Lehigh's multimillion dollar expansion plan seeks to capitalize on research strength, opportunity

Lehigh University's 10-year expansion plan, announced this week, is a strategic, multimillion dollar proposal to grow its presence in the community.

The Bethlehem university announced details of President John Simon’s plan, called “Path to Prominence,” which was approved this month by Lehigh’s trustees.

Provost Pat Farrell shared details of the new vision for Lehigh at a faculty meeting.

“We’re a very, very good university, but we think we have an opportunity to improve,” Farrell said this morning. “We think the time is ideal for us.”

J.G. Petrucci Co. buys building for $2.7M in LVIP IV

J.G. Petrucci Co. Inc., a developer with offices in Bethlehem and Asbury, N.J., bought a building for $2.675 million from Hygrade Components in Lehigh Valley Industrial Park IV in Hanover Township, Northampton County.

The one-story, 49,000-square-foot building is the headquarters of Hygrade Components, one of the largest suppliers of insulating glass and window components.

Mixed-use Arcona development shifts focus to new 40-acre commercial tract

The next big piece of Arcona, a major mixed-use development being developed by Charter Homes & Neighborhoods in Lower Allen Township, is officially on the market.

East Pennsboro Township-based Landmark Commercial Realty Inc. is now marketing a 40-acre tract at the back of the traditional neighborhood development off Lisburn, Arcona and Rossmoyne roads. Thirteen commercial lots are available for sale, lease or build-to-suit.

Cygnet Properties, Charter's commercial real estate arm, is developing this part of the roughly 270-acre community with an eye on commercial, retail and office properties.

Why the Lehigh Valley is full of fulfillment centers

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Bethlehem Steel Corp. used to dominate the Lehigh Valley long before it was replaced by the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem in 2009.

The Primark site in Bethlehem, one of several huge distribution centers to land in the region recently.

Now the valley is home to behemoth distribution centers for Amazon, Walmart, Zara, Uline, and Primark - just to name a few - that have moved in over the last two years.

FedEx is building a nearly one million-square-foot distribution hub along Route 412. The $335 million warehouse is expected to be completed next year and fully operational by late 2018.

Mowery hires developer Derek Dilks as director of special projects

Hoping to be more nimble and compete on smaller projects, mostly urban redevelopment efforts, Silver Spring Township-based R.S. Mowery & Sons Inc. has hired midstate developer Derek Dilks to head up its new special projects division.

The Cumberland County contractor, which recently began doing business under the brand name Mowery, has been scaling up under the leadership of Dave Cross, the company's president and COO.

Germantown apartment complex sells for $12.7M

The Lennox apartments, a 156-unit complex in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, has sold for $12.7 million.

Premier Properties of Lakewood, N.J., sold the three-building property at 232-242 W. Walnut Lane to an undisclosed New York-based group free and clear of debt. It was 95 percent leased at the time of sale. Premier bought the Lennox in 2014 for $8.75 million.

Carl Fiebig and Mark Thomson of Holliday Fenoglio Fowler arranged the sale and James Conley, also of HFF, arranged $9.525 million in financing for the acquisition.

The complex was originally built in 1928 and partially renovated last year.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal

Upscale apartments coming to Lancaster County fall 2017

More apartments are coming to Lancaster County.

Construction activity started this week on an apartment complex in East Lampeter Township, High Construction Co. said Thursday.

High Construction received a $12.4 million contract from its sister company, High Associates Ltd., to build The Reserve at Greenfield on Pitney Road, a news release said.

Yards cleared for new brewery and tasting room at Destination Maternity site

Yards Brewing Co. has approvals in place for its move to the former Destiny Maternity Corp. warehouse property in Northern Liberties.

Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association zoning chairman Larry Freedman said Thursday that his group and the city's zoning board had cleared Yards' proposal to take space at the maternity apparel company's former headquarters building at Fifth and Spring Garden Streets.

RACP at it again: Trail through Philly zoo and enhancements to libraries get funds from state

Library upgrades throughout Philadelphia and a new trail for zoo animals will be funded by the state's redevelopment assistance program, bringing total awards for area projects to $57.6 million as of Friday.

The Free Library of Philadelphia will receive $1 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funds to support its 21st Century Libraries Initiative, a $57.9-million project to modernize its main branch and 49 neighborhood locations, according to a list posted to the state budget office's website.

The Philadelphia Zoo, meanwhile, was granted $1 million to develop its African Plains Trail, a trail system designed to let animals range through the zoo in ways that resemble their behavior in the wild, according to the list.

SEPTA says workers threatening strike have little to complain about

SEPTA’s management Friday laid out in detail its existing contract with almost 5,000 workers, including bus, trolley and subway operators threatening to strike, by way of illustrating why it thinks a strike is unnecessary.

