Take to Repair Foundation? 4 Time-Saving Tips – Southwest Journal

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    When dealing with foundation repair, time is often as significant a commodity as the budget. For a homeowner like you, understanding how to navigate through repairs efficiently is critical. 

    Not only can a timely approach prevent minor issues from exacerbating, but it can also mean a quicker return to stability and normalcy for your home. Recognizing the early signs of foundation damage and taking immediate action can help avoid extensive and more time-consuming repairs down the line. If you need professional assistance, be sure to visit Pinnacle Foundational Repair.

    When you have a solid plan in place, you can minimize this inconvenience. By tackling the issues head-on with a clear and deliberate strategy, you’ll save both time and ensure a more effective repair.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Recognizing foundation damage early saves time.
    • Strategic planning can streamline the repair process.
    • Effective time management minimizes disruptions to daily routines.

    Assessing Foundation Damage

    Assessing Foundation Damage

    Properly assessing foundation damage is a critical step in the repair process. Accurate identification and professional evaluation lay the groundwork for effective repairs.

    Signs of Foundation Damage

    When examining your home for potential issues, there are several red flags you should look out for:

    • Small hairline cracks may not be a concern, but larger fissures, especially horizontal ones, indicate more significant stress.
    • Differences in elevation can suggest your foundation is settling or shifting.
    • Walls that are not plumb may be suffering from displacement.
    • Difficulty in opening or closing can be a sign that it has moved.
    • Look for gaps between walls and the ceiling or floor, and bulging or buckling of walls.
    • Unusual pooling of water or dampness might hint at cracks through which water can enter.

    Scheduling Professional Foundation Inspections

    For an accurate diagnosis of foundation damage, schedule a professional inspection. Experienced inspectors can determine the severity of damage and recommend appropriate repair strategies. Make sure to:

    • Choose a qualified and reputable inspector.
    • Prepare questions about their findings and potential solutions.

    Planning Your Repair Approach

    Planning Your Repair ApproachPlanning Your Repair Approach

    Before initiating any foundation repair work, it’s essential to take the time to properly plan your method. Selecting the appropriate tools and materials, and understanding the specifics of soil conditions, are crucial steps that greatly influence the success of your repairs.

    Choosing the Tools and Materials

    When embarking on foundation repairs, having the right tools and materials on hand is vital. You’ll need:

    • Concrete: for strong, durable patching of cracks and rebuilding affected areas.
    • Epoxy: efficient for filling hairline fractures due to its adhesive properties.
    • Sealant: specifically polyurethane, which is used to waterproof and seal joints and cracks.
    • Mortar: for repointing and fixing masonry components in your foundation.

    Soil Conditions and Impact on Foundations

    Soil conditions can drastically impact the integrity of your foundation. 

    Key factors include:

    • Clay, silt, sand, or loam—each reacts differently to moisture and load.
    • Excess moisture or dryness can cause soil to expand or contract.

    Executing Foundation Repairs

    Executing Foundation RepairsExecuting Foundation Repairs

    When undertaking repairs, you must address all foundation concerns systematically. Focusing on cracks, reinforcing structural integrity, and implementing preventative measures against water damage is critical for maintaining a durable structure.

    When considering foundation repairs, it’s crucial to address any issues with the ground’s stability to prevent future damage to your property, including preparing the terrain for installing a pool.

    Addressing Cracks and Structural Concerns

    Inspect your foundation walls for any cracks or signs of damage. For minor cracks on a concrete surface, epoxy injections are a reliable solution that can seal and restore the integrity of the area.

    For larger, more concerning cracks, combining epoxy with carbon fiber strips can add the necessary strength. Always ensure repairs go beyond the surface level and address the root cause to prevent recurrence.

    Reinforcing Foundation Strength and Durability

    After addressing any immediate concerns, the next step is reinforcing the strength and durability. If your foundation walls are compromised, consider options such as carbon fiber or steel braces to increase structural stability. Regularly inspect for signs of rust that can weaken metal supports and act quickly by applying rust-inhibiting solutions to maintain their strength.

    Waterproofing and Preventing Future Issues

    Lastly, waterproofing is crucial to prevent mold, floods, and further foundation damage. Apply a waterproof coating to the outside of walls to mitigate water penetration. Ensure proper drainage away from the base of your home, because consistent water exposure can aggressively deteriorate materials, causing long-term issues.

    Finalizing and Reviewing the Repair Work

    Finalizing and Reviewing the Repair WorkFinalizing and Reviewing the Repair Work

    As the foundation repair project concludes, it’s crucial to focus on the integrity of the work performed and evaluate the cost and time efficiency. Here’s how you can address these aspects:

    Ensuring Integrity Through Post-Repair Inspection

    After the completion of repairs, your chosen repair company should conduct a thorough post-repair inspection. This step is critical to ensuring that the structural integrity meets the required standards. The experts must examine all repaired areas for the following:

    • Stability 
    • Compliance with all relevant building codes
    • No residual signs of damage or stress

    Checklist for Post-Repair Inspection:

    • Visual Assessment: Confirm no visible defects or incomplete work.
    • Documentation Review: Ensure that all repair work is well-documented with before-and-after scenarios.
    • Expert Analysis: Have the results interpreted by a professional to confirm that all issues have been addressed.

    Reviewing Repair Costs and Time Efficiency

    Lastly, evaluate if the repair costs align with initial quotes and assess whether the time taken for completion was reasonable. This will aid in understanding how the project fared against your expectations and industry standards.

    Repair Costs: Request an itemized breakdown of expenses and compare them against the initial estimate.

    • Materials costs
    • Labor hours
    • Miscellaneous fees (permits, inspections, etc.)

    Time Efficiency: Consider if the project was completed within the projected time frame.

    • Planned duration vs. actual duration
    • Causes for any delays
    • Responsiveness of the repair team to time-sensitive issues

    FAQs

    What does a bad foundation look like?

