CBG Building Company’s Post

So I've been following recent posts about small town core revitalization efforts in england with some interest. One aspect in particular is how similar the conversation sounds to the main street conversations we've been having since the 70's(?). I don't know if the issues are specific to england and the u.s., but I do find it a little bit reassuring that the problems of downtown revitalization, and the solutions, are on some level more universally applicable. (note all the qualifiers in that statement), because it suggests to me that if the best revitalization methods (like the main street 4 point approach) do have a fundamental application everywhere, then conversely, policies they combat (like pavement widening, single family only large lot zoning, and parking minimums), are fundamentally inappropriate, and that has implications for revising zoning, land use, and design code.

Jersey City Begins Construction on Summit Avenue Park with More Greenery Planned By Chris Fry A road best known for vehicles will be getting upgraded greenery and open space over the next year as work has begun to bring a pair of new parks to a stretch of Route 139. Running east to west and serving as a feeder to the Holland Tunnel entrance, Route 139 has undergone various pedestrian improvements in recent years to make it less intimidating to those on foot. The roadway separates The Heights from the growing Journal Square neighborhood and the two new parks hope to accommodate an increasing influx of new residents. The first section of the new park is situated between Summit and St. Paul’s Avenue. The future Summit Avenue Park will sport a central open area that can accommodate farmers markets, public art, and cultural events, while other features include benches, planting beds, mulching, flowering, and shade trees. Bike racks will be provided within the park, which has begun construction and is expected to open sometime in 2025. Further greenery is slated to be added just east of Summit Avenue Park in an area that was once home to part of Jersey City’s extensive streetcar system. Dubbed Trolley Park, the current site between Baldwin and Oakland Avenue has already been fenced off save for a memorial to a pedestrian who was killed in an accident. The future greenspace will feature a long, winding walking path set to utilize the already existing exposed cobblestone and rail to highlight Jersey City’s history. Signage touting the history of the Pavonia Avenue Car Line will be included in the park, which is also expected to be completed sometime next year. Both parks are part of an ongoing effort to add some greenery to the Journal Square area, which notably lacks a true park despite a large existing population and a plethora of high-rises currently under construction. The upcoming Courthouse Park project is aiming to change that, as it is slated to add over three acres of open space along a prominent stretch of Newark Avenue. #summitpark #jerseycityheights #journalsquare

🏗️ Are you wondering what is being built next to CSUSM in City of San Marcos, CA 🏗️ North City San Diego is building 222 North City, a 12-story mixed use project. North City (originally approved in 2009) is evolving in reaching its potential by creating our first true downtown. This market rate housing will bring much needed housing to the market . It’s predicted to provide housing for many faculty members for California State University San Marcos (currently our largest employer in our city), building housing adjacent to jobs, creating a synergistic atmosphere. It will also provide a much needed clientele base for the current restaurants in North City. It’s exciting to watch this project being built after the slowdown due to the “Great Recession” and the “Global Pandemic”, breathing life into our first true downtown that brings together businesses, housing, and a park together in a walkable community that is close to jobs and transit options. Stay tuned, it is predicted for occupancy by late 2025. #HousingDiversity #NorthCity #DowntownLiving #SanMarcosCity #DiscoverLifesPossibilities

These are the approaches and actions we can copy and repeat in every city in North America.

The project is part of Parkside of Old Town Phase III - Urbanize Chicago

They’re making it even taller. No offence to Oklahoma City but it doesn’t exactly have the hyper-dense urban dynamic known for producing supertall skyscrapers. Screw that, say Matteson Capital and AO architects. They unveiled an enormous skyscraper to much online debate and ridicule at the end of 2023, but have now increased its height from 533-metres to 581-metres and plan to make it the tallest building in the entire US, overtaking New York’s One World Trade Center. The big question jumping into your mind right now will be “why?” — and to be honest we’re not entirely sure. The tower is rising as part of a new mixed-use development called the Boardwalk at Bricktown that will include hotels, commercial, retail and residential spaces. In comments to other publishers, AO has explained that the tower is being designed in response to Oklahoma City’s growing population. The city’s current tallest skyscraper is the 257-metre Devon Tower. Take away the metric system and you realise that the height increase will bring the building up to 1,907 feet — a nod to the year that Oklahoma was granted statehood. If they wanted to go higher still, 2020 was the year that the Tiger King documentary featuring Oklahoma’s very own animal collector and independent presidential candidate Joe Exotic was released. The supertall skyscraper is yet to be approved. We’ll keep you up to date on the latest news as it develops. 📷 AO architects / Matteson Capital #architecture #construction #skyscraper #engineering #Oklahoma

