Commerce Department steps into solar trade war with China 

The trade war between U.S. solar manufacturers and China continues to blaze, and Jan. 30 the U.S. Department of Commerce stirred up more controversy with its announcement that any duties levied by the U.S. will be charged retroactively.
The SolarWorld-led Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing celebrated the ruling, a response to what Commerce Department called “critical-circumstances” [...]

Nonresidential construction outlook mixed as stimulus winds down 

A still-stabilizing nonresidential construction sector should see demand strengthen in the private sector and weaken in the public sector this year, the Associated General Contractors of America anticipates.
Commercial builders must balance growing demand for certain private projects with continued weakness in key sectors. It will also see a shrinking supply of public projects funded with federal economic-stimulus [...]

Commercial appraisals stabilize on existing buildings, still pose challenge for new construction 

More commercial appraisals are working out lately, at least on existing buildings. That means more loans to buy the properties are, too.

Lender and borrower hope an appraiser determines a building’s value is at or above what the prospective buyer offers to pay. Loans are based on a percentage of appraised value. When an appraisal comes [...]

Turning the nightlights back on in downtown Nampa 

As the season of film glamour and award ceremonies gets underway in Hollywood, a film campaign of a different sort is gaining ground in Nampa.
Supporters of the downtown Pix Theatre have come up with a host of new plans for bringing life back to the old movie house, which once seated 688 patrons in luxury.
For [...]

Proposed new multi-story project in Southeast Boise ‘more realistic’ 

Years after the ambitious Quasar Development fell apart in Southeast Boise, the Boise Planning & Zoning Commission is set to consider a new multi-story project for the same parcel near Washington Group Plaza.
A four-story mixed-use building that would include 68 apartments and 5,250 square feet of ground-level retail space, including parking, is proposed for the [...]

Glanbia Foods, Uptown Developers seals deal with Twin Falls URA 

In the spring of 2013, Glanbia Foods will move into two new downtown Twin Falls buildings paid for by the company itself, a developer and the city’s Urban Renewal Agency.
Glanbia and Uptown Developers signed an agreement in mid-January with the Twin Falls URA to build a “cheese innovation center” and corporate office complex on the downtown [...]

Contractors: The market for new homes is building 

Almost a year ago, when Parkcrest Homes and Schroeder Enterprises bought the 32-lot Hunter’s Creek Subdivision from a bank, two homes stood there. Now, nearly half the remaining lots have sold to homebuyers.
Parkcrest Homes owner Bryan Pecht said he has sold eight homes in Hunter’s Creek since February 2011 and is building one on speculation. [...]

Big Al’s progresses at Eagle, Fairview 

A 65,848-square-foot Big Al’s family entertainment center is slated to open by late summer on the north side of Fairview Avenue east of Eagle Road, Meridian, in the 90-acre Meridian Town Center complex. 
The project is a little ahead of schedule, said Daniel Kirkwood, vice president of Kirkwood & Kirkwood Inc. and president of Big Al’s. [...]

Bonners Ferry to get 50,000-square-foot grocery store 

The small northern Idaho town of Bonners Ferry is about to add a substantial number of jobs to its job market.
In November Super 1 Foods of Hayden broke ground on a 50,0000-square-foot grocery store that is scheduled to open in June, creating approximately 80 new jobs.
The store will be roughly 6,000 square feet less than Super 1’s Sandpoint [...]

2012 shows progress in Nampa development plans 

Nampa is hoping its version of slow and steady will win the race. 
The city began moving on its economic development plans for revitalizing the historic downtown district in 2006, but the first major pieces of the effort are falling into place in 2012. 
The city’s plan is a complex web of land swaps, employee moves and [...]