AGC and other groups sent a joint letter to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of the Community Recovery and Enhancement Act (CRE Act), introduced in late July by Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV).

The intent of this legislation is to help incentivize investment in commercial real estate.  The Community Recovery and Enhancement Act will enable banks to convert troubled loans into performing assets through modest tax incentives to attract new equity capital to existing commercial real estate projects.  The new investments would be specifically used to pay down debt, resulting in lower loan-to-value ratios of existing loans as well as improved debt coverage ratios.

To read the letter click here.

The new content launched August 18, 2010!

That's right, the release of AGC's second edition of the Building to LEED® for New Construction curriculum is just around the corner, and we have a great webinar opportunity for Chapters to prepare for the updated offering and begin scheduling Fall courses. This will be a great opportunity to help your members pursuing LEED® certification on their projects or those looking to maintain their professional accreditation.

August 26, 2010 - Webinar: Building to LEED for New Construction Train-the-Trainer
Program will provide the skills essential to effectively instruct the second edition Building to LEED courses - specifically how to teach adult learners, encourage interaction among participants and use the course manuals to prepare for and deliver courses. Registrants of this webinar will receive a copy of the Building to LEED for New Construction, 2nd Edition, Instructor's Guide as part of their registration fee-only $99 for chapter registrants! The program will cover:

-The Building to LEED course learning objectives
-The target course audience and how to adapt the course to fit a wide-range of participants.
-The major differences between LEED v2.2. and 3 and how they are identified in the course.
-The difference between design and construction submittals
-How to recognize situations in which they should bring their own examples into the class to demonstrate the impact of LEED on a contractor
-The various exercises included in the new course

CLICK HERE to learn more or register for the program. Chapters who wish to have their fall offerings of Building to LEED promoted during these webinars should send them to curriculum@agc.org.

For more information please contact Stephanie Mullins at mullinss@agc.org or (703) 837-5387.

According to Reed Construction Data, the value of June construction starts rose almost three percent from May, higher than the typical seasonal gain.  Year to date values are up 13 percent from 2009 starts in the same time period.  Values have been steady for four months and are almost 50 percent above the June 2009 low point, but are still 25 percent below the peak.  Starts are exepected to remain stable over the next few months and rise at the end of this year. 

For more on June's construction starts from Reed Construction Data, please click here.

The 2011 AGC Building Contractors Conference will be held September 21-24, 2011 at the Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio, Texas.  Registration will open in Spring 2011.  Don't forget to mark these dates down on your calendar!

AGC and other groups sent a joint letter to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of the Community Recovery and Enhancement Act (CRE Act), introduced in late July by Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV).

The intent of this legislation is to help incentivize investment in commercial real estate.  The Community Recovery and Enhancement Act will enable banks to convert troubled loans into performing assets through modest tax incentives to attract new equity capital to existing commercial real estate projects.  The new investments would be specifically used to pay down debt, resulting in lower loan-to-value ratios of existing loans as well as improved debt coverage ratios.

To read the letter click here.

New rule will take effect Nov. 8, 2010
 

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued on July 28, 2010 a new rule addressing the use of cranes and derricks in construction.  Approximately 267,000 construction, crane rental and crane certification establishments employing about 4.8 million workers will be affected by the final rule. Read the changes to the final rule from the proposed rule here.

Since OSHA announced its decision to establish a Crane and Derrick Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee (C-DAC) under the Negotiated Rulemaking Act (NRA), the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) in 2003, AGC participated on the C-DAC Committee and commented extensively on the proposed rule. AGC's comments centered on crane operator qualification and certification, as well as the scope, definitions, fall protection, inspections, and assembly/disassembly requirements of the rule. AGC also held a series of conference calls with members and Chapters to review and solicit comments on the proposal.

The previous rule, which dated back to 1971, was based on 40-year-old standards. The new rule is designed to prevent the leading causes of fatalities, including electrocution, crushed-by/struck-by hazards during assembly/disassembly, collapse and overturn.  It also sets requirements for ground conditions and crane operator assessment.  In addition, the rule addresses tower crane hazards, addresses the use of synthetic slings for assembly/disassembly work, and clarifies the scope of the regulation by providing both a functional description and a list of examples for the equipment that is covered.

The new rule will take effect on Nov. 8, 2010. To view AGC's comments on the proposed regulations, click here, and the changes in the final rule here. The complete rule is available here. The regulation text is available here. 

For additional information, please contact Kevin Cannon at (703) 837-5410 or cannonk@agc.org.

AGC July 6 responded to an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to expand the Agency's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program (RRP) requirements to cover work performed in commercial and public buildings.

The ANPR includes no proposed language.  Rather, the public was invited to respond to over 100 detailed questions and data requests.  Currently there are no limits on the potential scope of regulated commercial and public buildings. Other unresolved questions include: What renovation and repair work should be covered? What activities create the most risk? Should exposure pathways be broadened to include nearby properties?  AGC invited members to help shape the future lead paint rule and solicited input on a variety of important industry-specific issues currently under consideration at EPA.

AGC Comments

As part of a coalition with 15 other organizations, AGC filed comments [insert PDF file] with EPA maintaining that the Agency lacks the legal authority to adopt requirements for Lead RRP activities in public and commercial buildings.  In the comments, the coalition pointed out that the statute under which EPA would issue the rule grants it the authority to issue guidelines for work practice standards, but not the authority to promulgate such regulations for RRP in public and commercial buildings.

For more detail on AGC's comments on the EPA's ANPR and background on the Lead Paint Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program, please click here.

AGC of America, together with the National Association of State Facilities Administrators, Construction Owners Association of America, The Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers and the American Institute of Architects, just released Integrated Project Delivery For Public and Private Owners. This publication is available for free at www.agc.org/projectdelivery.

December 15-17, 2010 | The Palace Hotel | San Francisco, Calif.

The 25th Annual Construction SuperConference will bring to the forefront new insights into the legal, business and economic challenges and opportunities in today's construction industry.  The agenda features panel discussions comprised of some of the top legal, consulting and construction experts who will delve deep into some of the most challenging issues with sharp insight and practical solutions.  All participants will walk away with invaluable information and resources that will assist them in meeting today's challenges.

AGC Members receive a 15% discount.  Early Bird registration ends September 10.  Use Code- A2G3C3 at https://secure2.rhq.com/vendome/csc10/attreg/index.cgi?source=AGC.

For more information or questions, please contact Carrie Ciliberto at cilibertoc@agc.org or 703-837-5367.

According to Reuters, the commercial real estate market may have avoided the crash that was expected of it. Credit still remains tight, but an influx of foreclosed commercial properties and bankruptcies is unlikely.  Because banks have been able to extend, restructure and modify loans, the commercial market has been given a chance to breathe and values have slightly risen.  If special servicers and lenders continue to handle distressed loans as such, prices are likely to avoid a rock-bottom.

This news is supported by data from the Moody's/REAL All Property Type Aggregate Index and Reed Construction Data.  According to the Moody's/REAL All Property Type Aggregate Index, commercial property values rose for the first time in two months during the month of April, though values are still far from their October 2007 high.  Reed Construction Data also reported an increase in building permits in April, particularly in the non-residential sector.

For more on the Moody's/REAL All Property Type Aggregate Index from Reuters, please click here. 

The Reed Construction Data article on building permits can be found here.

More from Reuters' article on the commercial real estate market can be found here.