World's Largest Sand‑Based Heat Battery to Decarbonise Finland
Heat batteries are a game changer for decarbonising heat. Polar Night Energy and Lahti Energia Oy have partnered to construct what is expected to become the world’s largest sand-based thermal energy storage system, to be built in Vääksy, Finland. https://t.co/vDUn27Tawr https://t.co/sm8e5BJTH9
First Interchange Launched, Showcasing Zimbabwe’s Development Drive
ON WEDNESDAY, President @edmnangagwa went to inspect progress at the Mabvuku Interchange Construction Site… This is the FIRST ADMINISTRATION to introduce interchanges in Zimbabwe… ED2030 means MORE DEVELOPMENT. CAB3 guarantees stability & CONTINUITY…. Zimbabwe is a developing country, the FOCUS must...
KB Home Flips Focus: Arizona Now Outpaces LA
KB Home—a giant homebuilder ranked No. 526 on the Fortune 1000—to move its headquarters from L.A. to Arizona Back in 2012, @kbhome did almost 4 times as much homebuilding in Los Angeles County as in Maricopa County Now, it does nearly 8...
Maydan Anchors West Jefferson's Transformation After Six Years
More than 6 years ago, @fundrise began developing 18 buildings in West Jefferson, Los Angeles. Our anchor project is Maydan, which we believe will help catalyze the neighborhood. It is unbelievably gratifying to see it come together so well. https://t.co/WAN0UTcG5q https://t.co/cDZ1eQcsK6
Amphibious Homes Offer Flood‑Proof Living Solutions
#WhatsNext? This amphbious house could be the perfect solution for flood plains and coastal areas subject to frequent flooding. (GiGadgets) #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/TJPMfZNhSY
SB 2074 to Streamline High‑Rise Housing Near Transit
California YIMBY is proud to be sponsoring SB 2074 with @MattHaneySF, a bill that will make it easier to build high-rise residential in the transit-rich downtowns of our state's largest cities. In this thread, a little context. 🧵 https://t.co/cCGoKcLwkl
Use Material Standards and Design Books to Ensure Aesthetic Development
I think the most reasonable way to balance aesthetic standards and certainty for development is with materials requirements and/or "books" of pre-approved designs In areas with sufficiently high land values you can require masonry, stone, metal etc. https://t.co/8i2aoIeE1X
Maximize Workforce Value by Identifying Their Best Use
Steve Yates @buildxact shares the importance of recognizing the highest and best use of workers. Learn more on The Peggy Smedley Show. https://t.co/87j0Wk3JmA #TPSS #IoT #AI #digitaltransformation #PeggySmedley #podcast #Buildxactambassador https://t.co/MT8qSFX0SC
Propose Shared Car‑Rail Tunnel Linking Long Island, Connecticut
My most pro-car opinion is that there absolutely should be a shared car/rail tunnel under the Long Island Sound to connect Long Island and Connecticut. Connects LIRR/MNR strategically as well as where car traffic gets bad headed into the city. Am...
Japan's Downtown Swallows Massive Highway—Unexpected Urban Design
Japan would never run a bunch of giant highways right through the middle of downtown...right? https://t.co/q4rXX4DQL4
NYC Simplifies Backyard ADUs for Affordable Housing
I love that NYC is making it easier to build housing with backyard ADUs that you can install for $200k and rent or use for family. A few here from the @nytimes: https://t.co/2TcTnKKRwm
Eliminate Davis‑Bacon to Unblock the CHIPS Act
Great detailed piece on how Davis-Bacon was a problem for the CHIPS Act, as some of us predicted it would be. But the obvious answer is to get rid of Davis-Bacon entirely, which is not the recommendation for some reason....
Stadium Deal Threatens Taxpayers as Officials Turn Blind
This story starts out oddly positive before taking an ominous turn for taxpayers. The stadium looks like its going to get much more expensive for the public, and the officials overseeing the deal aren't looking out for the interests of...
Office-to-Residential Success Demands Cost, Capital, City Alignment
First office-to-residential conversion in Old Town Alexandria just delivered 199 units — 40% leased out of the gate. The developer said it plainly: conversion isn’t right for every building. Cost basis, capital structure, city partnership. All three have to work....
Citizens' Punishment of Pro‑development Officials Fueled California’s Anti‑growth Shift
This is how California became anti-growth in the 60s/70s btw. Citizens just started relentlessly punishing local elected officials that didn't strangle development.
Boring Company Could Build SF‑LA Hyperloop for Under 5% Cost
The @BoringCompany could build a Hyperloop tunnel from downtown SF to downtown LA for <5% of this cost and it would be a technological marvel exceeding any high speed rail on Earth
Peruvian Entrepreneur Profits From Drone Facade Cleaning
Peruvian Entrepreneur Earns Big with #Drone-Powered Building Facade Cleaning by @Arcfunmi #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation https://t.co/H1RK3w55G5
Fortescue's New Electric Excavator Cuts Million Litres Diesel
Fortescue adds another electric excavator, says it saving a million litres of diesel per unit #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/xspHZsss42 https://t.co/ugpv8KEX0P
Bobyard AI Revolutionizes Construction Productivity and Trade Support
Michael is building Bobyard, one of my favorite AI platforms and new high-growth companies. Really cool to see what’s now possible to support the trades, and increase productivity in construction.
9/11 Funds Fueled Wasteful Overbuilt Station, Destroyed History
Because the federal 9/11 money was considered "free money," we spent $1.4 billion (double the original cost, so some of our own money, too) to demolish historic structures and kick out several small businesses that had survived 9/11 to build...
European Home Prices Span Bubbles to 2010 Lows
Home Prices in the 19 Largest European Countries Range from Housing Bubbles to a Market that Fell back to 2010. Here's Germany: https://t.co/aRKT01YIiS https://t.co/yIGmTLgpMC
Minor Regulations Add up, yet Remain a Tiny Fraction
"Who Cares" about costs/regulation particularly falls flat in a housing context. Every housing activist trumpets how small details matter **intensely** Take parking minimums: An uncovered parking spot costs $10K. Maybe. Even a garage unit is $40K Or permit fees, recreation fees,...
SB 79 Tackles NIMBY Politics with YIMBY Reform Allies
I understand that the political incentives in this district push align around NIMBYism. (Hence why SB 79 is needed.) And you'll find allies among the YIMBYs on fixing ULA, reforming building codes, and reducing fees. (We're the only ones doing...
Purchase Applications Up 1% Weekly, Down 7% YoY
Purchase applicaiton data update +1% week to week -7% year over year First negative YoY print of the year, working off a harder one-week comp https://t.co/RPol0wlsHM
3,100 Petitioners Oppose American Tower’s Charlotte Data Center
"American Tower is trying to rezone 58 acres it owns in east Charlotte, North Carolina, to build a data center. Over 3,100 people have signed a petition to stop it." https://t.co/gnUaNeJvX7 via @steelintheair
Stadium Funding Threatens $2.6B Infrastructure Projects
Hillsborough County previously identified $2.6B worth of roads, sewers, etc. to use Community Reinvestment Tax funds on — meaning diverting $437m to a Rays stadium could require cutting back on building actual public infrastructure. https://t.co/AY7YLzBXOF
UK Builders Face Record Cost Inflation Surge, PMI Reveals
UK builders hit by record pickup in cost inflation, PMI shows https://t.co/5w9Flp17Vj via @tomelleryrees https://t.co/GPfHx0qsol
UK Brick Deliveries Fall 20% YoY, Signaling Slower Housing Starts
UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly starts data. Deliveries in February were 0.9% lower than in January & 20.8% lower than a year earlier according to the Department for...
Spider Robot Prints Entire House in 24 Hours
Meet Charlotte: The Spider #Robot That Can #3D Print a House in 24 Hours by @spaceandtech_ #3Dprinted #Technology #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood https://t.co/cPPkl7iYaT
Earthquake‑ and Hurricane‑Proof Micro Home with AI & Solar
#WhatsNext? This micro home is earthquake and hurricane proof. Comes with an #AI assistant and solar panel if you wish. (GigGadgets) #Innovation https://t.co/1a2sJDwbku
Chinese, Russian, Korean Firms Cash in on Iran Rebuild
Multibillion $$ Bonanza for Chinese, Russian & South Korean companies rebuilding Iran factories, railways and nuclear facilities
Chiyoda Eyes Return to Qatar LNG Plant Post‑ceasefire
Japan’s Chiyoda says it is considering resuming construction work on Qatar’s massive LNG export plant after the ceasefire ⚠️ 🇶🇦 Chiyoda’s potential return to Ras Laffan will raise hopes for the wider facility, which was evacuated over a month ago https://t.co/DvOA4L4Ilm
Solar Project Abandoned After Missed Start Deadline
Contentious solar project scrapped after work fails to start on time #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/wqgJPtE1lm https://t.co/lgGiaLncUS
Minority Quotas Inflate Construction Costs without Adding Value
It’s even “funnier” that this applies to housing projects too. I have plenty of friends who have essentially started companies that sell basic construction items … like doors, cabinets, drywall … where they do ~nothing other than charge a markup...
