Philadelphia Construction Law Blog

The Construction Backlog Indicator, or CBI, is a tool that measures backlog as an indicator of the health of the construction industry. The CBI is presently offering mixed signals to the market. While multi-national and large construction firms are showing the largest backlogs in history, this seems to correspond with a decrease in backlog for medium sized and small contractors.

A plethora of laws have been passed in recent years attempting to put more strict regulation on the construction industry – particularly residential construction – as it relates to payment and fraud. While there are voices on both sides of the debate as it relates to whether the laws are necessary and reasonable, there should be little doubt that the repercussions for failing to heed the recent trend are potentially serious.

One of the surest signs that fall has arrived is the start of the college football season. In a town that adores its pro team, the Philadelphia Eagles, college football is gaining a little more attention these days. One of the primary reasons for this is the return of Temple football, which was literally on the school’s chopping blocks a short time ago, beginning to make noise at the top level on a somewhat consistent basis. The next step for the program seems to be moving into its own stadium.

President Barack Obama recently signed into law a bill that significantly increases the penalties relating to certain violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Labelled as a “catch-up adjustment”, the new law increases the maximum fines associated with OSHA violations by 78%. An adjustment to the fines was last made in 1990.

The Neighborhood Improvement Zone, otherwise known as the “NIZ” in the Lehigh Valley, is serving as the springboard for another large development in downtown Allentown. J.B. Reilly is planning to build a $45 million 12 story office project in the NIZ by 2018.

Funding for public school construction and maintenance projects has been delayed by the months- long budget gridlock in Pennsylvania. Although the Commonwealth’s budget was recently approved, a related funding bill providing for more than $306 million in construction reimbursements due to Pennsylvania school districts was vetoed. School districts may now be faced with getting, or extending, financing for past and ongoing construction projects until legislation authorizing the reimbursements is finalized. It is unclear how this may affect future construction projects planned by Pennsylvania schools.

The developer of the Constitution Pipeline, designed to carry natural gas from the Marcellus Shale areas in northeastern Pennsylvania to New York State and New England, has been delayed. The pipeline was to have been placed in service by the end of this year, but now will not be completed until at least the second half of 2017. The 124 mile pipeline would help ease a shortage of pipelines carrying abundant natural gas from Northeastern Pennsylvania to customers in New York and New England. When constructed, it would be the first direct path linking the Marcellus basin with New York and New England consumers.

Joseph Dougherty, 73, former head of Philadelphia’s largest ironworkers union, was sentenced Monday to 19 years and two months in federal prisonafter being convicted of overseeing a campaign of sabotage and intimidation of nonunion contractors including the 2012 torching of a Quaker Meetinghouse in Chestnut Hill. In addition, Dougherty will have to pay over $500,000 in restitution.

The International Green Construction Code was developed by the International Code Council -more commonly known as the ICC – and first published in 2012. Its state purpose is to develop a model code for the measurement of sustainability in the construction industry. The goal in developing the code is to “make buildings more efficient, reduce waste, and have a positive impact on health, safety and community welfare”.

The Philadelphia Business Journal is reporting that New Jersey Federal Judge Joseph Rodriguez recently accepted a guilty plea from an OSHA instructor who admits to selling fake OSHA 30 Hour Certification Cards.