Construction employment inched up by 8,000 jobs to a 15-month high in July but remained far below the peak set in early 2006, according to an analysis of new federal employment data released recently by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said a grim outlook for public-sector construction activity could act as a drag on expanding private-sector construction. They urged lawmakers to pass adequate long-term funding for public projects, without unnecessary strings attached.The industry unemployment rate fell from 17.3% a year earlier to 13.6% in July 2011, and the number of unemployed people who previously worked in construction
Construction spending edged up 0.2% in June as increases in private nonresidential construction outweighed continuing declines in private residential and public construction spending, the Associated General Contractors of America reported earlier this week in an analysis of new Census Bureau data. The construction trade association’s chief economist, Ken Simonson, predicted further imbalances in spending, with further cuts in public spending likely to offset most or all of the gains in private investment. “Private nonresidential construction is rebounding, thanks to renewed investments in power, manufacturing and warehousing and distribution facilities,” Simonson said. “A small rise in homebuilding also helped overall spending
In Colorado, there are two different types of mechanic’s liens. One type provides for remedies to those who supply labor, materials, services and other lienable benefits for the improvement of property under contract with a property owner or the owner’s agent. We will call that a “Section 101” lien, 101 being the section of the Colorado mechanic’s lien statute that creates that lien remedy. The other lien type arises when owners of property fail to post or serve notice upon others that their properties will not be liable for mechanic’s liens. Those notices must be given no later than five
Loveland, Colo.-based developer McWhinney recently awarded LVI Environmental Services of Denver a $1.2-million contract for the green deconstruction/demolition of the abandoned Cloverleaf Kennel Club near the intersection of I-25 and Highway 34 in Loveland. Courtesy of McWhinney Development Demolition of the 56-year-old dog track started in early August and is projected to be complete by mid-November. Initial stages of removal of the 56-year-old facility, located at 2527 NW Frontage Rd., started in early August and is projected to be completed by mid-November. Poudre Valley Health System currently owns the property, which has been unused for more than three years, but
Congressional failure to pass federal aviation legislation is putting roughly 70,000 construction and related jobs at risk by forcing a halt to $2.5 billion worth of airport construction projects, a top construction economist recently said. The halt of so many airport projects will have economically “devastating” impacts on the industry, warned Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America. “With so few other construction segments doing well, halting an entire category of federally funded construction—airport projects—is exceptionally devastating economically for this industry,” Simonson said. “Tens of thousands of construction workers shouldn't have to suffer because Congress hasn’t
The Commerce City Urban Renewal Authority (URA) announced in early August the purchase of the former Mile High Greyhound Park, a 65-acre site in the heart of Commerce City, which is targeted for redevelopment. Courtesy of Urban Renewal Authority URA board members raised flags to symbolize the authoritys new ownership of the former dog track at a ceremony in early August. The property, one of three identified urban renewal areas within the city, was purchased by the URA to help the city in redeveloping the site as a mixed-use development. Its close proximity to major highways and future two commuter
The city and county of Denver opened a new animal shelter in June, with construction funded by the Better Denver Bond Program. The 36,040-sq-ft, state-of-the art facility is more than twice the size of the original shelter, with space to care for more than 300 animals at a time. The site, located along the South Platte River at 1271 W. Bayaud, also houses a barn, which allows the shelter to accommodate less common domestic animals like horses, cows, pigs and chickens. Photo courtesy of GTC The 36,040-sq-ft, state-of-the art facility is more than twice the size of the original shelter,
Construction on the new $230-million East Tower at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora reached a milestone with the early July topping out of the 10-story structure. Courtesy of The Children's Hospital The new East Tower will connect to the existing 1.4-million-sq-ft, 298-bed Childrens Hospital Colorado facility. The expansion is being built by the joint venture team of McCarthy Building Cos. Inc. and GH Phipps, in conjunction with design partners H+L Architecture and ZGF Architects LLP under an integrated project delivery tri-party agreement. The new East Tower will connect to the existing 1.4-million-sq-ft, 298-bed Children’s Hospital Colorado facility built by the same
CARE Housing’s Provincetowne, one of Colorado’s newest green-built, affordable multifamily communities, recently celebrated its grand opening in Fort Collins, Colo. The property consists of 64 two-bedroom and 21 three-bedroom townhouse and apartment-style homes. Photo courtesy of Drahota The Provincetowne ribbon-cutting included (left to right): Mark Holmes, executive director, CARE Housing; Dawn Davis, commercial lender, FirstBank and CARE Housing Board president; Sister Mary Alice Murphy, founding member, CARE; State Representative John Kefalas; State Representative Randy Fischer; and Terry Drahota, president & CEO, Drahota. Provincetowne will be completely smoke-free and features a community center with a computer lab and children’s play
The Colorado economy will grow at a modest pace throughout the second half of 2011 with slow but positive job growth, according to economist Richard Wobbekind of the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business. “Colorado businesses will continue to experience revenue and profit growth, but we are not going to see the level of hiring needed to seriously bring down the unemployment rate,” Wobbekind said. “And that remains the long-term challenge for our state and the nation as a whole.” Wobbekind, who gives the Leeds School’s annual Business Economic Outlook forecast each December, recently met with the forecast steering
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