Temple should value educators: An adjunct professor writes a letter about contract negotiations between TAUP and the university.

As you may know, the Temple Association of University Professionals (TAUP) is currently negotiating with the university administration for the first labor contract for adjuncts. Although we have been at the table since last May, negotiations are not going well. It appears the administration would like to continue to treat adjuncts as an exploitable, low-wage labor force. 

As construction projects heat up, a scramble for apprentices builds

Nate Simms scooted into the crane operator’s seat and began manipulating a panel of levers. Within a minute, and with some advice from an instructor, the junior at Monessen High School had guided the crane’s load hook smoothly to the left and lowered it into a garbage can.

Not bad for Nate’s first time at the helm of a towering crane — or really any construction machinery. “It’s really interesting, working with the machines,” he said.

On one hand, it was a cool field trip on Tuesday for students from Monessen City School District and Lawrence County Career & Technology Center touring the Western Pennsylvania Operating Engineers Joint Apprenticeship and Training Center. The 33,000-square-foot facility is on 240 remote acres of mostly wooded land near New Alexandria in Westmoreland County.

Philly's $1 billion green jobs plan slowly taking shape

On a recent afternoon, two energy auditors were poking around West Phillie Produce, checking out the lights and taking pictures of all the appliances in the store.

They were paying special attention to the three refrigerators and four freezers that run 24/7.

The owner, Arnett Woodall, opened this community grocery store in 2009 because there were few places to buy fresh fruit and vegetables in his West Philadelphia neighborhood.

Proposed skywalk on Temple's campus hits roadblock

Temple University’s continuous expansion is butting up against one of Philadelphia’s historic districts. At Tuesday’s Architectural Committee meeting, the university unveiled its plans for expanding the Fox Business School and, in the process, further cocooning a stately row of 1870s townhouses in nouveau campus trappings.

Post Brothers Wins $103M to Transform Historic Office: The Atlantic will be redeveloped into a luxury community.

Post Brothers has received $103 million in financing to redevelop The Atlantic, a vacant, 21-story historic office building in Philadelphia that will be transformed into a 268-unit luxury multifamily property.

Natixis provided the floating-rate, first mortgage financing, which was arranged by Russell Schildkraut and Christine Zivkovic from The Ackman-Ziff Real Estate Group.

“Working with a successful developer like Post Brothers helped make this a great financing opportunity,” Greg Murphy, Natixis’ head of real estate finance Americas, told MHN. “Post Brothers is a highly successful Philadelphia-based multifamily developer and operator. Through vertical integration, Post Brothers handles all business in-house, with expertise in leasing, construction and property management, development, general contracting, transactions and financing.”

Construction worker crushed by safe deposit box

WYNCOTE, Pa. (AP) - Authorities in suburban Philadelphia say a construction worker was crushed to death by a safety deposit box.

Cheltenham Township police say the incident happened at an old Wells Fargo in the Cheltenham Mall around 1 p.m. Monday. Officials say three construction workers were trying to move a safe deposit box with a lift when it fell onto one of the workers.

Authorities say 35-year-old Jonathan Maust, of Elizabethtown, was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials say a special unit was called in to lift the fallen safe.

Representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are working with the Montgomery County Coroner's Office and local police to investigate the incident.

Source: Philly.com

Brandywine sells Delaware Riverfront properties to Durst Organization

A huge slate of properties lining the Delaware Riverfront have sold to The Durst Organization, a New York-based real estate company that counts One Trade Center as one of its holdings, in the family-run firm's first acquisition outside of its home city.

The purchase of the more than 5-acre site marks The Durst Organization's confidence in the Philadelphia market.

 “We’re excited that our first purchase outside of New York is The Piers at Penn’s Landing, because of the progress and potential we see for the revitalization of the Philadelphia waterfront,” said Alexander Durst, The Durst Organization's chief development officer, in a statement. “This purchase reflects our bullish thinking on Philadelphia and the long-term possibilities that we see for the development of the city as a whole.”

Development proposal revived, revised for Francisville's largest vacant property

Redevelopment for Francisville's largest vacant property, a 1.5-acre site across from Francisville Rec Center where a paint factory once stood, could move ahead after a years-long wait.

Last week the Philadelphia City Planning Commission voted to recommend a bill to change the zoning for this triangle of land to CMX-3, a very flexible designation that allows for the diverse mixture of housing types planned by the Hankin Group. The Exton-based developer subscribes to New Urbanist principles, like walkability and compact mixed-use neighborhoods, and mainly builds in the far-flung western suburbs of Philadelphia.

With 4,000 new Philly apartments in the next 2 years, questions of enough vs. too much

When Brandywine Realty Trust won a high-stakes bidding war in 2011 for one of the last substantial pieces of untouched land in Center City, it seemed as if the Philadelphia housing market could only work in its favor.

With 4,000 new Philly apartments in the next 2 years, questions of enough vs. too much

At the time, much of the market was still reeling from the recession. Virtually no one was building. While other developers were waiting for better conditions after sidelining projects years before, Brandywine Realty was forging ahead with plans for the $9.3 million property at 1919 Market St., hoping to construct hundreds of apartments — a type of housing that for years had largely been ignored in the central part of the city.

