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Showing posts from April, 2015

LandSouth Construction to Build $28.5 Million Mixed Use Community

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (April 30, 2015) – LandSouth Construction, a Jacksonville, Fla. based general contractor specializing in multifamily, senior housing and mixed use developments, will be building Oyster Park Apartments, a $28.5 million modern, urban, mixed use multifamily community in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Construction is scheduled to begin next month with completion slated for October, 2016. Dewberry Capital, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., is the developer of the community that will feature 269 residences in seven buildings with a multi-level private parking garage. The architects are McMillan, Pazdan, Smith of Greenville S.C. “Just across the river from historic Charleston, Oyster Park will truly offer an upscale, urban lifestyle including apartment homes above store fronts and within walk to shopping, restaurants and other retail,” said LandSouth’s Vice President of Operations Joe Passkiewicz. LandSouth Construction is currently working on projects throughout the Southeast in...

PEER: New Rating System for Sustainable Power Systems

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) officially launched PEER, its rating system designed to measure and improve sustainable power system performance. Modeled after the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED green building rating system, PEER, or Performance Excellence in Electricity Renewal, evaluates power generation, transmission and distribution systems through the lens of the customer, focusing on efficiency, quality, reliability, resiliency and the environment. GBCI will serve as the independent, third party, global certification and credentialing body for PEER. "Buildings don’t exist in a vacuum, so integration with other industries, such as energy and power, is crucial if we are to create a more sustainable built environment. PEER will be a transformative tool for power systems regulation, design and operation,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO & founding chair, USGBC, and CEO, GBCI. “It is a great complement to the array of rating systems already...

Jacksonville One of 10 cities in the Nation to Participate in the National Park Service’s Urban Agenda Initiative

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 30, 2015 – Today Mayor Alvin Brown announced the selection of Jacksonville as one of only 10 cities in the nation to participate in the National Park Service’s (NPS) Urban Agenda Initiative. Included in the Urban Agenda is the placement of an Urban Fellow in each city.  The initiative’s goal is to create and deploy a coherent system of parks, programs and partnerships within an urban landscape that will positively impact and enhance the city’s economic vitality, historic preservation, natural and cultural resources, outdoor recreation, youth and education opportunities, urban design and sustainability. The other cities selected are Boston, Detroit, New York City, Philadelphia, Richmond (CA), Richmond (VA), St. Louis, Tucson and Washington, D.C. The Urban Fellow will work with local government to identify recreation and preservation priorities and assist with developing plans to reach those goals. Additionally, existing NPS programs, including the River...

REPORT: More etailers to open brick-and-mortar stores in 2015

More online retailers say they plan to explore the brick-and-mortar channel this year, according to a survey of 1,000 online retail professionals conducted by eBay.  About 75 percent of the respondents said they have a positive outlook for retail sales in 2015. Roughly 72 percent said they anticipate that online revenue will increase by 17 percent. But sales in brick-and-mortar stores will also be part of that growth. Some 14 percent of the respondents said they intend to make their initial investment in the in-store experience this year.  An additional 12 percent say they will pursue global brick-and-mortar expansion this year, and a further 11 percent will open pop-up shops to drive sales. Several online brands, including BaubleBar, Bonobos, JustFab and Warby Parker have invested in brick-and-mortar operations in recent years. Perhaps this is no wonder. In-store conversion rates continue to be four times higher than online-only conversion rates, according to an ICSC re...

GBCI Renamed Green Business Certification Inc.

Washington, D.C.  – The GBCI Board of Directors announced that GBCI, formerly known as the Green Building Certification Institute, has changed its name to Green Business Certification Inc. It will continue to be referred to as GBCI. “GBCI is a dynamic brand that has been synonymous with LEED and green building since it was founded in 2008,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO, GBCI. “GBCI’s name change is a true reflection of our direction and vision for the organization, which is to extend its core competencies of certification and credentialing services to organizations that want to advance green business and sustainability practices. Third-party validation has become a highly regarded value across the globe and GBCI is well-positioned to fulfill that need.” GBCI is the only group to administer project certifications and professional credentials and certificates within the framework of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Green Building Rating System. GBCI also exclusively provides cer...

