Is Market Rebounding? Higher Bids for Public Works May Be a Sign

Tupelo Mississippi just ran into a problem: the bids that it solicited for its new aquatic center came in way too high…the lowest bidder placed a bid that was $1.4 million over budget.  Many times public works bid solicitations come in over budget because there are not enough bidders: that wasn’t the case in Tupelo, […]

Chicago Landmarks Preservation Ordinance Upheld

 Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain  For several years now a court battle has raged in the Illinois Courts regarding the constitutionality of The Chicago Landmarks Ordinance. Local property owners challenged the ordinance based on an argument that the language contained in the law violates constitutional due process requirements. The ordinance is designed to provide the Landmarks Commission […]

Atlanta Gets Breather on Upgrades to Sewer System

With counties like Jefferson County, Alabama in bankruptcy, cities, counties and even some States (see the recent newspaper articles on California’s incredible expanding budget deficit) have had to pull back on spending even on what seem to be the most important projects. In an attempt to keeps its finances in order and take some pressure […]

Penn Station Construction To Start in Late 2012

 A rendering of the station’s future entrance at 33rd Street and Eighth Avenue. Credit: MSDC  After a decade of political wrangling which included plans as wide ranging as a complete demolition of Madison Square Garden to the construction of a football Stadium for the New York Jets, it appears that construction will finally […]