    A bad foundation may exhibit signs such as uneven floors, cracks in walls or flooring, and doors or windows that stick or won’t close properly. Exterior cracks in the foundation or bricks can also indicate issues.

    What happens if you don’t repair the foundation?

    Ignoring foundation damage can lead to worsening structural issues, decreased property value, and potentially hazardous living conditions. Moisture can also infiltrate, causing mold and further deterioration.

    How serious is a sinking foundation?

    A sinking foundation is a significant problem as it can compromise the integrity of your entire structure. It typically indicates severe soil issues or other underlying problems that demand immediate attention.

    What size foundation cracks are bad?

    Generally, hairline cracks under a quarter-inch wide are considered normal settling. However, larger cracks, especially those over a quarter-inch wide or horizontal, should be inspected by a professional as they could point to serious structural failures.

    Summary

    To efficiently manage foundation repairs, the goal is to save time while ensuring the job is done correctly. You’ve learned several strategies to streamline the process and alleviate potential frustrations.

    Embrace these insights for a smoother repair experience. Your solid preparation and the trust you place in skilled professionals will lead to a restored structure, capable of withstanding the tests of time.

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    Oskar Zamora

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  • UC Berkeley seized People’s Park. The cost is in the millions and set to rocket higher

    UC Berkeley seized People’s Park. The cost is in the millions and set to rocket higher

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    UC Berkeley spent $7.8 million to deploy its own forces to wall off and secure People’s Park, the storied 2.8-acre green space that activists seized in the ’60s to serve as open space for freethinkers.

    That multimillion-dollar total is expected to grow substantially as outside police agencies submit their bills to the university.

    And the cost of keeping people out of the park continues to be high: The university pays nearly $1 million a month to station private security guards outside the park, 24 hours a day.

    The massive dead-of-night operation to clear the park and surround it with a double-high stack of 160 steel cargo containers was executed in early January, in anticipation of the Berkeley campus being cleared to build a new housing complex.

    Litigation continues to block the construction of 1,100 units of student housing, 125 units of supportive housing for homeless people and a memorial to the park south of the Berkeley campus.

    University officials hope that the state Supreme Court will hear a case about the future of the park this spring, potentially ruling by summer whether to allow construction on the property, first seized and turned into open space by activists in 1969.

    In response to a public records request, Berkeley campus officials revealed Wednesday that they spent $2.85 million to build the 17-foot-high perimeter around the park. Those funds went to pay for the shipping containers (at a cost of $972,000), for gates, lighting, other equipment and supervision ($1.27 million) and for engineering and surveying ($515,000.)

    An additional $3.77 million went to pay, house and feed the police officers and sheriff’s deputies who cleared and surrounded the park in early January. Nearly $1.5 million of that money went to pay overtime to officers from the University of California Police Department.

    The $7.8-million tally also includes $1.16 million that UC spent to move homeless people from the park to a Quality Inn, where they receive meals and other services.

    Still remaining to be submitted and/or totaled are bills from the California Highway Patrol, sheriff’s departments for Alameda and San Francisco counties and from nine other UC and Cal State University police departments. A UC spokesman said “it could take several more months” for those IOUs to arrive. It’s expected that they will add millions of dollars to the cost of the park clearance.

    In a letter accompanying the figures, UC Berkeley spokesman Kyle Gibson explained in a statement that the extraordinary operation, cloaked in secrecy, was designed to avoid the sort of conflict that had prevented the university from developing People’s Park for more than half a century.

    “Our highest priorities for the closure were safety, avoidance/deterrence of conflict, and the minimization of disruption for students and neighboring residents,” the statement said.

    The letter described the “vandalism, violence and other unlawful activities” that occurred when the university tried, and failed, to take control of the park in August 2022. That prior experience “necessitated extraordinary measures, precautions and expenditures” when UC moved in January to secure the park, Gibson’s letter said.

    Activists who fought for years to keep the park said they were outraged but not surprised at the high cost of the university’s takeover.

    “The recklessness with which UC spends the public’s money is well known to this community,” said Andrea Prichett, a member of the People’s Park Council and Berkeley Copwatch. “Think of other things that could have been done with that money. It’s a tragic waste.”

    Park activists have complained, in particular, that the university disrupted a community of homeless people who were supporting one another on the property, which lies just steps to the east of Telegraph Avenue.

    But university officials insist that the unhoused residents are better off in the Quality Inn, with food and services provided by community groups and removed from the crime that at times went unchecked in the park.

    Although opponents call the steel barricade a “monstrosity,” university officials said it had helped keep the park clear — and ready for construction — for the first time since community members planted flowers and trees there, in 1969.

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    James Rainey

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  • Frank Gehry-designed performing arts center at the Colburn School is under construction

    Frank Gehry-designed performing arts center at the Colburn School is under construction

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    One of architect Frank Gehry’s long-standing wishes is finally coming to life: a new concert venue in downtown Los Angeles that will complement his famous Walt Disney Concert Hall.

    Preliminary work has begun on a $335-million expansion of the Colburn School of performing arts designed by Gehry that includes a mid-size concert hall he expects to be in near-constant use for events put on by students, professional artists and academics.

    “It’s a chance to do a lot of experimenting,” he said.

    The long-planned Colburn School addition will be the third Gehry-designed building on Bunker Hill, which already has Disney Concert Hall and the Grand LA, a $1-billion apartment, hotel and retail complex he designed for New York mega-developer Related Cos.

    An artist’s rendering of the Colburn Center at 2nd and Hill streets in downtown Los Angeles.

    (Courtesy of Frank O. Gehry & Gehry Partners )

    The new Colburn structure is under construction on a former parking lot, cater-cornered to the current campus, at 2nd and Olive streets just east of the Grand, creating three contiguous blocks of Gehry-designed buildings.

    Colburn Center, the new building, will be modest in appearance compared with the other two but represents a significant leap for the Colburn School, which opened on Bunker Hill in 1998 and has around 2,000 students.

    “The Colburn Center will be a game-changer, stepping up everything we do,” said Sel Kardan, president of the Colburn School.

    The centerpiece of the expansion will be a 1,000-seat concert hall named for Pasadena philanthropists Terri and Jerry Kohl with an in-the-round design meant to create intimacy between the performers and the audience. The hall will include an orchestra pit and a stage large enough to accommodate “the grandest works,” Kardan said, making it suitable for orchestra, opera and dance.

    “There’s always been a dream of having a place where our largest ensembles can play,” he said, such as the school’s symphony orchestra, bands, youth string programs and children’s choirs. “Currently, those programs take place off-site.”

    An artist's rendering of the interior of the concert hall in the Colburn Center.

    An artist’s rendering of the interior of the concert hall in the Colburn Center.

    (Courtesy of Frank O. Gehry & Gehry Partners)

    The size puts it in a sweet spot between the 2,265-seat Disney and the popular 415-seat Herbert Zipper Concert Hall already on the Colburn campus. The nearby Dorothy Chandler Pavilion seats about 3,200 guests. Larger still is the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live, which seats 7,100.

    “It’s more rare to find a kind of medium-sized venue,” Kardan said. “They’re extremely desirable and highly functional. They also have enough seats to be really economically viable.”

    Japanese acoustical engineer Yasuhisa Toyota will be the acoustician for the hall, as he has been for all of Gehry’s concert halls, beginning with Disney Hall.

    The Colburn Center will also more than double facilities for the school’s Trudl Zipper Dance Institute, creating what the school called “one of the most comprehensive dance education complexes in Southern California.” The dance facilities will include a 100-seat theater for dance and four professional-size studios for dance instruction and rehearsal.

    Architect Frank Gehry, left, and Colburn School President Sel Karden

    Architect Frank Gehry, left, and Colburn School President Sel Karden at Gehry Partners with a model of Gehry’s design of an addition for Colburn School, a private performing arts school in downtown Los Angeles.

    (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

    The center will include a rooftop garden large enough to host receptions and outdoor performances, as well as a ground-level garden with a performance space that will be open to the public.

    “I think it is very exciting that the school is going to expand,” Mayor Karen Bass said. “I think one of the things the school is known for is an incredible facility and experience for young people. It also provides access through scholarships, so it is a treasure for the city that is accessible to all.”

    The Colburn School estimates that it already brings in 10,000 people a week, including students attending classes, lessons and rehearsals. Others rent the current performance and lecture spaces, helping attract audiences who attend more than 500 performances a year in the existing small venues.

    The Colburn School has raised $315 million to date toward its $400-million goal for the expansion, the school said. The campaign will cover an estimated $335 million in construction costs as well as $65 million in endowment and operating costs to support the activities of the Colburn Center and the Colburn School.

    The new building represents the near culmination of decades of efforts to redevelop Bunker Hill, a former residential neighborhood dating from the city’s early years that was razed in the 1960s to make way for “urban renewal,” a popular concept at the time intended to remake blighted city blocks from the ground up that displaced mostly poor people.

    A rendering of the Hill Street side of Colburn Center

    A rendering of the Hill Street side of Colburn Center, which will include ground-level and rooftop gardens.

    (Courtesy of Frank O. Gehry & Gehry Partners)

    First among the new development was the Music Center performing arts complex, followed years later by office skyscrapers, a few apartment buildings and such cultural venues as the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, the Colburn School for music and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Disney Hall opened in 2003, followed 12 years later by the Broad museum.

    Gehry’s design for Colburn Center was influenced by decisions he had to make while creating a mid-size concert hall inside an existing warehouse in Berlin. The space was small, so he had to put some audience members on the same level as the musicians.

    “The audience’s feet are on the same floor as the orchestra,” he said. “I had no idea, but that made a ‘wow’ difference.”

    Another facet of the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin that Gehry is bringing to Los Angeles is what he calls a floating balcony. In Berlin, it wasn’t structurally possible to hook the balcony to the wall, so he suspended it in a way that gives the impression of floating above the action.

    “At first, everybody said, ‘Well, that’s not going to work,‘” Gehry said. “Finally, that became nirvana. So wherever we go now, everybody wants a floating balcony.”

    A view of Colburn Center east from Olive Street towards the entrance to the concert hall.

    A view of Colburn Center east from Olive Street towards the entrance to the concert hall.

    (Courtesy of Frank O. Gehry & Gehry Partners, LLP)

    Hanging from the ceiling will be concrete sound clouds designed to improve acoustics and evoke a sense of airiness. Gehry hopes that catwalks can be added above the clouds that can be used in future performances.

    “There’s a lot of space up there,” he said. “Our hope is once it’s built we’ll put catwalks through there and bring artists and performers so that will become another space, a part of the music.”

    Upon completion in 2027, the Colburn Center should broaden the Bunker Hill arts district that is now mostly confined to Grand Avenue, he said.

    “The body language of the building is to try to be user-friendly, not to preempt and become the centerpiece, but to be a part of the feeling of the district and cement it as a cultural district.”

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    Roger Vincent

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  • Dutch startup Monumental is using robots to lay bricks | TechCrunch

    Dutch startup Monumental is using robots to lay bricks | TechCrunch

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    Few categories are as ripe for automation-fueled disruption as construction. The industry is valued at around $2 trillion a year, in the U.S. alone. Much of that work is strenuous, repetitive and sometimes dangerous — precisely the sorts of problems industrial robotics are built to solve. The other thing construction brings is a wide range of different challenges, meaning that more startups can operate in the space without being in direct competition.

    Bricklaying robots aren’t exactly an untapped concept. At the moment, Hadrian X is probably the best known player in the space. The U.S. firm specializes in building structures out of large concrete masonry blocks. Amsterdam-based Monumental, meanwhile, specializes in the more familiar red clay variety.

    The startup was founded in 2021 by the pair behind data visualization firm Silk (now a Palantir joint). Monumental has already been doing limited pilots in its native Netherlands, including the 15-meter exterior of an office building. Partnerships with 25 contractors have followed, including low-income housing.

    I can’t speak much to the efficacy of the system beyond what I’ve seen in some video demos, but can say that the company appears to be tackling the problem from a variety of fronts, beginning with an autonomous cart designed to shoulder heavy payloads. From there, another robot spreads liquid mortar and places bricks.

    “At Monumental, we’re working to help the industry meet these challenges,” says co-founder and CEO Salar al Khafaji. “Our agile, intelligent, and adaptable robots and software blend human expertise with robotic efficiency in a way that the industry has never seen before.”

    To celebrate its coming-out party, Monumental is also announcing a sizable $25 million round,  led by Plural and Hummingbird, with participation from Northzone, Foundamental and NP-Hard Ventures.

    Funding will go toward hiring, scaling manufacturing and diversifying the manner of bricks/blocks its robots are capable of handling.

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    Brian Heater

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  • 4,000-year-old burial site discovered during road construction in Poland, photos show

    4,000-year-old burial site discovered during road construction in Poland, photos show

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    One of the Neolithic pits discovered at the site

    One of the Neolithic pits discovered at the site

    Photo from the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways

    An ancient burial site filled with human and animal bones was recently unearthed in Poland, officials said.

    The site was found during road construction in Srebrzyszcze, a village along the Poland-Ukraine border, according to a Feb. 15 news release from the Polish roadway authority.

    The graves constituted a series of shallow, rectangular pits, one of which contained the skeletal remains of a child in a shrunken position, officials said.

    The child was likely around 7 years old at the time of death — and their remains were preserved in good condition, officials said in a separate news release.

    One of the burial pits filled with animal skeletons
    One of the burial pits filled with animal skeletons Photo from the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways

    In a second pit, the remains of two sheep and eight cows were found piled alongside each other.

    And in a third pit, the skeletons of at least a dozen wild pigs were found, officials said.

    A cache of artifacts was also uncovered, including two ceramic containers, two flint axes, and an ornament fashioned from amber.

    A burial site, dating back around 4,000 years, was recently discovered during road construction in Poland, officials said.
    A burial site, dating back around 4,000 years, was recently discovered during road construction in Poland, officials said. Photo from the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways

    The complete funerary complex is believed to date to sometime between 2500 and 2000 B.C., making it at least 4,000 years old.

    It’s not clear under what circumstances the remains were entombed, though the shape and contents of the site led archaeologists to associate it with Neolithic people.

    Numerous artifacts and remains have been unearthed during construction projects in Poland, including a pair of ancient vessels that were recently discovered in Świdnica, according to previous reporting from McClatchy News.

    Google Translate was used to translate a news release from the Polish General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways and a news release from the Lublin Provincial Conservator of Monuments.

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    Brendan Rascius

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  • Trump is backed further into a financial corner after losing control of his company

    Trump is backed further into a financial corner after losing control of his company

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    With Donald Trump’s legal liabilities growing and a presidential campaign to run, losing control of his company couldn’t have come at a worse time.

    After a New York judge ordered the Trump Organization to pay $364 million in penalties and barred the former president from any role in running a business in New York state for three years, Trump now finds himself backed further into a financial corner with fewer options for how to maneuver.

    “It will have such an enormous impact on the operation of his business,” said Randy Zelin, a professor of law at Cornell University and a veteran criminal defense attorney with experience in complex financial matters. “But it will also provide a strong basis for an appeal.”  

    New York Attorney General Letitia James had asked New York State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron to levy a $370 million financial penalty against the Trump Organization and also to ban Trump and his children Ivanka, Donald Jr. and Eric Trump from running any company in the state of New York, where his real-estate empire has long been based.

    Engoron’s ruling barred Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump from being involved in running any business in the state for two years. The judge also ordered that former U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Jones, who has been serving as an independent monitor of the Trump Organization since 2022, continue in that role with expanded powers for the next three years. The ruling also ordered that an independent compliance officer be appointed within 30 days.

    “The Trump Organization shall be required to obtain prior approval — not, as things are now, subsequent review — from Judge Jones before submitting any financial disclosure to a third party, so that such disclosure may be reviewed beforehand for material misrepresentations,” the ruling read. 

    The outcome of the civil trial sat solely in Engoron’s hands, and in September, he issued a summary judgment essentially ruling in favor of James’s arguments that the Trump Organization had engaged in fraud for years by repeatedly misstating the value of assets to lenders and insurance companies. 

    The judgment is the latest in a string of legal and financial blows that the former president has faced and that have already had an impact on his presidential campaign.

    Trump has incurred $76 million in legal costs over the past two years stemming from the wide array of criminal and civil prosecutions he faces. More than $27 million of the money raised in the last six months of 2023 to support his presidential campaign has instead been used to cover his legal costs, according to campaign-finance filings.

    A report by Bloomberg earlier this week suggested that Trump may face a cash crunch caused by his ballooning legal costs as early as this summer, just as the presidential race will be heating up.

    Last month, a federal jury ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million in damages for defaming the writer E. Jean Carroll, whom he had attacked online after she had accused him of raping her in a department-store dressing room in the 1990s. He had earlier been hit with a $5 million verdict in a state case on similar charges.

    Trump has vowed to appeal the verdicts and denied raping Carroll, but in order to appeal, he will be required to put up bonds for the full award amounts. That means he would need to either get a bank to back him or to pledge collateral — like a real estate asset — to secure the bond.

    But without full control of his real-estate empire, Trump will likely find it harder to line up financing or use his assets as freely as before. 

    Under the terms of Engoron’s ruling, Trump will no longer be able to make any moves involving assets held by the Trump Organization without the approval of the court-appointed monitor.

    Even pledging his assets as collateral for the bond that he would be required to post in order to file an appeal would be complicated by the imposition of a monitor. 

     “When you lose control of your company, you lose control of who is going to be paid and how much they will be paid. All the money will, first and foremost, be used to operate the business, and how much goes to Trump and his children becomes a secondary concern,” Zelin said.

