District of Columbia

Industrial, Warehouse Product Remains Tight Throughout Northern Virginia

by John Nelson January 9, 2023

Sustained leasing velocity for industrial/warehouse space in the Northern Virginia market, combined with the nearly insatiable demand for data center product, is contributing to developers repurposing existing business communities with this asset class to support demand, as well as companies expanding their geographic footprints into suburban Maryland and Central Virginia to secure space. This trend could be pivoting slightly due to the recent slowdown in leasing activity both locally and nationally as it relates to rising interest rates, the prospects for a looming recession and the possible end of a prolonged real estate cycle. The vacancy rate for industrial/warehouse space in the region currently stands at just over 2 percent. In the last quarter, the Northern Virginia industrial market experienced the largest pipeline in its history with more than 1 million square feet of space delivered, with nearly 5 million square feet of space in the development pipeline. The largest projects are contained within Stafford County as land in Loudoun and Fairfax counties has become unaffordable, or simply unattainable. Triple-net asking rents reached another all-time high of $12.45 per square foot in the third quarter, aided in part by these new deliveries. New space remains scarce and commands a premium, …

January 9, 2023

District of Columbia Southeast

US Economy Added 223,000 Jobs in December With Leisure and Hospitality Sector Leading the Way

by Jeff Shaw January 6, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Total U.S. nonfarm payroll employment increased by 223,000 in December, while the unemployment rate fell to 3.5 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The leisure and hospitality industry added 67,000 jobs, leading all employment sectors. The latest employment figures released this morning beat expectations. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had estimated the U.S. labor market grew by 200,000 jobs in December. Meanwhile, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 0.3 percent in December. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 4.6 percent, coming in below the 5 percent estimate, an indication that inflation pressures could be easing. In 2022, the leisure and hospitality sector added an average of 79,000 jobs per month, substantially less than the average gain of 196,000 jobs per month in 2021. Employment in the industry remains below its pre-pandemic February 2020 level by 932,000, or 5.5 percent. Healthcare employment increased by 55,000 in December, with gains in ambulatory health care services (+30,000), hospitals (+16,000), and nursing and residential care facilities (+9,000). Job growth in healthcare averaged 49,000 per month in 2022, considerably above the 2021 average monthly gain of 9,000. …

January 6, 2023

District of Columbia Industrial Loans Multifamily Office Retail Southeast

MBA Projects 5 Percent Drop in Commercial and Multifamily Mortgage Financing in 2023, Strong Rebound in 2024

by John Nelson January 6, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) projects that total commercial and multifamily mortgage borrowing and lending is expected to fall to $700 billion in 2023, a 5 percent decline from an expected volume of $740 billion in 2022. Multifamily lending volume alone is expected to drop to $393 billion in 2023, an 11 percent decline from an expected total of $439 billion in 2022. The projected drop in borrowing and lending reflects current market conditions. Jamie Woodwell, head of commercial real estate research for MBA, which is based in Washington, D.C., underlined that the forecast matched what the association had been hearing from commercial and multifamily mortgage finance professionals, with many indicating the Federal Reserve’s multiple interest rate increases in rapid succession have been a key factor in the projected decline in lending and borrowing activity. At its December meeting, the Federal Reserve raised the benchmark federal funds rate by half a percentage point, a smaller increase than the four consecutive three-quarter-point hikes earlier in 2022. The Fed is showing no sign of slowing rate hikes in 2023, with Chairman Jerome Powell announcing after the meeting that the central bank will continue to raise rates for quite some …

January 6, 2023

Acquisitions Affordable Housing District of Columbia Multifamily Southeast

WHC, Amazon, JBG SMITH Acquire Apartment Community in D.C. for $71.5M

by John Nelson January 3, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nonprofit organization Washington Housing Conservancy (WHC) has acquired Loree Grand, a 212-unit apartment community in Washington, D.C. In partnership with Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund and the Impact Pool, an investment vehicle managed by local developer JBG SMITH, WHC purchased the 10-story community for $71.5 million. JBG SMITH will manage the 195,000-square-foot property on behalf of WHC, which will preserve affordability for moderate- and low-income families and individuals. Bordered by D.C.’s NoMA, Union Market and H Street neighborhoods, the community features units averaging 900 square feet in size. WHC will preserve Loree Grand’s existing 30 inclusionary zoning units for 99 years, create an additional 129 affordable units for residents earning 80 percent of AMI or less and set aside the remaining 53 units for residents earning 120 percent of AMI or less. Eagle Bank provided acquisition financing for the transaction, Amazon Housing Equity Fund provided subordinate financing and Impact Pool provided mezzanine financing. Arnold & Porter provided pro bono legal counsel to WHC.

