Latest news with #OConnor


National Post
a day ago
- Sport
- National Post
Canucks: Who is the real Drew O'Connor? Dakota Joshua trade may provide answer
Article content O'Connor's four goals and nine points in 31 games here in a season of transition didn't produce that 'wow' factor, but his first impression was favourable. He was visible and effective in a 3-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. 4 that left former Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet gushing. Article content 'I don't want to overstate it, but (Filip) Chytil and (Drew) O'Connor with their speed and willingness to take the puck to the middle on a rush is a little breath of fresh air,' he stressed. 'You see Chytil take the puck to the middle and that's when things happen. Just adding those two guys has helped our rush game. Article content 'We're smiling. That's the stuff we need.' Article content Article content Fast-forward and the trade addition of Evander Kane on the left side makes the east Vancouver native a candidate to work with Elias Pettersson or Chytil. However, that depends on what pivot the Canucks do or don't acquire in free agency or trade. If it's a significant acquisition and Chytil slides down to the No. 3 hole, O'Connor won't complain. Article content Article content Conor Garland gave Chytil, who was shut down in March after a brutal hit and placed in concussion protocol, quite the initial compliment on his effectiveness. Article content 'Fantastic speed, sees the ice well, makes a lot of plays,' said Garland. 'A real good pickup. Good zone entries and drive. He's a winger's dream.' Article content As for O'Connor, the dream was to live up to his own hopes, which once seemed like a stretch for the Chatham, N.J., product. Article content He was 5-foot-10 in Grade 12 and didn't initially attract collegiate interest. It was demoralizing but he pressed on. A growth spurt to 6-foot-3 when he arrived at Dartmouth College in the East Coast Athletic Conference made a difference. So did a dedication to diet and fitness. Article content 'I've had a lot of stretches where things weren't going well and high school was a real struggle for me,' admitted O'Connor. 'I was always one of the better players growing up, but when I got to that point in high school, I was really kind of fading and dropping off. Article content


Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Times
How U12 rivalry helped forge one of the great Cork partnerships
O n a June evening in 2009 the Newtownshandrum under-12s came to the field in Milford to meet Sean Clárachs, Charleville hurling's youth wing, two parishes stuck together like the houses on Coronation Street, families and lives all mingled up together. But distinct and different, too. Charleville was the big town hard on the Limerick border without any significant hurling tradition. Out the road, Newtown were the tiny village citadel of Ben and Jerry O'Connor, winners of county titles and an All-Ireland, crafting new ways of hurling that would change the game itself. These were two places that usually hurled on different plains. Usually. Newtown had Tim O'Mahony, brother of Gerdy who won an All-Ireland minor medal with Cork and a cousin of the O'Connors, already tall and rakey and running the show. The Charleville under-12s were hunting their second successive league title. Darragh Fitzgibbon was their star, all skill and no size. Not yet.