    Add to that the mounting legal costs for multiple criminal cases being brought against him — on charges related to Jan. 6 as well as charges of mishandling classified documents, election fraud, racketeering and illegally paying hush money to women who claimed they’d had affairs with him — and Trump finds himself in a worsening financial bind.

    So far, the former president has managed to cover many of his legal costs through donations from his political supporters, but that means that money won’t be available to fund his campaign for president. At the end of the year, President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign had about $46 million cash on hand, while Trump’s campaign had $33 million, Federal Election Commission filings show. Some $50 million held by Trump’s political action committees has already been used to cover his legal bills. 

    Regarding the properties held by the Trump Organization, while Trump has been able to refinance many of the loans underlying his bigger real-estate holdings, pushing their maturity dates back several years, he still has a stake in some high-profile buildings that have debt coming due in the next few years.

    With the court-appointed monitor part of the equation, it might now be more difficult for Trump to secure new debt in order to refinance those buildings, and that could even technically trigger defaults, depending on how the loan covenants were written.

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  • D.A. Davidson & CO. Has $241,000 Stock Position in Tutor Perini Co. (NYSE:TPC)

    D.A. Davidson & CO. Has $241,000 Stock Position in Tutor Perini Co. (NYSE:TPC)

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    D.A. Davidson & CO. lowered its position in Tutor Perini Co. (NYSE:TPC – Free Report) by 25.1% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 30,731 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 10,297 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO.’s holdings in Tutor Perini were worth $241,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

    Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC bought a new stake in shares of Tutor Perini in the second quarter valued at approximately $83,000. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Tutor Perini by 17.5% during the 2nd quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 12,100 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $87,000 after acquiring an additional 1,800 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors purchased a new stake in shares of Tutor Perini during the second quarter worth $94,000. Two Sigma Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of Tutor Perini in the first quarter worth $125,000. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its position in shares of Tutor Perini by 29.8% in the fourth quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 16,995 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $128,000 after purchasing an additional 3,900 shares in the last quarter. 63.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

    Tutor Perini Price Performance

    NYSE:TPC opened at $9.34 on Friday. Tutor Perini Co. has a 52-week low of $4.90 and a 52-week high of $9.47. The business’s fifty day moving average is $8.80 and its 200 day moving average is $8.31. The company has a current ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 1.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66.

    Insider Activity

    In other news, Director Dale Anne Reiss sold 6,922 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $8.67, for a total value of $60,013.74. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 37,203 shares in the company, valued at $322,550.01. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Ronald N. Tutor sold 45,330 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.67, for a total transaction of $393,011.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 3,341,610 shares in the company, valued at $28,971,758.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Dale Anne Reiss sold 6,922 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $8.67, for a total value of $60,013.74. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 37,203 shares in the company, valued at approximately $322,550.01. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 152,252 shares of company stock worth $1,264,025 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 21.30% of the company’s stock.

    About Tutor Perini

    (Free Report)

    Tutor Perini Corporation, a construction company, provides diversified general contracting, construction management, and design-build services to private customers and public agencies worldwide. It operates in three segments: Civil, Building, and Specialty Contractors. The Civil segment engages in the public works construction and the replacement and reconstruction of infrastructure; and offers civil contracting services, including construction and rehabilitation of highways, bridges, tunnels, mass-transit systems, military defense facilities, and water management and wastewater treatment facilities, as well as provides drilling, foundation, and excavation support for shoring, bridges, piers, roads, and highway projects.

    Featured Articles

    Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TPC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Tutor Perini Co. (NYSE:TPC – Free Report).

    Institutional Ownership by Quarter for Tutor Perini (NYSE:TPC)

    Receive News & Ratings for Tutor Perini Daily – Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts’ ratings for Tutor Perini and related companies with MarketBeat.com’s FREE daily email newsletter.

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    ABMN Staff

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  • Three of CMS’ 2023 bond projects could finish next year. See where your school falls

    Three of CMS’ 2023 bond projects could finish next year. See where your school falls

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    Harding University High is one of the schools budgeted for improvements in CMS’ 2023 bond referendum. The district, though, hasn’t yet released a projected completion date. In this 2023 file photo, seniors Jessica De Paz, left, and Jada Brown, right, sit under a tree in the quad.

    Harding University High is one of the schools budgeted for improvements in CMS’ 2023 bond referendum. The district, though, hasn’t yet released a projected completion date. In this 2023 file photo, seniors Jessica De Paz, left, and Jada Brown, right, sit under a tree in the quad.


    Khadejeh Nikouyeh

    Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com

    Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools on Tuesday released projected timelines for the first 12 of 30 projects approved as part of November’s $2.5 billion bond referendum, the largest of its kind in state history.

    Billingsville Elementary, Marie G. Davis Montessori Secondary and Sedgefield Elementary are slated to be finished as early as August 2025. The latest projects on the list, including the new Second Ward Medical and Technology High School, are expected to be finished in August 2028, according to a report the CMS school board received Tuesday.

    A timeline for the remaining 18 approved projects has not yet been announced. While some include renovation and reconstruction, others will only include design work.

    The first three projects — Billingsville, Marie G. Davis and Sedgefield — will be renovated and converted into Montessori magnet programs to replace those at the older Chantilly Montessori and J.T. Williams and move a program from Park Road Montessori. Chantilly is slated to be demolished. J.T. Williams will be used for alternative education.

    The first 12 projects with projected completion dates account for roughly $907 million of the total $2.5 billion bond package.

