Originally published on April 16, 2024, by NAIOP.
Charlotte member Sean McMullan has been selected as a NAIOP Research Foundation Visionary.
The Research Foundation established the Visionaries program in 2017 to connect outstanding rising industry professionals with Research Foundation Governors who are experienced, well-respected industry leaders. The 2024 cohort of Visionaries will be inducted at NAIOP’s National Forums Symposium, May 8-10, in Minneapolis.
We are proud to introduce our new association members! The following is a list of individuals who have joined NAIOP Charlotte since January 1, 2024:
The always popular DL Mentorship Program is back! This program is exclusively for Developing Leader members (ages 35 & under) and provides a special forum for personal and professional growth through one‐on‐one learning sessions with accomplished and experienced professionals in the CRE industry. Take advantage of this opportunity to benefit from the knowledge, guidance, and ideas willingly shared by the program mentors.
The specially designed Mentorship website allows each participating mentee to familiarize themselves with the program mentors and book 1‐hour sessions with them to discuss career topics important to the mentee. Meetings can take place between April through June.
NOTE: 2024 mentors are still being confirmed/added to the website & are in the process of updating their profiles.
Booking is first-come, first-served! The Mentorship Program provides a special forum exclusively for DLs to meet one-on-one with selected industry leaders. We have 20+ mentors for this year’s program, all with extensive CRE industry knowledge. Take advantage of this opportunity to make connections and benefit from their knowledge, guidance, and ideas.
All four standing committees of the Charlotte City Council met yesterday. Here's a quick outline of what was covered with links to agendas and presentations.
Transportation, Planning, & Development
Planning Director Alyson Craig provided an update to the committee and referenced three text amendments that are currently working their way through the process:
During last night's Charlotte City Council Business meeting, Planning Director Alyson Craig announced the filing of a new text amendment aimed at tightening rules for Conservation Developments. The amendment will include the following:
The initial proposal (virtually identical to the one offered last night) was presented at the March 7th meeting of the UDO Advisory Committee where a more comprehensive presentation was provided. As was earlier reported, this elicited a rather spirited discussion among committee members both through regular conversation as well as virtual chat.
This particular change appears to be on the fast track as the schedule is as follows:
We have submitted multiple comments on the above proposal and will reiterate those concerns during Thursday's UDO Advisory Committee meeting.
Two additional recommendations were also offered during last night's session:
#1 Prioritize New Housing Supply in Key Locations - Create a Compact Development Option for new residential subdivisions 2+ Acres
Originally published on March 20, 2024, by Toby Burke for NAIOP.
NAIOP members know that the procurement of a local permit is a fundamental and essential part of commercial real estate development in providing communities with properties for people to live, work and play. However, local permitting processes vary and too often become unnecessarily delayed. These variations and delays lead to uncertainties that affect the development’s completion, the financing structure, the retention of contractors, resources and equipment, and, ultimately, the cost for the owner, tenant and end-user.
Because of this, NAIOP chapters across the U.S. are using Georgia’s legislation as a template in advocating for reforms that bring predictability, consistency and transparency to the local permitting processes within their respective states. Key features of the state’s reforms include:
This proposal was introduced at Thursday's UDO Advisory Committee meeting where a more comprehensive presentation was provided. This elicited a rather spirited discussion among committee members both through regular conversation as well as virtual chat. While a new amendment was slated for introduction this week, it appears that has been pushed back to allow for additional input.
During the two meetings before last Thursday's session, the UDO Advisory Committee received presentations on potential changes related to parking and driveway standards for duplexes and triplexes on infill lots as well as the potential for changes in regulations for larger lot subdivisions. Those meetings occurred on February 15th and February 22nd but no formal proposals have yet been forthcoming.
Comments on the proposed Tree Manual revisions are being accepted through the end of today, March 12th. Please take a look and submit any recommendations to [email protected].
This annual study published by the NAIOP Research Foundation — Economic Impacts of Commercial Real Estate — measures the contribution to GDP, salaries and wages generated, and jobs supported by the development and operations of commercial real estate in the U.S.
Last month the Charlotte City Council voted 7-3 to reimpose penalties for individuals conducting certain inappropriate acts in public. Opponents attempted to couch the changes as an attack on the homeless community while supporters saw them as necessary for public safety for residents and visitors to Uptown businesses. The final version that was adopted included six of the initial eight ordinances and eliminated those dealing with unauthorized people in parking lots and loitering to engage in drug-related activity due to constitutional concerns raised by the City Attorney.
Charlotte City Council voted 7-3 in favor of reinstating local ordinances linked to disorderly conduct. Thank you to CRCBR members who sent emails to encourage Council Members to vote in favor – your voice was heard. The reinstatement of these ordinances is not only imperative for the safety and welfare of our families, employees, customers, and community members but also vital for sustaining the liveliness and prosperity of our city. As representatives of the business community, we stand together in support of measures that foster a secure and inclusive environment for all.
Yesterday was "First Monday," the day when Charlotte City Council holds its four regular committee meetings. After all the discussions, they gather together in the evening to give the Council a full review and discuss any other pertinent matters. Here are some highlights:
Originally published on January 30, 2024, by the Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition.
Thinking outside the box doesn’t aptly describe the way Douglas Welton, Chair of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Planning Commission, approaches the idea of change. For him, he doesn’t even see a box. He sees an open landscape of ideas, opinions, and solutions just waiting to be deconstructed and rebuilt into something new.
After a fun lighting round that opened some entertaining personal dialog, this episode went deep into the issues Charlotte faces today. With growth at the forefront, and policymakers searching for the best way to stay ahead of future problems, Douglas believes it will take more than just following old ideas to move us forward. It will take trust between policymakers and developers, and an atmosphere where everyone is free to ask, “why can't we do this a different way?”
NAIOP Charlotte, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, held its 2023 Annual Meeting: What the Future Holds on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at The Terrace at Cedar Hill, where we elected the 2024 Board of Directors.
We awarded the 2023 Award of Excellence to Dale Stewart, PE, partner at LandDesign. Dale gives time and energy to NAIOP Charlotte and humbly serves others in the community without concern for recognition or compensation. He champions the commercial real estate industry on a national, state, and/or local level and passionately seeks to be a change agent, even in the face of diversity.
The meeting concluded with insights from The Differentiators’ Jim Blaine as he provided a pulse on what’s going on at the federal, state, and local landscape levels and the potential impacts in North Carolina and Charlotte.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is bracedfor the impact of more than 900,000 travelers over Thanksgiving. To put that into context, it's nearly the population of the entire City of Charlotte. Here are a few more interesting facts:
For an interesting discussion about the airport as well as the activities of American Airlines, please take a few minutes to listen to the REBIC podcast with Tracy Montross, Regional Director of Government Affairs for American Airlines.
Originally published on October 23, 2023, by Pamela Jew for NAIOP.
High interest rates combined with persistent inflation have created the toughest commercial real estate financing environment since the Global Financial Crisis. Post-pandemic vacancies in commercial real estate and shifts to digital retail and work have added more considerations for prospective buyers and sellers.
At NAIOP’s CRE.Converge conference this week, experts discussed the current landscape of commercial real estate loans throughout different sectors, such as multifamily, retail and office spaces. Edward Griffin, CEO, Griffin Partners, Inc., moderated a conversation with Keith Honig, senior managing director and head of commercial mortgage Lending, Pacific Life Insurance Company; and Al Pontius, national director, office & industrial division, Marcus & Millichap.
To help illustrate the data, the speakers came equipped with charts to visualize the data from the past few years and the trends across industries and companies.
Community Area Plans provide community-level guidance for the built environment including land use, design, transportation, and open space within the city's 14 sub-geographies.
These plans complement the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan and are an important part of the city’s planning framework which ensures all planning efforts are aligned and aimed at implementing Charlotte’s vision for the future.
The Community Area Planning process includes five phases. The first four phases are scheduled to be completed from 2023 – 2024.
Get ready to celebrate with industry leaders! Celebrate CRCBR’s 30th year as one of the largest and most successful regional commercial real estate associations in the United States! We are serving great food, drinks, games, and live entertainment, with chances to win incredible door prizes. Band and festivities begin at 3:30pm. This event is open to members and non-members.
Event registration is open. Congratulate CRCBR or unleash business development opportunities with an event sponsorship! Questions, please email [email protected]