ABC News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
History maker Ben O'Connor racing for overall honours at Tour de France
Ben O'Connor knows he must play with fire at the Tour de France. The 29-year-old will make Australian cycling history when the Tour starts on Saturday night (AEST) at Lille in north-east France. Top Grand Tour results For the first time since Jayco AlUla was formed in 2012, the only Australian team to contest the Tour will feature an Australian overall contender. O'Connor has finished in the top four at the three-week Grand Tours — the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana. He is the top Australian general classification (GC) hope at this year's Tour de France. His wealth of experience and results give O'Connor confidence that he can achieve another big result at the sport's most famous race. Slovenian Tadej Pogačar, the defending champion, and Dane Jonas Vingegaard have won the past five Tours between them. The consensus is that this year's title will be another duel between them. But whatever happens, O'Connor will not die wondering. "It's so often the case … you do have to be astute and there are many chances," he said. "You play a little bit with fire and you also have to gamble, but that risk has paid off on occasion for me. "It has to be weighted, so you're well aware you're not absolutely blowing your chance, you know?" A good case in point was O'Connor's best result at the Tour — fourth overall in 2021. O'Connor thought he had suffered a broken shoulder when he was caught in a crash on day one. He then won stage nine at Tignes to dramatically transform his fortunes. "I don't necessarily need to put a number on where I'm going to finish, because the story writes itself by the end," he said of his Tour goal this year. "But I have my historical results. You know what's been capable. You know where I can place myself, more or less. "It doesn't mean I'm going to be second at the Tour because I've been second at La Vuelta [last year], but it's where you expect yourself to be one of the better guys in the race — and then be involved. "I would love to be, at least, aggressive at one point in the race. There's nothing better than being in the biggest race in the world and having that chance to win another stage." Australian entrants O'Connor joined Jayco AlUla this year and is aware of the significance of the team having a local GC contender for the first time. When Cadel Evans won in 2011 and Richie Porte was third in 2020, they were in European-based teams. "It is a big moment for Jayco AlUla, having an Australian GC guy. But in the end, I just have to go about my business as I normally would," he said. "But — it would be great if it went well. It would be great for Australian cycling as well. It would be cool actually, if I was a kid, looking up like it was with Cadel and Richie. "If they were part of GreenEDGE [the Australian team's original name] at the time, that would have been even more iconic." Jayco AlUla will also have Dutch sprinter Dylan Gronewegen going for wins at the flat stages. Australian Michael Matthews would have been the team's opportunist in the first few days of the Tour, but he was forced out of racing last month because of a pulmonary embolism. "That's very poor timing … it's such bad luck," O'Connor said of Matthews. "The thing that makes it sting is the first nine days in particular are full of chances for Michael. "That's where it hurts, but what can you do? In the end, it's his health." AAP

Associated Press
23-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Dallas Property Owners Saw a Modest Residential Increase, while Commercial Grew Exponentially
O'Connor discusses how Dallas County property owners saw a modest residential increase, while commercial grew exponentially. DALLAS, TX, UNITED STATES, June 23, 2025 / / -- The Dallas Central Appraisal District has issued its proposed property valuations for the 2025 tax assessment cycle. In 2024, 36% of houses were overvalued. In 2025 the number of houses overvalued decreased by 28%, which provides relief to some homeowners. The average value of residential homes increased by 5.6%, whereas commercial real estate experienced a more notable rise of around 15.1%. These changes reflect the combined impact of both newly built properties and those already in existence. Residential Tax Assessment Increased in 2025 by 5.6% in Dallas County Residential properties exceeding $1.5 million experienced the highest growth, rising by 11.8% and reaching a projected market value of $69 billion in 2025. Notable appreciation was also seen in homes priced from $1 million to $1.5 million, which grew by 9.2%, while properties valued between $750,000 and $1 million saw a 6.2% increase. Homes valued less than $250k increased only by 1.2% In 2024, the total value of all properties—regardless of size—rose from $241 billion to $278 billion, marking a 15% increase. By contrast, 2025 saw a more modest overall growth of 5.6%, with values