minocquagunclub

[minocquagunclub]

HOUSING SURGE: Austin-area home starts climb about 7% in first quarter

Construction crews work at the Sunfield in Buda development on April 17. Builders in the Austin metro area — which spans from Georgetown to San Marcos — started construction on 4,294 houses from January through March, a 6.9 percent increase from the first quarter of 2018, according to Metrostudy. [BRONTE WITTPENN/AMERICAN-STATESMAN] Hide caption

With strong housing demand continuing in Central Texas, new home starts increased almost 7 percent in the first quarter compared to the first three months of last year, according to new industry data.

Austin-area builders started construction on 4,294 houses from January through March, a 6.9 percent increase from the first quarter of 2018, according to Metrostudy, which tracks the local housing market. Starts were up 22 percent from the fourth quarter of 2018, when Metrostudy’s survey crews recorded 3,513 starts, a revised figure from the 3,488 initially reported.

“All in all, the first quarter was a welcome relief to the industry after a challenging end to 2018,” said Vaike O’Grady, Austin regional director for Metrostudy. The company’s figures cover the five-county Central Texas region that spans from Georgetown to San Marcos.

On an annual basis, for the 12 months that ended in March, builders started work on 16,674 houses, up 1 percent from the prior 12-month period.

The latest quarterly report comes after a year in which Central Texas saw starts climb to their second-highest level on record. Metrostudy’s revised figures for calendar year 2018 came in at 16,398 starts, up from 16,385 in the preliminary count. The peak for a calendar year was in 2006, with 17,784 starts.

More than half of the first-quarter starts were in the $200,000 to $300,000 price segment, the figures show.

The median price for single-family starts in the first quarter was $291,107, up slightly from $290,379 in the same quarter last year.

Mark Sprague, a housing market and financial analyst with Independence Title in Austin, said the latest starts figures “continue to show the strength of the market.

$100,000-$200,000 95 2%

$201,000-$249,000 1,012 24%

$700,000 and up 109 3%

$700,000 and up 354 2%

“Other metros, nationally and regionally, are not having as robust numbers,” Sprague said. “The national housing market may have plateaued for a while, due to lack of job creation. However the regional (Texas) and local housing market will continue to be significantly under supplied due to stronger job creation. There remains enormous levels of demand in the lower to moderate price ranges.”

New home sales slowed late last year due to higher interest rates and a slumping stock market, said Eldon Rude, another Austin-area housing market expert.

“However, with rates falling and the stock market rebounding, prospective homebuyers in Austin were out in force during the first three months of 2019,” said Rude, principal of the Austin-based consulting firm 360° Real Estate Analytics. “Our monthly survey of production builders showed year-to-date sales through March were up 13 percent over last year. If the first three months of the year prove to be a good indicator for the balance of 2019, builders will be in for a better year than they expected.”

A continued lack of developed lots is one of the biggest challenges Austin-area builders face, O’Grady said.

“The price for raw land is very high, and some builders are being forced to pass on opportunities because deals just don’t pencil,” O’Grady said. “Those who opt in are signing up for costly development and construction costs, sometimes exacerbated by lengthy and expensive approvals and permitting times. That makes it tough to meet their target price goals.”

Bryan Havel, division president for William Lyon Homes, said the company saw strong sales in the first quarter, especially for first-time buyer homes priced between $200,000 and $250,000.

“While 2018 was a strong year for Central Texas, 2019 has started even stronger,” Havel said. “With job growth and population growth continuing at a strong pace in Austin, demand for housing remains robust.”

William Lyon Homes, which has been expanding its footprint in Central Texas since purchasing RSI Communities last year, builds in 13 Austin subdivisions. The builder expects to close more than 600 home sales this year in the Austin area.

Last month, William Lyon Homes announced it has purchased 315 acres in Hutto for a master-planned residential development that will have 1,300 homes.

Construction on the yet-to-be-named community, which will be about 2 miles north of downtown Hutto, is expected to begin this summer. Home sales are due to begin in the summer of 2020, with prices starting in the low $200,000s.

Northwest of Austin, sales at the Bryson subdivision in Leander are up 10 percent over this time last year, said Tommy Tucker, vice president and general manager of the 530-acre master-planned community. Just east of U.S. 183A and north of San Gabriel Parkway, Bryson was acquired in February by Houston-based Johnson Development Corp.

“Traffic (at Bryson) has definitely increased in 2019,” Tucker said, noting that young families and empty nesters are among the buyers. “Overall, I believe the Austin region remains strong due to excellent fundamentals including job growth and net migration.”

Five builders are constructing homes priced at about $250,000 and above in Bryson: Brookfield Residential, Chesmar Homes, Lennar, Perry Homes and Scott Felder Homes. Planned for 1,261 homes over time, Bryson to date has had 148 home sales, and another 40 homes are under construction.

The Resmark Companies, a residential real estate investment group based in Los Angeles, entered the Texas homebuilding market in February 2018. Although traffic and sales slowed in the fourth quarter of 2018, “they have rebounded nicely in the first quarter of 2019 heading into the spring and summer selling season,” said Michael Zarola, senior vice president of investments for Resmark’s Land and Housing division.

“The builders with whom we have regular contact report strong net sales and less use of concessions or incentives on appropriately priced new home product,” Zarola said. “We have seen strong activity and continued demand for relatively affordable, entry-level and first move-up new homes that are priced between $200,000 and $400,000 in communities that are within a 30-minute commute to the major employment centers in the metro Austin region. The lot supply for this product remains very low with developers doing their best to keep up with demand and deliver lots to homebuilders.”

Resmark said the demand seen in its new-home communities “has been fueled in large part by the continued migration of young professionals and families relocating to the Austin area from various parts of the country.”

“Builders report that many of their out of state buyers continue to come from all over the country, but predominantly are from California and are involved in the high-tech industry in some capacity,” Zarola said.

The Austin new home market is poised to keep expanding, Zarola said, “with continued employment gains experienced and expected over the next several years.”

Source Article

The post HOUSING SURGE: Austin-area home starts climb about 7% in first quarter appeared first on .

Learn More: http://www.vinhttp://www.ee-info.com/feedoprost.com/feedhttp://www.wilberforce2007.com/housing-surge-austin-area-home-starts-climb-about-7-in-first-quarter/

#http://www.soandso.org/feed

[minocquagunclub]

Tampa man hits boss with sledgehammer following argument

DUNEDIN, Fl. — A 34-year-old Tampa man spent the night in the Pinellas County Jail after he allegedly assaulted his boss with a sledgehammer.

Yuniesky Perez Castro is facing one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He is being held on a bond of $10,000.

According to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office report, the defendant was asked by the victim to work late Friday night. Castro became upset and got into a verbal argument with his boss and a co-worker – the incident occurred at approximately 5:30 pm in the 600 block of New York Ave.

Castro picked up an eight-pound sledgehammer and jabbed his supervisor on the right side of his face. The victim suffered bruising and swelling.

Deputies arrived, took statements from the victim and the co-worker and Castro was arrested.

Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Source Article

The post Tampa man hits boss with sledgehammer following argument appeared first on oestsetnochub.

http://www.sg1italy.net/feed Learn More: http://www.oestsetnochub.com/tampa-man-hits-boss-with-sledgehammer-following-argument/

[minocquagunclub]

‘Women In Real Estate’ Panel Discussion Set For Austin

Bumble Bizz, REthink Real Estate to stage interactive panel/discussion with some top women real estate agents. (Image via Shutterstock )

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Bumble Bizz and REthink Real Estate later this month will present Women in Real Estate, an interactive panel and discussion with some of Austin’s top women in the industry.

