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State receives $33.8M to expand electric vehicle charging stations

Pennsylvania received $33.8 million in federal funding Monday for 54 projects to expand access to electric vehicle charging stations across the state.

PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-PA, and Federal Highway Administration Deputy Administrator Andrew Rogers were joined by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) in Scranton to announce the first round of conditional awards for federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funding.

The projects in 35 counties were selected to expand access to, and the reliability of, electric vehicle charging within Pennsylvania. The initial federal investment is part of the $171.5 million PennDOT will receive and distribute for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure over five years through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

Local projects include:

Berks County

Electrify America, LLC: $741,290 for a charging station at the Sheetz in Bethel (I-78, Exit 13)

Cumberland County

Francis Energy PA, LLC: $738,937 for a charging station at the Sheetz in Carlisle (I-81, Exit 44)
Tesla, Inc: $256,626 for a charging station at the Wawa in Summerdale (I-81, Exit 65A

Dauphin County

Electrify America, LLC: $775,804 for a charging station at the Sheetz in Harrisburg (I-83, Exit 45)
Sheetz, Inc: $163,838 for a charging station at the Sheetz in Harrisburg (I-81, Exit 77)

Franklin County

Francis Energy PA, LLC: $793,457 for a charging station at Chambersburg Square in Chambersburg (I-81, Exit 17)
TA Operating LLC: $1.1 million for a charging station at the TravelCenters of America in Greencastle (I-81, Exit 5)

Lebanon County

Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores: $689,324 for a charging station at the Love’s Travel Stop in Jonestown (I-81, Exit 90)

Lehigh County

TH Minit Markets LLC: $798,869 for a charging station at the Turkey Hill Mini Market in Allentown (I-78, Exit 57)
Wawa, Inc: $727,420 for a charging station at the Wawa in Allentown (I-78, Exit 49 A-B)

York County

Sheetz, Inc: $654,081 for a charging station at the Sheetz in York (I-83, Exit 21 A-B)
Tesla, Inc: $204,232 for a charging station at Shrewsbury Commons in York (I-83, Exit 4)

“Our team worked diligently to meet federal NEVI requirements while also spreading opportunities among various companies and communities,” Carroll said. “Because of Gov. [Josh] Shapiro’s leadership and record of delivering for Pennsylvanians, we are among the first states distributing these funds that will provide travelers with options and confidence while also benefiting our environment. These new investments will create good paying jobs.”

Four federally compliant charging ports will be funded at each charging location with 216 total funded charging ports. Twenty-two of the projects are in or within half a mile of state or federally designated disadvantaged communities.

“This funding will allow us to deploy electric vehicle charging stations across our Commonwealth, from cities to suburbs to rural areas, promoting energy security, creating jobs, and reducing our carbon footprint,” Casey said.

Moving forward, a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) public involvement process will begin for each project. Projects can begin after those processes are successfully completed and agreements with each recipient are executed. Some projects may begin as early as late 2023.

“In Pennsylvania and across the country, President [Joe] Biden’s Investing in America agenda is building the backbone of our national network of EV charging stations that will ensure a seamless experience for drivers when they’re charging up – similar payment systems, clear pricing information, interoperable connector types, and reliable charging speeds as we make the historic transition to electric vehicles,” Rogers said.

The NEVI funding supports the goal of expanding EV charging along the previously designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) and Interstate lookalikes. Pennsylvania has over 1,800 miles of AFCs.

Once AFCs are fully built out, PennDOT will shift to expanding the NEVI Formula Program funding to fund right-sized EV chargers for Pennsylvania’s community charging.

The PA NEVI program is a reimbursement program and applicants are required to provide a minimum 20% match.

While Round 1 NEVI projects progress, PennDOT continues meeting federal deadlines for additional funding rounds and working toward closing all AFC gaps while expanding community charging access. Round 1 and 1a will focus exclusively on the AFC network. The department anticipates opening Round 1a later this fall with approximately $20 million available.

Cedarbrook renovations continue to provide for most vulnerable citizens

Lehigh County continues upgrades to Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehabilitation to ensure the county’s most vulnerable citizens receive the care they need.

Rick Molchany, director of general services for Lehigh County, said the county approved more than $48 million to continue improvements to the facility at 350 Cedarbrook Road, Allentown, that is currently undergoing previously funded renovations.