climbing from $274 billion to $290 billion. Larger properties over 8,000 square feet, which are generally higher in value, experienced a 10.4% increase—down from the 20.9% surge seen in 2024. Among single-family homes in Dallas County, the smallest value gains were recorded in properties under 2,000 square feet, which rose by just 2.8%. In the 2025 property tax reappraisals by the Dallas Central Appraisal District (CAD), homes constructed in 2021 or later saw the steepest increase in assessed value, rising by 29.6%. In contrast, for 2024, the highest assessments were recorded for properties without a listed construction year, categorized as 'others.' By 2025, this category saw a more moderate increase of 9.3%. The smallest growth was observed among homes built between 1981 and 2000, which experienced a modest 3.9% rise in assessed value. In 2024, Dallas CAD overvalued 52% of Dallas County homes. Fortunately, for homeowners this number went down to 28% and 9,361 houses were overvalued. Reports show that 72% or 23,770 houses were valued at market value or below. Commercial Property in Dallas County Significantly Increased by 15.1% Dallas County's commercial property assessments have experienced a substantial increase in all assessed value categories and value ranges during the 2025 tax year. The most significant growth was observed in commercial accounts valued at over $5 million, with a rate of 15.3%. Conversely, property priced below $500K experienced the lowest growth rate of 10.5%. Property valued between $1 million and $ 5 million saw a notable growth of 14.8%. It appears that the commercial property values of property owners in Dallas County have experienced substantial increases in 2025. Warehouses experienced the most significant increase in property values, rising by 21.2% from $7.834 billion to $9.493 billion. Conversely, the value of office buildings experienced the smallest increase of 10.6% in value. The commercial properties that were established in 2021 and subsequent years experienced the greatest recorded increase in value, with a gain of 68.8%, as opposed to 22.6% in 2024. The lowest growth was seen in commercial property built between 2001 and 2020 with 10.2%. Other property recorded with high increases includes those built before 1960 (19.8%) and built between 1961 to 1980 (15.1%). Gap Between Dallas CAD Valuations and Wall Street Market Outlook A notable discrepancy exists between the findings of Green Street Real Estate, a Wall Street firm, and the 2025 commercial property tax reassessment by Dallas CAD. While Dallas CAD reported a 15.1% increase in commercial property values, Green Street's analysis showed a sharp decline of 21.0%. Dallas County Apartment Property Increase The combined property tax evaluations for apartment complexes in Dallas County had an increase of 16.1% in 2025, slightly lower than the 23.1% in 2024. The most notable rise was seen in apartment complexes categorized as 'others,' seeing a 172.8% appreciation in value from $21 million to $57 million in the past year. The highest appreciation in value with a year-built category was seen buildings constructed in 2021 and later with 68.4%. In 2025, the property tax assessments for various sub-types of apartment complexes in Dallas County increased. The multi-family apartment accounts experienced the most substantial growth, increasing from $868k to $1.113 million, a 28.2% increase. Apartment gardens also saw a high increase of 20.2% and had a 2025 notice market value of $1.760 million. Dallas County Office Buildings Percentage Increase by Year Built The Dallas CAD appears to have made the most significant increase for office property with a year built assigned. The year range of offices constructed in 2021 and later showed a tremendous increase of 69.2%. The office buildings built between 2001 and 2020 also saw a notable increase, with a rise of 8.7%. This 'others' category stayed consistent at $612,530 in market value and had no increase. The average growth of assessed value for all categories of construction years has been around 10.6%. For office building in Dallas County, there are only two sub-types. Out of the two, regular office buildings had the greatest increase of 10.9%, growing in market value from $31 billion to $34 billion. Medical offices saw a growth of 8.9% with a notice market value in 2025 of $3.950 billion. Dallas CAD Retail Tax Assessments Up by 14% Statistically, the property tax assessments for retail buildings in Dallas County have increased in all construction year categories. The retail buildings that were constructed in 2021 and later experienced the greatest level of assessment growth, with a 45.5% increase in value from $187 million to $273 million. Property built before 1960 also saw a high increase of 25%. This year, the assessed value of retail properties constructed between 1961 and 1980 increased by 10.0%, the lowest rate of growth in this section of the analysis. In 2025, the property tax assessments for retail property