Category Archives: Trends Conference

By Leslie Braunstein April 25, 2012 The Washington region, like the rest of the nation, continues to be plagued with transportation funding issues that are exacerbated by the myriad of jurisdictions involved in decision making, noted experts at the ULI Washington Trends conference. In the wake of the economic recession, local, state, and federal governments all are struggling to fund infrastructure needs. Meanwhile, these needs continue to grow as bridges and roads crumble, routine maintenance is deferred, and transit demand expands with growing urban populations.  New technologies and innovative funding … READ MORE

By Debbie Kaufmann April 18, 2012 Moderator: Janis Schiff, Partner, Holland & Knight Panelists: Grant Ehat, Principal, JBG Rosenfeld Michael Ewing, Principal, Williams Jackson Ewing David Schwarz, President & CEO, David M. Schwarz Architects This panel focused on the evolution of retail real estate and its progression over the past several decades from malls to urban centers; from large national chains to the rebirth of local, entrepreneurial retailers; from traditional shopping centers to entertainment areas that can fulfill multiple needs, such as shopping, dining, exercising, and working, all in the … READ MORE

By Anthony Balestrieri May 1, 2012 Moderator: Edward V. Gregorowicz, Jr., Principal, Avison Young Panelists: John Holloway, Director, OBMS, Transportation Security Administration, DHS Elaine Clancy, Director of Leasing, General Services Administration – NCR Bradley Provancha, Deputy Director, Facilities Services Directorate, Washington Headquarters Services This panel focused on the major influences and challenges facing the constantly shifting government real estate landscape.  Specifically with major cuts proposed in the Federal Government budget, agencies need to become more efficient and effective in their ownership and leasing of real estate assets. These changes have … READ MORE

By Alia Anderson April 25, 2012 General Paul Kern spoke about how changes at the Department of Defense and related to the federal budget may impact real estate and other businesses. General Kern discussed significant anticipated federal budget reductions and noted that sequestration will amplify these cuts. He also spoke about the changes that have occurred since September 11th related to increased security needs of federal projects and how these have changed the types of spaces that federal agencies and especially defense and security-related branches need.  General Kern shared the … READ MORE

By Vikki Kayne April 23, 2012 Panelists: Daniel Biederman, President, Bryant Park Corporation, NYC Caroline Cunningham, President, Trust for the National Mall Public Private Partnerships are key to a successful revitalization and activation of aging public park spaces.  Dan Biederman discussed the winning principles of developing the successful Bryant Park in New York City and stressed there does not need to be a sole reliance on public money.  Through revenue generating sponsorships and events, Bryant Park is a leading example of how public private partnerships can improve our cities.  Caroline … READ MORE

By Emily Washington April 25, 2012 The Trends panel “What’s Next? Meeting the Burgeoning Housing Demand” featured panelists Charles Hewlett of RCLCO, Matthew Biernbaum of AvalonBay Communities, Inc., and Brian (AJ) Jackson of EYA moderated by Lisa Sturtevant, of the George Mason University School of Public Policy Center for Regional Analysis. The panelists emphasized the large and growing number of people employed in the Washington region and the resulting need for new housing units. The Center for Regional Analysis predicts 1,000,000 new jobs will be available in the Metropolitan Statistical … READ MORE

By Leslie Braunstein April 27, 2012 “The structures that we design, build, lease, and sell are simply empty vessels into which we put economic activity,” said Craig Thomas, vice president of research for AvalonBay Communities, Inc., addressing the ULI Washington Real Estate Trends conference in Washington, D.C. on April 17. “To understand the performance of assets, you need to understand ‘the econosphere.’ ” “The Econosphere,” according to Thomas’s book of the same name, is a way of viewing the economy as a combination of traditional economic indicators and the social … READ MORE

By Leslie Braunstein April 27, 2012 Commercial real estate developers and owners in the national capital region and beyond have long counted on the Federal government’s need for leased and build-to-suit office space as a business mainstay. So have architects, construction firms, office equipment suppliers, and many others in the industry. But this reliable revenue stream is about to slow to a trickle, according to speakers at the ULI Washington Real Estate Trends conference on April 17. Speakers representing the Department of Defense (DoD), the General Services Administration (GSA), and … READ MORE

By Leslie Braunstein April 26, 2012 In an era of shrinking government budgets, public/private partnerships are becoming an increasingly popular way—and often the only way—to improve, maintain, and operate successful public parks and spaces. Two examples of this model, one well-established and the other just getting off the ground, were presented at the ULI Washington Real Estate Trends conference in the nation’s capital on April 17. Bryant Park, located in the heart of midtown Manhattan adjacent to the New York Public Library, is the country’s largest privately funded and operated … READ MORE

By Leslie Braunstein April 25, 2012 Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer opened the ULI Washington Real Estate Trends conference on April 17 by defending the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank). Spitzer, a Democrat, criticized Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for characterizing Dodd-Frank as “an encroachment on freedom” and for calling for its repeal. How will Dodd-Frank impact U.S. real estate markets? Not much, according to Spitzer, because it is being “whittled away piece by piece.” Spitzer told the ULI audience, “TBTF (‘too big to fail‘) … READ MORE