“I’ve been working on this for more than 10 years,” he said. “It’s a balance to maintain the facility with funding from the tax base.”

Molchany said the home is necessary to provide services to Lehigh County residents that need care, but often don’t have the means to pay for it.

“Individuals come here under the medical assistance umbrella, a subset that private facilities shy away from,” he said. “The need is the same and I’m proud to say Lehigh County has this.”

Currently, Cedarbrook is expanding the facility to decrease the number of beds in each room from three or four to two and shift from communal bathrooms to private ones in each room.

The addition of the $67 million E wing project, which is currently in land development, will allow the county to do just that.

The E-wing will be constructed in an L-shape to allow for nursing and medical management to be located in a central hub on each floor that serves two neighborhoods of 30 beds on each floor.

The change, Molchany said, is the result of requests from families.

“We are currently operating under a 1970s model. Families want that changed and have been requesting it for a while,” he said.

Having bathrooms in each room, he said, is not only for residents’ privacy, but for improved medical care.

“That was evident during COVID,” Molchany said.

The E wing will provide skilled care along with D wing, which will be upgraded under phase 2. Between the two, Molchany said the home will maintain its 670 licensed beds while offering more comfort to patients.

In phase 2, which is still being planned, B and C wings, which were built in 1930, could possibly be changed into senior apartments. A wing was renovated in 2005 into apartments. It currently has a waiting list.

Molchany said the county is also looking for opportunities to use part of the space in B and C wings for revenue generating options like personalized care.

“We are putting a lot of energy into this so we can pay the county back while providing equity housing for seniors,” he said.

The county looked at modern facilities to see what options were available. The change to two beds to a room is the norm and will make the facility more homelike for residents, he said.

“County homes typically receive Medicaid payments which is less revenue per bed than private homes receive from private insurance or private payments,” Molchany said. “We are licensed for both Medicare and Medicaid so we can serve everyone who has the potential need.”

Currently, however, Molchany said the home only utilizes 525 beds because of a lack of nursing staff.

“We are as challenged as everyone else and we need to see the pool (of caregivers) increase,” he said. “We’re managing by controlling the census.”

Molchany said federal requirements dictate how many hours per day each resident receives from the nursing staff. Cedarbrook meets those requirements by not filling all available beds.

“Every cycle has its ups and downs, and we believe the talent pool will grow.”

New PIDA loan approved to spur business growth in Bucks County

A new $375,000 low-interest loan to support business expansion for Bucks County manufacturer First Look Display Group, LLC, has been approved through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA).

The loan approval was announced Wednesday by Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger.

“PIDA loans are one of our key economic development investment tools and are vitally important to companies looking to grow, retool, or retain and hire additional workers,” Siger said in a statement.

First Look Display Group was approved for a 15-year loan at a 3.5% reset interest rate to assist in the purchase and renovation of their currently leased operational space in Bensalem Township. Founded in 2018, First Look Display Group, LLC designs and manufactures metal racking systems for a variety of uses, including point of purchase displays in retail environments and as storage units in industrial environments.

The company will also make renovations including full replacement of the roof, and installation of three overhead doors and ancillary dock equipment. First Look Display Group, LLC has committed to retain 11 current jobs and create three new, full-time jobs within three years.

Low-interest loans and lines of credit are provided by PIDA for eligible businesses that commit to creating and retaining full-time jobs, and for the development of industrial parks and multi-tenant facilities. PIDA loans can be used for land and building acquisitions, construction and renovation costs, machinery and equipment purchases, working capital and accounts receivable lines of credit, multi-tenant facility projects, and industrial park projects.

Businesses in Pennsylvania eligible to apply for PIDA loans include agriculture, construction, child daycare, manufacturing, industrial, research and development, hospitality, defense conversion, recycling, computer-related services, mining, retail and service enterprises, and developers.

Pa. unemployment claims decrease

Pennsylvania ranks 39th among states in which unemployment claims were lower than in the previous week, according to updated rankings by WalletHub.

Regarding the change in unemployment claims last week versus the previous week, Pennsylvania’s numbers decreased 20.4%. Regarding the change in unemployment claims last week versus the same week pre-pandemic, Pennsylvania’s claims were down 4.1%.

Pennsylvania ranks 47th nationally in unemployment claims per 100,000 people in the labor force.