categories in Dallas County increased. The retail center experienced the lowest amount of assessed value, with a relatively low 11.1% growth rate in 2025 assessments. The retail properties in mall centers have experienced the most significant increase, with a 32% increase. Dallas CAD Warehouse Tax Assessments Up About 14% Between 2024 and 2025, property tax assessments for warehouse owners in Dallas County rose by an average of 21.2%. Warehouses built before 1960 experienced particularly strong appreciation, with their value climbing from $707 million to $938 million—a 32.7% increase. Similarly, warehouse properties without a recorded construction date saw a comparable market value jump of 31.4%. The Dallas Central Appraisal District reported a 21.2% overall rise in market values for two categories of warehouse properties. Both warehouse sub-types increased at very similar rates. Mini warehouses increased by 21.5% and regular warehouses increased by 21.2%. Tracking the Gap: Dallas Metro Home Value Growth vs. County Assessments In 2025, the Dallas Central Appraisal District (CAD) bumped up single-family home values by 5.6% — a noticeable slowdown from the 15.2% spike seen in 2024. Meanwhile, real-world market trends painted a much tamer picture. According to the MetroTex Association of Realtors, Dallas Metro home prices crept up by just 0.3%, even lower than the 1.9% rise recorded the previous year. The numbers suggest a growing divide between official assessments and actual market movement. A Fresh Look: 2025 Dallas CAD Property Tax Revaluation Summary In 2025, the Dallas Central Appraisal District (CAD) rolled out its latest property tax revaluations. Property values are on the rise across the board, but commercial real estate is leading the charge. Residential properties saw a modest 5.6% uptick, while commercial properties jumped a striking 15.1% in overall market value. When comparing the CAD figures to actual market trends, there's a noticeable gap. Dallas home prices only inched up by 0.3% between January 2024 and January 2025, casting some doubt on the accuracy of the CAD's 5.6% hike for homes. However, only 28% of properties are considered overvalued, with the majority—78%—falling at or below market value. About O'Connor: O'Connor is one of the largest property tax consulting firms, representing 185,000 clients in 49 states and Canada, handling about 295,000 protests in 2024, with residential property tax reduction services in Texas, Illinois, Georgia, and New York. O'Connor's possesses the resources and market expertise in the areas of property tax, cost segregation, commercial and residential real estate appraisals. The firm was founded in 1974 and employs a team of 1,000 worldwide. O'Connor's core focus is enriching the lives of property owners through cost effective tax reduction. Property owners interested in assistance appealing their assessment can enroll in O'Connor's Property Tax Protection Program ™. There is no upfront fee, or any fee unless we reduce your property taxes, and easy online enrollment only takes 2 to 3 minutes. Patrick O'Connor, President O'Connor + + +1 713-375-4128 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Facebook YouTube X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

Associated Press
11-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Luxury Home and Commercial Owners in McLennan County Face Steep 2025 Valuation Hikes
O'Connor discusses how luxury home and commercial owners in McLennan County face steep 2025 valuation hikes. WACO, TX, UNITED STATES, June 11, 2025 / / -- The McLennan Central Appraisal District (CAD) has released its proposed property tax assessment values for 2025. Both high-value commercial and residential properties are facing significant increases. While the overall rise in residential property values is 3.5%, this figure masks much steeper hikes for certain property owners. Particularly owners of luxury homes, new construction, and properties with larger square footage, which all saw notably higher assessments. This may reflect a strategic move by the appraisal district to raise revenue without heavily impacting lower or middle-income homeowners. Commercial properties followed a similar pattern. With an average increase of 6.9%—nearly double the residential rate—high-value commercial real estate bore the brunt of the reassessment. This suggests that luxury real estate values rose faster than the general market. During the 2025 reassessment in McLennan County, around 28% of homes were found to be overvalued, while 72% were assessed at or below market value. This is encouraging news for the majority of homeowners. However, those with overvalued properties may face disproportionately high tax bills and are at risk of being unfairly taxed. Luxury Value Homes Increase by 14.3% According to the McLennan CAD, in 2025, the most significant value increases were observed in residences with higher or luxury values. For instance, homes valued at $1.5 million or more increased