The value of new contracts in Florida declined again in March, McGraw-Hill Construction reported. The total value of new contracts signed in March for future construction totaled roughly $5.5 billion, down 12 percent from last March's nearly $6.2 billion figure.

All sectors fell during the month. The value of nonresidential contracts dropped 19 percent compared to last March for a $895.8 million total. The residential sector also fell, by 9 percent compared to a year ago, for an estimated $4.2 billion total. Nonbuilding construction - which includes roads, bridges, sewer and other - decreased by 23 percent to total approximately $359.7 million.

For the year to date, the value of Florida contracts remains 3 percent behind 2005's pace, with no sectors showing growth. The nonresidential category is flat compared to 2005, with about $2.6 billion of activity so far this year. The residential market is 2 percent down with a $11.9 billion total. And nonbuilding construction is down by 18 percent, with a $1.3 billion total.

Moss & Associates Building CityPlace South Condo

Moss & Associates of Fort Lauderdale is building the $110 million CityPlace South condominium tower in West Palm Beach for the Related Companies of Florida, the original developer of the CityPlace district.

The project includes 420 residential units as well as an eight-level parking garage, more than 9,000 sq. ft. of first-floor retail space, a public plaza, swimming pool and other amenities.

Roger Fry Architects of Miami is the project architect.

Royal Palm Breaks Ground on Paramount Bay

Boca Raton-based Royal Palm Communities has officially broken ground and begun construction on Paramount Bay, a luxury mixed-use development to be located at 2066 North Bayshore Drive in Miami.

The 2.7-acre project will feature residences costing from $800,000 to $6 million. The 346-residence, 47-story tower will offer flow-through panoramic views.

Developer Plans First Green Multi-Tenant Office Building in Palm Beach Co.

Real estate developer Navarro Lowrey of West Palm Beach announced plans to construct a $20 million Class "A" office building that will be the first multi-tenanted "green" office building in Palm Beach County. Built by the developer's new Green Division, the 100,000 sq.-ft., four-story EcoPlex project will be located in Centrepark West, a 28-acre mixed-use corporate park in West Palm Beach. A 488-space parking garage will be constructed first. EcoPlex is expected to be ready for occupancy in the second quarter of 2007.

EcoPlex at Centrepark West will be built of materials that contain more than 40 percent recycled content and will be developed in accordance with the U. S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system for core shell development. The developer expects the project to earn a Silver LEED rating. The project was designed by Smith & Moore Architects of West Palm Beach.

KAMM Engineers is the project's engineer and Hedrick Brothers Construction is the contractor.

Amera Urban, WCI Strike Deal for Coral Springs Development

Amera Urban Developers, the master developer of the first phase of the Downtown Coral Springs project, has brought WCI Communities of Bonita Springs in as residential developer for the 3.3 million sq.-ft mixed-use project.

The project calls for the Sample Road and University Drive intersection to become the revitalized hub of the city. Included in the mixed-use plans are retail, offices and residential components interspersed with pedestrian-friendly cafes and shops.

The first phase of the Downtown project, One Charter Place, is a four-story, 210,000 sq.-ft. office, retail center and parking garage. The $25 million project is now under construction, and is scheduled to be completed this fall.

HuntonBrady Designing Florida Hospital Ormond

HuntonBrady Architects of Orlando is in the final stages of construction documents for its design of a new hospital for Florida Hospital Ormond Memorial in Ormond Beach. The 600,000 sq.-ft. hospital, one of the largest replacement hospitals in the state, will feature a 12-story inpatient tower with 256 planned beds.

The hospital's master plan includes future space for a 135,000 sq.-ft., five-story medical office building, a central energy plant and space for wellness, rehabilitation and ambulatory surgery.

Design Work Starts on Delray Beach Yacht Club

Quincy Johnson, Jones, Myott, Williams, Acevedo, Vaughn Architects is designing The Yacht Club at Delray Beach. The proposed 20-unit condominium includes a 44-slip marina with direct intracoastal access.

The Caribbean-inspired Yacht Club will be three stories over lower-level parking.
Construction will begin in the summer and is scheduled for completion in late 2007.

PB Designing I-4 Reconstruction

The Florida Department of Transportation's District 5 office has awarded a contract to Parsons Brinckerhoff to prepare preliminary construction plans, final right-of-way maps and final permits for the reconstruction of a 2.5-mi. segment of Interstate 4 near Orlando.

The project is one segment of an overall $2 billion reconstruction program for I-4 through Orange and Seminole counties. The reconstruction involves replacing the existing six-lane divided highway with a new six-lane divided facility with two additional special use lanes in each direction.

Stellar Completes Project at Florida School for Deaf and Blind

At the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine, The Stellar Group of Jacksonville has completed the Gibbs Hall renovation/expansion, and the addition of covered walkways connecting several of the school's buildings.

The newly renovated and expanded 28,000 sq.-ft. Gibbs Hall is dedicated to career-specific training for the visually impaired and features over 14 new classrooms.

Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, established in 1884, is Florida's primary public school with dormitories for the education of deaf/hard-of-hearing and blind/visually-impaired students pre-K through high school. It serves more than 850 students from across the state of Florida.

High Point Place to be Tallest Building in Southwest Florida

Cameratta Properties' 32-story High Point Place, in downtown Fort Myers, will soon be the tallest building in Southwest Florida. The luxury waterfront towers reach a height of 397 ft.

Phase I of High Point Place is scheduled to be ready for occupancy in October.

CORE Construction Breaks Ground on La Terra Links Condos in St. Augustine

CORE Construction of Orlando has started construction of the first phase of La Terra Links, a $16 million project consisting of 60 condominiums in 15 buildings at the luxury golf course community in St. Augustine that includes the World Golf Hall of Fame.

The entire project at La Terra Links will include 38 buildings with four condominium units in each building and a 7,212 sq.-ft. lifestyle center.
Bateman and Martin Developments of Naples is the developer of La Terra Links.

Altman Cos. Announces Plans for Satori

The Altman Cos. of Boca Raton has announced plans for Satori, an "urban village" in Fort Lauderdale that will feature four buildings of 279 residences and 13,000 sq. ft. of retail space opening onto Sunrise Boulevard.

The project was designed by Mouriz Salazar & Associates.

Clancy & Theys Winning Work at Orlando International

The Orlando-based Florida Division of Clancy & Theys Construction Co. has contracted for more than $20 million of construction in the last 24 months at Orlando International Airport.

The latest work involves the $12.1 million Airside I and III terminals, following its recent completion of a $2.7 million design-build contract for exterior and interior renovations at the Airside II terminal.

Tilt-Con Awarded Six More Contracts

Tilt-Con of Orlando has recently started work on the following projects: Ave Maria library in Collier County; Tropical self storage in Broward County; Ridgewood Park in Orange County; SCC Auto Training Facility in Seminole County; and Cooper City High School and John I. Smith Elementary, both in Broward County.