Cedar Rapids Shows Resilience, Growth in Times of Crisis

By Scott Olson, Skogman Commercial Since starting a series of annual articles on Cedar Rapids in 2013 after the recovery from the historic floods of 2008 and 2016, I never anticipated the city would be facing an event in 2020 that would reach beyond those levels of flood impact. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic has given our city new challenges for this year and beyond. Hopefully this is a once-in-a-lifetime health event that, unlike the floods, has impacted nearly every city in the country in many …

September 17, 2020Iowa, Market Reports, Midwest, Midwest Market Reports

Downtown Sioux City Experiencing Explosive Growth, Transformation

By Marty Dougherty, City of Sioux City Downtown Sioux City, Iowa is currently experiencing growth and transformation on an unprecedented scale. This emerging and vibrant place is not only celebrating its rich and colorful history with multiple historic property renovations, but has made strides to re-invent itself and take the downtown to new levels. These efforts include the growth of new residential options, an increasing number of cultural attractions and quality-of-life amenities, new …

September 10, 2020Iowa, Market Reports, Midwest, Midwest Market Reports, Mixed-Use

Opportunity in the Midwest: Why Indiana Is Gaining Favor with Investors

By Chris Bruzas, Berkadia While the COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on the commercial real estate industry, bright spots have emerged across the multifamily landscape. Nationally, secondary and tertiary markets demonstrate resilience and strong performance, despite challenging circumstances. One of these bright spots is Indiana. Since the start of the year, Berkadia’s investment sales and mortgage banking teams have closed more than $498 million in combined sales and financing …

September 3, 2020Indiana, Market Reports, Midwest, Midwest Market Reports, Multifamily

Three Reasons Cincinnati Is Industrial Hot Spot of America

By Brian Leonard and Mark Volkman Tides are changing throughout the U.S. as companies work to confront COVID-19 and its implications on the national supply chain. Changing consumer preferences are forcing businesses to reevaluate their current supply chain and diversify their sources of supply. Since COVID-19, retailers across the country have experienced a 54 percent increase in online sales. This shows the value shoppers place on convenience and accessibility — the only missing factor …

August 20, 2020Industrial, Market Reports, Midwest, Midwest Market Reports, Ohio

Can America’s Comeback City Get off the Mat Again? Yes — But Uncertainty Reigns

By Garrett Keais In my 25 years in commercial real estate, I’ve never seen the economy — and our industry — come to a standstill the way it did this spring after the coronavirus hit. With so much uncertainty in the market, Detroit’s office sales and leasing activity slowed considerably. But as the last decade has shown us, if ever there was a city that could take a punch and get back up swinging, it’s Detroit. Comeback before the virus[caption id="attachment_269488" …

August 13, 2020Market Reports, Michigan, Midwest, Midwest Market Reports, Office

Pandemic Shines Light on Lack of Cold Storage Space

By Brian Niven As we begin to reopen most parts of our society following the COVID-19 pandemic that devastated our country and economy earlier this year, many in the commercial real estate industry are beginning to take stock of the massive shifts it may have put into motion. While the pandemic has decimated many sectors — shuttering retail shops, leaving offices empty and setting off an exodus of urban apartment dwellers — prospects for industrial properties have remained strong. Demand …

August 6, 2020Illinois, Industrial, Market Reports, Midwest, Midwest Market Reports

Despite Costs, Developers Pursue Rehab Opportunities for Detroit’s Historic Buildings

By Steven Phillip Siegel Mies van der Rohe. Yamasaki. Kamper. Kahn. Portman. Gyllis. Some of the biggest architects in the world have a presence in Detroit. Motown’s exceptional confluence of architects and designers earned the city a UNESCO City of Design designation, the only city in the United States to receive the UN’s award for design excellence. However, beginning in the early 1970s, many of the city’s finest architectural works slowly sank under a weakening market amid tenant (and …

July 30, 2020Market Reports, Michigan, Midwest, Midwest Market Reports

COVID-19 Interruptions Are Largely Short Term for Medical Office Sales

By Mike Wilson, Principal, Avison Young As the commercial real estate industry shifts toward a new normal, there are several changes occurring in the medical office sector. This asset class has long been considered a safe haven, even in recessionary times, given its ties to the healthcare system and overall population growth. The onset of COVID-19 and the subsequent stay-at-home orders in many states have created challenges that also touch the medical office sector, although not nearly as …

July 9, 2020Healthcare, Market Reports, Midwest, Midwest Market Reports

Post-Pandemic Lease Provisions: They’re Changing, But Will They Work?

By Tim McCaffrey, Counsel, Eversheds Sutherland (US) The coronavirus pandemic has impacted individual and corporate behavior on a global scale. Businesses across every sector are attempting to mitigate the economic impact of this crisis. Previously standard leasing terms are changing, both in light of the current environment and in anticipation of a second wave of infection. But even as parties negotiate carefully drafted provisions and carve-outs, it remains unclear when courts will be …

July 2, 2020Market Reports, Midwest, Midwest Market Reports

Office Best Practices: How to Prepare for a Post-COVID-19 Reality

By Andy Gutman, President, Farbman Group It’s no hyperbole to acknowledge that we are living in unprecedented times and facing unique and historic challenges. The novel coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on the lives and livelihoods of Americans across a wide range of industries, and commercial real estate is no exception. As brands and businesses struggle to adjust to the slowdown, with many shutting their doors and others making significant operational adjustments, owners and …

June 25, 2020Market Reports, Midwest, Midwest Market Reports, Office