Northeast Market Reports

Industrial, Office Investment Demand Rises in Westchester, Fairfield Counties

by Taylor Williams July 17, 2019

The investment markets for office, industrial and flex properties in Westchester and Fairfield counties have seen significant activity over the last 12 months. Both debt and equity capital have been flowing into the urban and suburban areas of the counties, demonstrating that these submarkets are viable alternatives to New York City. This year has witnessed one of the largest transactions to ever take place in Westchester and Fairfield counties since we have been recording statistics. This past spring, HFF sold a portfolio of 52 industrial flex assets in multiple parks in both Westchester and Fairfield counties for $488 million, or $167 per square foot. The demand was very strong for these industrial assets, and the buyer pool spanned from private groups to some of the largest money managers in the world. In addition, cap rates are in the 4.25 to 4.85 percent range for more traditional industrial product. Cap pricing is absolutely on track to surpass $200 per square foot, as there is a lack of available land for development and institutional funds’ continue to display an insatiable appetite for the product type. Consequently, these kinds of deals continue to dominate the conversations and market activity. Office Market Interest …

July 17, 2019

Connecticut Market Reports Northeast Northeast Market Reports Retail

Retail Landscape Evolves in Fairfield, Westchester Counties

by Taylor Williams July 12, 2019

Main Street isn’t dead. It’s being refreshed, rebranded and reimagined. Creating a compelling experience in today’s retail environment is a critical element to being successful. Property owners are working hard to make their retail sites attractive and relevant. This includes placing emphasis on curb appeal and redeveloping spaces that may previously have been occupied by big box tenants. Many landlords are turning larger vacancies into multiple spaces to accommodate junior anchors and smaller tenants at as retailers are rightsizing and working to maximize efficiencies. At the same time, landlords are replacing building façades and updating landscaping, parking areas and lighting to enhance visual appeal. Main Street in Westport, Connecticut, represents a prime example of this retail renaissance. This area is in the midst of a complete reboot. Over the past year or so, the talk of the town was that the storefronts along Westport’s commercial corridor are not as lively as they had been in the past. But appearances can be deceiving, and perception isn’t always reality. The truth is that Westport’s retail scene is very much alive and is being revived with new and fresher brands. New Players We’re seeing brands like Sundance, an apparel catalog company created by …

July 12, 2019

Development Market Reports Northeast Northeast Market Reports

Will Your Project Get Built? Working With Communities to Gain Support for Development

by Taylor Williams July 10, 2019

We’ve seen it time and again: Companies go through a painstaking process of identifying suitable locations for developing new projects. They settle on a location and make a deal with the developer that is initially met with much fanfare — only to have the project eventually scuttled as a result of community opposition or governmental roadblocks. One need look no further than Amazon’s announcement of plans to locate half its HQ2 in New York City, representing 25,000 jobs, only to find it necessary to withdraw those plans in the face of challenges posed by so-called “community leaders.” Situations like that arise repeatedly, not only with the Amazons of the world, but also with lesser-known companies working with development partners to build new facilities, whether they be for office, industrial or retail uses. In many jurisdictions, the public approval process can be challenging to navigate. There is often a cacophony of voices from community residents, community organizations and governmental entities with different — sometimes conflicting agendas — that may or may not be economically viable or even in the community’s best interests. Those voices carry weight and are often enough to ground an ambitious project. The lessons we’ve learned as a …

July 10, 2019

Market Reports Multifamily Northeast Northeast Market Reports Pennsylvania

All of a Sudden, Pittsburgh Multifamily Trades Increase in Velocity

by Taylor Williams July 3, 2019

After a brief increase in the overall vacancy rate in the Pittsburgh region in 2017, the market has rebounded nicely and is back in the 4 to 5 percent range. But what has been more eye-opening is the increased velocity in the acquisition market that has investors from outside of Pittsburgh more focused on the Western Pennsylvania market than ever before. Multifamily Sales Market Multifamily sales in the Pittsburgh region over the last 10 years have been rather anemic. Sales velocity was slow due to various factors, including the reluctance of long-time local ownership groups to sell a property in a market where few options existed for a 1031 tax-deferred exchange transaction. There was also very little new construction to attract outside capital. In general, not much attention was paid to the Pittsburgh metro. However, developers recently had an epiphany and noticed that there was much old multifamily product scattered throughout the region, and that the time was right to break ground on new projects. Now that a significant amount of new construction projects have been delivered over the last six or so years, Pittsburgh has become a target for many investment firms from outside Western Pennsylvania. Some of the …

