hustbelogehy1857.blogspot.com
The site will also detail potential carbomn andenergy savings, as well as how much a consumer could save using varioud tax credits and other incentives. City officiale say the tool, called the Oregon Clean Energuy Map, will boost the profile of one ofthe state’s fastestt growing industries and promote Portland as a national hotbed of solar energy activity. “The idea is to reallyg get people excited about solar and show them that other people in the community are doing it and that solar workzsin Portland,” said Lee Rahr, solar program coordinator for the city’ds Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.
The projecgt is the result of Portland’sx designation as a Solar Americw City, a U.S. Department of Energy progran in which 25 cities receive a totalof $4.9 million in grantsw and technical assistance to invest in solare technology. The city received a two-yeadr $200,000 cash grant as part of the program. It also receivex about $250,000 in technical assistance from the Departmenfof Energy, which covered the estimated $30,0000 cost of the Oregon Clean Energy Map.
Portlaned will become one of about a dozebn of the Solar America cities to use the program to deploy solatr map Web sites in a project being led out of the Portlan officeof , the globa l engineering firm headquartered near Denvefr that was founded in Corvallis. The idea was spawned a few year ago after San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom launched a goal ofhaving 10,000 San Franciscpo rooftops adorned with solar photovoltaic systemsa by 2010. San Francisco then contracted with CH2M Hill to come up witha “The No.
1 thing they needed to do is educatsthe public,” said Steph Stoppenhagen, who is leading the solar mapping initiative out of CH2M Hill’s offices near Portland State University. San Francisco’s solar map was launched two years ago, with CH2M Hill retaining the licensing rights to the program so it could offed it toother cities. Using Google Map satellite images, CH2M Hill’ds system prompts users to type intheir address. The map zoomw in and highlightstheir rooftop.
A box will pop up detailingg the roof’s square footage, its estimated photovoltaic potential, the amounty of electricity a solar electridc systemcould produce, how much electricity would be saved per and how many pounds of carbon wouls be spared by employing a In a separate box, users can get price estimatex for varying sizes of residentialo and commercial systems. The Web site will then calculate discounts from incentive and tax credit which in Oregon can accountg for up to 80 perceny of the cost of a CH2M Hill can add or subtract features if SaltLake City, for is considering a feature that would allow userds to judge aesthetic appeal by dragging and dropping picturesd of commonly used solar panels onto the imaged of their roof.
In Sacramento, the company worked with the electric utility on a functionm that allows users to see how much moneg they would have saved on previous electric bills by using a solarphotovoltaic system. Portland’s map, for now, will be a basidc version, with dots showing existing photovoltaic and solar thermao installations while helping users calculate the cost savingd and benefits of installingf solar ontheir rooftop. It will also feature a thermometer denotingthe city’w progress in reaching its goal of hosting 5 megawattss of installed solar energy systems by 2012. The city is now at 3.
2 Unlike other cities, Portland optedd not to call the sitea “Solar Instead, it chose the name Oregon Cleab Energy Map out of the hope that other municipapl governments might want to work with the city on expandinhg the map’s territory, which now just coverw Portland and Multnomah
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
FAR: Florida home sales up again - Denver Business Journal:
xosawewaqa.wordpress.com
Even better news: The statewide median sales price in May for existingh homes and condos rose over the previous according tothe . "Ever since March we have seen a prettyh dramatic increase in the number of buyers," said Bill Richardson, districtf sales manager for in Boca Raton. "We have also seen a slight uptick in median he added. In South Florida, Miami led the pack in volumee with a 76 percent increase in the sale of existing single-family homes. That translates to 597 homes soldin May, comparecd to 339 in the previous same-year period. In the median price for an existiny single-family home fell 36 percent to $194,700 in May from $329,9090 a year ago.
The good news is that the media n pricerose $17,700 from April, when it was Miami also led in condo sales, whicn were up 36 percent to 571 unitss from 420 a year ago. The median price, was cut in half to $140,400 from $280,700 a year ago. it was up $6,900 from when the median pricewas $133,500. Existing home sales in Fort Lauderdaled rose 47 percent to 780in May, comparee to 530 homes sold during the same time a year ago. But the mediam price fell 36 percentto $190,000 from And, it was down slightly from April'z median price of $191,300. Condo sales in Fort Lauderdal were up 25 percent to 799 units last up from 639 ayear ago.
The mediamn price fell 42 percentto $80,400 from $138,900, but was up slightlu from April's median price of $79,900. Existing home salesz in West Palm Beach inched up 5 percent to 737 from 702 ayear ago. The medianh price of a single-family home fell 30 percengt to $232,900 from and was down slightlyfrom April's mediab price of $234,400. Existing cond o sales in West Palm Beachb rose just 3 percent to 676 from 655 units ayear ago. The mediahn price of an existing condo fell 33 percengtto $107,500 from $159,800, but was up $9,30p from April's median price of $98,200.
Richardson said the housinb inventory in Palm Beach County has fallen to aroundd 11 or 12 months from a high in December 2007 of about55 months. The questiomn Richardson hears from most buyers is when will wehit bottom?? "I think we are at the bottom. Do I think the botton will rise dramatically? I think we will rumblre along the bottom for a he said. The one "flhy in the ointment" is the backlog in the distressedproperty market, noted Richardson. Real estate analysft Jack McCabe agreed. "The biggest wave of foreclosures is yet to he said. Add to that the fact that statewidw unemployment has risento 10.2 and McCabe foresees even more foreclosurs filings down the road.
Statewide, existinyg home sales rose 16 percent in May with a totakof 13,921 homes sold, up from 12,044 homesa in the same period a year ago. May existin home sales were up 6.2 percent over April’s statewide activity, accordingv to FAR. Statewide, prices for existing single-family homes rose in May to $144,40 from $138,500 in April. Condo sales were up 21 percent in May compared to the same time ayear ago, and 3.8 percenf compared to April. Statewide prices for existinh condoswere $113,400 in May, up from $106,600 in April.
"The improving sales of existing single-familhy homes and condos is a trencd we have been seeingh for several months in Florida what is new inthis month'a data release is that we are seeing evidencwe of prices beginning to Sean Snaith, director for the 's Institutes for Economic Competitiveness, said in a news The median sales pricde for existing homes last month was $144,400, down 29 percent from a year ago when it was However, the statewide median price for existingb homes in May was higher than the mediabn price reported in each of the previous four months. Year-over-yeatr condo sales were up 21 percentto 4,83i units in May, compared to 3,9998 units in May 2008.
The statewide existing condl median sales price last month was down 38 percent from a year ago when itwas $181,700.
Even better news: The statewide median sales price in May for existingh homes and condos rose over the previous according tothe . "Ever since March we have seen a prettyh dramatic increase in the number of buyers," said Bill Richardson, districtf sales manager for in Boca Raton. "We have also seen a slight uptick in median he added. In South Florida, Miami led the pack in volumee with a 76 percent increase in the sale of existing single-family homes. That translates to 597 homes soldin May, comparecd to 339 in the previous same-year period. In the median price for an existiny single-family home fell 36 percent to $194,700 in May from $329,9090 a year ago.
The good news is that the media n pricerose $17,700 from April, when it was Miami also led in condo sales, whicn were up 36 percent to 571 unitss from 420 a year ago. The median price, was cut in half to $140,400 from $280,700 a year ago. it was up $6,900 from when the median pricewas $133,500. Existing home sales in Fort Lauderdaled rose 47 percent to 780in May, comparee to 530 homes sold during the same time a year ago. But the mediam price fell 36 percentto $190,000 from And, it was down slightly from April'z median price of $191,300. Condo sales in Fort Lauderdal were up 25 percent to 799 units last up from 639 ayear ago.
The mediamn price fell 42 percentto $80,400 from $138,900, but was up slightlu from April's median price of $79,900. Existing home salesz in West Palm Beach inched up 5 percent to 737 from 702 ayear ago. The medianh price of a single-family home fell 30 percengt to $232,900 from and was down slightlyfrom April's mediab price of $234,400. Existing cond o sales in West Palm Beachb rose just 3 percent to 676 from 655 units ayear ago. The mediahn price of an existing condo fell 33 percengtto $107,500 from $159,800, but was up $9,30p from April's median price of $98,200.
Richardson said the housinb inventory in Palm Beach County has fallen to aroundd 11 or 12 months from a high in December 2007 of about55 months. The questiomn Richardson hears from most buyers is when will wehit bottom?? "I think we are at the bottom. Do I think the botton will rise dramatically? I think we will rumblre along the bottom for a he said. The one "flhy in the ointment" is the backlog in the distressedproperty market, noted Richardson. Real estate analysft Jack McCabe agreed. "The biggest wave of foreclosures is yet to he said. Add to that the fact that statewidw unemployment has risento 10.2 and McCabe foresees even more foreclosurs filings down the road.
Statewide, existinyg home sales rose 16 percent in May with a totakof 13,921 homes sold, up from 12,044 homesa in the same period a year ago. May existin home sales were up 6.2 percent over April’s statewide activity, accordingv to FAR. Statewide, prices for existing single-family homes rose in May to $144,40 from $138,500 in April. Condo sales were up 21 percent in May compared to the same time ayear ago, and 3.8 percenf compared to April. Statewide prices for existinh condoswere $113,400 in May, up from $106,600 in April.
"The improving sales of existing single-familhy homes and condos is a trencd we have been seeingh for several months in Florida what is new inthis month'a data release is that we are seeing evidencwe of prices beginning to Sean Snaith, director for the 's Institutes for Economic Competitiveness, said in a news The median sales pricde for existing homes last month was $144,400, down 29 percent from a year ago when it was However, the statewide median price for existingb homes in May was higher than the mediabn price reported in each of the previous four months. Year-over-yeatr condo sales were up 21 percentto 4,83i units in May, compared to 3,9998 units in May 2008.
The statewide existing condl median sales price last month was down 38 percent from a year ago when itwas $181,700.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Couples counseling improves sexual intimacy after prostate treatment - EurekAlert (press release)
U-line Refrigerators
Couples counseling improves sexual intimacy after prostate treatment EurekAlert (press release) HOUSTON - Prostate cancer survivors and their partners experience improved sexual satisfaction and function after couples counseling, according to research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The article, published in the September ... |
Friday, September 23, 2011
MCW to recruit more minorities for health careers - Kansas City Business Journal:
inofiquxi.wordpress.com
million grant from the that will be used to increase the numbefr of minorities and other disadvantager individuals pursuingbiomedical careers. The programm will recruit college undergraduatesand first-year medica students from populations that are under-represented nationally in health-related sciences. The students will undertake a 10-wee k period of hands-on laboratory experience during the summer at theMedical College. Under the guidance of Medical College the students will develop investigative knowledgreand skills, particularly in the areax of cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic or sleep research.
The experience is intendeed to buildvaluable skills, self-confidencde and interest in the health sciences, and aid the successful entry into graduate school or medical school. Dr. Kennethn Simons, senior associate dean of academic affairs and professor of ophthalmologygand pathology, and Jeannette Vasquez-Vivar, associatee professor of biophysics, will lead the program, called the Summer Research Education Program to Increase Diversity in Healtuh Related Research. “The goal is to work one-on-one with each studeny to help them map out a plan for advancing to the next step on theif academic path and providing them with the toolas they need toget there,” Simonws said.
million grant from the that will be used to increase the numbefr of minorities and other disadvantager individuals pursuingbiomedical careers. The programm will recruit college undergraduatesand first-year medica students from populations that are under-represented nationally in health-related sciences. The students will undertake a 10-wee k period of hands-on laboratory experience during the summer at theMedical College. Under the guidance of Medical College the students will develop investigative knowledgreand skills, particularly in the areax of cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic or sleep research.
The experience is intendeed to buildvaluable skills, self-confidencde and interest in the health sciences, and aid the successful entry into graduate school or medical school. Dr. Kennethn Simons, senior associate dean of academic affairs and professor of ophthalmologygand pathology, and Jeannette Vasquez-Vivar, associatee professor of biophysics, will lead the program, called the Summer Research Education Program to Increase Diversity in Healtuh Related Research. “The goal is to work one-on-one with each studeny to help them map out a plan for advancing to the next step on theif academic path and providing them with the toolas they need toget there,” Simonws said.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Survey: Economy causing big workloads - Portland Business Journal:
ucenyt.wordpress.com
More than 4,800 hiringt managers in finance and human resources across 21 countries Inthe report, 32 percent of U.S. compared to 40 percent globally, said that theif finance and accounting departments had been affected bythe downturn. Amontg that group, 49 perceng of U.S. respondents have a hiring freezrein place, 47 percent have consolidatef roles and 38 percenft have experienced layoffs. When askede how the current economy has affected their individual 48 percentof U.S. respondents cited increased stress, comparecd to 39 percent globally. The next most commonly citer effects, both globally and in the were heavier workloads anddecreased morale.
In response to the economic downturh and its impact on their the majority of managerssurveyed -- 62 percent in the U.S. and 70 percen globally -- have taken some form of actiohn to better supporttheir teams. The most common tacticss employers worldwide are doing includeredistributing workloads, uppiny communication with staff and postponing Recruiting challenges have eased the most in the U.S. where only 32 percengt cited difficulty locatinggood workers, down from 72 percenyt last year. But 40 percentg of U.S. respondents were worried about losingf key staff to other jobs in the next compared to the global average of53 percent.
More than 4,800 hiringt managers in finance and human resources across 21 countries Inthe report, 32 percent of U.S. compared to 40 percent globally, said that theif finance and accounting departments had been affected bythe downturn. Amontg that group, 49 perceng of U.S. respondents have a hiring freezrein place, 47 percent have consolidatef roles and 38 percenft have experienced layoffs. When askede how the current economy has affected their individual 48 percentof U.S. respondents cited increased stress, comparecd to 39 percent globally. The next most commonly citer effects, both globally and in the were heavier workloads anddecreased morale.
In response to the economic downturh and its impact on their the majority of managerssurveyed -- 62 percent in the U.S. and 70 percen globally -- have taken some form of actiohn to better supporttheir teams. The most common tacticss employers worldwide are doing includeredistributing workloads, uppiny communication with staff and postponing Recruiting challenges have eased the most in the U.S. where only 32 percengt cited difficulty locatinggood workers, down from 72 percenyt last year. But 40 percentg of U.S. respondents were worried about losingf key staff to other jobs in the next compared to the global average of53 percent.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Washington fifth best in U.S. in tech/science study - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
zutkomi.blogspot.com
In the 's latest "States Technology and Science of77 indicators, which was previousl y conducted four years ago, Washington state scoree the top marks in the country in the categories of highest percentagr of people working in the high-tecuh industry and the percentage of payrollo going to people in the high-tech industry. Massachusetts retainedf its No. 1 rank in the country; it was followedf by Maryland, Colorado, California and Mississippi ranked last.
"Statesz that have a vision and a plan for building andretaininfg high-wage jobs and viable industries are finding ways to investf in their science and technologyy assets," said Ross DeVol, directod of regional economics at the Milken and lead author of the study, in a Milken is a nonpartisan thinkm tank in Santa Monica, Calif. States were ranked on the 77 indicatorxs infive components, including: research and developmentg inputs, risk capital and entrepreneurial human capital investment, technology and science work and technology concentration and dynamism.
In the 's latest "States Technology and Science of77 indicators, which was previousl y conducted four years ago, Washington state scoree the top marks in the country in the categories of highest percentagr of people working in the high-tecuh industry and the percentage of payrollo going to people in the high-tech industry. Massachusetts retainedf its No. 1 rank in the country; it was followedf by Maryland, Colorado, California and Mississippi ranked last.
"Statesz that have a vision and a plan for building andretaininfg high-wage jobs and viable industries are finding ways to investf in their science and technologyy assets," said Ross DeVol, directod of regional economics at the Milken and lead author of the study, in a Milken is a nonpartisan thinkm tank in Santa Monica, Calif. States were ranked on the 77 indicatorxs infive components, including: research and developmentg inputs, risk capital and entrepreneurial human capital investment, technology and science work and technology concentration and dynamism.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Challenger Gray & Christmas: CEO turnover rises in May - Triangle Business Journal:
chauezhelolocu1622.blogspot.com
According to outplacement consultanc yfirm , May departures were up 47 percen from April, when 78 CEOs left their posts. Last month’ds total was unchanged from May 2008. The financial sector had the highesr turnoverlast month, accounting for 15 of the 115 CEO changes For the year, the still-struggling sector has seen 50 CEOs resign, retire, step down or be force out. That’s down from 64 financial CEO departures at this pointin 2008. Despitw the financial sector’s problems, it is not the industrt with the highest CEO turnover for the first five monthw ofthe year. The health-care industrt has seen 77 CEO departures so far this including 14in May.
The 2009 figurer is down 29 percent from ayear ago, when 109 health-carde CEOs vacated their officesa in the first five months. So far this 502 CEO departures have been nearly 16 percent fewer than the 598 announced in the same period ayear ago.
According to outplacement consultanc yfirm , May departures were up 47 percen from April, when 78 CEOs left their posts. Last month’ds total was unchanged from May 2008. The financial sector had the highesr turnoverlast month, accounting for 15 of the 115 CEO changes For the year, the still-struggling sector has seen 50 CEOs resign, retire, step down or be force out. That’s down from 64 financial CEO departures at this pointin 2008. Despitw the financial sector’s problems, it is not the industrt with the highest CEO turnover for the first five monthw ofthe year. The health-care industrt has seen 77 CEO departures so far this including 14in May.
The 2009 figurer is down 29 percent from ayear ago, when 109 health-carde CEOs vacated their officesa in the first five months. So far this 502 CEO departures have been nearly 16 percent fewer than the 598 announced in the same period ayear ago.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Harford BRAC office park in jeopardy - San Antonio Business Journal:
asozyrab.wordpress.com
Rockville’s Opus East LLC, the developer of a 2 million-square-footg business park at Aberdeen Proving has slashed its work force and stoppedr taking on new projects in response to its financial The company also has broughtr on an expert to help it work out its debtx and consider options including filing for Chapteer11 bankruptcy, said Winston Hewett, spokeswoma for parent company Opus of Minnesota. In response to thosre issues, the Army’s top brass at APG met with executives at Opus East to pull togetherf a new development team forits 400-acred Government and Technology Enterprise busines park.
The project, beiny built on government land inside AberdeenProvingb Ground, is the largesy private development for defense contractors in Harford Aberdeen is preparing for an influx of 8,209 military jobs being transferred to the base by September 2011 undert a federal Base Realignment and Closure known as BRAC. Severao thousand support jobs from defense contractors also will be moving to the creating an expected demand for some 2 millionm square feet of privately built space at developments likeOpus East’se GATE project. Just one building has been constructec atthe development.
Military base spokesmanh George Mercer said APG leaderx are determined not to let the project fail and will do whatever they can to selecy a new developer to make sure the projec tmoves forward. As those discussionsa take place, Opus East’s Hewett said executives are weighing whether the companyy or some of its subsidiaries will need to file forbankruptcgy protection. Opus East has created subsidiaries to manage each of its including APG I and APG II for the Aberdeen and Hewettsaid it’s possible one or severa l of those entities might file for bankruptcy, leaving Opus East Harford County Economic Development Director Jameas C.
Richardson said he is troubledx by the situation given the years ofplanning that’d gone into the base’s expansionm and the economic benefitsz those projects could yield. Opus like many commercial real estatwe developers acrossthe country, faces mounting debtxs from the short-term construction loans it took out to start its projects, Hewett said. It has been unablre to refinance many of those totaling atleast $80 because of the sour credit market. As a result of that Opus East plans to lay off aboutf 15 of its 31 employeesJune 15. That numbe is down from a staff of abouft 100 employeeslast year, Hewett said.
“We haven’gt finalized any plans; we are exploring our options,” she This is the latest in a stringb of financial challenges forOpus Corp., a nationalk development firm with projects across the Opus East is one of five independently operated companiews of Opus Corp., which has struggled to refinance its Opus South filed for bankruptcy protection in And in early May, a subsidiaryg of Opus West filed for bankruptc y protection to avoid a foreclosure auction at a mixed-usee project near Austin, Texas. A seconds Opus West subsidiary went into As with Opus Opus West also has brought on help to explores optionsincluding bankruptcy. As recently as May, however, Opus Corp.
officiale considered Opus East viable because defens contractors and government agencies drive much of the demancd for new commercial developments in Greater Despitethat optimism, Opus East has not signed any new tenant at its Aberdeen project since spring 2008, when it signed CACI to a full-buildinv lease. It broke ground on CACI’s 60,000-square-foot research and development buildingv in May 2008 and completed work on the structure inDecembe 2008. Opus East also is involved in legal battlez over two other projects inGreaterf Baltimore. In Linthicum, Opus East is beingh sued in Anne Arundelp County Circuit Court by StraitSteel Inc. over 3,000 tons of stee l the Greencastle, Pa.
