Finance and Commerce Daily Newspaper, MN articles from June 2007

Finance and Commerce Daily Newspaper, MN archives from June 2007

Hennepin Public Defender's Office looks to Get the lead out.
June 1, 2007... Byline: Dan Heilman Like many old structures, the eight-story William E. McGee Building housing the Hennepin County Public Defender's Office is full of character and charm. Unfortunately, like most old buildings, it is also full of...

Nine injured in Maple Grove building collapse.
June 2, 2007... Byline: Monte Hanson Nine construction workers, including one who was rescued after being trapped for about 45 minutes, were injured Friday when a portion of a building that was under construction collapsed in Maple Grove. The accident...

Minnesota Marketing Briefs: June 2, 2007.
June 2, 2007... Byline: Bob Geiger One month after losing the domestic portion of Citibank's $150 million ad account, Fallon Worldwide has laid off 29 employees at its Minneapolis headquarters. The staff reductions, which represent about 10 percent of...

Capitol spending debate.
June 2, 2007... Byline: Charley Shaw Divisions between the House and Senate stopped the state Capitol restoration project from advancing in the 2007 legislative session. But key legislators say they will meet this summer in hopes of working out their...

Howard R. Green adds senior project manager in St. Paul.
June 5, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report Keith Anderson has joined Howard R. Green Co. as a senior project manager at its St. Paul office. Anderson, who has more than 25 years of experience in civil and environmental engineering, will be involved in...

Minneapolis/St. Paul chapter of Nat. Assn. of Women in Construction's golf tourney set for June 28.
June 5, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report The Minneapolis/St. Paul chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) will hold its 35th annual golf tournament on June 28 at the Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Andover. Proceeds from the event...

Rebuild Resources golf event set for July 10-11 in St. Michael.
June 5, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report Fox Hollow Golf Club in St. Michael will be the site of the 18th annual Rebuild Golf Benefit on July 10 and 11. Proceeds from the event will help Rebuild Resources, which offers full-time transitional employment...

Goblirsch named principal at Minneapolis-based HGA Architects and Engineers.
June 5, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report James Goblirsch has been hired as a principal at Minneapolis-based HGA Architects and Engineers. Goblirsch, who is an architect, previously oversaw marketing, strategic planning and quality control at the Rochester...

St. Paul's Como Park Zoo moves forward on an ambitious construction agenda.
June 5, 2007... Byline: Brian Johnson Polar bears, gorillas and other wild creatures at St. Paul's Como Park Zoo are in line to get some fancy new homes as the zoo moves forward on an ambitious construction agenda. The zoo's "Urban Oasis in the Heart of...

Workers injured in accident at Maple Grove building site in 'good spirits'.
June 5, 2007... Byline: Brian Johnson Four of the nine construction workers injured in last Friday's accident at a Maple Grove building site remained hospitalized on Monday. "We spent time with the workers this weekend," said Brad Wood, executive vice...

K. Hovnanian Homes opens development in Maple Grove, pins hopes on 'active seniors'.
June 5, 2007... Byline: Adam Johnson K. Hovnanian Homes held a grand opening for its new Four Seasons "active senior" development in Maple Grove on Saturday, two days after parent company Hovnanian Enterprises announced a net loss of $30 million in the...

St. Paul apprenticeship program works to boost women and minority participation in building trades.
June 5, 2007... Byline: Adam Johnson Call it a way to increase both supply and demand. In an effort to boost women and minority participation in the building trades, a St. Paul program is reaching out to potential apprentices who can fill the ranks of...

Cancer research center in Austin to triple in size.
June 5, 2007... Byline: Adam Johnson The home of Spam is getting serious about fighting with food. But unlike most food fights, this fight is against cancer. A $20 million expansion at the Hormel Institute cancer research center is expected to bring 100...

Young architects mull future of Lexington Library site in St. Paul.
June 5, 2007... Byline: Brian Johnson Four young architects from DLR Group were the big winners in a recent competition that asked teams of students and recent college graduates to think up green design ideas for a key location in St. Paul. Twelve teams...

Lakeville officials describe city's planned police station.
June 5, 2007... Byline: Brian Johnson Lakeville officials describe the city's planned police station as the fifth and final station in the city's history. It's a Mayberryesque history that includes tales of roaming constables, bootleggers, and makeshift...

Forest Stewardship Council certifies Aitkin County forests and lumber.
June 5, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report The Forest Stewardship Council has certified the Aitkin County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for meeting its standards in the management of family forestlands in the county. About 1,500 acres across a...

