Latest news with #Holzman
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Development plans for Canton's Midtown Plaza include 55 apartments, retail space
May 4—CANTON — The Midtown Plaza redevelopment project is moving forward with plans for a three-story mixed-use building in downtown Canton, the project developer revealed last week. Rob Holzman, vice president of planning and acquisitions with the Vecino Group, presented an update on the project at a joint meeting of the town and village boards Tuesday. The project will feature 55 one and two-bedroom residential units, a 10,000-square-foot SUNY Canton Entrepreneurial Center, and approximately 2,500 square feet of retail space. The project will feature affordable housing units targeting residents at 30 to 80% of the area median income. Holzman noted that a significant step in the process was the recent hiring of LaBella Associates, a civil engineering firm, to lead the site plan development. LaBella Associates' Regional Business Development Manager Anastasia Thomas will be a key partner in navigating the site plan review and approval process. The development team aims to secure site plan approval from the Village Planning Board by July or August. First up for LaBella is a site survey to identify any potential issues, such as hidden infrastructure. Geotechnical work will follow to determine the type of material beneath the paved area that extends from Miner Street to the old Jubilee Supermarket. Holzman said they are seeking 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. Vecino will submit the tax credit application in September or October. It is foundational to making the project financially feasible, Holzman said. Factors working for a successful application are that the project is for mixed-income housing including market rate and affordable units, it is located in the downtown core, the partnership with SUNY Canton, the village's prior work preparing the site, and it being named a priority project in New York Forward Strategic Investment Plan and Restore New York funding for demolition of the existing structures. Construction timelines will depend on securing the state tax credits, Holzman said. The Midtown Plaza, anchored by the Jubilee supermarket, has been vacant for 20 years. Since 2019, it has been the center of a plan to build housing, retail spaces, and an entrepreneurial center and incubator hosted by SUNY Canton. In 2023, the village paid $1.28 million for the properties owned by Gary M. Cohen and Vernon L. Green. Cohen, a New York City businessman, had owned the plaza and its parking lot since 1980. Green owned a separate property adjacent to Cohen's five parcels. Once completed, the Vecino Group will be the owner and property manager. Holzman said Vecino has created an in-house property management company in New York. This approach, he said, allows for more direct control over property management staff and avoids challenges associated with third-party management. Holzman said that finding good property managers can be difficult when outsourcing, so their internal management company provides better oversight and quality control. This approach allows the Vecino Group to maintain consistent standards across its affordable housing developments and ensure proper maintenance and tenant services, he said.
Zawya
26-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Strategic Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As) Fuel Investment, Expansion in Namibia's Upstream Sector
Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity continues to emerge as a critical engine for growth in Namibia's upstream oil and gas sector, as emphasized during a high-level panel discussion at the Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) on Thursday. Industry leaders outlined how strategic M&A deals are not only reshaping the country's energy landscape, but also playing a key role in unlocking capital and accelerating exploration. Gil Holzman, CEO of Eco Atlantic Oil&Gas, highlighted how acquisitions have underpinned his company's expansion in Namibia since its entry into the market in 2009, stating: 'Most of our best blocks are the result of M&As. Our most recent acquisition was in 2021 when we bought Azinam, which gave us promising blocks in the Orange Basin.' According to Holzman, these acquisitions have fortified Eco Atlantic's asset portfolio while positioning Namibia as an increasingly attractive frontier for global exploration. He pointed to M&A transactions involving supermajors such as ExxonMobil, QatarEnergy, Chevron and TotalEnergies as instrumental in bringing in not just capital, but also the technical capabilities needed to advance exploration in Namibia's offshore and onshore basins. Discussing the company's operational strategy, Holzman emphasized a phased approach anchored in collaboration: 'We aim to secure promising prospects, de-risk them internally and then attract partners with the technical know-how and capital required to unlock new frontiers.' Echoing this sentiment, Adam Rubin, General Counsel at ReconAfrica, emphasized that M&As remain a strategic avenue to catalyze value creation, drive innovation and meet the substantial capital demands of upstream development. 'We have not yet produced onshore, but the oil is there. Be patient – we will find it and produce,' he said, reaffirming the company's commitment to moving from exploration toward full-scale production in the Kavango Basin. Robert Bose, CEO of Sintana Energy, added that M&A activity has played a central role in enabling Sintana to broaden its asset base and build relationships with complementary partners. 'M&As have helped us connect with the right partners and diversify our portfolio,' he said. 'Cost-effective investment remains a key motivator, and we are focused on disciplined growth.' From a financial perspective, Liz Williamson, Head of Energy at Rand Merchant Bank, outlined the opportunities that arise when IOCs divest from mature or late-life assets. She noted that such moves often create openings for mid-cap firms with fresh capital and a focused approach to step in. 'This trend is beneficial for African governments, as middle-tier companies are often better suited to fully commit to and invest in these projects,' she explained. Williamson also underscored the importance of establishing clear, investor-friendly deal frameworks and local content policies that build investor confidence. 'Not many African countries are currently securing significant foreign direct investment, and Namibia must maintain its appeal by offering clarity on local content laws,' she said. As Namibia emerges as a key exploration hotspot on the continent, discussions around capital flows, deal-making and upstream expansion are set to continue at African Energy Week 2025: Invest in African Energies, taking place from September 29-October 3, 2025 in Cape Town. The event will unite industry leaders, investors and government representatives to advance dialogue, showcase project opportunities and drive strategic partnerships across Africa's energy landscape. Namibia's rising profile and recent exploration success will be a focal point, drawing increased attention from global stakeholders seeking entry into one of the continent's most dynamic markets. AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit for more information about this exciting event. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Claire Danes and ‘My So-Called Life' Creator to Reunite for New HBO Drama Series