Amid the slowing of inflation, new unemployment claims decreased 3% week-over-week on July 17. South Carolina ranks No. 1 on the list, followed by Kentucky at No. 2 and Mississippi at No. 3. Arkansas (4), Alabama (5), Michigan (6), Missouri (7), Maine (8), Maryland (9), and Wisconsin (10) completed the top 10.

The bottom 10 consisted of No. 42 Hawaii, District of Columbia (43), Oregon (44), Massachusetts (45), West Virginia (46), Utah (47), California (48), Colorado (49), Ohio (50), and Vermont (51).

Except for Colorado and Vermont, each state boasted unemployment claims last week that were lower than in the previous week. Every state also had unemployment claims last week that were lower than in the same week pre-pandemic (2019) except for West Virginia, Hawaii, Tennessee, Nebraska, Idaho, California, Nevada, Texas, Connecticut, Georgia, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Indiana, Minnesota, Colorado, Utah, Vermont, and Ohio.

Vermont, Ohio, and Massachusetts were among the 29 states whose unemployment claims last week were worse than the same week last year.

WalletHub Analyst Jill Gonzalez said record low unemployment figures should not be expected to continue much longer.

“The Federal Reserve rate hikes have already started a slowing of inflation, which in turn will cause unemployment numbers to increase,” Gonzalez said in a release. “The hikes, coupled with the chances of a recession in the next 12 months at over 70 percent, are two leading causes of why we will see record-low unemployment come to an end sooner rather than later.”

Gonzalez said certain job types are still seeing higher levels of unemployment currently.

“For instance, construction jobs have very high unemployment numbers right now due to building activity slowdown, with higher interest rates lowering demand for new individual housing,” said Gonzalez. “Farming, fishing, and forestry jobs are also seeing high unemployment, which has more to do with technological advances and less about the current economy or pandemic recovery.”

Carbon County project receives funding from Shapiro Administration

A Carbon County project is among the eight new projects receiving more than $3 million in funding through the Commonwealth Financing Authority, the Department of Community and Economic Development announced Tuesday.

The projects provide funding to strengthen Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry and improve the state’s infrastructure. The grants and loans total $3,048,636.

“Investments in projects like these approved recently will help make the Commonwealth a better place to live, work, and prosper,” Secretary Rick Siger said in a statement. “From bolstering our agriculture industry to making critical infrastructure improvements, these projects will grow our economy and improve the quality of life for Pennsylvanians.”

The Pipeline Investment Program (PIPE) provides grants to construct the last few miles of natural gas distribution lines to business parks and existing manufacturing and industrial enterprises, which will result in the creation of new economic base jobs in the commonwealth while providing access to natural gas for residents. Applicants eligible for PIPE funding include businesses, economic development organizations, hospitals, municipalities, and school districts.

Little Leaf PA, LLC, on behalf of UGI Utilities, Inc., was approved for a $501,136 grant for the installation of 3,000 linear feet of natural gas pipeline in Banks Township, Carbon County. The installation will allow for additional capacity of the gas line to support the future expansion of Little Leaf from 20 acres of greenhouse to 60 acres of greenhouse.

Little Leaf uses their greenhouses for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) lettuce growing and this increase in production would result in at least 300 new jobs for the local community and increase the natural gas capacity through the construction of a new gas regulation station for the Smithfield Gateway Center in Smithfield Township. The total project cost is $1,02,272 and UGI Utilities will provide matching funds in the amount of $501,136.

The First Industries Fund (FIF) provided $2,547,500 to strengthen the state’s agriculture and tourism through loan guarantees. Land and building acquisition and construction, machinery and equipment purchases and upgrades, and working capital are all possible uses for funding. 

Projects in Lancaster, Northumberland, and Perry counties received FIF loans.

Industrial market stays strong as demand slows

The industrial market in Lehigh Valley remains strong even though demand has slowed year over year.

Sean Bleiler, executive vice president, CBRE, said its second quarter industrial report shows vacancy ticked up for the fourth consecutive quarter but settled well-below pre-pandemic levels that averaged closer to the 6% mark.

Bleiler attributes the slowdown to the debt lending markets and the lack of sites available for construction.

The average Class A asking rents grew 31.4%, year-over-year, to settle at $8.70 per-square-foot per-year.

As pricing lags supply and demand trend shifts, rent growth should slow in the coming quarters, Bleiler said.

