Expert Article – Innovative Development Strategies to Maximize Value in Today’s Retail Centers
By: Greg Guglielmo Retail development is in an ever-changing state of flux. Today’s retail centers are focused on those tenants that provide something that is impossible to buy online. Whether it is restaurants, hotels, medical, service-related, or specialty destination stores, we are in new era of tenant mix. What has not kept up with this change is parking regulations. Suburban communities frequently have zoning codes that require parking as if each use is separate and distinct, and that ensures there…
Sharon MA’s New and Improved Public Safety Facility
With construction of a new $24.75-million public safety facility in Sharon, MA complete, the buildings are now up-and-running and open to the public. Three new buildings – at the site of the town’s old police station and Department of Public Works (DPW) facility on South Main Street – are now home to both fire and police departments, with a shared lobby and 911 center. Working alongside Kaestle Boos Associates (KBA), Building Engineering Resources, McMahon Associates and Universal Environmental Consulting, DiPrete Engineering provided civil engineering…
The Sun is Shining on Solar Power in RI and MA
Solar development projects in the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island are increasing at a substantial rate. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) documents the progress states make on efficiency measures. ACEEE ranks states in six categories including State Government initiatives, building energy codes, utility incentives, combined heat and power, transportation, and appliance standards. Massachusetts and Rhode Island are now ranked number 1 and number 3 respectively. Currently, construction of the new Gold Meadow Farm Solar Development located in…
Coastal Concern
Landscape Architect Alex Avery, based out of the firm’s Newport office, renewed her RICRMC Invasive Management certification needed for work in coastal areas protected by the state Coastal Resources Management Council. The certification will allow Alex to manage work within half of a total buffer zone area. “Landscape professionals who are not certified can only manage up to 25 percent of a project,” she said. “The displacement of native species is the number one environmental issue caused by invasive plants,…
Wendy’s Now Open
DiPrete Engineering has successfully completed design and construction on its 4th Wendy’s project. The ground-up project is located in the North Kingstown Crossing Plaza, at the former Fiddlesticks Miniature Golf Course. The 3,000-square-foot footprint represents Wendy’s new sleek and contemporary prototype. We collaborated with the town to create a design that complimented its character while still demonstrating Wendy’s bold brand transformation,” said Senior Project Engineer, Jason Clough. “We adapted the design to resemble a colonial building, but still included elements…