WASHINGTON, D.C. — Another 885,000 Americans filed for initial unemployment insurance for the week ending Dec. 12, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday. The most recent figure marks a 23,000-claim jump from the previous week. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expected the claims total to fall to 808,000. The 885,000 claims mark the highest number since the week ending Oct. 10, when 898,000 claims were filed. The four-week moving average also rose, reaching 812,500, a 34,250-claim jump from the previous week.
Retail Sales in November Show Negative Growth for First Time Since May, Remain Higher than Last Year
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Retail sales in November declined 1.1 percent compared to October of this year, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Wednesday. The monthly decline is the first dip since April, when sales plummeted 14.7 percent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. November sales totaled $546.5 billion, which was an increase of 4.1 percent from November 2019. Additionally, the three-month period from September 2020 to November was 5.2 percent higher than the same time period a year ago. Month-over-month, motor vehicle and parts dealers, home furniture stores, electronics and appliances stores, clothing and accessories stores and sporting goods stores all reported decreased sales. The home improvement and food and beverage sectors grew 1.1 and 1.6 percent, respectively. Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation (NRF), says the monthly decline is due to consumers holding steady amid rising COVID-19 cases and congressional gridlock. “Consumers held back on spending in November as virus rates spiked, states imposed retail restrictions and congressional stimulus discussions were gridlocked,” says Shay. “While consumers have been bolstered by increases in disposable income and savings, it’s clear that additional fiscal stimulus from Congress is needed and we are hopeful it will be passed soon as we enter the final …
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Toll Brothers Apartment Living and GSLM Capital Partners, a venture between L+M Development Partners and Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, have received $160 million in construction financing for Phase I of a new multifamily project in the NoMa neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The project will redevelop Sursum Corda Cooperative, a low-income housing complex built in 1968. Sursum’s tenant association sold the site in 2018. As part of the agreement, current residents of Sursum will have the right to rent up to 127 units included in the new complex. Phase I of the project will include 561 units, approximately 20 percent of which will be designated as affordable. It will also feature one acre of public open space and nearly 50,000 square feet of amenities. Citi Community Capital provided the $160 million, funded with $23 million of tax-exempt notes issued through the Washington, D.C. Housing Finance Agency and a $137 million taxable construction loan. In addition, Citi arranged a $160 million forward commitment for permanent financing from Freddie Mac in its role as an Optigo lender. Goldman Sachs, in addition to its land loan financing and equity participation, will purchase approximately $15.7 million of low-income housing tax credits. …
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The UIP Cos. Inc. has delivered The Kiley, a $118 million multifamily project in Washington, D.C.’s Southwest Waterfront district. The 315-unit property will open to residents beginning in January. UIP installed a common area HVAC system with UV light scrubbers to kill viruses. The community will offer studio to three-bedroom floor plans and two-story lofts. Communal amenities will include a golf simulator, library, bar and games on the ground floor, as well as a rooftop deck and fitness center, a pool and grills. UIP acquired and broke ground on the site of The Kiley, which was an above-ground parking structure, in 2018. WDG Architecture designed the building to include arched concrete canopies as an homage to the parking deck’s original structure. The Kiley also mirrors in size Capitol Park Tower, an adjacent community that UIP bought in 2013. Capitol Park Tower was originally built in 1962 and UIP is implementing significant renovations to the property.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Stonebridge and Rockefeller Group will redevelop the Jackson Graham Building, a 400,000-square-foot office property in Washington, D.C.’s Penn Quarter district. Redevelopment costs are expected to total more than $300 million. The building currently serves as the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) headquarters. The development team expects to break ground on the project in 2023, allowing WMATA to remain at the site through 2022. Upon completion, which is slated for 2025, WMATA will not return to the space. However, WMATA will continue to own the land, which Stonebridge and Rockefeller will control on a 99-year ground lease. The Jackson Graham Building has served as WMATA’s headquarters since 1974. The asset is situated at 600 Fifth St. NW, between the White House and U.S. Capitol Building. The office building will feature a rooftop deck and a penthouse conference center.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Another 853,000 Americans filed for first-time unemployment insurance for the week ending Dec. 5, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expected claims to total 730,000. The most recent figure is the highest weekly claim total since Sept. 19 and a 137,000-claim increase from the previous week’s revised number. The four-week moving average increased by 35,500 to 776,000. Continuing claims, for which data is a week behind, increased by 230,000 to just under 5.8 million. The figure represents the first increase since August.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) has found that 75.4 percent of apartment households paid rent as of Dec. 6. NMHC surveyed its network of 11.4 million professionally managed units as part of its Rent Payment Tracker metric. The most recent figure is an 894,864-household decrease, or 7.8 percent, from Dec. 6, 2019. The December numbers are also a 500-basis point drop from Nov. 6, 2020, though the NMHC notes that Dec. 6, 2020, fell on a weekend, meaning the data might not be a true direct comparison. “While the initial rent collection figures for the first week of December are concerning, only a full month’s results will paint a complete picture,” says Doug Bibby, president of Washington, D.C.-based NMHC. “However, it should not come as a surprise that a rising number of households are struggling to make ends meet. As the nation enters a winter with increasing COVID-19 case levels and even greater economic distress — as indicated by last week’s disquieting employment report — it is only a matter of time before both renters and housing providers reach the end of their resources.” NMHC releases the survey in partnership with apartment management platforms RealPage, ResMan, Yardi, …
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. economy added 245,000 jobs in November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced Friday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had expected the total jobs added to reach 469,000. The unemployment rate dipped 20 basis points from October to 6.7 percent. The most recent figure marks the seventh consecutive month of job growth following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the BLS, outside factors such as surging coronavirus cases, new restrictions in some states and an unapproved stimulus package slowed growth for the month. Job growth was also stunted in part due to the lack of retail hiring ahead of the holiday season. Employment in the retail sector fell by 35,000 jobs, led by decreases in general merchandise stores (-21,000); and sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores (-12,000). Notable job gains occurred in the transportation and warehousing sector, which added 145,000 jobs in November. The figure is still 123,000 jobs below its February level. Employment in professional and business services increased by 60,000 jobs. Employment in the sector is struggling to return to pre-pandemic norms as it is still 1.1 million jobs behind its February level. The healthcare industry added 46,000 jobs, …
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Another 712,000 Americans filed for weekly unemployment claims during the week ending Nov. 28, the U.S. Department of Labor reported. The most recent figure is a decrease of 75,000 claims from 787,000 the previous week. It is the lowest since the week ending Nov. 7 (709,000 claims), which is also the lowest amount recorded during the pandemic. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expected the claims last week to reach 780,000. The four-week moving average fell by 11,250 claims to 739,500. Continuing claims, for which data lags a week, decreased by 569,000 from the prior week to 5.2 million claims.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Marx Realty has broken ground on The Herald, a 114,000-square-foot office building in Washington, D.C. The New York-based developer is investing $41 million to redevelop the property into a hospitality-themed office building. The lobby will feature 22-foot ceilings, a doorman, European-style café, 8,800-square-foot lounge, a fitness center, historical art and several seating areas, similar to a hotel lobby. The asset was originally built in 1923 as the printing press and offices for the Washington Herald Examiner. Marx Realty will update the entrance to the lobby to include floor-to-ceiling copper and glass walls inspired by linotype printing machines. Marx Realty expects construction to be completed in the spring. David Burns of Studios Architecture designed the asset.