What area is your expertise? Connecticut — Fairfield County. What trends do you see presently in office development in your area? Slow to moderate growth in office demand. An adequate supply of product is available but not many “lookers.” Who are the active office developers in your area? Very little new development. Mostly local developers without national recognition e.g. Building and Land Technology of Norwalk and The Davis Company, also of Norwalk. Please name one or two significant office developments in your area. What impact will these projects have on the market? Blackrock Realty’s new railroad station project is underway in Fairfield that will become Fairfield Metro Center office park. The 100 Fairfield Metro Center building will encompass the first phase of the development and contain 200,000 square feet of Class A office space. A pavilion building on-site will add another 70,000 square feet to the overall development. Phase I is scheduled for completion in 2009. Where is the majority of development taking place? Why is this area doing well? Lower Fairfield County. It’s located along the commuter route to New York City. What area do you expect to be the next big development market? Why? The 33-acre Wilton Corporate …
Northeast Market Reports
The Soho neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City, has become synonymous with shopping and entertainment. Bounded by Houston Street on the north, Layfayette Street in the east, Canal Street on the south and Sixth Avenue on the west, the growing popularity of the area has made it the place to be for retailers. Just in the last few years, the retail rental rates on Broadway in Soho have increased dramatically. Three years ago, retail rents on the first block on Broadway between Prince and Houston streets were around $200 per square foot, but today even small space on the first and second blocks of Broadway are ranging from $400 to $500 per square foot. Many high-end fashion retailers are clamoring to open stores in Soho not just for the opportunity for high retail sales, but to have a presence in one of Manhattan’s most sought after markets. Hugo Boss recently signed a substantial lease on Broadway between Prince and Spring streets, which in turn has prompted other major fashion retailers to seek space in the area. Many top European designers are also beginning to look for space in the Soho area. The Soho area is not just attracting small shop …
With more and more New York City industrial neighborhoods becoming gentrified, industrial properties are in increasingly short supply. The situation is especially notable in the outer boroughs, where most of city’s industrial real estate activity is focused. Over the past ten years, approximately 30% of industrial property in the outer boroughs has been converted for other uses. In fact, the city’s decision to rezone industrial neighborhoods for residential and commercial development has created a strong market for warehouse and manufacturing spaces. The outer boroughs are all experiencing similar industrial market conditions, with a vacancy rate hovering at about a mere 3%. In Brooklyn, the Bush Terminal and Gowanus areas remain heavily industrial, while Red Hook, Green Point and Sunset Park are seeing an increase in residential developments. The Bronx has always offered a smaller inventory of warehouse and manufacturing facilities, predominately in Port Morris and Hunts Point, and recent conversions have made availabilities tighter than ever. The industrial market on Staten Island, which was always limited, has not experienced much change. Queens is currently the most active borough in the industrial sector. Many neighborhoods, such as Woodside, Maspeth, Corona and College Point, have kept their industrial identities. Other areas, like …
What area is your expertise? The Greater Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area and Western Pennsylvania. What trends do you see presently in multifamily development in your area? The Greater Pittsburgh MSA is a very stabilized and historically steady market. There are high barriers to entry, modest but steady rent increases, strong occupancy and limited concessions are offered to tenants. Who are the active multifamily developers in your area? The recent active developers in the Greater Pittsburgh MSA include Lincoln Properties and Continental. Please name one or two significant multifamily developments in your area. What impact will these projects have on the market? The Cork Factory located in the “Strip District” on the river front in Pittsburgh. This project was recently developed into 297 luxury apartments from a vacant warehouse. The Cork Factory is a tremendous success in terms of lease-up time and achieving record high rents. This project, along with The Encore on 7th, represent the two newest apartment communities built in the City of Pittsburgh in more than 30 years. The Encore on 7th was built from the ground up by Lincoln Properties. The community contains 151 luxury rental units and was completed in 2006. Where is the majority of development …
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