BridgeInvest Residential Funds First Loan in 2015

BridgeInvest Residential, a Miami-based lender focused on financing residential investment properties in Florida, recently closed a $3.0 million senior loan cross-collateralized by two waterfront units at the Trump Palace condominium in Sunny Isles Beach.  The high-leverage loan represented over 75% of the original purchase price of the units, allowing the borrower to recoup most of their equity in the properties and execute on another condo purchase. Each unit is a 3-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom condo with over 2,000 square feet featuring expansive water views from multiple balconies. Both units are used as investment properties and currently cash flowing. The properties’ prime location combined with the in-place cash flow made this an attractive investment for the newly-formed lender. Born out of one of South Florida’s largest private commercial lending businesses, BridgeInvest Residential was able to leverage its team’s professionalism and quality of execution to structure and fu...

Westin Hotels Makes Debut on Jekyll Island, Georgia’s Acclaimed Barrier Reef Island

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced the opening of The Westin Jekyll Island , a 200-room, convention-class, beachfront hotel on Georgia's acclaimed barrier island. It is one of six new Westin hotels opening in North America this year and follows the brand’s 200th opening worldwide in 2014. “The Westin Jekyll Island is a terrific new addition to the Westin brand’s growing portfolio and provides a restful retreat for travelers on one of the most beautiful barrier islands in the United States,” said Bob Jacobs , Vice President of Brand Management for Sheraton and Westin. “This spectacular new Westin hotel showcases all of the brand’s services and amenities designed to inspire wellbeing within close proximity of the area’s premier convention facility, as well as a variety of attractions.” The Westin Jekyll Island is the cornerstone of Jekyll Island's Beach Village project, which includes an oceanfront promenade, villag...

Generation Homes’ Anna Maria Wins Award of Excellence in Parade of Homes

PALM COAST, Fla. (April 18, 2015) -- Generation Homes’ entry in the 2015 Flagler/Palm Coast Parade of Homes, the Anna Maria model at Beach Haven, won a coveted Award of Excellence by the Flagler Home Builders Association (FHBA). The award in the $320,000 to $340,000 category came as FHBA kicked off its annual Parade of Homes with a banquet at the Hammock Beach Club. This year’s parade Featured 32 homes. In the Anna Maria, Generation Homes has created an airy 2,400 square foot two-story home at 16 Beach Haven Parkway that maximizes cool blue ocean views and natural light through the use of large windows, open space, breezy porches and decks, bringing the outdoors in.   “Generation Homes has built the Anna Maria for families to enjoy lazy summers, spring breaks and truly enhances beach living for many years to come,’ noted Donna Sadowski, Generation Homes’ vice president of sales and marketing. The home represents Generation Homes’ flair for coastal design with wood floors, ...

LandSouth Construction Ranked Among Nation's Top Apartment Contractors

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 14, 2015 – LandSouth Construction, a Jacksonville, Fla. based general contractor specializing in multifamily, senior housing and mixed use developments, has made the prestigious National Multifamily Housing Council’s (NMHC) 2015 ranking of the nation’s largest apartment contractors at No. 25. “We’re extremely honored to make the list as one of the top apartment construction companies in the country,” said LandSouth President/CEO James Pyle. “The honor validates the dedication and expertise of our team and our ability to effectively meet the needs of owners and developers on a daily basis.” The National Multifamily Housing Council is the authoritative ranking of the nation's 50 largest apartment owners and 50 largest apartment managers. This year, NMHC has added rankings for the nation's top 25 developers and the top 25 general contractors. The listing comes on the heels of a new study from the NMHC and National Apartment Association (NAA)...

