In today’s construction news, read about how high rise construction must be underway as quickly as possible, or the possibility of receiving financial aid from the community will increase. Meanwhile, visionary leaders who valued teamwork and new ideas laid the groundwork for modern Nashville. The Nashville of the future will need to reimagine what it means to be a leader. Lastly, detours will aid in the Purple Line’s progress, as there are fewer cars on campus.

Construction of the Stalled Duluth High-rise is Likely to Resume Soon

Original Source: Construction of stalled Duluth high-rise likely imminent

Next to Essentia Health’s new downtown hospital, a high-rise apartment building may be built.

Lakeview 333, a 15-story, 200-unit apartment complex by Landmark Development, has been delayed several times.

Chris Fleege, Duluth’s planning and economic development director, said, “The city is still cautiously optimistic the project will move forward.” He added city personnel have been meeting weekly with the development team, which is closing in on project financing.

He agreed that rising mortgage rates and construction prices have caused problems. In 2018, the project was estimated to cost $70.4 million, but it currently costs $85 million.

“They seem to be on a good trajectory. Fleege added, “And for us, it’s really important that something gets started this summer.”

The Duluth Economic Development Authority increased the city’s tax-increment financing package from $6.2 million to $7.5 million in May 2022 to help the stalled project. Tax-increment financing subsidies qualified development costs with a percentage of a property’s increased taxes.

Theresa Bajda, Duluth’s senior housing developer, said the TIF deal requires qualified development costs to be incurred by June 20, 2024, or the financial support package could dissolve.

“I think both the developer and the city know we’re on a tight timeline now. She added, “But we’re very optimistic they can secure their financing and keep moving through the permitting process with our staff.”

However, Bajda observed that TIF funding might be used to reimburse early project costs including utility hookups, site acquisition, and demolition. TIF funding won’t be released until the project is finished, she noted.

“After a number of difficult obstacles that we have overcome — including COVID delays, unprecedented construction cost escalation and now, turmoil within the regional banking sector (a key source of debt financing for projects like the Lakeview) — we are still working hard to move the project forward,” said Landmark partner Rob Robinson.

“With Essentia’s fantastic Vision Northland Project next door and the increasing demand for housing of all types in Duluth, we are very excited to bring the Lakeview Project forward as soon as possible.” “We are optimistic that we will be able to restart activity on site during this construction season,” Robinson added.

Three buildings in the 300 block of East Superior Street—the Lakewalk Voyageur Inn, Hacienda Del Sol restaurant, and First Oriental Grocery—were demolished to make space for the new apartments.

“With Essentia’s fantastic Vision Northland Project next door and the increasing demand for housing of all types in Duluth, we are very excited to bring the Lakeview Project forward as soon as possible.” “We are optimistic that we will be able to restart activity on site during this construction season,” Robinson added.

Three buildings in the 300 block of East Superior Street—the Lakewalk Voyageur Inn, Hacienda Del Sol restaurant, and First Oriental Grocery—were demolished to make space for the new apartments.

Robinson, based in Madison, has been working with CG Schmidt Construction, also from Wisconsin, to develop the project, Fleege added.

A project labor agreement will guarantee prevailing wages for all tradesmen working on the development, according to Bajda.

To stay on track, Fleege said work may need to start this summer.

He said many in the community want construction to cover the downtown gap, which he called “an eyesore” and “a section of the city that needs reinvestment.”

On the ground floor, the building will have around 20,000 square feet of retail space. A grocery shop was the developer’s first goal for the location.

Create a Future for Nashville That Represents the Faces of Today’s Community

Original Source: Build the future of Nashville that reflects the faces of today’s community

Today’s Nashville was established by visionary leaders who valued teamwork and creativity. Leadership must change in Nashville’s future.

If we want to build the future, we must make room for diverse dreamers and doers, especially women, minorities, and veterans who run our city’s small companies.

At the Millennium Maxwell House on Tuesday, May 23, from 8 a.m. to noon, the Small and Diverse Business Expo (SDBX) will focus on that.

I’m delighted to report SDBX is the product of a unique cooperation involving four of Nashville’s best builders: Clark Construction Group, BELL Construction Company, Mortenson, and Pinnacle Construction Partners. We’re a coalition of construction enterprises improving Nashville. We think the best method is for everyone to build Nashville.

