![]() Plans are moving forward for the construction of a micro-apartment complex in the popular Five Points neighborhood of Denver. The project, as proposed by the Focus Property Group, which is based in Denver, would see the construction of a three-story building on a less than one-acre site, housing just under 50 apartment units. That site is in a part of the city that has seen a certain amount of new apartment construction in recent years, but also includes smaller and older retail and restaurant businesses. The proposed units would all be relatively small. Defined micro apartments usually measure around 100 to 500 square feet or less. As currently proposed, the project at 2424 Larimer Street would additionally include around 10,500 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor, along with a mailroom and lobby. The residential units will all be built on the structure’s second and third levels. It is also expected that the complex will include a more than 3,000 square foot courtyard, as well as space for a restaurant. The Focus Property Group specializes in retail, residential, and office projects, among other developments. Micro apartments have been gaining popularity in recent years, largely providing tenants with the opportunity to live affordably in big cities where rents are defined by the square footage. Notes the news site Motley Fool: “Micro apartments are typically less than nearby studio apartments, and the savings could be even greater in a dorm-style micro apartment community.” Such units often feature high ceilings, rooftop windows, loft beds, and combined kitchen and living spaces. By Garry Boulard
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![]() A hamburger chain with multiple locations in Texas and California is planning to build more than 50 new outlets in both the East and West this year. Based in Plano, Texas, Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes says it wants to put up at least 15, and perhaps as many as 20 shops in metro Phoenix alone. The build-out plan for Phoenix may take up to a decade to complete, with an initial 3 or 4 possibly starting up later this year. The company, which has around one hundred locations nationwide, also announced plans late last year to build up to 30 new outlets in Florida. Founded in 2007, the Mooyah chain’s stock in trade is a burger made of fresh, never-frozen certified Angus Beef. Customers are also offered the choice of a wide variety of vegetables for those burgers as well as the company’s own Mooyah Sauce. The company’s outlets vary in size between 2,400 and 3,000 square feet, although a location opened last year in Orlando measuring 4,100 square feet. Some, but not all, of the stores have drive-through features, while others offer dining areas. The company is also in the process of renovating five of its locations, with plans to renovate a total of ten by the end of the year. Besides Texas and California, Mooyah’s outlets are clustered in southeast Louisiana, as well as the upper East coast. By Garry Boulard ![]() The City of El Paso has issued a Request for Proposals for the second phase work on a well-used public park on the northeast side of the city. Located at 11270 McCombs Street, the Joey Barraza and Vino Memorial Park is expected to see the construction of a fenced dog park space and new soccer park. The project will also entail some demolition, as well as the construction of traffic control devices, electrical improvements, new solar lights, and both benches and trash receptacles. Additional work will include the installation of new gates and chain link fencing, rock walls, and a prefabricated bridge and prefabricated shed for both electric and irrigation controls. Named in honor of the late Border Patrol officer Jose “Joey” Barraza, who was also a K-9 handler with a German Shepard named Vino, the park last year saw the building of new electrical and plumbing infrastructure, as well as concrete speed tables and bleachers. The RFP has a submission deadline of April 21. By Garry Boulard ![]() A bill pending before the Colorado State Legislature would make it possible for local governments to require the creation of affordable housing in new development projects. House Bill 1117 is a response to a Colorado State Supreme Court ruling handed down more than two decades ago saying that it was illegal for a city or town to require that developers make available a portion of their developments for affordable housing units. The court determined that such ordinances are essentially a form of rent control prohibited by state law. Now, under the bill proposed by Representative Susan Lontine, local governments will be able to foster affordable housing requirements, but in so doing they will have the choice of either building that housing at another site or contributing financially to an affordable housing fund. The measure is being seen as one way of addressing what is regarded as a lack of affordable housing in the growing state of Colorado, where average rents now exceed $1,300 a month. Among the groups opposing the legislation is the Investment Community of the Rockies, a realtor’s association maintaining that “unfunded affordable housing mandates will stifle the development of new housing and transfer the full cost of subsidized rent to the other residents in the community.” The bill, which has passed the Colorado House Transportation and Local Government Committee, is now on its way to the full House. By Garry Boulard ![]() President Biden has released one of the most sweeping government work projects, harkening back to the days of the New Deal, with an infrastructure package that also includes funding for new affordable housing, among other features. “These are investments we have to make,” Biden said of his historic plan. “We can afford to make them. To put it another way: we can’t afford not to.” The largest part of the multi-faceted plan would commit $621 billion to a variety of infrastructure projects ranging from bridge and road upgrades and construction, to airport, ports, and public transit projects. Some $300 billion will target broadband network construction, as well as an effort to improve drinking water infrastructure. The President additionally wants to put $300 million into the construction and upgrading of public schools, along with the building and retrofitting of affordable housing. The infrastructure package, officially called the American Jobs Plan, comes on the heels of Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan, which was approved by Congress earlier this month. In announcing his plan, Biden additionally remarked: “It’s time to build our economy from the bottom up and the middle out.” He said that if his proposal wins Congressional passage, it will allow the U.S. to become the “strongest, most resilient innovative economy in the world.” The President said he wants to pay for the plan partly through raising the nation’s current corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%. Some analysts have said that the tax raise could bring in up to $2 trillion in revenue in the next decade and a half. In a statement, Stephen Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, said Biden was right to “focus on rebuilding a broad range of aging and overburdened infrastructure and modernizing buildings.” But Sandherr added that the package is weighed down by a “host of labor and regulatory measures that will hurt workers and offset many of the economic benefits of these new infrastructure investments.” Neil Bradley, executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, remarked: “The proposal is dangerously misguided when it comes to how to pay for infrastructure,” adding that the proposed tax increases will “slow the economic recovery and make the U.S. less competitive globally—the exact opposite of the goals of the infrastructure plan.” Applauding the initiative, Mary Joyce Ivers, president of the American Public Works Association, said the infrastructure investment presented in the plan will provide, “a successful foundation to safeguard the essential public works services counted upon by our citizenry.” Members of Congress will now be tasked with reviewing Biden’s proposal, with the possibility of passing it by mid-summer. By Garry Boulard ![]() Work could begin later this spring on a new and large apartment community in Tempe. The Indianapolis-based Milhaus company says it wants to build more than 600 units at the intersection of Miller Road and E. Curry Road, on the north side of the Tempe Town Lake. The complex will also be roughly one mile to the north of the campus of Arizona State University, with students from that school expected to make up a significant portion of its tenant base. The first $91 million phase of the project, in a part of the city made up of smaller businesses and some apartment complexes, will see the building of an initial 311 units. Those first units will vary in size from 500 square feet to around 1,400 square feet. Amenities include a clubhouse, library, fitness center, dog park, and grill stations. The project is being done in conjunction with the Banyon Residential firm, which is based in Los Angeles. According to reports, Milhaus ultimately wants to have some 2,000 units in the region under its banner, either through new construction or acquisition, between now and 2026. Milhaus specializes in the development of urban, multi-family residential buildings, and has been particularly active in the Midwest and South. By Garry Boulard |
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