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Protecting and Investing

As the local housing market continues to take a beating, new opportunities are arising for businesses that are paying attention. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) reveals that homeowners are choosing to personalize their space during a remodel as more people are opting to stay put, rather than move.

NARI National President Dean Herriges, MCR, CKBR, says, “Because many homes have recently decreased in value, people are deciding to stick it out for much longer than they had originally planned.” According to a poll on NARI.org, 26 percent of respondents are planning to stay an additional 16 to 20 years in their homes because of decreases in their home values. Another 23 percent report they are going to stay an additional six to 10 years.

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by Leo Wiener

Leasing can be a challenge in this down economy. Property owners who make prudent choices can set themselves up for a big win in the short term and ensure long-term viability for their commercial properties.

When you are trying to fill vacant space, you are often forced to take on additional risks by leasing to tenants that you might not have pulled the trigger on in a bull market. The critical concept to remember is that you will almost always earn more value from a building that has tenants than one that sits vacant.

Also keep in mind that, in a retail center, when your property is unoccupied, you are often still paying common area fees – power bills for the parking lot and other charges that don’t stop simply because a structure is empty. The other factor to weigh when evaluating what direction to take on filling your vacancies is the impact of foot traffic on a fully leased commercial property – an crucial element needed for the health of your anchor stores. That alone can make finding a tenant for an empty property a top priority.

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Holtkamp HVAC was one of the first companies to introduce blower door testing in the Atlanta area. Perhaps you’ve seen this pressurization test demonstrated on the television series, This Old House, or on other HGTV shows.

What if you could pinpoint the exact areas of your home that are costing you money? Holtkamp Heating & Air Conditioning (HVAC) has a solution to help you find the culprit and resolve your home’s climate issues – their Energy Audit.

More and more, homeowners are staying in their homes longer and are willing to invest in energy efficiencies for greater payback, such as reduced energy costs or qualifying rebates. High power bills, an air conditioning unit running continuously, carpet that’s darker along the floorboards or excessive dust throughout the home are signs to call Holtkamp HVAC to test your house.

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Board members of the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District (CID) voted unanimously to increase their annual investment in Partnership Gwinnett from $30,000 to $50,000. As the largest geographic CID in the state, the Gwinnett Village CID is a key partner in a broad network of regional leaders who make up the award-winning community and economic development initiative – Partnership Gwinnett.

“In today’s challenging economic times, programs like Partnership Gwinnett are more important than ever,” says CID board member and Prologis senior leasing manager Jeff Lucas. “Sustainable job growth is the key to making Gwinnett County a great place to live, work, and play. Partnership Gwinnett is  a leader in the competitive economic development industry and an investment in the Partnership is money well-spent.”

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In one week’s time, Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) became a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), GGC’s director of Athletics Dr. Darin Wilson received the NAIA Athletics Directors Association Athletics Director of the Year Award and the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents issued final approvals for the college’s athletics facilities plans.

“We are thrilled to be a part of the NAIA,” says Dr. Darin Wilson, GCC director of Athletics. “This is a key step in building intercollegiate athletics at GGC.” Georgia Gwinnett will compete as a full NAIA member effective Aug. 1, 2012, and will be eligible for NAIA championships beginning with the 2013-14 season.

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Gwinnett’s new Yellow River Water Reclamation Facility is now online and replaces six old, inefficient treatment plants. Even better, the actual $245 million cost of construction is $5 million under budget.

“The state’s Environmental Protection Division allowed us to consolidate these old plants into one and to reduce the overall pollutant load going to the Yellow River Watershed,” explains Tyler Richards, deputy director for operations of Water Resources. The retired facilities are Jackson Creek, Beaver Ruin, Yellow River, Jack’s Creek, No Business Creek and Big Haynes Creek.

“We were convinced using a newer ‘construction manager at risk’ method of contracting versus the traditional ‘plans and specifications and low bid process’ would save money – and I’m proud to report that our decision paid off,” adds Lynn Smarr, assistant director of Water Resources.

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Turner Construction Company, the general contractor for the new Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Braselton project, will hold a subcontractor and vendor outreach fair at the Gainesville Civic Center on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at 1 p.m. At the fair, representatives from Turner will provide pre-qualification and project information to subcontractors wishing to bid for construction elements and vendors seeking to supply systems or materials for the new hospital project.

All interested subcontractors are invited to visit the public project website, www.ngmcproject.com, that will serve as the communications hub for current and potential subcontractors/vendors, craftsmen and project team members seeking up-to-date information related to the NGMC Braselton project. The website also includes a Subcontractor/Vendor Interest Form and Craftsman Interest Form, which can be submitted online. Once submitted, the information will be stored in a database for the project. By utilizing this system, Turner will be able to keep track of every subcontractor, vendor and craftsman interested in the project.

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