Business executives’ SDBX benefits

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce reports that 60% of our region’s businesses have fewer than 25 employees, making them small enterprises. Our strategic partnership is aware of this.

As our city’s development boom continues, we must expand the number of diverse small business owners benefiting from it.

Our coalition is motivated to generate new opportunities for small business owners and a new generation of industry leaders.

Small construction, engineering, and design firms can learn how to compete for and win significant construction projects at SDBX. Our industry’s underserved women- and minority-owned firms are our priority.

Small enterprises can benefit from SDBX:

Learn how to pre-qualify and get accredited with local, state, and other organizations that award multi-billion-dollar contracts for projects like Music local Center and the Nashville International Airport extension.

Find trustworthy legal, insurance, bonding, accounting, and other business services that advise building enterprises.

Mentors can help you explore unimaginable chances.

Building a solid network for growth begins here.

Grit, innovation, drive, passion, and heart are needed to run a successful small business today. These are the attributes Nashville and Middle Tennessee’s key builders need. Small businesses, especially women-, minority-, and veteran-owned ones, need to get their foot in the door to develop.

SDBX shows our effort to prepare you. We’ll help you get big project pre-qualification and certification. We will also connect you with other business owners, establishing the framework for you to form your own collaborative and inventive networks of the region’s next leaders.

Small enterprises were us. Growth is known. We’ll help you and your workers succeed. Together, we can build the city and area we love.

For more information or to register for the Small and Diverse Business Expo (SDBX), visit cbmpjv.com.

Michael Carter manages Pinnacle Construction Partners, a public and private commercial preconstruction, planning, and construction management firm.

Campus Construction Will Cause Summer Road Closures

Original Source: Summer Road Closures Planned for Campus Construction

Faculty, staff, student employees, and summer students received this email from Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Carlo Colella:

This year, campus Purple Line construction has increased. We’re also building Zupnik Hall and improving infrastructure. We know campus construction makes walking and driving difficult. Please keep in mind that these initiatives will cause enduring change, especially the Purple Line, which will connect our campus to the surrounding community in unprecedented ways.

The institution is collaborating with the state to speed up Purple Line construction and minimize neighborhood inconvenience during peak hours. We’ll close many roads this summer while the campus is empty. In addition to Purple Line construction, several additional UMD construction projects will influence our campus this summer.

Closures

From May 25 until mid-August, expect these developments (map):

Campus Drive from Paint Branch Drive to Regents Drive will be blocked for Purple Line construction.

Campus Drive between Regents Drive to Union Lane will be blocked for Purple Line construction.

Fieldhouse Drive south of the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center will be closed for utility installation.

Stadium Drive between Paint Branch Drive and Engineering Drive is closed for Zupnik Hall engineering building development and will stay closed through summer and beyond.

Starting June 5, Regents Drive Garage will be closed for maintenance. Employees who park in the garage must park in their nearest faculty/staff overflow lot, according to DOTS.

Impacts

Detours will apply. Please see the map.

Many pedestrian detours will be needed. All pedestrian detours will be ADA-compliant. Maps (see).

Tips for summer success

University Boulevard (Maryland Route 193) intersects with Paint Branch Drive (near the Xfinity Center), Stadium Drive (near The Clarice), and Campus Drive/Adelphi Road (near the University of Maryland Global Campus) to access and exit campus.

Allow extra time for campus commute. Detours may increase travel time if your campus routes are closed.

Over the summer, consider biking, carpooling, or public transit to campus. For sustainable commuting incentives and information, see DOTS.

If you’re holding a big summer event or camp, let people know about closures and detours. All of this is on the Purple Line webpage. Please contact purpleline@umd.edu for event or camp guidance questions.

Summary of today’s construction news

To sum it all up, according to Fleege, construction must start as soon as this summer if the project is to stay on schedule. Many people, he added, are eager to see buildings begin to replace the current gap in the downtown, which he called “an eyesore” and “a section of the city that needs reinvestment.”

Meanwhile, to build a better future, we need to make room for the many creative and hardworking people who live and work in our city’s small companies, many of whom are women, minorities, or veterans. Michael Carter serves as managing partner of Pinnacle Construction Partners.

Lastly, several other construction projects at UMD will have an impact on campus this summer in addition to the Purple Line development.