Why some startups are ditching Silicon Valley for San Francisco

A Mountain View-based startup called Talkdesk just grabbed a chunk of space in San Francisco’s newest tower last week.

During a call to chief operating officer Gadi Shamia I congratulated him on signing the lease. That made him laugh.

“Congratulations? Congratulations on spending a ton of money, I suppose,” said Shamia, whose company builds call-center software users can access through a web browser.

Yes, even a small 13,000 square feet in the 535 Mission St.– or any new or well-located…

Lockport retailer honored for green initiative

Crosby’s is the first Western New York company to be awarded the Small Business Green Initiative certification.

The certification was created by Buffalo-based consulting company Sustainable Earth Solutions, a B-Corporation that helps small businesses gain competitive advantages by integrating sustainability into their strategies and operations.

In preparing to obtain the certification Lockport-based Crosby’s, which has about 50 convenience stores regionally, set out to cost-effectively reduce…

Senior housing and assisted living facility planned for West Oahu

The Japanese owner of a vacant parcel of land in Ewa in West Oahu is planning to develop an affordable senior housing project and an assisted living facility on the same half-acre lot, the consultant for the landowner confirmed to PBN on Friday.

The owner, Mitsuyasu, is in the preliminary stages of the project, working with a local developer to come up with a detailed plan, LeRoy Sajulga, consultant for the landowner, told PBN.

He is scheduled to present the proposal of the project to the Ewa Neighborhood…

Surprise! West Sacramento development application calls for two hotels on one site

The developer of a Springhill Suites hotel planned for West Sacramento has doubled down: His application includes a second hotel on the same site.

It’s the latest sign of a resurgence in the region’s hotel industry, which was hit hard by the recession. Last year, area hotels posted their best performance in rate and occupancy since the recession. And a long lull in hotel construction has ended, with a string of new proposals.

Projects include hotels at Sacramento International Airport, in Placerville,…

Chinese developer may build high-rise residential project near Honolulu's Ala Moana Center

A Chinese developer has purchased property along Kapiolani Boulevard near Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, with possible plans to build a high-rise condominium project, the seller and the firm representing the buyer of the property confirmed with PBN on Friday.

Hong Kong’s Qinghua International Holdings Ltd. closed on the purchase this week of a nearly 30,000-square-foot parcel at 1338 Kapiolani Blvd. for about $15.4 million, nearly triple the amount four Hawaii partners paid for the property 10…