    The full list of projects and their completion dates include:

    • Billingsville Montessori – August 2025
    • Cotswald Elementary School – August 2027
    • Dilworth Elementary School – August 2027
    • First Ward Middle School – August 2026
    • Marie G. Davis Montessori Secondary – August 2025
    • New Middle School #1 – August 2026
    • New Second Ward Medical and Technology High School – August 2028
    • North Mecklenburg High School – August 2028
    • Northwest School of the Arts – August 2026
    • Park Road Elementary School – August 2026
    • Sedgefield Montessori – August 2025
    • South Mecklenburg High School – August 2027

    This Oct. 5, 2023 photo shows one of many mobile classrooms at Harding University High School in Charlotte. Major improvements at Harding are among 30 projects included in the $2.5 billion Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bond package on the Nov. 7 ballot.
    This Oct. 5, 2023 photo shows one of many mobile classrooms at Harding University High School in Charlotte. Major improvements at Harding are among 30 projects included in the $2.5 billion Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bond package on the Nov. 7 ballot. Khadejeh Nikouyeh Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com

    Superintendent Crystal Hill and staff on Tuesday also recommended partnering with firms LeChase, Jacobs and Leeper as managers for the entire set of bond projects. CMS Chief Operation Officer Brian Schultz said LeChase and Leeper have been involved with the district as project managers for over 25 years, including the district’s previous 2017 bond projects.

    The recommendation is notable because the Black Political Caucus, an influential political group in Charlotte, said it would endorse the bond referendum if CMS committed to rewarding a minimum of 30% of the total bond package’s contracts to minority-owned businesses. Part of the group, R.J. Lepper is a well-known Black-owned construction firm in Charlotte.

    Board members, such as Vice Chair Dee Rankin, called on the district to be intentional about bringing in minority-owned businesses as vendors for the various projects.

    “Since we do need new schools, my hope would be that we could come up with a strategy to increase the number of companies, especially minority-owned businesses, locally and nationally, that we could work with on this,” said Rankin.

    The board will vote on the manager recommendation at its next regular meeting on Feb. 27.

    A slide from Tuesday night’s presentation showing when several of CMS’ 2023 bond referendum projects could be completed. The first of them could be done next year.
    A slide from Tuesday night’s presentation showing when several of CMS’ 2023 bond referendum projects could be completed. The first of them could be done next year. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

    This story was originally published February 14, 2024, 1:34 PM.

    Related stories from Charlotte Observer

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  • Home buyers thought mortgage rates were finally going to go down. Why hasn’t it happened yet?

    Home buyers thought mortgage rates were finally going to go down. Why hasn’t it happened yet?

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    Why are mortgage rates still so high?

    After a year of mortgage rates near 8%, home buyers are eager for good news. Some forecasters have buoyed their hopes, estimating that the rate on the 30-year mortgage will drop to 6% or lower this year. 

    But rates have not fallen by much thus far. The 30-year rate is currently averaging 6.64%, according to Freddie Mac. That’s despite the fact that the U.S. Federal Reserve hasn’t raised its benchmark interest rate since July 2023 and signaled in December that it would cut that rate in 2024. Meanwhile, economists in the real-estate sector have been anticipating a drop in mortgage rates since last fall.

    “Homebuyers may be feeling like the lower mortgage rates they’ve been promised in 2024 are not materializing,” Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, said in a statement. In a recent survey of Americans’ feelings about the housing market, 36% of respondents said they expect mortgage rates to fall in the next 12 months.

    While the Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates, it can influence them, just as it influences the overall U.S. economy through monetary policy. But even though the central bank has hit the brakes on tightening monetary policy, with the economy giving off mixed signals of strength and weakness, the timing of anticipated cuts to the benchmark rate remains unclear.

    That in turn creates uncertainty about when mortgage rates will drop enough to “unfreeze” the housing market. Home buyers are probably going to have to wait until the Fed acts definitively before they see those lower rates.

    The effect of a strong economy

    The strength of the U.S. economy is one reason mortgage rates have not yet fallen much, economists say. The job market is still hot, and inflation remains higher than the Fed’s goal, which is why the latest read on inflation, out Feb. 13, will be so closely watched. The fact that rates haven’t fallen this year is “a result of uncertainty about the economy and the timing of the Fed’s rate cuts,” Sturtevant said.

    “The strong job market is good news for the spring buying season, as higher household incomes are a necessary component, but it also means that mortgage rates are not likely to drop much further at this point,” Mike Fratantoni, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association, told MarketWatch.

    Another reason mortgage rates are still high is that lenders are trying to protect themselves against lower rates in the future, Cris deRitis, deputy chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, told MarketWatch. If rates fall, lenders run the risk that a borrower will pay off a loan early by refinancing. That would limit how much in interest that lender could expect to make.

    “In an odd sort of way, then, the expectation that mortgage rates will be lower in the future can lead lenders to increase rates today to compensate for the prepayment risk,” deRitis said. 

    Lower rates, more competition among buyers

    So when can prospective buyers expect mortgage rates to fall significantly? 

    “Homebuyers should expect mortgage rates to move lower as we head through 2024,” Sturtevant said. While Fannie Mae expects rates to fall below 6% by the end of the year, other economists, like Fratantoni, expect the 30-year rate to finish the last quarter of 2024 at 6.1%.

    But even if rates do fall, that won’t necessarily mean buyers will be better able to afford a home, because a drop in rates could heat up competition for homes even as it boosts buyers’ purchasing power.

    “There is still very low inventory in the market, and buyers need to act quickly when they find the right home for them,” Sturtevant said.

    For the many homeowners who currently have a mortgage rate below 4%, rates stuck in the 6% range may be leading them to put off plans to sell their home and buy a new one.

    But it’s worth noting that since 2000, rates on 30-year mortgages have ranged from a high of about 8.62% to a low of 2.81%, averaging about 5% over that span. And compared with the historical average of the 1970s, which was 7.7%, the current rates in the 6% rage are not that high, deRitis noted.

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  • Is there really a Kansas City Chiefs flag buried under Allegiant Stadium?

    Is there really a Kansas City Chiefs flag buried under Allegiant Stadium?

