Thursday, July 10, 2025
Read the Digital Magazines Subscribe to the Magazines
Subscribe

Mixed-Use

Grandscape-The-Colony
DevelopmentMarket ReportsMixed-UseTexasTexas Market Reports

North Texas Mixed-Use Boom Moves Full Steam Ahead

by Taylor Williams

By Rob Welker, president and partner, Hoefer Welker; and Steven Janeway, principal and commercial practice leader, Hoefer Welker As one of the biggest states, Texas regularly sees some of the largest demand in real estate development in the country. In recent years, North Texas specifically has experienced a rapid short-term increase in population, leading to a significant development boom and driving up urban and workforce construction volume, rental rates and sale values. Mixed-use developments have led the charge in commercial growth throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex. Higher overall interest in a live-work-play lifestyle has contributed to the development of a larger number of spaces that provide corporate, retail and residential capabilities. Gone are the days when corporate campuses and multifamily complexes were predominantly in the suburbs; tenants and employers have increasingly searched for living experiences in urban environments where they can combine the three biggest facets of their lives within a single destination. This provides the convenience that tenants crave and the access to concentrated populations that retailers and office users need to be successful. The Coastal Exodus As personal and business income tax rates, regulatory hurdles and costs of living abound in coastal markets, corporations have begun relocating …

Continue Reading
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
Cadence-Frisco-Station
Market ReportsMixed-UseTexasTexas Market Reports

More Than A Cliche: How Frisco Has Become the Ultimate Live-Work-Play Suburb

by Taylor Williams

By Chris McCluskey, vice president of development, VanTrust Real Estate; and Robert Folzenlogen, senior vice president of strategic development, Hillwood In the past decade, the popularity of “live-work-play” developments has skyrocketed, making the concept a somewhat overused cliché in the commercial real estate world.  However, the reasoning behind the acclaim remains true — people love convenience and a sense of community. And “live-work-play” is the reason that cities like Frisco that are located outside dense urban cores have thrived. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Frisco’s population has grown by 71 percent over the last decade, consistently ranking as one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. But this growth did not happen overnight; rather, a combination of ideal location and elected leaders’ vision has driven much of Frisco’s success.  By prioritizing all real estate classes — office, residential, retail — Frisco has been able to find the right balance between bustling urban amenities and the serene background of suburbia, making it one of the most competitive landscapes today and for the foreseeable future.  A Balanced Approach Suburbs are no longer known for just their family appeal, although this feature still remains a high priority for many households. Young professionals …

Continue Reading
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
Cadence-Frisco-Station
Market ReportsMixed-UseTexasTexas Market Reports

More Than A Clichè: How Frisco Has Become the Ultimate ‘Live-Work-Play’ Suburb

by Taylor Williams

By Chris McCluskey, vice president of development, VanTrust Real Estate; and Robert Folzenlogen, senior vice president of strategic development, Hillwood In the past decade, the popularity of “live-work-play” developments has skyrocketed, making the concept a somewhat overused cliché in the commercial real estate world.  However, the reasoning behind the acclaim remains true — people love convenience and a sense of community. And “live-work-play” is the reason that cities like Frisco that are located outside dense urban cores have thrived. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Frisco’s population has grown by 71 percent over the last decade, consistently ranking as one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. But this growth did not happen overnight; rather, a combination of ideal location and elected leaders’ vision has driven much of Frisco’s success.  By prioritizing all real estate classes — office, residential, retail — Frisco has been able to find the right balance between bustling urban amenities and the serene background of suburbia, making it one of the most competitive landscapes today and for the foreseeable future.  A Balanced Approach Suburbs are no longer known for just their family appeal, although this feature still remains a high priority for many households. Young professionals …

Continue Reading
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
WestBend-Fort-Worth
Market ReportsMixed-UseRestaurantRetailTexasTexas Market Reports