The event is scheduled on Tuesday, April 30, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the The Riveter Austin, 1145 W. 5th St. Panelists’ focus will be on commercial real estate with insights into how they are breaking the mold in a male-dominated industry.

Scheduled panelists include:

Lindsay Fierro, Senior Vice President at NAI Global;Margo Pflum: Vice President, Property Management, Endeavor;Laura Gottesman- Managine Broker, Gottesman Residential Real Estate;Emily Sanders, Account Executive at REthink CRM.

The panel discussion will be moderated by Priti Joshi, Global Director of Strategy at Bumble. Organizers urge attendees to show their Bumble app to attend and enjoy complimentary headshots, snacks from FitJoy and one-of-a-kind cocktails featuring The Glenlivet scotch whisky, served up by Sourced Craft Cocktails.

Bumble is a location-based social and dating application that facilitates communication among users seeking a match. The service distinguishes itself in enabling only female users to make the first contact with matched male users. Either party among those seeking same-sex matches via the app can send initial messages.

The upcoming panel discussion comes on the heels of a Seek Capital study that ranked Austin second among major U.S. metros with the most female startup businesses. The dominant field among that segment locally was found to be real estate.

Source Article

The post ‘Women In Real Estate’ Panel Discussion Set For Austin appeared first on .

Learn More: http://www.vinhttp://www.ee-info.com/feedoprost.com/feedhttp://www.wilberforce2007.com/women-in-real-estate-panel-discussion-set-for-austin/

#http://www.soandso.org/feed

[minocquagunclub]

Tampa Prepares For Another Bolts Stanley Cup Run

Thunderbug helps unfurl the Lightning banner on Tampa City Hall. (City of Tampa)

TAMPA, FL — Lightning pride abounds as the team prepares for the first series of Stanley Cup Playoffs Wednesday.

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and former Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier were on hand Monday to watch as the "Congratulations, Go Bolts" banner was hung on City Hall with the help of Tampa Fire Rescue’s ladder truck and the team’s mascot, Thunderbug.

Buckhorn recalled the feeling of pride he had last year when he first unveiled the Lightning banner as the team headed into the 2018 playoffs.

"This is the last time I get to do that, but I think this might be the most special time because I think we are on verge of an amazing run through the playoffs," said Buckhorn.

Lecavalier echoed those sentiments.

Subscribe

"They have a great coach; got a great team around them and great players," he said.

Once again, Tampa Bay is about to come down with Lightning fever as the Bolts host Game 1 at Amalie Arena Wednesday at 7 p.m. against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Prior to the game, the evening will start with a free concert in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park featuring the Grammy-winning band, Cage the Elephant. The concert begins at 5:15 p.m. and is free.

After the concert, the Tampa Bay Lightning will host a watch party at the park featuring the live game broadcast, entertainment, giveaways, food trucks and games.

Fans with tickets to the game can participate in the "Route to the Rink," a pep rally walk along the Tampa Riverwalk from Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park to Amalie Arena.

Here is the schedule of games:

Game 1 – Wed, 7 p.m. (USA)Game 2 – Friday, 7 p.m. (CNBC)Game 3 – Sunday, April 14 at 7 p.m. @ CBJ (NBCSN)Game 4 – Tuesday, April 16 at 7 p.m. @ CBJ (CNBC)*Game 5 – Friday, April 19, To Be Announed (TBD) *Game 6 – Sunday, April 21, TBA @ CBJ (TBD)*Game 7- Tuesday, April 23, TBA (TBD)

*If necessary

For playoff tickets, visit the Lightning website or call the ticket office at 813-301-2500.

Source Article

The post Tampa Prepares For Another Bolts Stanley Cup Run appeared first on oestsetnochub.

http://www.sg1italy.net/feed Learn More: http://www.oestsetnochub.com/tampa-prepares-for-another-bolts-stanley-cup-run/

[minocquagunclub]

TX red light camera fines: to pay or not to pay

AUSTIN (KXAN) – There are more than 100 Texas lawmakers working to pull the plug on Texas red light cameras. The effort to strip the only enforcement element from the camera law passed the House Transportation Committee Thursday.

Rep. Cole Hefner’s, R-Mount Pleasant, House Bill 901 would ban cities with red light camera tickets from using the “Scofflaw” program to block vehicle owners’ registration renewals for failing to pay a red-light camera ticket fine. The current red-light camera law does not allow law enforcement to sign a warrant for failing to pay one of these fines.

The current law only allows cities to contract with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to block vehicle registrations for failing to pay these tickets.

Hefner’s bill passed the committee with no amendments and could be headed to the House floor for debate before the end of the session.

But in our investigation of Texas cities with red light camera programs, we found more than half of those cities don’t have contracts with TxDMV to hold registrations.

Meaning, if you decide to not pay a fine in those cities, those cities can’t touch your vehicle registration.

Data provided to KXAN through an open records act shows only 23 Texas cities have a current red light camera Scofflaw contract with the DMV.

The city of Austin is one of those cities that has no way to enforce the 93,000 tickets its issued drivers since nine cameras went up in 2009. In an email sent to KXAN on Friday, the city’s municipal court confirmed the data we obtained from the DMV: the city’s never blocked a vehicle registration over a red light camera ticket.

The reason: the city doesn’t have the authority to do so.

Police departments with the red light cameras contend the cameras make intersections safer and save lives.

"The fact that we’re not doing it now doesn’t mean it won’t happen,” Austin Police Department Sgt. Michael Barger told KXAN. Barger was unaware the city did not have a contract with the DMV to withhold registrations.

23 Texas cities with active TxDMV red light camera Scofflaw contracts

Barger was concerned that stripping the Scofflaw component from the law would give cities, like his, no way to punish drivers for breaking the law. “"If they figure out that you’re not going to do anything about it, then they won’t pay it. Eventually we may go back and have the ability to collect on those with a future law, you never know. But as it stands right now, we’re not doing it.”

The city’s issued more than $7 million in fines since 2009. Many people paid their fines, but city court records show many have not.

The latest city to add red light cameras is Leon Valley, which is a small municipality inside the San Antonio city limits. In 2018, Leon Valley installed red light cameras at 36 intersections and collected more than $1.6 million dollars last year.

Leon Valley Police Chief Joe Salvaggio told the House Transportation Committee two weeks ago, banning red light cameras would be a risk to public safety. Salvaggio has indicated his city was blocking vehicle registrations in the past.

"But to say you don’t have to pay it, you won’t be able to get your vehicle registered when you go to the State of Texas, any of those locations to pay your registration. They won’t register it as long as you have outstanding citations, so it’s in your best interest to pay the violation or even better, not to commit the crime,” KENS in San Antonio quoted Salvaggio as saying in an interview in December.

But our analysis of DMV records show Leon Valley does not have a Scofflaw contract with the DMV and cannot legally block a vehicle registration over an unpaid red light camera ticket.

“You’ve said in the past that you guys will block registrations. The DMV tells us you don’t have a contract to do that," KXAN Investigator Jody Barr asked Salvaggio at the Capitol in March. "No, we don’t have a contract with Scofflaw right now,” Salvaggio said. “We haven’t installed it yet.”

“Our intention is to eventually go down that road, but I’ll tell you the good part about that is 69% of the people have paid their tickets. They know they’ve done wrong and they want to atone for that and so, I don’t need Scofflaw to tell somebody you’ve done wrong even if that person doesn’t pay the ticket and they really realize from now on, I’m not going to run that stop light — I’ve won. I got what I wanted and that is to correct that behavior and not do it again,” Salvaggio told KXAN.

APD Sgt. Michael Barger issued a warning to those who might choose not to pay an Austin red light camera ticket,” Take advantage of something that we’re not doing, it may change the way that we do things."

Source Article

The post TX red light camera fines: to pay or not to pay appeared first on .