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    It’s an urban legend that’s been floating around social media for years.You’ve probably seen it: a photo of a construction worker proudly displaying a Kansas City Chiefs #ChiefsKingdom flag in front of the giant hole in the ground that would one day become Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders.So, is there a hidden advantage at Allegiant for Super Bowl 58?That construction worker is Gerald Decosta.In 2017, he claimed to have buried that flag under the stadium while working on the project.With the Super Bowl in town, the story and post are resurfacing.So, is it real?Is there actually a Chiefs flag buried under Allegiant?We reached out to Decosta this week. His response?”A good magician never reveals his secrets.”He’s not confirming or denying whether the flag is there.With the most Las Vegas answer ever, Chiefs Kingdom is left to ponder, and maybe hope, that the Arrowhead West legend is real.

    LAS VEGAS —

    It’s an urban legend that’s been floating around social media for years.

    You’ve probably seen it: a photo of a construction worker proudly displaying a Kansas City Chiefs #ChiefsKingdom flag in front of the giant hole in the ground that would one day become Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders.

    So, is there a hidden advantage at Allegiant for Super Bowl 58?

    That construction worker is Gerald Decosta.

    In 2017, he claimed to have buried that flag under the stadium while working on the project.

    With the Super Bowl in town, the story and post are resurfacing.

    So, is it real?

    Is there actually a Chiefs flag buried under Allegiant?

    We reached out to Decosta this week. His response?

    “A good magician never reveals his secrets.”

    He’s not confirming or denying whether the flag is there.

    With the most Las Vegas answer ever, Chiefs Kingdom is left to ponder, and maybe hope, that the Arrowhead West legend is real.

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  • Northbound I-95 closure in rear-view mirror; Southbound closure to be scheduled

    Northbound I-95 closure in rear-view mirror; Southbound closure to be scheduled

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    Commuters said they’re excited to see the finished product, which will include gardens, play areas, and a pavilion for visitors.

    PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — State officials say northbound lanes of I-95 closed over the weekend to allow work on construction of a park near Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia have reopened, but they warn that closure of southbound lanes will be needed in coming weeks.

    The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said northbound lanes between Columbus Boulevard and I-676 that closed Saturday evening reopened earlier than scheduled at about 12 a.m. Monday.

    A second weekend closure of northbound lanes was scheduled, but officials say it will not be required. PennDOT says a weekend closure of southbound lanes of I-95 will be scheduled in coming months. The closures are being coordinated with neighboring New Jersey and Delaware as well as the city, the sports complex and transportation agencies.

    The new 11.5-acre park next to the Delaware River will include gardens, play areas, a pavilion and “a contemplative setting for the Irish and Scottish memorials.”

    Commuters said they’re excited to see the finished product.

    “It will bring a lot of tourism. It will be a nice space for the kids to go to and play,” said Washington.

    “I think it’s going to be great for the city of Philadelphia,” said Rivera.

    The entire project is expected to be completed by Spring 2028.

    The Associated Press contributed to this story.

    Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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    Briana Smith

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  • Port Authority provides update on plans for new ‘state-of-the-art’ bus terminal

    Port Authority provides update on plans for new ‘state-of-the-art’ bus terminal

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    MANHATTAN, New York (WABC) — The Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City is getting ready to undergo a major transformation from an outdated and undersized commuter hub, to a state-of-the-art transit facility.

    Port Authority provided an update Thursday afternoon on plans for its long-promised modern bus terminal, a massive multi-billion-dollar project that will have to keep the current transit hub operating for the decade it takes to build on the busy west side of Manhattan.

    “New York City deserves a world-class, state-of-the-art bus terminal,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole.

    The bi-state agency said the old terminal will be torn down and rebuilt, with an estimated opening date of 2032 for the new one.

    But before that can happen, a bus storage facility will be built that will handle bus operations in the interim.

    Once the storage facility is built, expected by 2028, bus operations will shift from the current terminal to the bus storage facility while the old terminal is torn down and rebuilt.

    After construction is completed, the Port Authority will give back 3.5 acres as green space for the neighborhood.

    When Port Authority first opened in 1950, it was also described as “state of the art” and “magnificent,” but now, seven decades later, the building is in need of improvements.

    Commuters arrive to leaks, cracks and tears — far from a modern marvel.

    The new bus terminal is expected to have new features like artificial intelligence for bus management, accommodations for future growth and larger buses, bus storage space, which the current terminal doesn’t have, and sustainability components including space for electric buses and chargers, heat recovery reuse and onsite generation of renewable energy.

    “It will reflect world class design,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “High ceilings, light and airy atmosphere, riveting, appealing, inspiring public art installations.”

    Commuters said they welcome the plan for a new and improved bus terminal.

    “If they’re going to make it better, then sure! I’d love to see it better,” one bus rider said.

    “It’d be nice to start all over again,” another rider said.

    Port Authority will be better, just not anytime soon.

    ———-

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  • Job Growth in SoCal Real Estate Jumps to Seven-Year High

    Job Growth in SoCal Real Estate Jumps to Seven-Year High

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    Real estate jobs have rebounded across Southern California with the hottest hiring spree in seven years, despite sluggish home sales in the wake of higher interest rates.

    Property-related work across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties rose 3.1 percent to 803,800 jobs in December compared to a year prior, the Orange County Register reported, citing state employment figures.

    The 12-month gain of 24,300 jobs marks the biggest increase since 2017. Since the Great Recession, the average uptick is 16,600 new local jobs a year.

    The jump in real estate jobs last year was attributed to a construction boom, including massive infrastructure projects, according to the Register. Many people who work in real estate are self-employed and aren’t included in traditional government job statistics.

    Hiring across all sectors in the region rose 2 percent to 7.4 million workers, up 141,200 over 12 months ending in December. 

    Real estate’s share of local employment was 9.8 percent last month, but equaled 14.7 percent of all Southern California hires last year.

    The building trades and commercial real estate added workers, while real estate services, lending and building supplies had a slight downturn in jobs.

    Across the region, work for trade construction specialists rose 5.6 percent to 264,900 jobs; building services rose 5.9 percent to 115,200 jobs; and building, civil and construction rose 4.2 percent to 124,200 jobs.