Owatonna-based Viracon supervisor given American Subcontractors Association President's Award.
June 5, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report The American Subcontractors Association (ASA) presented Elaine Erickson, contract review supervisor at Owatonna-based Viracon Inc., with the President's Award for Excellence at the group's annual convention in...

Minnesota law students spend their summers working in law firms throughout the state.
June 6, 2007... Byline: Barbara L. Jones As many Minnesotans pack up the car and head to the lake this summer, first-, second- and even some third-year law students quietly begin filing into their cubbyholes in law firms throughout the state. Bringing law...

Hennepin County and Minneapolis to re-survey and re-monument city.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Bill Clements When government surveyors 160 years ago began mapping what would become Minneapolis, they started at what's now 18th Avenue Northeast and Stinson Boulevard, just west of New Brighton Boulevard. So that's where survey...

Equis, with office in Minneapolis, rides the boom in tenant rep services.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Burl Gilyard You know business is good when a tenant rep firm wants to expand its own lease. "Our revenues have more than tripled in three years," said Todd Braufman, a UGL Equis Corp. senior vice president who has headed the...

The Beard Group pushes ahead in Hopkins and Brooklyn Park.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Mark Anderson The Beard Group reached milestones this month on a pair of trademark suburban redevelopment projects. The Hopkins-based developer launched residential sales in early June for its portion of the 134-acre Village Creek...

Sherman Associates shelves northeast Mpls. housing project.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Burl Gilyard Minneapolis-based Sherman Associates has walked away from an affordable housing project across the river from downtown Minneapolis, putting the site back in play for redevelopment. The site at 333 E. Hennepin Ave. is...

Failed Minneapolis condo project sold to Chicago firm.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Burl Gilyard As troubled condo projects go, Chicago Commons stood out. Former Minneapolis City Council Member Dean Zimmerman was sent to federal prison after being convicted of accepting bribes from the project's developer, Gary...

Ad campaign launched for Federal Plaza biz condos in Minneapolis.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Bob Geiger The owners of the Federal Plaza building in Minneapolis have launched a billboard and direct marketing campaign, positioning the 93-year-old building as the only condominium development in either downtown Minneapolis or...

Ford Centre in play at Minneapolis stadium site.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Burl Gilyard As construction begins on the new Minnesota Twins stadium, the game to acquire real estate in the surrounding area is in full swing. Bloomington-based United Properties has a contract to buy the 268,000-square-foot...

Fjord Village brings hint of Scandinavia to North Shore.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Jim Martyka Steve Hillestad is not a developer, but you would never know it after listening to him talk about his new village concept on the North Shore. "A huge parcel of land opened up around us," said Hillestad, co-owner and...

Welsh Cos. of Bloomington opens office in Detroit.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Finance & Commerce Staff Welsh Cos. of Bloomington has opened a regional office in Detroit after purchasing five Class A industrial buildings there containing 1.4 million square feet. The Detroit purchase helped push the value of...

Developer Kelly Doran launches new business venture in Bloomington.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Finance & Commerce Staff Developer Kelly Doran, who ran for governor last year, has started a new company that will focus on commercial development, construction and property management. Bloomington-based Doran Cos. will go beyond...

Twin Cities' Metropolitan Council turns 40.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Finance & Commerce Staff Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) Channel 17 will run a 30-minute documentary on Sunday on the history of the Metropolitan Council. The show, entitled "A Bold Experiment: The Met Council at 40," will...

Meeting set on Rosemount comprehensive plan.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Finance & Commerce Staff Rosemount officials will hold an open house on the city's 2030 comprehensive plan on Monday, June 18. Residents of the northwest section of the city will have a chance to offer their input on land-use...

United Properties listing Twin Cities developer Karl Bohn's properties.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Finance & Commerce Staff Twin Cities developer Karl Bohn is selling a five-building industrial portfolio that contains 1.05 million square feet. Two of the buildings are in Savage, with one each in Burnsville, Shakopee and Fort...

Charlie Gravelle joins St. Louis Park-based True North.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Finance & Commerce Staff St. Louis Park-based real estate investment firm True North has hired Charlie Gravelle as director of operations. Gravelle will oversee the firm's real estate portfolio in the Twin Cities and Rochester. He...

Emerging Brokers group debuts with happy hour event in Minneapolis.
June 7, 2007... Byline: Finance & Commerce Staff A new commercial real estate networking group, Emerging Brokers, convenes next week. The group is designed to offer monthly events for brokers with fewer than five years of experience in the industry. The...

Feingold unveils affordable housing plan.
June 8, 2007... Byline: Paul Snyder U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold says that funding for affordable housing shouldn't always be playing catch-up throughout the country. Affordable housing is becoming less and less available in this country for those who need it...

Minnesota Marketing Briefs: June 9, 2007.
June 9, 2007... Byline: Bob Geiger Taking a first-ever environmental stand in its advertising, Metro Transit references global warming in a new TV ad that encourages prospective riders to "take care of earth now so it will be around for things you cherish...

For lawmakers, can less be more?
June 9, 2007... Byline: Charley Shaw State Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona, only introduced 16 bills in the 2007 legislative session. While that number lags some of the more prolific bill introducers in the House, like Rep. Joe Mullery, DFL-Minneapolis,...

Business has been good for Red Wing-based Capital Safety-USA.
June 12, 2007... Byline: Dan Emerson While pursuing the mission of preventing workplace falls, Red Wing-based Capital Safety-USA has watched its sales and revenue head in the opposite direction. Capital Safety held a company-wide celebration last year to...

Price is right for Minneapolis-area construction projects.
June 12, 2007... Byline: Brian Johnson The housing sector's loss may be the public sector's gain in some parts of the metro area, where surprisingly low bids are flowing in for projects ranging from a new police station to park improvements. Last month,...

Construction ergonomics standard moves ahead.
June 12, 2007... Byline: Adam Johnson Contractors know that major accidents or injuries are always a possibility. But most common safety measures don't protect construction workers from the cumulative physical side effects of such rigorous work. The...

Minnesota Supreme Court gives green light to wastewater projects.
June 12, 2007... Byline: Brian Johnson A long-anticipated wastewater treatment plant that would expedite growth plans in Annandale and Maple Lake is finally a go. Environmentalists challenged the $10 million to $12 million project in court a few years...

Standard aims to help green building go 'mainstream'.
June 12, 2007... Byline: Brian Johnson Local design and engineering professionals are keeping eye on a proposed standard that's being touted as a tool that will move green building into mainstream construction. The standard, which is available for public...

Savage, Minnesota, reclaims a piece of its rail-driven history.
June 12, 2007... Byline: Adam Johnson Ask just about anyone about the historic roots of Savage, and you'll be greeted with a blank expression. That's because the southwestern suburb is today home to primarily industrial businesses that date back no more...

Construction inflation could get worse, predict economists.
June 12, 2007... Byline: Adam Johnson Several economists predict a sustained rise in material costs for nonresidential construction, saying expenses will outpace overall U.S. inflation over the next several years. Price inflation for a basket of heavily...

Critics raise concerns about 'best value' contracting in Minnesota.
June 12, 2007... Byline: Brian Johnson "Best value" contracting has graduated from legislation to law, but the controversial construction procurement tool continues to stir debate. The law, approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor this...

Associated General Contractors of America opposes changes to guest worker program.
June 12, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report The Associated General Contractors of America issued a statement on Friday against revisions to the federal immigration bill that continues to stall in Congress. "The guest worker program is a cornerstone of...

Six Minnesota airports awarded FAA grants.
June 12, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., announced last week that six airports in northeast Minnesota will receive new grant money totaling $5.2 million from the Federal Aviation Administration next year for capital...

Primavera, AGC to host project management seminar in St. Paul.
June 12, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report Project management software company Primavera Systems, Inc., will host a "Transportation Project Management Seminar" on June 19 at AGC of Minnesota, 525 Park St., Suite 110 in St. Paul. From 8 to 11 a.m., the...

St. Paul-based American Engineering Testing opens Rogers office.
June 12, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report St. Paul-based American Engineering Testing Inc. has opened an office in Rogers, offering geotechnical and materials testing services in the northern and western Twin Cities suburbs. The office, at 12510 Fletcher...

Minneapolis-based Norwest Equity Partners buys into Miami-based Neff Corp.
June 12, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report Minneapolis-based Norwest Equity Partners is part of an investment group that has purchased Miami-based Neff Corp, one of the top construction-equipment rental companies in the United States. The deal, which closed...

Bloomington office of Kraus-Anderson Realty hires leasing associate.
June 12, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report David Stalsberg has been hired as a leasing associate in the Bloomington office of Kraus-Anderson Realty Co. He will be the lead agent on new developmental projects, including office, industrial, retail, health...

Fifth Street Towers in downtown Minneapolis for sale, again.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Burl Gilyard The definition of the phrase "long-term hold" is ever fluid in the world of commercial real estate investors. Los Angeles-based CB Richard Ellis Investors has put Fifth Street Towers in downtown Minneapolis up for sale...