, firm provided for Opus East’s West Questr C project. Opus East is building a 160,000-square-fooft office on West Nursery Road for defense contractoe NorthropGrumman Corp.
Rockville’s Opus East LLC, the developer of a 2 million-square-footg business park at Aberdeen Proving has slashed its work force and stoppedr taking on new projects in response to its financial The company also has broughtr on an expert to help it work out its debtx and consider options including filing for Chapteer11 bankruptcy, said Winston Hewett, spokeswoma for parent company Opus of Minnesota. In response to thosre issues, the Army’s top brass at APG met with executives at Opus East to pull togetherf a new development team forits 400-acred Government and Technology Enterprise busines park.
The project, beiny built on government land inside AberdeenProvingb Ground, is the largesy private development for defense contractors in Harford Aberdeen is preparing for an influx of 8,209 military jobs being transferred to the base by September 2011 undert a federal Base Realignment and Closure known as BRAC. Severao thousand support jobs from defense contractors also will be moving to the creating an expected demand for some 2 millionm square feet of privately built space at developments likeOpus East’se GATE project. Just one building has been constructec atthe development.
Military base spokesmanh George Mercer said APG leaderx are determined not to let the project fail and will do whatever they can to selecy a new developer to make sure the projec tmoves forward. As those discussionsa take place, Opus East’s Hewett said executives are weighing whether the companyy or some of its subsidiaries will need to file forbankruptcgy protection. Opus East has created subsidiaries to manage each of its including APG I and APG II for the Aberdeen and Hewettsaid it’s possible one or severa l of those entities might file for bankruptcy, leaving Opus East Harford County Economic Development Director Jameas C.
Richardson said he is troubledx by the situation given the years ofplanning that’d gone into the base’s expansionm and the economic benefitsz those projects could yield. Opus like many commercial real estatwe developers acrossthe country, faces mounting debtxs from the short-term construction loans it took out to start its projects, Hewett said. It has been unablre to refinance many of those totaling atleast $80 because of the sour credit market. As a result of that Opus East plans to lay off aboutf 15 of its 31 employeesJune 15. That numbe is down from a staff of abouft 100 employeeslast year, Hewett said.
“We haven’gt finalized any plans; we are exploring our options,” she This is the latest in a stringb of financial challenges forOpus Corp., a nationalk development firm with projects across the Opus East is one of five independently operated companiews of Opus Corp., which has struggled to refinance its Opus South filed for bankruptcy protection in And in early May, a subsidiaryg of Opus West filed for bankruptc y protection to avoid a foreclosure auction at a mixed-usee project near Austin, Texas. A seconds Opus West subsidiary went into As with Opus Opus West also has brought on help to explores optionsincluding bankruptcy. As recently as May, however, Opus Corp.
officiale considered Opus East viable because defens contractors and government agencies drive much of the demancd for new commercial developments in Greater Despitethat optimism, Opus East has not signed any new tenant at its Aberdeen project since spring 2008, when it signed CACI to a full-buildinv lease. It broke ground on CACI’s 60,000-square-foot research and development buildingv in May 2008 and completed work on the structure inDecembe 2008. Opus East also is involved in legal battlez over two other projects inGreaterf Baltimore. In Linthicum, Opus East is beingh sued in Anne Arundelp County Circuit Court by StraitSteel Inc. over 3,000 tons of stee l the Greencastle, Pa.
, firm provided for Opus East’s West Questr C project. Opus East is building a 160,000-square-fooft office on West Nursery Road for defense contractoe NorthropGrumman Corp.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Landlords in uptown Charlotte taking the long view - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
http://adamswatersheds.org/conclusion.html
The real estate investment firm owns two uptowjn office buildings at 200 and201 S. Tryon St. The buildingas total more than 400,000 square feet or nearly 9% of the firm’ss 4.6 million square foot portfolio. Wachovia is a significanft tenantof both, with the bank’s eCommerce unit occupying five of the 14 floors in the 201 “All of our investors were having what they thoughy was going to be a bad says firm principal Chauncey That anxiety persisted over the months that When Mayfield and other executives from the firm went out to meet with investorsw earlier this year, the questions abou Charlotte continued. “No one wanted to hear abouyt our2009 plans,” he says.
“Theyy wanted to hear aboug what was happening in This month, Mayfield responded with a seven-pagew commentary on the Charlotte real estate market that he e-mailedx to investors. The shortr version: Don’t panic. Wachovia’s new owner, , will likelu stay in the firm’s two buildings at leasg through 2011. And Mayfield says his firm is lookinbg ahead and makingcontingency “If a big user is comin g along, they’re going to need anywhere from 12 to 15 months to plan theif move,” he says, “so we will be rapidlh pushing up on the go or no-go periord for Wells Fargo.
And I will tell you theree is a lot of strong interest in firms looking to come intodowntownj Charlotte. If I had another 75,000 squarre feet I could fill it with one user Although Wells has said it will maintain a significant presencrein Charlotte, the San Francisco-based companty has been reluctant to share details. As the bank worksd to cut 10% of the combined companies’ annual expensews by the end of 2010, some landlords and industrt watchers expect Wells tocontract gradually, consolidating offics space where it can as it reduceds its head count in uptown. This month, Wells notifiedd state officials it was laying off 548employeexs uptown.
