Tampa Council Approves $93 Million Channelside Project

In a session that lasted past 1 a.m., The Tampa City Council voted to approve rezoning that clears the way for construction of The Towers of Channelside, a $93 million condominium project in Tampa's Channel District.

The twin 30-story towers will house more than 260 units priced from $275,000 to $325,000. In keeping with the city's emphasis on pedestrian-friendly environments, the design features 12,500 sq. ft. of street-level retail and commercial space and a 30,000-sq.-ft. fitness club open to the public.

Dooley & Mack Wins Pair of Major Projects

Dooley & Mack Constructors, Sarasota, recently announced it has entered into a joint venture agreement with Royall Construction of Longwood, Fla., to build the $40 million Emerald Beach Resort in Panama City Beach. The 25-story, 280-unit beachfront condominium will include a six-story parking garage, a four-story amenities and retail building, two beachfront pools and a day spa. This is Phase I of potentially three phases over the course of fours years.

The company also announced it has been awarded a construction management contract for the $47 million University Corners project in Gainesville. This multi-use project will include retail, restaurants, offices, upscale apartments, a cinema, entertainment center and a parking garage. The site is located at the intersection of University Avenue and 13th Street, adjacent to the University of Florida.

"This project is the largest single award Dooley & Mack Constructors has ever received," said Michael A. Bruner, company president.

Ocean Palms Closes $115 Million Construction Loan

Ocean Palms, LLC, sponsored by The Plaza Group and Avatar Properties, has closed a $115 million loan arranged by Wachovia. Ocean Palms is a planned 38-story, 240-unit, oceanfront condominium project to the north of the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood.Ocean Palms is currently under construction with 192 units under contract and only 48 units remaining in inventory.

Suffolk Awarded Symphony, One City Plaza Contracts

Suffolk Construction Co. of West Palm Beach was recently awarded the Symphony condominium project in Fort Lauderdale. The Boca Raton-based owner, Symphony Towers, an affiliate of Altman Development Corp., is working with the Miami architectural firm of Cohen, Freedman, Encinosa & Associates. The project is scheduled for completion in April of 2005.

Cohen, Freedman, Encinosa & Associates has designed the Symphony as twin, 22-story towers on the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The building is approximately 863,000 sq. ft. and has 338 units with a seven-story garage located between the two towers.

Altman Development Companies is a repeat client for Suffolk Construction.

The firm was also awarded a contract for the One City Plaza condo project in downtown West Palm Beach. The West Palm Beach-based owner is Kolter City Plaza Ltd. Brito, Cohan & Associates, Coral Gables, is the architect. The 15-story condominium project will measure approximately 872,727 sq. ft. and is scheduled for completion in April 2005.

Dade Co. Spending Grows as Project Unit Revamped

As it ramps up the pace of its spending for construction and renovation, the Miami-Dade school district's facilities unit is itself undergoing a major overhaul.

The district recently advertised design work covering $200 million worth of planned construction as part of its effort to spend $1.4 billion available for construction, maintenance and debt service. Some of that money consists of unspent construction funds from previous years. The annual capital budget is usually around $200 million.

District officials have picked up the pace recently. In the first five months of fiscal 2003, the district awarded $107 million in construction contracts, nearly double the $58 million worth of work awarded in all of 2002. "Our goal is to double" the amount already awarded by the end of the fiscal year, said Ana Rijo-Conde, interim assistant superintendent for construction and maintenance.

The inability to spend funds in the same year they have been budgeted is a symptom of troubles that have plagued the nation's fourth-largest school district, with 350,000 students. A just-completed evaluation by FMI, the Raleigh, N.C.-based consultant, identified deep organizational problems. These include failure to make project managers responsible for completing schools, inadequate management information systems and too many staff members not directly related to construction projects paid from capital funds.

Project closeouts have dragged on so long that unfinished buildings have been put into service, say district officials. And FMI said that a culture of paranoia sometimes prevailed.

FMI also said that many needed changes already are under way and commended Rijo-Conde's management. But its report claims her responsibilities are too broad. The school district recently became the latest to bring on a former U.S. Navy engineer to manage facilities. John Surash, former deputy assistant chief for civil engineering, has been on board since September. "The challenge is to keep running while implementing radical change," he said. Source: Engineering News-Record. By Richard Korman.

Highwood Properties to Develop Tampa FBI Office

Highwoods Properties, an owner and operator of suburban office properties in the Southeast, recently announced that it has been awarded a 112,000-sq.-ft. build-to-suit contract with a 15-year lease term by the General Services Administration to develop a field office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Tampa. The cost of the project is approximately $26.6 million and includes the purchase of approximately seven acres of land. Construction is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2004.

Florida East Coast AGC Names New Executive Director

The Florida East Coast Chapter of Associated General Contractors recently appointed Brian L. Kelley as its new executive director. Kelley replaces Barkley Henderson, who previously served in this capacity for roughly 37 years.Kelley has legislative experience, and previously worked for a steel fabrication and erection contractor as vice president and general sales manager.

Stiles Moves Into Public-Sector Market

Stiles Construction Co. announced that A. David Lowery, a veteran public-sector construction executive, has joined the firm as director of public projects to lead the firm's expansion into the public sector.

Lowery brings more than 20 years of experience as a key executive with both public organizations and private sector construction firms, handling design/build and construction management of significant governmental and educational facilities throughout Florida. He has served as senior director for facility services for the Orange County School Board, where he was responsible for several hundred million dollars worth of construction and millions of square feet of facilities.

