The Changing Retail Landscape

At the close of 2012, many feared the United States would fall off the so-called “fiscal cliff” — the combination of scheduled tax increases, deep mandated across-the-board federal budget cuts (known as “sequestration”), and expiration of numerous tax provisions which, if occurring at once, could have caused another recession.      

In March 2012, Massachusetts launched a first-in-the-nation effort to systematically reform our public rule-making process and the way our state views government regulation and its impact on our economy.      

An architect and developer team up to meet the environmental goals of the Coca-Cola Company in building a green distribution center; the role of NAIOP in creating LEED credits for warehouse and distribution centers.      

Amazon.com teams with Vulcan Real Estate to build an urban office campus, enhancing the resurgence of a downtown neighborhood.      

The site of a former drive-in theater in the Boston suburbs is transformed into an open-air lifestyle center with entertainment venues, a diverse tenant mix and an urban retail feel.      

Too expensive to return to their place of origin, used shipping containers pile up by the thousands at ports in the United States. The abundance and relative cheapness of these containers comes from the deficit in manufactured goods departing from North America. So what can be done with used containers that have reached their final destination?      

Owners and operators of historic buildings are finding ways to improve building performance while still preserving the unique physical characteristics of their landmark structures. Adopting high-performance building technologies can improve energy efficiency, reduce operating costs and provide a healthier and more comfortable place for people to live and work.      

The term LED is an abbreviation for light-emitting diode, a semiconductor that emits light. Light fixtures that contain LEDs are available for most common commercial building lighting applications today, although LED product lines are less extensive than traditional lighting products.      

Tenants in need of secure climate controlled space at affordable rates have another option to explore — if they’re willing to go underground.      

Developers and owners need a thoughtful and strategic marketing approach to attract tenants to a new project. However, if that strategy does not include at least four powerhouse tech tools, they could be missing some prospects, according to Rob MacLeod, president, Neoscape, a marketing firm with offices in Boston and New York.      

Many law firms have been slower than their corporate brethren to adopt innovative techniques for maximizing office space at the lowest cost. Due to a more competitive law firm environment, and the desire to use money spent on office space elsewhere in the firm, change is coming to even the most traditional organizations.      

The economic development authorities listed in this annual guide can help you attract businesses to your area and to your developments.      

Despite signs of life with residential, industrial and office properties, retailers continue to struggle. Experts share their observations about the decline of middle ground retailers, the impact of e-commerce, the fate of malls and trends in shopping.      

Over the past three years, Jack Schultz has spent a great deal of time researching the innovative group we call Millennial Entrepreneurs. These young people are proving to be one of the most powerful economic development drivers he has ever seen.      

Ask a professional in any industry and they will tell you that one of the keys to a successful career is constant improvement and continuing education.      

If you were caught off guard by Superstorm Sandy or a plethora of other natural calamities in recent years, you might be struggling to put your business back together. The loss of desks, chairs, and even the building that houses your business, could be minor compared to the loss of company data.      

Telecommuting continues to grow in the United States with management-level personnel accounting for much of the gain, according to statistics compiled by the Telework Research Network. The biggest barrier to telecommuting is management fear and mistrust.      

Industrial development is coming back strongly thanks to a convergence of trends that could set the stage for significant inland port development, according to reports by Jones Lang LaSalle and Colliers International.      

Graphs showing retailers with the highest retail sales-per-square-foot in 2012, eight years of holiday season online sales; and annual sales and compound annual growth rates by retail format.      

Defined by the Federal Reserve Board as institutions with $10 billion or less in total assets, community banks can be a potent source of financing because of their local roots and knowledge, flexibility and commitment to their communities.      

As part of a bankruptcy, a city can assume or reject “executory contracts” — contracts under which material performance obligations remain such that a breach by a party would entitle the other party to terminate. However, if an executory contract is rejected by a city, the developer has no ability to enforce its terms and conditions.      

Could much of the pain experienced in the aftermath of the worst global financial crisis since the Great Depression in the United States have been avoided by following the tenets of Canada’s foremost real estate professionals?      

What does the next generation of commercial real estate leaders think is important to the industry and what does it envision for the future?      

Lauralee E. Martin, formerly chief operating and financial officer for Jones Lang LaSalle, was promoted to CEO, Americas, effective January 1, 2013. Recently, Martin spoke with Development magazine about her new position as CEO, plans for the company and her views on the industry going forward in today’s challenging environment.      

The beginning of each year brings new optimism and a resolve to keep one step ahead of the curve. Gene Reilly is pleased to share that NAIOP is entering 2013 with these things in mind.      

Comments from the December 2012 Webinar on Foreign Trade Zones.