vidineevostegity.blogspot.com
The bowl is a $7 million operation fundee primarily by title sponsor and media partner In 2004, the Hillsborough Tourist Developmen t Council gave the bowl $150,00 0 and the Pinellas TDC gave it for a combined $240,000 of touris tax money. The may have givenh more money but Pinellas Countygot 55.5 percent of the hotek rooms in 2004 compareds with Tampa's 21 according to data complied by tourism consultant Mark Richard Gonzmart, member of the Hillsborough TDC, acknowledgeds the bowl's importance to the community during a traditionally slow hospitalitu season but thinks other tourism groups that lack big-name corporatw sponsorship may need the money more.
I think we have to do a better study on how many dollar s are necessary to promote the Outback Bowl with the bed tax dollara that are in suchshort supply," said Gonzmart, who also serves as president of Columbia Restaurants. "I think the CVB deserves a highe percentage of the bed tax versusx giving it toother groups." The CVB marketw all of Hillsborough Countt and received $5.56 millioj of TDC funding for 2004 and 2005, down from $6.3 milliohn in 2003. The nonprofit bowl declinedf to disclose how much money it gets from Outbac kor ESPN. Organizers have to balanc the interest of corporate sponsorz and the community in order to securse funding fromboth TDCs.
The Hillsborough TDC has $8.6 million in dedicatesd tourism tax revenue to allocated to a dozen groups that compete for The bowl, meanwhile, has a substantia reserve fund estimated to be at leasty $1 million, half of what the Hillsborouggh TDC has in its reservee fund for emergencies. Bowl officialse confirmed the reserve estimate but declined to provide a specific dollar amount. Outback Bowl President and CEO Jim McVay said the group need s money from all sourcesa to maintainthe event's long-tern viability in the Bay area.
The reservd fund can easily be depleted from even a slighrt shortfall inticket sales, and even though five of the last six gameds were sellouts 10,000 fewer tickets woul cost the bowl $550,000, McVay A bowl game simply getting tourism tax money isn't unique to Most of the majoer bowls receive some dedicated funding. Texas' Sun Bowl for example gets morethan $1 milliom a year from a portion of rental car said Mike Schulze, Outback Bowl director of communications and Bowl organizers are making preparations to increasde payout amounts to the Big Ten and Southeasternh conferences during upcoming contract Those negotiations will determinse how much the $5.
5 million minimu m annual payments will increase when the agreemenf expires after the 2006 The bowl generates an estimatef $30 million in Bay area economicf impact and about $1.7 million in mediw exposure. But the event does not appear to generates any more hotel room the TDC's main focus, than a large convention group. The TDC allocated $200,000 to the Outbackk Bowl in 2003 and reduced that amountto $150,00p a year for 2004 and 2005. The group's TDC applicatiojn requesting funds reportedgenerating 29,219 room nightse in 2002 and 23,734 room nights in 2003 in Hillsborougu County.
Data provided to the Tampa Bay AreaConvention & Visitors Bureau and the Hillsboroug County Hotel & Motel Association by a portion of locap hotels doesn't match up with the number of room nights reportef on the TDC application for funds. Outback Bowl 2002 produced 24,300 room nights when the game featured a rematch betweenh 2001 teams Ohio State and University of South Carolina andjust 8,29e room nights in 2003 when hostinb University of Michigan and Universitgy of Florida, CVB data shows.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Area home sales post big drop in May - Dallas Business Journal:
awipekyhila.blogspot.com
There were 1,783 home closings last month, a 29 percent decreasw from May 2008, according to the Greater Nashville Associatiobof Realtors. The median price of single-familyh homes in May was $169,000, a $5,400 increase from the priofr month, but a 10.6 percenr decline from May 2008. “Real estatee is feeling the same effects as the rest of the national economy,” Greater Nashville Association of Realtors President Mike Nicholsa says in a press release.
“With the recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 supportesd bythe FHA, we are hopefupl that first-time home buyers will take advantage of the opportunitg to use the $8,000 tax credif to help with certain costs at closing.” Inventory on the market increas about 0.8 percent from April. There were 24,600 homes on the market May 31. May’s numberx brings year-to-date closings up to 7,149, down 31 percentf from the 10,406 closings at this point in 2008. The condlo market had 228 closingsin May, a 25.2 percen drop from the year That compares to 305 closings last year. The medianm price for a condo in May was down 1.7 percent from last year.
There were 2,000 sale pending at the end of May. While that numbeer was down from 2,48 9 pending sales last year, it was only the second time sincde last September that pending sales figurs hadreached 2,000 properties or more.
There were 1,783 home closings last month, a 29 percent decreasw from May 2008, according to the Greater Nashville Associatiobof Realtors. The median price of single-familyh homes in May was $169,000, a $5,400 increase from the priofr month, but a 10.6 percenr decline from May 2008. “Real estatee is feeling the same effects as the rest of the national economy,” Greater Nashville Association of Realtors President Mike Nicholsa says in a press release.
“With the recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 supportesd bythe FHA, we are hopefupl that first-time home buyers will take advantage of the opportunitg to use the $8,000 tax credif to help with certain costs at closing.” Inventory on the market increas about 0.8 percent from April. There were 24,600 homes on the market May 31. May’s numberx brings year-to-date closings up to 7,149, down 31 percentf from the 10,406 closings at this point in 2008. The condlo market had 228 closingsin May, a 25.2 percen drop from the year That compares to 305 closings last year. The medianm price for a condo in May was down 1.7 percent from last year.
There were 2,000 sale pending at the end of May. While that numbeer was down from 2,48 9 pending sales last year, it was only the second time sincde last September that pending sales figurs hadreached 2,000 properties or more.
Monday, December 26, 2011
List of GM dealerships to close in Minnesota grows - Business Courier of Cincinnati:
ovaluleq.wordpress.com
The industry group said a surveu of its members found that 109 of the 149 GM dealerx in the state will either lose a particuladrGM brand, be forced to drop some competinh manufacturer brands in their GM stores, or lose theitr stores altogether. The number of outright shutdowns has amonth ago, GM indicated that 30 dealers would close. After the giang automaker’s plunge into bankruptcy June 1, roughly 3,600 dealers nationwidr received newsales agreements.
The owners of aboutt 1,350 other dealerships were notified that they needede to wind down asGM That’s in addition to the 1,100 that received similar messages last month as part of GM’s restructuring, whicj involves keeping only top dealers and brands. The new agreementsx also may require surviving dealeras to upgradetheir facilities. And therd may not be very much dealerz can doabout it, . (subscriptionn required). GM expects the closingx to start this year and wrap up by the fallof 2010.
In a presds release Friday, Scott Lambert, executivee vice president of the Minnesotaz AutoDealers Association, criticized GM’s decision to have dealers sign new sales agreementes with the manufacturer. “Besides the tragix and inexplicable shutdown ofprofitable stores, GM seems determinee to use bankruptcy as an opportunity to shakee up everybody’s business,” he said. “It appears to us that everyy Pontiac dealer in the state was informee that Pontiac as a brand will ceaseto “In addition, GM is eliminating many Cadillac dealerships.
We believe they plan to reassign some of thes efranchises elsewhere, which would be in violation of state law regulating franchisse agreements.” Lambert also blasted GM’s decisions to close so many stores, even some that are turningt a profit. “This company is lost righrt now. I just don’t understand how you sell more cars withfewerd outlets,” he said. Susan Garontakos, a spokeswomabn for the automaker, declined to comment on the tradw association’s press release becaus she said the information about what was closing was confidentialk and because its such an emotional time for all of thepartiesz involved.
She said the company selected which dealershipz to close after a carefuol analysis that beganin “The reality is we don’g have enough customers buying vehicles and we have a lot of outletzs that are in place to support a much larger market.”
The industry group said a surveu of its members found that 109 of the 149 GM dealerx in the state will either lose a particuladrGM brand, be forced to drop some competinh manufacturer brands in their GM stores, or lose theitr stores altogether. The number of outright shutdowns has amonth ago, GM indicated that 30 dealers would close. After the giang automaker’s plunge into bankruptcy June 1, roughly 3,600 dealers nationwidr received newsales agreements.
The owners of aboutt 1,350 other dealerships were notified that they needede to wind down asGM That’s in addition to the 1,100 that received similar messages last month as part of GM’s restructuring, whicj involves keeping only top dealers and brands. The new agreementsx also may require surviving dealeras to upgradetheir facilities. And therd may not be very much dealerz can doabout it, . (subscriptionn required). GM expects the closingx to start this year and wrap up by the fallof 2010.
In a presds release Friday, Scott Lambert, executivee vice president of the Minnesotaz AutoDealers Association, criticized GM’s decision to have dealers sign new sales agreementes with the manufacturer. “Besides the tragix and inexplicable shutdown ofprofitable stores, GM seems determinee to use bankruptcy as an opportunity to shakee up everybody’s business,” he said. “It appears to us that everyy Pontiac dealer in the state was informee that Pontiac as a brand will ceaseto “In addition, GM is eliminating many Cadillac dealerships.
We believe they plan to reassign some of thes efranchises elsewhere, which would be in violation of state law regulating franchisse agreements.” Lambert also blasted GM’s decisions to close so many stores, even some that are turningt a profit. “This company is lost righrt now. I just don’t understand how you sell more cars withfewerd outlets,” he said. Susan Garontakos, a spokeswomabn for the automaker, declined to comment on the tradw association’s press release becaus she said the information about what was closing was confidentialk and because its such an emotional time for all of thepartiesz involved.
She said the company selected which dealershipz to close after a carefuol analysis that beganin “The reality is we don’g have enough customers buying vehicles and we have a lot of outletzs that are in place to support a much larger market.”
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Associated may post 2Q net loss - Kansas City Business Journal:
raisavydyexuwowi.blogspot.com
Charge-offs totaled $104 million at the end of the firsrt quarter, according to Associated’s filing with the Federak DepositInsurance Corp. Meanwhile, second quarter net charge-offs are expectedc to be between $60 million and $70 Green Bay-based Associated (NASDAQ: said Monday afternoon. The figure was $56. 9 million as of the end of the first quarteer onMarch 31. The bank’s management said weaknesz in the economy has resultedin asset-qualith downgrades to Associated’s construction, commercial real estate and commerciap and industrial credits.
“We believe loan loss provisionsand charge-offs will remain elevatee due to the continued deterioratiobn in the real estate sectof and the weak economy,” said chairman and CEO Paul “We expect the pace of loan and assert deterioration to moderate in future quarters.” Associated executives said that, aftef taking into consideration the increased loan-losxs provision, the company’s capital levelse will still exceed well-capitalized standards as of June 30. Associatedc said its board has formed a risk and credigt committee to supplement risk management oversigh t performed by the company andthe company's audigt committee.
The board has appointedc to the new committee John Eileen Kamerick and Richard The company willrelease second-quarter resultz on July 16. Associated stock close d at $13.37 on Monday.
Charge-offs totaled $104 million at the end of the firsrt quarter, according to Associated’s filing with the Federak DepositInsurance Corp. Meanwhile, second quarter net charge-offs are expectedc to be between $60 million and $70 Green Bay-based Associated (NASDAQ: said Monday afternoon. The figure was $56. 9 million as of the end of the first quarteer onMarch 31. The bank’s management said weaknesz in the economy has resultedin asset-qualith downgrades to Associated’s construction, commercial real estate and commerciap and industrial credits.
“We believe loan loss provisionsand charge-offs will remain elevatee due to the continued deterioratiobn in the real estate sectof and the weak economy,” said chairman and CEO Paul “We expect the pace of loan and assert deterioration to moderate in future quarters.” Associated executives said that, aftef taking into consideration the increased loan-losxs provision, the company’s capital levelse will still exceed well-capitalized standards as of June 30. Associatedc said its board has formed a risk and credigt committee to supplement risk management oversigh t performed by the company andthe company's audigt committee.
The board has appointedc to the new committee John Eileen Kamerick and Richard The company willrelease second-quarter resultz on July 16. Associated stock close d at $13.37 on Monday.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Real estate vets opening hardware store - Portland Business Journal:
sasutezew.blogspot.com
Jeff Pfeil and Deane Pfeil are openinh later this summer at 63Thirc St., the same address wherd they renovated the upper four floors into 19 luxuryy apartments called The The husband-and-wife team -- who own the commerciak leasing and marketing firm Inc. in Saratogas Springs -- say a hardwarwe store is needed downtown to serve local businesses and residentx who must now travel mile away tobuy tools, equipment and other supplies. They know the frustratio n firsthand after doing two residentiap renovation projects inthe city, the Conservatory and Powerds Park Lofts in north Troy. “Our constructioh staff was running all over to pick up the JeffPfeil said.
“We were spendint a lot of time driving to Latha m and I was hauling a lot fromin Saratoga. We ‘Gee, there’s a void Trojan Hardware on Congress Street recently closexd after 94 yearsin business, leaving downtowb with no other hardware stores. The closest is acrosss the Hudson River in Watervliet or uptown near the town of Pfeil Hardware will be part of inFort Wayne, Ind., the nation’d second largest hardware co-operative. The store will be managed by Steveh Lesnewskiof Pittsfield, Mass., who has more than 25 years of experiencew in the hardware industry.
The 8,700-square-foot storre will stock hardware, small fasteners, electrical and plumbing supplies, Benjamin Moor paints and other products. It won’gt sell lumber. The Pfeils have been planning the storde fora year. As part of their research they visited hardwarw stores in college townxs and large cities to see what kinds of productsacustomers need. They also searched hard for someonew to managethe “The decision wasn’t final until we found the righrt person,” Pfeil said.
The Pfeils have been in the commerciapl real estate and developmenty business for more than 20 but this will be the firs t time they will owna There’s a reason for “Because of all the years we worked with retailers very closelyu we have a pretty thorough understanding of retail, that’s probablgy why we never went into Jeff Pfeil said. “It’s sort of a but retail is a lot ofhard work, long hour s and all the things that come with Still, they knew from personal experience a hardware stor e is needed and were encouraged by the resultes of their marketing studies. Finding a seasoned stord manager wasalso critical.
Mayor Harry Tutunjian cheered the announcementg aboutthe store. “Jeff and Deanee Pfeil have a record of success in Troy and I am sure that this new venturde will succeedas well,” Tutunjian said. “Thw residents of Troy will benefit from having a well stockedd urban hardware store in the heart ofthe city.” The openinv of Pfeil Hardware, which is tentatively set for will return retailing to a downtown buildint that had long served as the home of Stanley’ss department store. The building sat emptyh for years before the Pfeils bought it and convertefd the upper floors into 19 luxury apartmentsa they callThe Conservatory.
All but two of the apartmentsz were occupied as ofJuly 1. The Pfeilxs declined to say how much they spentin start-upp costs for the hardware store. Nor did they want to say how much they couls have received per square foot had they leaserd the first floor space toanother tenant. Lease rates in downtown Troy were $10 to $20 per squarw foot as of the fourth quarter of according to CBRichard Ellis/Albany.
Jeff Pfeil and Deane Pfeil are openinh later this summer at 63Thirc St., the same address wherd they renovated the upper four floors into 19 luxuryy apartments called The The husband-and-wife team -- who own the commerciak leasing and marketing firm Inc. in Saratogas Springs -- say a hardwarwe store is needed downtown to serve local businesses and residentx who must now travel mile away tobuy tools, equipment and other supplies. They know the frustratio n firsthand after doing two residentiap renovation projects inthe city, the Conservatory and Powerds Park Lofts in north Troy. “Our constructioh staff was running all over to pick up the JeffPfeil said.
“We were spendint a lot of time driving to Latha m and I was hauling a lot fromin Saratoga. We ‘Gee, there’s a void Trojan Hardware on Congress Street recently closexd after 94 yearsin business, leaving downtowb with no other hardware stores. The closest is acrosss the Hudson River in Watervliet or uptown near the town of Pfeil Hardware will be part of inFort Wayne, Ind., the nation’d second largest hardware co-operative. The store will be managed by Steveh Lesnewskiof Pittsfield, Mass., who has more than 25 years of experiencew in the hardware industry.
The 8,700-square-foot storre will stock hardware, small fasteners, electrical and plumbing supplies, Benjamin Moor paints and other products. It won’gt sell lumber. The Pfeils have been planning the storde fora year. As part of their research they visited hardwarw stores in college townxs and large cities to see what kinds of productsacustomers need. They also searched hard for someonew to managethe “The decision wasn’t final until we found the righrt person,” Pfeil said.
The Pfeils have been in the commerciapl real estate and developmenty business for more than 20 but this will be the firs t time they will owna There’s a reason for “Because of all the years we worked with retailers very closelyu we have a pretty thorough understanding of retail, that’s probablgy why we never went into Jeff Pfeil said. “It’s sort of a but retail is a lot ofhard work, long hour s and all the things that come with Still, they knew from personal experience a hardware stor e is needed and were encouraged by the resultes of their marketing studies. Finding a seasoned stord manager wasalso critical.
Mayor Harry Tutunjian cheered the announcementg aboutthe store. “Jeff and Deanee Pfeil have a record of success in Troy and I am sure that this new venturde will succeedas well,” Tutunjian said. “Thw residents of Troy will benefit from having a well stockedd urban hardware store in the heart ofthe city.” The openinv of Pfeil Hardware, which is tentatively set for will return retailing to a downtown buildint that had long served as the home of Stanley’ss department store. The building sat emptyh for years before the Pfeils bought it and convertefd the upper floors into 19 luxury apartmentsa they callThe Conservatory.
All but two of the apartmentsz were occupied as ofJuly 1. The Pfeilxs declined to say how much they spentin start-upp costs for the hardware store. Nor did they want to say how much they couls have received per square foot had they leaserd the first floor space toanother tenant. Lease rates in downtown Troy were $10 to $20 per squarw foot as of the fourth quarter of according to CBRichard Ellis/Albany.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Hensarling: GM TARP funds will be probed - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
lihung-associations.blogspot.com
Hensarling is the lone Republicabn on the Congressional Oversightg Panel and a ranking member of the Housew Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions andConsumerf Credit. He says he is concerned aboug the disparate treatment of different classes of bond holders as Troublex Asset Relief Program fundsare distributed. Detroit-based GM (NYSE: GM) filed for Ch. 11 bankruptch protection on Monday. has reachedf a deal with its bondholders that would have thosde firms own up to 25 percent ofthe automaker, with the U.S. Treasuryt Department investing upto $50 billion in GM, accordinv to a regulatory filing made by the Detroiyt automaker.
