New Administration Building Slated for Dare County

Herry International of Manteo, N.C., was awarded the contract to provide architecture, engineer and construction management services for a new administration building for Dare County, N.C. The 27,000-sq.-ft. complex will provide office spaces for a host of county agencies and includes the renovation of the existing 4,500-sq.-ft. old courthouse, which will house the Board of Commissioners and offices for the Clerk to the Board and Veteran's Affairs.

Myrtle Beach Resort Project Moves Into Third Phase

Hardin Construction of Atlanta was awarded a contract to build Ocean Watch Phase III at Myrtle Beach. The project includes a 20-story, 85-villa tower and restaurant and public spaces. Completion is scheduled for August 2006.

The Bridges at Mint Hill Project Announced for Charlotte

General Growth Properties, Childress Klein Properties and Belk Inc. have teamed up to bring a 1.3 million sq.-ft. retail and entertainment destination to metropolitan Charlotte. The Bridges at Mint Hill will be located on 200 acres just outside Mint Hill at the intersection of Interstate 485 and Lawyers Road.

The Bridges at Mint Hill will feature an open-air design with freestanding department-store anchors, including a two-level, 150,000-sq.-ft. Belk department store that represents about a $16 million investment for the Charlotte-based retailer. The development will also feature two other freestanding anchor retailers, individual specialty shops, restaurants, a bookstore and a movie theater.

General Growth Properties is the second largest U.S.-based publicly traded real estate investment trust and currently has ownership interest and management responsibility for a portfolio of 209 regional shopping malls in 44 states. Childress Klein Properties is a real estate development, investment and management company active in the Southeast.

N.C. Activity Up by 7 Percent; S.C.'s Down 7 Percent

McGraw-Hill Construction reported that, compared to a year ago, the value of February contracts for future construction activity improved by 7 percent in North Carolina, while declining by the same rate in South Carolina.

In North Carolina, the most recent month's 7-percent improvement resulted in an approximately $1.75 billion value for the month. The biggest sector, residential, increased by 9 percent, to end at approximately $1.1 billion, while nonresidential improved by 34 percent to tally roughly $411.2 million. The value of nonbuilding contracts declined by 24 percent, however, to a total estimate of approximately $238.6 million.

Year-to-date, North Carolina contract activity has increased by 11 percent over the first two months of 2004 to total approximately $3.7 billion. Nonresidential is 16 percent behind last year's pace, with nearly $735.9 million in contracts reported to date. Residential construction has increased by 13 percent to total roughly $2.2 billion, and the nonbuilding sector is estimated to be 56 percent ahead for the year, with approximately $714.8 billion in contracts reported.

The value of South Carolina activity decreased by 7 percent in February to total $790.5 million. Though nonresidential was the only negative category, it declined by 55 percent to tally about $113 million for the month. The nonbuilding category improved by 6 percent for a monthly total of roughly $104.8 million, and the residential sector increased by 15 percent, to total roughly $572.8 million.

Year-to-date, the value of new contracts in South Carolina is estimated at roughly $1.5 billion, or 14 percent behind last year's pace. Residential, with a 12-percent improvement so far, is the only sector with a positive growth rate. The nonbuilding category, with a $197.7 million total, is estimated to be 14 percent behind the first two months of 2004, while nonresidential, with a value of $243.7 million, has declined by 58 percent.

Mixed-Use Project in Carolina Beach to Start This Fall

The Arcadia Group selected Construction Interface Services of Wilmington, N.C., as the project manager for a 10-building, mixed-use development from ocean to marina at Carolina Beach, N.C. The project includes 278 condominium residences, 60,000 sq. ft. of retail space and public and private parking spaces. Construction is scheduled to start this fall.