Texas Retailers Still See Major Value in Mixed-Use Settings

by Taylor Williams

By Taylor Williams The factors that have long enticed Texas retailers and restaurants to locate in mixed-use environments are back in full force, such that these users are once again willing to pay a premium for spaces built-in density and walkability.  In some ways, this trend never really disappeared in Texas, one of the first states to reopen during the early months of COVID-19. Through measures passed in 2020 like sanctioning to-go alcohol sales and allowing businesses to stay open, albeit at reduced capacities, Texas has worked to minimize retail and restaurant closures and prevent large volumes of these spaces from being returned to markets.  Neither has the state’s job and population growth slowed during the 22-month global health crisis, allowing developers across all asset classes to push forward. In addition, the newfound desire from consumers and businesses to work, shop and dine outdoors as much as possible has kept trains rolling on mixed-use projects, which inherently connect different uses through external features like trails, open streets, pocket parks and plazas. From a design standpoint, those connective features remain critically important, says Barry Hand, principal in the Dallas office of global architecture firm Gensler. “Pocket or linear parks are viewed …

Continue Reading
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
Tuscan-Market
DevelopmentMarket ReportsMixed-UseNortheastNortheast Market ReportsRetail

Northeast Developers Push for Local Retail in Mixed-Use Projects

by Taylor Williams

By Taylor Williams As consumers throughout the Northeast move closer to returning to their pre-pandemic lifestyles, unleashing pent-up demand on the retail, restaurant and entertainment sectors, owners of mixed-use properties are gaining a renewed appreciation for local concepts that create a special sense of identity. Of course, the inclusion of local uses and concepts in the larger overall retail tenant base is nothing new in the world of mixed-use development. And sources agree that having some marquee, national brands is also a critical ingredient in the recipe for a successful retail roster and experience. “High-quality retail creates places where people want to live and work, but unless you’re committed to doing a couple hundred thousand square feet, most of your retail component is going to be food and beverage (F&B),” says George Banks, founder of Revel, an Atlanta-based firm that provides food hall consulting services. “Everybody loves Shake Shack and Jeni’s [Splendid Ice Creams], but we advise our mixed-use clients to go as hyper-local as possible when it comes to F&B.” But in general, the COVID-19 pandemic hit local mom-and-pop operators, which often lacked the cash and credit to cover their revenue losses, much harder than their national counterparts. More …

Continue Reading
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
IowaMarket ReportsMidwestMidwest Market ReportsMixed-Use

Downtown Sioux City Experiencing Explosive Growth, Transformation

by Kristin Harlow

By Marty Dougherty, City of Sioux City Downtown Sioux City, Iowa is currently experiencing growth and transformation on an unprecedented scale. This emerging and vibrant place is not only celebrating its rich and colorful history with multiple historic property renovations, but has made strides to re-invent itself and take the downtown to new levels. These efforts include the growth of new residential options, an increasing number of cultural attractions and quality-of-life amenities, new entry corridors and a commitment to an extraordinary and ever-evolving riverfront park. This energy and economic activity offers a range of development opportunities, including residential, office, retail and entertainment. While COVID-19 has had some minor impacts, all of the ongoing downtown construction projects have been able to stay on track and are being completed on schedule, as of the writing of this article. Reinvestment district Over $150 million in public and private capital is currently being invested in a 25-acre downtown reinvestment district. This entertainment, cultural and residential district has been designed to extend from the downtown’s entryway directly into the heart of downtown. The district features four signature projects, with a total of 10 public or private buildings that will be fully completed in 2020. These …

Continue Reading
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
KansasMarket ReportsMidwestMidwest Market ReportsMixed-Use

Building Momentum: How Public-Private Partnership Revitalized Downtown Topeka, Kansas

by Kristin Harlow

The city of Topeka has built significant momentum in the five years since its downtown revitalization. Capital investment and strategic planning at the city’s center had a reverberating effect across town, from the expansion of vocational-technical training to the growth of Kanza Fire Commerce Park. Public-private partnership The year 2015 was pivotal with a $9.4 million public-private investment in infrastructure and amenities along Kansas Avenue, the main downtown thoroughfare. The city invested $5.8 million in roadway, sewer and streetscape infrastructure. Meanwhile, private businesses sponsored pocket parks with statues, benches and fountains. The Downtown Topeka Foundation brought another $4 million in private funding to the effort through its “Imagine Downtown” capital campaign. Since that day, local investors like AIM Strategies LLC have purchased more than 25 buildings on the avenue for gradual restoration into thriving businesses like Iron Rail Brewing, Cyrus Hotel and The Pennant restaurant, bowling alley and vintage arcade. Popular annual festivals and parades expect to see even more traffic after the unveiling of the next phase of major downtown investment. Evergy Plaza With 30-foot digital screens and the 50-foot CapFed On 7th Stage, Evergy Plaza was developed as a hub for community and a catalyst for business. The …