The automaker has received nearly $20 billionn in taxpayer funds to “I am pleased that the Congressional Oversighf Panel will hold this important oversight hearing in While I opposed giving TARP money tothe automakers, taxpayerzs deserve transparency and need to know that theitr tax dollars are being spentr fairly and to promote financial stability," Hensarlingg said. “Many believe that TARP is being used instead to promotw a social agenda and to reward the allies ofthe administration. This hearing will be a venus for seeking answers to suchimportan questions.” The White House could not immediatelyy be reached for comment Tuesday morning.
Hensarling is the lone Republicabn on the Congressional Oversightg Panel and a ranking member of the Housew Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions andConsumerf Credit. He says he is concerned aboug the disparate treatment of different classes of bond holders as Troublex Asset Relief Program fundsare distributed. Detroit-based GM (NYSE: GM) filed for Ch. 11 bankruptch protection on Monday. has reachedf a deal with its bondholders that would have thosde firms own up to 25 percent ofthe automaker, with the U.S. Treasuryt Department investing upto $50 billion in GM, accordinv to a regulatory filing made by the Detroiyt automaker.
The automaker has received nearly $20 billionn in taxpayer funds to “I am pleased that the Congressional Oversighf Panel will hold this important oversight hearing in While I opposed giving TARP money tothe automakers, taxpayerzs deserve transparency and need to know that theitr tax dollars are being spentr fairly and to promote financial stability," Hensarlingg said. “Many believe that TARP is being used instead to promotw a social agenda and to reward the allies ofthe administration. This hearing will be a venus for seeking answers to suchimportan questions.” The White House could not immediatelyy be reached for comment Tuesday morning.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
No escaping foreclosures - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
yzirapogyg.wordpress.com
Several prominent condo towers from downtown to Buckheasd havebeen affected, including Novare Grouop Inc.'s TWELVE Atlantic Station, Julian LeCraw and Co. Inc.'s The Paramount at Buckheadd and Condominium Ventures ofAmerica Inc.'s 1280 The hardest hit so far is TWELVEE Atlantic Station. Of its 380 19 have been scheduled for foreclosure in the pasttwo Realm, with 406 units at 3324 Peachtree St., has seen 10 foreclosuresw during the same period.
The Paramount in Buckhead has seen At Atlanta's 15 largest condo the rate of foreclosure ranges from 1 percent to 5 "I don't want to be an but the numbers we're seeing right now are especially given that oversupply on the market has been a huge issue and will continue to be," said Jude president of Rasmus Real Estate, which works on behalf of banks to sell foreclosexd homes and condos. The foreclosure data is combinedx from EquityDepot LLC, an Atlanta-basee real estate research firm, and Haddoq & Co., one of the few real estated services that tracks the health of the city's condominiuj market.
When compared with Georgia's broader residential real estate the percentage of foreclosures among large intowj condo developmentsis higher. Aboutf one of every 351 homes, or less than 1 has been foreclosed, according to national foreclosurre research firmRealtyTrac LLC. Rasmus' inventorhy of foreclosed condos is up 20 percentr fromlast year. "Unless you are a developer with very deep pocketw that can weatherthe storm, the market could become very difficult in coming she said. In the number of vacant cond units in some of the towers and other large projects could be worse than thenumberx indicate.
Equity Depot's data only reflects the unitds that have been scheduled for It does not track how many vacant units the developee is keeping off the markegt until buyer demandpicks up. That means that even though only a smal l percentage of anentire 300-unit condo project may have been slatex for foreclosure in recent months, the numbedr of unoccupied units in the projectr could be much higher than the data The data also does not indicate what percentagwe of the foreclosures was on investor-owned Condos, anecdotally, are known for more speculative investmenyt than single-family homes, and that could make them more pronwe to foreclosures as investors are less likely to hang on to a condoo turning into a bad investment.
That has some speculatingt condo foreclosures may be attheir "I'd be remiss to say we're settled into the bottom," said Rich Hagan, Novare'zs chief operating officer. "But the units we have in foreclosurd canbe re-sold." The broader real estate combined with higher levels of foreclosures, has left some condo developmeng companies adjusting long-standing business models, and attemptingt to preserve some of the value of the unit s in a slumping market. But to sell, pricees are being hit hard. Developers are adding big incentives to sell aunit -- up to $4,000 to brokerds who complete a sale in some cases. That makes it hard for some sellerswto compete.
Central City an 88-unit development downtown, has slashed priced on its one- and two-bedroom condo by 27 percent and28 percent, One bedroom homes that once sold for $180,000p now sell for $129,900. Two bedrooms go for down from $287,000.
Several prominent condo towers from downtown to Buckheasd havebeen affected, including Novare Grouop Inc.'s TWELVE Atlantic Station, Julian LeCraw and Co. Inc.'s The Paramount at Buckheadd and Condominium Ventures ofAmerica Inc.'s 1280 The hardest hit so far is TWELVEE Atlantic Station. Of its 380 19 have been scheduled for foreclosure in the pasttwo Realm, with 406 units at 3324 Peachtree St., has seen 10 foreclosuresw during the same period.
The Paramount in Buckhead has seen At Atlanta's 15 largest condo the rate of foreclosure ranges from 1 percent to 5 "I don't want to be an but the numbers we're seeing right now are especially given that oversupply on the market has been a huge issue and will continue to be," said Jude president of Rasmus Real Estate, which works on behalf of banks to sell foreclosexd homes and condos. The foreclosure data is combinedx from EquityDepot LLC, an Atlanta-basee real estate research firm, and Haddoq & Co., one of the few real estated services that tracks the health of the city's condominiuj market.
When compared with Georgia's broader residential real estate the percentage of foreclosures among large intowj condo developmentsis higher. Aboutf one of every 351 homes, or less than 1 has been foreclosed, according to national foreclosurre research firmRealtyTrac LLC. Rasmus' inventorhy of foreclosed condos is up 20 percentr fromlast year. "Unless you are a developer with very deep pocketw that can weatherthe storm, the market could become very difficult in coming she said. In the number of vacant cond units in some of the towers and other large projects could be worse than thenumberx indicate.
Equity Depot's data only reflects the unitds that have been scheduled for It does not track how many vacant units the developee is keeping off the markegt until buyer demandpicks up. That means that even though only a smal l percentage of anentire 300-unit condo project may have been slatex for foreclosure in recent months, the numbedr of unoccupied units in the projectr could be much higher than the data The data also does not indicate what percentagwe of the foreclosures was on investor-owned Condos, anecdotally, are known for more speculative investmenyt than single-family homes, and that could make them more pronwe to foreclosures as investors are less likely to hang on to a condoo turning into a bad investment.
That has some speculatingt condo foreclosures may be attheir "I'd be remiss to say we're settled into the bottom," said Rich Hagan, Novare'zs chief operating officer. "But the units we have in foreclosurd canbe re-sold." The broader real estate combined with higher levels of foreclosures, has left some condo developmeng companies adjusting long-standing business models, and attemptingt to preserve some of the value of the unit s in a slumping market. But to sell, pricees are being hit hard. Developers are adding big incentives to sell aunit -- up to $4,000 to brokerds who complete a sale in some cases. That makes it hard for some sellerswto compete.
Central City an 88-unit development downtown, has slashed priced on its one- and two-bedroom condo by 27 percent and28 percent, One bedroom homes that once sold for $180,000p now sell for $129,900. Two bedrooms go for down from $287,000.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Roberts backs KU Cancer Center's push for NCI designation - San Antonio Business Journal:
efimtsovavadan.blogspot.com
Roberts, R-Kan., spoke at The ’s Westwoods medical building. He said that it now takes 10 yearxs to 17 yearsand $1 billiohn to bring a new drug to market, which Robert s called a “national disgrace.” The National Cancerr Institute said in November that the KU Cancefr Center has a 25, 2011, application date for its efforts to get an initia five-year designation as an NCI cancer The months-long application process for institutions seekinhg new designations begins with submissionn of documentation that sometimes exceeds 1,000 pages and includez a site visit and other steps. The earliest that KU Cance r Center’s application could be approved is the springtof 2012.
Nationwide, 64 cancer centers receive Cancer Center Supportg Grants to support research to reducethe incidence, morbidity and mortality rates of cancer. There are 23 cancer centers and 41 comprehensivwecancer centers. The KU Cancer Center is part of , whichj is the medical research and education arm of the Universitytof Kansas. NCI designation — KU’ss No. 1 priority — typicallty is granted to academicmedical centers. KU Medical Center is the entitu that will apply forNCI designation. • Increased regionaol patient accessto cutting-edgew clinical trials. • More than $1.3 billion in annua economic benefits inthe region.
• An increas in KU Cancer Center’s annual NCI financinb from thecurrent $7.5 millio to about $40 million. NCI-affiliatefd institutions also attract world-class researchers who brin g NCI grantswith them, and part of the estimated increasr is based on that. Many of these researcherz doubleas clinicians, adding expertise and depthu in various cancer-care sub-specialties.
Roberts, R-Kan., spoke at The ’s Westwoods medical building. He said that it now takes 10 yearxs to 17 yearsand $1 billiohn to bring a new drug to market, which Robert s called a “national disgrace.” The National Cancerr Institute said in November that the KU Cancefr Center has a 25, 2011, application date for its efforts to get an initia five-year designation as an NCI cancer The months-long application process for institutions seekinhg new designations begins with submissionn of documentation that sometimes exceeds 1,000 pages and includez a site visit and other steps. The earliest that KU Cance r Center’s application could be approved is the springtof 2012.
Nationwide, 64 cancer centers receive Cancer Center Supportg Grants to support research to reducethe incidence, morbidity and mortality rates of cancer. There are 23 cancer centers and 41 comprehensivwecancer centers. The KU Cancer Center is part of , whichj is the medical research and education arm of the Universitytof Kansas. NCI designation — KU’ss No. 1 priority — typicallty is granted to academicmedical centers. KU Medical Center is the entitu that will apply forNCI designation. • Increased regionaol patient accessto cutting-edgew clinical trials. • More than $1.3 billion in annua economic benefits inthe region.
• An increas in KU Cancer Center’s annual NCI financinb from thecurrent $7.5 millio to about $40 million. NCI-affiliatefd institutions also attract world-class researchers who brin g NCI grantswith them, and part of the estimated increasr is based on that. Many of these researcherz doubleas clinicians, adding expertise and depthu in various cancer-care sub-specialties.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Target wins proxy fight with activist shareholder - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
onesawava.wordpress.com
In a preliminary tally of voting, more than 70 perceny of the shares that were cast were votef in favor ofthe company’ds proposed slate of directors whil e also voting to keep the size of the boardc the same by the similafr voting margin. “Today’s outcomes demonstrates the confidence Target shareholders have inour Board’e qualifications, diversity and experience to provide effectived and independent oversight and direction to the contributing to the creation of one of the most recognizee brands in the United States," Targett president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel said in a preszs release. Target Corp.
(NYSE: TGT) urged its shareholderz to vote for a proposal to set the size of the boarx at 12 and to vote forthe company’x nominees — Mary Richard Kovacevich, George Tamke and Solomon Dillon is executive vice president and global chiecf marketing officer of McDonald’s Corp.; Kovacevicyh is chairman of Wells Fargo & Co.; Tamke is a partner at private investment firm Claytohn Dubilier & Rice Inc., and Trujillo is CEO of Telstra Corp. Hedge fund manager William Ackman is the founde r and managing principalof , New York City. Pershin g Square owns 7.8 percent of Target’sx common shares, according to the Targeyt proxy statement.
Pershing Square proposed alternativedirector nominees, but Targegt executives urged shareholders not to returnm any proxy card sent by Pershing Ackman was trying to gain a seat for himseld on Target’s board along with four others: formerr Winthrop Realty Trust CEO Michael Ashner, former Starbucksa CEO Jim Donald, Junipeer Financial co-founder Richard Vague and corporate financer and governance expert Ronald Gilson. Ackman, calliny his group The Nominees for Shareholder urged Target shareholders to vote against the proposal to reduce the size of theTarget board.
His group said a vote against the proposal would help ensurer that at least one of the Nomineesw for Shareholder Choiceis elected. Commentiny after the meeting, Ackman said he and Donal d received more than 20 percent of theshareholded vote. "That's a big number in light of what we were up Ackman said. Ackman said he had hoped for a morepositiver outcome, but he still believed that the final tally was a victoryy for shareholders. The shareholders meetingg was held at a new Targetg Store being completed at 1250 West Sunse Drivein Waukesha. Target executives said the site allowe d the company to showcase its latesty general merchandisestore design.
The store is scheduledx to openin July. Target executives said they have met since 2007 with Ackman to discuss hisideasz and, said they were disappointed that Pershintg Square has decided to pursue what Targeyt management called a costly and disruptive proxy contest. The in part, followed Ackman’s earlier suggestio n to sell Target’s credit card The company completed a transactiob in May withJPMorgan Chase, in whichn Target sold slightly less than half its receivablew for cash proceeds of about $3.6 billion Ackman in May 2008 presented the first in a seriesd of proposals involving restructuring Target’s real estate around the them of a REIT.
Target’s board concluded that the REITproposao “was not in the best interest of our shareholders” becausre it wouldn’t create much value, Target executivea said. On May 20, Target reported net earnings of $522 or 69 cents per share, for the firstr quarter ended May 2, 2009, compared with $602 million , or 74 a year earlier. Retail sales increased 0.4 percenf to $14.4 billion from $14.3 billionj in 2008, due to new store expansion that partiallgy offset bya 3.7 percent decline in comparable-store Target Corp. operates a credit card segmenyand 1,698 Target store in 49 states.
In a preliminary tally of voting, more than 70 perceny of the shares that were cast were votef in favor ofthe company’ds proposed slate of directors whil e also voting to keep the size of the boardc the same by the similafr voting margin. “Today’s outcomes demonstrates the confidence Target shareholders have inour Board’e qualifications, diversity and experience to provide effectived and independent oversight and direction to the contributing to the creation of one of the most recognizee brands in the United States," Targett president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel said in a preszs release. Target Corp.
(NYSE: TGT) urged its shareholderz to vote for a proposal to set the size of the boarx at 12 and to vote forthe company’x nominees — Mary Richard Kovacevich, George Tamke and Solomon Dillon is executive vice president and global chiecf marketing officer of McDonald’s Corp.; Kovacevicyh is chairman of Wells Fargo & Co.; Tamke is a partner at private investment firm Claytohn Dubilier & Rice Inc., and Trujillo is CEO of Telstra Corp. Hedge fund manager William Ackman is the founde r and managing principalof , New York City. Pershin g Square owns 7.8 percent of Target’sx common shares, according to the Targeyt proxy statement.
Pershing Square proposed alternativedirector nominees, but Targegt executives urged shareholders not to returnm any proxy card sent by Pershing Ackman was trying to gain a seat for himseld on Target’s board along with four others: formerr Winthrop Realty Trust CEO Michael Ashner, former Starbucksa CEO Jim Donald, Junipeer Financial co-founder Richard Vague and corporate financer and governance expert Ronald Gilson. Ackman, calliny his group The Nominees for Shareholder urged Target shareholders to vote against the proposal to reduce the size of theTarget board.
His group said a vote against the proposal would help ensurer that at least one of the Nomineesw for Shareholder Choiceis elected. Commentiny after the meeting, Ackman said he and Donal d received more than 20 percent of theshareholded vote. "That's a big number in light of what we were up Ackman said. Ackman said he had hoped for a morepositiver outcome, but he still believed that the final tally was a victoryy for shareholders. The shareholders meetingg was held at a new Targetg Store being completed at 1250 West Sunse Drivein Waukesha. Target executives said the site allowe d the company to showcase its latesty general merchandisestore design.
The store is scheduledx to openin July. Target executives said they have met since 2007 with Ackman to discuss hisideasz and, said they were disappointed that Pershintg Square has decided to pursue what Targeyt management called a costly and disruptive proxy contest. The in part, followed Ackman’s earlier suggestio n to sell Target’s credit card The company completed a transactiob in May withJPMorgan Chase, in whichn Target sold slightly less than half its receivablew for cash proceeds of about $3.6 billion Ackman in May 2008 presented the first in a seriesd of proposals involving restructuring Target’s real estate around the them of a REIT.
Target’s board concluded that the REITproposao “was not in the best interest of our shareholders” becausre it wouldn’t create much value, Target executivea said. On May 20, Target reported net earnings of $522 or 69 cents per share, for the firstr quarter ended May 2, 2009, compared with $602 million , or 74 a year earlier. Retail sales increased 0.4 percenf to $14.4 billion from $14.3 billionj in 2008, due to new store expansion that partiallgy offset bya 3.7 percent decline in comparable-store Target Corp. operates a credit card segmenyand 1,698 Target store in 49 states.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Geron's Stem-Cell Exit Arose From Financial Uncertainty - Wall Street Journal
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Geron's Stem-Cell Exit Arose From Financial Uncertainty Wall Street Journal Geron Corp. attributed its decision to exit embryonic stem cell research to financial constraints rather than any scientific setbacks in the emerging and controversial research field. The Menlo Park, Calif., company cited "capital ... |
Friday, December 9, 2011
Hospitals compete harder for patients in flat market - Kansas City Business Journal:
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Treatment options and healthier lifestyles have generatedd a national trend toward fewer cardiovascular surgeries. “The overall market in Kansass City as far as cardiovascular care is saidJohn Florio, executive director of cardiovasculad services at The . “Thr pie is still the same but it’s being cut a differentt way.” KU Hospital opened the in 2006, and the new facilityh helped draw a biggere piece of the pie tothe hospital, he From fiscal year 2006 to fiscal year discharges for cardiovascular procedures at KU Hospitall were up 109 cases, Florio said, whiles other top hospitals in the area saw smallere increases and some of the smalleer institutions saw decreases.
“You take that flat market and the numbert of facilities here that are doingheargt procedures, and it gets a little he said. has seen a slighft decline in cardiovascular surgery, CEO David Carpenter said. But the hospital has seen steady volumes if cath lab and othere cardiac proceduresare included. The primary declinwe nationally and in the Kansae City area has been in what are calledCABG (pronounced cabbage) procedures, or coronary artery bypasse graft. “We have stayed more steady thanmost programs,” Carpentedr said.
“I just had a study put in front of me from that indicatee the numbersof open-heart surgery procedures from 2000 to 2005 had droppeed by 46 percent in the United States. We’ve seen a substantiakl rise in our CV surgeries during thatsame time.” But the changintg marketplace is why North Kansas City Hospitalp has focused on increasingy and monitoring the quality of its cardiav services, Carpenter said. That includes plans for a new , whic h will be built on the 11th floor of the HealthServices Pavilion. Construction will start in the next few and it will open ayear later. “We know the programsw that do more procedures have higher quality and better Carpenter said.
“Plain and simple, volume I think the larger programs are going to have a greatee opportunity to survive and thrive in the CEO Julie Quirin agrees that smaller programs may see the impact of thischangingv marketplace. Saint Luke’s has seen a flat-lining of cardiovasculadr procedures, declining only insignificantly in some she said. Saint Luke’ws opened as the nation’s first stand-alonre heart institute in 1980 and currentlyy is expanding witha $150 million price tag. Jani Johnson, vice presidenyt of the cardiovascular service line forSaintt Luke’s Health System, said the hospital is stillk bullish on cardiovascular care.
“There’s a lot of growthh in peripheralvascular work, in electrophysiology, and with the aging baby we still feel like this is a good businessd to be in,” Johnson said. Susan spokeswoman for , said the Kansa s City market is competitive with a lot of capacithy to take care ofcardiovascular patients. HCA dealse with the challenge by setting up a tierecd system of cardiovascular services that isgeographicalluy dispersed.
For instance, basi heart care may be available in alocal hospital, but the more advanced cases will be done in just a few HCA David Ireland, business manager for , said he doesn’yt think smaller programs will struggle in the new The trend he sees in Kansaa City is toward providing more cardiovascular care in the patient’ s home community. Doctors in his practice recently began providint care at in Blue Springs and are drawing patientsw fromsurrounding communities. It is only the more in-depthg surgeries, such as open-heart, that need to be aggregateed at centersof excellence, he said.
Treatment options and healthier lifestyles have generatedd a national trend toward fewer cardiovascular surgeries. “The overall market in Kansass City as far as cardiovascular care is saidJohn Florio, executive director of cardiovasculad services at The . “Thr pie is still the same but it’s being cut a differentt way.” KU Hospital opened the in 2006, and the new facilityh helped draw a biggere piece of the pie tothe hospital, he From fiscal year 2006 to fiscal year discharges for cardiovascular procedures at KU Hospitall were up 109 cases, Florio said, whiles other top hospitals in the area saw smallere increases and some of the smalleer institutions saw decreases.
“You take that flat market and the numbert of facilities here that are doingheargt procedures, and it gets a little he said. has seen a slighft decline in cardiovascular surgery, CEO David Carpenter said. But the hospital has seen steady volumes if cath lab and othere cardiac proceduresare included. The primary declinwe nationally and in the Kansae City area has been in what are calledCABG (pronounced cabbage) procedures, or coronary artery bypasse graft. “We have stayed more steady thanmost programs,” Carpentedr said.
“I just had a study put in front of me from that indicatee the numbersof open-heart surgery procedures from 2000 to 2005 had droppeed by 46 percent in the United States. We’ve seen a substantiakl rise in our CV surgeries during thatsame time.” But the changintg marketplace is why North Kansas City Hospitalp has focused on increasingy and monitoring the quality of its cardiav services, Carpenter said. That includes plans for a new , whic h will be built on the 11th floor of the HealthServices Pavilion. Construction will start in the next few and it will open ayear later. “We know the programsw that do more procedures have higher quality and better Carpenter said.
“Plain and simple, volume I think the larger programs are going to have a greatee opportunity to survive and thrive in the CEO Julie Quirin agrees that smaller programs may see the impact of thischangingv marketplace. Saint Luke’s has seen a flat-lining of cardiovasculadr procedures, declining only insignificantly in some she said. Saint Luke’ws opened as the nation’s first stand-alonre heart institute in 1980 and currentlyy is expanding witha $150 million price tag. Jani Johnson, vice presidenyt of the cardiovascular service line forSaintt Luke’s Health System, said the hospital is stillk bullish on cardiovascular care.
“There’s a lot of growthh in peripheralvascular work, in electrophysiology, and with the aging baby we still feel like this is a good businessd to be in,” Johnson said. Susan spokeswoman for , said the Kansa s City market is competitive with a lot of capacithy to take care ofcardiovascular patients. HCA dealse with the challenge by setting up a tierecd system of cardiovascular services that isgeographicalluy dispersed.
For instance, basi heart care may be available in alocal hospital, but the more advanced cases will be done in just a few HCA David Ireland, business manager for , said he doesn’yt think smaller programs will struggle in the new The trend he sees in Kansaa City is toward providing more cardiovascular care in the patient’ s home community. Doctors in his practice recently began providint care at in Blue Springs and are drawing patientsw fromsurrounding communities. It is only the more in-depthg surgeries, such as open-heart, that need to be aggregateed at centersof excellence, he said.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Hawaii mac nut harvest up 22% - Portland Business Journal:
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Hawaii’s 2008-09 mac nut harvest this year is up 22 percengtto 50,000 pounds, the U.S. Department of Agricultures reported Monday. That’s up from 41,000 pounds the previouss year, the smallest harvest since 1985. Growers are gettingf paid more, too, a net 67 centss per pound, up from 60 centzs the previous year. The season startx July 1 and ends the followingJune 30. “Timely showers and an increased demandfor in-shelpl nuts contributed to this season’s higher the USDA said, but also noted that pigs, pests and volcanic haze on the Big Island damagefd some orchards.
But the prices growers are gettingv is still far below the peak of 90 cents in the late The report said some Hawaii growers deciderdit wasn’t worth picking the crop “and may switch to other commodities or temporarily stop farming.” Harvested mac nut acreage was the same as the previouxs year at 15,000, but the yield per acre was up from 2.7 to 3.3. The numbe of mac nut farms was also up from 525to 570, but down from 650 in 2004.
Hawaii’s 2008-09 mac nut harvest this year is up 22 percengtto 50,000 pounds, the U.S. Department of Agricultures reported Monday. That’s up from 41,000 pounds the previouss year, the smallest harvest since 1985. Growers are gettingf paid more, too, a net 67 centss per pound, up from 60 centzs the previous year. The season startx July 1 and ends the followingJune 30. “Timely showers and an increased demandfor in-shelpl nuts contributed to this season’s higher the USDA said, but also noted that pigs, pests and volcanic haze on the Big Island damagefd some orchards.
But the prices growers are gettingv is still far below the peak of 90 cents in the late The report said some Hawaii growers deciderdit wasn’t worth picking the crop “and may switch to other commodities or temporarily stop farming.” Harvested mac nut acreage was the same as the previouxs year at 15,000, but the yield per acre was up from 2.7 to 3.3. The numbe of mac nut farms was also up from 525to 570, but down from 650 in 2004.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Stanford, Canary Foundation plan $20M cancer center - Boston Business Journal:
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Canary Foundation is pledging $15 milliom toward the center, doubling its earlier commitment to suppory early detection research atthe university. The medical school, together with the school's Departmengt of Radiology, is committing $5 millio through faculty recruitments, research facilities, and other The center will be ledby Dr. Sanjiv Sam Gambhir and will include new faculty hiress in both ex vivo and invivo diagnostics.
The center is locatexd in a newly renovated School of Medicind building on California Avenue in Palo Alto and it will have stronfg ties to the NationalkCancer Institute-designated Stanford Cancer Center with a view towards translating the early detectiomn research into clinical practice. Canarty Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to the goal of identifying cancefr early through a simple blood test and then isolatingy itwith imaging. Since 2004, Canaryu has raised over $30 million to support earluy detection research.
Canary Foundation is pledging $15 milliom toward the center, doubling its earlier commitment to suppory early detection research atthe university. The medical school, together with the school's Departmengt of Radiology, is committing $5 millio through faculty recruitments, research facilities, and other The center will be ledby Dr. Sanjiv Sam Gambhir and will include new faculty hiress in both ex vivo and invivo diagnostics.
The center is locatexd in a newly renovated School of Medicind building on California Avenue in Palo Alto and it will have stronfg ties to the NationalkCancer Institute-designated Stanford Cancer Center with a view towards translating the early detectiomn research into clinical practice. Canarty Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to the goal of identifying cancefr early through a simple blood test and then isolatingy itwith imaging. Since 2004, Canaryu has raised over $30 million to support earluy detection research.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Goals and goalies aplenty in wild Wild win - Minneapolis Star Tribune
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The Star-Ledger - NJ.com | Goals and goalies aplenty in wild Wild win Minneapolis Star Tribune Five goals were scored in the first period in the first Wild-New Jersey Devils game in history without Jacques Lemaire on one of the two benches. If Jacques Lemaire was watching at home with his feet up in western Florida (not bloody likely), ... Devils, Martin Brodeur » |
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Duke, CFO study: CFOs foresee more job cuts, credit woes - Washington Business Journal:
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The quarterly Duke University/CFO Magazine Global Business Outlool Surveyasked 1,309 CFOs worldwidse about their expectations for the economy. Their answerx paint a gloomy picture for the rest ofthe * CFOs in the U.S. and Europe expectecd employment to shrinkby 5.5 with the unemployment rate in the U.S. seen rising to perhapx as high as 12 percent in the next 12 Employment in Asia is expectef to recedeby 1.
2 “Presumably, government programs will offset some of these but even the most optimistic government forecastxs would reduce the losses by only 2 million,” said Campbell founding director of the surve and international business professor at Duke’as Fuqua School of Business. “We’re facingf the possibility of another 4 millionlost * U.S. and European CFOs foresees capital spending plunging by more than 10 In Asia, CFOs anticipate a 3 percengt decline. * Six in 10 U.S.
companies covered by the survet reported having trouble finding creditr or acquiring credit at a reasonable Among those firms encounteringcredit impediments, 42 percent say the credigt markets have gotten worse this year, while 23 percenr say conditions have improved. * Weak consume r demand and the credit markets ranked as the top two external concernamong U.S. chief financial with the federal government’s policiees coming in third. Among internapl concerns, CFOs are losing the most sleepp over their inability to plan due toeconomic uncertainty, managing theird companies’ capital and liquidity, and maintaining employee morale.
Despite all the negative indicators, a majorit y of the CFOs in the Unitex States and Asia reported being more optimistix this quarter than they were thepreviousa quarter. That was not the case in where only 30 percent of the CFOs said they were more compared to the 31 percent who said they wereless “Our survey carries an important message: Don’t put too much weighf on the ‘soft’ data like consumer confidence. Recoverty requires sustained confidence, and such confidenc is forged by strongereconomic fundamentals,” Harveyu said.
“The economic fundamentals –- employment, capitalp spending, the cost of credit – are still fundamentalluy troubling.” To see the complete survey go to the officialWeb .
The quarterly Duke University/CFO Magazine Global Business Outlool Surveyasked 1,309 CFOs worldwidse about their expectations for the economy. Their answerx paint a gloomy picture for the rest ofthe * CFOs in the U.S. and Europe expectecd employment to shrinkby 5.5 with the unemployment rate in the U.S. seen rising to perhapx as high as 12 percent in the next 12 Employment in Asia is expectef to recedeby 1.
2 “Presumably, government programs will offset some of these but even the most optimistic government forecastxs would reduce the losses by only 2 million,” said Campbell founding director of the surve and international business professor at Duke’as Fuqua School of Business. “We’re facingf the possibility of another 4 millionlost * U.S. and European CFOs foresees capital spending plunging by more than 10 In Asia, CFOs anticipate a 3 percengt decline. * Six in 10 U.S.
companies covered by the survet reported having trouble finding creditr or acquiring credit at a reasonable Among those firms encounteringcredit impediments, 42 percent say the credigt markets have gotten worse this year, while 23 percenr say conditions have improved. * Weak consume r demand and the credit markets ranked as the top two external concernamong U.S. chief financial with the federal government’s policiees coming in third. Among internapl concerns, CFOs are losing the most sleepp over their inability to plan due toeconomic uncertainty, managing theird companies’ capital and liquidity, and maintaining employee morale.
Despite all the negative indicators, a majorit y of the CFOs in the Unitex States and Asia reported being more optimistix this quarter than they were thepreviousa quarter. That was not the case in where only 30 percent of the CFOs said they were more compared to the 31 percent who said they wereless “Our survey carries an important message: Don’t put too much weighf on the ‘soft’ data like consumer confidence. Recoverty requires sustained confidence, and such confidenc is forged by strongereconomic fundamentals,” Harveyu said.
“The economic fundamentals –- employment, capitalp spending, the cost of credit – are still fundamentalluy troubling.” To see the complete survey go to the officialWeb .
Monday, November 28, 2011
Generals Will Meet Clippers, Again, in Quest for Super Bowl Berth - Patch.com
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Generals Will Meet Clippers, Again, in Quest for Super Bowl Berth Patch.com The Generals defeated the Clippers in week 3 but much has changed for both teams headed in to Tuesday night's semifinal game in Andover. By Brad Spiegel Trevor Lyons finds room on the outside in the Generals win over Newburyport in wet and sloppy ... HW faces improved Newburyport team H-W, Bourne eye per fection Local Schedule |
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Free Chick-fil-A meal on July 10 - New Mexico Business Weekly:
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The giveaway is part of the Atlanta-basesd chain’s fifth-annual Cow Appreciation Day, which honors its "Eagt Mor Chikin" Cows. In a related promotion, parents can enter photos of their cow-claxd children as part of a "Show Us the online photo contest, for a chancs to win a $1,000 U.S. Savings Between now and Aug. 31, childrehn ages 10 and younger are encouraged to work with an adulgt to submit creative photos of themselves dressedas cows. The contestt Web site, www.CowAppreciationDay.com, has detailsa about uploading photos for the Once the picturesare uploaded, the public can vote for theit favorite photo through Aug. 31.
The 20 photographes that get the most Internet votess will benamed semifinalists. From the Chick-fil-A will select five finalistds and one grand prizr winner based onoverall quality, originality, creativity and skill. The entrant's age will be take n into accountfor judging, Chick-fil-z said. The grand prizs winner will receivea U.S. Series EE Savings Bond with a maturitg valueof $1,000, a catered party for their classroom, free Chick-fil-A Kid's Meals for a year and a digital among other gifts. Also each Kid's Meal from June 22 to July 25 will includse miniatureCow figurines, while suppliexs last.
One out of every 100 of the cows will have gold spota instead of the traditional black spots and will be packaged with a card redeemablr for a freeIce cream.
The giveaway is part of the Atlanta-basesd chain’s fifth-annual Cow Appreciation Day, which honors its "Eagt Mor Chikin" Cows. In a related promotion, parents can enter photos of their cow-claxd children as part of a "Show Us the online photo contest, for a chancs to win a $1,000 U.S. Savings Between now and Aug. 31, childrehn ages 10 and younger are encouraged to work with an adulgt to submit creative photos of themselves dressedas cows. The contestt Web site, www.CowAppreciationDay.com, has detailsa about uploading photos for the Once the picturesare uploaded, the public can vote for theit favorite photo through Aug. 31.
The 20 photographes that get the most Internet votess will benamed semifinalists. From the Chick-fil-A will select five finalistds and one grand prizr winner based onoverall quality, originality, creativity and skill. The entrant's age will be take n into accountfor judging, Chick-fil-z said. The grand prizs winner will receivea U.S. Series EE Savings Bond with a maturitg valueof $1,000, a catered party for their classroom, free Chick-fil-A Kid's Meals for a year and a digital among other gifts. Also each Kid's Meal from June 22 to July 25 will includse miniatureCow figurines, while suppliexs last.
One out of every 100 of the cows will have gold spota instead of the traditional black spots and will be packaged with a card redeemablr for a freeIce cream.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Bahrain's king promises reform after torture report - Los Angeles Times
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Los Angeles Times | Bahrain's king promises reform after torture report Los Angeles Times (Hasan Jamali, Associated Press / November 23, 2011) By Alexandra Zavis, Los Angeles Times Bahrain's king on Wednesday promised reforms after an international commission reported that security officials used excessive force and torture against mostly ... Bahrain's King Hamad promises human rights reforms The Middle East Channel: Bahrain's uncertain future Report finds Bahrain systematic » |
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
UNC Charlotte kicks off ticket sales - Charlotte Business Journal:
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The school tomorrow kicks off its seat-license campaig with brochures, e-mails and a Web site targeting 5,40o0 people who have already expressed interest in supportinthe school’s first football Current plans call for UNCC to begin play in 2013. Last the board of trustees approved ChancellorPhil Dubois’ recommendatioh to add a football program, startingf at the lower-tier division formerly known as Dubois set a target date of June 30 for securinhg 5,000 seat-license commitments, a target the athletic departmenft considers doable despite the floundering economy.
Initial planw called for seat licenses to be soldfor $1,0090 each, but the formal introduction this week included two additionall options: a $2,500 seat license for seatxs between the 30-yard-line markers and an undiscloseds higher-priced option for 200 select top-level donors. Seat licenses will account for 7,300 seats in the school’ s proposed 15,000-seat stadium, comprised of 5,500p $1,000 seat licenses and 1,80o0 priced at $2,500. Together with the 200 premium seats aimed at the largest seat licenses and premium seats will make up half ofanticipated capacity.
Student and facultty tickets, as well as those set asidde for players, will take up much of the remainingbticket inventory. Seat licenses grant buyers lifetime season-ticke t rights as long as they buy the ticketwseach season. Ticket prices have not been set. Fans can pay off the seat licensese in fourannual installments. Dependinf on the seats an additional donation to the school athletic foundationof $250 to $1,50p0 may be required. The seat licensee can also be transferred by their owner to familumembers (starting immediately) or others (beginniny in 2012).
“I think peopld are going to besurprised we’re providing more options,” says Judy UNC Charlotte athletic director. “I’ m very confident people will I realize the economy and the worlc we live in is different from when weannouncefd football, but I think the people who feel they aren’t able to do this have alreadyy dropped out.” Rose and otherxs in the athletic department are buoyed by the strong interesyt in football borne out by the 5,400 tentative commitments collectesd in recent months. Now the schoool must convert those intoactual sales.
Seventuy percent of the peopld on the listare alums, and 73% are not active contributors to the athleticc foundation, says Mike Hummer, executive director of the , the athleticx department’s fund-raising arm. Hummer pointw to those figures as key indicators footbalol can tap into a new and passionate Thereare 47,000 UNCC alums in the Charlotte Consultant Max Muhleman, the and others helpecd the school with ideas and suggestions for the seat-licensed plan. Ad agency Luquire George Andrewds helped create the Website ( ) and othetr marketing materials to support the campaign. If all seat licensese are sold, the school will reap $10 million.
Dubois peggecd startup costs for footballat $45.3 million. Operatinh costs for football and the addition ofseveral women’s sportsw to meet federal gender-equityt requirements will be paid throug h a hike in studeny fees and other revenue generated by the Next month, the school plans to unveil a 25-member volunteer groupo of civic leaders to assist with At the same time, a campus masterplan now unde r way will consider where an on-campu stadium would be located. UNC Charlotte still must sift throughgseveral options, including a possible off-campus stadiuk for the first few yearsw of play.
Those options include a partnership with Mecklenburg County to renovateMemorial
The school tomorrow kicks off its seat-license campaig with brochures, e-mails and a Web site targeting 5,40o0 people who have already expressed interest in supportinthe school’s first football Current plans call for UNCC to begin play in 2013. Last the board of trustees approved ChancellorPhil Dubois’ recommendatioh to add a football program, startingf at the lower-tier division formerly known as Dubois set a target date of June 30 for securinhg 5,000 seat-license commitments, a target the athletic departmenft considers doable despite the floundering economy.
Initial planw called for seat licenses to be soldfor $1,0090 each, but the formal introduction this week included two additionall options: a $2,500 seat license for seatxs between the 30-yard-line markers and an undiscloseds higher-priced option for 200 select top-level donors. Seat licenses will account for 7,300 seats in the school’ s proposed 15,000-seat stadium, comprised of 5,500p $1,000 seat licenses and 1,80o0 priced at $2,500. Together with the 200 premium seats aimed at the largest seat licenses and premium seats will make up half ofanticipated capacity.
Student and facultty tickets, as well as those set asidde for players, will take up much of the remainingbticket inventory. Seat licenses grant buyers lifetime season-ticke t rights as long as they buy the ticketwseach season. Ticket prices have not been set. Fans can pay off the seat licensese in fourannual installments. Dependinf on the seats an additional donation to the school athletic foundationof $250 to $1,50p0 may be required. The seat licensee can also be transferred by their owner to familumembers (starting immediately) or others (beginniny in 2012).
“I think peopld are going to besurprised we’re providing more options,” says Judy UNC Charlotte athletic director. “I’ m very confident people will I realize the economy and the worlc we live in is different from when weannouncefd football, but I think the people who feel they aren’t able to do this have alreadyy dropped out.” Rose and otherxs in the athletic department are buoyed by the strong interesyt in football borne out by the 5,400 tentative commitments collectesd in recent months. Now the schoool must convert those intoactual sales.
Seventuy percent of the peopld on the listare alums, and 73% are not active contributors to the athleticc foundation, says Mike Hummer, executive director of the , the athleticx department’s fund-raising arm. Hummer pointw to those figures as key indicators footbalol can tap into a new and passionate Thereare 47,000 UNCC alums in the Charlotte Consultant Max Muhleman, the and others helpecd the school with ideas and suggestions for the seat-licensed plan. Ad agency Luquire George Andrewds helped create the Website ( ) and othetr marketing materials to support the campaign. If all seat licensese are sold, the school will reap $10 million.
Dubois peggecd startup costs for footballat $45.3 million. Operatinh costs for football and the addition ofseveral women’s sportsw to meet federal gender-equityt requirements will be paid throug h a hike in studeny fees and other revenue generated by the Next month, the school plans to unveil a 25-member volunteer groupo of civic leaders to assist with At the same time, a campus masterplan now unde r way will consider where an on-campu stadium would be located. UNC Charlotte still must sift throughgseveral options, including a possible off-campus stadiuk for the first few yearsw of play.
Those options include a partnership with Mecklenburg County to renovateMemorial
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Metro-area construction employment down 23% - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
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percent drop in one year, accordinf to data from of America The Minneapolis/St. Paul and Bloomington areas combined saw constructiohn employment dropfrom 65,30 jobs in April 2008 to about 50,0090 jobs this April. Other metropolitan areax are notfaring well, either. Construction employment fell in 276 ofthe nation’e largest 299 metro areas over the same time Minnesota’s other metropolitan areas also saw a drop in constructio n employment. Duluth lost 1,500 construction jobs down about 18percent — and St. Cloued saw an almost 5 percent decline. Nationwide, Pascagoula, was hit the hardest, with a 38.8 percen drop.
Only a handful of the country’s metropolitan areas experienced an increase in construction including Decatur, Ill., which saw a 5.7 percent AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson said the data highlights the need for federaol stimulus funds to flow quickly and easily into states. “Job-loss figures like these are exactly what prompted Congressz and the administration to craft a stimulus package designed to get Americans back to work as quicklygas possible,” Simonson said in a news Simonson also noted that the construction sector has seen the largest declins in employment in relation to the economg as a whole. Overall construction unemployment wasat 18.
7 percenty in April this while the overall unemployment rate was 8.6 However, these figured have not been seasonally “Putting these funds to good use as quickly as possiblr is the best way to get Americans back to work and the economy back on track,” he
percent drop in one year, accordinf to data from of America The Minneapolis/St. Paul and Bloomington areas combined saw constructiohn employment dropfrom 65,30 jobs in April 2008 to about 50,0090 jobs this April. Other metropolitan areax are notfaring well, either. Construction employment fell in 276 ofthe nation’e largest 299 metro areas over the same time Minnesota’s other metropolitan areas also saw a drop in constructio n employment. Duluth lost 1,500 construction jobs down about 18percent — and St. Cloued saw an almost 5 percent decline. Nationwide, Pascagoula, was hit the hardest, with a 38.8 percen drop.
Only a handful of the country’s metropolitan areas experienced an increase in construction including Decatur, Ill., which saw a 5.7 percent AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson said the data highlights the need for federaol stimulus funds to flow quickly and easily into states. “Job-loss figures like these are exactly what prompted Congressz and the administration to craft a stimulus package designed to get Americans back to work as quicklygas possible,” Simonson said in a news Simonson also noted that the construction sector has seen the largest declins in employment in relation to the economg as a whole. Overall construction unemployment wasat 18.
7 percenty in April this while the overall unemployment rate was 8.6 However, these figured have not been seasonally “Putting these funds to good use as quickly as possiblr is the best way to get Americans back to work and the economy back on track,” he
Thursday, November 17, 2011
NAIOP names Highwoods Properties 2009 developer of year - Dayton Business Journal:
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Highwoods Properties was named NAIOP’s 2009 developer of the year and will be honored atthe group’ds Oct. 15 meeting in Chicago. The real estat e investment trust, which was founded in 1978 in Raleigh, to develop, lease and manage officr space, has grown into a large publicd companywith $461 million in revenue in 2008. It owns or has an interest in 382 propertiesencompassing 35.4 milliojn square feet of office, industrial and retail space, and 580 acresw of development land. It’s the largest owned and operator of suburban office properties inthe Southeast, includint Tampa and Orlando. In 2008, it had a total market capitalizationof $3.6 billion.
“Highwoods is clearly a leader in both the real estate and generalbusiness communities, proven by its abilit to outperform no matter what the real estate cycle,” NAIOP Presidenft Thomas J. Bisacquino said in a statement. Presented annuall to one member-developer company that best exemplified leadership and innovation in the commerciaol realestate industry, the award is determines by a five-member selection committeee that uses six criteria to evaluate entries: industry and business leadership; involvement in NAIOP; qualityu of products and services; financial consistency and stability; ability to adapr to market conditions; and social Past award winners includd , , Bentall Capital, ProLogis, and .
During the last severapl years, Ed Fritsch, Highwoods chief executive officer, and his senio leadership team have focused on retaining the best assets in the mostdesirablre submarkets, while disposing of non-core land and buildingd at historically high pricing levels. Proceeds from the transactione strengthenedthe company’s balance sheeyt and funded a development pipeline. Since January Highwoods has delivered $633 million of office and industrial propertiesencompassinv 4.1 million square feet. Financial strength is a criticalp advantage offeredby Highwoods, as the company has significant in-place financial capacitt for funding customers’ space states the release.
Its 2009 goals includd continuing to upgrade the quality ofthe portfolio, deliveringf $93 million of new development and selling $50-109 million of older, non-corew assets.
Highwoods Properties was named NAIOP’s 2009 developer of the year and will be honored atthe group’ds Oct. 15 meeting in Chicago. The real estat e investment trust, which was founded in 1978 in Raleigh, to develop, lease and manage officr space, has grown into a large publicd companywith $461 million in revenue in 2008. It owns or has an interest in 382 propertiesencompassing 35.4 milliojn square feet of office, industrial and retail space, and 580 acresw of development land. It’s the largest owned and operator of suburban office properties inthe Southeast, includint Tampa and Orlando. In 2008, it had a total market capitalizationof $3.6 billion.
“Highwoods is clearly a leader in both the real estate and generalbusiness communities, proven by its abilit to outperform no matter what the real estate cycle,” NAIOP Presidenft Thomas J. Bisacquino said in a statement. Presented annuall to one member-developer company that best exemplified leadership and innovation in the commerciaol realestate industry, the award is determines by a five-member selection committeee that uses six criteria to evaluate entries: industry and business leadership; involvement in NAIOP; qualityu of products and services; financial consistency and stability; ability to adapr to market conditions; and social Past award winners includd , , Bentall Capital, ProLogis, and .
During the last severapl years, Ed Fritsch, Highwoods chief executive officer, and his senio leadership team have focused on retaining the best assets in the mostdesirablre submarkets, while disposing of non-core land and buildingd at historically high pricing levels. Proceeds from the transactione strengthenedthe company’s balance sheeyt and funded a development pipeline. Since January Highwoods has delivered $633 million of office and industrial propertiesencompassinv 4.1 million square feet. Financial strength is a criticalp advantage offeredby Highwoods, as the company has significant in-place financial capacitt for funding customers’ space states the release.
Its 2009 goals includd continuing to upgrade the quality ofthe portfolio, deliveringf $93 million of new development and selling $50-109 million of older, non-corew assets.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Pew: Florida
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released a study , saying Florida’s clean energy economy grew 7.9 percentt between 1998 and 2007, and the statd was among the top 10 for green jobsin “The numbers are impressive,” U.S. Rep. Kathyh Castor, D-Tampa Bay, said during a teleconference Monday “This is going to be the way we rebuild our economu in the stateof Florida.” John DiBella, Director of Businessw Alliances for in Fort Lauderdale, is among those growinb green jobs in South DiBella said he has six employees now and plan s to triple that number this DiBella is pioneering a new technology that uses centrifugall force to separate water from According to him, it is “a more efficient and cost-effectiv e way” of purifying wastewater.
“It’s quited vast, the demand that’ coming to us, and we’rs excited about the future,” DiBella said. His customerw include manufacturers, oil companies, wastewater treatment facilities andfarm interests. Lori interim deputy director of the Pew Center on the said Florida only lags significantly behind othert states on certain public policy For example, she pointed to the state’sw failure to embrace Gov. Charlie Crist’s proposesd renewable energy portfolio standard, which would require a certaim portion of state energy to be produced from renewabled resources such assolar power.
Twenty-nine othe r states already have such a standard in Grange said the state also has yet to participate in a regional carbon and climate change although it is developing its owncarbomn cap-and-trade program. Victor Eyal, president of in Altamonte Springs, said his solard technology distribution company has 40 employeez at its headquarters and hundreds of employeee inits network. He said Florida has good incentivedin place, but needs to fund them He pointed to recent shortages in funding for the state’sz solar rebate programs.
DiBella said incentives for green technology mustbe “What’s important is to keep the flow of monies and incentivex coming, so that young companies can develop new technologiese that could be the next leaders in the DiBella said. • Jobs (2007): 31,122 Businesses (2007): 3,831 Venture capital funds (2006-2008): $116,980,00 6 The study found that the Sunshine State was amon the top 10 for jobsin America’xs clean energy in 2007, with more than 30,000, and it attractedd nearly $117 million in venturre capital in the past three half of which has supported cleanj energy generation.
Grange said the job growth is likely to have suffered since 2007 due tothe recession, but the federal stimulus programn and continued private investment is limitin job losses in the green sector. Nationwide, jobs in the cleab energy economy grewby 9.1 percent, while tota l jobs grew by just 3.7 percenrt between 1998 and 2007, accordinf to the report, titled “The Cleajn Energy Economy: Repowering Jobs, Businessez and Investments Across America.” Pew’s definitiob of green jobs includes engineers, plumbers, administratived assistants, construction workers, machind setters, marketing consultants, teachers and many others with annual incomees ranging from $21,000 to $111,000.
released a study , saying Florida’s clean energy economy grew 7.9 percentt between 1998 and 2007, and the statd was among the top 10 for green jobsin “The numbers are impressive,” U.S. Rep. Kathyh Castor, D-Tampa Bay, said during a teleconference Monday “This is going to be the way we rebuild our economu in the stateof Florida.” John DiBella, Director of Businessw Alliances for in Fort Lauderdale, is among those growinb green jobs in South DiBella said he has six employees now and plan s to triple that number this DiBella is pioneering a new technology that uses centrifugall force to separate water from According to him, it is “a more efficient and cost-effectiv e way” of purifying wastewater.
“It’s quited vast, the demand that’ coming to us, and we’rs excited about the future,” DiBella said. His customerw include manufacturers, oil companies, wastewater treatment facilities andfarm interests. Lori interim deputy director of the Pew Center on the said Florida only lags significantly behind othert states on certain public policy For example, she pointed to the state’sw failure to embrace Gov. Charlie Crist’s proposesd renewable energy portfolio standard, which would require a certaim portion of state energy to be produced from renewabled resources such assolar power.
Twenty-nine othe r states already have such a standard in Grange said the state also has yet to participate in a regional carbon and climate change although it is developing its owncarbomn cap-and-trade program. Victor Eyal, president of in Altamonte Springs, said his solard technology distribution company has 40 employeez at its headquarters and hundreds of employeee inits network. He said Florida has good incentivedin place, but needs to fund them He pointed to recent shortages in funding for the state’sz solar rebate programs.
DiBella said incentives for green technology mustbe “What’s important is to keep the flow of monies and incentivex coming, so that young companies can develop new technologiese that could be the next leaders in the DiBella said. • Jobs (2007): 31,122 Businesses (2007): 3,831 Venture capital funds (2006-2008): $116,980,00 6 The study found that the Sunshine State was amon the top 10 for jobsin America’xs clean energy in 2007, with more than 30,000, and it attractedd nearly $117 million in venturre capital in the past three half of which has supported cleanj energy generation.
Grange said the job growth is likely to have suffered since 2007 due tothe recession, but the federal stimulus programn and continued private investment is limitin job losses in the green sector. Nationwide, jobs in the cleab energy economy grewby 9.1 percent, while tota l jobs grew by just 3.7 percenrt between 1998 and 2007, accordinf to the report, titled “The Cleajn Energy Economy: Repowering Jobs, Businessez and Investments Across America.” Pew’s definitiob of green jobs includes engineers, plumbers, administratived assistants, construction workers, machind setters, marketing consultants, teachers and many others with annual incomees ranging from $21,000 to $111,000.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Minister's request to CITU to call off strike - IBNLive.com
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Minister's request to CITU to call off strike IBNLive.com PTI | 07:11 PM,Nov 13,2011 Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 13 (PTI) Transport Minister VS Sivakumar today requested the Kerala State Road Transport Association affiliated with the CITU to withdraw from the strike call from November 15 to 16, considering the ... |
Friday, November 11, 2011
Kendall
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million foreclosure lawsuit against the developedr of theRivendell single-family home projectg in West Kendall. The Miami-basedr bank filed the foreclosurse action on June 9against Miami-based Crestview II, Marsol One LLC and managinf member Marcial Solis, according to records. The complaint targets 28 unsold homes and home siteasin Rivendell, which is along Miller Drivw (Southwest 56th Street) between Southwest 167th Avenue and the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club. After startinhg construction in 2004, Crestview II sold 103 homes in Rivendell from 2005 througuh the most recent salein January. Fort Lauderdale-based attorneyh Charles Lichtman, who represents TotalBank in its demandsfor $12.
2 million on the outstanding mortgage, did not immediately return a call seeking comment. TotalBank reporteed having $86.4 million in late or unpaid loans, or nearly 6.5 percent of its total as of March 31. In filed a foreclosure actiobn against Crestview II and Solis overa $2.1 milliom mortgage.
million foreclosure lawsuit against the developedr of theRivendell single-family home projectg in West Kendall. The Miami-basedr bank filed the foreclosurse action on June 9against Miami-based Crestview II, Marsol One LLC and managinf member Marcial Solis, according to records. The complaint targets 28 unsold homes and home siteasin Rivendell, which is along Miller Drivw (Southwest 56th Street) between Southwest 167th Avenue and the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club. After startinhg construction in 2004, Crestview II sold 103 homes in Rivendell from 2005 througuh the most recent salein January. Fort Lauderdale-based attorneyh Charles Lichtman, who represents TotalBank in its demandsfor $12.
2 million on the outstanding mortgage, did not immediately return a call seeking comment. TotalBank reporteed having $86.4 million in late or unpaid loans, or nearly 6.5 percent of its total as of March 31. In filed a foreclosure actiobn against Crestview II and Solis overa $2.1 milliom mortgage.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Home inventory drops to 8-month supply - Orlando Business Journal:
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Association members sold 2,131 homes last monthy in the Orlando metropolitahstatistical area, and the sales growth has helperd pare down area inventory supply to single digits for the firstt time this year. June’s inventory had 17,8311 homes available through the Multiple Listing which reflectsan 8.4-month supply at the current saleas pace. In January, the Orlandok MSA had an inventory leve that reflecteda 23.6-month supply and it has steadily decreasedd since. A market with six months of supplty is considered by housing economists to be balanced between buyersand sellers, the association reported.
Inventory is down by 1,29w homes from May 2009, meaning 1,29w more homes left the market than enteredthe market. However, low prices have primarily driven the increasein sales, as nearly 46 percentt of the homes were either bank-ownefd or distressed property sales. Orlando’s median home pricew in June was $131,200, a 39 percent decreas e when compared withJune 2008, but a slight increasse when compared with May 2009. Homes in the Orlandi area spent an average of 104 days on the marker before being sold inJune 2009, and the average home sold for 93.8 percent of its listing price.
About 184 single-family homes sold in the $200,000-$250,00p range, while 10 homes sold for $1 millio n or more and 118 homes sold for less than All agents in the OrlandoMSA — Orange, Osceola and Seminolde counties — sold 2,774 existing homes in June, a 56.9 percentr jump when compared with the 1,7687 homes sold in June 2008. To MSA sales are up 53.8 percent over this time last year, with 12,863 sold last month and 8,363w sold in the same month a year Along withstronger sales, 7,23o homes were awaiting closings, more than double the 3,32i that were pending at this time last Orlando condo market resales, meanwhile, went from 136 sold in June 2008 to 394 saleas last month.
To date, 1,781q condos sold this year, a huge spike from the 691 posteds at this timein 2008. There 176 condo units that sold for up to while 61 sold inthe $50,000-$60,009 range and 11 sold for more than $250,000. Duplex, townhomwe and villa resales also jumpexdnearly 32.8 percent, from 131 in June 2008 to 174 last
Association members sold 2,131 homes last monthy in the Orlando metropolitahstatistical area, and the sales growth has helperd pare down area inventory supply to single digits for the firstt time this year. June’s inventory had 17,8311 homes available through the Multiple Listing which reflectsan 8.4-month supply at the current saleas pace. In January, the Orlandok MSA had an inventory leve that reflecteda 23.6-month supply and it has steadily decreasedd since. A market with six months of supplty is considered by housing economists to be balanced between buyersand sellers, the association reported.
Inventory is down by 1,29w homes from May 2009, meaning 1,29w more homes left the market than enteredthe market. However, low prices have primarily driven the increasein sales, as nearly 46 percentt of the homes were either bank-ownefd or distressed property sales. Orlando’s median home pricew in June was $131,200, a 39 percent decreas e when compared withJune 2008, but a slight increasse when compared with May 2009. Homes in the Orlandi area spent an average of 104 days on the marker before being sold inJune 2009, and the average home sold for 93.8 percent of its listing price.
About 184 single-family homes sold in the $200,000-$250,00p range, while 10 homes sold for $1 millio n or more and 118 homes sold for less than All agents in the OrlandoMSA — Orange, Osceola and Seminolde counties — sold 2,774 existing homes in June, a 56.9 percentr jump when compared with the 1,7687 homes sold in June 2008. To MSA sales are up 53.8 percent over this time last year, with 12,863 sold last month and 8,363w sold in the same month a year Along withstronger sales, 7,23o homes were awaiting closings, more than double the 3,32i that were pending at this time last Orlando condo market resales, meanwhile, went from 136 sold in June 2008 to 394 saleas last month.
To date, 1,781q condos sold this year, a huge spike from the 691 posteds at this timein 2008. There 176 condo units that sold for up to while 61 sold inthe $50,000-$60,009 range and 11 sold for more than $250,000. Duplex, townhomwe and villa resales also jumpexdnearly 32.8 percent, from 131 in June 2008 to 174 last
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Local home sales plummet 30% in May - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
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region plummeted 30 percent in May despite indicationsz more potential buyers are beingh drawn into the real estate market by low interest ratesx and a federal tax incentivefor first-timse buyers. A total of 554 new and existing single-family homes and condominium sold inthe month, compared to 790 a year ago, basedx on preliminary figures releasesd today by the . The overall media sale price fell2 percent, to although prices were flat or rose in four of the six countie s where most of the sales occur. The median pricre fell 7 percent in RensselaerCounty ($170,000) and 4 percent in Saratogza County ($238,800).
The mediann price was unchanged in AlbanyCountg ($205,000) and increased 6 percentt in Schenectady County ($160,000), 13 percent in Schoharier County ($148,500) and 39 percengt in Montgomery County ($106,700). The median is the point at whichg half of the prices were more and half were which is considered a better gauge of the sale market thanthe average. The average pricwe in May fell3 percent, to $213,820. The May resultds don’t necessarily reflect the activity in the market todah since it takes two to threew months for a purchase contrac to proceed to afinal closing.
“I will tell you it has been my experience that open houses are phone calls and Internet leads are GCAR President SandraNardoci said. “The feelinyg is that when buyers become confident that their jobs are secure our marketg will pickup rapidly.” GCAR Chief Executive Officer James Ader has said the sales report that’x compiled in July and releasec to the news media in August will provide a good readingb on how the spring marketf fared. There is one potentiallg telling sign of a possible the overall median sale price has increased steadilysincwe January, rising from $171,700 to $191,900 in May.
When only existing homeds are counted, total sales in May fell 26 That compares witha 3.6 percent declin in existing-home sales nationally compared to a year ago. The mediab sale price for existing home s in the Albany region increased 2 to $185,000. Nationally, the median sale prices was $173,000, down 16.8 percent, according to the . Alban y County: 151 closed sales, down 16 percentg Rensselaer County: 53 closed down 55 percent Saratoga County: 163 closed sales, down 34 percent Schenectady County: 93 closed sales, down 11 percent Schoharie 14closed sales, down 22 percengt Montgomery County: 20 closed sales, no changwe
region plummeted 30 percent in May despite indicationsz more potential buyers are beingh drawn into the real estate market by low interest ratesx and a federal tax incentivefor first-timse buyers. A total of 554 new and existing single-family homes and condominium sold inthe month, compared to 790 a year ago, basedx on preliminary figures releasesd today by the . The overall media sale price fell2 percent, to although prices were flat or rose in four of the six countie s where most of the sales occur. The median pricre fell 7 percent in RensselaerCounty ($170,000) and 4 percent in Saratogza County ($238,800).
The mediann price was unchanged in AlbanyCountg ($205,000) and increased 6 percentt in Schenectady County ($160,000), 13 percent in Schoharier County ($148,500) and 39 percengt in Montgomery County ($106,700). The median is the point at whichg half of the prices were more and half were which is considered a better gauge of the sale market thanthe average. The average pricwe in May fell3 percent, to $213,820. The May resultds don’t necessarily reflect the activity in the market todah since it takes two to threew months for a purchase contrac to proceed to afinal closing.
“I will tell you it has been my experience that open houses are phone calls and Internet leads are GCAR President SandraNardoci said. “The feelinyg is that when buyers become confident that their jobs are secure our marketg will pickup rapidly.” GCAR Chief Executive Officer James Ader has said the sales report that’x compiled in July and releasec to the news media in August will provide a good readingb on how the spring marketf fared. There is one potentiallg telling sign of a possible the overall median sale price has increased steadilysincwe January, rising from $171,700 to $191,900 in May.
When only existing homeds are counted, total sales in May fell 26 That compares witha 3.6 percent declin in existing-home sales nationally compared to a year ago. The mediab sale price for existing home s in the Albany region increased 2 to $185,000. Nationally, the median sale prices was $173,000, down 16.8 percent, according to the . Alban y County: 151 closed sales, down 16 percentg Rensselaer County: 53 closed down 55 percent Saratoga County: 163 closed sales, down 34 percent Schenectady County: 93 closed sales, down 11 percent Schoharie 14closed sales, down 22 percengt Montgomery County: 20 closed sales, no changwe
Friday, November 4, 2011
Pizza restaurants close, new owner sought - Dayton Business Journal:
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The franchisee for in Dayton, which had locationds in Kettering, Huber Heights, Beavercreem and Sugarcreek Township, closed all four Kyle Smith, vice president of operations for Coppell, Texas-base CiCi’s Corp., released a statement saying CiCi’ s did not anticipate the stores closing. Smith said the closingxs were a result ofthe “economic affecting consumers and restaurants in Dayton and acrossw the country. Smith said employees of the four locations will be offeredx other job opportunitiesat CiCi’s restaurantse in Columbus and Cincinnati. He also said the company is lookinbg to reopen stores in theDayton area.
“We are committecd to the Dayton market and are already activelyu looking for a way to resume operationsa as quicklyas possible,” Smith said. “Wr appreciate the many loyal guests who havesupported CiCi’s and look forward to once again serving guestws very soon.” CiCi’s, which features a pizza, pasta and salad buffet for under $10, operates approximatelu 600 stores in 29
The franchisee for in Dayton, which had locationds in Kettering, Huber Heights, Beavercreem and Sugarcreek Township, closed all four Kyle Smith, vice president of operations for Coppell, Texas-base CiCi’s Corp., released a statement saying CiCi’ s did not anticipate the stores closing. Smith said the closingxs were a result ofthe “economic affecting consumers and restaurants in Dayton and acrossw the country. Smith said employees of the four locations will be offeredx other job opportunitiesat CiCi’s restaurantse in Columbus and Cincinnati. He also said the company is lookinbg to reopen stores in theDayton area.
“We are committecd to the Dayton market and are already activelyu looking for a way to resume operationsa as quicklyas possible,” Smith said. “Wr appreciate the many loyal guests who havesupported CiCi’s and look forward to once again serving guestws very soon.” CiCi’s, which features a pizza, pasta and salad buffet for under $10, operates approximatelu 600 stores in 29
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Downtown Kansas City hotel proposal isn
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Councilwoman Cindy Circo is, too, and said after the consultants’ presentatiojn that she was pleasantly surprised none of her colleagues had expressed reservationas aboutthe $300 million hotel, which woul require substantial public financing. “Let’ss get at it and get off the dime,” said who joined her peers in advancing a proposal tospend $150,000o on the selection of a site, developmentt team and financing team. After the proceedings, however, sources outsider City Hall suggested the exuberance mightg be abit “I just think we need to study it more,” said Kevinj Pistilli, president of the , whic h operates the 983-room .
“This thing seemd to be moving awfully quick.” Proponents, led by officialxs with the , ramped up their lobbyinf last year, after said it was relocatingh a January meeting that had attracted as manyas 8,00o managers a year to Kansas City sincse 1997. Pistilli said Wal-Mart cited severa l reasons for the moveto Orlando, including that city’s superior winter weathere and airline connections.
Proponents of the new convention hotel seizeron Wal-Mart’s contention that Kansas City doesn’t have enougjh hotel rooms near its convention During the May 21 hotel discussion, City Manager Waynr Cauthen cited a 2007 consultant study showing that Kansas City needsw to use seven hotels to accommodate a downtownn convention requiring 2,000 rooms. An insufficient hotep package has cost thecity $4 billiob in business, according to a report presentecd by Rick Hughes, CEO of the Kansas City CVA. He said Kansase City is the only U.S. convention player that has not developed a largw convention hotelsince 1985, when the Marriotf Downtown opened.
“It’s been like an arms race,” Tom executive director of the , said of the nationwide rush to buildhotel space. With area hotel occupancy averaging 47.1 percentg through April — down 6.3 percentage pointsa from the same period in2008 — the city mighr be better off trying to attract more small-- to medium-sized conventions, or “selling what we have,” he Holden cited a 2005 report, “Space which found that U.S. convention attendance has been flat or in declinde sincethe mid-1990s and that cities, ignorin that trend, have creates a glut of convention space. “The report is dated,” he said.
“But there’s still a lot of truth to it. I we used to have one of the top 10convention centers, spacewise, in the Now, all of the major and second-tier cities are trying to get a piecr of that convention and tourism buck. And it’ds not 10 or 12 cities goinfg afterit anymore. It’s probably 200 to 300 Mayor Mark Funkhouser said during the May 21 hotekl discussion that hewould “ger on board” with the proposal only if a rigorous third-parth study shows that the project woulc create net new economic benefitr for the city. Jeffrehy Marvel of Kansas City-based , whichg performs various typesof hotel-project analyses, agreexd with the mayor’s position.
Marvel said the city’s hotel-financing consultants John Kaatzof Minneapolis-based and Mark Tobi of Denver-based — appeared to have done an adequate job of laying out the primary financing alternatives: private ownershilp with public subsidies and public ownership with tax-exempt bond “They get into some case studies involving different cities, the structure they used (to finance new hotels) and the unique characteristicd of each city’s financial deal,” Marvel said. “But the one thing I founrd missingwas results. There’s nothing about how these projects haveturned out.
” Funkhouse r said that two hotel projects citedc in the report “are not making debt Not cited in the report is a conventiojn hotel on the other side of the state — the 1,081-roo m in St. Louis. The hotel opened in 2003 but was forecloses on in February after it failed to meet revenue projectionse and itsprevious , defaulted on its bond payments. The hotelp was put up for auction, and its bondholders took ownership aftertheir trustee, , offered the sole bid of $98 millionb — the amount of debt on the property.
Holdehn of the Kansas City hotel and lodging association said the bondholderzs got agood deal, considering that more than $120 millio in city, state and federapl aid had gone into the Renaissance whiles its private investors chipped in about 10 percent of its “We should have bought it, floateed it up the river on a barge and moved it right into Downtowj (Kansas City),” Holden said. To prevent such a debacle, Marve said, Kansas City needs to analyzer local market supplyand demand. Such a study, he said, woulds address the fact that conventiomn business represents only about 40 percent of downtown overall business.
The other 60 percengt comes from leisure and business travel markets that would be diluted by the introduction of a largdowntown competitor, Marvel said. “I don’t know what I feel abour a 1,000-room hotel yet,” Pistillii said. “But I’m concerned about a rush to buila 1,000-room hotel withour doing the other things that need to be done to increasw leisure and business occupancy. If we don’f do those things, as well as the things we need to do to increasegroup occupancy, we could have a big challengd on our hands.
”
Councilwoman Cindy Circo is, too, and said after the consultants’ presentatiojn that she was pleasantly surprised none of her colleagues had expressed reservationas aboutthe $300 million hotel, which woul require substantial public financing. “Let’ss get at it and get off the dime,” said who joined her peers in advancing a proposal tospend $150,000o on the selection of a site, developmentt team and financing team. After the proceedings, however, sources outsider City Hall suggested the exuberance mightg be abit “I just think we need to study it more,” said Kevinj Pistilli, president of the , whic h operates the 983-room .
“This thing seemd to be moving awfully quick.” Proponents, led by officialxs with the , ramped up their lobbyinf last year, after said it was relocatingh a January meeting that had attracted as manyas 8,00o managers a year to Kansas City sincse 1997. Pistilli said Wal-Mart cited severa l reasons for the moveto Orlando, including that city’s superior winter weathere and airline connections.
Proponents of the new convention hotel seizeron Wal-Mart’s contention that Kansas City doesn’t have enougjh hotel rooms near its convention During the May 21 hotel discussion, City Manager Waynr Cauthen cited a 2007 consultant study showing that Kansas City needsw to use seven hotels to accommodate a downtownn convention requiring 2,000 rooms. An insufficient hotep package has cost thecity $4 billiob in business, according to a report presentecd by Rick Hughes, CEO of the Kansas City CVA. He said Kansase City is the only U.S. convention player that has not developed a largw convention hotelsince 1985, when the Marriotf Downtown opened.
“It’s been like an arms race,” Tom executive director of the , said of the nationwide rush to buildhotel space. With area hotel occupancy averaging 47.1 percentg through April — down 6.3 percentage pointsa from the same period in2008 — the city mighr be better off trying to attract more small-- to medium-sized conventions, or “selling what we have,” he Holden cited a 2005 report, “Space which found that U.S. convention attendance has been flat or in declinde sincethe mid-1990s and that cities, ignorin that trend, have creates a glut of convention space. “The report is dated,” he said.
“But there’s still a lot of truth to it. I we used to have one of the top 10convention centers, spacewise, in the Now, all of the major and second-tier cities are trying to get a piecr of that convention and tourism buck. And it’ds not 10 or 12 cities goinfg afterit anymore. It’s probably 200 to 300 Mayor Mark Funkhouser said during the May 21 hotekl discussion that hewould “ger on board” with the proposal only if a rigorous third-parth study shows that the project woulc create net new economic benefitr for the city. Jeffrehy Marvel of Kansas City-based , whichg performs various typesof hotel-project analyses, agreexd with the mayor’s position.
Marvel said the city’s hotel-financing consultants John Kaatzof Minneapolis-based and Mark Tobi of Denver-based — appeared to have done an adequate job of laying out the primary financing alternatives: private ownershilp with public subsidies and public ownership with tax-exempt bond “They get into some case studies involving different cities, the structure they used (to finance new hotels) and the unique characteristicd of each city’s financial deal,” Marvel said. “But the one thing I founrd missingwas results. There’s nothing about how these projects haveturned out.
” Funkhouse r said that two hotel projects citedc in the report “are not making debt Not cited in the report is a conventiojn hotel on the other side of the state — the 1,081-roo m in St. Louis. The hotel opened in 2003 but was forecloses on in February after it failed to meet revenue projectionse and itsprevious , defaulted on its bond payments. The hotelp was put up for auction, and its bondholders took ownership aftertheir trustee, , offered the sole bid of $98 millionb — the amount of debt on the property.
Holdehn of the Kansas City hotel and lodging association said the bondholderzs got agood deal, considering that more than $120 millio in city, state and federapl aid had gone into the Renaissance whiles its private investors chipped in about 10 percent of its “We should have bought it, floateed it up the river on a barge and moved it right into Downtowj (Kansas City),” Holden said. To prevent such a debacle, Marve said, Kansas City needs to analyzer local market supplyand demand. Such a study, he said, woulds address the fact that conventiomn business represents only about 40 percent of downtown overall business.
The other 60 percengt comes from leisure and business travel markets that would be diluted by the introduction of a largdowntown competitor, Marvel said. “I don’t know what I feel abour a 1,000-room hotel yet,” Pistillii said. “But I’m concerned about a rush to buila 1,000-room hotel withour doing the other things that need to be done to increasw leisure and business occupancy. If we don’f do those things, as well as the things we need to do to increasegroup occupancy, we could have a big challengd on our hands.
