Veronica Grecu
Veronica Grecu is a senior creative writer and researcher for RentCafe. With more than 10 years of experience in the real estate industry, she covers a variety of topics in residential and commercial real estate, including trends and industry news. Previously, she was involved in producing content for Multi-Housing News, Commercial Property Executive and Yardi Matrix. Veronica’s academic background includes a B.A. in Applied Modern Languages and an M.A. in Advertising and PR.
Wood Partners to Develop 155-Unit Luxury Community in Watertown
Wood Partners will break ground this month on a $40 million upscale apartment community in the suburb of Watertown, just six miles northwest of Boston. The real estate investment and development company has recently announced the acquisition of an 11.6-acre property located at 255 Waltham St., close to major employers such as Bright Horizons, iProspect, Staples, EMC, Boston Scientific, Genzyme, educational institutions, transportation, shops and other public spaces.
Brookfield Breaks Ground on $4.5 Billion Manhattan West Development
The first phase of Brookfield Office Properties’ newest and largest development project in New York City kicked off on January 15 with a groundbreaking event in the presence of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other city and real estate officials.
Construction Begins on 45-Story West Loop Office Tower
Chicago’s largest commercial real estate project in five years kicked off on January 15 in a $400 million joint venture between Canada-based Ivanhoé Cambridge—the real estate arm of Quebec pension fund manager Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, developer Hines of Houston and local business leader Larry Levy.
Bucks County Medical Building Achieves LEED Certification
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification to a 12,000-square-foot medical office building owned by Lower Bucks Pediatrics, a family-oriented pediatric medical practice in Bucks County, Pa.
‘Detroit Future City’ 50-Year Strategic Plan Unveiled
By Veronica Grecu, Associate Editor In an ambitious effort to bring back Detroit’s lost glory and after two years of community surveys that involved around 150,000 Detroiters, Mayor Dave Bing has released a comprehensive document that will serve as a strategic revitalization plan for the financially troubled city. The document dubbed Detroit Future City is […]
27-Story Apartment Tower Coming to University City
In fall 2013 work will start on a 27-story high-end apartment building located at the northwest corner of 36th and Market Streets in Philadelphia, replacing a parking lot owned by the University City Science Center. The project is backed by the Science Center – the first and largest urban research park in the United States – in a joint venture with Baltimore-based Wexford Equities and Southern Land Company of Franklin, TN, and stands as the first residential development in the Science Center’s 50-year history.
Developer Breathes New Life into Former Psychiatric Hospital in Northville
By Veronica Grecu, Associate Editor Preliminary work is underway at Seven Mile and Haggerty roads, where the state-owned Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital operated until 2003. As reported by The Detroit News, the site is being cleared for construction, while developer REIS-Northville LLC—a joint venture between REI Investment Group of Bloomfield Hills and Livonia-based Schostak Brothers […]
Former Somerville Recording Studio Redeveloped into Sustainable Apartment Community
Real estate development company Nauset Construction of Needham has completed a new smart-growth, multifamily community in Somerville, within walking distance of the lively Davis Square. Named Seven Cameron, the project was constructed on the site of the former Rounder Records and Fort Apache recording studios, which has been used by world-famous rock bands such as Radiohead and the Pixies to record music tracks.
Work Imminent on Mixed-Use Tower in Meatpacking District
Property Group Partners and landlord Romanoff Equities have joined forces to replace a former meat processing facility in New York’s Meatpacking District with a mixed-use complex that would stand as a prominent structure in the neighborhood. Designed by James Carpenter Design Associates architectural firm in cooperation with Gerner Kronick & Valcarcel Architects, the project is set to begin development immediately, with a delivery date tentatively set for 2015.
Closed Hotel to be Reintroduced to Market as Le Meridien Chicago at Oak Brook
A shuttered Renaissance-branded hotel next to the Oakbrook Center shopping center in Chicago’s Oak Brook suburb will reopen in early 2014 under the Le Meridien flag. The announcement was made last week by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., who teamed up with real estate investment firm RockBridge Partners of Columbus, OH, to transform the closed facility into an upscale hotel for both business and leisure travelers.