Developers slowed the pace of new developments significantly as only two buildings measuring a combined 470,000 square feet broke ground in the second quarter.

“The opportunities are just not there,” he said.

However, “developers still see Lehigh Valley as a top market because of its location to major highways, markets and ports,” Bleiler said.

In its report, CBRE said from 2021 through mid-2022 vacancy fell 340 base percentage points to 3.5%, the lowest historical measure. In reaction, developers broke ground on projects at a pace that pushed overall construction over 37 million square feet by Q2 2022. Since then, both supply and demand have cooled.

The higher interest rates are a big part of the slowed development, Bleiler said, as the increased cost affects land prices, debt and construction costs.

“Volatile interest rates reduce clarity in underwriting,” he said.

Overall leasing activity during the first half of 2023 was down nearly 40% compared to the same period in 2022, the report showed. But nuance existed within those numbers as some size properties saw slower activity than others.

Specifically, the report shows 500,000-square-foot to 1 million-square-foot buildings saw significant drops in leasing activity while less than 500,000-square-foot and greater than 1 million-square-foot buildings saw little drop in demand. Notably, the report shows the under 500,000-square-foot set claimed 90% of new deals by count.

From a growth standpoint, there is a slowdown, Bleiler said.

Part of the slowdown is that developers are being forced to look farther out from the major corridors, he said.

Leasing slowdowns in those markets, due to lack of availability, and the replacement of aging inventory has led to successive quarters of significant asking rent growth of 20% this quarter, the report said.

The most recent measures saw rent growth accelerate faster than rent gains posted early in the pandemic. CBRE said this was a reaction, specifically, to vacancy reaching sub-4% levels by mid-2022.

As pricing generally reacts to changes in supply and demand, the most recent gains are predicated on the amount of supply in the market a quarter or two ago, the report said.

Given the uptick in vacancy rates during the past few quarters, CBRE expects pricing growth to slow as the market adjusts to vacancy closer to pre-pandemic levels.

Groundbreakings cooled compared to recent highs brought on by the pandemic.

The report said at 11.7 million square feet, the active development pipeline was down to only 32% of the volume underway a year ago which was a reaction to demand growth slowing compared to levels posted in 2020 through mid-2022.

During that time more than 38 million square feet of projects delivered new space to the market. These additions were not enough to meet demand as overall vacancy bottomed out at 3.5% in Q2 2022.

But the pace of construction projects completing since accelerated as developments started in 2021 and 2022 completed, according to the report.

Thirty-one million square feet of new supply was added to the market during the past 12 months alone. Ultimately this new supply along with cooling demand pushed the market closer to a more sustainable equilibrium that defined the market pre-pandemic.

Bleiler said he is seeing retailer activity slowing, however, ecommerce and manufacturing, especially food and beverage companies are still strong.

Serfass to build 118 luxury rentals in Allentown’s Dream Grand Plaza

Allentown-based Serfass Construction Co. Inc., a family-owned business firm specializing in multi-unit residential and commercial projects, has been retained by DLP Capital to construct 118 market-rate luxury rental units within the 350,000-square-foot Dream Grand Plaza building in Allentown.

The Class A office building is in the city’s central business district at 835 Hamilton St. The project involves converting five of the eight floors into a residential community “that will redefine luxury living in the area,” a release said.

When transformed, Dream Grand Plaza will offer 118 apartments spanning floors two to six, with select residences featuring two floors accessed by spiral staircases, creating a unique and spacious living experience, Serfass said.

There will be an array of resort-style amenities, including well-appointed media rooms, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a dog wash, and a package room to streamline deliveries.

“We are thrilled to be working alongside DLP Capital on this exciting project,” Matthias Fenstermacher, vice president of Serfass Construction, said in the release. “… Together … we will bring this vision to life and set a new standard for living in Allentown.”

Added Don Wenner, founder and CEO of Allentown-based DLP Capital, a private real estate investment and financial services firm: “Allentown has been undergoing a renaissance of economic activity, with the vitality (of) downtown attracting new businesses, residents and visitors alike. Dream Grand Plaza will be at the forefront, offering the epitome of modern apartment living in a very central location – and offering area workforces great options for a dynamic live-work environment.”

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer

Following I-95 collapse, Lehigh Rep. infrastructure bill advanced to PA House floor

In the wake of the recent collapse of I-95, the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee advanced House Bill 1449 out of committee and to the floor of the House.

Sponsored by state Rep. Josh Siegel, D-Lehigh, the legislation would create a statewide contractor law, establishing requirements that would have to be met by companies bidding on infrastructure projects that are publicly funded. The measure would also require firms to have a state or federal registered apprenticeship program and pay the prevailing wage rate.

“One needs to look no further than the recent collapse of I-95 and its expedient repair by our skilled tradesmen and women to know we need to seriously invest in our infrastructure and in the continued training of skilled laborers in the commonwealth,” State Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., said in a statement.

“This legislation would ensure that Pennsylvania has a skilled craft labor workforce that will bolster our infrastructure and build our states future.”

Also advancing out committee and to the House in H.B. 1465, which would apply the Prevailing Wage Act to investor-owned utilities, including electric, gas, sewer, and water.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s prevailing wage rates and minimum safety standards would be applied by the measure to all constructed construction work completed on underground utility systems regulated by the Public Utility Commission.

Nathan’s food truck opens in Allentown as restaurant delayed

While his Nathan’s Famous restaurant waits to get built – the first in the Lehigh Valley for the iconic brand best-known for its hot dogs – franchisee Nat Hyman is supplying hungry customers with the next best thing.

A Nathan’s food truck is now open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at the site where the 1,500-square-foot freestanding eatery will be constructed: a parking lot at the corner of Linden Street and American Parkway in downtown Allentown.

The day before the food truck opened officially, it handled 46 orders, said Hyman, a real estate developer.

Nathan’s “has a huge following” in the area because of its New York roots, he said. The brand began in 1916 when Nathan Handwerker debuted his nickel hot dog stand on Coney Island.

he project is awaiting a building permit from the city, Hyman said. Likely to open next summer, the restaurant will feature walk up and drive-thru service.

In the entire downtown, there are only two fast food restaurants, and they aren’t close to the area where Nathan’s will be, he said.

Plus, Nathan’s is unique, Hyman said.

The food truck carries the full complement of menu items, he said. “There’s really a lot more to it than hot dogs.”

The offerings also include burgers, like the BBQ Bacon Tribeca Burger; chicken sandwiches, like the Hell’s Kitchen Chicken Sandwich; cheesesteaks, fries and milkshakes.

Hyman said he has developed almost a thousand apartments within two blocks of the new Nathan’s, where the tenants get a discount.

He wasn’t planning on entering the fast-food business, he said, but building a Nathan’s is an ideal use for the parking lot property.

Hyman is a fan of Nathan’s as well as the franchisee. With a food truck and then a restaurant in close proximity, he joked, “I am concerned about my weight.”

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer

PennDOT to receive $3M for I-95 repairs

The Federal Highway Administration approved $3 million in Emergency Relief for Federal-Aid Highways (ERFA) Quick Release funding to PennDOT for repairs associated with the I-95 collapse in Northeast Philadelphia.

U.S. Senators Bob Casey, D-PA, and John Fetterman, D-PA, and Congressman Brendan Boyle, D-Philadelphia, who announced the funding Wednesday, said the money can be used for emergency repairs needed to restore essential traffic and other preliminary work.

Also Wednesday, it was announced that the demolition of the damaged section of I-95 is expected to be complete on Thursday and that the Shapiro Administration, engineers, and contractors have developed a plan to safely and quickly reopen the roadway.

A final estimate of reconstruction has not been released by PennDOT.

In a joint statement, Casey, Fetterman and Boyle said, “Every level of government has a role to play in the reconstruction of I-95. We’re committed to ensuring the federal government does its part to support a swift reconstruction. This emergency funding is a strong start to restore essential traffic and begin the process of rebuilding I-95 and we’ll keep pushing the Department of Transportation to provide Philadelphia with the resources it needs.”

In consultation with federal engineers from the Federal Highway Administration, PennDOT has hired Philadelphia-based contractor Buckley & Company to backfill the gap in the roadway so that it can be paved over and reopened safely and as quickly as possible, the Shapiro administration said. Once complete, cars and trucks can return to this portion of I-95 as crews work to rebuild a permanent bridge while keeping six lanes of traffic flowing at all times.