Members of Transportation Workers United Local 234 pay $46 a month for medical care that Board Chairman Pasquale Deon described as a Cadillac plan. They can retire at any age after  30 years of service and get their full pension, cannot be laid off, and, with overtime, average $68,100 a year.

Bankruptcy judge ruling a 'blow' to Revel owner

In what is yet another chapter in the ongoing saga of the former Revel casino in Atlantic City, a bankruptcy judge this week made a ruling that could be a "blow" for owner and Florida developer Glenn Straub but a boon for one of its tenants.

Straub and his legal entity Polo North Country Club Inc. have been in an ongoing legal battle with IDEA Boardwalk Inc., the club operator tenant at the former Revel, which is now known as Ten after a rebranding in September this year.

Temple, nurses reach terms on a new 3-year deal

About 2,000 nurses and health care professionals at Temple University Hospital have reached an agreement on a new three-year contract with the North Philadelphia medical center.

The workers, 98 percent of whom voted to ratify the agreement Tuesday night, are members of the the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP).

PASNAP officials said the three-year contract includes wage increases and improvements on staffing and job security.

City prepares for possible transit strike next week

SEPTA issued a plan Wednesday for its operations in the event of a labor strike next week.

It's not pretty. Regional Rail would be the only public transportation option available within the city, SEPTA reported. Regional Rail is already experiencing capacity issues as it recovers from a loss of a third of its railcars this summer, SEPTA reported, and people using it as an alternative to the Market-Frankford or Broad Street Lines may face inconvenience.

SEPTA, transit union remain far apart on major issues

SEPTA’s labor contract with its largest union expires at midnight on October 31st — Halloween — and if Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 234 doesn’t get a new deal by then, November 1st will look a lot scarier to commuters than anything they might have seen the night before.

“When we talk about 12:01 [A.M.], 11/1, we will be on strike if we don’t get a contract," says Willie Brown, president of TWU Local 234, which represents the 5,185 operators and maintenance crews that keep SEPTA’s buses, trolleys and subways moving.

As of Monday, union and management officials plan to meet daily to negotiate a deal.

Brown swears that the transit union will walk off—and stay off—the job until they have a deal in place. “Once we’re on strike, we’re on strike,” says Brown. “There will be no going out on strike and then coming back to work.”

Brown says his union won’t accept another limited extension that fails to tackle the big issues left unaddressed in 2014: Pension reform, health care plans, and a number of non-economic issues.

Go to PlanPhilly.com for more details on the sticking points in negotiations.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal

Building design firms claim construction firm used their copyrighted designs

Two building design firms have filed a class-action lawsuit against a builder for allegedly using their copyrighted designs without permission.

Design Basics LLC and Carmichael & Dame Designs Inc. filed a complaint April 25 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against Maleno Builders Inc., alleging that the construction firm violated the Copyright Act and the Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act.

Superior Court vacates $184K judgment in construction materials case

The Superior Court of Pennsylvania has nullified the striking of a six-figure foreign judgment previously reached against a Wall Township, N.J.-based contractor and remanded the case back to its trial court.

On Oct. 18, Judge John T. Bender decided to vacate a Sept. 22, 2015 order opening and striking a foreign judgment against Longview Construction, LLC, with future proceedings to transpire in the Berks County Court of Common Pleas.

“On March 19, 2013, plaintiff filed a complaint against Longview in the Supreme Court of New York, Dutchess County. The complaint was served on Longview on April 3, 2013, and again on April 17, 2013. After Longview failed to file an answer to the complaint, plaintiff petitioned for judgment. On July 23, 2013, default judgment was entered by the Supreme Court of New York in favor of plaintiff and against Longview,” Bender said.

Neshaminy School Board accepts fact-finder’s report, tentative three-year contract with teachers’ union now in place

NESHAMINY >> Less than a week after the 600-member Neshaminy Federation of Teachers (NFT) approved a state fact-finder’s report, the school board did the same in an effort to end the contract negotiations impasse.

At the Oct. 5 meeting, the board voted 6-0 to accept the state fact-finder’s recommendations issued to both sides Sept. 26.

The Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners approved a senior living center on part of the former Lower Macungie Elementary School property during Thursday night's meeting.

The vote was 5-0. Signature Personal Care and Memory Care will construct a one-story,that will house 80 memory and personal care units. The facility will be located at the intersection of South Krocks and Lower Macungie roads and will include associated private roadways, storm water management facilities and the extension of a bike path.

Commissioner Ronald W. Beitler voted for the resolution, but lamented what he termed was a missed opportunity.

The Waterfront in Allentown awarded $2.28M PennDOT grant

Allentown’s The Waterfront development has landed a major boost from the state.

