Midwest Market Reports

Speculative Industrial Development Makes a Big Comeback in the City of Chicago

by Jeff Shaw October 6, 2016

Chicago’s nearly 1.2 billion-square-foot industrial market continues to be a strong performer, garnering national attention. Tightening vacancies, healthy absorption and rising rental rates have spurred increased construction across our region. In fact, 7.7 million square feet in new industrial product came on line during the first six months of the year, with another 16.6 million square feet currently under development, earning metro Chicago the distinction of having the second largest pipeline of new inventory in the country. As vacancies dwindle across the metro area, surging demand for quality, close-in manufacturing and distribution space is driving a critical mass of new speculative development in the city proper for the first time in more than a decade. From January 2015 through the second quarter of 2016, developers delivered 317,000 square feet of spec industrial product in metro Chicago, according to Cushman & Wakefield Research. To put that figure into context, a total of 238,000 square feet of spec product was introduced in the city during the prior 10 years (2005-2014). Another 369,000 square feet of spec development is underway and scheduled to be delivered in 2017, but the new construction will only partly mitigate the pent-up demand for space within city limits. …

October 6, 2016

Market Reports Midwest Midwest Market Reports Minnesota Retail

Grocers, Redevelopment Projects Highlight Twin Cities Retail

by Jeff Shaw September 28, 2016

It’s hard to argue with the fact that the Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan areas are among the most economically dynamic and socially vibrant cities in the United States. With a thriving business environment, strong growth and impressive demographics, Minnesota consistently ranks in the top five of the most educated states in America, according to the United States Census Bureau. The Twin Cities also boast an expanding workforce, outstanding public transportation network and a booming economy. With 17 Minnesota-based Fortune 500 companies, it’s not surprising that the Twin Cities are competitive on a national and even global scale. The competitive energy and high-level activity in the city’s retail marketplace is being fueled in part by a surge of new retailers. The aggressive entry of new tenants to the market, along with the challenge of a 4 percent vacancy rate, is prompting quality spaces to be absorbed almost immediately. As stated in the Welsh Q2 2015 market report, over 1.1 million square feet of retail space were absorbed during 2015, the highest number in the market in over a decade. The vacancy rate for regional mall trade areas is actually closer to 2.6 percent, with numbers for the Minnetonka/Ridgedale Mall trade …

September 28, 2016

Market Reports Midwest Midwest Market Reports Missouri Retail

New Development, Healthy Leasing Activity Powers St. Louis Retail Market

by Jeff Shaw September 22, 2016

Retail development in the St. Louis metro area continues to gain momentum. Rental rates are strong, with triple-net asking rents averaging $12.30 per square foot, and are expected to trend upward as the retail market continues to grow. Absorption of existing product along with multiple new developments has created a positive forecast for the St. Louis retail market. In the second quarter of 2016, the St. Louis retail vacancy rate dropped to 5.9 percent from 6.1 percent the previous quarter with positive net absorption of 449,056 square feet. Leasing ramps up Contributing to the healthy retail market are several tenants moving into large blocks of space including two 41,921-square-foot Walmart Neighborhood Market stores now open in St. Peters. Among other store openings: • At Home has announced two 100,000-square-foot locations on the site of a former Walmart in Town & Country and a former K-Mart in O’Fallon, Mo. • Academy Sports will open two 62,000-square-foot locations in Manchester and O’Fallon, Ill. • Camping World will move into 34,710 square feet in Wentzville. • Stein Mart will occupy 31,000 square feet in Town & Country. • Bob’s Discount Furniture has signed a 28,035-square-foot lease in Manchester and a 30,000-square-foot lease at …