Casey and Boyle toured the disaster site June 12 and were briefed alongside the Federal Highway Administration officials on cleanup and reconstruction efforts. Casey, Fetterman, and Boyle have committed to bringing home as much federal resources as possible to repair I-95 quickly.

A future view of construction management

What is construction management?

The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) states that:

“Construction management is a professional service that provides a project’s owner(s) with effective management of the project’s schedule, cost, quality, safety, scope, and function. Construction management works for all project delivery methods. No matter the setting, a Construction Manager’s (CMs) responsibility is to the owner and to a successful project.”

What are the responsibilities of the Construction Manager?

It is also important to understand the responsibilities of the Construction Manager. The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) states the most common responsibilities of a Construction Manager fall into the following 7 categories: Project Management Planning, Cost Management, Time Management, Quality Management, Contract Administration, Safety Management, and CM Professional Practice.

What is the future of construction management?

The field of construction management is expected to grow at a higher rate than the national average, positioning future construction managers for a successful career. For example, employment of construction managers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations. About 41,500 openings for construction managers are projected each year, on average, over this decade.

There is a growing demand in the construction industry for construction managers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that a construction manager’s job chances will grow at a 10% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) up to the year 2028.

Job opportunities for construction managers are expected to be good. Specifically, job seekers with a bachelor’s degree in construction science, construction management, or civil engineering, coupled with construction experience, will have the best job prospects.

Employment growth creating many new jobs will be contrasted with some construction managers expecting to retire or leave the occupation in substantial numbers over the next decade, resulting in further job openings.

Construction managers are expected to be needed as overall construction activity expands. Population and business growth over this decade will result in the construction of new residences, office buildings, retail outlets, hospitals, schools, restaurants, and other structures.

The need also will grow to improve portions of the national infrastructure, which may spur employment growth as roads, bridges, and sewer pipe systems are upgraded or replaced.

A growing emphasis on retrofitting buildings to make them more energy efficient should create jobs for general contractors, who are more likely to manage the renovation and upgrading of buildings than oversee new large-scale construction projects.

Firms will more likely require construction managers to oversee projects to ensure that projects are completed on time and under budget. Furthermore, construction processes and building technology will become more complex, requiring greater oversight and spurring demand for specialized management personnel.

Employment of construction managers, like that of many other construction workers, is sensitive to fluctuations in the economy. In one scenario, workers in the construction industry may experience periods of unemployment when the overall level of construction falls. And in another scenario, peak periods of building activity may produce abundant job opportunities for construction managers.

What is the primary purpose of construction management?

The primary purpose of construction management is to strongly control and monitor the progress of a project in terms of quality, cost and time. It covers a wide spectrum of responsibilities and it spreads to many different fields (construction, engineering, architecture, law, software, technology, etc.).

Common challenges for CMs

Some of the common challenges CMs can expect to face in a typical construction project, include:

Poorly defined objectives. Many project managers struggle with a lack of well-defined goals for the projects they run.
Budget constraints.
Time management.
Unrealistic expectations.
Hazard management.

Strategies to overcome these challenges include:

Effective communication with the team.
Evaluating and confronting performance problems.
Hiring the right people.
Managing conflicts within your team.
Retaining star employees.

How will construction management change over the next decade?

Construction industry professionals, during a Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Conference & Trade Show in San Diego, CA, shared their thoughts on how construction management will change over the next decade and what Owners can expect.

Looking 10 years into the future, panelists said they will be expecting several things from the Construction Manager (CM) including:

value engineering
innovative construction methods
stakeholder leadership/management
efficiency
staff augmentation
training

CMs are encouraged to be involved early on in a project to help assist and advise the Owner through all phases of project delivery, including the planning, design, and construction process of capital projects. CMs can bring great value and insights to the project team during the design and construction phases.

Key industry trends that will drive project delivery for the next 10 years, beyond earlier engagement by the CM, will be more complexity in both the delivery and construction of a project. Sustainability is expected to be incorporated into the construction process and innovative technology will play a key role.

Anticipatory leadership is needed in the construction management industry. Closely monitoring hard trends and soft trends is critical in order to anticipate what will happen and be on the leading edge of the industry. Failure to be anticipatory and to innovate will result in the industry and its organizations becoming irrelevant.

In today’s world, there is importance of the bottom line needs to be viewed in 3 parts: financial, social and environmental considerations and the necessity of balancing all three during the lifecycle of a project.