”
Monday, October 31, 2011
Seattle, Bellevue luxury condominium towers are slow to fill up - Business First of Columbus:
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The units — at Fifteen Twenty-One, the Four Season s Private Residences, Olive 8, Bellevue Towers and Washington SquareTowers — represent the majorityg of large condos that have opened here in the past 18 In many cases, dozens of pre-sale agreements booked by developers have failed to come to fruition. Countyy records show just 317 units have recorded closerd sales out ofthe 1,322 offered at these five projects, which is fewere than some of the developers had expected to sell at this The sluggish pace of sales is rippling through the region’xs housing market.
Developers have been forced to extend theifr loans andoffer financing, extensions and other supporr to nail down buyers. If sales don’tg pick up, some of the pain could spreads to lenders and others involved with Empty towers also are hardlyya sales-booster for the region’s fragile housing market, which has only recently seen an uptickj in sales following a brutal year. “It’s a psycholog y question,” said Desiree regional labor economistfor Seattle-King County. “I can imagined how people will feel looking around and how confident peoplee will feel inmakingy purchases.” The reasons for the sales slowdowhn are numerous.
Some prospective buyers are having difficultuy selling their current homes to pay for their new which rangefrom $369,000 for a studilo to $9.2 million for a four-bedroom penthouse. Some potential buyerss have either lost jobs or fearthey will. Others no longee qualify for the loan they lines up when they first agreedto buy. With housingv prices still sliding, some buyers also wonder if they might be payingftoo much. “A lot of buyers are questioningy what the real value of those unitsreallyh are,” said land use economist Matt Gardner, a principal in markey research firm Gardner Economics LLC, based in Seattle. Speculators who bet that pricesz would risealso aren’t closing.
Bellevue Towere is being sued by prospectivwe buyers who want their earnest money while some prospective buyers at Olivee 8 are exploringlegal action, the developer “Very clearly the dynamicd of the economy have changed,” said Mark a principal at Portland-based Gerdiny Edlen Development, the developer of Bellevue “We’re trying to work with each individual buyer.” The Puget Sound Businesd Journal used data provided by the King Count y Department of Assessments in calculating completed salesa for each condo project. The recordx run through the first week of June and only includ sales ofcompleted units.
In some cases, developersz have closed on more units since then that have not yet been The Olive 8 development in downtowh Seattle has completed 16 sales out of 229 units since it openedin April, according to county While developer said the project has close at least a dozen more sales, that’s stillk half of the closings it had anticipatec by this time, said Presidentt David Thyer. Across the lake, Bellevuee Towers has recorded just 29 sales out of 534 according tocounty records. The developers, who say they have sinc e closed on several more saythey didn’t have a set sales but were anticipating “more than that.
” To be sure, developers have recentl reported an uptick in buyefr interest as part of the housing market’ss improvement in the last couple of months. Two of the five the Four Seasons and Fifteen say they expect to pay off theit constructionloans shortly. And few new projects are in the workws to further flood the But developers’ sales struggles illustrate the plethora of issuews that are still affecting the residentiak real estate market. As a result, developers are pulling out a host of toold to fillempty buildings. Amonh them: — R.C. Hedreen, the developer of Olive 8, has turnedr itself into a lende r and is offering qualified potential buyerssecond mortgages.
That allows potential home buyerswho don’yt meet stricter condo mortgag e guidelines to afford the said Thyer. “We’re in a position to make those he said. Washington Squarwe developer is also offering second mortgagess at interest rates matched to thefirsft mortgage. — Some developers are offering buyers who have put down earnestg money extensions on their closing date as they work through thelending process, including Olive 8, Fifteeh Twenty-One Second Avenue and Bellevue Towers.
— Bellevue Towers has started a “seller assistancew program,” available to potential buyers who have already put monehy down on a condobut can’ty go through with the purchase because their currengt homes won’t sell. If the buyert has to lower the prics of thecurrent home, Bellevure Towers will similarly lower the price of the said Patrick Clark, principal of RealtyTrust.
— Washington perhaps the most aggressive in its sales strategy, is offering outsidre real estate agents a 3 percent commission on any salese they bring to the The project also has a lease-to-own program under which a renter can apply up to six monthsd of lease payments to the down payment if the rentefr decides to buy the unit. So far 52 unitsz have been leased underthe program. It’s too soon to tell how many will be convertexdto sales, with the majority of the leasezs carrying into 2010, said Mike Nielson, the chiefr operating officer of Washington Square. As developers wrangle with prospective buyersfor sales, they also are workin with lenders.
The units — at Fifteen Twenty-One, the Four Season s Private Residences, Olive 8, Bellevue Towers and Washington SquareTowers — represent the majorityg of large condos that have opened here in the past 18 In many cases, dozens of pre-sale agreements booked by developers have failed to come to fruition. Countyy records show just 317 units have recorded closerd sales out ofthe 1,322 offered at these five projects, which is fewere than some of the developers had expected to sell at this The sluggish pace of sales is rippling through the region’xs housing market.
Developers have been forced to extend theifr loans andoffer financing, extensions and other supporr to nail down buyers. If sales don’tg pick up, some of the pain could spreads to lenders and others involved with Empty towers also are hardlyya sales-booster for the region’s fragile housing market, which has only recently seen an uptickj in sales following a brutal year. “It’s a psycholog y question,” said Desiree regional labor economistfor Seattle-King County. “I can imagined how people will feel looking around and how confident peoplee will feel inmakingy purchases.” The reasons for the sales slowdowhn are numerous.
Some prospective buyers are having difficultuy selling their current homes to pay for their new which rangefrom $369,000 for a studilo to $9.2 million for a four-bedroom penthouse. Some potential buyerss have either lost jobs or fearthey will. Others no longee qualify for the loan they lines up when they first agreedto buy. With housingv prices still sliding, some buyers also wonder if they might be payingftoo much. “A lot of buyers are questioningy what the real value of those unitsreallyh are,” said land use economist Matt Gardner, a principal in markey research firm Gardner Economics LLC, based in Seattle. Speculators who bet that pricesz would risealso aren’t closing.
Bellevue Towere is being sued by prospectivwe buyers who want their earnest money while some prospective buyers at Olivee 8 are exploringlegal action, the developer “Very clearly the dynamicd of the economy have changed,” said Mark a principal at Portland-based Gerdiny Edlen Development, the developer of Bellevue “We’re trying to work with each individual buyer.” The Puget Sound Businesd Journal used data provided by the King Count y Department of Assessments in calculating completed salesa for each condo project. The recordx run through the first week of June and only includ sales ofcompleted units.
In some cases, developersz have closed on more units since then that have not yet been The Olive 8 development in downtowh Seattle has completed 16 sales out of 229 units since it openedin April, according to county While developer said the project has close at least a dozen more sales, that’s stillk half of the closings it had anticipatec by this time, said Presidentt David Thyer. Across the lake, Bellevuee Towers has recorded just 29 sales out of 534 according tocounty records. The developers, who say they have sinc e closed on several more saythey didn’t have a set sales but were anticipating “more than that.
” To be sure, developers have recentl reported an uptick in buyefr interest as part of the housing market’ss improvement in the last couple of months. Two of the five the Four Seasons and Fifteen say they expect to pay off theit constructionloans shortly. And few new projects are in the workws to further flood the But developers’ sales struggles illustrate the plethora of issuews that are still affecting the residentiak real estate market. As a result, developers are pulling out a host of toold to fillempty buildings. Amonh them: — R.C. Hedreen, the developer of Olive 8, has turnedr itself into a lende r and is offering qualified potential buyerssecond mortgages.
That allows potential home buyerswho don’yt meet stricter condo mortgag e guidelines to afford the said Thyer. “We’re in a position to make those he said. Washington Squarwe developer is also offering second mortgagess at interest rates matched to thefirsft mortgage. — Some developers are offering buyers who have put down earnestg money extensions on their closing date as they work through thelending process, including Olive 8, Fifteeh Twenty-One Second Avenue and Bellevue Towers.
— Bellevue Towers has started a “seller assistancew program,” available to potential buyers who have already put monehy down on a condobut can’ty go through with the purchase because their currengt homes won’t sell. If the buyert has to lower the prics of thecurrent home, Bellevure Towers will similarly lower the price of the said Patrick Clark, principal of RealtyTrust.
— Washington perhaps the most aggressive in its sales strategy, is offering outsidre real estate agents a 3 percent commission on any salese they bring to the The project also has a lease-to-own program under which a renter can apply up to six monthsd of lease payments to the down payment if the rentefr decides to buy the unit. So far 52 unitsz have been leased underthe program. It’s too soon to tell how many will be convertexdto sales, with the majority of the leasezs carrying into 2010, said Mike Nielson, the chiefr operating officer of Washington Square. As developers wrangle with prospective buyersfor sales, they also are workin with lenders.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Free buses bring Chapel Hill livability award - Washington Business Journal:
http://html-tutorial-site.com/benefits-of-converting-psd-to-html.html
The home of the , Chapel Hill beat out more than 200 municipalitieds across the nation to claima first-place City Livability Chapel Hill won for citiesw with populations of fewer than 100,000. S.C., won for cities with populations of more than The contest was judged onthree criteria: mayoral leadership, creativity and innovation, and the broae impact on the quality of life for residents. The U.S. Conferencre of Mayors honored Chapel Hill for its decision in 2002 to no longee charge fares to any rider on its bus the organization said in apress release. Whild many bus systems in collegetowns don’t charge studentzs and faculty to ride, a scant few providw free service to all riders.
The town implementes the fare-free system to encourage peoplse to take the bus and leave theidr carsat home. The plan worked. Ridership on Chapelo Hill transit has more than doublerd since fares wereeliminatedx – going from 3 million in 2002 to a projectedf 7 million this year. “The Chapel Hill Public Transit system is the foundation of oursustainabl future,” Foy said in a press release. “Thix bus system makes Chapel Hill continus to be the kind of placewpeople love; for us it is an investment and it has paid off big time.” The town says it is planninfg a “community event” to celebrate the livability awarrd and that it will release details soon.
The home of the , Chapel Hill beat out more than 200 municipalitieds across the nation to claima first-place City Livability Chapel Hill won for citiesw with populations of fewer than 100,000. S.C., won for cities with populations of more than The contest was judged onthree criteria: mayoral leadership, creativity and innovation, and the broae impact on the quality of life for residents. The U.S. Conferencre of Mayors honored Chapel Hill for its decision in 2002 to no longee charge fares to any rider on its bus the organization said in apress release. Whild many bus systems in collegetowns don’t charge studentzs and faculty to ride, a scant few providw free service to all riders.
The town implementes the fare-free system to encourage peoplse to take the bus and leave theidr carsat home. The plan worked. Ridership on Chapelo Hill transit has more than doublerd since fares wereeliminatedx – going from 3 million in 2002 to a projectedf 7 million this year. “The Chapel Hill Public Transit system is the foundation of oursustainabl future,” Foy said in a press release. “Thix bus system makes Chapel Hill continus to be the kind of placewpeople love; for us it is an investment and it has paid off big time.” The town says it is planninfg a “community event” to celebrate the livability awarrd and that it will release details soon.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
PBA backs expanded River District renewal area - Pittsburgh Business Times:
zolinstanixes.blogspot.com
Sandra McDonough, the alliance’s president and CEO, told the Portlanc City Council on June 17 that the city needws to do everything it can to provide more The council is reconsidering expanding the River District by nearly42 acres, as well as increasw the amount of bonds the city can assume to fund project within the district. The council and the Portland Development Commissionj had first sought the expansion nearl y two years ago but were thwarted by a group complaint.
The Friends of Urban Renewal group had charged that the River Districftexpansion proposal, which would have also redirectedd $20 million in district-generated fundz to a new East Portland elementary didn’t fit technical urban renewal definitions. The councilk will vote on the measure next McDonough said urban renewal provides funding for investmentszin infrastructure, housing, social services and public-privatw partnerships. “We need to create she said. “We have an opportunity to do just that by adoptingv theserevised findings, which address the issues that have been raised abouy the River District expansion.
We can then move forware with the important projects that depend onthese funds.” City Commissioner Nick Fish has said that the constructionh of a new homeless services center could depenrd on urban renewal funds if constructionh is to begin this year. McDonough said the alliancee backs using urban renewal fundw to buildthe center.
Sandra McDonough, the alliance’s president and CEO, told the Portlanc City Council on June 17 that the city needws to do everything it can to provide more The council is reconsidering expanding the River District by nearly42 acres, as well as increasw the amount of bonds the city can assume to fund project within the district. The council and the Portland Development Commissionj had first sought the expansion nearl y two years ago but were thwarted by a group complaint.
The Friends of Urban Renewal group had charged that the River Districftexpansion proposal, which would have also redirectedd $20 million in district-generated fundz to a new East Portland elementary didn’t fit technical urban renewal definitions. The councilk will vote on the measure next McDonough said urban renewal provides funding for investmentszin infrastructure, housing, social services and public-privatw partnerships. “We need to create she said. “We have an opportunity to do just that by adoptingv theserevised findings, which address the issues that have been raised abouy the River District expansion.
We can then move forware with the important projects that depend onthese funds.” City Commissioner Nick Fish has said that the constructionh of a new homeless services center could depenrd on urban renewal funds if constructionh is to begin this year. McDonough said the alliancee backs using urban renewal fundw to buildthe center.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
San Francisco Business Times: Most emailed Stories
ihituvofy.wordpress.com
The Burke Williams Day Spa in Danvillde closed its doorsrecently
The Burke Williams Day Spa in Danvillde closed its doorsrecently
Saturday, October 22, 2011
10 Realistic Ways To Manage Your Student Debt Load - San Francisco Chronicle
zuloraxelewo.blogspot.com
10 Realistic Ways To Manage Your Student Debt Load San Francisco Chronicle Here are 10 realistic techniques that young people can leverage to keep student debt under control. While you can't change the decisions that you made in the past, you can control how you manage your money moving forward. ... |
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Police: Man Brought Son, 3, Along To Burglary - WESH Orlando
lydiryl.wordpress.com
Police: Man Brought Son, 3, Along To Burglary WESH Orlando Police say a Palm Bay had some business to take care of today, so he brought his 3-year-old son along to a burglary. When police caught up with the suspects, they drew their guns, not knowing the child was in the car. Palm Bay Police say they found ... |
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
D.C. awards 3 neighborhood TIF projects - Washington Business Journal:
fugowirik.wordpress.com
Mayor Adrian Fenty announced today thatthrer D.C. developers — CityInterests LLC, Four Points LLC and the will receive a totalof $10.56 million for their plans to bring new shoppingh and amenities to areas that have seen littlew new development in recent years. “These are grear catalytic neighborhooddevelopment projects,” Fentuy said. Fenty, speaking at South Capitol Shopping Center, less than a mile from the Marylaned border, said the new stores would slow the loss of anestimatex $1 billion in retail sales that D.C. loses to the “With this program, we’ll just take the tax dollars from he said. • CityInterests LLC will get $8.
8 milliom for a 530,000-square-foot $108 milliob project to replace South CapitolShoppinfg Center, a strip of stores in the 4000 bloclk near the District’s southern tip that currently includes Domino’s Pizza, Mai’s Nails, a liquor storr and Jackson Hewitt tax service. It woule include 220 residential units, 85,000 square feet of office 500 parking spacesand 47,000 square feet of Chris LoPiano of CityInterests said he has a lettert of intent for 50,000 square feet of office space and is in negotiations with a pharmacy and plans to open a smal grocery store as well. • Alan and Jonathanm Novak of are partnersin CityInterests.
Four Points LLC, whichy is planning a massive overhaul of downtown will receive $1.1 million to bring 11,00p square feet of new retail to four properties it owns in the 2200 blockj of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue a $5.2 million project. One of the retailers is a jazz and soul cafe plannec by entrepreneur Eric Derrick Woody, project managee for the city, said a national chain is considering openint a sit-down restaurant as well. • The Neighborhood Development Co., headedf by former Anacostia Waterfront chiefAdrian Washington, will receivee $742,000 for The Heights on Georgiaw Avenue, a $25 million project in the 3200 block.
The projectr is expected to bring 70 new residentiakl unitsand 10,000 square feet of retail, whichb could include a sit-down restaurant, a coffese shop and a hardware store. Constructionb on all three projects is slatecd to begin inlate 2009. Two are in Ward 8, the pooresg part of the city, where there has not been majo new development in at least a CouncilmanMarion Barry, D-War d 8, said the projects amount to an important day for “ther new Ward 8.” “We will get some taxes and creatd some jobs,” the former mayor said.
Seven developerds initially bidfor funding, and Fenthy said others are welcome to apply and the city will award additional projects on a rolling basis. Projectsd must be at least 10,000 squar feet and be located in one of sixtargetesd corridors. They must also demonstrats a gap in financing that necessitatespublic investment. The D.C. Councill approved $95 million for the program last year. as with projects in Gallerh Place andColumbia Heights, tax increment financing requires that the city issue bonds and pays off that debt using tax revenud generated by the In this case, D.C.
will issue each of the projects a note promisinv futuretax revenue, which the developedr can use to leverage private financing. No bondsx will be issued, according to
Mayor Adrian Fenty announced today thatthrer D.C. developers — CityInterests LLC, Four Points LLC and the will receive a totalof $10.56 million for their plans to bring new shoppingh and amenities to areas that have seen littlew new development in recent years. “These are grear catalytic neighborhooddevelopment projects,” Fentuy said. Fenty, speaking at South Capitol Shopping Center, less than a mile from the Marylaned border, said the new stores would slow the loss of anestimatex $1 billion in retail sales that D.C. loses to the “With this program, we’ll just take the tax dollars from he said. • CityInterests LLC will get $8.
8 milliom for a 530,000-square-foot $108 milliob project to replace South CapitolShoppinfg Center, a strip of stores in the 4000 bloclk near the District’s southern tip that currently includes Domino’s Pizza, Mai’s Nails, a liquor storr and Jackson Hewitt tax service. It woule include 220 residential units, 85,000 square feet of office 500 parking spacesand 47,000 square feet of Chris LoPiano of CityInterests said he has a lettert of intent for 50,000 square feet of office space and is in negotiations with a pharmacy and plans to open a smal grocery store as well. • Alan and Jonathanm Novak of are partnersin CityInterests.
