Industrial developers and companies seeking logistics space are unlikely to face lasting damage from the coronavirus pandemic, experts say, but the market is still poised for major changes amid disruptions to supply chains and consumer spending habits.
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Go inside the latest monthly issue of Real Estate NJ, the only New Jersey-based magazine dedicated to commercial real estate in the Garden State.
The virus that is radically reshaping our world
My original plan for this Earth Day was to report on New Jersey’s sustainability challenge and how commercial real estate is adapting to natural, governmental and market forces. Given the magnitude and velocity of the COVID-19 disruption that is hourly reshaping our economy, industry and very existence, that plan quickly evaporated. Instead, this piece discusses the general impact of COVID-19 on our economy, and how CRE developers, owners, asset managers and affiliated professionals are meeting these challenges, assisting in relief efforts and informing government at all levels on how best to navigate their strategic response.
The domino effect: Without rental assistance, who’s left holding the bag?
When COVID-19 hit the United States, most Americans never imagined the impact it would have on daily life. As the virus spread, states like New Jersey started to implement policies to promote social distancing and to help those impacted by the economic fallout of the crisis, including policies such as an eviction moratorium. While such a policy addresses one specific immediate-term problem, it does not address the systemic need for rent revenue that supports an entire multifamily ecosystem, which is a critical component of New Jersey’s economy and significantly supports the State and municipalities through taxes. Without rental assistance and an understanding that rent is still due, multifamily jobs will be lost, private-sector financial obligations may not be met, utilities will not be paid and municipalities might see shortfalls due to the inability to pay property taxes. That is why we need a rental assistance program immediately.
Rutgers real estate program eyes new degrees, new investment as it looks to the future
With a foundation in place and support from many of the state’s top commercial real estate leaders, the Rutgers Center for Real Estate is now looking ahead to the next five years and beyond. The program’s leaders feel that further growth will hinge on expanding and fine-tuning the course offerings — such as creating a standalone real estate major and a master’s in real estate — while navigating the challenges of fundraising and scaling up to support their growing student population.
Moving forward in a time of uncertainty
Our world here in New Jersey has changed over the past two weeks and, for many of us, most dramatically over the past few days alone. We’re only just beginning to learn what it will be like to do our jobs and conduct business in the era of social distancing, and what this all means for the state’s commercial real estate sector will start to become clearer in the months ahead.