Continue Reading
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
KansasMarket ReportsMidwestMidwest Market ReportsMixed-Use

Wichita’s Downtown Revitalization Serves as Catalyst for New Projects

by Kristin Harlow

Wichita has been experiencing a strong downtown revitalization that has brought construction of new and redeveloped office, retail and mixed-use projects throughout its urban core over the past few years. Two years ago, companies began relocating downtown as shifting workplace demographics incorporated close proximity, “live, work, play” amenities in order to grow their businesses as well as attract and retain talent. Today’s businesses are seeking modern Class A finishes within Wichita’s center where these types of environments exist or will be available in the near future as developments continue. Downtown revitalization In the early 2000s, downtown Wichita lost many of its office users to more suburban office developments on the east and west edges of the city, leaving high vacancy rates and rendering many downtown office buildings functionally obsolete. Now this trend has reversed after the Wichita Downtown Development Corp. put together a comprehensive master plan to revitalize the urban core. Developers purchased key catalytic sites and repurposed them into economic drivers for downtown as shifting demographics brought about  the need for businesses to attract and retain top talent with both onsite and walkable amenities. As new office projects downtown are beginning construction and being completed, the idea of relocating …

Continue Reading
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
Market ReportsMixed-UseTexasTexas Market Reports

Placemaking, Integration Define Mixed-Use Projects in Texas

by Taylor Williams

Development trends in commercial real estate are beholden to the whims of consumer behavior. When it comes to mixed-use in the 21st century, successful projects deliver a high-quality experience that centers on a sense of social belonging and connection — for living, working and playing alike. “In today’s experiential economy, demographic changes and shifts in consumer values and preferences across generations are converging on the desire for social connection,” says Brian Cramer, senior vice president and head of the Dallas office of mixed-use developer Newland Communities. “People crave experiences and connections, which is why mixed-use environments will become even more important in community development.” Bob Schultz, the developer of Mid Main, a mixed-use destination in Houston’s Midtown neighborhood, echoes Cramer’s position on man’s inherently social nature as a driver of growth in the mixed-use space. “Our experience is that these various populations are willing to live with each other as never before,” says Schultz. “Demographics of those who live in urban areas cross over in terms of age and economic differences in ways that are either comfortable or virtually unnoticed by the different populations. In other words, people who like to live, work and play in areas with density value …

Continue Reading
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
Market ReportsMichiganMidwestMidwest Market ReportsMixed-Use

Why Invest in Grand Rapids: Lifestyle, Job Market and Affordability

by Kristin Harlow

While most national investors and developers focus on larger Sun Belt and coastal markets such as Austin, Atlanta, Nashville and Phoenix, Time Equities has had great success investing in Grand Rapids and continues to believe strongly in the future potential of the area. As an opportunistic company, we often go where others do not, looking for markets and assets with strong risk-adjusted returns. Grand Rapids provides such an opportunity. The small city has been ascendant for the past decade and has a bright outlook. Its population and job growth equal many of the fastest-growing markets in the Sun Belt. Its economy is bolstered by large medical and education employers supported by impressive charitable contributions from the region’s wealthy families. In addition, the city also boasts a diversified economy with manufacturing, breweries and white-collar employment. And most importantly, it’s home to a burgeoning young and educated workforce. Grand Rapids’ combination of lifestyle, job market and affordability make it a regional draw. Grand Rapids experienced population growth of 41 percent from 2010 to 2017, compared with 22 percent for the Nashville metro area and 19 percent for the Dallas metro area. This growth was aided by a net migration of 31,285 people. …

Continue Reading
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts