CAMBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTS CONSTRUCTION EXPERT WITNESS
DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES

ABC Announces Disaster Relief Efforts and Resources Following Hurricane Milton

October 15, 2024 — ABC - Construction Executive
HURRICANE RELIEF Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee were hit with Hurricane Helene, and now Florida is facing additional damage from Hurricane Milton, which is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Damages from Helene have already been catastrophic, and our hearts and prayers go out to all currently affected and those who may be in the path of Milton. Florida Gov. DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 51 counties ahead of this impending storm. Donate to the ABC Cares Foundation via the online portal. The ABC Florida East Coast chapter and the ABC Cares Foundation Inc. are committed to assisting communities impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. 100% of donations made to the ABC Cares Foundation—an IRS 501(c)(3)—for this purpose will be restricted, directly supporting regional needs, and are 100% tax deductible. Donate to the American Red Cross through ABC’s donation portal. Your Red Cross disaster relief gift will help people whose lives have been upended by wildfires, storms, floods and countless other crises. This custom website tracks donations by the ABC community and can be dedicated to a friend or loved one. Donate Reprinted courtesy of ABC, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved. Read the full story...

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Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (10/16/24) – Chevron Ruling’s Impact on Construction Industry, New Kind of Public Housing and Policy Recommendations from Sustainable Building Groups

November 11, 2024 — Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law Blog
In our latest roundup, Hurricane Helene affects infrastructure, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bills aimed at renter protections, Federal Reserve kick-off rate-easing cycle, and more!

• Hurricane Helene illustrates how communities and infrastructure across the U.S. are unprepared for the extreme weather driven by climate change. (Julie Strupp, Construction Dive)
• The Supreme Court’s June Chevron ruling will likely have a seismic impact on laws that pertain to the construction industry. (Julie Strupp, Construction Dive)
• California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed three bills changing renter protection practices in the state last month including new requirements for security deposit deductions and restrictions on certain fees. (Mary Salmonsen, Multifamily Dive)

Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team

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Governor Bob Ferguson’s Recent Executive Orders – A Positive Sign for Washington’s Construction Industry

January 21, 2025 — Ryan Sternoff & Trygve Groh - Ahlers Cressman & Sleight
On January 15th, in his first act as Washington’s Governor, Bob Ferguson signed three executive orders, two of which may have a direct impact by removing some of the “red tape” that stifles Washington’s construction industry. This appears to be a positive sign that the Governor’s office is focused on pragmatic action, rather than partisan politics. Executive Order 25-02 is entitled “Assessing Regulatory Efficiency and Addressing Washington’s Affordable Housing Crisis” and directs all executive and small cabinet agencies (collectively, “State Agencies”) to review their rules and regulations and prepare a report for the Governor’s Office that identifies rules or regulations that impact the construction of new housing. The reports will also identify rules or regulations that are no longer necessary and can be rescinded, rules or regulations that can be amended to speed up housing construction. The reports will include descriptions of proposed amendments to such rules and regulations. The reports must be provided to the Governor’s Office within sixty days. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Ryan Sternoff, Ahlers Cressman & Sleight
Mr. Sternoff may be contacted at ryan.sternoff@acslawyers.com

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Seattle Developer Defaults on Renovated Office Buildings

December 23, 2024 — Anna Edgerton - Bloomberg
A major developer in downtown Seattle defaulted on a loan backed by two of its most prized office properties, including one that formerly housed a branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Firms tied to Martin Selig Real Estate are in default on a more than $200 million loan, according to letters from lender Acore Capital dated Nov. 15 that were filed in Washington’s King County. The buildings would change ownership 30 days after that notice if no other action is taken, according to the letters. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Anna Edgerton, Bloomberg

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Developers Can Tap into DOE’s $400 Million for Remote and Rural Clean Energy Projects

