Amenities, Transit Push D.C.’s Central Business District to New Heights

Investors have renewed their interest in office properties in the Washington, D.C. central business district (CBD) based on increasing tenant demand. The market is putting a higher value on the built-in amenities that exist in the CBD, like dining and entertaining options, transportation accessibility and architecturally timeless buildings. We can always tell the center of gravity of a city by where the brokerage shops locate. In D.C., CBRE’s latest move to the CBD from the East End puts …

January 28, 2019District of Columbia, Market Reports, Office, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports

Land Constraints, Demand from Big Data Spur Rent Growth in D.C. Industrial Market

The 195 million-square-foot Washington, D.C., metropolitan industrial market features various sectors and centers of demand across the region. The overall market has been extremely healthy, with unique forces impacting the area’s primary regions of Northern Virginia, Suburban Maryland and Washington, D.C. The overall metro market expanded between first-quarter 2017 and first-quarter 2018. Net absorption in the period was 1.7 million square feet, albeit a significant slowdown from the …

August 27, 2018District of Columbia, Industrial, Market Reports, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports

D.C. Region Sees More Development as Tenants Seek Efficient, Amenity-Rich Office Space

On the surface, the Washington, D.C., metropolitan office market has shown little change over the past five years. But dig a little deeper, and some interesting trends emerge. Metro D.C.’s office market totaled 377 million square feet as of the third quarter of 2017 and recorded a vacancy rate of just under 15 percent — inclusive of sublease space — and cumulative net absorption of 600,000 square feet year-to-date. The market has demonstrated little change in major market indicators …

January 8, 2018District of Columbia, Market Reports, Office, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports

Government Properties Income Trust to Acquire First Potomac Realty Trust for $1.4B

BETHESDA, MD. — Government Properties Income Trust (NASDAQ: GOV) has agreed to purchase all of the outstanding shares of First Potomac Realty Trust (NYSE: FPO) in a deal that is valued at $1.4 billion. The all-cash transaction, which includes the assumption of debt, is expected to close before the end of 2017. First Potomac shareholders will receive $11.15 in cash per share, or about $683 million in aggregate, at the close of the transaction. This represents a premium of about 9.3 percent …

June 28, 2017District of Columbia, Maryland, Office, Southeast, Top Stories

Rent Growth, Leasing Activity to Remain Robust in D.C.’s Apartment Market

There are many things to be optimistic about in metropolitan Washington, D.C.’s multifamily market. Here are some facts to consider: — The D.C. metro multifamily vacancy averages 3.4 percent compared to the national average of 4.5 percent. — The D.C. region has seen $3.174 billion in multifamily sales activity year-to-date with an average cap rate of 5.2 percent. — Private investors are leading multifamily sales activity in the D.C. metro region and responsible for 64 percent of …

February 13, 2017District of Columbia, Market Reports, Multifamily, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports

In the Nation’s Capital, Retail Always Follows Where New Residential Rises

The building height restriction — enacted in Washington, D.C. to preserve picturesque views of the United States Capitol Building and the Washington Monument — helps provide clear and exceedingly stunning views of the multitude of construction cranes that currently dot the vertical landscape of the District of Columbia. The majority of these yellow-steeled economic generators are being used to develop new residential and mixed-use projects, ranging from the NoMa district to the southeast …

February 6, 2017District of Columbia, Industrial, Market Reports, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports

First Potomac Realty Trust Sells Storey Park in Washington D.C. for $54.5M

WASHINGTON, D.C. — First Potomac Realty Trust (NYSE: FPO) has sold Storey Park, a mixed-use project currently under development in the NoMa submarket of Washington, to 1005 LLC for $54.5 million. When completed, Storey Park will include 350,000 square feet of office space, 65,000 square feet of retail and 300 loft apartments. An estimated completion date was not disclosed. The buyer is a partnership between Perseus Realty LLC and W-G Capital LLC, an affiliate of Four Points LLC and …

July 27, 2016District of Columbia, Mixed-Use, Multifamily, Office, Retail, Southeast, Top Stories

The Watergate Hotel Reopens Following $125M Renovation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following a nine-year renovation process, The Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. has reopened its doors after $125 million in upgrades. New York-based developer Euro Capital Properties owns the famous hotel property, which had been closed for renovations since 2007. The hotel consists of 336 guestrooms, half of which include balconies, and 32 suites. Located on the banks of the Potomac River at 2650 Virginia Ave. N.W., The Watergate Hotel was originally designed by …

June 15, 2016District of Columbia, Hospitality, Southeast, Top Stories

D.C. Multifamily Market Absorbing Massive Amount of New Supply

Over the last year, metropolitan Washington, D.C.’s multifamily market has seen staggering amounts of new construction deliver, with net absorption levels that have surpassed all expectations. This is likely a result of similarly unexpected rates of job growth in the area and the remarkable resiliency of the metro D.C. economy as a whole. Among the major metropolitan markets around the country, metro D.C. — with the sense of permanence lent by the presence of the federal government — …

February 29, 2016District of Columbia, Market Reports, Multifamily, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports

Leasing Demand Supports D.C. Industrial Market’s Measured New Construction

New industrial demand in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region has come not only from its strong service economy, but also a rapidly growing consumer goods supply chain, e-commerce distribution seeking speed of delivery, data centers and even government contractors. Both occupiers and investors seek modern, state-of-the-art building design and features. The Washington metro industrial market (185 million square feet inclusive of flex space) was well into the single digits with a sub-9 …

February 22, 2016District of Columbia, Industrial, Market Reports, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports