When visiting my husband’s family in New Orleans, we take for granted how nice it is to walk down Magazine Street – wine in hand – while patronizing local shops. Sure, we could just be in a restaurant or bar, but we love to take in the neighborhood and have those chance encounters with friends that we get from walking down the street.

Property developers are now taking that vibe and implementing it into developments. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that developers are looking for relaxed open-container ordinances on their sites, and city councils have proved amenable to the change.

– Sarah Weston, The Atlanta 100

With the Fed raising interest rates, mortgage rates are following suit. Mortgage rates have been moving up slowly since last summer, and the pace of increases has picked up since the election.

Small rate changes matter. For example, if you were planning to get a $250,000 loan and mortgage rates move up between .75 and 1 percentage point, you would need to scale back your purchase by $20,000 to keep the same monthly payment.

It’s always hard to predict the future, but this is a good time to lock in at a rate that is still historically low.

– Scott Gibertini, USAmeriBank

Following the release of a report in Group Dynamics, ICRAVE Managing Director Elizabeth Von Lehe told Fast Company, “Traditional office models are very hierarchical and segmented, with private offices that keep management separated.”

She talks about how this design leads to a lack of mentorship and interactions, which is something that all company leaders should consider.

When New South Construction was planning for its new office, they kept this in mind. Senior team members are now sitting beside those less-experienced, and the general contracting firm is already seeing the benefits of the layout and the ease of sharing ideas.

– Sarah Funderburk, SPR Atlanta

The Choctaw Nation is building a new 500,000-square-foot tribal headquarters building. The facility will house approximately 900 employees and consolidate 30 buildings across Durant into a single, unified campus.

Designed by architectural firm Frankfurt Short Bruza Associates (FSB), the new facilities will feature a main headquarters building, stand-alone data center supporting the campus, conference center/cafe and a 765-space parking garage.

“The Choctaw Nation’s new headquarters campus is a truly transformative project that will provide improved efficiencies and synergies in how it administers services and interacts with tribal members,” said Jason Holuby, principal with FSB.

– Chip Carter, Jones PR

The Canebrake, a luxury resort and spa located outside of Wagoner, Oklahoma, has closed after eight years and is up for sale.

Listed by NAI Sullivan for $5.7 million, the 64.8-acre property includes an 18,000-SF main building plus 16 luxury rooms and suites, a restaurant, pool and other amenities. With its secluded location, beautiful landscapes and unique architecture, The Canebrake may remain a resort or be repurposed into a new concept such as a corporate retreat, substance abuse center or personal family vacation compound.

For more information, contact Bob Sullivan or see additional details here.

– Alex Mercurio, Jones PR