On the mend: Twin Cities condo market may be improving.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Mark Anderson Don't get too excited, but a couple Twin Cities developers are launching sales for new condo projects, bucking the recent down trend and signaling - perhaps - better days ahead. Both Brighton Development and Hunt...

Kid-themed retail center proposed in south Minneapolis.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Bob Geiger South Minneapolis children's clothing store Uber Baby has done well enough that its owners are developing a unique, kid-themed retail center around it. Dan and Lynne Gonsior came up with their plan to bundle as many as...

Minneapolis man starting new development company to build kid-themed retail emporiums.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Bob Geiger Dan Gonsior is putting a lot on the line behind the novel concept of kid-centered retail. Not only are he and his wife, Lynne, building a child- and family-focused retail center around their Uber Baby children's clothing...

Hoigaard Village in St. Louis Park on tap.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Burl Gilyard The local housing market may have cooled off, but construction is underway on Hoigaard Village in St. Louis Park. "We're pleased about the progress that the developer is making on the project," said Greg Hunt, economic...

City of Minneapolis shopping for redevelopment Superfund site.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Burl Gilyard The city of Minneapolis is shopping for redevelopment a 56-acre site that planners say can serve as a connection between north and south Minneapolis. The site is the southernmost part of the massive, 230-acre Bassett...

Minnetonka's Ridgedale Center shopping mall is life of the potty.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Bob Geiger Minnetonka's Ridgedale Center shopping mall is headed for the potty. Say again? You read it right: Tomorrow, June 15, for one day only, Ridgedale will celebrate being in the toilet. Here's the skinny: Officials of the...

Rex Hardware in south Minneapolis goes from hardware to condos.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Mark Anderson A first-time Twin Cities developer has launched an ambitious little mixed-use project on the former site of Rex Hardware, a south Minneapolis fixture for more than 60 years. SMJ Investments, a family-owned development...

Bloomington-based local office of CB Richard Ellis promotes two.
June 14, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff The Bloomington-based local office of CB Richard Ellis has announced the promotions of two long-time employees. Linda Hespenheide is now director of the Client Accounting Services office for the Twin Cities region. She...

Eagan business park expanding.
June 14, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Minneapolis-based CSM Corporation has started construction on the seventh office building in the Waters of Eagan Business Park in Eagan. The new 38,365 square-foot building, known as Waters VII, should be done by late...

Minn. Department of Employment and Economic Development helps fund expansion.
June 14, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Chandler, Minn-based snack food manufacturer Monogram Meat Snacks will undertake a $1.5 million expansion, creating 53 new jobs, in part due to a $400,000 low-interest loan from the Minnesota Department of Employment and...

Minn. Shopping Center Assn. to sponser panel discussion.(Discussion)
June 14, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report Los Angeles-based food and restaurant consultant Edward Engoron will be the featured speaker at a Wednesday, July 11, presentation on the trend of developers anchoring retail centers with quick-serve food outlets....

TKDA renews lease in St. Paul.
June 14, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Engineering, planning and architectural firm TKDA has renewed its 50,000-square-foot lease for another 10 years at UBS Plaza in downtown St. Paul. The firm occupies four floors of the 25-story, 229,700 square foot tower...

Bloomington-based United Properties promotes Tibbits.
June 14, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Bloomington-based United Properties has promoted Ryan Tibbits from its property management group to its corporate solutions division. In his new position as a corporate solutions advisor, Tibbits will provide real estate...

Minnesota Marketing Briefs: June 16, 2007.
June 16, 2007... Byline: Bob Geiger Whether it was bumped during shipping, damaged by a power outage or the victim of a yet-to-be-identified problem, the electronic billboard at Interstate 35W and Lake Street is acting up. Since Thursday, the 14-by-48-foot...

Stuck in the middle.
June 16, 2007... Byline: Charley Shaw City officials throughout Minnesota have decried Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto of the tax bill. Local officials saw $70 million in increased local government aid (LGA) disappear with one stroke of Pawlenty's veto pen. But...

Cambridge military center could be first in nation built to LEED standards.
June 19, 2007... Byline: Adam Johnson A planned military facility in Cambridge might become the first in the nation built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) "Silver" standards. The $11.6 million Armed Forces Reserve Center represents a...

Minnesota Associated Builders and Contractors may challenge high-pressure piping ratio.
June 19, 2007... Byline: Brian Johnson The Minnesota Associated Builders and Contractors is mulling a legal challenge to a new state law requiring one licensed journeyman to be present for every two unlicensed apprentices on high-pressure piping jobs....

