The 234 Apartment

The value of new construction starts in July advanced 6 % from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $728.1 billion, according to the most recent report from Dodge Data & Analytics.   Leading the way was a 26% jump by the nonbuilding construction sector , which reflected an improved level for public works and the start of two massive power plants in California and New York.   Residential building in July increased 8 %, as multifamily housing rebounded after three consecutive monthly declines . Running counter was a 7% slide for nonresidential building , following its 14% hike in June, as both office buildings and hotels retreated from June’s elevated activity , outweighing a sharp rise for health care facilities in July.   During the first seven months of 2017, total construction starts on an unadjusted basis were $411.9 billion, down 1% from the same period a year ago. Dampening the year-to-date performance for total construction was a steep 44% declin...

The value of new construction starts in July advanced 6% from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $728.1 billion, it was reported by Dodge Data & Analytics. Leading the way was a 26% jump by the nonbuilding construction sector , which reflected an improved level for public works and the start of two massive power plants , located respectively in California and New York. Residential building in July increased 8 %, as multifamily housing rebounded after three consecutive monthly declines .  Running counter was a 7% slide for nonresidential building following its 14% hike in June, as both office buildings and hotels retreated from June’s elevated activity , outweighing a sharp rise for healthcare facilities in July.  During the first seven months of 2017, total construction starts on an unadjusted basis were $411.9 billion, down 1% from the same period a year ago.  Dampening the year-to-date performance for total construction was a steep 44% decline for t...

T wo weeks ago, a Manhattan Supreme Court judge handed down a decision designed to strike fear in the hearts of landlords. Justice James d’Auguste ordered that an independent receiver be appointed to manage two Midtown residential buildings where the landlords allegedly allowed illegal Airbnb rentals to occur. The case, which began when the city sued the landlords in February 2015, has become one of the battlegrounds in a larger war between city enforcement agencies and short- term rental sites like Airbnb. Airbnb, which was recently valued at $31 billion, refuses to release the exact addresses of hosts who break the law by renting their entire apartment for less than 30 days without being present. Without the addresses and names of Airbnb violators , the city mostly targets the owners of buildings that rack up the most illegal hotel complaints from 311 calls and the New York City Department of Buildings. “This entire model—and it was intentional [by the city]—is complaint-drive...

( College Park Fire Department/YouTube) COLLEGE PARK, Maryland (NBC Washington) - A five-alarm fire at a College Park, Maryland, apartment building burned much longer than it should have, putting firefighters and the public at unnecessary risk, according to College Park Fire Chief Bill Corrigan . The Fuse 47 building on Berwyn House Road was still under construction at the time of the fire. FirefighterNation: Multiple-Alarm Fire at Maryland Apartment Building Construction Questioned in Maryland Five-Alarm Fire Corrigan told the News4 I-Team the standpipe valves firefighters typically use to pump water up through a building in an emergency were left in the "closed" position. The design of the building limited firefighter access to the structure, Corrigan said, and the sheer size also hampered firefighter efforts . "This building was 100 percent within the allowable parameters, but it was built to the absolute max," Corrigan said. "Probably to within ...

Home-sharing services such as Airbnb are great for homeowners looking to make extra money by renting out properties, but for people living in apartment buildings it’s a bit more tricky. Apartment construction has been booming in recent years. Now, a handful of startups are aiming to wring even more money out of that market, both for the building owners and tenants. “Right now, it’s the wild, Wild West when it comes to short-term rentals,” said Sean Conway, the CEO of Pillow Residential, a company which is trying to make it easier to rent apartments on Airbnb. Most big apartment buildings have rules barring Airbnb , so Conway asked property owners what it would take to change that. “And they told us transparency, control, and profit sharing,” Conway said. Pillow, which is now in 12 cities, lets building owners track and control how much tenants use Airbnb. It also gives building owners a cut of the profits — between 5 and 15 percent. Conway said it’s also a way to for tenants to ...

MAPLEWOOD, NJ - The Maplewood Planning Board approved two resolutions, one for a project on Valley Street and one for a project on Springfield Avenue , at their meeting on August 8. 479 Valley Street The Planning Board passed a resolution to grant major preliminary and final site plan approval for a 20- unit residential building to be constructed at 479 Valley Street , with variances and waivers. Sign Up for E-News The proposed project will include 10 one- bedroom apartment s, 9 two- bedroom apartment s, and one three- bedroom apartment . The building will also include a fitness center, a lounge, a parking structure and storage lockers. Following a brief discussion, the resolution was moved, seconded and approved on a unanimous vote. 1933 Springfield Avenue Tim Reynolds had an application pending to convert the former Orange Mattress building at 1933 Springfield Avenue into "The Gym Maplewood." Reynolds stated that he has been operating a personal training facility on...