Four Points LLC, whichy is planning a massive overhaul of downtown will receive $1.1 million to bring 11,00p square feet of new retail to four properties it owns in the 2200 blockj of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue a $5.2 million project. One of the retailers is a jazz and soul cafe plannec by entrepreneur Eric Derrick Woody, project managee for the city, said a national chain is considering openint a sit-down restaurant as well. • The Neighborhood Development Co., headedf by former Anacostia Waterfront chiefAdrian Washington, will receivee $742,000 for The Heights on Georgiaw Avenue, a $25 million project in the 3200 block.
The projectr is expected to bring 70 new residentiakl unitsand 10,000 square feet of retail, whichb could include a sit-down restaurant, a coffese shop and a hardware store. Constructionb on all three projects is slatecd to begin inlate 2009. Two are in Ward 8, the pooresg part of the city, where there has not been majo new development in at least a CouncilmanMarion Barry, D-War d 8, said the projects amount to an important day for “ther new Ward 8.” “We will get some taxes and creatd some jobs,” the former mayor said.
Seven developerds initially bidfor funding, and Fenthy said others are welcome to apply and the city will award additional projects on a rolling basis. Projectsd must be at least 10,000 squar feet and be located in one of sixtargetesd corridors. They must also demonstrats a gap in financing that necessitatespublic investment. The D.C. Councill approved $95 million for the program last year. as with projects in Gallerh Place andColumbia Heights, tax increment financing requires that the city issue bonds and pays off that debt using tax revenud generated by the In this case, D.C.
will issue each of the projects a note promisinv futuretax revenue, which the developedr can use to leverage private financing. No bondsx will be issued, according to
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Fred Joseph is a man of many lives
tarpleypymibujuh1491.blogspot.com
His lithe body leaning against a desk in his corner officesat , Joseph pantomimes crawlingf on his belly along a New Zealand reconnoitering skittish trout during an eight-wee trip. When the topicd switches to his early career as a civil rightsw attorneyin Washington, D.C., you’r walking the halls of power first with Morrids Udall, Sergeant Shriver and the Kennedys, then with future Vice President Dick Cheney and future Secretart of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Next, you’rre traveling the hills and hollows of rura l Kentucky inthe 1970s, managing Udall’s Democratic presidential primary campaign.
you’re working grassroots meetings inthe 1990s, tryingf to understand the concerns of community leadersw about Louisville’s plans to revitalize public-housing projectsa on the edge of downtown. In an age of rigid ideology and commercialism, attorney Fred Joseph is like a man from a moreenlightenedd time. A man with a lust for life. Outdoorsman Thomass Jefferson would have understood Fred Like Jefferson, Joseph works for the greatet good, recognized most recently with the 2008 Marc h of Dimes Commercial Real Estate Achievement, or REACH, aware during an event that raised more than $100,000.
Richarrd Fitzgerald, a retired Jefferson County Family Court is oneof Joseph’w closest friends. Fitzgerald has known Joseph since theearlu 1970s, and he remembers taking Joseph to Eastern Kentucky in the days of the Udallo campaign, introducing him to the people leading the efforgt to reduce poverty. Joseph always was close to congressmen who were actives oncivil rights, poverty and justice issues, Fitzgeralx said. “Fred was there at the early days of the war on he said.
Also like Joseph is happiest farming andbuilding “The happiest place on earth for him is his farm in Shelbty County,” said Ken Lewis, a friend for more than 45 “Fred would rather be there than any even one honoring him,” said Lewis, a Louisville-basee entrepreneur who founded a liquor/party outlet chain that he’sx since sold. “Fixing a piece of machinerh or running histractor — that’se the way he mellows out.” Josephn has volunteered for an endless list of communityh efforts, including serving as director of the Universitt Medical Center Inc. and president of the Jewish Communityg Federationof Louisville.
He has served on library landuse committees, legal aid societies and hospitaol boards ad infinitum. And, like Joseph has an overriding affinity forhis state. Workinvg in D.C. as a young attorney out of Wesleyajn University, “you felt like you were righgt at the center ofthe world,” Josepbh said. But it was not his world. Fred Joseph’s great uncle, Oscar Joseph, and Alfred Joseph, founded what is now in Louisvilld and were leaders of theJewish community. (Alfresd Joseph III was supposed to follow his AlfredJoseph Jr.
, into the family but he jokes that “it was determinedf that I had less talenr in any of the fields necessary to become an architecg than any person my professors had ever talkede to.”) Washington was but he always wanted to come back to his hometown.
His lithe body leaning against a desk in his corner officesat , Joseph pantomimes crawlingf on his belly along a New Zealand reconnoitering skittish trout during an eight-wee trip. When the topicd switches to his early career as a civil rightsw attorneyin Washington, D.C., you’r walking the halls of power first with Morrids Udall, Sergeant Shriver and the Kennedys, then with future Vice President Dick Cheney and future Secretart of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Next, you’rre traveling the hills and hollows of rura l Kentucky inthe 1970s, managing Udall’s Democratic presidential primary campaign.
you’re working grassroots meetings inthe 1990s, tryingf to understand the concerns of community leadersw about Louisville’s plans to revitalize public-housing projectsa on the edge of downtown. In an age of rigid ideology and commercialism, attorney Fred Joseph is like a man from a moreenlightenedd time. A man with a lust for life. Outdoorsman Thomass Jefferson would have understood Fred Like Jefferson, Joseph works for the greatet good, recognized most recently with the 2008 Marc h of Dimes Commercial Real Estate Achievement, or REACH, aware during an event that raised more than $100,000.
Richarrd Fitzgerald, a retired Jefferson County Family Court is oneof Joseph’w closest friends. Fitzgerald has known Joseph since theearlu 1970s, and he remembers taking Joseph to Eastern Kentucky in the days of the Udallo campaign, introducing him to the people leading the efforgt to reduce poverty. Joseph always was close to congressmen who were actives oncivil rights, poverty and justice issues, Fitzgeralx said. “Fred was there at the early days of the war on he said.
Also like Joseph is happiest farming andbuilding “The happiest place on earth for him is his farm in Shelbty County,” said Ken Lewis, a friend for more than 45 “Fred would rather be there than any even one honoring him,” said Lewis, a Louisville-basee entrepreneur who founded a liquor/party outlet chain that he’sx since sold. “Fixing a piece of machinerh or running histractor — that’se the way he mellows out.” Josephn has volunteered for an endless list of communityh efforts, including serving as director of the Universitt Medical Center Inc. and president of the Jewish Communityg Federationof Louisville.
He has served on library landuse committees, legal aid societies and hospitaol boards ad infinitum. And, like Joseph has an overriding affinity forhis state. Workinvg in D.C. as a young attorney out of Wesleyajn University, “you felt like you were righgt at the center ofthe world,” Josepbh said. But it was not his world. Fred Joseph’s great uncle, Oscar Joseph, and Alfred Joseph, founded what is now in Louisvilld and were leaders of theJewish community. (Alfresd Joseph III was supposed to follow his AlfredJoseph Jr.
, into the family but he jokes that “it was determinedf that I had less talenr in any of the fields necessary to become an architecg than any person my professors had ever talkede to.”) Washington was but he always wanted to come back to his hometown.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Retail roundup: Major chains with Colorado stores report June sales - San Francisco Business Times:
ralawizewy.wordpress.com
billion in 2008. As of July 4, Kohl’z operated 1,022 stores in 49 compared with 957 stores in 47 states at the same time last Apparel and specialty retail brands remain out of fashion with financiallgystrapped consumers. • reported Thursday its same-store sales slipped 6.2 percent in June comparedx to the same perioelast year, citing the weak economy. Net sales for the same perio fell 2.6 percent to $5.69 billion, down from $5.8r4 billion during June of 2008. Despite continued slow Minneapolis-based Target (NYSE: TGT) said “risk in its credit card businesszare improving. It also experience d “better than expected” margins.
Year to Target’s sales stand at $24.5r billion, down .8 percent compared to the same perio din 2008. Same-store sales are down 4.7 • said Thursday same-store sales fell 8.2 percent in the five-weekk period that ended on July 4. total sales at Plano, Texas-basecd Penney’s (NYSE: JCP) fell 6.7 percengt in June, hitting $1.4 billion, down from $1.60w million a year earlier. Despite the drop in same-store Penney’s said the company’s results were “slightlhy better” than what had been predicted thanks to purchaseswof Father’s Day-related merchandise.
With June’s results betterd than expected, Penney’s is raisin g its guidance for the second quarter andexpects same-stord sales in the quarter to fall on the highetr end of the company’s guidance report for the Penney’s now expects a second-quarter loss in the 8- to 12-cent-per-shars range, which is improved from a previoux forecast that placed the company’s loss range in the 15- to 25-cent-per-sharee range. In July, Penney’s anticipates same-store saleds will fall 13 percent to 16 percent due to delaysd inthe Back-to-School selling period associatef with later school start times.
The children’s division in June was the weakest due to lower levels ofclearance Meanwhile, the fine jewelry category noticed an upswinb in performance thanks to a Diamond Showcasew promotion launched by the • -- parent of the T.J. Maxx chain and others -- said that same-store sales in June rose 4 percenty compared to the same period last the company saidon Thursday. Salexs for the five-week period ended on July 4, were $1.84 billion, compares to $1.77 billion in salesz during the same five week periodin 2008, according to Mass.-based TJX (NYSE: TJX). Year-to-date salew ending on July 4 hit $7.68 billion, up 2 percenty over the $7.
56 billion achieved durinhg the same periodin 2008, accordinf to the company. Carol Meyrowitz, presiden and CEO of TJX, said in a "We are pleased that consolidatex comparable store sales increasecd4 percent], significantly above our We saw strong increases in customer traffic across our divisionsa as the extreme values we offee customers continue to resonate despite the challengint economic environment.
Our strategies of running the business with lean inventorieds and buying close to need are serviny us well by enabling us to flow fres h selections of exciting fashione and brands toour "With above-plan sales and strong merchandise margins for the first two month s of the quarter, and July sales expectefd to exceed our previous we are raising our earninge outlook for the second quarter. We now expect second quarter earnings per share from continuing operationsx tobe $.56 to over last year’s very strong secondx quarter performance of $.48 per share," concluded Meyrowitz. The TJX Companiesx also operates Marshalls, HomeGoods and A.J.
Wright
billion in 2008. As of July 4, Kohl’z operated 1,022 stores in 49 compared with 957 stores in 47 states at the same time last Apparel and specialty retail brands remain out of fashion with financiallgystrapped consumers. • reported Thursday its same-store sales slipped 6.2 percent in June comparedx to the same perioelast year, citing the weak economy. Net sales for the same perio fell 2.6 percent to $5.69 billion, down from $5.8r4 billion during June of 2008. Despite continued slow Minneapolis-based Target (NYSE: TGT) said “risk in its credit card businesszare improving. It also experience d “better than expected” margins.
Year to Target’s sales stand at $24.5r billion, down .8 percent compared to the same perio din 2008. Same-store sales are down 4.7 • said Thursday same-store sales fell 8.2 percent in the five-weekk period that ended on July 4. total sales at Plano, Texas-basecd Penney’s (NYSE: JCP) fell 6.7 percengt in June, hitting $1.4 billion, down from $1.60w million a year earlier. Despite the drop in same-store Penney’s said the company’s results were “slightlhy better” than what had been predicted thanks to purchaseswof Father’s Day-related merchandise.
With June’s results betterd than expected, Penney’s is raisin g its guidance for the second quarter andexpects same-stord sales in the quarter to fall on the highetr end of the company’s guidance report for the Penney’s now expects a second-quarter loss in the 8- to 12-cent-per-shars range, which is improved from a previoux forecast that placed the company’s loss range in the 15- to 25-cent-per-sharee range. In July, Penney’s anticipates same-store saleds will fall 13 percent to 16 percent due to delaysd inthe Back-to-School selling period associatef with later school start times.
The children’s division in June was the weakest due to lower levels ofclearance Meanwhile, the fine jewelry category noticed an upswinb in performance thanks to a Diamond Showcasew promotion launched by the • -- parent of the T.J. Maxx chain and others -- said that same-store sales in June rose 4 percenty compared to the same period last the company saidon Thursday. Salexs for the five-week period ended on July 4, were $1.84 billion, compares to $1.77 billion in salesz during the same five week periodin 2008, according to Mass.-based TJX (NYSE: TJX). Year-to-date salew ending on July 4 hit $7.68 billion, up 2 percenty over the $7.
56 billion achieved durinhg the same periodin 2008, accordinf to the company. Carol Meyrowitz, presiden and CEO of TJX, said in a "We are pleased that consolidatex comparable store sales increasecd4 percent], significantly above our We saw strong increases in customer traffic across our divisionsa as the extreme values we offee customers continue to resonate despite the challengint economic environment.
Our strategies of running the business with lean inventorieds and buying close to need are serviny us well by enabling us to flow fres h selections of exciting fashione and brands toour "With above-plan sales and strong merchandise margins for the first two month s of the quarter, and July sales expectefd to exceed our previous we are raising our earninge outlook for the second quarter. We now expect second quarter earnings per share from continuing operationsx tobe $.56 to over last year’s very strong secondx quarter performance of $.48 per share," concluded Meyrowitz. The TJX Companiesx also operates Marshalls, HomeGoods and A.J.
Wright
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Accelerating Your Returns - Motley Fool
iwegasely.wordpress.com
Accelerating Your Returns Motley Fool In high-tech industries that sometimes seem to move at the speed of light, making sense of technology's accelerating pace can help you become a more intelligent investor. Moore's Law implies exponential improvement. Within 30 generations, a chip that ... |
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Midtown Atlanta: Fancy
shelly-polymer.blogspot.com
and , partners in 12th Midtown on Peachtree, and Jamestown, the developerf reshaping 999 Peachtree, continue to chase and a new Dick’s Sporting Goods, sources familiar with the market say. CB2, an offshoott of home furnishings chain geareds towardGeneration Y, also recently confirmed to Atlanta Business Chronicle that it’s considering whethee to enter the Atlanta market. Selig and Daniel have been tryinyg to landthe retailer. CB2 is interested in West Midtown as well, sources said. The focus on frugal rather than fancy comezs asthe high-end market continuea to sputter, with some analystx saying it may not begin to recoved until 2011.
As Midtown real estate developers have trieds to line Peachtree with new storefronts in the past two the effort has includef the pursuit of luxury clothing designer Tom whose flagship store is onMadison Avenue; famous for opulent handbags and sunglasses; and , also knowmn for its high-end accessories. In recentr years, Selig Enterprises said it wanter luxury retailers and flagship stores to locatein Midtown. However, many of thoswe retailers have shelved plans fornew locations, as affluen t shoppers curtailed spending. Lately, , which has also been a prospectfor Midtown, says it has no new storw concepts planned for Atlanta.
Any talk of an additional Nike locatiojn in Atlanta is nothing more than a spokeswoman for thecompany said. Midtown’s shift in strategyg comes as the , a group of business leaders layingv the groundwork for the Midtown says it’s starting to gain a “criticall mass” of stores and restaurants along Peachtree. At a Midtown Alliance meetingJune 16, Will Herbig, the group’zs director of urban design, said Midtown has added nearlty 133,000 square feet of new retail durinvg the past 18 months, primarily at two anchod projects: Holdings LLC’s Viewpoint, and 12th Midtown.
The additions bring the Midtowmn Alliance halfway to its goal of 1 million squaree feet of retail on Peachtree Street between North Avenude and 15thStreet — the stretchb known as the Midtown Mile. Majort projects along the Midtown Mileinclude ’s Colongy Square, 12th & Midtown, Novarew Group’s Viewpoint and 999 Peachtree. “We’re seeingf activity in Midtown from both regionall andnational retailers, focusing on lifestyle and home Michael Phillips, creative director with Jamestown. Retailere like CB2 and Apple cater to theMidtowj demographic, said Jackie Wammock, vice president of LLC, who specializes in retai leasing.
Midtown tends to be a younger and CB2, for focuses on a young urban shoppersw with good disposable income — somethint Midtown definitely has, she said. While retailers geared to 40-year-olds to 50-year-olds seem to be more affected by the economu andlower sales, moderately priced storess that target 16-year-olds to 28-year-olds “seem to be doing said Tisha Maley, assistant vice presidentr of leasing for Lenox Square, owned by SPG). Retail brokers are finally startin to see improveddeal activity, Wammock said. “We’rde starting to see things loosen upa bit, in certaim categories,” she said, noting restaurants and health clubs have shownh improvement.
“Deals are tougher to make, but we are seeing them gettint signed,” Wammock said.
and , partners in 12th Midtown on Peachtree, and Jamestown, the developerf reshaping 999 Peachtree, continue to chase and a new Dick’s Sporting Goods, sources familiar with the market say. CB2, an offshoott of home furnishings chain geareds towardGeneration Y, also recently confirmed to Atlanta Business Chronicle that it’s considering whethee to enter the Atlanta market. Selig and Daniel have been tryinyg to landthe retailer. CB2 is interested in West Midtown as well, sources said. The focus on frugal rather than fancy comezs asthe high-end market continuea to sputter, with some analystx saying it may not begin to recoved until 2011.
As Midtown real estate developers have trieds to line Peachtree with new storefronts in the past two the effort has includef the pursuit of luxury clothing designer Tom whose flagship store is onMadison Avenue; famous for opulent handbags and sunglasses; and , also knowmn for its high-end accessories. In recentr years, Selig Enterprises said it wanter luxury retailers and flagship stores to locatein Midtown. However, many of thoswe retailers have shelved plans fornew locations, as affluen t shoppers curtailed spending. Lately, , which has also been a prospectfor Midtown, says it has no new storw concepts planned for Atlanta.
Any talk of an additional Nike locatiojn in Atlanta is nothing more than a spokeswoman for thecompany said. Midtown’s shift in strategyg comes as the , a group of business leaders layingv the groundwork for the Midtown says it’s starting to gain a “criticall mass” of stores and restaurants along Peachtree. At a Midtown Alliance meetingJune 16, Will Herbig, the group’zs director of urban design, said Midtown has added nearlty 133,000 square feet of new retail durinvg the past 18 months, primarily at two anchod projects: Holdings LLC’s Viewpoint, and 12th Midtown.
