Envy Apartment

The Montclair Planning Board finished hearing one application and punted two more into September at its August 14 meeting .  But the application that wrapped up and was subsequently approved was a big leap in the board’s efforts at getting larger projects resolved , as it was local developer Steven Plofker ’s application for a five-story, 11- unit apartment building along North Willow Street that will incorporate the former Diva Lounge on Bloomfield Avenue as modest retail space .  The property is a lot merged several years ago. Holding up a rendering of developer Steven Plofker ’s proposed apartment/retail project for the corner of North Willow Street and Bloomfield Avenue at the August 14 Montclair Planning Board meeting , board member Martin Schwartz asks about possible changes to the details of the design. Professional planner Christine Nazzaro Cafone of the Red Bank- based Cafone Consulting Group testified on behalf of the relevance of the variances being requested, especia...

A skyscraper that would be the tallest residential building in California has been proposed for downtown Los Angeles as the neighborhood’s housing boom rolls on. Crescent Heights , a Miami- based developer , submitted a proposal to the city Planning Department this week to build a 70- story apartment building that would stand out in size and design amid the rapidly growing South Park district east of Staples Center. The 810-foot building with 794 units would be the third-tallest in Los Angeles behind the recently opened Wilshire Grand hotel and office tower and the U.S. Bank Tower office building completed in 1989. Last year, Crescent Heights completed Ten Thousand , a 40- story luxury apartment complex on Santa Monica Boulevard on the edge of Century City. It also plans to build two residential high-rises next to the famed Hollywood Palladium on Sunset Boulevard. Its latest high-rise plan, for 1045 S. Olive St., calls for eye-catching cutouts two-thirds of the way up the bu...

A few dozen people spent their lunch hour Aug . 22 discussing City of Carmel projects as part of the Carmel Small Business Network . Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard spoke in the city council chambers about issues such as property taxes, debt and proposed projects such as purchasing an antique carousel and constructing a luxury hotel. Brainard told the group of business owners he’s sending his 2018 budget to the Carmel City Council and that he expects the tax rate to remain flat. He defended his plan to spend approximately $5 million to acquire an antique carousel built in 1907. “It will make it a more interesting visit to Carmel,” he said. Brainard also explained how it makes financial sense for the city to become part owners of a luxury hotel in the Carmel City Center area . He said most hotel chains wants to see big returns on investment, and the city is happier with smaller profit margins from the hotel because of what it will mean for economic development. “If we’re going to g...

MONTCLAIR, NJ - The Montclair Planning board met on Monday night to discuss adjustments made to the plans for the redevelopment of the former Diva Lounge on Bloomfield Ave. This building, which has been uninhabited for many years except for an auto repair business , is expected to be transformed into a mixed used facility containing both apartment buildings and retail space. However, many residents and planning board members have expressed concern regarding its size and the impact that it would have on the surrounding community. Christine A. Nazzaro-Cofone, PP, AICP presented her report to the planning board . According to the revised plan, the site will now contain 11 apartments and 3600 square feet of retail space, rather than 19 units as previously proposed. Sign Up for E-News “All of the uses that are proposed on this application are permitted as of right in your C1 district so there is no issue with use, density or height,” she said. The plan is also proposing 19 parking spaces...

A 27- story apartment tower planned behind the Goll Mansion on Milwaukee’s East Side received the endorsement of the city’s Plan Commission Monday , despite neighbors’ continued objections. This slideshow requires JavaScript . The controversial $55 million project by Chris Houden, the Madison-based developer and the owner of the property, to move the 118-year-old mansion at 1150 N. Prospect Ave. toward the street to make room for the residential tower has been in the works for more than a year. “We are thankful for the commission’s review and the broad support we’ve received from the community,” Houden said after the meeting. “We share their perspective that the proposed development will be a great addition to the East Side neighborhood , and the city of Milwaukee.” The Plan Commission deadlocked with a 3-3 vote on the project in 2016. However, the project was praised by the panel Monday for its design and green features. After more than an hour of testimony, plan commission member...

The long retail spine of Sydney Road, Brunswick, just north of Melbourne's CBD, was once a prosperous trading outpost on the way to the goldfields. These days it's a bohemian mix of variety stores, op shops, halal butchers and Lebanese bakeries. Take a side street to the west, however, and a different picture emerges. Sandwiched between Sydney Road and the Upfield train line is an area undergoing rapid and widespread transformation. Light industry is fast being replaced by mid- rise apartment buildings , their inhabitants attracted by the short commute into town and cheaper prices than in the city's south-east. The quality of these units is, on the whole, depressingly bad; think poor ventilation and bedrooms that "borrow" natural light (a weasel word for being dark and windowless). The occasional jazzy façade tries feebly to make up for otherwise cheap construction amid a chorus of greys. At ground level, carpark roller doors alternate with mean pocket garden...

A development proposal initially submitted to the City of Toronto in 2014 for 200 St. Clair Avenue West , just west of Avenue Road, is finally making it to the market, but with a brand new team and a completely re-imagined design. Originally proposed by Stafford Developments at 15 storeys, the proposal ran into opposition from the City and from some neighbours. Following months of negotiations and a trip to the OMB, approval was given for a 12-storey 110-unit building for the north side of St. Clair Avenue, with Forest Hill Road to its west and Glenn Gould Park on its east side. in the current plans for a 12-storey building with 110 condominium units. It has since been revealed that Stafford has pre sold the developed site to North Drive Investments  on the condition of the plans receiving an OMB approval. This has since taken place, allowing North Drive to begin marketing the development. North Drive is pursuing a new plan by  architect Richard Wengle with fewer but greatly expan...

WILL HARVIE Last updated 05:00, August 19 2017 Perth Stadium Perth Stadium and precinct should open early next year and includes many innovations in stadium design that are popular in the United States. Many of those trends could be implemented in Christchurch. Many stadium owners are struggling with the same problem. Watching a match or event from home is more comfortable, costs less and takes less effort than trooping off to the ground for a live experience. The response has been broadly similar – make being in the stadium more fun. "We focused from the beginning on building a unique fan experience ," Arthur Blank, owner of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, said of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium that will open later this month.  Perth is building a $1 billion, 60,000-seat extravaganza that will host  AFL, rugby, league, soccer, cricket and entertainment events when it opens early next year. According to marketers, the stadium is designed for  "fan first" experiences. REA...