Developer Announces Plans for West Palm Condos

Wood Partners announced plans for The Edge, a waterfront condominium in West Palm Beach. Designed by Cohen, Freedman, Encinosa and Associates, The Edge will consist of two 15-story towers featuring 572 "soft loft" condominiums and two-story townhomes.

Groundbreaking for the first phase's 307 residences was slated for January. Phase II, which will include the remaining 265 residences, was scheduled to start construction in October.

DeBartolo to Build $200 Million Condo in Avalon Park

DeBartolo Development of Tampa recently announced plans to partner with developer Beat Kahli to build a 1 million-sq.-ft., $200 million condominium in the Orange County community of Avalon Park. DeBartolo reported the 1,000-unit project was tentatively scheduled to start construction this summer.

Loft Condos to be Built in Las Olas

Sales have commenced for the first project to receive approval for residential units in the Fort Lauderdale Regional Activity Center-Center City district under the city's new Downtown Master Plan. Groundbreaking was set for January of the Waves Las Olas, a 21-story, mixed-use tower featuring 75 one- and two-story residential lofts.

Project co-developers include The Waves LLC and Hermop, Inc. Fort Lauderdale-based Winter Haven Design Group is the architect of record for the project.

Plans call for the lobby to showcase an aquarium. There will also be a glass-enclosed fitness center and just under 3,000 sq. ft. of office space.

Florida Contract Activity Increases by 10 Percent

After a few months of decline, the overall value of contracts for future construction in Florida rebounded with a 10 percent improvement in November, McGraw-Hill Construction reported, with an estimated $4.1 billion in new contracts.

In November, the value of residential contracts increased by 16 percent to total $2.8 billion, up from the year-ago period's $2.4 billion. Nonresidential starts also increased, by 13 percent, to total roughly $765.7 million, compared to last year's $676.6 million. The nonbuilding category's $496 million total was 19 percent below last November's $614.6 million pace.

For the first 11 months of 2004, overall activity in Florida has increased by 14 percent, from the $45.5 billion reported in this period in 2003 to 2004's $52.1 billion total. To date, residential is improved by 23 percent, with roughly $36.7 billion in contracts reported. Nonresidential is now 3 percent ahead of last year, with an estimated $9.7 billion in contracts reported, compared to last year's $9.4 billion. The nonbuilding sector is 9 percent behind 2003's pace, with a roughly $5.8 billion total.

Miller Announces Major Projects

Miller Construction Co. and Moss & Associates, both of Fort Lauderdale, announced a joint venture to provide construction management for the new $47 million Nova Southeastern University Center at the institution's Davie campus.

Preliminary site work is under way on the 250,000-sq.-ft. multi-purpose center, which will include several basketball courts, a fitness center, student union and space for support and ancillary functions. The project was designed by Cannon Design.

Meanwhile, Miller Program Management, a division of Miller Construction Co., is assisting City Furniture in developing and constructing new showrooms in Davie and Stuart.

The projects include a 35,000-sq.-ft. Ashley Furniture HomeStore Showroom at the Muvico Theater location at I-75 and Sheridan Road in Davie and a 65,000-sq.-ft. City Furniture Showroom with a connected 35,000-sq.-ft. Ashley Furniture HomeStore Showroom in Stuart. Miller Construction will build both facilities.

Two Notable Projects Announced for Viera

Cousins Properties of Atlanta recently announced plans to develop the 180,000-sq.-ft. Viera MarketCenter in the master-planned community of Viera, Fla., north of Melbourne. The company indicated the project will be anchored by an 87,000-sq.-ft. Kohl's department store.

Additionally, The Collage Companies of Lake Mary, Fla., announced it has started construction of the first Brevard County recreation park in Viera. The 112-acre Viera Regional Park will include eight baseball fields, seven soccer fields, four on-site buildings for public restrooms and concession areas, a "tot lot," parking lot areas and a site for a future community center. The park will also be utilized by a future high school that will be located adjacent to the site.

The park is scheduled to be complete December 2006. Collage has partnered with Glatting-Jackson of Orlando, designers of the project and land planners, Rood & Zwick of Cocoa.

Construction Starts on Celebration Health Medical Plaza

Construction started recently on the Celebration Health Medical Plaza building in Celebration, project architect HuntonBrady Architects of Orlando announced recently. The firm serves as architect of record in partnership with Robert A.M. Stern Architects of New York.

The four-story, 93,000-sq.-ft. building will be located adjacent to Florida Hospital Celebration Health and will house a number of healthcare-related tenants, including an ambulatory center. The new office building is scheduled to open in winter of 2005. Mediplex Medical Building Corp. is the project owner.

$100 Million Carishoca Project Announced

Project owner Amera Broward Central of Coral Springs, Fla., announced it recently signed agreements with the City of Lauderhill to build "Carishoca - A Caribbean Village." Plans estimate the project at $100 million.

The owner said it was in discussions with Counsels General of several Caribbean island nations to house their consulates at the Caribbean Village. An office building and trade exhibition hall are planned.

Luau at Sandestin Breaks Ground

Developer Intrawest Placemaking recently broke ground on its Luau project, a hotel/condominium complex in Sandestin. The Luau will consist of an 18-story, 148,070-sq.-ft. condominium, a 12-story, 124,719 sq. ft. condominium, and a two-level parking garage containing 273 parking spaces.

The project was designed by Farmer Baker Barrios Architects.

Clancy & Theys to Build Kids House of Seminole

Clancy & Theys Construction Co.'s Florida division has been selected as construction manager for the expansion of Kids House of Seminole. The 10,000-sq.-ft. project includes the addition of a single-story building and site enhancements and renovation of the existing 2,000-sq.-ft. facility. Kids House of Seminole is a child advocacy center providing services for children and families who are victims of abuse.

The renovation will provide Kids House with a trauma therapy center. The new building will include two medical exam rooms and labs, indoor and outdoor play areas, private meeting rooms, monitoring rooms and administrative and conference areas.

Groundbreaking was scheduled for January.

Tilt-Con Announces Several Contracts

Altamonte Springs-based Tilt-Con Corp. recently announced several contract awards. These include:

• The Fountains at Miramar in Miramar, Fla., a 146,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use retail shopping center, entertainment and restaurant complex. Working for developer LM Development, Tilt-Con's work will include all foundations, slabs, tilt-up panels, mezzanines and covered arched canopy walkways.
  
• LM Development awarded another contract to Tilt-Con to build the Village Shoppes at St. Lucie West in St. Lucie, Florida. Tilt-Con's work on the 26,000 sq.-ft. retail shopping center includes all foundations, slabs, tilt-up concrete panels, mezzanines and walkways.
• Itasca Construction awarded Tilt-Con three contracts to build new Safeguard storage facilities in the Miami area totaling 250,300 sq. ft.
• General contractor Stiles Construction of Fort Lauderdale awarded Tilt-Con a contract to handle concrete work for a 48,386-sq.-ft. Rick Case Hyundai car dealership it is constructing in Davie. The project was designed by Architect 6400, a division of Stiles