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CRE.Converge takeaways: Connectivity, technology and flexibility yield resilience

Over 1,000 of commercial real estate’s top owners, developers, investors and allied professionals gathered in Miami Beach last month for NAIOP’s CRE.Converge event to hear insightful discussions with industry thought leaders.

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Infrastructure investment: A winning strategy for resilience

We can likely all agree that modern and efficient infrastructure systems are a major factor in real estate development and investment decisions. Such strategic, long-term investments lead to increased opportunities for commercial real estate development and result in stronger job creation and economic growth for our communities.

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CRE sentiment rises, but weighed down by construction cost challenges

Improving economic conditions have led to an improvement in the NAIOP CRE Sentiment Index, indicating both overall optimism and several ongoing concerns. However, respondents are now more pessimistic about construction costs than in any prior survey, and most expect construction labor costs to increase.

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The future of office work has arrived

The economic rebound is fueling job growth in office-using sectors, which comes as the state lifts requirements that employers accommodate telework arrangements. Now that the future has arrived, I am sure that all employers would agree that employees are the most critical resource for success. Striking the right balance for the new workplace will likely be case-sensitive, and will no doubt take some time and a great deal of patience.

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Geopolitics and demographics impact commercial real estate in our region

Our state is making headlines these days in a number of good ways. One contributing factor is certainly geopolitics, the study of how place matters. While this term is more often used to describe countries and explain the origin and source of their wealth, culture and military strategy, we can also see how this applies at the state level.

Got a feeling ’21 is (going to) be a good year

As we seem to be nearing the final stages of the global pandemic with more people getting vaccinated, federal stimulus monies pouring into our state and a new federal administration that is much more friendly to New Jersey, many of us are feeling that 2021 is going to be a good year.

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Regional mindset, new recipe needed to keep our talent and project pipeline flowing

It’s high time that New Jersey’s local officials start doing things differently and placing a higher priority on talent attraction, collaborative regional (not parochial) planning and being on the same page. Economic development experts from outside the state seemed to concur at NAIOP New Jersey’s recent Annual Meeting and Commercial Real Estate Outlook.

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Survival skills honed in 2020 lead to a better-prepared 2021

As Charlie Chaplin said in the last century, “Nothing is forever in this world, not even our problems.” That is, unless you don’t learn from your mistakes and continue to do things the same way. The days are numbered for any business, organization or government agency (without a rainy day fund) that doesn’t adjust, right-size their operation and get prepared for the next disruption that’s just around the corner.

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Giving is for all of us – government, too

Never has there been a more appropriate time to be charitable and share what you have with those in need. As our businesses continue to suffer the effects of the pandemic, more and more workers will be impacted.

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Jersey’s comeback must be sustainable, reflective of migrations and crises

In a year of headlines dominated by the pandemic, financial crisis, racial justice movement and climate change-induced natural disasters, a new report can help local, policymakers understand the challenges we must face and the emerging opportunities we cannot afford to squander.