August 2023

WHITE PLAINS—Despite the historic funding levels made available through the $4.2-billion environmental bond act that voters approved last November, the construction and environmental groups that overwhelmingly supported the referendum are eagerly awaiting the funding spigots to open so that the many-needed water, sewer and other green-related infrastructure projects in the region can move forward.

NEW YORK—A recently released report by the New York Building Congress paints a very positive outlook for the state’s construction sector as the industry becomes markedly more diverse and is expected to surpass workforce levels last seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.

HIGHLANDS, NY—U.S. Route 9W in the Town of Highlands in Orange County has reopened following the devastating floods that struck the Hudson Valley on July 9-10.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor announced on Aug. 8 it will be “Updating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Regulation,” which sets the prevailing wages contractors must pay workers on federal projects.

NEW WINDSOR, NY—Hugh G. “Jerry” Keahon, Jr., a fixture in the Hudson Valley concrete supply sector for more than five decades and a board member of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley, Inc., and related affiliated components during his long career, passed away on July 31 in New Windsor, NY. He was 83.

Construction contracts, like other contracts, are meant to define the relationship between the parties. In that regard, the parties are generally free to negotiate the terms of that contract. It is only where the contractual language at issue is contrary to statute, against public policy, or is unreasonable, will a court decline to enforce the contract as negotiated between the parties.

The ripple effects of hybrid work (in office and at home) have been substantial. Untethered from their offices, residents have left urban centers and shifted their lives elsewhere, according to a recent report by McKinsey, a major global consulting firm.

HAMILTON, NJ—Recently released new data from Dodge Construction Network found that the value of commercial and multifamily construction starts across the top 10 metropolitan areas of the U.S. fell 10% in the first half of 2023, relative to that of 2022. Nationally, commercial and multifamily construction starts fell 14% on a year-to-date basis through June.

CARMEL, NY–Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne hosted a townhall-style meeting on Aug. 3 to address Putnam Valley residents about the much-anticipated Peekskill Hollow Road construction project. Nearly 100 residents of Putnam Valley attended the event to hear from representatives of the county and from the selected contractor, ELQ Industries, Inc., about the company’s plans to finish the project.

TARRYTOWN, NY—Eighteen college and graduate students will begin the fall semester each with a $5,000 grant from the Louis G. Nappi Construction Labor-Management Scholarship Fund for studies in Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics and Applied Sciences for the 2023-2024 academic year. The announcement of the $90,000 in scholarships awards was made by John Cooney, Jr., executive director of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley, Inc.