Newly introduced bill would let Planning Commission revoke RCO's status

On Thursday Councilman Bobby Henon introduced legislation to tweak the regulations governing the city’s Registered Community Organizations (RCOs).

A product of the 2012 zoning code, RCOs are geographically-specific organizations that developers are required to contact if a project in their purview requires a zoning variance, a special exception, or a visit to Civic Design Review. The developer then must hold one meeting with the RCO in question before they get a zoning hearing or design review.

Kenney’s Rebuild program ripe for political cronyism

Back in early 2016, our new Mayor announced that he would pull together $600 million to repair our almost perpetually ignored infrastructure, specifically, libraries, parks and recreation centers. It was an important idea that was intrinsically popular with City Council, residents, media and the building trades.

Since then, the figure for Jim Kenny’s seven-year Rebuilding Community Infrastructure plan has been pared back to a mere half billion dollars but the funding seems to be falling into place. The William Penn Foundation is kicking in $100 million and the city will borrow $300 million. The remaining $100 million is a bit “iffy,” but we can keep our fingers crossed.

Signs at the `Met' on North Broad Street to emulate Philadelphia venue's 1930s look

The owners of the Metropolitan Opera House on North Broad Street plan to recreate the building’s 1930s signage as part of its effort to restore the historic building for use as a concert venue.

Developer Eric Blumenfeld’s EB Realty Management Corp. is basing the illuminated signs on those seen in a 1937 photograph of the venue identifying it as the “Met,” according to documents filed with the Philadelphia Historical Commission.

South Jersey real estate firm buys in Phoenixville

Friedman Realty Group Inc. has made its first dip into Chester County and acquired a Class B apartment complex called Breckenridge Plaza in Phoenixville, Pa., for $8.9 million.

The Gibbsboro, N.J., apartment owner has focused primarily on South Jersey but also owns nearly a dozen properties in Delaware County and is also exploring other areas.

Breckenridge Plaza will undergo $3 million in renovations.

“We like Phoenixville and we like Chester County,” said David B. Friedman, vice president at Friedman Realty. “As part of our growth strategy and plans for expansion, this was right up our alley in terms of location and 1970s garden-style apartment with a value-add component.”

Breckenridge Plaza consists of five, two-story buildings with 92 apartments at 495 Nutt Road. At the time of sale, it was 42 percent vacant. Ken Wellar and Corey Lonberger of Rittenhouse Realty Advisors represented the seller.

New leader for Cushman & Wakefield's Philadelphia office

Mike McCurdy, who has spent the last nine years heading up JLL’s Philadelphia office, has jumped to Cushman & Wakefield and will serve in a similar leadership capacity.

The new appointment comes as John Derham leaves Cushman & Wakefield effective March 28, according to a statement released by Cushman & Wakefield. Derham spent two decades with the commercial real estate brokerage and 16 of those years were leading its Philadelphia operations.

McCurdy joined JLL when the firm had taken a lower profile and was charged with re-establishing its local presence. It appears that he will arrive at Cushman & Wakefield with a similar mission. He will assume the title of managing principal and oversee a territory that includes Philadelphia and its region, the central part of Pennsylvania as well as South Jersey.

Leadership changes at Philadelphia’s large commercial real estate firms don’t happen too often. A more recent example took place in late 2014 when Steve J. Cousart, a real estate veteran with more than three decades of experience, was named to lead the Philadelphia-area operations of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank. He replaced Bob Clements, who retired. Cousart joined NGKF from the local office CBRE Inc.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal

Emmaus to appeal court decision upholding firefighters' right to unionize

EMMAUS, Pa. - Emmaus Borough Council Monday night voted to appeal last week’s Commonwealth Court ruling upholding an order by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board that authorized the borough’s firefighters to unionize and negotiate contracts.

By unanimous vote, council will appeal the lower court’s ruling to the state Supreme Court, the latest chapter in a legal contest that began in 2013. Council voted after emerging from a brief executive session at the end of the regular meeting.

Zamir Equities buys King of Prussia's Triad office building for $30.2M

Zamir Equities LLC of New York has acquired the 184,000-square-foot Triad office building in King of Prussia, according to real estate services firm CBRE, which helped broker the transaction.

The four-story building, at 2200 Renaissance Blvd., was sold by Kairos Real Estate Partners LLC  for $30.2 million, CBRE said in an email Tuesday.

The building is currently 96 percent leased with tenants including Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. and ASI Business Solutions Inc., according to CBRE, which represented Kairos in the deal.

Kairos had been headquatered in the Triad building but plans to move to another building it owns, CBRE executive vice president Robert Fahey said by phone.

Source: Philly.com

Community: 'Another Village' development best meets Chinatown's needs

City officials will have a unique opportunity over the next several weeks to reverse some of the historical injustices perpetrated against Philadelphia's Chinatown.

For generations, Chinatown has faced attacks from a series of urban renewal projects, including the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Vine Street Expressway, and the Gallery. These projects benefited the region but hemmed in our neighborhood, displacing businesses and a quarter of our residents.