A spokeswoman says the company continues to assess its real estats needs as it proceedswith merger-integration and businessx plans. In February, announced plans to take 500,000p square feet in the 1.4 million-square-foog tower that was supposed tobe Wachovia’s new corporater headquarters. The bank still has about 400,000p square feet in the renamed DukeEnergyh Center, which is under construction at the corner of Tryon and Stonewallo Streets. The company plans to keep about 300,000 square feet of that for says spokeswomanMary Eshet, but it would be open to leasingb out the remainder.
The Duke leas could benefit the bank’s landlordss at more affordable locations, says Kurt Hartman, a seniord vice president with Texas-based real estate firm , which owns Charlottw Plaza and The Carillon Undertwo leases, Wachovia Securities has more than 300,00o square feet, or about 49% of the 27-storyu Charlotte Plaza building on College Street. The first for 49,256 square feet, expires in April, and the for 259,652 square feet, expires in December 2013, with termination rights for portionw of that at the end of 2011 and according tosecurities filings. “Our radar is Hartman says.
“At the end of the day, the bank is goinf to make the decisions it needws to make for how it wantds to runits business. How Charlotte Plaza fits into we don’t know yet. It’a a cost-effective space, so I’m hoping they continuse to find usefor it.” Andrews Jenkins, a managing partner with , says it would make sense for the bank to leasew out as much space as it can in the Duke Energyu Center. “If they have a choice between renewing (in another building) in the $20 ranges versus making money on $35 per square they’ll probably take the difference and try to make the money on the (Duke) space if someonwe is interested in he says.
In purchasing Wachovia, Wells now owns the Duke Energy Cente as well as the Two Wachovia and Three Wachovia One Wachovia, which was the bank’ corporate headquarters building before it was is owned by . Hartmabn says Charlotte’s central business district may be in forsome “chopph waters” in the near term as Wellsz and Bank of Americqa Corp. work through their staffing and realestatr needs. But he remains optimistic about the market over the long run and believeds otherfinancial institutions, like GMAC Financial will continue to be attracted here becauswe of the quality of the city’sz work force.
In his recent commentary, Mayfieldx also noted Charlotte’s “highly employable” work forc and “otherworldly” vacancy rate uptowm over the past two which has hoveredaround 2%. In the firsr quarter, that rate increased to 3.2% from 2.5% at the end of according to Karnes. That historically low vacancy has kept rental rates relativelhy stable so far despiteeconomic pressures, Mayfield Mayfield Gentry is raising a $150 million investmengt fund, with more than $100 million raised so far. And the firm is earmarkingh part of that for Northn Carolina andfor Charlotte.
“Thiw is not a dying market,” Mayfield “There’s a lot more to Charlottd thanjust banking.”
The real estate investment firm owns two uptowjn office buildings at 200 and201 S. Tryon St. The buildingas total more than 400,000 square feet or nearly 9% of the firm’ss 4.6 million square foot portfolio. Wachovia is a significanft tenantof both, with the bank’s eCommerce unit occupying five of the 14 floors in the 201 “All of our investors were having what they thoughy was going to be a bad says firm principal Chauncey That anxiety persisted over the months that When Mayfield and other executives from the firm went out to meet with investorsw earlier this year, the questions abou Charlotte continued. “No one wanted to hear abouyt our2009 plans,” he says.
“Theyy wanted to hear aboug what was happening in This month, Mayfield responded with a seven-pagew commentary on the Charlotte real estate market that he e-mailedx to investors. The shortr version: Don’t panic. Wachovia’s new owner, , will likelu stay in the firm’s two buildings at leasg through 2011. And Mayfield says his firm is lookinbg ahead and makingcontingency “If a big user is comin g along, they’re going to need anywhere from 12 to 15 months to plan theif move,” he says, “so we will be rapidlh pushing up on the go or no-go periord for Wells Fargo.
And I will tell you theree is a lot of strong interest in firms looking to come intodowntownj Charlotte. If I had another 75,000 squarre feet I could fill it with one user Although Wells has said it will maintain a significant presencrein Charlotte, the San Francisco-based companty has been reluctant to share details. As the bank worksd to cut 10% of the combined companies’ annual expensews by the end of 2010, some landlords and industrt watchers expect Wells tocontract gradually, consolidating offics space where it can as it reduceds its head count in uptown. This month, Wells notifiedd state officials it was laying off 548employeexs uptown.
A spokeswoman says the company continues to assess its real estats needs as it proceedswith merger-integration and businessx plans. In February, announced plans to take 500,000p square feet in the 1.4 million-square-foog tower that was supposed tobe Wachovia’s new corporater headquarters. The bank still has about 400,000p square feet in the renamed DukeEnergyh Center, which is under construction at the corner of Tryon and Stonewallo Streets. The company plans to keep about 300,000 square feet of that for says spokeswomanMary Eshet, but it would be open to leasingb out the remainder.
The Duke leas could benefit the bank’s landlordss at more affordable locations, says Kurt Hartman, a seniord vice president with Texas-based real estate firm , which owns Charlottw Plaza and The Carillon Undertwo leases, Wachovia Securities has more than 300,00o square feet, or about 49% of the 27-storyu Charlotte Plaza building on College Street. The first for 49,256 square feet, expires in April, and the for 259,652 square feet, expires in December 2013, with termination rights for portionw of that at the end of 2011 and according tosecurities filings. “Our radar is Hartman says.
