Originally published on November 9, 2020, by Tom Acitelli for the Commercial Observer.

The incoming Biden administration‘s decisions on a range of issues could impact the commercial real estate market and industry directly. Here are the four areas to watch as the former vice president transitions to the presidency this winter.

The pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic is by far the biggest challenge that commercial real estate faces. The virus has emptied offices and hotels; caused a spike in loan delinquencies and a drop in real estate investment trusts’ stock performances; tanked leasing and sales; and banged perhaps the loudest death knell yet for brick-and-mortar retail. Until the coronavirus is under control, industry analysts, owners and brokers say a return to (a new) normalcy in the market and the industry is out of the question.

President-elect Biden is vowing a much more direct federal attack on the virus. President Trump in the closing days of his campaign said repeatedly that the nation was “rounding the turn” on the pandemic. The country has instead recorded more than 90,000 new coronavirus cases a day since Nov. 4, the highest figures of the pandemic.

Read More

Originally published by Marc Stiles on November 5, 2020, for Puget Sound Business Journal 

The tech-fueled evolution of industrial real estate is creating opportunities for underused assets, large and small. The possibilities seem almost endless.

Read More.

Originally published on October 12, 2020 in NAIOP News.

2021 Sponsorship Opportunities Available!

The Cornerstone Sponsorship program was created to support and enrich our chapter, while offering professionals and organizations an opportunity to participate in, and get more out of, our chapter activities and services.

The program is an excellent way to gain visibility while supporting the commercial real estate development industry in Charlotte. Sponsors are allowed to customize benefits based on the exposure you desire. Learn more or commit today by clicking on the button below.

2021 Sponsorship Opportunities

Questions
If you have questions, please contact the NAIOP Charlotte office at [email protected].

Originally published in NAIOP's Development Magazine Fall 2020 Issue by Ray Kimsey. 

COVID-19 could spur greater interest in transforming suburban office parks into mixed-use developments.

Suburban office parks were already experiencing a renaissance in the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic. A combination of rising commercial and residential rental rates in urban core areas and the desire of millennial workers to reduce their commutes had led real estate developers to transform older office parks into competitive properties by offering the right mix of uses and amenities.

The pandemic, which may have effectively reset corporate America’s work/life balance equation, has given new impetus to this strategy. Nearly a third of Americans are considering moving to less densely populated areas in the wake of the pandemic, according to recent data from a Harris Poll conducted among 2,050 U.S. adults from April 25-27. This could significantly impact the attitudes of both office tenants and residential buyers regarding location and amenities. It would also be happening as futurists predict a “new normal” following the pandemic where remote working could become more accepted. In addition, even when restrictions are lifted, there will be an emphasis on outdoor amenities that support social distancing. 

As commercial real estate leaders plan for the future, many are evaluating changing user preferences and are looking for creative solutions to meet the needs of changing demographic preferences. Here are some insights into reimagining aging office parks by realigning space and tenant engagement strategies through the introduction of residential and mixed-use elements.

Click Here to Read More

Originally published on November 10, 2020, by NAIOP Source Weekly E-News.

Is your 2021 salary and bonus package competitive? Find out with the 2020 NAIOP/CEL Commercial Real Estate Compensation and Benefits Reports.

These valuable reports enable commercial real estate businesses to stay current on salaries, bonuses, and benefits for CRE professionals from executives to entry-level positions.

The reports include:

Originally published on November 10, 2020 by NAIOP Source Weekly E-News.

NAIOP and Prologis continue their partnership to provide a program scholarship to up to 20 individuals, helping prepare a pipeline of women and minorities for development and operations positions in commercial real estate.

Women or other underrepresented minorities who are demonstrating leadership and responsibility in the CRE profession are invited to apply for this program that will advance your industry knowledge and connect you with leaders across North America.

Applications for the scholarship are accepted online. The deadline to apply is December 28, 2020.

Click Here to Learn More

Join NAIOP Charlotte on Monday, November 16th at 12:00 PM EDT for our next Lunch with a Leader. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan and the Unified Development Ordinance(UDO) is a critical policy for the way commercial real estate develops in the future. Get exclusive insights into the 2040 Plan and UDO during this webinar and learn how it will impact commercial real estate developments moving forward.

Our Leader

Alyson Craig
Deputy Planning Director
City of Charlotte
Alyson Craig is the Deputy Planning Director for the City of Charlotte’s Planning, Design, and Development Department. She provides oversight to two of the Department’s divisions, Land Development and Entitlement Services (Rezoning/UDO), our HR and budget operations, and serves as a backup to the Planning Director. Learn more.

Registration
This event is offered to NAIOP Charlotte members only at no charge. Prior registration is required. Zoom login information will be sent two (2) hours prior to the event.

Click Here to Register

Resources
View the draft Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan HERE.
View the Tree Canopy Action Plan HERE.
View information about the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) HERE.
Provide feedback to REBIC for representation HERE.
Provide feedback directly to the City on the plan HERE.

Originally published on Monday, November 2, 2020, by the Real Estate & Building Industry Coalition. 

REBIC is seeking feedback from its members on the recently released City of Charlotte 2040 Plan, Tree Canopy Action Plan, and forthcoming Unified Development Ordinance.

• Charlotte 2040 Plan
• Tree Canopy Action Plan
• Charlotte UDO

Please take some time to let us know what feedback you have on these plans, and whether you are interested in being involved in our advocacy efforts moving forward.

Take the Survey

Achieve your goals in 2021 and beyond with NAIOP alongside you. Enjoy continued access to our robust resources, strong network, and exceptional education. We are always here for you – through the ups and downs of the industry, and at every stage of your career. Renew your membership now to stay engaged with this powerful association.

Renew Your Membership

Originally published by Ken Simonson in NAIOP's Fall 2020 Issue.

The outlook remains hazy as COVID-19's broad impacts disrupt the country.

After more than six months of pandemic-related turmoil, there is no sign that the outlook is getting clearer for construction spending, labor, or materials cost and deliveries. Additionally, the back-pedaling in states that had reopened has made the uncertainty about the future even greater.

Like many sectors, construction experienced enormous upheavals in the spring. After employment reached a 13-year high of 7.6 million in February, the industry lost more than 1 million jobs during the next two months. The industry added back 611,000 jobs in May and June as construction firms made rapid use of Paycheck Protection Program loans to recall furloughed workers and restart projects in states and cities that ended shutdown orders. Despite the rebound, total construction employment in mid-June (the monthly employment counts are based on the payroll period covering the 12th of each month) was nearly half a million jobs shy of the February level.

Click Here to Read More

Negotiations on an economic stimulus bill remain at an impasse a week before the November U.S. presidential election, with both sides blaming the other for the lack of agreement. While saying in television interviews over the weekend that “I never give up hope,” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s comments made clear that Congress is still not close to agreement on a variety of issues. “They keep moving the goalposts. Every time they say we move the goalposts, that means they’re projecting what they did,” Pelosi went on to say. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows made a similar accusation in an earlier interview.

Click Here to Read More

Advocacy matters. Whether it’s an election year or not, it’s always important to have the interests of commercial real estate represented on federal, local, and provincial levels. Renew with NAIOP today for 2021 to ensure your voice is being heard: 

Renew Your Membership

Join us on November 16th for this lunch with a leader, get an exclusive overview of the recommendations in the Comprehensive Plan and the Unified Development Ordinance and how it will impact the future of commercial real estate development. This is a critical policy for the way commercial real estate develops in the future. You are invited to submit questions in advance here.

Also, the City of Charlotte will unveil its draft Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan and host a screening of “Back to the Future” at a drive-in community meeting on Saturday, October 31. Register to attend here.

Our Leader

Alyson Craig
Deputy Planning Director
City of Charlotte
Alyson Craig is the Deputy Planning Director for the City of Charlotte’s Planning, Design, and Development Department. She provides oversight to two of the Department’s divisions, Land Development and Entitlement Services (Rezoning/UDO), our HR and budget operations, and serves as a backup to the Planning Director. Learn more.

Registration
This event is offered to NAIOP Charlotte members only at no charge. Prior registration is required. Zoom login information will be sent two (2) hours prior to the event.

Click Here to Register

NAIOP continues to get new members this year as we navigate the current crisis. Why? Commercial real estate professionals know that more than ever, NAIOP Charlotte is what they need to stay competitive during challenging times. #NAIOPcharlotte

Renew Now for 2021

Originally published on October 19, 2020 by Sanjay Rishi for NAIOP.

As the greatest work-from-home experiment ever continues, many companies are starting to think beyond how and when their workforce will return to the office and tackling a much broader issue: what role the office will play in their corporate strategy going forward.

The past six months have proven that many tasks – and in some cases complete roles and organizations – can be done virtually with little negative impact on productivity and job satisfaction. Yet, employees overwhelmingly want to return to the office, at least in some capacity. A work from home study conducted by Gensler from April to May indicated that, although most people (70%) want to return to the office for the majority of their week, 30% want a flexible work arrangement.

The role of the office in the future will vary from company to company, based on their unique culture and trends within their broader industry, but employee sentiment points to the office retaining its standing as a key driver of culture and magnet for in-demand talent. However, the shift to remote work will have wide-ranging implications, including where offices are located, how they are designed, who utilizes them and when they are occupied.

Click Here to Read More

Originally published on October 16, 2020, for NAIOP Research Foundation.

NAIOP Research Foundation | October 2020 Update

Hear about the latest work of the NAIOP Research Foundation and meet its new governors. 

Click Here to Watch Video

Originally published by Trey Barrineau, Daniel Levison, Turner Levison for NAIOP 2020 Issue. 

COVID-19 is forcing the industry to embrace teleworking and a wide array of digital tools.

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a great deal of uncertainty into the commercial real estate industry. It has also forced CRE companies to come up with solutions to keep operations running when it’s not feasible for everyone to be in the office. That includes adopting new technologies and embracing remote work.

“I think there will be lots of new investments in collaborative technology to enhance the growth in working remotely,” said Gregory May, executive vice president and West Region market leader for Newmark Knight Frank, during a NAIOP webinar this spring. “As brokers, we’re used to working remotely. About 90% of our day is out of the office or in our cars. I think it’s something that’s here to stay.”

Originally published by Steve Weikal and James Robert Scott in October 2020 for NAIOP Research Foundation.

The rapid expansion of e-commerce sales has spurred demand for industrial real estate, including for large regional distribution centers and small fulfillment centers located in urban and suburban areas. The acceleration of delivery timelines has also reshaped industrial building interiors, as online retailers and third-party logistics firms have made substantial investments in new technologies such as collaborative robots and automated storage and retrieval systems. In addition to increasing the productivity and profitability of industrial assets, new technologies are also allowing retailers and building owners to add distribution uses to existing retail properties.

Click Here to Read More

Originally published by Dan Spiegel for Commercial Property Executive on October 9, 2020. 

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated trends in our work and home lives that were already underway. For many office workers, employers that previously embraced some workplace flexibility, permitting employees to work from home on occasion, are now experimenting with full-time flexible models and rethinking the physical workplace.

Similarly, the migration from in-store to online sales—that was already trending for office supplies and shoes—now includes an increasing percentage of online sales of groceries, home furnishings, and many other consumer goods. Beyond online shopping, COVID-19 is accelerating retail trends regarding the customer experience and use of space. 

Click Here to Read More