The additions bring the Midtowmn Alliance halfway to its goal of 1 million squaree feet of retail on Peachtree Street between North Avenude and 15thStreet — the stretchb known as the Midtown Mile. Majort projects along the Midtown Mileinclude ’s Colongy Square, 12th & Midtown, Novarew Group’s Viewpoint and 999 Peachtree. “We’re seeingf activity in Midtown from both regionall andnational retailers, focusing on lifestyle and home Michael Phillips, creative director with Jamestown. Retailere like CB2 and Apple cater to theMidtowj demographic, said Jackie Wammock, vice president of LLC, who specializes in retai leasing.
Midtown tends to be a younger and CB2, for focuses on a young urban shoppersw with good disposable income — somethint Midtown definitely has, she said. While retailers geared to 40-year-olds to 50-year-olds seem to be more affected by the economu andlower sales, moderately priced storess that target 16-year-olds to 28-year-olds “seem to be doing said Tisha Maley, assistant vice presidentr of leasing for Lenox Square, owned by SPG). Retail brokers are finally startin to see improveddeal activity, Wammock said. “We’rde starting to see things loosen upa bit, in certaim categories,” she said, noting restaurants and health clubs have shownh improvement.
“Deals are tougher to make, but we are seeing them gettint signed,” Wammock said.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Medium Companies - Orlando Business Journal:
http://goodboxing.net/boxers_170.html
Extra perks and benefits: On-site fitness centefr or instruction, commuter/parking discounts or reimbursements. What employeee say: “TRS has been the best placd that I have worked in the past10 years. I highl y recommend the company to anyone whois self-motivated and wants to become part of a compangy that is highly trusted and respected in the technologty industry.” “TRS is a great company to work for. Managemen t goes out of thei way to make the employees feel welcome and almosf as if they are part ofthe No. 2 The Description: Financial services company specializingh in insurance andinvestment solutions.
Extrwa perks and benefits: Wellness/stress management program, discounrt or reimbursement for off-site fitness, commuter/parking discounts or reimbursements, outsided vendor discounts. What employees say: “We are offered a trip every year, and the companty provides lunch for the entir e staffon Fridays. We have the opportunity to participate incharitable endeavors, which makes it easy to give back to the “I worked on threee continents, and The Meltzer Grou tops every company in Europe or Asia and in the U.S. I have been employefd at.” No. 3 Location: D.C. Description: Commerciao real estate brokerage companyrepresenting office, industrial and retail tenants.
Extrq perks and benefits: On-sitwe fitness center or instruction, wellness/stress management commuter/parking discounts or reimbursements, outside vendor discounts and/or compan products or service discounts. What employees say: “Az a 28-year Studley veteran, I’ve been able to reinvenf myself three times here in significantlydifferent roles. I feel I’m making a valuable contribution and that my work helpsx keepus profitable.” “I appreciats the flexibility to do whateveer it takes to make my clients successful, whichj in turn translates into success for Studley.” No. 4 Provides analytical solutions tocomplesx problems.
Extra perks and benefits: Wellness/stresws management program, discount or reimbursement for off-site fitness, commuter/parkinb discounts or reimbursements, outside vendo r discounts. What employees say: “Decisive Analytics is a terrifiv placeto work. Despitre the rapid growth and sophistication of our this employee-owned company maintains a small companyt atmosphere.” “This company time and time again displayz its commitment to its employeed owners through generous profit-sharing plans, flexible work schedulee and company-sponsored events.” No.
5
Extra perks and benefits: On-site fitness centefr or instruction, commuter/parking discounts or reimbursements. What employeee say: “TRS has been the best placd that I have worked in the past10 years. I highl y recommend the company to anyone whois self-motivated and wants to become part of a compangy that is highly trusted and respected in the technologty industry.” “TRS is a great company to work for. Managemen t goes out of thei way to make the employees feel welcome and almosf as if they are part ofthe No. 2 The Description: Financial services company specializingh in insurance andinvestment solutions.
Extrwa perks and benefits: Wellness/stress management program, discounrt or reimbursement for off-site fitness, commuter/parking discounts or reimbursements, outsided vendor discounts. What employees say: “We are offered a trip every year, and the companty provides lunch for the entir e staffon Fridays. We have the opportunity to participate incharitable endeavors, which makes it easy to give back to the “I worked on threee continents, and The Meltzer Grou tops every company in Europe or Asia and in the U.S. I have been employefd at.” No. 3 Location: D.C. Description: Commerciao real estate brokerage companyrepresenting office, industrial and retail tenants.
Extrq perks and benefits: On-sitwe fitness center or instruction, wellness/stress management commuter/parking discounts or reimbursements, outside vendor discounts and/or compan products or service discounts. What employees say: “Az a 28-year Studley veteran, I’ve been able to reinvenf myself three times here in significantlydifferent roles. I feel I’m making a valuable contribution and that my work helpsx keepus profitable.” “I appreciats the flexibility to do whateveer it takes to make my clients successful, whichj in turn translates into success for Studley.” No. 4 Provides analytical solutions tocomplesx problems.
Extra perks and benefits: Wellness/stresws management program, discount or reimbursement for off-site fitness, commuter/parkinb discounts or reimbursements, outside vendo r discounts. What employees say: “Decisive Analytics is a terrifiv placeto work. Despitre the rapid growth and sophistication of our this employee-owned company maintains a small companyt atmosphere.” “This company time and time again displayz its commitment to its employeed owners through generous profit-sharing plans, flexible work schedulee and company-sponsored events.” No.
5
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
What Do Republicans Want in the Next President? - Fox News
http://being-katie.com/being-on-facebook.html
New York Daily News | What Do Republicans Want in the Next President? Fox News SEAN HANNITY, HOST: And as primary season rolls along, Republicans » |
Monday, October 3, 2011
Coventry Health Care sells unit for $110M - Memphis Business Journal:
vanbeekdulejos1771.blogspot.com
Avon, Conn.-based (NYSE: MGLN) will acquire in an all-cash transaction that is expected to close in thethird quarter, pending regulatory First Health Services providesw pharmacy benefits administration and other serviceds for Medicaid programs; a business that Bethesda-based Coventrty (NYSE: CVH) said was not a primary focus. Coventru said that the transaction will result ina one-times loss per share of approximately $0.55 to $0.60. The company said the loss wouldc be almostentirely non-cash, resulting from the original allocatio n of goodwill from Coventry’s acquisition of in 2005.
Coventryt plans to use the proceeds of the transaction for a combinatiohn of debt reduction and sharde repurchases that should neutralize the earnings per share impact of the deal for the remaindedof 2009. In its latesyt quarter, Coventry reported a 65 percenrt drop in earningsto $44.2 million, or 30 cents per dilutesd share, due to highere sales and administrative costs, and medicao costs that swelled 31
Avon, Conn.-based (NYSE: MGLN) will acquire in an all-cash transaction that is expected to close in thethird quarter, pending regulatory First Health Services providesw pharmacy benefits administration and other serviceds for Medicaid programs; a business that Bethesda-based Coventrty (NYSE: CVH) said was not a primary focus. Coventru said that the transaction will result ina one-times loss per share of approximately $0.55 to $0.60. The company said the loss wouldc be almostentirely non-cash, resulting from the original allocatio n of goodwill from Coventry’s acquisition of in 2005.
Coventryt plans to use the proceeds of the transaction for a combinatiohn of debt reduction and sharde repurchases that should neutralize the earnings per share impact of the deal for the remaindedof 2009. In its latesyt quarter, Coventry reported a 65 percenrt drop in earningsto $44.2 million, or 30 cents per dilutesd share, due to highere sales and administrative costs, and medicao costs that swelled 31
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Ron Cornejo - Nashville Business Journal:
avaohev.blogspot.com
I think Wichita is definitely feeling the downturnj inthe economy, but I don’t think we feel it near as bad as the rest of the I’ve seen people come into our marketr looking for work and finding work, and sayingy that it’s not near as bad here as wheree they came from. So I don’t think Wichita has felt the bruntrof it. Are your companiees impacted by the layoffs at theaircraft plants? It’sd twofold. We’ve not been impacted by the layoffswbut we’ve also seen several good employees lookinyg for work. The market out thered for employees isvery good. The best way to explain it ...
usuallgy when unemployment is at 5percent that’s I’d say, sometimes the 5 percent that don’t really want to work ... and righyt now, the situation we’rr in, we have people that are looking for jobs and wantto work. The work forc out there is really We’ve been affected by the downturn at the aircrafgt plantsbecause they’ve slowed their expansions, therefore some of the work that we wouldx typically be doing is not there now. So we have been affecte by the downturn in theaircraftf industry. Are you in a hiring mode We’ve not laid off anyone.
Typically in the constructio n business our work force pickws up during the So yes, we’ve been doing some And finding plenty of people out there. What are some of the thingsx that Cornejo had to do to adjustt to the market as itis now? We did do some When I say cutbacks ...there’s positionsw that we didn’t fill when people We didn’t ever really lay anyones off. We also brought our management staff togethere andsaid guys, there’s going to be less work out therefore we’re all going to be clamoringv for it. Our margins might be smaller but I thinkwe won’t have to lay off Business as usual, but guys, let’s go out ther and be productive. ...
We did cut back We told our people let’s maintain 40 hour work weeks untilo wehave to. And we will go to 50-609 hour work weeks, which is typicallty what people in our industry do becauss whilethe weather’s good, we have to reallyu pursue it. Has your job changes over the past year? My job hasn’t changed so much, but I’ m looking at things a little I’m watching outside of my market becausew I knowthings aren’t as good everywherew else as they are here so I’m looking arounds me to see, OK, what competitore might be coming into my I worry on bid day, OK, who’ws bidding this and who’s bidding So you do get a little more concerneds because if the economy’s worse somewhere else than it is here that just bringx people to our area.
So our guard’s up, we’re watching. We’red bidding a little tougher, we’red doing business different. We’ve heard that the competitioh for bids is higher because there are more folka coming infrom You’re definitely seeing that? We’re seeing that even withijn our own market. When the housingf industry slowed my competitors that typically were strongedr in the residential marketplaceselling concrete, doing streets and ... That work just completely went away, so they had to find They are more prevalent in my which is more of the arterialostreet business, more of the commerciaol concrete business.
And now they’re vying for the same dollarsd that I usedto get. So we did get a littlew leaner, a little meaner to be competitive. What kind of a messagew do you send out to your folke to keepthem going, to keep them working hard and optimistic?? Right now, and I don’t know if it’s anywher e else, but our employees are very thankful to have a job becausde they see everyone else aroundf them —- friends, peoplde they know, going through layoffs, and righrt now they’re thankful to have One thing that we keep telling them is that we’ve got a full plate of work ahead of us this summer, and that’s just encouraginyg to them to know that tomorrow they’rr not going to get a layofdf notice.
I’m kind of the cheerleader here. I just say you know, this is nothing. In my busineses we went through the fuel crisis last AndI mean, fuel just absolutely was a huge hit for our So we weathered that and now the economy’ s turned down, so it’s a balancing We went through this one crisis and now we’ree going through another one and we’lol get through it. We’ll be fine. We’ll be How does that experience compareto what’s goingf on now? The fuel crisis somewhat caughgt us off guard. In my businessx so much of the work that we had goinb on was hardbid work.
It was work that you had way in you’re only going to get so many dollars for it andit doesn’tr make any difference what happensa to fuel. We had several jobs that we bid and wethough they’d be good jobs, all of a sudden now they’rd marginal jobs. We weathered that and came througjhthat fine. We actually almosrt had a little bit better warning for this time than we did with the The fuel was just And we had to dealwith it. Last year was probably more frighteniny to me than the downturn inthe economy. I feel like we can put our fingef on the economyright now. We know it’a not great, but we can move quick enougghto react.
Are Cornejo and its companiews ingood shape? We’rer very confident it’s going to be a good year for us. I’j fortunate that we’re in the business were in, becausew we’ve not been affected like nearlty a lot of the industries have Arethere opportunities? We have taken advantage of opportunities becausee like with the downturn in the economy it left manufacturers with excesss equipment, excess inventories. So we’ver been able to buy equipmen t and do some of the things for better pricint than we were able to do sixmonthsa earlier. Still looking for those opportunities?
If our workloacd will permit and we see our way clear to continuee to add new equipment andthings ...Right now is an idealo time for anyone. ... I think even anyone who wantw to buy acar today, now is the time to buy a car, so, if a person’sw company’s got the workload and the resources and the I think it’s an ideal time for a company that sees a good futurre to look toward expanding. That’s good advice. Is therde other good advice you have for small business owneras out there who are trying to make itthrouguh this?
I think Wichita is definitely feeling the downturnj inthe economy, but I don’t think we feel it near as bad as the rest of the I’ve seen people come into our marketr looking for work and finding work, and sayingy that it’s not near as bad here as wheree they came from. So I don’t think Wichita has felt the bruntrof it. Are your companiees impacted by the layoffs at theaircraft plants? It’sd twofold. We’ve not been impacted by the layoffswbut we’ve also seen several good employees lookinyg for work. The market out thered for employees isvery good. The best way to explain it ...
usuallgy when unemployment is at 5percent that’s I’d say, sometimes the 5 percent that don’t really want to work ... and righyt now, the situation we’rr in, we have people that are looking for jobs and wantto work. The work forc out there is really We’ve been affected by the downturn at the aircrafgt plantsbecause they’ve slowed their expansions, therefore some of the work that we wouldx typically be doing is not there now. So we have been affecte by the downturn in theaircraftf industry. Are you in a hiring mode We’ve not laid off anyone.
Typically in the constructio n business our work force pickws up during the So yes, we’ve been doing some And finding plenty of people out there. What are some of the thingsx that Cornejo had to do to adjustt to the market as itis now? We did do some When I say cutbacks ...there’s positionsw that we didn’t fill when people We didn’t ever really lay anyones off. We also brought our management staff togethere andsaid guys, there’s going to be less work out therefore we’re all going to be clamoringv for it. Our margins might be smaller but I thinkwe won’t have to lay off Business as usual, but guys, let’s go out ther and be productive. ...
We did cut back We told our people let’s maintain 40 hour work weeks untilo wehave to. And we will go to 50-609 hour work weeks, which is typicallty what people in our industry do becauss whilethe weather’s good, we have to reallyu pursue it. Has your job changes over the past year? My job hasn’t changed so much, but I’ m looking at things a little I’m watching outside of my market becausew I knowthings aren’t as good everywherew else as they are here so I’m looking arounds me to see, OK, what competitore might be coming into my I worry on bid day, OK, who’ws bidding this and who’s bidding So you do get a little more concerneds because if the economy’s worse somewhere else than it is here that just bringx people to our area.
So our guard’s up, we’re watching. We’red bidding a little tougher, we’red doing business different. We’ve heard that the competitioh for bids is higher because there are more folka coming infrom You’re definitely seeing that? We’re seeing that even withijn our own market. When the housingf industry slowed my competitors that typically were strongedr in the residential marketplaceselling concrete, doing streets and ... That work just completely went away, so they had to find They are more prevalent in my which is more of the arterialostreet business, more of the commerciaol concrete business.
And now they’re vying for the same dollarsd that I usedto get. So we did get a littlew leaner, a little meaner to be competitive. What kind of a messagew do you send out to your folke to keepthem going, to keep them working hard and optimistic?? Right now, and I don’t know if it’s anywher e else, but our employees are very thankful to have a job becausde they see everyone else aroundf them —- friends, peoplde they know, going through layoffs, and righrt now they’re thankful to have One thing that we keep telling them is that we’ve got a full plate of work ahead of us this summer, and that’s just encouraginyg to them to know that tomorrow they’rr not going to get a layofdf notice.
I’m kind of the cheerleader here. I just say you know, this is nothing. In my busineses we went through the fuel crisis last AndI mean, fuel just absolutely was a huge hit for our So we weathered that and now the economy’ s turned down, so it’s a balancing We went through this one crisis and now we’ree going through another one and we’lol get through it. We’ll be fine. We’ll be How does that experience compareto what’s goingf on now? The fuel crisis somewhat caughgt us off guard. In my businessx so much of the work that we had goinb on was hardbid work.
It was work that you had way in you’re only going to get so many dollars for it andit doesn’tr make any difference what happensa to fuel. We had several jobs that we bid and wethough they’d be good jobs, all of a sudden now they’rd marginal jobs. We weathered that and came througjhthat fine. We actually almosrt had a little bit better warning for this time than we did with the The fuel was just And we had to dealwith it. Last year was probably more frighteniny to me than the downturn inthe economy. I feel like we can put our fingef on the economyright now. We know it’a not great, but we can move quick enougghto react.
Are Cornejo and its companiews ingood shape? We’rer very confident it’s going to be a good year for us. I’j fortunate that we’re in the business were in, becausew we’ve not been affected like nearlty a lot of the industries have Arethere opportunities? We have taken advantage of opportunities becausee like with the downturn in the economy it left manufacturers with excesss equipment, excess inventories. So we’ver been able to buy equipmen t and do some of the things for better pricint than we were able to do sixmonthsa earlier. Still looking for those opportunities?
If our workloacd will permit and we see our way clear to continuee to add new equipment andthings ...Right now is an idealo time for anyone. ... I think even anyone who wantw to buy acar today, now is the time to buy a car, so, if a person’sw company’s got the workload and the resources and the I think it’s an ideal time for a company that sees a good futurre to look toward expanding. That’s good advice. Is therde other good advice you have for small business owneras out there who are trying to make itthrouguh this?
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Less nudity for 'Hung' pimp Creskoff - Philadelphia Inquirer
domnaofyvisyhojo.blogspot.com
PopMatters | Less nudity for 'Hung' pimp Creskoff Philadelphia Inquirer THERE'S GOOD AND BAD news for fans of HBO's "Hung." There is even more nudity and sex in the upcoming season, which premieres next Sunday, but it does not feature Elkins Park native Rebecca Creskoff. "I am probably the one with my clothes ... HBO's 'Hung' Returns, Looking A Little Flaccid Hung, Tuesday, 10.30pm, Seven/GWN7 Things F » |
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