Birchbox’s retail revolution, and developers try to save a sinking ship
Jul 21, 2014
Here are the news stories you might have missed last week:
Fortune: With a wired store, Birchbox rethinks brick-and-mortar retail
Online beauty retailer Birchbox has earned the devotion of thousands of women thanks to its monthly subscription service, but the company is making headlines this week for an unusual venture. The once online-only store just opened its first brick-and-mortar location in downtown Manhattan. The company hasn’t completely abandoned its Internet roots, as shoppers in the store can use iPads to receive personalized product recommendations and watch tutorials on Birchbox.com. To read more about the future of omni-channel retailing, click over to Fortune.com.
The Wall Street Journal: In Cleveland, developer puts down stakes by the lake
Cleveland’s waterfront, long occupied by industrial buildings, is finally being revitalized. The City Council approved a $700 million development plan that would bring more than 1,000 apartments and additional retail space to the city’s central business district and mark one of the area’s first ground-up residential developments in 30 years. But the final hurdle is whether or not the developer can secure construction financing. Visit WSJ.com to keep reading.
The New York Times: Keeping a historic ship afloat
Can a once-great ocean liner be saved from the scrap yard? The historic steamship United States has floated vacant in the Delaware River since 1996, but its owners are in talks with developers about a potential reuse project. If they strike a deal, the ship could transform into a hotel, museum, shopping and entertainment complex, conference center, educational facility, or some combination of all five. Transforming old ships into modern spaces isn’t a new concept. In fact, developers transitioned the Rotterdam ocean liner in Holland into a business center in 2010. Read more about this trend at NYTimes.com.
Washington Business Journal: Shipping container apartments unprecedented, but still permitted, in D.C.
A Washington D.C. development group recently received approvals to build an apartment complex out of an inspired new material — empty shipping containers. The boxes were reviewed for lighting, ventilation, insulation, and wind resistance and were found to meet all construction standards. The D.C. project won’t be the first shipping container project of its kind, as a couple in New York City used the containers to build a three-story home and two developers in Syracuse are using the boxes to build an apartment complex. Click over to Bizjournals.com for more.
The Seattle Times: Onni wants taller towers in return for saving green space in South Lake Union
The Seattle skyline could change dramatically if a Vancouver development group gets its way. Onni Group filed plans with the city to construct four high-rise towers that would add nearly 2,000 units to the city, marking the largest residential complex ever in downtown Seattle. But in order to pull this mega-construction project off, the group wants a departure from the city’s 240-foot height limit in exchange for preserving a historic park on the site. Jump over to SeattleTimes.com for more.
Posted by: Raymond T. Cirz