in value by 14.3%, growing from $612 million to $699 million. In contrast, lower-value homes that range between $250,000 to $500,000 grew by 1.9%, rising from $10.5 billion to $11 billion. The graph illustrates that higher-value homes were likely reassessed more aggressively than lower-value homes. In McLennan County, property values per square foot generally rose with home size, with the largest homes seeing the steepest increases. Homes between 2,000 and 3,999 square feet experienced the smallest gain at 2.7%, while those between 6,000 and 7,999 square feet saw a significant 10.9% increase. Homes over 8,000 square feet also rose sharply, with their total assessed value climbing from $160 million to $174 million—an 8.9% increase. According to McLennan CAD, most homes saw minimal increases in assessed value based on their year of construction, except for newly built and undated homes, which experienced significantly higher increases. The lowest value increase was seen in houses built between 2001 to 2020 by 1.0%. Funny enough, houses built in 2021 and later rose in value by 21.7%, which was the highest in value with a construction date assigned. Contemporary homes that were built in 2021 and later grew in market value from $1.5 billion in 2024 to $2 billion in 2025. Homes without an assigned construction date significantly increased by 138.2% in 2025. This could undermine fair property assessments and raise concerns about how values are being calculated without key information like a home's age. 28% of Homeowners Face Unfair Value Assessments in 2025 Based on 2024 house sales prices and the 2025 reassessment of property values, McLennan County overestimated 28% of county residences in 2025. This suggests that 28% of homeowners may face inflated tax bills because their properties were assessed above market value, carrying a larger share of the tax burden. Meanwhile, 72% of the homes were assessed below their market value. While the majority of homeowners benefited from conservative assessments, a significant minority may be unjustly penalized unless they take action to challenge those inflated valuations. High-End Commercial Property Owners Face High Increases An analysis of commercial property tax assessments in McLennan County by value range shows that valuable or high-end property increased the greatest in value. Properties valued at $500,000 or less experienced the lowest increase of 0.2%, growing less than $1 billion from 2024 to 2025 in market value. In comparison, commercial property worth $5 million or more experienced an increase of 11.6% with a 2025 notice market value of $7 billion. For the 2025 tax year, McLennan CAD raised the market values across all categories of commercial properties. The largest increases in value were seen in hotels with 24.4% and apartments with 18.7%. The jump in assessed values may indicate that these properties were previously undervalued, and the appraisal district is now aligning them more closely with current market trends. Land faced the lowest value increase in assessment by 0.8%. McLennan CAD's commercial property assessments for 2025 have increased across all construction years, with a particular emphasis on recently constructed properties. The highest increase in value was seen in commercial property built in 2021 and later with 25.3%, rising greatly from $546 million to $684 million. In contrast, property built before 1960 saw a modest increase of 2.7%. This disparity highlights a market shift favoring newer commercial developments, possibly due to modern amenities, energy efficiency, better locations, or higher investment interest. The Growing Disconnect Between Property Values and Market Data The 2025 commercial property tax reassessment by McLennan CAD stands in sharp contrast to findings from Wall Street firm Green Street Real Estate Advisors. While Green Street reports a 21% decline in commercial property values since their 2022 peak, McLennan CAD indicates a 6.9% increase in those same values over the past year. This divergence highlights a significant discrepancy between local tax assessments and broader market trends. New Apartment Buildings Fall Victim to High Increases The data reveals no consistent pattern between the age of apartment buildings and the rate of increase in 2025 property tax assessments in McLennan County. Despite the mixed trend, noticeably, newer apartment buildings are experiencing high value increases. In particular, apartments built in 2021 and later experienced an increase of 36.6%, growing from $109 million in 2024 to $148 million in 2025. Older apartments built before 1960 saw an increase of 7.3%. Apartment owners in McLennan County experienced a substantial property tax hike in 2025, with the CAD increasing the overall taxable value of apartment buildings by 18.7%. Despite the high increase, one apartment subtype faced a decline in 2025. Multifamily apartments experienced a decline of 67.6%, dropping from $59 million in 2024 to $19 million in 2025. On the other