Residential Still Declining in Carolinas

The value of new contracts signed in March for future construction activity decreased by 14% in North Carolina and by 11% in South Carolina, McGraw-Hill Construction reported.

In North Carolina – where the value of new starts totaled approximately $2.2 billion for the month – the residential and nonresidential building sectors declined, while the nonbuilding segment improved over last March. Residential starts, at about $1.4 billion, were 17% behind last March’s total. The nonresidential category fell 14% compared to last year to tally about $528.6 million. The volume of nonbuilding contracts improved by 4% compared to last March to total about $273.2 million for the month.

Through the first three months of the year, North Carolina contract activity is 9% behind the 2006 pace, with a total of approximately $6.1 billion in new starts so far. For the year-to-date, the nonresidential category, at nearly $1.5 billion, is 4% behind ‘06, while the residential market is 12% behind last year with a $3.9 billion total. The nonbuilding sector is 2% ahead of last year’s pace, with a $686.3 million total so far.

In South Carolina – which totaled approximately $1.2 billion for the month – residential was the only declining sector, while nonresidential was flat and nonbuilding soared compared to the same period of a year ago. The value of new residential contracts totaled about $611.1 million, 36% below last March’s $958.9 million. The nonresidential category was on par with last year, and tallied $297.8 million for the month. The value of nonbuilding contracts more than tripled, to tally about $288.7 million, compared to the $80.9 million experienced the same time of a year ago.

Highwoods to Build CentreGreen Five in Raleigh

Raleigh, N.C.-based Highwoods Properties, announced plans to begin development of CentreGreen Five, a $15.7 million, 98,000-sq-ft, Class “A” office building in the Weston submarket of Cary, N.C., near Raleigh. This will be the fourth of a five-building master plan Highwoods has for its CentreGreen Office Park in Weston. PharmaNet Development Group, a global drug development company, has committed to pre-leasing 51% of the space in CentreGreen Five.

Starbucks May Build Plant in S.C.

Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee Co. announced that St. Matthews in Calhoun County, S.C., approximately 15 mi from Columbia, is the intended site of its newest United States roasting facility. Construction on the approximately 150,000-sq-ft facility is currently set to begin by the end of this year. Operations are planned to begin in early 2009.

According to Starbucks, the plant eventually will create approximately 160 full-time positions.

“Today’s announcement is further evidence that our efforts to improve economic conditions for business growth are producing real results for more South Carolinians,” Gov. Mark Sanford stated in a release announcing the project.

The new facility will house equipment and operations to receive, roast, package and ship Starbucks coffee to distribution centers servicing the Southeastern U.S.

Earth Tech Design-Building Reverse-Osmosis Desal Plant at Hilton Head

Earth Tech has been awarded a $5.5 million design-build contract by the Hilton Head Public Service District for the development of a new desalination facility.

Saltwater intrusion in the local aquifer has forced the utility to purchase almost half of its water from its wholesale surface water supplier in recent years. Earth Tech will design and build a new treatment facility, which will use reverse osmosis to treat up to 3 million gallons per day of brackish water from the 600-ft-deep Middle Floridan Aquifer, a new drinking water source for the island.

Click here for more Carolina News >>