July 3, 2019

Industrial Market Reports Northeast Northeast Market Reports Pennsylvania

Attention Industrial Investors: Here’s Why You Should Consider Pittsburgh

by Taylor Williams June 26, 2019

Industrial properties have experienced unprecedented growth in demand over the past several years as both new and old companies seek to find space. This shift has benefited industrial assets in many metros across the country, although investors may unintentionally limit their focus to the markets with the most outsized gains. Smaller cities can provide equally compelling investment opportunities due to some unique advantages. Multiple factors combine to create such a scenario in Pittsburgh. The city is home to several prominent educational institutions, healthcare providers and technology companies that are fueling job growth, thus dropping the unemployment rate to its lowest in two decades. Opportunities in these high-wage industries are bolstering the metro’s median household income and improving retail sales. Consumer spending is projected to jump 4.4 percent in 2019, about 100 basis points more than last year. As shopping activity expands, the need for distribution centers is becoming more acute. Together with an established manufacturing sector, both sources of demand are supporting the absorption of industrial space. More tenants moving in are enabling properties to perform at a greater level. The metro’s vacancy rate has declined 400 basis points since 2009 and is now under 6 percent. Availability is lowest …

June 26, 2019

Market Reports Northeast Northeast Market Reports Office Pennsylvania

Rent Growth in Pittsburgh Office Market Leads to Development Wave

by Taylor Williams June 19, 2019

The Pittsburgh office market has experienced significant new development over the last five years, particularly in the urban and downtown fringe submarkets. This is expected to continue in the coming years, with several new developments that are currently in planning or under construction. Historically, urban office supply in Pittsburgh has been constrained due to the economic hurdles of new development. With limited sites for new projects, land costs at a premium and significant site work required, Pittsburgh’s nominal rent growth did not allow for economically viable projects. However, rent growth in recent years has led to a new wave of development, which has accommodated companies moving to Pittsburgh along with existing businesses growing and/or relocating within the market. Most of the new office development has taken place in urban submarkets surrounding downtown, including the Strip District, Oakland, East Liberty and the North Shore. These submarkets have attracted more development than the CBD due to greater availability of development sites, as well as lower construction costs. Development Pockets Total development costs of Class A office buildings on the fringe of the CBD are generally $250 to $300 per square foot. For this project cost, gross rents in the range of $30 …

June 19, 2019

Market Reports New Jersey Northeast Northeast Market Reports Retail

Landlords Target Dining, Personal Services and Fitness to Woo Customers

by Taylor Williams June 12, 2019

Shifting consumer preferences for convenience and variety have become key drivers for brick-and-mortar retail. And when it comes to creating co-tenancies that drive traffic to retail properties, dining, personal services and fitness are among today’s most desirable categories. Fortunately, they also are among the sector’s most active space users in today’s market. Strong restaurant demand among brands new to, and expanding in, the regional market continues unabated, and year-to-date activity reflects a new level of diversity. From national brands to regional chains like café and bakery Dulce De Leche to expanding local mom-and-pop businesses, these tenants are serving as “internet-proof” placemakers for the retail properties they occupy. And many tenants are looking to step up the dining experience with outdoor seating, revolving menus and entertainment, among other offerings that spark return visits. The same holds true for personal services, where boutique concepts have become sought-after shopping center additions. Again, diversity is a common theme, with activity involving traditional salons as well as specialized concepts like Sport Clips, which caters to men and boys, and local businesses that offer makeup services, waxing and other niche beauty treatments. We also are watching with interest the emergence of brands offering coworking space for …

June 12, 2019

Industrial Market Reports New Jersey Northeast Northeast Market Reports

Cold Storage Demand Grows as Consumers Expect More From Their Grocers

by Kristin Harlow June 5, 2019

We all know that e-commerce has become a significant driver of the industrial market. It now fuels activity that moves beyond clothes and books to the food supply chain, and the associated complexities of meeting consumer demand for food preparation and delivery. Increasing numbers of consumers have shifted to buying prepackaged meals, shopping for organic foods or ordering groceries and meal kits online. This expansion is translating into significant demand for industrial warehouse and distribution space to accommodate the food industry. One sector of this robust market is facing challenges, however, as demand for cold storage warehouses has skyrocketed in recent years. These facilities are used to store fresh and organic produce and to create and distribute processed foods. Food businesses are typically looking for spaces near large population centers as they seek to tap into demand for last-mile delivery. The cold storage shortage is playing out in many markets across the country, but is particularly problematic in New Jersey due to a low vacancy rate and the construction challenges in this sector. Driving Location Decisions Food businesses are looking for spaces near their customer bases to reduce travel times, so they often choose infill locations. The scarcity of land …

June 5, 2019

Market Reports Multifamily New York Northeast Northeast Market Reports

New York City Multifamily Market to Experience Reduced Supply in 2020

by Kristin Harlow May 29, 2019

As the second-largest city economy in the world, New York City continually retains its reputation as one of the most desirable locations for long-term real estate capital appreciation, both nationally and globally. In turn, increasing rent growth and decreasing vacancies have characterized the New York City multifamily market as the influx of supply in 2018 quickly gets absorbed. In the next 24 months, the city will see a dramatic reduction in the new supply of rentals, with current projections for 2019 to 2020 estimating 12,000 units to come on line. This figure represents a substantial decrease from the 20,680 units that were delivered in 2018. Of those 20,680 units, Queens and Brooklyn accounted for more than 50 percent of the new supply. Despite these deliveries, effective rent grew in 2018 by 2.9 percent in Manhattan, 2.2 percent in Brooklyn and 3 percent in Queens. Total multifamily sales volume in Manhattan for 2018 was $6.8 billion, an 83 percent increase from 2017’s total transaction volume of $3.7 billion. With 181 total transactions, properties that traded for more than $50 million made up 65 percent of the volume in 2018 across 22 trades. Similarly, sales in Brooklyn hit a record volume of …

May 29, 2019

Hospitality Market Reports Northeast Northeast Market Reports Rhode Island

Rhode Island — The Land of Hotels, Schools and Medical Properties

by Kristin Harlow May 22, 2019

Thus far in 2019, much of the growth and development in Rhode Island has been focused on downtown Providence. Much of this has to do with the colleges and hospitals, as well as the residential component in general. But Rhode Island continues to develop hotels, especially in downtown, due in part simply to having a vibrant, in-demand city. Officials want to create the ability for Providence to compete for and attract top-tier conventions. Hotel Development Wave With 1,000-plus hotel rooms coming on line over the next 18 to 24 months, along with another 1,000 residential units of new and redeveloped housing, the long sought-after downtown Providence residential market seems to be here. Examples of this hotel development include the following: • Procaccianti Group’s 176 room Marriott Residence Inn at the Convention Center, coming in the second half of 2019; • First Bristol & Paolino Properties’ 120-room Homewood Suites Extended Stay, which opened in April; • Hotel Beatrice, 28-32 Kennedy Plaza, 48 rooms, under construction; • Best Western Glo Hotel, 322 Washington Street, 76 rooms, commission/board review approved; • Aloft hotel, Innovation Complex, 170 rooms, commission/board review approved; • Holiday Inn, 371 Pine Street, 91 rooms, commission/board review approved; • Hotel …

May 22, 2019

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