Warren's Bill Makes 10% of New Homes Triple‑Deckers
Elizabeth Warren loves Boston Triple Deckers more than you love anything Her Road to Housing bill would turn up to 10% of the all new housing units in the US, nearly 130,000 units PER YEAR, into majestic 3-story flats
Data Center Boom Hits Wall of Community Backlash
Alarms are sounding that #datacenter dvprs need to be more prepared for backlash from pols+people. W/$1.7T (w/a T) in the pipeline. 25 projects w/called off after communities protested. #NIMBY #realestate #CRE #industrial #logistics #AOC #Bernie #VA #CA https://t.co/R2wyGSAIBu
7‑Year Sell Rule Threatens Build‑to‑
I suspect whoever wrote Section 901 of the ROAD to Housing Act heard that many investors have 7-year holds, and so they added a requirement that investors must sell build-to-rent homes after 7 years. But it's so much more complex than...
Budget Cuts Ahead After Reaching Infrastructure Spending Peak
The new budget will start paring this back, but we seem to have hit peak infrastructure spending this year/next year in terms of real outlays for completed work... https://t.co/b8om2bYNrQ
Construction Industry Accelerates: Insights From Steve Yates
Steve Yates @buildxact talk about how the #construction industry is evolving quickly. Tune in live at 12 pm CT at: https://t.co/ykUbRecoZO. #TPSS #5G #cloud #edge #digitaltransformation #PeggySmedley #podcast #Buildxactambassador https://t.co/A7yZAwxHPc
Baltimore Light Rail Land Could Fund Operations 4.5×
A new MTA report showed that there are 839 acres of development potential around Baltimore's Light Rail Line route (8x the size of Disneyland). If those were all developed, it would bring in $260 million in tax revenue, which would...
Flatiron Building's First Luxury Condo Listed at $58.5M
It's a new day at the #FlatironBuilding, as handsome 20th century #landmark begins its new life as lux #condos. 1st unit goes, entire 21st floor, w/had a $58.5M ask. #OlshanReport #NYC #FlatironDistrict #realestate #CRE #23skiddoo #mortgage https://t.co/oqZffAFrR3
Zoning, Permits, and Costs Stall California’s Housing Boom
Very important question: If YIMBY/Abundance is winning in California, why isn't the state building more homes? Brian Hanlon (@hanlonbt): "The main reasons we don’t have housing come down to three basic things." - First, zoning. It’s illegal to build dense housing...
Future Homes Standard Will Fall 400k Short of Target
A useful bit of recent information from housing expert Neal Hudson in his FT piece on issues facing housing: "even the government’s own modelling for the Future Homes Standard shows it will miss its 1.5 million housebuilding target by 400,000". #ukhousing...
Cincinnati's Train Station Idle While Stadiums Get Millions
Cincinnati’s Insanely beautiful train station had the capacity to see 216 trains daily, and only sees six now per week. Six. Ohio’s whole budget has a few million for rail, and hundreds of millions for the Cleveland Browns stadium.
Providence Station Renovation Boosts Capacity and Aesthetics
The renovation of the Providence train station looks so good and will greatly expand capacity.
Inventory Near 2019 Levels Signals Slower Home Price Growth
Back when I worked at Fortune in early 2022, as it became clear the Pandemic Housing Boom was nearing its final inning, I suggested to readers that a quick-and-dirty metric to follow in the post-pandemic period would be active inventory...
National Housing Inventory Growth Plummets From 33% to 4.7%
National Housing Inventory growth has slowed from the peak of 33% YoY last year to now, just 4.67% However, be mindful that the year-over-year comps are a big variable here. Just like it is with Florida's negative YoY inventory...
East River Tunnel Revamp Shows U.S. Still Builds Wonders
I had the privilege of touring the newly rehabilitated East River Tunnel 1, which took 13 months, on time and on budget, to go from a 115-year-old tunnel to one that’s state of the art. Our country still has the...
Builders’ Rate Cuts Mask Deeper Housing Supply Misalignment
If it weren't the builders paying down rates, housing permits would be worse today. We will never build housing the way people want because we aren't a supply-first economy; the demand curve needs to align with it, and rental vacancies...
America Excels yet Stalls on Rail, Nuclear, Green Energy
There’s no reality in which this country can do incredible things like this and then fail to build high speed rail, nuclear power and green energy.