Snelling Ave. at I-94 Will See New Development in 2018
St. Paul, MN – July 21, 2017 – Gaughan Companies, Commercial Real Estate Developer and General Contractor, closed on the purchase of 304-308 Snelling Avenue in St. Paul on July 12, 2017. The final decision for the purpose of the new development is still being considered. Gaughan Companies is eager to develop in the city of St. Paul again.
Just off of I-94, the property is within walking distance of the Minnesota United FC Stadium and the Snelling Avenue Metro Transit Green Line. In addition to a new Whole Foods, this ideal neighborhood is also conveniently located near several major universities, including Concordia University, Hamline University, Macalester College, University of St. Thomas and St. Catherine University. Over 42,000 vehicles pass by this corner every day.
The current building was constructed in 1913, and the property has been owned by the same person for nearly 40 years. Gaughan Companies is looking forward to the opportunity to redevelop this site and build a new facility for the community.
For more information, visit www.gaughancompanies.com.
Art and Science Academy Ground Breaking Ceremony
We are honored to be chosen as the General Contractor for the Art and Science Academy’s new middle school in Isanti. It was our pleasure to host a ground breaking ceremony to celebrate the construction of this incredible project.
School Director Carlo Galeazzi, Isanti Mayor George Wimmer, the school Board of Directors, including Chairwoman of the Board Susan Mackert, Economic Development Director Sean Sullivan, teachers, staff, and many others gathered at the construction site to celebrate. We are thankful for the opportunity to build this facility and work with all of these great people.
For more information, visit the Gaughan Construction Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/gaughanconstruction/videos/781124825427689/
Robust Economy Ripe for Development
While many people are hesitant when faced with a change, real estate developers welcome change and are always up for a challenge; it comes with the territory. At a development site, people can generally only see that a building is worn down and beyond use, but they don’t want to let go of what once was.
An artistic, visionary developer can see beyond what may currently be there. They recognize the potential in a worn down building, if it can be repurposed instead of demolished. But sometimes, a building is just beyond repair. It is a developer’s job to discover a greater purpose for the site that far exceeds the community benefits of what was once there.
Developers face many challenges and are frequently stereotyped, but they are willing to take high risks to promote community growth and reward. The right developer will select a site design that is not only right on the inside but focuses attention to the exterior. Opposition to developers are often concerned about what the appearance of the building will be. Most developers don’t understand this, but this is the approach that Gaughan Companies takes.
A recent article in the Star Tribune looks into the increase in development in the Twin Cities. Contact one of our development or brokerage experts at Gaughan Companies, and let them put their proven skills and expertise to work for you on your next project.
-Patrick Gaughan
Employee Attraction and Retention Tools
We all know someone who loves or hates their workplace. Every day, thousands of workers quit one job only to rush to another one for any number of reasons. Let’s take a look at what companies are doing to attract and retain talent.
Most people think of money when they consider a new job. Questions often pondered are, “Will this increase in salary improve my living conditions,” or maybe, “Will this new salary be enough to support a move to the neighborhood I’m eyeing?”
Although salary is a huge draw, there are many other things that companies are using to lure the best talent. After a prospective employee is decided upon, the company will consider where that future employee is currently living. If he or she isn’t within an hour’s drive of the office, it’s time to consider a relocation package.
A good relocation package will pay for a percentage of closing costs on both the old home and the new one. It will often pay for movers, and if the employee needs to report onsite before his or her family can arrive, then the company may also pay for temporary housing.
In addition to these items, a company needs to consider the overall health and well-being of the employee. Paid time off, offering good medical insurance, dental and vision, short and long term disability plans, profit sharing and 401K plans should be part of each company’s benefits package.
Some companies are large enough to include a workout area in their plaza. Others may staff this area with health and fitness promotion workers who can offer suggestions for diet and workout programs in order to improve the health of the employees.
After the employee is acclimated to the new job, a challenge lies in trying to keep the employee happy at work. A good company recognizes that their workers are human and that things come up, such as having a child get sick or repairs needing to be done at home.
Flex time or telecommuting is a nice plus. Some employees can’t always be at the office from 8-5. If management can offer a small flex work or telecommuting schedule, the employee can still see to his or her personal needs without having to call in or take a personal vacation day.
Having a great relationship with an immediate supervisor and manager is key to an employee’s happiness. A good company will empower an employee to make certain business decisions up to a point. If a supervisor needs to have the final word, then it’s important that this person be accessible whenever needed. It’s also important that the supervisor supports the employee when dealing with other in-house departments and the public.
In addition, the best companies go a step further and reward employees who put forth their best efforts. If an annual bonus is offered, it is often based on performance review. A good company will hold weekly one-on-ones between supervisor and employee so that the employee understands how well he or she is doing in the position.
Besides an annual bonus, a company that focuses on employee retention may also have programs such as internal recognition or employee recognition day. These companies also realize that if it’s possible to promote within, then they should do so. Otherwise, their employees may feel that they’ve been overlooked and will want to head for another place where they will feel appreciated.
Finally, continuous improvement is another effective employee retention tool. A company may offer to pay a part or the entirety of classes at the college level that will aid a worker in his or her job. The company will also offer in-house training and some will even give workers a chance to take classes on-site or intern in other departments for a few weeks.
Changing jobs or keeping the one you have is always challenging. Everyone wants to make sure that he or she is getting the most value in exchange for his or her efforts. The best companies will recognize and respond to this and will go out of their way to promote employee retention. As a result, their bottom line looks great and their workers are happy, which creates a positive workplace.
Gaughan Companies is committed to building strong communities and creating good relationships within those communities. That includes our workplace. Our core values are honesty / integrity, priority focused / accountable, positive / solution-based, strong communication, and hardworking.
-Patrick Gaughan
