Despite Florida Gov. Charlie Crist’s (I) authorization this month of as much as $200 million for a long-term effort to provide upgraded sewer systems for the Florida Keys, the prospects are poor for funding in total the estimated $937-million project. The governor’s action—which also extended the project deadline to 2015 from July 2010—does not provide a timeline for delivery of the Everglades Restoration bonds; it only authorizes the Florida Legislature to initiate the $200 million in bonding sometime in the future. Liz Wood, Monroe County’s senior administrator for sewer projects, says the nine municipalities and utilities that will build the
Mid-Atlantic Construction magazine�s publisher, McGraw-Hill Construction, regularly reports on the pace of new construction contract activity for all 50 states, the District of Columbia and numerous metropolitan areas. Here, Mid-Atlantic Construction presents its first quarterly report on the pace of new contracts within the region of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Eastern Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. (For the purposes of consistency, the numbers presented here will include the entire state of Pennsylvania.) Delaware Through the first three months of 2010, Delaware�s construction contract activity has been wildly up or down compared to the same period of a year ago. For instance, January�s
Hundreds of Florida transportation contractors descended upon Tallahassee last week to rally against a pending $160-million raid of the State Transportation Trust Fund and to encourage Gov. Charlie Crist to use his veto power to stop it. It�s the last hope to stop the transfer of funds, says Robert G. Burleson, president of the Florida Transportation Builders Association of Tallahassee. Photo courtesy FTBA Members of the Florida Transportation Builders Association made the choice clear to state legislators poised to cut approximately $160 million from the state's transportation fund. Photo courtesy FTBA This "road sign" conveyed FTBA's stance on raiding road
The Orlando Magic weren�t able to top Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in last year�s Finals of the National Basketball Association playoffs. Image courtesy the Orlando Magic This rendering of the new Amway Arena showcases the "entry beacon" that will serve as the building's focal point. Photo courtesy the City of Orlando A recent aerial photo of the Amway Arena project. The city-owned project is scheduled for completion by October. But when it comes to the $480-million, 875,000-sq-ft Amway Center, the Magic and their partners with the city of Orlando are pretty confident they’re going to the top
Editor’s Note: Portions of this article originally appeared on ENR.com. The warning shot came in a federal court in Louisiana, and it may signal the beginning of the end of one of the more costly aspects of the homebuilding boom of 2004-2007. Federal Judge Eldon Fallon in New Orleans ordered Taishan Gypsum Co. Ltd. to pay seven Virginia families a total of $2.6 million to remediate defective Chinese-made drywall in their homes. The case is the first of several class-action lawsuits filed against manufacturers of material that has proven to be a veritable nightmare—and source of odors—for thousands of homeowners.
The warning shot came in a federal court in Louisiana, and it may signal the beginning of the end of one more costly aspect of the homebuilding boom of 2004-2007. Federal Judge Eldon Fallon in New Orleans ordered Taishan Gypsum Co. Ltd. to pay seven Virginia families a total of $2.6 million to remediate defective Chinese-made drywall in their homes. The case is the first of several class-action lawsuits filed against manufacturers of material that has proven to be a veritable nightmare—and source of odors—for thousands of home-owners. + Image Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Photo: AP/Wideworld Consumer Product
The Florida Dept. of Transportation has hired a team of Kansas City, Mo.-based HNTB Corp. and Wilbur Smith Associates of Columbia, S.C., to serve as program managers for its Florida Rail Enterprise. The FRE is the newly launched agency that will oversee Florida's development of inter-city high-speed rail service. Related Links: Rail Advocates Have High Hopes for Future Funding Nazih Haddad, FRE’s chief operating officer, said HNTB and WSA will assist the agency’s staff on an ongoing basis in developing the state’s HSR program. The two companies had previously worked together as general consultants to the state in its long-term
The city of Orlando has approved the sale of an additional $69 million in bonds to partially plug a gaping funding hole in its originally $1.1-billion Community Venues building program and kick-start construction of the $250-million first phase of the city's new performing arts center. Image courtesy Dr. P. Phillips Performing Arts Center The city of Orlando has approved an additional $69 million in bonds to start construction of the $250-million first phase of its new performing arts center. Funding for the second piece of Orlando’s venues program had taken a hit when revenues from the tourist development tax plunged
Orlando has approved the sale of $69 million in bonds to partially plug a gaping funding hole in its originally priced $1.1-billion downtown building program and kick-start construction of the $250-million first phase of the city’s new performing-arts center. Photo: DPAC Performance center will go forward with mix of private funds and public bonds. Funding for the second piece of the city’s venues program shrank when the recession cut revenue from the tourist development tax (TDT). The city had originally budgeted $130 million for the project; to date, TDT has generated only $10 million. Roughly $70 million in Community Redevelopment