January 3, 2023

District of Columbia Market Reports Restaurant Retail Southeast Southeast Market Reports

D.C. Retail Sector is a Tale of Two Markets: Downtown and Everywhere Else

by John Nelson January 2, 2023

So much has been made about the future of retail in the United States. Is it dead? Is it back? How has it evolved? No doubt, retail was the sector most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and that is also true here in Washington, D.C. If you look at regional data, it appears to be rebounding nicely. The overall market currently boasts a near record-low vacancy rate at just 5.1 percent, according to CoStar Group. Tighter market conditions have helped landlords restore pricing power throughout the District, and asking rents and rent growth have surpassed pre-pandemic highs. When we measure by net absorption, retail demand in the region in 2022 is on pace to reach its highest level since 2016. But numbers don’t tell the whole story as the retail sector’s recovery in D.C.’s downtown market post COVID differs greatly from all of the metropolitan area’s other submarkets in a scenario that can only be described as a tale of two markets. Downtown D.C. So, what’s driving downtown retail these days? Simply, it’s the office market. Retail’s post-pandemic recovery is almost entirely dependent on office workers, and there is no more significant factor at play for its success than corporation’s …

January 2, 2023

Acquisitions Affordable Housing District of Columbia Multifamily Southeast

Greysteel Brokers $76.7M Sale of Six-Property Multifamily Portfolio in Northwest D.C.

by John Nelson December 22, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Greysteel has brokered the sale of a six-property multifamily portfolio in Northwest Washington, D.C., totaling 362 apartments. The six properties in the portfolio include Barclay, Ravenel, Park Meridian, Park Marconi, Richman Towers and Sarbin Towers. Van Metre Cos. and institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management sold the portfolio to four different buyers for approximately $76.7 million, three of which were sold to local nonprofit affordable housing provider Jubilee Housing. Kyle Tangney and Herbert Schwat of Greysteel represented the sellers in the transaction. Four of the assets will be preserved as affordable housing. All six properties were sold via an assignment of their respective tenant associations to third-party developers pursuant to D.C.’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA).

December 22, 2022

District of Columbia Market Reports Office Southeast Southeast Market Reports

Something is Happening in Downtown D.C.’s Office Market

by John Nelson December 19, 2022

Downtown Washington, D.C., is confronting many of the same pandemic-generated challenges as other urban markets across the United States. This includes above-average and record high commercial vacancy (office and retail), as well as lower-than-average daytime foot traffic, in part due to an increase in hybrid work. Yet there is a case to be made that now is a unique moment for leasing office (and retail) space in the District’s central business district (CBD). The loss of foot traffic has hit downtown retail particularly hard, especially fast-casual dining. Coffee shops and sandwich places that depend on office workers have closed at a higher rate than other food-related retail. But the pedestrians are coming back. Kastle Systems’ data from the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) shows an increase since Labor Day in the number of workers at their desks, with approximately 42 percent of the pre-pandemic number of employees in-office on a weekly basis, compared with around 33 percent last spring. This is expected to rise as more employers establish return-to-office policies. Despite 2022’s turbulent economy over the first six months, D.C.’s office leasing activity was up 16 percent compared with the first half of 2021, according to Cushman & Wakefield. The …

December 19, 2022

District of Columbia Hospitality Southeast

US Economy Adds 263,000 Jobs in November, While Hourly Wages Rise 0.6 Percent

by John Nelson December 5, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. economy added 263,000 jobs in November, and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The employment gains beat Dow Jones economists’ expectations of 200,000 new jobs, reports CNBC. Meanwhile, average hourly wages jumped 0.6 percent for the month, according to the BLS, double the estimate of economists. Furthermore, the 5.1 percent annual growth in wages exceeded the expectation of 4.6 percent. CNBC also reports that the better-than-expected wage growth may put even greater pressure on the Federal Reserve to continue its path of rate hikes, which Fed officials have been signaling as likely ahead of the December Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) meeting. Many media outlets report that economists are expecting the central bank to boost the federal funds rate by 50 basis points before the end of the year, raising the target range to between 4.25 and 4.5 percent. However, some other media sources indicate that strong wage growth is another sign of inflation and could push the Fed to boost the rate by 75 basis points. Big gains in leisure and hospitality In November, the employment sector with the biggest surge was leisure and …

December 5, 2022

District of Columbia Leasing Activity Office Southeast

Oxford Signs Law Firm to 40,914 SF Lease Renewal, Expansion at 1101 New York Avenue in D.C.

by John Nelson December 1, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Oxford Properties Group has signed Allen & Overy LLP to a long-term lease renewal and expansion at 1101 New York Ave. in Washington, D.C. The law firm will continue to occupy the 11th floor and expand into a portion of the tower’s 10th floor. The tenant plans to begin renovations to its space in early 2023. Tom Fulcher, Julie Rayfield and Adam Brecher of Savills represented Allen & Overy in the lease negotiations. Matt Pacinelli, Kyle Luby and John Klinke of Stream Realty Partners represented Oxford Properties.

December 1, 2022

Acquisitions District of Columbia Retail Southeast

Northmarq Brokers $7.6M Sale of Retail Condominium in Downtown D.C. Leased to TD Bank

by John Nelson November 22, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Northmarq has brokered the sale of a 4,403-square-foot retail condo on the ground floor of the Metropole Condominiums located at 1515 15th St. NW in downtown Washington, D.C. Built in 2008 in the city’s Logan Circle neighborhood, the property was fully leased at the time of sale to TD Bank. Isaiah Harf of Northmarq represented the seller, a private investor based in Maryland, in the transaction. The California-based, 1031 exchange buyer acquired the asset for approximately $7.6 million.

November 22, 2022

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