hand, garden apartments increased in value by 21.4%, growing from $2 billion to $2.2 billion in the past year. This contrast reflects changing tenant preferences, shifts in development trends, or differences in location, amenities, or management. Modern Office Buildings Face a Striking 48% Value Increase According to McLennan CAD reports, property tax assessments for 2025 office buildings have increased tremendously for modern or new offices. The greatest value increase was seen in newly constructed office buildings in 2021 and later by 48%, growing in value from $63 million to $93 million in the past year. Older offices experienced very little increases. For example, offices built before 1960 increased in value only by 1.4%. This data paints a picture of the growing inequality in property valuations within the same asset class, driven largely by age, condition, and likely location. In McLennan County, only one office subtype was reported for property tax assessments in 2025. Standard office buildings increased by 4.2%, rising from $2.2 billion to $2.3 billion. Retail Property Value Averaged 4.7% Increase Property tax assessments for retail buildings in McLennan County increased for all years-built categories. Retail properties constructed between 1961 and 1980 saw a slight growth of 0.9%, while those built between 2001 and 2020 experienced a bigger increase of 8.4%. The market value between 2024 and 2025 grew from $1.2 billion to $1.3 billion. There was only one retail subtype reported by McLennan CAD and that property assessment value increased by 4.7%. Recently Built Warehouses Take the Hardest Hit All warehouse property owners in McLennan County witnessed property tax increases, but owners of buildings built in 2021 and later face the greatest strain in 2025. Properties built since 2021 are seeing steeper increases, which implies a possible focus by the appraisal district on newer, likely higher-value or more modernized structures. Warehouses built in 2021 and later increased in value by 36.2%, growing from $203 million to $277 million. In comparison, warehouses built between 1961 and 1980 increased by 1.3%. McLennan CAD assessed the market value of only one warehouse subtype in 2025. Standard warehouses increased by 10% in assessment value. The total market value grew from $1.5 billion in 2024 to $1.7 billion in 2025. McLennan CAD's 2025 Property Revaluation Takeaways The 2025 property reassessment in McLennan County reveals a clear pattern: high-value residential and commercial properties are experiencing the most significant tax increases. While the average residential value rose by 3.5%, owners of luxury homes, larger properties, and new construction saw much steeper hikes. This was mirrored in the commercial sector, where high-value properties faced increases averaging 6.9%. These trends may indicate that the appraisal district may be shifting the tax burden toward higher-end properties. The commercial real estate market appears to be favoring newer assets, possibly due to changing workplace expectations, sustainability standards, or investor preferences. Although 72% of homes were assessed at or below market value—a reassuring figure for most—28% were overvalued, potentially subjecting those property owners to unfair and inflated tax obligations. Consistent Property Appeals Are Your Best Defense Against Rising Taxes Property owners in McLennan County, Texas have the opportunity to successfully appeal their property tax assessments. Whether the property is residential or commercial, the appeals process provides a chance to present evidence that supports a lower valuation. Filing an appeal independently can cause stress and be time-consuming due to its complexity. Partnering with a property tax consulting firm like O'Connor can be highly effective, as the majority of protests result in a reduction. For over 50 years, O'Connor has helped property owners minimize their tax burdens through strategic, cost-effective solutions. About O'Connor: O'Connor is one of the largest property tax consulting firms, representing 185,000 clients in 49 states and Canada, handling about 295,000 protests in 2024, with residential property tax reduction services in Texas, Illinois, Georgia, and New York. O'Connor's possesses the resources and market expertise in the areas of property tax, cost segregation, commercial and residential real estate appraisals. The firm was founded in 1974 and employs a team of 1,000 worldwide. O'Connor's core focus is enriching the lives of property owners through cost effective tax reduction. Property owners interested in assistance appealing their assessment can enroll in O'Connor's Property Tax Protection Program ™. There is no upfront fee, or any fee unless we reduce your property taxes, and easy online enrollment only takes 2 to 3 minutes. Patrick O'Connor, President O'Connor + + +1 713-375-4128 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Facebook YouTube X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.