CT Construction Digest May 12, 2014

Construction unemployment rate declines to a seven year low

 

The unemployment rate in construction dropped to the lowest April level in seven years as contractors added 32,000 workers to payrolls in April, bringing industry employment to 6.0 million, the highest level since June 2009, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials warned that it is essential to revive and expand training opportunities before the industry runs short of workers. "It is heartening that all categories of construction employers added workers, not only in April but over the past 12 months," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "Moreover, contractors have been adding to workers' hours as well as hiring more employees," Construction employment totaled 6.0 million in April, a gain of 189,000 or 3.3 percent from a year earlier, while aggregate hours worked rose even more — 3.8 percent, Simonson noted. Residential building and specialty trade contractors added a combined total of 13,100 workers in April and 107,900 (5.0 percent) over 12 months. Nonresidential construction — building, specialty trades and heavy and civil engineering contractors — grew by 18,600 employees last month and 81,300 (2.2 percent) since April 2013. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE

Middles school construction project continuing on time

SOUTHINGTON — The Board of Education last week received an update on the ongoing Kennedy and DePaolo middle school construction project. Fred Cox, director of operations for 20 years in the Southington school district who will be retiring after this school year, said the construction project is “continuing on time” and said that “thorough energy efficiency measures” had been designed into the project. “We have received written commitment from CL&P that we will be reimbursed $152,549 for DePaulo and $142,429 for Kennedy school,” he said. “That is triple what we normally see coming back at us. We’ve taken advantage of high efficiency boilers from Yankee Gas and numerous other incentives.”  Brian S. Goralski, chairman of the school board, thanked Cox for “challenging our architects and builders and holding CL&P accountable.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE

Obama takes to road to push highway, bridge fixes

Washington - With time running out, the White House was preparing to press Congress this week to keep money flowing into a federal fund for road and bridge repairs, warning of economic harm, lost aid to states and idled construction workers unless lawmakers act. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has said the federal Highway Trust Fund is expected run dry by late August. Without congressional action, transportation aid to states will be delayed and workers will be laid off at construction sites nationwide, Foxx said. To that end, the White House will spend this week highlighting the issue and pressing for action. In contrast to President Barack Obama's 2014 goal to act without Congress wherever he can, the highway funding issue is not one he can solve on his own.
On Wednesday, Obama is scheduled to speak in front of the crumbling Tappan Zee Bridge, a major Hudson River crossing north of New York City, to press for action. A replacement is being built for the nearly 60-year-old, 3-mile span at a cost of $3.9 billion, largely financed by bonds that will be paid for through higher bridge tolls. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE

Team Pennrose busy in CT

The Philadelphia developer eager to convert an empty pair of downtown Hartford mid-rises into apartments is working with the city of Meriden to redevelop its aging public-housing complex in Meriden's city center, officials say. Meantime, Tim Henkel, senior vice president for Pennrose Properties LLC, and one of Pennrose's three Connecticut partners, Sanford Cloud Jr., say they are closing in on obtaining the $41 million in state and private financing to transform 101-111 Pearl St. into more than 200 apartments. The project pricetag is around $43 million. Wethersfield developer Martin J. Kenny and Hartford parking investor Alan Lazowski, too, are partners. Operating as Lewis and Pearl Street Ventures LLC, the quartet bought the building pair from the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority. Cloud said the partnership now estimates interior remediation of hazardous materials, demolition and final construction could begin CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE

Bristol board braces for flax about redevelopment

BRISTOL - Now that taxpayers have had a week to examine the latest proposal for the old Bristol Centre Mall site, city officials will hear what they think on Monday.  The Bristol Downtown Development Corp. is scheduled to convene at 6:30 p.m. at city hall, and the wording of its agenda suggests it anticipates serious controversy about the new proposal. "No violent behavior, harassment or unruly conduct will be permitted," the board warns. In the latest version of its proposal, Renaissance Downtowns – the company with a contract to orchestrate redevelopment of the 17-acre property — has downsized what it would build at first, pushed back the schedule and made a pitch for $6 million in public financing. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE