Real Estate Guides

Posted on Friday, 3rd February 2012 by Stella Ransom

A pair of buyers acquired three buildings in two separate transactions from Austin-based Aspen Properties for approximately $95 million. The properties trading hands include 8303 MoPac and Prominent Pointe I and II. Both transactions were brokered by Aquila Commercial, as first reported by the Austin American-Statesman.

DivcoWest expanded its Austin holdings by buying Prominent Pointe I and II at Bluffstone Lane and North Capital of Texas Hwy for a reported $53 million. Acquisition financing totaling $33 million was secured by HFF Inc. for the pair of buildings totaling approximately 261,243 square feet. Full story…

Tags: Aspen Properties, Properties
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Posted on Thursday, 19th January 2012 by Blake James

Unlike a new lamp or a chair that you would set in a room, occasionally dust and otherwise forget, the plant you cart home from the garden center has needs, like food, water and good soil.

New gardeners itching to get their hands in the soil can benefit from plants that are good-looking, low maintenance and worthy of a place in their own parcel of paradise. These are plants that will grow along with your experience and they are just as prized by longtime gardeners with an occasional brown thumb, or those saddled with obligations that limit time for their hobby.

Here’s a smattering of different types of plants recommended by local experts:

Wax begonia (Begonia semperflorens)

“Beginning gardeners may not be familiar with the light levels or soil conditions of their garden plots,” says residential landscape designer Kim Kaulas, of Chicago (kimkaulas.com). Full story…

Tags: Garden, Garden Plants
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Posted on Thursday, 19th January 2012 by Charles Melvin

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett spoke about his proposed $40 million redevelopment project at a town hall budget meeting in Silver Spring, MD last week, saying the money would cement redevelopment that would bring new life to the community. Leggett’s recommended FY 2013 budget includes this summary of the Wheaton proposal:

Significant progress has also been made in the efforts to bring more high-density, transit-oriented, development to Wheaton. Plans have been developed to build several high rise office buildings over the Wheaton bus bay facilities adjacent to the Wheaton metro station, as well as a town square.

Full story…

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Posted on Friday, 13th January 2012 by Charles Melvin

David Eichler just showed me a shoot that he did recently of a high-end property, The Tobin-Clark Estate-Hillsborough, CA listed at $29,000,000. This home is considered one of finest designs of Architect David Adler .

I am impressed by the quality of David’s images posted on his blog. These are some of the finest architectural images that you will see any where. After

Full story…

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Posted on Friday, 13th January 2012 by Blake James

Students studying music at the Boston Conservatory may someday live within a baseball’s throw of Fenway Park [map] and the Red Sox [team stats]’ strains of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and “Sweet Caroline.”

The private performing arts college said yesterday it paid $5.1 million for 132 Ipswich St., a single-story brick building near the ballpark that will be converted into classrooms and practice spaces — and possibly expanded for dorms.

“It will be either a major renovation or a complete redevelopment of the site,” said Eric Norman, the school’s vice president of finance and planning, who added that the design phase just started and will take several months.

The school noted in its master plan, approved by city planners in September, that it “would seriously consider adding housing” on Ipswich Street if finances allow. The lot is zoned for up

Full story…

Tags: Fenway, Fenway Building
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Posted on Thursday, 12th January 2012 by Stella Ransom

Japan’s auto industry has taken a triple hit from the global downturn, strong yen and a catastrophic quake, but is hoping the Tokyo Motor Show, starting Wednesday, can mark a fresh start.

With a reputation for environmental technologies, Japanese firms are looking to showcase green innovation to boost sales at home and abroad.

Demand is still shifting to compact, fuel-efficient cars, said Tatsuya Mizuno, a director at Mizuno Credit Advisory in Tokyo and vehicle industry expert, and this is where Japan’s manufacturers have the edge.

“The Japanese market is still important for European carmakers that are interested in environmental technologies such as electric and hybrid cars,” he said.

There are signs of recovery ahead of this year’s show, after the 2009 edition of the biennial event was blighted by the global financial crisis.

This year’s motor show — aimed at showcasing products to buyers and promoting industry exchanges — will host 176 exhibitors from a dozen countries, compared with 129 exhibitors from 10 nations two years ago.

The venue for this year will be almost twice as large.

Several major foreign manufacturers who skipped last time are back, such as Germany’s Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes and Porsche; French carmakers Renault and Peugeot-Citroen; and Britain’s Jaguar and Land Rover.

Toyota is set to unveil the Aqua, a compact hybrid car, and several concept vehicles including an advanced fuel cell car, while rival Nissan, which is 43.8 percent owned by Renault, is to showcase several electric concept cars.

But global economic uncertainty is still casting its shadow over the vehicle market.

Full story…

Tags: Auto Industry, Industry
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