As we wind down the year, we’re excited to bring you a recap of our top stories of 2018, including our most-read items and a few editor’s picks. You can catch up on our daily “best of” emails below. We will also keep you updated in the event of any breaking news.
Current Issue
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.
Washington preps for divided government in 2019: New Jersey may benefit
A newly elected Congress returns in January with Republicans enjoying a slightly expanded majority in the Senate and Democrats taking charge of the House of Representatives for the first time since 2010. I believe that the shift of power in the House to a Democratic majority has opened some opportunities for those of us in New Jersey commercial real estate.
Developers, state officials face dual task with Opportunity Zone projects
Amid the rollout of the new federal Opportunity Zone program, developers and public officials are trying to balance two key objectives: Identifying shovel-ready projects — allowing investors to maximize the tax benefits of the law — and steering capital to low-income areas that weren’t already attracting investment and may have higher barriers to entry. The state believes it can check both boxes with the right coordination and by layering in the subsidies that have helped revitalize many of New Jersey’s cities and downtowns.
A white knight for Whitehouse Station
For all the buzz around walkable, urban submarkets and higher-density workplaces, our readers have never lost interest in the fate of the Merck property in Whitehouse Station. I was reminded of that on Jan. 3, when a story about a potential buyer for the complex quickly became the most-read item we’ve ever had on RE-NJ.com.
A new twist on mixed-use
As you’ll read in this month’s cover story, a joint venture is banking on health care as a key ingredient in a long-awaited, mixed-use project in Gloucester County. Consider that the 35-acre development, known as Washington Square Town Center, includes a 40,000-square-foot medical office building as a way to balance the amount of retail on the site. The plan also calls for a 110-bed assisted living facility, which will provide the tax revenue that might otherwise come from a more traditional commercial use.