Learn More: http://www.vinhttp://www.ee-info.com/feedoprost.com/feedhttp://www.wilberforce2007.com/tx-red-light-camera-fines-to-pay-or-not-to-pay/

#http://www.soandso.org/feed

[minocquagunclub]

Legendary NFL Quarterback Vinny Testaverde’s Lake-Front Estate Near Tampa, Florida is Headed to Auction

The ultra-luxurious estate overlooks Lake Keystone on six acres of private, manicured grounds. The home spans over 12,700 square feet with six bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, and four half bathrooms. Evan Pedone with Engel & Völkers Madeira Beach is joining forces with American Heritage Auctioneers to sell Lake Keystone property.

“We are creating an event like no other, where affluent buyers can tour and bid on this magnificent, one-of-a kind property," said Evan Pedone, Luxury Real Estate Advisor with Engel and Völkers.

"We are pulling out all the stops and will have an elegant auction event with h’ordevus, a harpist, and champagne. It will be a truly special night," said Mike Peters, owner of American Heritage Auctioneers.

“The Testaverdes chose to pursue an auction event to minimize the inconveniences of showing and selling a home while balancing a busy lifestyle,” said Pedone. “The Testverde’s have enjoyed over 10 years in the home and raised their children there. Now, with the majority of their children grown, they feel it is time to begin their next chapter.”

The estate features a bright open floorplan, great room with coffered ceiling and gas fireplace, chef’s kitchen, sun room, master bedroom with private terrace and en-suite bath, office, movie theater, dance studio, game room, billiard room with bar, wine cellar, sauna and full-size gym with an adjacent kitchen.

The grounds feature a heated pool and spa with outdoor kitchen, tennis/basketball court, private golf simulation room, boat house on the pristine waters of Lake Keystone, dock with lift, four car garage, brick paved driveway with private gate and is zoned to accommodate equestrian interests.

“My advice to any affluent buyer who is looking from Sarasota to Tampa, is to take a moment, and tour this property, because I believe you will be astounded at what it has to offer. Whether you are into water skiing on Lake Keystone, hosting your own private tennis tournament, or horseback riding within your gated estate, this property has it all, and more," said Pedone.

"The attention to detail and the quality of workmanship in this home is second to none. Now we are going to open it up to a wide spectrum of potential buyers. They will undoubtedly see the amazing value this estate offers, and will bid accordingly. May the highest bid win," said Peters.

The estate was purchased by Testaverde in 2007. That same year, he retired, after a career that spanned an impressive 21 seasons. Testaverde played for seven NFL teams including Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers. The home underwent a $1 million restoration and renovation in 2018.

Source Article

The post Legendary NFL Quarterback Vinny Testaverde’s Lake-Front Estate Near Tampa, Florida is Headed to Auction appeared first on oestsetnochub.

http://www.sg1italy.net/feed Learn More: http://www.oestsetnochub.com/legendary-nfl-quarterback-vinny-testaverdes-lake-front-estate-near-tampa-florida-is-headed-to-auction/

[minocquagunclub]

Endeavor Real Estate Group and MetLife Investment Management Break Ground on New Mixed-Use Tower

Endeavor Real Estate Group and joint venture partner MetLife Investment Management (MIM), MetLife Inc.’s MET, -3.31% institutional asset management business, have broken ground on a 30-story mixed-use tower in the Rainey Street District.

The Quincy will include:

Ground-level retail with separate, dedicated residential and office lobbies. The retail space totals approximately 10,360 square feet and includes one level of below-grade parking. Seven floors of above-grade parking, including an office parking ratio of up to three spaces per 1,000 square feet. Three floors of Class A office space, totaling approximately 77,540 square feet. Features include outdoor terraces with lake views, secured bike storage, a dedicated ground floor lobby separate from the residential tower, and showers on every floor. 19 floors of residential units, with a total of 347 apartment homes for lease. Resort-style amenities designed to take full advantage of the outdoors, including: a lush terrace complete with a pool, firepit, cabanas, observation deck and an exercise lawn. Coupled with a 30th floor indoor/outdoor sky deck overlooking Lady Bird Lake, there will be a dog grooming spa, sports lounge, media room, large co-working space and business center, ample package lockers, as well as a lounge to serve as a waiting area for transportation networking companies like Uber and Lyft.

The Quincy is anticipated to open in the first quarter of 2021, with market analysts noting that the tower will be the first in the Rainey Street district to combine retail, office and residential uses all in one building within that district. The entire building will merit two stars from the Austin Energy Green Building rating system.

“The Rainey Street District has evolved into a thriving, organic, walkable neighborhood full of unique bars, restaurants, hotels and housing adjacent to Lady Bird Lake on the hike and bike trail. The Quincy will weave nicely into the fabric of the neighborhood and establish a new front door to the district,” said Jamil Alam, managing principal for Endeavor.

Kurt Day, managing director, Real Estate, MetLife Investment Management said: “Since first investing in the downtown Austin market more than 30 years ago, we have continued to see the city evolve into an attractive convergence market. This partnership opportunity with Endeavor on The Quincy pulls together many of our favorite traits about mixed-use developments, and we are excited about contributing to the evolution of the Rainey Street district.”

The Quincy’s site on Red River Street is bounded by Driskill Street to the north and Davis Street to the south, where two parking lots presently reside. Nearby, a new Whole Foods Market is slated for Saltillo, another Endeavor project, located between 4th and 5th Streets, along IH-35. Even closer are the Austin Convention Center and two major hotels, Hotel Van Zandt and Fairmont Austin. Some of the region’s hottest restaurants, like El Naranjo, Emmer & Rye, and Iron Works Barbecue, are a short walk away. Additionally, the site offers immediate access to Lady Bird Lake – along with its renown Ann and Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail.

Ziegler Cooper Architects designed the 360-foot-tall tower, while Kimley Horn is serving as the project’s engineer, Brockette Drake Davis is acting as the structural engineer and Blum Consulting Engineers is acting as the MEP engineer. IBC Bank is the lender on the project and Rogers-O’Brien Construction Company Ltd. has been brought on to serve as general contractor. Endeavor will handle retail and office leasing for the project.

About MetLife Investment Management

MetLife Investment Management, MetLife, Inc.’s institutional asset management platform, is a global fixed income and real estate manager providing differentiated investment solutions to institutional investors worldwide. MetLife Investment Management provides institutional investors including corporate and government pension plans, insurance companies and other financial institutions with long-term public and private investment and financing solutions, and leverages a disciplined credit research and underwriting process to provide institutional investors with asset origination and acquisition opportunities and proprietary risk management analytics across public fixed income strategies, private placements, and commercial real estate debt and equity investing, among others. For more information, visit https://investments.metlife.com.

About MetLife

MetLife, Inc. MET, -3.31% through its subsidiaries and affiliates (MetLife), is one of the world’s leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.

About Endeavor Real Estate Group

Based in Austin, Texas, Endeavor Real Estate Group is a full-service commercial real estate firm that enhances value with a creative approach to investment, design, management, and leasing of retail, office, industrial, self-storage, mixed-used and multifamily properties. Endeavor is committed to sustainable, meaningful and high-quality projects that enhance the surrounding communities and exceed stakeholder expectations. Since opening its doors in 1999, Endeavor has acquired or developed more than 15.8 million square feet of realized real estate projects; has more than 8 million square feet of office, industrial and retail space under management; and over 3.4 million square feet currently under construction.