"The public-sector market is being transformed as municipalities and counties procure construction services through negotiated contracts that focus on the quality and reputation of construction firms - rather than just the lowest bid," said Stiles President Timothy Moore. He noted that although Florida law has enabled public organizations to advertise and contract for construction services by negotiated contract since 1995, many Florida counties and cities are just beginning to deliver projects through that process.

Stellar Group to Construct Parker Nissan

The Stellar Group of Jacksonville has started constructing a new 15,000-sq.-ft. automobile dealership for Parker Nissan in St. Augustine.

The new facility will create an environment dedicated to streamlining the viewing, decision making and financing stages of buying a new or used vehicle. The building will also house separate financing and business offices, and a service and customer hospitality center.

Building materials will consist of composite metal panels with an exterior insulation and finish system that will wrap and protect the pre-engineered building's structure. Stellar is providing design-build services including architecture, engineering and construction management. The facility is scheduled for completion by April 2004.

The St. Joe Co. of Jacksonville and Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. recently announced they have formed a joint venture to explore development options for the former Port St. Joe paper mill site in Gulf County. The venture has acquired the 126-acre mill site formerly owned by Smurfit-Stone.

The demolition and clean-up of the paper mill and site, expected to be completed mid-2004, creates the opportunity to explore the economic redevelopment of the property. A planning team, including representatives of the City of Port St. Joe, the Port St. Joe Port Authority, St. Joe and Smurfit-Stone have held several meetings since March of 2003 to discuss and study redevelopment options for the entire Port St. Joe waterfront area, including the former mill site. The team will continue to work together to develop a planning vision for the site.

Tri-City Wins $16 Million Electrical Contract

Altamonte Springs-based Tri-City Electrical Contractors has been awarded a $16 million design-build electrical contract for the new 14-story 1,500-room Rosen Shingle Creek Resort soon to be underway in Orlando by WELBRO Building Corp. The two-building, Spanish Revival-style resort will total over 1.7 million sq. ft. and will feature 250,000 sq. ft. of ballroom and meeting facilities, including a 95,000-sq.-ft. "column free" ballroom.

Opus South to Develop $56 Million Boca Raton Luxury Condo

Opus South today announced it will develop a $56 million luxury condominium, The Meridian at One North Ocean, creating a new oceanfront gateway to the City of Boca Raton.

The five-story, 31-unit Mediterranean revival-style building is at the corner of A1A and Palmetto Park Road and is slated for completion in July 2005.

The architectural firm of Vander Ploeg & Associates, Boca Raton, designed The Meridian at One North Ocean. More than 50 percent of the site will remain as open space, with all parking hidden below grade.

Opus South acquired the property, for several years the site of a derelict office building, a year ago. The redevelopment required a rezoning from commercial to residential use, unanimously approved by the City in November. The project is Opus South's second residential property in the South Florida market.

Keene Starts Another Shopping Center

Maitland, Fla.-based Keene Construction Co. is under way on a $7 million, 97,100-sq.-ft. Weston Commons Shopping Center in Broward County. Scheduled for completion in the fall, the project will include a 45,000-sq.-ft. Publix Supermarket and 52,100 sq. ft. of additional retail space.

The company recently completed Remington Group's new $4 million, 75,000-sq.-ft. West Point Commons shopping center in Winter Garden. That project included a 44,000-sq.-ft. Publix and 31,000 sq. ft. of retail space.

Scott Partnership Completes Design for Veranda Park

The Scott Partnership Architecture and Interiors of Orlando has completed the drawing and design phase for Veranda Park Buildings 7 and 8 located on West Point Boulevard in the MetroWest area of Orlando.

The firm's contract details design of office space, retail and restaurants. Construction was scheduled to begin in January. The project encompasses 1.3 million total sq. ft. of mixed-use space, with restaurants on the first level and office space above.

DeBartolo Group Partners With Publix

The DeBartolo Property Group of Tampa, specializing in retail development, announces construction has begun on the 64,840 sq.-ft. Plantation Plaza shopping center in the growing Julington Creek area of Jacksonville. The shopping center is expected to open this fall.

The $10.5 million development, located at the corner of Race Track Road and Flora Branch Boulevard, will be anchored by a new 44,840 sq.-ft. Publix Super Market. The Plaza will also feature approximately 20,000 sq. ft. of retail space.

Autobuilders Announces Tire Kingdom Contract

Autobuilders General Contracting Services, West Palm Beach, has been awarded the contract to build a new Tire Kingdom at 45th Avenue and Haverhill Road in West Palm Beach. The new 106,830 sq.-ft. concrete and steel warehouse and distribution facility will include 7,000 sq. ft. of office space.

Despite November Drop, Florida Construction Activity Remained 12 Percent Ahead for Year

McGraw-Hill Construction reported that the value of November contracts for future construction in Florida fell by 3 percent compared to the same period of a year ago. Year-to-date, however, activity was 12 percent ahead of last year.

The most current month saw a 35 percent drop in nonresidential construction, from $872.9 million last year to $565.6 million. Residential construction continued to grow, increasing 7 percent from $2.1 billion a year ago to slightly more than $2.2 billion. Nonbuilding construction also climbed 13 percent from last year's $502 million to the most recent $566.7 million.

Through November, 2003 contract activity in Florida was 12 percent ahead of 2002. Nonresidential construction remained 10 percent below last year's pace, with $8.9 billion to date. Residential construction grew by 22 percent, however, from $23.8 billion a year ago to almost $29 billion this year. Nonbuilding construction activity also increased, by 6 percent, from $5.7 billion last year to almost $6.1 billion this year.