Pre-Leasing of Phase II of Pine Hill Apartments is Underway as Construction Nears Completion

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Pine Hill Properties has announced construction is almost complete on Phase II of the Pine Hill apartment community which will offer residents the unique combination of affordable living and convenient location. Pre-leasing has started. SE Construction Services LLC broke ground late last year at 7920 Oriole Ave. just off Edgewood Avenue behind the Bradham and Brooks Branch Public Library, west of Lem Turner Road. It’s the first new apartment construction in area in over 20 years. Phase II of Hill Apartments lays the foundations for what will be a stand-out addition to the community comprising of 56 new two-bedroom apartment homes in nine buildings on 3.9 acres. Convenient parking, laundry facilities and handicapped accessible homes are available. “We are building phase two of Pine Hill Apartments to meet the growing demand for affordable rental homes in this highly desirable neighborhood that provides easy access to mass transportation, shopping, rest...

Apartment Demand Outpaces Supply in NMHC 50 Lists of Top Apartment Firms

WASHINGTON, D.C., – As demand across the apartment industry continued to outpace supply, 2014 proved the bull market still has spring in its step.  The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) is reporting notable growth across the industry in the newly-released 2015 NMHC Top 50 – the industry’s ranking of top apartment owners and managers.  “While one might expect the apartment industry expansion to have reached its peak, we are seeing the opposite,” said Mark Obrinsky, NMHC’s Senior Vice President of Research and Chief Economist.  “Renter growth remains at historic highs and for the fourth time in the last five years, we saw an increase of more than one million new renters.” The number of apartments in the portfolios of the NMHC Top 50 managers rose to an all-time high, just short of 3 million. Notably, all five of the biggest NMHC Top 50 owners specialize in affordable housing.  Hunt Companies of El Paso, Texas retained its top spot on the ow...

New ULI Forecast for Real Estate, Economy Sees Three Years of Continued Strength, with Industry Set for Sustainable Growth in 2015 Through 2017

WASHINGTON, DC– The real estate industry is expected to remain on a sustainable course of solid growth for 2015 through 2017, according to a  new three-year forecas t  from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Center for Capital Markets and Real Estate.  The outlook – the latest installment of the semi-annual ULI Real Estate Consensus Forecast — is based on a survey of 46 of the industry’s top economists and analysts representing 33 of the country’s leading real estate investment, advisory, and research firms and organizations. An  analysis  of the survey findings by ULI leader William Maher, director of North American strategy for LaSalle Investment Management in Baltimore, highlights areas of the industry and overall economy that are generating the most optimism for 2015 through 2017: Net job growth is expected to be 2.9 million per year, compared to a long term average of 1.2 million. Demand for real estate, particularly office and apartments, will remain s...

New Homes Increasingly Offer Efficiency, Sustainable Features

During New Homes Month in April, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is showing how new homes increasingly offer the energy-efficient features home buyers seek. Surveys indicate that efficiency is among the most-wanted features of home buyers and that builders are responding to this demand. “Our builder members are telling us that more and more buyers are looking at new homes for their efficiency in design and functionality,” said NAHB chairman Tom Woods, a home builder from Blue Springs, Mo. “Whether it’s improved insulation or sustainable building materials, today’s new homes can reach higher energy performance and greater durability than was possible even 20 years ago. And programs like the National Green Building Standard help consumers achieve their efficiency needs." As more Millennials enter the housing market, they are sharing what features are most likely to affect their home buying decisions. An NAHB survey revealed that Energy Star certifications are a ...

Survey Shows Top Companies Prioritize Global Green Building Rating System LEED

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The world’s top-performing companies are prioritizing sustainability as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts, and a majority of them are using LEED, the world’s premier green building program, to achieve their goals, according to a new survey released by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The study looked at Fortune 200 companies, most of them users of LEED and members of USGBC. “We launched LEED 15 years ago so that the world’s leading businesses would have a tool that would deliver the immediate, measureable results they need to prove that what is good for the environment is also good for the bottom line,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “This survey demonstrates how successful we’ve been in helping link profit to planet and why LEED continues to be the market leader, certifying 1.85 million square feet of commercial space every day.” The survey, LEED and the Corporate Built Environment, showed: 82 percent of sur...