Noteworthy Greater Austin projects include: Saltillo, Domain NORTHSIDE, Southpark Meadows, 1890 Ranch, The Parke, Belterra Village, IBC Bank Plaza, Champion Office Park, Rollingwood Center, The Bowie, and 901 E 6th. Endeavor has projects in development in Houston, Denver, Fort Worth and Nashville, TN – including 1200 Broadway and Phase-one of Gulch Union, a 20-story, Class AA building with 330,000 square feet of office and retail space. Endeavor was named to redevelop The Austin-American Statesman site south of downtown Austin on Lady Bird Lake and the Austin Business Journal ranked the company as the region’s top developer on its 2014-2018 lists. For more information, visit: endeavor-re.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain or refer to forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give expectations or forecasts of the future using terms such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “will,” and other terms tied to future periods. Results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and expectations. They involve risks and uncertainties, including the “Risk Factors” MetLife, Inc. describes in its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The company has no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement. Parts of this news release may include additional information on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: MetLife Inc.

James Murphy MetLife Investment Management [phone]

Copyright Business Wire 2019

Source Article

The post Endeavor Real Estate Group and MetLife Investment Management Break Ground on New Mixed-Use Tower appeared first on .

Learn More: http://www.vinhttp://www.ee-info.com/feedoprost.com/feedhttp://www.wilberforce2007.com/endeavor-real-estate-group-and-metlife-investment-management-break-ground-on-new-mixed-use-tower/

#http://www.soandso.org/feed

[minocquagunclub]

Florida cities top rates of vacant houses in U.S., study finds. Where does Orlando rank?

A study shows that Miami, Orlando and Tampa have the greatest amount of vacant houses of all cities in the country. (Orlando Sentinel)

The most common bird in Florida might just be the snowbird evident in the high, vacant-housing rates seen in three of the Sunshine State’s cities, according to an article by the Daily Mail.

Miami, Orlando and Tampa were the top three cities listed in a study detailing the top 50 cities with the highest, vacant-housing rates, the article showed.

High vacancy can result from economic indicators, such as the availability of more affordable homes, many residences are buying second-home getaways or that property values are plummeting, according to the Daily Mail.

Miami had nearly 430,000 unoccupied homes, with 17 percent of its total homes vacant.

Orlando had about 160,000, with 16 percent vacant.

Tampa (213,000) had more homes vacant than Orlando, but 15 percent of its total homes went unoccupied.

San Jose, California, made the bottom of the list with 28,000 vacant homes.

Read the full report at the Daily Mail.

[email protected], 407-420-5268, @JoeMarPedersen on Twitter or @JoeMarioPedersenJournals on Facebook

Source Article

The post Florida cities top rates of vacant houses in U.S., study finds. Where does Orlando rank? appeared first on oestsetnochub.

http://www.sg1italy.net/feed Learn More: http://www.oestsetnochub.com/florida-cities-top-rates-of-vacant-houses-in-u-s-study-finds-where-does-orlando-rank/

[minocquagunclub]

The new Iowa? 2020 presidential candidates descend on Austin for SXSW conference

AUSTIN, Texas — Is Austin the new Iowa?

Long known as an interactive-music-film annual gathering that helped launch tech titans Twitter and Foursquare, the SXSW Conference and Festivals this year is jammed with political panels, speeches and documentaries and has become a must-attend venue for 2020 presidential hopefuls.

Scheduled to attend the nine-day Austin conference, which opens Friday: Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota, and Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts; former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro; House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. All but McCarthy, a Republican and a supporter of President Donald Trump’s, have declared an interest in running in next year’s presidential election.

President Obama speaks at the opening keynote of the 2016 South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

(Photo: Neilson Barnard, Getty Images for SXSW)

Also attending: firebrand Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, who stirred controversy earlier this year by announcing he was seriously considering a run for president as an independent.

"We’ve always tried to showcase what’s going to be important in the next few years," said Hugh Forrest, SXSW’s chief programmer. "Nothing certainly is more important than the 2020 election."

Now in its 33rd year, SXSW started as a small, local music conference and festival and has mushroomed into one of the biggest and most influential gatherings on the planet, drawing more than 400,000 total attendees and delivering an economic impact of more than $350 million to the region.

More important for politicians is the social-media reach of its army of tech-savvy, smart-phone-toting attendees, said Mark Jones, a political scientist at Rice University in Houston. The attendees’ predominant demographic — left-leaning millennials — is a key target audience for Democratic candidates hoping to score big in primaries next year. The race kicks off in February, when the Iowa caucuses are expected to mark the first votes of the 2020 presidential election.

Julian Castro, former U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary and San Antonio Mayor announced he was running for president on Jan. 12, 2019.

(Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Getty Images)

Texas and California are seen as the two top prizes for primary vote-getters on Super Tuesday on March 3, 2020, Jones said.

"It’ll be a unique focal point where the left across the United States will be focused on what’s going in Austin," he said of this year’s SXSW. "You most definitely do no want to be absent."

New to the event this year is a two-day roundtable titled “Conversations About America’s Future,” which will feature some of the the country’s top political names, including Klobuchar, Warren and Castro, as well as former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Gov. Bill Weld, a Republican from Massachusetts who plans to run against Trump in the Republican primaries next year. Kasich is also considered to be mulling a primary battle against Trump.

SXSW is a platform not only for candidates to get their message across but also to jump start volunteer efforts, Jones said.

"This is one way to reach out to these people and get your name out there," Jones said. "It also gets them on your side on the ground in their home states."

Democratic Senator of Minnesota Amy Klobuchar announces that she is running for President of the United States on Feb. 10, 2019.

SXSW has long welcomed politicians to its events, dating back to former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, who gave a keynote speech at the 1993 conference, Forrest said. Former President Barack Obama held a widely-watched keynote conversation with Evan Smith, chief executive and editor-in-chief of the Texas Tribune, at the conference three years ago. Former vice president — and potential presidential hopeful next year — Joe Biden previously attended, as did Ocasio-Cortez and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is running for president for a second time in 2020.

But the increased attention on politics and the sheer number of marquee politicians is unique to this year’s conference, Forrest said.

"We’ve seen more politicians each year," he said, "but 2019 will take that to a new level."

Chris Lippincott, an Austin-based political consultant who began attending SXSW in the mid-1990s, said he remembers when the annual event mostly meant catching out-of-town bands in bars along Sixth Street, Austin’s entertainment district.

Over the years, he’s watched the gathering morph into a tech-driven event, a draw for corporate leaders and, increasingly, a be-seen political meetup.

"SXSW is a lot like Austin: It is constantly growing and changing," Lippincott said.

He added: "Politics has become something we, as a society, cannot help but talk about. In that respect, it’s a perfect fit for SXSW."

Even those not on the official agenda this year will make their presence felt. El Paso native and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who narrowly lost a Senate race last year to Republican Ted Cruz, will be the subject of a documentary, "Running With Beto," which will screen at the festival.

They’ll still be plenty of non-political, traditional SXSW fare, such as panels dissecting digital distrust and discussions on artificial intelligence. Jordan Peele’s "Us" — the next film following his blockbuster first effort, "Get Out" — will have its world premiere Friday at SXSW.

But the heavy political influence is evident throughout the schedule.

Former Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner will attend in his new role as a cannabis-industry lobbyist. He’ll be on a panel discussing paths to legalizing marijuana and hurdles the fledgling cannabis industry still faces.

CNN anchor Jake Tapper and chief political correspondent Dana Bash plan to moderate a panel with three presidential candidates: Rep. John Delaney, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Buttigieg, who has attended SXSW before, said he’s not surprised to see so many politicians lining up to attend the conference. The tech world is increasingly tied to the country’s economic and political future, he said, and he looks forward to swapping ideas with some of the top political minds in the U.S. That, and scoring some grilled meat from Austin’s iconic lunch spot, Franklin’s Barbecue, he said.

"Increasingly, what’s happening in tech cannot be uncoupled from what’s happening in policy and politics," Buttigieg said. "You realize just how central these spheres are to one another’s future."