September 22, 2016

Market Reports Midwest Midwest Market Reports Missouri Multifamily

Job Growth, Technology Sector Give a Boost to the Kansas City Apartment Market

by Jeff Shaw September 15, 2016

Look no further than Kansas City for one of the most burgeoning apartment rental hotspots in the Heartland. Ever since apartment deliveries reached a trough of 233 units in 2011, developers have ramped up construction activity year after year to meet healthy rental demand, though often still trailing robust leasing activity. This trend continued in the first half of 2016, with 2,170 newly occupied apartments exceeding 1,650 multifamily units added to the metro area inventory. What’s contributing to this demand? And will rapid market growth and expansion continue? Job growth, tech boom Employment gains are a big reason rental market demand continues to outweigh supply. For the last six years, greater Kansas City has experienced annual average employment gains of 1.5 percent to support sustained rental demand. After steady, though moderate gains in the last half of 2015, employers accelerated hiring with 10,500 additions from January to June, a 1 percent expansion over the previous six months. The six-month hires capped an annual increase of 1.5 percent since mid-2015 with 15,900 new personnel. To no surprise, the rise in employment has coincided with the rise in renters, as they’ve been attracted to new inventory around employment hubs. The Downtown/East Kansas …

September 15, 2016

Market Reports Midwest Midwest Market Reports Office Ohio Uncategorized

Spec Office Development Gains Steam in Ohio’s Suburbs for First Time in Years

by Christina Cannon September 8, 2016

From Cleveland to Cincinnati, speculative Class A office development is on the rise in Ohio for the first time in at least five years. Primarily occurring in the suburbs, 3 to 4 million square feet of spec development is driven by a lack of office space as well as pent-up demand for new space with an urban feel that contains retail and multifamily components. Most spec office development reflects the demands of both Millennials and Baby Boomers. These significant population groups seek to locate in live-work-play neighborhoods that offer cool office and residential spaces, walkability and common green spaces. Because these components are important to Millennials — now the largest share of the American workforce — they have become important for companies in their efforts to recruit the best and the brightest. Quality talent is more of a factor than cost. In competing for talent, these companies must look for and include such office amenities as game rooms, outdoor patios and walking trails. Not only are the retail and residential components to an office project important, but companies are also expressing genuine interest in branding, signage opportunities, naming rights and modern amenities. Cost of financing guides developers in Cleveland While downtown …

September 8, 2016

Industrial Iowa Market Reports Midwest Midwest Market Reports Mixed-Use Multifamily Office Retail Uncategorized

Sioux City Experiences ‘Crane Craze’ Across Property Types

by Christina Cannon September 1, 2016

The skies are dotted with cranes — not the type you would find on route west to the Sandhills of Nebraska, but the type synonymous with a robust economy. It is safe to say there have never been so many cranes at work in the history of Sioux City. Several large industrial projects are resulting in further development of retail and multifamily space that has been in demand for some time in Sioux City. Retail, entertainment wave Helping to draw residents and visitors alike out into the streets of Sioux City is the $130 million Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The Hard Rock replaced the floating Argosy riverboat casino in a first-in-the-state competitive bidding war for a land-based casino. Due to the popularity of the development since it opened in August 2014, the Hard Rock already has plans to add an $8 million casino expansion by the end of the year. Hard Rock has played a vital role in making Sioux City a regional, cultural and entertainment destination. Dallas-based Anthony Properties is planning to deliver 350,000 square feet of retail space by the summer of 2018. The 64-acre site, located at the intersection of Sunnybrook Drive and Sergeant Road, is …

September 1, 2016

Iowa Market Reports Midwest Midwest Market Reports Mixed-Use Multifamily Office Retail

Cedar Rapids Real Estate Market Stays Hot As Flood Recovery Efforts Wind Down

by Christina Cannon August 24, 2016

The historic flood of June 2008 is becoming a distant memory as the city of Cedar Rapids prepares for the dedication of the new Northwest Recreation Center, the last public facility to be completed as part of the flood recovery project. The dedication ceremony is slated for Thursday, Aug. 25. The recovery has led to a revitalization of many flood-impacted areas in the city, ranging from residential neighborhoods to the downtown business district. Now the momentum is turning toward several new projects: • This month, tenants will begin moving into the 11-story CRST tower downtown, which features 300 feet of the new flood protection system. • A 28-story, mixed-use tower is being proposed on city-owned property downtown. The development may contain retail, office, hotel and residential space led by Allen Development, an Iowa City developer. • Over 10 downtown housing projects are under construction that will create almost 400 new condo and apartment units, which will bring our core closer to a live-work-play environment. These projects are also putting vacant retail and office buildings to new uses. • The Czech Village-New Bohemia neighborhood continues to grow with historic buildings being renovated and repurposed while augmenting exciting new construction featuring retail, …