Boston offers many examples of the benefits of allowing the construction of single-staircase low- and mid-rise buildings, as we explain in our new report, “Legalizing Mid-Rise Single-Stair Housing in Massachusetts,” https://buff.ly/4dBTvw1. While building codes often require two staircases connected by a hallway, Boston’s many classic triple-decker homes, Back Bay row houses, and Fenway brick apartments were allowed under earlier laws, and they show the value of single staircases. In the late 19th century, for example, triple-deckers could be efficiently built to house waves of immigrants who could commute to work, thanks to expanded streetcar networks. Many Bostonians live in single-stair buildings, and their relative compactness (in contrast to two-staircase, podium buildings today), has shaped an urban fabric that can support walkable and transit-oriented life. If the city’s own past is any lesson, single-stair mid-rise buildings might be deemed as the triple-(or more)-decker of the future. To learn more, check out the report.

🌟 **Building More Than Structures: We Build Communities** 🌟 In the world of construction, our work goes far beyond erecting buildings. It’s about laying the foundation for vibrant communities and thriving industries. By fulfilling projects with integrity, quality, and an acute eye for detail, we don’t just meet the terms of a contract—we help dreamers turn their visions into reality, providing invaluable services to the community through our completed projects. Take, for instance, our recent project with Warriors Gym in Vernal, Utah. We built a state-of-the-art steel-framed building that more than doubled their capacity. This transformation didn’t stop at the physical structure; it enhanced the functionality of their classrooms, expanded their gym equipment capacity, and turned the environment from closed-off to open and inviting. Moreover, we ensured top-notch airflow for optimal circulation, creating a healthier and more pleasant space for everyone working out. We tripled the number of parking spaces, making the gym more accessible to the community. In the end, we didn’t just build a gym—we created a space that hundreds of people visit each week, contributing to the local economy and beautifying the surrounding area. At George T. Weldon Construction, LLC, we are committed to building communities and enhancing services one construction project at a time. We take pride in knowing that our work helps bring dreams to life and supports the growth and well-being of our community. Here’s to building a brighter future together! 🛠️🏢🌆 #Construction #CommunityBuilding #QualityConstruction #DreamBuilders #LocalEconomy #CommunityGrowth #WarriorsGym #BuildingDream #GeorgeTWeldonConstruction

Planetizen | Peter Calthorpe calls this the “grand boulevard” strategy, noting that it “could be implemented with a basic form-based code with zero parking requirements.” “A 15 percent inclusionary zoning requirement would create 300,000 affordable housing units in the Golden State.” That strategy is central to a 2023 California state law, AB 2011, which allows for more mixed-use development and higher density in certain areas. “Using UrbanFootprint software, Calthorpe analyzed a 43-mile commercial corridor between San Francisco and San Jose, the El Camino Real. Reimagining this as a grand boulevard allows 3,500 acres of infill development, with up to 250,000 dwelling units—some with ground-floor commercial space.” Infill development on Bay Area commercial corridors could create over 1 million new housing units.

The Boston Planning and Development Agency’s board has approved Boston University’s real estate plan for its Charles River campus through 2026. Key renovations will improve Warren Towers, the university's main dormitory, with upgrades to bathrooms, HVAC systems, and the building’s exterior. Additionally, the board greenlit a lab complex on Wentworth Institute of Technology property, two office-to-housing conversions, and a 236-unit apartment building in South Boston. This approval is part of BU’s institutional master plan, which typically spans ten years; however, the university opted for a shorter version to allow incoming President Mellisa Gilliam to shape her vision. The Planning Department, established by Mayor Wu in 2024, aims to prioritize development that addresses Boston’s needs for resilience, affordability, and equity while ensuring transparent community engagement and effective use of public real estate. Read more: https://ow.ly/2NNi50Ttaz7 #bostonuniversity #universitymasterplan #bostoncre #studenthousingdevelopment #offcampushousing #oncampushousing