Follow Jervis on Twitter: @MrRJervis.

Source Article

The post The new Iowa? 2020 presidential candidates descend on Austin for SXSW conference appeared first on .

Learn More: http://www.vinhttp://www.ee-info.com/feedoprost.com/feedhttp://www.wilberforce2007.com/the-new-iowa-2020-presidential-candidates-descend-on-austin-for-sxsw-conference/

#http://www.soandso.org/feed

[minocquagunclub]

​Pollack Shores Announces Plans To Develop Apartments In Largo

(Pollack Shores)

LARGO, FL — Multifamily developer Pollack Shores Real Estate Group of Atlanta, George, has announced plans to develop a 224-unit apartment community in Largo.

Named The Rosery, the community will rise near the intersection of Rosery Road and Clearwater-Largo Road, offering street-side retail, public art, connectivity to the Pinellas Trail and a wide array of amenities.

"The Rosery is the first of its kind in the Largo community, offering residents a luxury apartment home with direct access to popular outdoor amenities," said Steven Shores, president and CEO of Pollack Shores Real Estate Group. "We have designed an active, communal environment delivering in-demand walkable access to unique retail, new culinary concepts and the Pinellas Trail. The team is excited to get this project off the ground, and will continue to seek similar opportunities to expand our portfolio in Central Florida."

Groundbreaking will occur in April with the first units set to deliver in summer 2020. The Rosery will feature walk-out patios on first-floor apartment homes, along with a direct connection to the Pinellas Trail, the 38-mile walking and biking rail trail that stretches from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs.

"The Rosery will be Pollack Shores’ second project in Largo after our successful development and sale of Gateway North on Roosevelt Boulevard," said Brian Oates, managing director of Pollack Shores. "With recent reports showing year-to-year rent growth of almost 3 percent, the entire Tampa Bay area continues to outpace most other U.S. metropolitan areas in the multifamily arena. We’re eager to work alongside the Largo neighborhood once again."

In the next five years, Central Florida is expected to have 850,000 job openings, with 78,000 of those being new positions in health care, corporate office services, tourism, retail services and the construction trades.

"This area has quickly emerged as one of the most desirable locales in the Tampa Bay area," said Anthony Everett, director of Central Florida for Pollack Shores. "The Rosery will draw a mix of young professionals and active adults seeking to live in a walkable, urban-style environment. We look forward to welcoming our future residents and becoming part of this vibrant neighborhood."

The project will have a prominent public plaza at the corner of Rosery and Clearwater-Largo Road that will host public art displays and other pedestrian-focused activities. Other amenities include a resort-style pool, outdoor seating area, fire pit, hammock garden and club room with an Internet café.

The Rosery apartments will offer a variety of floor plans for one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes ranging from 688 to 1,372 square feet. Each unit will feature plank flooring, stainless steel appliances, modern cabinetry and doors, new light fixtures, granite counter tops and large front porches and walk-out patios.

Known for acquiring, developing, managing and investing in best-in-class multifamily communities, Pollack Shores is currently active in Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, South Florida, Raleigh, Charlotte, Charleston, Dallas, Austin, Nashville and Richmond. The firm is also the parent company of property management firm Matrix Residential, which has nearly 31,000 units under management across eight states.

(For more local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

Source Article

The post ​Pollack Shores Announces Plans To Develop Apartments In Largo appeared first on oestsetnochub.

http://www.sg1italy.net/feed Learn More: http://www.oestsetnochub.com/%e2%80%8bpollack-shores-announces-plans-to-develop-apartments-in-largo/

[minocquagunclub]

Fort Hood families slam management for dreadful housing conditions

AUSTIN, Texas — Town-hall meetings this week have revealed the poor state of housing conditions for Fort Hood soldiers and their families, who complained about mold issues, lead paint and roach infestations.

The meetings come as military money is in danger of being shifted to the construction of a wall along the U.S. southern border after the declaration of a national emergency.

Army leaders described “unacceptable” conditions in the meetings Thursday and Friday, following a congressional hearing last week on the problems at private housing across the country.

Residents accused management of glossing over issues by painting over mold, ignoring work orders and performing inadequate repairs. Many said their frequent requests to fix leaks and ventilation caused them to move off post.

The military homes are managed by Australian firm Lend Lease. But similar complaints were also raised about the 141 government-owned barracks that house thousands of soldiers.

A soldier’s spouse said her daughter had to be taken to the Fort Hood hospital after falling through a defective window screen. Another said Lend Lease management took months to repair water leaking into her bedroom.

“When my downstairs bedroom stopped working, they came and removed the toilet and didn’t come back until four months later,” said resident Kayla Palmer. “I hounded housing about it every month.”

“My friend’s roof was being replaced and someone fell through and landed on her couch, creating a big hole in the ceiling,” said resident Emily Ngo. “It’s been three months since it has happened and no one has come out to fix it.”

Another woman said she was told it would take 10 days before someone would come to fix her faucet that won’t turn off. Others said rain would pour in their windows when it rained, flooding their home. They allege management told them to simply put towels down.

Lend Lease project director Mack Quinney said 29 Fort Hood homes had tested positive for lead paint, and mold and pest issues were part of a wider problem with military housing nationwide.

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan told reporters military housing would likely be protected in the event of tapping into military construction funds to build a border wall, the Military Times reported. But no decisions on the $3.6 billion in military construction funds tapped for President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration have been made yet.

Army officials vowed to address the issues and concerns of military families, saying real changes will be made.

“We will be transparent about it,” said Fort Hood Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk. “This is about communication and trust.”

Source Article

The post Fort Hood families slam management for dreadful housing conditions appeared first on .

Learn More: http://www.vinhttp://www.ee-info.com/feedoprost.com/feedhttp://www.wilberforce2007.com/fort-hood-families-slam-management-for-dreadful-housing-conditions/

#http://www.soandso.org/feed

[minocquagunclub]

Tampa City Hall seeks developers for 18 acres a block from the Hillsborough River

Tampa City Hall on Tuesday issued a request for proposals for two pieces of city property totaling 18 acres. The blue area, with an address of 2301 N Oregon Ave., consists of some youth baseball diamonds that are being moved to a new home in the West River redevelopment project. The pink area, at 2609 N Rome Ave., once was the site of a city utility truck and maintenance yard. (Rendering via city of Tampa)

TAMPA — Tampa City Hall has 18 acres of land a block from the Hillsborough River just north of downtown, and on Tuesday it invited developments to bring forth their best ideas and best offers.

“Three years in the making, these parcels are a blank canvas and will be transformative for the west side of the river,” Mayor Bob Buckhorn said in announcing the request for proposals. "I have no doubt that when completed this will be a destination for those flocking to Tampa to enjoy and for residents to treasure.”

The city is seeking proposals for two parcels west of the river, south of Columbus Drive and north of Spruce Street. One consists of the city’s old utility maintenance yard at 2609 N Rome Avenue. The other includes some ball fields at 2301 N Oregon Ave., that are being relocated as part of the larger West River development.

West River is a joint effort between the Tampa Housing Authority and the Related Group of Florida, based in Miami, to redevelop 44 acres that once were home to the now-demolished North Boulevard Homes public housing complex. Together, the housing authority and related are developing 676 mixed-income apartments, condominiums or other types of housing in five projects with a total investment of more than $121 million. Plans call for a total of 1,600 residences — half of them renting or selling at market prices and half of them consisting of subsidized affordable or workforce housing — plus hotels, retail and office space.

Buckhorn said developing the city’s land will complement the redevelopment of the North Boulevard Homes property "in a neighborhood that has provided Tampa with its diversity and rich history for decades." The city’s land is in the West Tampa Community Redevelopment Area, is part of a qualified Opportunity Zone, and may be eligible for tax credits offered to help pay for the cleanup of former industrial "brownfield" areas.