Bala Plaza owner proposes $37M renovation plan to retain big insurer tenant

The New York-based owners of Bala Cynwyd’s Bala Plaza office complex are asking the state for a $10-million grant to help pay for renovations apparently aimed at keeping units of Japan’s Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. as tenants.

Tishman Speyer is seeking to complete a $38-million renovation of the complex’s 378,200-square-foot One Bala Plaza building “in order to retain a major insurance services employer in Pennsylvania,” according to its recently filed application for a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant.

Boeing seeks $30 million grant for V-22 mod workshop in Ridley Park

The Boeing Co. is seeking a state grant to help transform a vacant industrial building at its Ridley Park manufacturing plant into a massive aircraft-modification workshop, saying the site may be overlooked for a lucrative, job-sustaining military contract if the facility isn’t constructed there.

The Chicago-based aerospace firm is seeking $30 million in state redevelopment funds for the $64.9 million project at the Boeing Philadelphia complex in Delaware County, where it produces V-22 Osprey and CH-47 Chinook military aircraft, according to a grant application provided to the Inquirer.

The renovated facility would be used to standardize V-22s that were manufactured with different features and specifications in separate production runs, according to the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant application.

How Carl Dranoff dug himself out of the '89 recession

On Black Monday, Oct. 19, 1987, the stock market lost nearly a quarter of its value in one day and set in motion a recession that crippled the nation into the early 1990s. For Carl Dranoff and his partner, Steve Solms at Historic Landmarks for Living, it meant the end of a very successful partnership.

By 1989, when they split up, the two of them had rehabbed 66 historic buildings, including the Chocolate Works, the Wireworks and the Colonnade, turning faded buildings into residences as Center City became more popular.

Dranoff, founder and chief executive of Dranoff Properties, explained what happened:

So why aren’t you still together? Did you have a fight?

No.  I already told you we're in a cyclical business. You're saying to yourself probably, “Well, why is it cyclical?” Real estate is driven by a couple of factors. One is interest rates. For example, when interest rates are low, people can afford to buy more house for the money and sales go up. When interest rates are very high, they don't buy homes because they can't afford the mortgages. So right away it starts out being your business is subject to interest rates.

Then you're subjected to supply and demand, and its fundamentals. If you're in a great economy…

And demographics?

DRIVING INDUSTRIAL GROWTH: New Route 33 interchange opens eastern Norco to explosive development

When Route 33 was extended to Interstate 78 in 2002, it quickly led to retail and, later, health care development in southern Northampton County.

Logistics centers and warehouses, meanwhile, were slower to develop along the Route 33 corridor in Northampton County.

Not anymore.

The 2015 opening of the long-awaited Charles Chrin interchange in Palmer Township has led to scores of millions of dollars in distribution centers near Route 33 in the township.

PennDOT to tackle eight major construction projects this year

SUNBURY — PennDOT has eight major projects in Snyder, Union, Northumberland and Montour counties worth $723.9 million in 2017, including the ongoing $670 million Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation Project that spans three counties, according to PennDOT spokesman David Thompson.

“These are the big ticket items only,” Thompson said. “There are numerous other projects that can be accessed in the construction website.”

Breakdown of the improvements

Here’s how the $293 million (plus money for engineering and design costs) will be spent:

Packer terminal

Packer terminal is getting four new "post Panamax" container cranes, at $12.5 million each. They are comparable to cranes in the world's largest seaports. Warehouses on dock will be demolished with new ones built off site to free up acreage for containers. Ship berths will be dredged deeper to 45 feet to match the 45-foot channel depth in Delaware.

Improvements also include new "fenders" and crane rail to handle bigger ships, updating the electrical grid in the terminal, and converting two older diesel cranes to electric. The port is negotiating to buy the old Food Distribution Center site in South Philadelphia to build warehouses.

New permanent YMCA under consideration for Bucks township

A new YMCA that includes a large pool facility could be coming to the Warminster Community Park in Warminster Township, Bucks County.

Township officials heard a proposal on Thursday that includes the construction of a 74,000 square-foot building with a 28,500 square-foot pool facility at the park, near Bristol and Hatboro roads, according to the Bucks County Courier Times.

Yards Brewing on track to open new space this year after closing on loan

Work has begun on the conversion of a 70,000-square-foot portion of Destination Maternity Corp.’s former headquarters warehouse at Fifth and Spring Garden Streets into Yards Brewing Co.’s new brewery, event space and tasting room, which is on track to open before the end of the year.

Yards Brewing on track to open new space this year after closing on loan

Construction started after Yards closed on an $8.5 million loan from M&T Bank Corp., the brewer's chief operating officer, Trevor Pritchett, said Friday. Other financing is coming from city and state sources, he said. 

Yards is moving from its current 38,000-square-foot brewery near the Delaware River at Poplar Street. The additional space at the new location will allow the brewer to boost output and add a canning line to the operation.

The project is expected to cost $19 million, with $6 million spent on construction and $13 million on new equipment, Pritchett said.

The new space should open between October and December, Yards said.

Source: Philly.com