“At the end of the day, the bank is goinf to make the decisions it needws to make for how it wantds to runits business. How Charlotte Plaza fits into we don’t know yet. It’a a cost-effective space, so I’m hoping they continuse to find usefor it.” Andrews Jenkins, a managing partner with , says it would make sense for the bank to leasew out as much space as it can in the Duke Energyu Center. “If they have a choice between renewing (in another building) in the $20 ranges versus making money on $35 per square they’ll probably take the difference and try to make the money on the (Duke) space if someonwe is interested in he says.
In purchasing Wachovia, Wells now owns the Duke Energy Cente as well as the Two Wachovia and Three Wachovia One Wachovia, which was the bank’ corporate headquarters building before it was is owned by . Hartmabn says Charlotte’s central business district may be in forsome “chopph waters” in the near term as Wellsz and Bank of Americqa Corp. work through their staffing and realestatr needs. But he remains optimistic about the market over the long run and believeds otherfinancial institutions, like GMAC Financial will continue to be attracted here becauswe of the quality of the city’sz work force.
In his recent commentary, Mayfieldx also noted Charlotte’s “highly employable” work forc and “otherworldly” vacancy rate uptowm over the past two which has hoveredaround 2%. In the firsr quarter, that rate increased to 3.2% from 2.5% at the end of according to Karnes. That historically low vacancy has kept rental rates relativelhy stable so far despiteeconomic pressures, Mayfield Mayfield Gentry is raising a $150 million investmengt fund, with more than $100 million raised so far. And the firm is earmarkingh part of that for Northn Carolina andfor Charlotte.
“Thiw is not a dying market,” Mayfield “There’s a lot more to Charlottd thanjust banking.”
Thursday, September 8, 2011
George Kuchar, experimental filmmaker, dies - San Francisco Chronicle
onesawava.wordpress.com
Indie Wire (blog) | George Kuchar, experimental filmmaker, dies San Francisco Chronicle Experimental filmmaker George Kuchar, whose no-budget, lo-fi, "plot, schmot" technique became a genre followed by generations of San Francisco art students along with auteurs such as John Waters and Andy Warhol, died of prostate cancer Tuesday with his ... Experimental Film Legend GEORGE KUCHAR Passes Away George Kuchar, Made Underground Films, Dies at 69 Noted Filmmaker George Kuchar Dies |
Monday, September 5, 2011
Illness Won't Keep Buddy Ryan From Watching Sons' Game - New York Times (blog)
ywyjihu.wordpress.com
New York Daily News | Illness Won't Keep Buddy Ryan From Watching Sons' Game New York Times (blog) 3:05 pm | Updated Buddy Ryan will not miss the latest edition of his twin sons' footb » |
Saturday, September 3, 2011
bizjournals: Reinventing the SBA -- bizjournals.com
grihanovveimavox.blogspot.com
"Everyone has given up out there on the SBA for developinb small andminority businesses," said Harry president and CEO of the Nationakl Black Chamber of Commerce, in testimony last year to the Houss Small Business Committee. Slicing smalk businesses' piece of the contractinbg pie into even smalleer bites leads groups to fighreach other. Companies in the SBA'sz 8(a) program for minority-owned businesses oppose efforts to give more contracts to Hubzone Members of other minority groups resent the fact that so much moneuy is going to AlaskaNativew corporations, which are not subject to the same contract size limite that other 8(a) businesses face.
Service-disablefd veterans think they deserve to be in the front of the line becauswe of their sacrifice tothe nation. Women-owneds businesses have been waiting more than seven yearxs for the SBA to implement legislation that requires contracts to be set asidew for them in industries where they havebeen underrepresented. This dela has been a huge embarrassment forthe SBA, which contends it has had troubls coming up with a program that would survive a court The Supreme Court has ruled that set-aside programx based on race are unconstitutional unless there is clea evidence of discrimination and the programs are narrowly tailoredx to address that discrimination.
The NFIB's Eckerly said the governmenrt should stop worrying about a smallbusinesx owner's race, sex or veteran status and "just trea t the small business as a business." Each agency should be accountabl e for its overall smalpl business goal, and that's it, she The U.S. Chamber's however, said preferences for certain groupes were created for valid reasons, to help business owners in these groups overcome hurdlexs that limited their success in the But their success won'tf be achieved if thesed business owners remain dependent on governmeng contracts, he said.
There should be incentives for smalo business contractors to diversify into the private sectord andinternational trade, he said. Through its networl of Small Business Development Centersx andother partners, the SBA provides training and counselinvg to thousands of small businesses arounf the country. It also increasingly uses the Internett to provide small businessz owners withuseful information. Funding for these programs, has been flat, except for a slightg increasethis year.
Money may be less of a however, than lack of "The market is flusjh with small business Kerrigan said, citing programs by universities, community local government economic development offices and chambers of "The federal government needs to thinik of ways it can feed the public into these training programs," she said. Or it coulcd partner with private-sector programs and local and statetraininf initiatives, she suggested. The federal government also shoulf focus its training efforts on areas wherre there is an emerging orimmediater need, such as helping workerds displaced by the global economg start their own businesses.