This is the most recent piece of vacant or unused city-owned land that Buckhorn has sought to redevelop. Similar requests in the past have resulted in the creation of Ulele in the city’s century-old water works building, Le Méridien Hotel in the old federal courthouse on N Florida Avenue, a new Harpoon Harry’s Crab House restaurant to the former home of the Tampa Bay History Center at the Tampa Convention Center, new apartments to Ybor City and, last week, a ground-breaking for a new dual-branded Hyatt tower next to City Hall.

Buckhorn has talked about the Rome Avenue equipment yard, which is just a block from the river, as a good spot for mid-rise apartments, but the city says in its request for proposals that it wants to encourage mixed-use and is open to residential, office, retail and hotel development. So it says it is looking for developers who have good finances, experience with those types of projects and an ability to exercise "architectural sensitivity to the proposed site" and how it relates to surrounding neighborhoods.

"A workforce housing component is strongly encouraged," the request says. Proposals are due to City Hall by 4 p.m. March 20. To see the proposals, go to tampagov.net/economic-and-urban-development and click on "Request for proposals."

MORE: Go here for more Business News

Contact Richard Danielson at [email protected] or [phone]. Follow @Danielson_Times

Source Article

The post Tampa City Hall seeks developers for 18 acres a block from the Hillsborough River appeared first on oestsetnochub.

http://www.sg1italy.net/feed Learn More: http://www.oestsetnochub.com/tampa-city-hall-seeks-developers-for-18-acres-a-block-from-the-hillsborough-river/

[minocquagunclub]

Central Florida Apartments Command $50M

The Park at Palazzo

Blue Roc Premier has acquired Victoria Landing, a 352-unit multifamily community in Lakeland, Fla., from Mercury Investment, for $50 million. The deal was facilitated by Cushman & Wakefield. The property was rebranded as The Park at Palazzo after the sale.

“Right now, this type of property is highly sought after by investors,” Luis Elorza, Cushman & Wakefield’s senior director capital markets group in Florida, told MHN. “There’s a great deal of interest in value-add properties right now and there are value-add opportunities with properties built in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. There is very strong interest in all of those.”

Since the property was built in 2007, Elorza noted that it’s on the newer end of the value space. “It has the bones of a newer property but it allows a new owner, with a reasonable amount of capital, to step in and make it compete with newly built property,” he said. “That created a very strong interest in the property.”

Amenities Second to None

Located at 3685 Victoria Manor Drive, The Park at Palazzo offers one-, two- and three-bedroom units with an average size of 1,089 square feet. Units boast walk-in closets, full-size washers and dryers, garden tubs, ceramic tile and some units have detached garages, microwaves, dens and walk-in showers.

“This property has over-the-top amenities,” Elorza said. “It has a full air-conditioned basketball court, an amazing fitness center and pool area. When it was built, it was a trend setter in high-level amenities.”

There’s also a business center, sand volleyball court, car care facility, gaming room with a billiards table, a yoga/meditation room, two dog parks and a pet washing station.

Mercury Investment acquired the property in April of 2014, and Elorza served as the broker for that deal as well.

“The strong interest in this deal stems from its location—it’s in between Tampa and Orlando, both highly sought after right now,” Elorza said. “The property is just off Interstate 4 with good drive times to both cities. Lakeland has great access to Orlando and Tampa and benefits from proximity to both areas as well.”

The garden-style property was 98 percent leased at the time of sale. Mercury Investment had done some improvements when needed to maintain the property during its ownership, but the buyer has a core-related value-add plan ready to go.

“The owner was very familiar with the market and when you are selling to someone who knows the market and owns in the market, it is a clear indication of the value in that market,” Elorza said.

Joining Elorza on the deal were Cushman & Wakefield’s Brad Capas and Robert Given.

In September, Blue Roc Premier listed The Park at Ravenna, a 242,490-square-foot apartment community in Tampa for sale.

Image courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield

Source Article

The post Central Florida Apartments Command $50M appeared first on oestsetnochub.

http://www.sg1italy.net/feed Learn More: http://www.oestsetnochub.com/central-florida-apartments-command-50m/

[minocquagunclub]

Austin Is Nation’s 9th Best City To Have A Roommate

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Austin is the ninth best place in the country to have a roommate, according to a recent study.

To live in a thriving city like Austin, it sometimes helps to have a roommate. It can drive down one’s cost of living while making recurring bills — monthly car payments and the like — easier to manage. There are drawbacks too, such as potential conflicts and loss of privacy in sharing one’s intimate living spaces with others.

Either way, MagnifyMoney took a look at the city’s biggest cities in analyzing the best cities in which to have a roommate, and Austin made it to the top ten. The study looked at the nation’s 50 largest metro areas, examining the percentage of housing units with two or more bedrooms and the percentage of adults who have roommates. The website also looked at the economic impact of sharing a home, such as the percentage of median earnings saved by roommates living in a roommate in a two-bedroom apartment.

Overall, here’s how Austin fared:

Final score: 59.Number of adults who have roommates: 8.3 percent.Percentage of housing units with two or more bedrooms: 81.9 percent.Percentage of median earnings saved by living with a roommate: 13.8 percent.Monthly dollar difference between one person in a studio/ 1 bedroom and two people sharing two bedrooms: $458.Percentage of median earnings saved for each additional occupied bedroom: 2.5 percent.Monthly cost savings for each additional occupied bedroom: $82.

Here are other key takeaways from elsewhere in the country:

San Jose, Calif. (better known as the heart of Silicon Valley) earns the no. 1 spot on our list of best places to live with roommates with a final score of 73.4, on a scale of 0 to 100. Rents are high enough to offset the metro’s higher than average incomes and living with roommates is a popular choice. San Jose also topped our list of the biggest millennial boomtowns. Orlando, Fla. comes in second with a final score of 63.6, thanks mostly to low incomes relative to rental prices and a dearth of one-bedroom and studio apartments. The combination of those factors drives renters to seek out home-sharing situations. Washington, D.C. comes in third with a final score of 62.7. Interestingly, the economics of home sharing in The District were better than in Orlando, despite its lower ranking. The monthly cost difference between a single renter in a studio or a one-bedroom unit and two people paying for a two-bedroom unit was $748 in Washington, D.C., compared with $470 in Orlando, according to the findings. That means roommates in D.C. saved 2.4% of their median earnings for each additional occupied bedroom, more than the 1.9% savings that Orlando residents achieved, the study reveals. San Francisco makes the list of better roommate markets, with a score of 56.2. Don’t let its 11th-place finish fool you, however. The returns of roommate living are competitive with top-finisher San Jose. San Francisco roommate renters can save 3.2% of median earnings for every additional occupied bedroom, just behind San Jose. But roommates there save $136 a month for each additional occupied bedroom, the second highest in the study, after San Jose.

In compiling the study, researchers took various factors into account:

The percentage of adults who live with roommates. More people having roommates means that residents think there’s an advantage to it. It also suggests that the market does not present major hurdles to finding future roommates, as life shifts.The percentage of housing units that have at least 2 bedrooms. In some metros, people looking for one-bedroom or studio apartments may have a hard time finding them. Think of Houston, with such a high percentage of housing units that have more than two bedrooms! This housing setup often means that renters face having to pay more for space than they need. The flip side is that more homes with two or more bedrooms make it easier to find shareable living space.The percentage of median earnings that locals can save by evenly splitting the costs of a 2-bedroom instead of renting a 1-bedroom or studio. This is an important metric in the study, because sharing the burden of housing costs is a major motivation for some renters to look for roommates. Rents vary across metros, but so do median earnings; $1,000 rent in one market could be easier to manage in some places than $800 rent is in others. To account for that, we compared the dollar savings of splitting median two-bedroom rent to median earnings.The percentage of median earnings that locals can save by renting more bedrooms to bring in more roommates. This is similar to the metric above, but for this we calculated the average differences between three, four,and five bedroom apartments split between three, four and five roommates. Then we compared that with the cost of a two-bedroom apartment split by two roommates.