Compromise in Minnesota Legislature creates construction code boards.
June 19, 2007... Byline: Adam Johnson A compromise bill passed in the final hours of the legislative session creates independent boards to approve code changes in three licensed trades: electrical, plumbing and pressure piping. But not everyone is happy...

Federal decision diminishes general contractor liability.
June 19, 2007... Byline: Adam Johnson A federal commission has relieved general contractors of liability in many cases where subcontractors fail to comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, effectively invalidating a decades-old...

Greco joins Ellerbe Becket's Minneapolis office as a design principal.
June 19, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report Ray Greco, former owner of Greco Architects in Minneapolis, has joined Ellerbe Becket's Minneapolis office as a design principal. Greco, who has three decades of experience in architecture, has built a strong...

Ergonomics seminar to be held June 27 at Maple Grove Community Center.
June 19, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report A seminar on ergonomics on the work site will be held at the Maple Grove Community Center on Wednesday, June 27. Cobb, Strecker, Dunphy & Zimmerman Inc. will sponsor the event, which will highlight how using...

Highway 169 interchange opens in Belle Plaine, Minnesota.
June 19, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report The new Highway 169 and Highway 25 interchange in Belle Plaine has re-opened, connecting the east and west sides of the city. Shafer Construction managed the interchange project, which cost about $16 million to...

U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar to speak at University of Minnesota's Humphrey Center.
June 19, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., will discuss transportation issues next Monday at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Center. Oberstar's speech is scheduled for noon to 1 p.m. at the Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey...

Residential construction in the Twin Cities down in May.
June 19, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report New home construction in the Twin Cities continues to lag behind last year's pace. In May, metro area municipalities issued 534 residential building permits for 753 units, down from 769 permits and 1,052 units in...

Minnesota cities creating quiet zones where trains don't have to blow their horns.
June 19, 2007... Byline: Brian Johnson Bismarck, N.D., takes pride in its Old West attractions, ranging from the Lewis and Park Interpretive Center to the historic Fort Abraham Lincoln. Less attractive is the heavy train traffic in town -- and the shrill...

Hubert H. Humphrey Terminal parking ramp expansion approved.
June 19, 2007... Byline: Brian Johnson The Metropolitan Airports Commission approved plans on Monday to add two more levels to a parking ramp under construction at the Hubert H. Humphrey Terminal, a decision that will require significant modifications to...

A new color for University Avenue in St. Paul.
June 21, 2007... Byline: Bill Clements A new St. Paul task force wants to make a mostly gray University Avenue greener. The group's goals are both literal, in the sense of more flowers, trees and parks, and figurative, in the sense of reducing the level of...

Minneapolis moving slowly in selling eight municipal parking ramps.
June 21, 2007... Byline: Burl Gilyard More than eight months have passed since bids were due from parties that were interested in buying eight municipal parking ramps in downtown Minneapolis. Twelve groups, including seven Twin Cities firms, made offers...

Developer plans condos on Lake Minnetonka.
June 21, 2007... Byline: Bob Geiger Scott Schmitt rejects the conventional wisdom that empty-nesters will swap their suburban homes for urban condos and the cultural and social allure of the city. That is why Lake Minnetonka -- far from the downtowns of...

Scientologists find home at former science museum in St. Paul.
June 21, 2007... Byline: Burl Gilyard The building at 505 N. Wabasha St. in downtown St. Paul isn't your average piece of property. Most buildings don't come complete with a 300-seat theater -- the former Omni Theater, a forerunner of today's IMAX...

Aetna to open offices in St. Louis Park.
June 21, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report Aetna, a Hartford, Conn.-based health-care benefits company, has signed a 43,000-square-foot lease in the Metropoint business park at Interstate 394 and Highway 169 in St. Louis Park. Aetna plans to open a client...

Golf warehouse in Bloomington sold.
June 21, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Report The Minneapolis office of Colliers Turley Martin Tucker brokered the $1.4 million sale of an office-warehouse at 951 American Blvd. in Bloomington. The sale of the 17,962-square-foot building -- the former home of...

Express Scripts renews lease in Bloomington.
June 21, 2007... Byline: F&C Staff Liberty Property Trust, a Malvern, Pa.-based REIT, has signed its largest local tenant, Express Scripts Inc., to a lease renewal for 325,000 square feet at 6625 W. 78th St. in Bloomington. St. Louis-based Express...