BELMONT, MASS. — International developer Skanska has topped out Belmont Middle School, a 170,000-square-foot civic project on the western outskirts of Boston. In addition to dedicated classroom, recreation and administrative space, the middle school building will share the major facilities of the high school, including the kitchen and café, auditorium, pool and field house. Construction of the middle school marks Phase II of a larger project following the delivery of the 451,000-square-foot high school building. With that project, which was completed last September, Skanska renovated and expanded the building to include new academic and science wings, media and dining areas, administrative health suites and updates to the existing gymnasium and pool. Completion of the middle school building is scheduled for September 2023.
NEWARK, N.J. — SJP Project Solutions, a division of New York City-based development and investment firm SJP Properties, is nearing completion of the renovation of the 100,000-square-foot office of law firm McCarter & English in Newark. The firm occupies five floors within the 15-story Gateway Center building, which is owned by Onyx Equities. Other project partners include Francis Cauffman Architects and engineering firm Robert Derector Associates. Full completion of the project is slated for the fourth quarter.
When it comes to commercial real estate development, thoughtfully curated teams are critical to success. “It’s important that the extended team works well with each other, so they can deliver results for clients,” explains Mark Fletcher, director of Strategic Partnering at Bohler, a land development design and consulting firm. Developers don’t want to work with a variety of disjointed processes and personalities. They want to work with one team, a multi-discipline team that effectively manages time and resources, focusing on streamlined processes and speed to market. This sort of team unity promotes both cohesiveness and consistency in outcomes. Building a great design and consulting team means having the property developer’s end goals in mind from the very start of the process: dependability, speed to market and turnkey solutions. The importance of fostering cohesion extends to finding an architect to optimize the building and a contractor to strategize materials and phasing. It may be necessary to engage an attorney who can work well with the team to address land use and zoning. Finally, the right site design and consulting firm can streamline communications, maintain timelines and entitlements and keep the project moving forward. Here’s how Bohler’s approach to assembling a team …
MCKINNEY, TEXAS — De La Vega Capital and Development has unveiled plans for West Grove, a 600,000-square-foot mixed-use project being developed through a public-private partnership with the City of McKinney, located roughly 32 miles north of Dallas. Positioned at the southeast corner of U.S. Highway 380 and Custer Road, the 53-acre open-air development will include a mix of retail, restaurants and entertainment space anchored by Whole Foods Market; a 420-unit luxury residential complex; 55,000 square feet of office space; and a two-acre park. Architecture firm Gensler designed the project to promote outdoor gathering with open air paseos, outdoor decks, an experiential indoor/outdoor restaurant and entertainment space, and a central lawn that will feature live music, family movie nights and fitness classes year-round. “West Grove will be designed to bring people and a growing city together,” says Artemio De La Vega, president and CEO of De La Vega Capital. “A central green space and a mix of open-air, experience-driven retail and restaurant spaces will cultivate a sense of community, where visitors can connect meaningfully with each other and their natural environment.” A groundbreaking for the project is scheduled to take place during 2022. Dallas-based De La Vega Capital and Development is …
MIAMI SPRINGS, FLA. — MV Group USA, a Miami-based full-service construction company, has plans to redevelop two retail centers in downtown Miami Springs. The redevelopments, which will exceed 30,000 square feet of retail space, are slated to be fully completed by the end of the year. The redevelopment projects include a modern redesign of the two retail centers, with the addition of new features such as outdoor seating and retail and restaurant spaces. The renovated retail spaces will feature some of the existing tenants that have renewed their long-term leases. Additionally, national restaurants will be joining the lineup starting fall 2022. MV Group has worked on other redevelopment projects including the development of Flagler Ponce Shops located at 3631 W. Flagler St. Other redevelopment projects the firm has completed include 4136 N. Miami Ave. and 9901 Bird Road.
SAN JOSE, CALIF. — Newmark, on behalf of Bay West Development and Forum Real Estate Group, has arranged $284 million in construction financing for the development of The Maxwell, an apartment community situated on 4.5 acres in San Jose. Construction is slated to commence before the end of March and the first phase is scheduled for delivery by third-quarter 2024. Located within the South Bascom Urban Village Plan and approved under the City of San Jose’s Signature Project process, The Maxwell will feature 590 apartments and best-in-class amenities and unit interiors, as well as direct access to the VTA Light Rail Bascom Station.
KENT, WASH. — The Seattle office of Duke Realty has started the development of a speculative industrial property at 7409 S. 202nd St. in Kent. Duke Realty purchased the 12.2-acre site in February 2021. The 261,362-square-foot property will feature 40-foot clear heights, 26 dock doors, 34 trailer stalls and parking for more than 260 cars. The facility will have access to Highway 167, as well as interstates 405 and 5. Completion is slated for early 2023. Matt Wood of KBC Advisors and Jim Kidder and Nick Ramirez of Kidder Mathews will be listing agents for the development.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — The Texas Christian University (TCU) School of Medicine will open a 100,000-square-foot building within Fort Worth’s Near Southside District. Designed by CO Architects and Hoefer Welker, the project represents the first phase of development of a new campus that will serve as an academic hub for some 240 medical students, as well as faculty and staff. TCU launched its medical school program in 2019 with an initial enrollment of 60 students. Construction of the four-story building is set to begin later this year and to be complete in advance of the fall 2024 semester
MONTVALE, N.J. — Thrive Senior Living is nearing completion of Thrive at Montvale, a 203-unit seniors housing community in the DePiero’s Farm neighborhood near the New York-New Jersey border. Located just off the Garden State Parkway, the three-story community will offer independent living and assisted living services, plus a small-house model senior living environment focused on memory care. The welcome center is currently open, and residents are scheduled to begin moving in this spring.
BRANCHBURG, N.J. — New Jersey-based multifamily developer Walters is underway on construction on Cornerstone at Branchburg, an affordable housing community that will be located about 50 miles west of Manhattan. Rental rates vary based on income, with priority given to renters earning 60 percent or less of the area median income. The property comprises two three-story buildings on an 11.7-acre site. Units come in one- and two-bedroom floor plans with an average size of about 800 square feet. Full completion is slated for next spring.