The skinny of our findings? Coastal cities, such as Los Angeles, Orlando, Portland and San Diego found themselves at the top of the charts, the study’s authors noted. Perhaps coincidentally, Washington, D.C., and Seattle also topped their list of the best cities for working women.

Read the full study: https://www.magnifymoney.com/blog/strategies-to-save/the-best-and-worst-metros-to-have-roommates/. For those still in their salad years trying before making it big, you may also be interested in MagnifyMoney’s other study on the best places to live when you’re young and broke. Spoiler alert: Austin did not crack the top ten on that list.

>>> Photo by Tony Cantú/Patch staff

Source Article

The post Austin Is Nation’s 9th Best City To Have A Roommate appeared first on .

Learn More: http://www.vinhttp://www.ee-info.com/feedoprost.com/feedhttp://www.wilberforce2007.com/austin-is-nations-9th-best-city-to-have-a-roommate/

#http://www.soandso.org/feed

[minocquagunclub]

Caisse-backed Avision Young buys Florida real estate business

© 2019 Avison Young (Canada) Inc

Avison Young has acquired Front Street Commercial Real Estate Group, a Gainesville, Florida-based commercial real estate brokerage and property management company.

No financial terms were disclosed.

Avison, a Toronto-based provider of commercial real estate services, said the acquisition brings its U.S. offices to 59 in all. Over the past decade, the company’s worldwide network of offices has grown from 11 to 87.

Last year, Avison secured a $250 million preferred investment from Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. The deal facilitated the exit of Canadian mid-market private equity firm Parallel49 Equity.

PRESS RELEASE

Avison Young acquires Front Street Commercial Real Estate Group, expands presence in North Florida; 26 members join

Nick Banks becomes Principal and Managing Director of new Gainesville office

TORONTO, Jan. 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ – Mark E. Rose, Chair and CEO of Avison Young, the world’s fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm, announced today that it has acquired Gainesville, Florida-based Front Street Commercial Real Estate Group, a full-service commercial real estate brokerage and property management company with operations throughout North Florida.

As a result of the acquisition, Avison Young opens its eighth Florida office, in Gainesville. The newest American office represents Avison Young’s 59th office in the U.S. and an additional step in the firm’s ongoing aggressive growth and expansion strategy. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Effective immediately, Front Street is rebranded as Avison Young and 26 new members join the firm. Nick Banks becomes a Principal of Avison Young and Managing Director of the new Gainesville office. He will manage its day-to-day operations and lead the company’s strategic growth in Gainesville and across North Florida with a mandate to expand the company’s footprint, particularly in retail. He will also help Avison Young expand its service lines, particularly property management, in Jacksonville. Banks brings to Avison Young 25 years of commercial real estate experience, most recently as Managing Director of Front Street, which he founded in 2002.

“We are thrilled to be opening our first office in Gainesville and, at the same time, expanding our presence in North Florida,” comments Rose. “The acquisition of Front Street reinforces our strong foundation in Florida and assists our rollout in the northern area of the state, particularly in terms of retail brokerage and all aspects of property management. By bringing Nick and the rest of the Front Street team on board, we are adding individuals who are respected for their leadership, extensive industry experience and in-depth local and regional market knowledge. More importantly, they will fit seamlessly into our Principal-led, collaborative culture and provide a superior level of service to clients.”

Headquartered in Gainesville with additional satellite offices in Ocala, Sarasota, Jacksonville, Orlando and Tallahassee, Front Street serves a range of clients, from private individual investors to publicly traded corporations to international investment groups, in North Florida. The firm is a leader in the region’s commercial real estate market and offers services for all property types, including office, retail, flex/industrial and land. The company has developed particular expertise in retail property brokerage. Relationships with national retail brands as well as private and institutional owners of retail properties have fuelled the majority of the firm’s growth throughout North Florida.

Also joining Avison Young from Front Street are brokers Rick Cain, Jason Hurst, Gavin Johnson, Beau Broker, Nick Robinson, Mike Oransky, Tim Deardourff, Flavia Kanyago, Bobby Nickels, Jennie Bram, Andrew Smith, Keith Crutcher and Edmund Aramayo. Property management specialists joining are: Cheryl Carroll, Alex Ling, Terri Smaistrla, Fred Maccioli, David Sooy and Aaron Graham. Joining as administrative and marketing specialists are: Sue Fisher, Natascha Kehri, Virginia MacKoul, Sara Padgett, Dustin Walsh and Alexandra Morales.

Front Street currently manages 20 properties totaling more than 1 million square feet (msf) of office, retail, industrial and multi-family space, including hundreds of apartment units, in the North Florida region. Properties under management include Innovation Square, an affiliated entity of the University of Florida; and Tioga Town Center, a mixed-use town center consisting of approximately 150,000 sf of retail, office and multi-family units.

Today’s acquisition brings Avison Young’s total square feet of office, retail, industrial and multi-family properties under management in Florida to 19 msf. Avison Young has more than 120 msf of retail, industrial and office properties under management in North America.

“The Front Street team has established itself as a market leader throughout the North Florida region,” states Earl Webb, Avison Young President, U.S. Operations. “This acquisition will be highly beneficial to many of our occupier and investor clients throughout Florida. Front Street has built a high-quality service platform that provides creative real estate solutions, and Avison Young looks forward to growing our company’s presence in Gainesville, which we believe is an underserved market. Nick Banks has consistently provided excellent client service during his career while building a broad-based service platform at Front Street and other firms where he has worked. Additionally, the new team has a number of senior managers and brokers who will enhance our client-service capabilities in all asset classes and service lines.”

Front Street has earned a number of awards over the years, including No. 10 Fastest-growing Gator-owned or Gator-led Business in the World, from the University of Florida (2015); and Best Overall Small Business of the Year, from the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce (2014).

“With the opening of the new Gainesville office, Avison Young now has a strong presence in all of Florida’s regions,” notes Pike Rowley, Avison Young Principal and Managing Director of the company’s Florida region. “The acquisition of Front Street enables us to accomplish several goals as we attempt to expand Avison Young’s reach into North Florida and grow our retail service lines statewide. The Gainesville area has been a rapid-growth market in Florida, driven by the University of Florida and UF Health at Shands and the emerging industrial sector in Ocala.”

Rowley adds: “The acquisition enables us to bolster our retail service line in North Florida and, in one fell swoop, add brokerage and property management expertise in five other cities served by Front Street team members. Nick Banks is a strong leader who is deeply involved with the Gainesville business community. Furthermore, he is well-versed in the development and financial- underwriting area of the capital markets service line. He will be an integral member of our retail and capital markets practices.”

Effective immediately, Avison Young’s new Gainesville office is located at 132 NW 76th Drive.

“Our team has been humbled by the support we have received from clients and other stakeholders over the last 16 years as we have built the Front Street brand from scratch and then throughout North Florida,” says Banks. “We could not be happier about joining a company like Avison Young, whose collaborative culture and values match ours so perfectly. We are excited about being a part of a growing and entrepreneurial platform like Avison Young. We also look forward to discovering what the resources of a global, Principal-led company can do to enhance the service that we bring to our clients.”