August 24, 2016

Market Reports Midwest Midwest Market Reports Office Uncategorized Wisconsin

Late to the Economic Recovery, Madison’s Office Sector is Now in a Growth Mode

by Christina Cannon August 18, 2016

The Madison office market finally emerged from its post-recession stupor in 2015 and chalked up its best performance since the early 2000s. The 430,000 square feet of positive net absorption recorded last year exceeded the combined total of the previous three years. This strong trend continues in 2016. Nearly 150,000 square feet of office space was leased during the first quarter, driving the vacancy rate down to 10.2 percent. The Madison office market was slow to recover from the Great Recession. As recently as 2014, office vacancies increased, and only 67,000 square feet of net positive absorption was tallied that year. As the state capital and home to the University of Wisconsin, the local economy depends on government and education as base industries — sectors where employment and spending had been retreating until recently. Insurance, financial services, medical services, research, information technology and software development are also important and growing sectors in Madison, accounting for a lot of new office leasing activity. Who’s taking space? Among the large lease deals in recent months: Arrowhead Research inked a deal to occupy 68,000 square feet in University Research Park; M3 Insurance completed and moved into its building at 828 John Nolen Drive; …

August 18, 2016

Market Reports Michigan Midwest Midwest Market Reports Retail

Michigan Retailers Are Expanding, Rents Are Growing, Investors Are Capitalizing

by Christina Cannon August 11, 2016

Chances are you have read the stories in the news lately about the challenges facing Michigan, the City of Detroit, or more recently the state’s seventh largest city, Flint. Between the chronicles of a once ailing automotive industry, the Chapter 9 bankruptcy filing by the City of Detroit in 2013 — the largest municipal bankruptcy in history — and most recently lead-tainted city water in Flint, there have been dozens of national headlines, sharp sound bites, and a litany of negative press coverage over the past few years. In short, over the past decade we have witnessed a roller coaster of economic events that have created a rather palpable investor stigma for Detroit and the State of Michigan as a whole. Despite the negative tone surrounding investment opportunities in Michigan, the state’s strong commercial real estate market is creating value for investors acquiring retail assets. Historically, Michigan shopping centers have traded at cap rates 50 to 100 basis below their national peers. Is this discount still warranted? Tide turns in Great Lakes As a brokerage firm dedicated to the sale of investment properties and retail tenant representation, Landmark Investment Sales and its parent company, Landmark Commercial Real Estate Services Inc., …

August 11, 2016

Market Reports Michigan Midwest Midwest Market Reports Multifamily

Metro Detroit Apartment Market Finds Its Groove

by Christina Cannon August 4, 2016

Favorable hiring trends in metro Detroit have driven household formation to its highest point since the start of the new millennium. As a result, multifamily asset performance and operations have shown marked improvement with respect to demand, occupancy, rents and prices. In the first quarter of the year, local employers created 14,500 jobs for a year-over-year gain of 2.3 percent, which brought Detroit’s unemployment level to its lowest level since 2001. Employment advances were led by the professional and business services sector as well as the leisure and hospitality sector, which added 16,100 and 6,000 workers, respectively. Total employment at the end of 2016 is projected to be 1.9 percent higher than it was at the end of 2015. The generally higher paying professional and business services jobs will lead to broad-based employment growth through the rest of the year, and gains in this segment are expected to support growing demand for luxury rentals. In any event, rental demand in Detroit is on the rise for the foreseeable future. Construction takes off Encouraged by positive employment trends, economic indicators and a recovering automotive industry, new construction, renovation and conversion are thriving. Developers have new multifamily projects underway in more than …

August 4, 2016

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