    Work in real estate services fell 0.1 percent to 143,700; lending fell 0.4 percent to 102,700 jobs; and building supplies fell 1.1 percent to 53,100 jobs.

    Los Angeles County had the most real estate jobs last month with 379,100 workers, a one-year gain of 2.9 percent, followed by Orange County at 232,900 workers, a gain of 2.1 percent.

    But Riverside County had the largest increase, with a one-year gain of 4.9 percent to 191,800 real estate jobs.

    The overall boom in property-related jobs follows a downturn last spring, when slow home sales across Southern California led to the loss of 4,600 real estate jobs in March, and a 1.2 percent loss in jobs over the previous 12 months.

    — Dana Bartholomew

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  • Eastman Cooke completes luxury dealerships in Glen Cove and Brooklyn | Long Island Business News

    Eastman Cooke completes luxury dealerships in Glen Cove and Brooklyn | Long Island Business News

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    Listen to this article

    General contracting Eastman Cooke & Associates has completed the construction of two luxury automobile dealerships in Glen Cove and Brooklyn, after the projects were delayed by the pandemic. 

    The new developments have sales centers and electric vehicle charging stations for Jaguar and Land Rover brands. 

    The 80,000-square-foot Glen Cove dealership at 70 Cedar Swamp Road has a 40,000-square-foot service center and separate 40,000-square-foot sales office. The 100,000-square-foot Coney Island dealership is at 809 Neptune Avenue. 

    “The completion of these two exciting projects represents the culmination of nearly three years of stops and starts due to COVID restrictions and supply chain challenges,” Peter Morandi, CEO of Eastman Cooke & Associates, said in a company statement. “Because of the timeline, each project required great flexibility to meet changing regulations and a stronger focus on sustainability, which we were happy to accommodate.” 

    Eastman Cooke, which has offices in Amityville and Manhattan, was joined by consultants on the Glen Cove project, including The Eagleton Kathe Company, the owner’s representative; SNS Architects & Engineers, the design architect and civil engineer; Omdex Engineering, the MEP engineer; and VHB Engineering, which did the entitlement work. 

    “Fortunately, we had already implemented our project development platforms, which enabled us to complete the deep foundations and structural steel work quickly and efficiently,” April Intrabartola, vice president of Eastman Cooke & Associates, said in the statement. “Despite the pandemic-related hiatus, we hardly missed a beat, and the finished projects perfectly reflect these exclusive brands.” 

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    David Winzelberg

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  • Indiana State Fairgrounds Unveils Beynon Sports Portable Banked Track

    Indiana State Fairgrounds Unveils Beynon Sports Portable Banked Track

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    The home of the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championship welcomes its first competition.


    HUNT VALLEY, Md., January 25, 2024 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The recent installation of a custom-built, 200-meter portable banked running track from Beynon Sports at the Indiana State Fairgrounds’ new Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion represents the latest chapter in the location’s rich history. Constructed in 1923 as the Indiana State Fair’s Swine Barn, the pavilion is now poised to become a magnet for elite track and field competition, having already been awarded the 2025 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships.

    Beynon’s innovative system, which uses its BSS 4000 track surface with Hobart Texture, is part of an extensive $50 million renovation that began over two years ago. The project encompassed the demolition of the old swine barn and its restoration as a 196,000-sq.-ft. best-in-class livestock facility, which was opened in time for the 166th Indiana State Fair in July 2023.

    A NEW HOME FOR ELITE TRACK & FIELD

    Six months later, the pavilion is home to a portable banked track from Beynon that will be installed annually to host local, regional, national, and international events. The first of those events includes the 2024 editions of the below meets, with the track and field schedule running until the spring and ending with the Hoosier State Relays on March 23.

    • Butler Invitational (Jan. 20)
    • Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis Track & Field Meet (Jan. 26-27)
    • USA Track & Field Indoor Combined Events Championships (Jan. 27-28)

    While last weekend’s Butler Invitational marked the pavilion’s inaugural track and field event, it represents a continuation of a strong sports presence at the Indiana State Fairgrounds that has endured for the better part of 90 years.

    “We’ve got a good track record here. We have a coliseum on our grounds that’s almost continually hosted professional hockey since 1937, so we have two ice rinks on the campus. We do a lot of volleyball, basketball, and gymnastics. We have a DI men’s basketball program that plays in our coliseum,” said Ray Allison, Chief Development & Strategy Officer, Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center. “Taking on track and field is something that, while it’s new, is in our wheelhouse of being able to change over buildings and setup for a variety of different types of events.”

    CUTTING-EDGE TRACK DESIGN

    To accommodate the Fall Creek Pavilion’s wide variety of events, the track would need to allow for quick and easy removal and efficient storage. For Beynon Sports, meeting the venue’s specific needs demanded a forward-thinking solution, which was developed alongside the team from Weems Engineering LLC, a full-service mechanical contractor based in Dalton, GA.

    “We knew that Beynon was going to be able to deliver an elite, championship-level track surface for us that was going to be fast, which in the track space, that’s all that matters,” said Allison about the decision to entrust Beynon with the project. “To the credit of Beynon and Weems Engineering, they sat down, they put their heads together, and they re-engineered the way they build and install these portable tracks, and they came up with something that was really clever and unique and was exactly what we were looking for.”

    Beynon’s involvement in this latest renovation, one of several that the Indiana State Fairgrounds has undertaken over the last 25 years, makes it part of a concerted effort to help the campus evolve while safeguarding the historic character of its facilities. In the case of the Fall Creek Pavilion, that included restoring the iconic brick façade from the original swine barn and integrating it into the new venue.

    “We’ve been at this location since 1892, and it’s important for us that we maintain our history and the traditions that come with the Indiana State Fair,” said Allison. “We want our fairgoers to have the experience that they’re accustomed to but also provide modern facilities that meet the needs of 21st-century events, whether they’re showing livestock or we’re hosting indoor track and field.”

    Source: Beynon Sports

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