Avison Young opened its first Florida offices in October 2012 in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and Miami with Rowley joining as a Principal and Managing Director of the company’s Florida region. In May 2013, Avison Young acquired WG Compass Realty Cos. and opened a West Palm Beach office. In September 2013, Avison Young acquired Lane Witherspoon & Carswell Commercial Real Estate Advisors and opened a new office in Tampa. In November 2014, Avison Young acquired Morrison Commercial Real Estate and opened a new office in Orlando. In December 2014, Avison Young acquired Miami-based Abood Wood-Fay Real Estate Group. In April 2016, Avison Young announced a new office in Jacksonville.

Home to the University of Florida and Santa Fe College, Gainesville is well-known for its college-town atmosphere, including many shopping, dining and entertainment locations, as well as its highly talented workforce, live-work-play lifestyle, low unemployment and diverse economy. The city’s major industries include advanced manufacturing, education, healthcare, life sciences, IT, logistics, green technology and agriculture. Government also forms a large employment base and leading medical facilities offer numerous research, innovation and real estate-related business opportunities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Gainesville’s low unemployment rate (2.8% as of November 2018) sits below the state average.

Over the past 10 years, Avison Young has grown from 11 to, now, 87 offices in 78 markets and from 300 to more than 2,700 real estate professionals in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Europe and Asia.

Today’s announcement follows Avison Young’s announcement on November 8, 2018 that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire U.K.-based GVA. Avison Young also opened its first office in Asia, in Seoul, South Korea, on November 1, 2018.

Biography

Nick Banks Nick Banks brings more than 25 years of commercial real estate industry experience to Avison Young. He was most recently Managing Director of Front Street Commercial Real Estate Group, which he founded in 2002. During the company’s first eight years, he developed and acquired office and retail projects in South Florida as well as in North and Central Florida. In 2010, he shifted the firm’s focus to third-party client service along with brokerage and property management services. Prior to founding Front Street, he was the director of finance and dispositions for Stiles Corporation in Fort Lauderdale, where he financed and sold more than $500 million worth of commercial properties. Before joining Stiles, he was an associate director at GE Capital Real Estate, where he sourced more than $200 million in financing throughout Florida.

Banks is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), and founding co-chair of the Gainesville committee for the North Florida chapter of the Urban Land Institute (ULI). In the community, he serves as a member of the University of Florida Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies advisory and executive boards while also mentoring students and speaking at several of the school’s events. Earlier in 2018, Banks was named to the University of Florida Foundation’s national board. He recently served as the board chair for the United Way of North Central Florida and is actively involved with the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, where he is a board member, executive committee member and committee member for the council for economic outreach. He is also a recent graduate of Leadership Gainesville, which is a year-long leadership program hosted by the chamber. Banks holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a major in finance as well as a concentration in real estate from the University of Florida.

Avison Young is the world’s fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Avison Young is a collaborative, global firm owned and operated by its principals. Founded in 1978, the company comprises 2,700 real estate professionals in 87 offices, providing value-added, client-centric investment sales, leasing, advisory, management, financing and mortgage placement services to owners and occupiers of office, retail, industrial, multi-family and hospitality properties.

For further information/comment/photos:

Sherry Quan, Principal, Global Director of Communications & Media Relations, Avison Young: 604.647.5098; mobile: [phone] Mark Rose, Chair and CEO, Avison Young: 416.673.4028 Earl Webb, President, U.S. Operations, Avison Young: 312.957.7610 Pike Rowley, Principal and Managing Director, Florida, Avison Young: 954.938.1807 Nick Banks, Principal & Managing Director, Gainesville, Avison Young: 352.505.3884

Do you want exclusive news and analysis about private equity deals, fundraising, top-quartile managers and more? Get your FREE trial to Buyouts! Or subscribe now!

Source Article

The post Caisse-backed Avision Young buys Florida real estate business appeared first on oestsetnochub.

http://www.sg1italy.net/feed Learn More: http://www.oestsetnochub.com/caisse-backed-avision-young-buys-florida-real-estate-business/

[minocquagunclub]

East Texas educators focusing on several bills in Austin

WODEN TX (KTRE) – Legislators are back at the state capitol, and educators are focusing on several bills introduced this session.

During his inaugural address this week, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced a bill that will increase Texas teachers’ pay by $5,000.

“Teachers going to the capitol and telling them, contacting, writing, calling their legislators,” said Janie Leath, a middle school math teacher at Woden ISD. “Teachers have really expressed how they feel about a lot of issues, pay being one of them.”

In previous sessions, similar teacher pay increase bills have been introduced, laying the responsibility on school districts to increase teacher’s paychecks.

However, this time, Patrick said the budget to fund $3.7 billion for the teacher pay will come from the state’s budget.

Pre-K teacher Teresa Millard said she supports herself working at least two jobs. She said over the holidays, her daughter got a job as a second-grade teacher.

“But I don’t want her to become that statistic that quits in the first five years because she’s not making the money to support herself or do the things that she wants to do,” Millard said.

LOADING…

Millard is referring to the statistic that 50 percent of new teachers quit within the first five years of their careers, in efforts to find better paying jobs.

“I see so many students struggle to pass that STAAR test, and they’re not low students. They’re not poor students, They’re students that get stressed over the fact that they have to pass this test,” Leath said.

Teachers said they plan to attend Lobby Day on February 25 to make their voices heard at the state’s capitol.

Source Article

The post East Texas educators focusing on several bills in Austin appeared first on .

Learn More: http://www.vinhttp://www.ee-info.com/feedoprost.com/feedhttp://www.wilberforce2007.com/east-texas-educators-focusing-on-several-bills-in-austin/

#http://www.soandso.org/feed

[minocquagunclub]

Tampa Bay Section 8 housing vouchers at risk with government shutdown

Housing for millions of families— now at risk! The federal government shutdown could create a lapse in section 8 vouchers, impacting local families.

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Housing for millions of families is now at risk. The federal government shutdown could create a lapse in section 8 vouchers, impacting local families.

Currently, the section 8 vouchers our local government offices in Tampa Bay issue are funded through February, but some local non-profits are set to run out of money in just a few weeks.

Kirk Ray Smith has a mission: to help others, no matter the cost.

“I think you have an obligation to meet that need and not doing that, well, I don’t know how humanitarian that is,” Smith explained.

His Clearwater non-profit agency R.C.S. (Religious Community Services) runs a food bank and also helps survivors of domestic violence have a safe place to live. Yet, the federal funding they rely on to carry out their mission could vanish in less than 3 weeks. On Monday, R.C.S. received notification that $25,000 used to fund their food banks would also not immediately be reimbursed because of the government shutdown.

“If the shut down doesn’t end soon, we’re looking at several months of invoices that will not be paid,” Smith said with a sigh.

Smith knows how much his families rely on stable housing, and he’s made a promise: “We will not be putting any families on the street as a result of this.”

Even if that means scrambling to find the money to pay their rent out of the non-profit’s limited budget.

“That makes it tough on us because we have to figure out how to cover our expenses,” Smith added, knowing that the federal government is already refusing to reimburse other expenses until the shutdown is over.

The even bigger concern with section 8 housing vouchers are private landlords. If the government shutdown lingers, some experts worry landlords will grow impatient and evict tenants who don’t receive section 8 checks to cover their rent.

Across the United States, 5 million families rely on section 8 vouchers to keep a roof over their heads. The vouchers pay for 70% of a low-income family’s rent.

On Monday, Pinellas County joined housing leaders across Florida, to write a letter to federal officials begging them to step in.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is one of the agencies hardest hit by the shutdown. About 95 percent of its employees have been furloughed during the government shutdown.

Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Source Article

The post Tampa Bay Section 8 housing vouchers at risk with government shutdown appeared first on oestsetnochub.

http://www.sg1italy.net/feed Learn More: http://www.oestsetnochub.com/tampa-bay-section-8-housing-vouchers-at-risk-with-government-shutdown/