Claire Danes is set to reunite with 'My So-Called Life' creator Winnie Holzman for a new drama series in the works at HBO, TheWrap has learned. The new series, titled 'The Applebaum Curse,' is billed as an ongoing one-hour drama series about a dysfunctional family with Danes as the lead role, per the official logline. The show is still in early development at the network, an individual with knowledge told TheWrap. Danes is attached to star in and executive produce the series, while Holzman would serve as writer, showrunner and executive producer for 'The Applebaum Curse.' The new series would reunite Danes and Holzman three decades after they worked together on 'My So-Called Life,' which ran for just one year from 1994-95 on ABC. In the show, Danes starred as Angela Chase, a teen from a fictional Pittsburgh suburb grappling with social issues that made for a tumultuous adolescence. Despite only running for one season, 'My So-Called Life' helped launch Danes' career, with her starring in 'Romeo + Juliet,' the 1998 film adaptation of 'Les Misérables' and 'It's All About Love' in the coming years. The 'Homeland' actress recently starred in Max's 'Full Circle' and as well Hulu's TV adaptation of 'Fleishman Is in Trouble.' Holzman, who prior to 'My So-Called Life' had writing credits on 'The Wonder Years' and 'Thirtysomething,' went on to write for ''Til There Was You' and served as a writer and executive producer for 'Once and Again,' 'Huge' and 'Roadies.' Most recently, Holzman served as an executive producer on Jon M. Chu's 'Wicked,' for which she also has a writing credit after writing the book for the original Broadway musical alongside Stephen Schwartz. HBO also recently greenlit a music industry drama series, titled 'The Band,' with Ben Stiller attached to star as a pop impresario and talent mogul beset by scandal. The post Claire Danes and 'My So-Called Life' Creator to Reunite for New HBO Drama Series appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Claire Danes Reuniting With My So-Called Life Creator for New HBO Series
More than three decades after leaving Liberty High School in her rearview mirror, Claire Danes is reteaming with the creator of ABC's My So-Called Life for a new drama series on HBO, our sister publication Variety reports. Titled The Applebaum Curse, the series is being described as a one-hour drama about a dysfunctional family led by Danes. Holzman would serve as showrunner, executive-producing alongside Danes. More from TVLine Ratings: The White Lotus Returns to Premiere High, 'B+' Reader Grade Last Week Tonight Clips Will Resume Posting to YouTube on Monday Mornings The White Lotus Premiere Recap: Season 3's Arrivals Include a Surprise Guest 'I am writing something that I'm hoping to do with Claire,' Holzman told Variety at the Writers Guild of America Awards. 'It's not a reboot in the traditional sense, but I think Claire Danes and I back together would be a kind of version of that. … It's a completely different story, but we're hopeful that we're gonna work together again. I'm writing it now, and it's hopefully gonna be at HBO, so we'll see. I have to cross my fingers! You never know what's gonna happen, but Claire would love to do this with me, so I'm excited.' My So-Called Life, which ran for just one season on ABC from 1994 to 1995, starred Danes as angsty teen Angela Chase. The ensemble cast of then-newcomers also included Wilson Cruz and Jared Leto, the latter of whom cemented a place for himself in teen TV history as dreamboat Jordan Catalano. Despite its brief run, My So-Called Life earned four Primetime Emmy Award nominations in 1995. Danes also took home the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series. (Also of note: TVLine ranked My So-Called Life as the second best TV teen drama of all time.) The 20 Best Teen TV Dramas of All Time View List Best of TVLine Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Showtime Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More 'Missing' Shows, Found! The Latest on Severance, Holey Moley, Poker Face, YOU, Primo, Transplant and 25+ Others
New York Times
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Inside the Making of ‘Wicked'
One day, several decades ago, the writer Winnie Holzman was shopping in a Manhattan bookstore where a particular cover caught her eye. It showed a woman with a green face, a black hat pulled down over her eyes. The book was 'Wicked' by Gregory Maguire, a retelling of L. Frank Baum's 'Oz' stories from the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West. 'When I turned it over and read the little précis on the back, it blew my mind,' Holzman said. 'I thought it was such a brilliant premise.' The book ended up on Holzman's bookshelf, with its enigmatic cover facing out. Years later, the composer Stephen Schwartz contacted Holzman to ask if she'd be interested in adapting Maguire's book for the stage. The musical they wrote together opened in 2003, and it is now one of the most successful shows in Broadway history. The producers started talking about a movie adaptation, but Holzman was cautious: 'We had to really kind of clear our minds and kind of reconceive the whole story.' The film version of 'Wicked' opened in 2024, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and with a screenplay by Holzman and Dana Fox. It is one of the highest-grossing movies of the year and is nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Winnie Holzman joins Gilbert Cruz, the editor of the Book Review, to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of adapting your own adaptation. We would love to hear your thoughts about this episode and about the Book Review's podcast in general. You can send them to books@
