![]() Planning for the resurfacing and reconstruction of streets across the geographically wide city of El Paso is expected to begin this spring in the wake of a voter-approved bond package. By a better than 61% to 38% margin, voters gave a thumbs up to what was called Proposition A, which will allot some $237 million to a variety of street projects. Those projects are all expected to be executed over the course of the next decade. The $237 million proposition was one of three proposals, all of which proved victorious at the polls. El Paso residents also approved some $20.8 million for park improvements, and $5 million to study and take on projects designed to reduce the impact of climate change. By design, Proposition A will fund work repaving some 46 main roads in various sections of the city. City official have said that an early effort in the street work will center on the purchase of private property in areas where the upgrading will occur. By Garry Boulard
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![]() An ongoing deficit of electrical transformers and other electrical components is continuing to place a burden on the completion of home construction projects. So says a release issued by the National Association of Home Builders, which is urging the federal Department of Commerce to act on the matter. “Significant shortage of single-phase transformer and other components are preventing local jurisdictions from issuing building permits because there is no way to provide power to the new houses,” the NAHB has declared in a correspondence endorsed by the Associated Builders and Contractors, and Independent Electrical Contractors, among several other industry organizations. According to sources, the average timeframe for delivering electrical switchgear has recently doubled from 20 weeks to 40 weeks. Correspondence, sent directly to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, stated: “Focused attention to these matters is needed to resolve these shortages and rebuild critical infrastructure in disaster-affected areas and across the United States where projects have been put on hold due to shortages.” Some of the delay has been directly attributable to current challenges in Europe in acquiring a fire-retardant chemical primarily used as a plastic resin to make the housing for switchgear. Delays have additionally impacted electrical components and circuit breakers not only used in home construction, but also the building of new schools. The various industry organizations are asking the White House to put together a summit with all related industry interests to explore possible solutions to the problem. The ongoing shortage has proven particularly problematic for the nation’s utility companies, notes the site Marketplace. “A transformer is something like the interface between your home and the local power grid, the place where you and the power provider work—pretty much anywhere there’s electric service,” the publication continued. Industry groups have additionally called not only for a stepped-up production of transformers in the U.S., but the expanded training of a larger transformer workforce. By Garry Boulard ![]() An office building in downtown Pueblo, Colorado dating to the Eisenhower era is being listed for sale for $850,000. Located at 215 W 2nd Street, the two-story structure is listed as a Class C building and currently serves as modern office space for the law firm of Orona Garcia & Duran, formerly known as Petersen & Fonda. It stands on a block populated with historic brick structures housing office and retail space, and recently underwent an extensive renovation. Many of the buildings in what is known as Historic Downtown Pueblo, date to the late 19th century. Altogether, the building measures just under 14,600 square feet, and is being listed with the Pueblo offices of Re/Max Commercial. By Garry Boulard ![]() Plans are in the works for the development and building of two new hotels as well as an apartment building that will go up inside Albuquerque’s Sawmill District. That district, formerly the site of the American Lumber Company and, beginning in 1958, home to the Frank Paxton Lumber Company, saw the beginning of a restoration in 2019, transforming the larger neighborhood into a walkable, urban marketplace. Centerpiece of the district has always been The Market, an airy, transformed space with nearly 30 merchants, including a brew operation and dining and play space. Now a presentation has been made to the Bernalillo County Commission detailing plans for a 115-room boutique hotel, as well as a 101-room extended hotel. An additional part of the presentation has detailed the building of an apartment complex with 138 units, measuring some six stories. Businessman Jim Long, the developer and inspiration behind the original redevelopment of the sawmill district and market, is seeking just under $39 million in Local Economic Development Act grant funding for the project. Additional funding may also be secured through Bernalillo Country industrial revenue bonds. The county previously gave the green light to industrial revenue bonds for the development of the Hotel Chaco and other development work at the district. Members of the Bernalillo County Commission are expected to take up the funding requests for the Sawmill projects at their next meeting on December 13. By Garry Boulard Sustainability Issues Seen as Growing Priority Next Year, According to New Industry Report11/15/2022 ![]() A newly published industry report is predicting that the issue of environmental sustainability is going to be more important in 2023 than ever before, The publication, Forrester’s Environmental Sustainability Forecast Report, forecasts that carbon offsets and credits will be newly popular next year, but without the criticisms from many in the business community regarding processes. The publication is also reporting that some 61% of Fortune Global 200 companies have now named an official sustainability leader. Several months ago, the publication also revealed that corporate concerns pertaining to sustainability policies have clearly become an international preoccupation, with around 25% of European companies hiring chief sustainability officers this year. The publication is being put out by Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Forrester Research, a service providing specialized and in-depth research for companies across the globe. “Technology vendors and mature organizations that have learned from past carbon offsets,” says the publication, will on the contrary “lead the way in setting carbon-offset transparency standards and providing marketplaces.” Some of the largest Fortune Global 200 companies, in addressing concerns about sustainability, will also limit air travel. In the process, those companies will increasingly implement travel emissions in evaluating company travel practices. Carbon accounting standards based on “the best of existing standards” will more come to the fore, using data produced by such groups as the United National and the International Organization for Standardization, the publication adds. By Garry Boulard ![]() City officials in Tucson are hoping to compile as much information as possible regarding the city’s holistic move to address ongoing infill development challenges. What is officially known as the city’s Downtown Infill Incentive District, a zoning option process for development, is said to have to date led to the building of more than 1,000 new residential units in specific downtown areas since its launching in 2009. More specifically, the infill incentive district has led to the redevelopment of stretches of the Sun Link streetcar route, as well as busy Oracle Road and Stone Avenue. According to city documents, the infill incentive district has created any number of walkable streetscape designs, the protection of historic structures, and put in place design standards allowing for a “smooth transition between new development and buildings next door.” City officials are hoping a series of public input meetings will lead to policy and procedure updates to the incentive district before its scheduled late January sunset date. In a just-released report, the Multi Housing News lists the pros and cons of the infill development movement nationally, but notes that most cities have supported the trend, arguing that “it helps create affordable and attainable housing, as well as amenities and resources for local populations.” By Garry Boulard ![]() A proposed $2.1 billion entertainment district in Tempe will ultimately be decided upon by voters in a ballot scheduled for this coming May. Members of the Tempe City Council have now voted unanimously to bring the question of the entertainment district before the public as part of a package offered by the Arizona Coyotes hockey team. As proposed, a new 16,000-seat arena would be the centerpiece of any Coyotes facilities plan in Tempe, but so would the building of massive surrounding entertainment district. That district would see the construction of hotels, a theater, and both retail and residential space. Preliminary to the scheduled May 16 special election, the Tempe City Council is also expected to give its approval to a development and disposition agreement, along with a general plan agreement and zoning amendment. By Garry Boulard ![]() The nation’s construction industry saw only marginal employment gains last month, according to a new report just released by the Associated General Contractors of America. And those increases may be primarily due to firms increasingly being forced to draw from a smaller labor pool, continues the report. In a statement, Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of the AGC, remarked: “The construction sector would have added more jobs in October if only firms could find people to bring on board.” Sandherr added that “labor market conditions are so tight, however, that the sector barely increased in size even as demand remains strong for many types of construction projects.” An increase of 1,000 new employees last month, for a total of 7.7 million nationally, saw gains primarily with residential building firms. On the other side of the ledger, jobs were off by 4,000 among specialty trade contractors; and a smaller loss of 400 with heavy and civil construction firms. Pay levels, meanwhile, were up to $35.27 in October, up from the $33.41 recorded in October 2021. Average weekly earnings, at the same time, saw increases of $1,372 last month over $1,296 from October 2021. In a separate collection of figures, the new AGC report also indicates that the number of unemployed construction workers jumped from 398,000 in October 2021, to last month’s 419.000. The AGC has repeatedly urged the Biden Administration and Congress to tackle construction workforce shortages through a number of approaches, including allowing for more workers with construction expertise to lawfully enter the country as a means of providing short-term relief. By Garry Boulard ![]() A more than 120-year-old structure in Colorado that currently serves as the home to the city’s famous Pioneers Museum, is expected to see a series of long-planned upgrades that may begin next year. Located at 15 S. Tejon Stret, the Pioneers Museum is one of the most historically significant buildings in Colorado Springs. Registered with the National Register of Historic Places, the granite building originally served as El Paso County Courthouse. In the late 1970s, it became the home of the Pioneers Museum, and now houses more than 60,000 individual items related to Native American history, as well as artifacts and documents exploring the city’s economically important mining history. City officials say that on top of initial funding to approve structural work to the building, an additional $2.5 million was green-lit earlier this fall to modernize the Pioneers Museum heating and cooling system, as well as the roofing. Work could begin next year on the updating of the structure, a project that may not be completed until the fall of 2023. By Garry Boulard The City of Albuquerque’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency issued a Request for Expressions of Interest to construct new housing projects downtown on Thursday.
According to the request, 50 new housing units in the form of new construction, redevelopment or a mix must be included in proposals by developers for the greater downtown area. The three million in funds would require gap financing structured as equity, loan or grant, said the request. Those proposing the projects would enter future exclusive negotiation agreements with the city where the development process would be directed and financially analyzed. “The City anticipates awarding several projects through this RFP,” said the request. The designated areas include Downtown, East Downtown, Historic Central, Barelas, Sawmill, Railroad, McClellan park, Soldiers and Sailors Park, portions of South Broadway and North Corridor metropolitan redevelopment areas. Projects will be limited to these areas and the required unit count can be met only within three scattered sites. The proposed sites must be in these designated areas where the proposer has site control in the form of a deed or a long-term lease. Evaluation of the projects include a point system which accounts for development experience, environmental sustainability, economic impact and the extent of which it meets housing needs, said the request. On October 17th, Mayor Tim Keller and the city held a press conference announcing a strategic initiative for new housing titled Housing Forward ABQ. The initiative plans to build 5,000 additional housing units using $20 million in gross receipt tax bonds. The optional pre-proposal conference is November 30th, 2022 at 10:00 a.m and can be attended by phone or via Zoom. The deadline for questions is February 17th, 2023 and the deadline to upload proposals electronically is March 3rd, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. By Dane Vaughn |
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