Infill locations are highly desired in San Antonio’s multifamily market, as the last available tracts of land suitable for development are being picked off. Areas popular with developers are north central San Antonio, the South Texas Medical Center, and the area of the city just north of downtown, known as Alamo Heights/Fort Sam Houston. A recent trend is for multifamily developers to raze existing commercial buildings to make way for new projects, such as Chancellor Property’s site on Austin Highway, Regent Communities’ site across from the Pearl Brewery, or Bakke Development’s redevelopment of El Chaparral on Harry Wurzbach. With the high price of gas, renters have a stronger desire to live in close proximity to where they work and play. This is driving developers to create urban infill communities. The new development that will have the greatest impact on San Antonio is River North, the city’s initiative of an expansion of the River Walk just north of downtown. The city of San Antonio is creating a new urban lifestyle that will invigorate the urban core. The overall goal with this new development is to produce a downtown that is as attractive to locals as it is to tourists. The Stone …
Market Reports
What area is your expertise? Multi-housing properties (rental only) and Central Midwestern markets. However, my answers here apply only to the Indianapolis area. What trends do you see presently in multifamily development in your area? There has been a shift in development activity from the south side of Indianapolis to the north side. Approximately 3,000 units are slated for completion through 2009 along the 146th Street corridor and surrounding areas in Hamilton County. With the recent extension and opening of 146th Street, development activity has intensified along this critical corridor. Who are the active multifamily developers in your area? Currently active: Flaherty & Collins, Pedcor Investments, J.C. Hart, Welbourne Companies, Herman & Kittle Properties, Edward Rose of Indiana and Sheehan Development. Prepared to resume development activity: Paragus, Gene B. Glick Co., and Hearthview Residential. What trends do you see presently in multifamily development in your area? Roughly two-thirds of our buyer base is coming from the East Coast. We have historically had East Coast capital but not significant levels. The heightened interest from coastal investors is due to a widely recognized rental market recovery and stable employment growth. Please name one or two significant multifamily developments in your area. What …
What area is your expertise? West Michigan Industrial What trends do you see presently in industrial development in your area? Very little speculative building, some absorption of previous manufacturing into multi-tenant redevelopment. What type of industrial product is doing well in your area? Stand alone 35,000 square feet to 75,000 square feet owner occupied. Who are the active industrial developers in your area? First Companies – Built-to-Suit Please name one or two significant industrial developments in your area. What impact will these projects have on the market? Ashley Capital redevelopment of the former Steelcase campus. Former large manufacturing buildings that are redeveloped into multi-tenant — 50,000 to 300,000-square-foot users. Where is the majority of development taking place? Why is this area doing well? Very little, along the M-6 Caledonia, available land for build to suit users. What area do you expect to be the next big industrial development market? Why? Airport area — typical area for growth in most markets. Please describe the industrial leasing activity in your area. Lease rates are flat with incentives, one month of free rent for each year of term. Too much inventory. Please describe the industrial sales activity in your area. Very little activity …
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 …
The Memphis apartment market is expected to record mixed performance this year, due to a spike in new inventory and decelerating employment growth. On the demand side, weakness in the housing market is keeping many individuals within the renter pool, boosting retention rates and supporting a modest uptick in tenant demand. Foreclosure activity rose 15 percent in the first quarter, when compared to the same period one year earlier, and is expected to continue this year as more adjustable-rate mortgages reset. Subsequently, apartment demand for Class B and Class C properties should pick up in this year, causing vacancy for the metro’s affordable rentals to improve. On the supply side, development activity is accelerating after 5 years of below-average additions to stock. By year-end, developers are expected to boost inventory by 1.1 percent, or nearly double the 5-year average, pushing vacancy higher while moderating rent gains. Builders have brought approximately 175 new apartment units to the Memphis market during the past 12 months, representing a modest 0.2 percent increase in inventory. One year ago, deliveries had totaled approximately 210 units. Development activity is picking up, as builders have roughly 1,100 units underway in the metro area. As for significant developments, …
What area is your expertise? Phoenix and Tucson What trends do you see presently in retail development in your area? Infill, redevelopment and lifestyle type centers. What type of retail product is doing well in your area? Grocery anchored, New Power Centers with added lifestyle hybrid, and Lifestyle Centers. What retailers are new to your area? Fresh N Easy, Cabellas, Bass Pro Shops, CineMark, Bloomingdales and IKEA. Who are the active retail developers in your area? Vestar, Macarich, General Growth, Kimco, DeRito Partners, and Pederson Group. Please name one or two significant retail developments in your area. What impact will these projects have on the market? City North is a 5.5 million-square-foot, mixed-use development by Thomas J. Klutznick Co. and Related Urban. The retail center is anchored by Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom. The site will draw shoppers from all over the city, while initially hurting other successful retail development sales, but in the long term it will be a great addition to the Phoenix area. Where is the majority of development taking place? Why is this area doing well? Southeast Valley and West Valley. The new retail development is following the housing growth. What area do you expect to be the …
What area is your expertise? Utah Multifamily What trends do you see presently in multifamily development in your area? Rental rates for apartments are on the rise. Utah realized the highest rent growth in all western states over last year. 9.9 percent increase. The condo market has definitely slowed down considerably. We are starting to see platted projects available for sale as developer confidence with current market conditions are low. Rental rates will continue to climb over the next two years. Who are the active multifamily developers in your area? Active multifamily developers in the Utah market are Cow-boy partners, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), and The Metro Condominiums. Please name one or two significant multifamily developments in your area. What impact will these projects have on the market? City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City is a sustainably designed, walkable urban community of residences, offices and retail stores that will rise over the next four years on approximately 20 acres across three blocks in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City being developed by LDS. Upon project completion in 2012, the city will be one of few in the nation with a vibrant, mixed-use …
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? Retail leasing, sales, and development in Michigan. What trends do you see presently in retail development in your area? Retail development is stagnant at this time. However, there are several planned developments that will certainly become more viable when the local economy improves. What type of retail product is doing well in your area? Neighborhood Strip Centers. What retailers are new to your area? Tim Horton’s and several independent restaurants. Since the earlier part of the decade, we haven’t had much in the way of “new” traditional retail to the market. Who are the active retail developers in your area? Mostly local developers. The Gillespie Group, Strathmore Development and The Eyde Company. Please name one or two significant retail developments in your area. What impact will these projects have on the market? East Village near the MSU Campus in East Lansing. Currently in planning stages only and no tenants named at this point. Will encompass 250,000 square feet of retail, with a movie theater, a hotel, 100,000 square feet of office and both for lease and for sale residential units. Encompasses over 20 acres. Numerous planned projects around the Eastwood Towne Center but nothing definite …
What area is your expertise? Office market in the Kansas City metropolitan area. What trends do you see presently in office development in your area? Little new development. Some mixed-use projects in the works. Who are the active office developers in your area? Local developers. Please name one or two significant office developments in your area. What impact will these projects have on the market? Park Place – Mixed-use suburban office project including retail, residential, office and hotels. Located in suburban Kansas City (Leawood, Kan.) Plaza West – mixed-use office, retail, hotel project on Country Club Plaza. Will be corporate headquarters for local advertising firm Bernstein Rein. Where is the majority of development taking place? Why is this area doing well? Suburban Kansas City What area do you expect to be the next big development market? Why? Suburban Kansas City What areas are doing well in terms of office leasing? Which areas are struggling with office leasing? Suburban Kansas City and Country Club Plaza do well. Downtown Kansas City has struggled but with a new entertainment district along with opening of Sprint Center, it is poised to take off. Please give a measure of office vacancy rates. Please give a …