The Waterfront Development Co. received a $2.28 million grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Multimodal Transportation fund.

Family Court hotel developer revising plans after being denied tax credit

Peebles Corp. is revising its plan to convert Center City's former Family Court building into a hotel after an earlier proposal by the developer failed to qualify for support under the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program.

Affordable housing in the mix for apartment project at old PHA headquarters

The Philadelphia Housing Authority is expected to endorse a plan Thursday to replace its long-vacant former headquarters building near Rittenhouse Square with an apartment tower offering some subsidized units for low-income renters.

The PHA Board of Commissioners will take a final vote on a deal granting a 99-year ground lease for the 2012 Chestnut St. headquarters site and an adjacent parking lot to the Philadelphia-based developer Alterra Property Group.

Newly created 'Health Enterprise Zone' to tackle health disparities in North Phila.

State and city officials unveiled plans Thursday to address the health disparities in North Philadelphia through the creation of a "Health Enterprise Zone."

The HEZ is being created to try new and innovative community-based approaches to health care, and reward approaches that reduce health disparities, improve health outcomes, and stabilize and reduce health care costs.

The HEZ will focus on four goals:

RACP at it again: Eastern Tower project in Chinatown nears start after Pa. grant award

Gov. Wolf has committed $1.3 million toward construction of the Eastern Tower apartment building and community center complex in Chinatown, a small but vital contribution to the long-planned project’s finances.

The funds from Pennsylvania's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program puts the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corp. on track to close on its financing for the project within 30 days, John Chin, the nonprofit’s executive director, said at a news conference Thursday.

Other financing for the $76 million development will be borrowed, secured through tax credits targeting low-income neighborhoods, or obtained through the federal EB-5 program, which offers U.S. visas to overseas citizens who invest large sums into job-creating projects here, Chin said.

Plans for the Eastern Tower project, at the site of a formerly state-owned lot at the northwest corner of 10th and Vine Streets, call for 150 rental units in a 20-story tower; almost 50,000 square feet of retail, office, and community space; and a preschool.

“This will be Chinatown’s first true community center,” Chin said.

The state grant is the latest to be awarded from the RACP funding scheme, which supports projects deemed able to make a big impact on local economic development.

Other recent awards have gone to the redevelopment of the Gallery at Market East shopping mall in Center City and the Rail Park planned along vacant tracks north of the city’s core. (Another phase of the park project would run along the old Reading Viaduct.)

The Chinatown Development Corp. secured the land where the Eastern Tower is planned from the state in 2008, but it has taken years to assemble funds for the project. Crews are now standing by to begin work on the 26-month construction effort, Chin said.

At Thursday's news conference, Wolf said that employment from the project will be a plus for the state and local economy, and that the tower itself will help invigorate a part of central Philadelphia where development has lagged.

“This is going to play a continuing part in the redevelopment of downtown Philadelphia,” the governor said.

Source: Philly.com

New N. Broad St. residential tower planned near Freedom Theatre

A development group involving the head of construction firm Ernest Bock & Sons Inc. plans a 17-story residential tower near the southwest corner of Broad and Master Streets, the latest big project to be proposed along a steadily developing strip of North Broad between Center City and the Temple University campus.

Developer 1324 N. Broad LLC is proposing a 180-unit tower with about 4,000 square feet of retail beside the historic Freedom Theatre building, according to a presentation posted this week to the website of the Philadelphia Civic Design Review board.

The tower, which is being designed by Philadelphia architect Cecil Baker, is to include a 13-car parking garage and ground-level storage for 77 bicycles, according to the presentation.

The proposal for the 1324 N. Broad St. site continues a northward push for multi-family development that also includes the Divine Lorraine Hotel apartments near Fairmount Avenue.

Peace? Convention center, union agree to delay racketeering case

Acting on a request from the Pennsylvania Convention Center, a federal judge Monday ordered a stay in the racketeering case convention center officials filed against the carpenters’ union. The union agreed with the center’s request to delay the case, perhaps signaling a rapprochement between the two parties.

U.S. District Judge Nitza I. Quinones Alejandro ordered the case to resume Dec. 31.

In May 2014, the carpenters’ union lost the right to work in the building and the union’s jobs were taken over by other unions, particularly the stagehands’ union. The carpenters’ union protested its exclusion and, a year later, the center countered with a racketeering suit that accused the union of committing acts of vandalism and disruption that interfered with the center's business.

After the suit was filed, the local carpenters’ union leader was forced out by the union’s national leaders, who said his ouster was not connected to the lawsuit. The center, with the agreement of the union, has sought and received extensions on the federal case and a related case before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.

This is the second delay sought in the federal case.

Source: Philly.com