December 10, 2024 — Robert A. James, Elina Teplinsky, Alicia M. McKnight, Sidney L. Fowler & Clarence H. Tolliver - Gravel2Gavel Blog
On October 3, 2024, the Department of Energy Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to fund up to $400 million for clean energy projects in rural and remote areas via its Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas program. The NOFO will provide awards ranging from $2 million – $50 million, with plans to fund 20 to 50 projects. Awards will require a non-federal cost share, range across four topic areas, and target projects in rural and remote communities with populations of 10,000 people or fewer. Eligibility Applications are open to a wide range of entities, including for-profit and nonprofit organizations, state and local governmental entities, Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, institutions of higher education, rural electric cooperatives, incorporated and unincorporated consortia, farming associations and cooperatives, and labor unions. Generally applicants must be U.S. entities, but foreign entities may be allowed to participate in limited circumstances. Applicants must identify at least one area in the U.S. or U.S. territories with a population of up to 10,000 people which will benefit from the proposal. Reprinted courtesy of Robert A. James, Pillsbury, Elina Teplinsky, Pillsbury, Alicia M. McKnight, Pillsbury, Sidney L. Fowler, Pillsbury and Clarence H. Tolliver, Pillsbury Mr. James may be contacted at rob.james@pillsburylaw.com Ms. Teplinsky may be contacted at elina.teplinsky@pillsburylaw.com Ms. McKnight may be contacted at alicia.mcknight@pillsburylaw.com Mr. Fowler may be contacted at sidney.fowler@pillsburylaw.com Mr. Tolliver may be contacted at clarence.tolliver@pillsburylaw.com Read the full story...

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Las Vegas Stadium for Athletics, Now $1.75B Project, Gains Key OK

December 31, 2024 — Doug Puppel - Engineering News Record
Construction start of a new stadium in Las Vegas to host the former Oakland, Calif.-based Athletics Major League Baseball team gained a key approval on Dec. 5, with the municipal stadium authority unanimously greenlighting the now $1.75-billion facility. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Doug Puppel, ENR

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Florida Legislative Change Extends Completed Operations Tail for Condominium Projects

December 10, 2024 — Holly A. Rice - Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
The Florida Legislature recently passed House Bill 1021 which amended Florida Statute § 718.124. The July 1, 2024 amendment changes Florida’s statute of repose (“SOR”) trigger date for condominium projects. Now, the SOR trigger for existing condominium projects will be governed by Florida Statute §718.124, not Florida Statute § 95.11. Most critically, Florida Statute § 718.124 changes the trigger events for when the “clock” starts running and impacts how long the SOR runs. Notably, Florida Statute § 718.124 already governed the trigger event for the statute of limitations (“SOR”) for condominium projects. One important overarching takeaway for contractors to carefully assess is that the change in the “trigger” event may result in the SOR concluding at a later date than originally planned – affecting time on the risk and, critically, the availability of insurance. The standard approach of using a static 10-year completed operations tail on a condominium construction insurance program may now be insufficient in certain circumstances. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Holly A. Rice, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
Ms. Rice may be contacted at HRice@sdvlaw.com

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With Wildfires at a Peak, “Firetech” Is Joining Smart City Lineups

October 21, 2024 — James P. Bobotek - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law Blog
The threat of extreme wildfires has doubled in the past 20 years, with almost 20,000 fires blazing across the United States in 2024 alone. These high-intensity fires can be deadly, expensive, and create lingering health and environmental consequences. While we are used to seeing firefighters on the frontlines, researchers hope that next-generation smart technology, augmented by artificial intelligence (AI), will also play a key role in battling these conflagrations. Many municipalities, particularly those near wildfire-prone forests, are beginning to incorporate fire-focused advances (or “firetech”) into their smart city ecosystems. “Smart cities” are urban centers enhanced by utilities, emergency services, traffic signals and more that are linked through information and communications technology. Though the concept can spark cybersecurity-related concerns, many locales are gradually implementing many different kinds of smart tech. Following the 2023 wildfire that devastated Maui, for example, Hawaii installed a network of cloud-based fire and wind sensors that use AI to detect wildfires in real time. Smart tools like these can aid in predicting and discovering fires, streamlining emergency alert protocols, calculating vital analytics and improving firefighter safety. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is actively studying these innovations, particularly in terms of environmental (smart buildings or robotics), operational (communications) and personnel (PPE sensors or biometrics). Below are a few of the key technologies to watch in this emerging field:

• Smart Sensors. A total of 80 sensors (64 wildfire sensors and 16 wind sensors) were placed throughout Hawaii starting in March of 2024. Attached to existing utility poles, they detect heat in the air, and then engage AI and smart learning to distinguish smoke particles and gases produced by fires from those commonly found in Hawaii’s atmosphere—such as volcanic ash and ocean salt. Positioned in “strings,” the sensors “talk” to each other and send text messages to officials when they find a problem.

Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of James P. Bobotek, Pillsbury
Mr. Bobotek may be contacted at james.bobotek@pillsburylaw.com

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