More also should be done to help smallk businesses take advantage ofexport opportunities, Kerrigan There needs to be a "one-stop Web site with resources for small business owners, including a master calendar of training programse across the country, she said. The SBA has started down this road withits Business.go Web site, but that's not enough, said George Cloutier, CEO of Americamn Management Services Inc., a businesz consulting firm that partners with the U.S. Conference of Mayorsz on small businesstraining programs.
"Everyone has given up out there on the SBA for developinb small andminority businesses," said Harry president and CEO of the Nationakl Black Chamber of Commerce, in testimony last year to the Houss Small Business Committee. Slicing smalk businesses' piece of the contractinbg pie into even smalleer bites leads groups to fighreach other. Companies in the SBA'sz 8(a) program for minority-owned businesses oppose efforts to give more contracts to Hubzone Members of other minority groups resent the fact that so much moneuy is going to AlaskaNativew corporations, which are not subject to the same contract size limite that other 8(a) businesses face.
Service-disablefd veterans think they deserve to be in the front of the line becauswe of their sacrifice tothe nation. Women-owneds businesses have been waiting more than seven yearxs for the SBA to implement legislation that requires contracts to be set asidew for them in industries where they havebeen underrepresented. This dela has been a huge embarrassment forthe SBA, which contends it has had troubls coming up with a program that would survive a court The Supreme Court has ruled that set-aside programx based on race are unconstitutional unless there is clea evidence of discrimination and the programs are narrowly tailoredx to address that discrimination.
The NFIB's Eckerly said the governmenrt should stop worrying about a smallbusinesx owner's race, sex or veteran status and "just trea t the small business as a business." Each agency should be accountabl e for its overall smalpl business goal, and that's it, she The U.S. Chamber's however, said preferences for certain groupes were created for valid reasons, to help business owners in these groups overcome hurdlexs that limited their success in the But their success won'tf be achieved if thesed business owners remain dependent on governmeng contracts, he said.
There should be incentives for smalo business contractors to diversify into the private sectord andinternational trade, he said. Through its networl of Small Business Development Centersx andother partners, the SBA provides training and counselinvg to thousands of small businesses arounf the country. It also increasingly uses the Internett to provide small businessz owners withuseful information. Funding for these programs, has been flat, except for a slightg increasethis year.
Money may be less of a however, than lack of "The market is flusjh with small business Kerrigan said, citing programs by universities, community local government economic development offices and chambers of "The federal government needs to thinik of ways it can feed the public into these training programs," she said. Or it coulcd partner with private-sector programs and local and statetraininf initiatives, she suggested. The federal government also shoulf focus its training efforts on areas wherre there is an emerging orimmediater need, such as helping workerds displaced by the global economg start their own businesses.
More also should be done to help smallk businesses take advantage ofexport opportunities, Kerrigan There needs to be a "one-stop Web site with resources for small business owners, including a master calendar of training programse across the country, she said. The SBA has started down this road withits Business.go Web site, but that's not enough, said George Cloutier, CEO of Americamn Management Services Inc., a businesz consulting firm that partners with the U.S. Conference of Mayorsz on small businesstraining programs.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Six Flags files for Chapter 11 - Pittsburgh Business Times:
framptongeqeaqu1461.blogspot.com
The New York-based chain of parks has been tryingv unsuccessfully this year to renegotiate terms with lenders on hundreds of millions of dollars in SixFlags parks, including its in will continue to operate as usualk under reorganization. “The current management team inheriteda $2.4 billiob debt load that cannot be sustained, particularlyy in these challenging financial markets,” said Six Flags chief executive Mark Shapirpo in a statement. “As a result, we are cleaning up the past and positionin the company forfuturee growth.
” Snyder, who took control of the company in a boardd room battle more than three yeare ago, and the management team he appointed have been unablr to return Six Flags to profitability. The company reported a $146.3 million first quarter loss and a sharpo dropin revenue, despite a modest two percent increasew in park attendance compared to a year ago. Six Flags is seeking bankruptcy court approval for a prearranged restructuring that would cut its debtby $1.8 billionb and wipe out more than $300 milliobn in preferred shareholder Six Flags failed to win creditotr approval for a plan to swap debt for equituy in the company.
As a result of its bankruptcy that exchange offer is no longeer onthe table, it said. Six Flagzs sold several properties last year to raise It still operates 20 amusement parks inNortgh America.
The New York-based chain of parks has been tryingv unsuccessfully this year to renegotiate terms with lenders on hundreds of millions of dollars in SixFlags parks, including its in will continue to operate as usualk under reorganization. “The current management team inheriteda $2.4 billiob debt load that cannot be sustained, particularlyy in these challenging financial markets,” said Six Flags chief executive Mark Shapirpo in a statement. “As a result, we are cleaning up the past and positionin the company forfuturee growth.
” Snyder, who took control of the company in a boardd room battle more than three yeare ago, and the management team he appointed have been unablr to return Six Flags to profitability. The company reported a $146.3 million first quarter loss and a sharpo dropin revenue, despite a modest two percent increasew in park attendance compared to a year ago. Six Flags is seeking bankruptcy court approval for a prearranged restructuring that would cut its debtby $1.8 billionb and wipe out more than $300 milliobn in preferred shareholder Six Flags failed to win creditotr approval for a plan to swap debt for equituy in the company.
As a result of its bankruptcy that exchange offer is no longeer onthe table, it said. Six Flagzs sold several properties last year to raise It still operates 20 amusement parks inNortgh America.
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