Future leadership of the construction management industry must understand that Owners will increasingly expect a certain knowledge base from the CM. This involves acquiring and deploying cutting-edge technology in regards to the digital side of things as well as construction methods. A construction manager must have the resources and effectively utilize project management tools.

A closing thought

“Management is, above all, a practice where art, science, and craft meet.” Henry Mintzberg, business and management academic and author.

Glenn Ebersole is a registered professional engineer and the Director of Business Development at JL Architects, a nationally licensed commercial architecture firm based in West Chester. He can be contacted by [email protected] or 717-575-8572. 

Residents band together to fight proposed Maidencreek warehouse

A proposed warehouse along Route 222 and Schaeffer Road in Maidencreek Township continues to draw opposition from Maidencreek Township residents.

The 930,000-square-foot warehouse proposed by Maiden Creek Associates, Plymouth Meeting, will not only increase traffic along Route 222, but will create noise, diesel and light pollution, according to Save Maidencreek, a group of citizens that have banded together to stop the development.

Carol Ann Mauer Donahue said the 81-acre parcel of land is zoned C-2 and a warehouse does not automatically qualify so conditional use hearings are ongoing. The latest, held at Willow Creek Elementary School May 30, drew a packed house.

“This is agricultural property that sits between a memorial garden and a housing development,” she said. “It sits right at a roundabout that has three entrances. A fourth would be built as an entrance to the warehouse property.”

Mauer Donahue said the group, which has raised close to $4,500 toward its $20,000 goal to fight the warehouse construction, is concerned about safety along the already busy road, citing several overturned tractor-trailers in the roundabout since it was put in less than a year ago. The latest was over Memorial Day weekend, which closed the road for more than four hours.

Maidencreek Township Manager Hunter Aihrens said the warehouse could be approved by the board of supervisors as a conditional use. Ongoing hearings are being held monthly, he said.

“We don’t have a lot of warehouses in the township,” Aihrens said.

The three that are there are off major roads and isolated from residential areas, he said, adding this is the first proposal that people think of as a warehouse.

One of the issues raised by Save Maidencreek is that the developer wants to build on spec. Aihrens said from a Berks County perspective, that is in line with recent economic development.

Currently, there are three lawsuits pending against Maidencreek Township by the developers.

The first suit alleges that the township’s noise ordinance is not in compliance with state law, making it impossible for the proposed warehouse to comply with township noise regulations.

In a press release on the township’s website, the supervisors said they will review the suit with the township solicitor and will respond appropriately.

The second two have to do with the amount of time the township is allowing residents to question the developers’ experts during the hearings.

In a letter to residents on the township website, the township said, “This filing objects to the township process of running the Conditional Use Hearings. The suit alleges that the township’s pace of meetings and the process of questions by members of the public have not been fair.

“The Board of Supervisors will review the suit thoroughly with the township solicitor and will respond appropriately. As this is a matter of ongoing litigation, the amount of comment that the township will offer publicly will be limited,” the letter said.

Requests for comment from Maiden Creek Associates attorney Gregg Adelman have gone unanswered.

“I live within 1,000 feet from where it will be built,” said James Tyler, a member of Save Maidencreek. “This is a small township with a lot of rural space which appealed to us when we moved here.”

Since moving in 2011, Tyler said, “quality of life has been disregarded with road widening projects and extensive development. We’re exhausted being a construction site with the widening of Route 222. We’ve had enough.”

Tyler said several warehouses have been built in nearby townships that are still vacant.

“Yet, they are still building. This will change Maidencreek forever and we haven’t seen a reason for it.”

Both Tyler and Mauer Donahue said the developer has been using diversion tactics to avoid answering residents’ questions, which Mauer Donahue said is “frustrating.”

“We want clarity,” Tyler said. “We are not being told the actual size or what it will be used for or how much traffic will be generated. We are looking for answers to basic questions.”

According to Mauer Donahue, the developer alleges they have “Defacto” approval for the project because the township is not following procedure.

“I filed a suit against that,” she said. The lawsuit, filed with the Berks County Court of Common Pleas is against the township to prevent the warehouse from receiving automatic approval.

“From my view, the developer’s attorney is doing everything he can to push this through without giving us a voice. Knowing we aren’t [legally] represented weighs in his favor,” she said.

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