As we say goodbye to 2021, New Jersey’s robust commercial real estate industry has a lot to look forward to in 2022. Whether it be the ever-increasing demand for new industrial space or the development of new and/or expanded tenant spaces as employees continue their return to the workplace, construction activity will likely continue to surge in 2022. Notwithstanding such, however, landlords and tenants must remain mindful that COVID-19 will continue to impact the commercial real estate industry next year and beyond.
Conditions on PILOT agreements: What developers, municipalities need to consider
As the Long Term Tax Exemption Law has become more widely used, local and state legislatures have increasingly sought to impose additional conditions on developers for receiving payment in lieu of taxes agreements, or PILOTs. But it is important for municipalities and developers to remember that these conditions are not without limit.
It’s here: Preparing for the upcoming recreational cannabis haze and craze
It is anticipated that state regulators will unveil the application process at any time within the next several weeks in order to commence the processing and issuance of recreational cannabis licenses in New Jersey. Thus, there is considerable excitement amongst real estate operators and potential cannabis businesses for the inevitable rapid and (likely) significant growth of the cannabis industry in New Jersey in the coming months and years. Notwithstanding such, as cannabis businesses will be highly regulated at both the state and local level (and remain illegal under federal law), it is critical that property owners and business owners fully evaluate the many regulatory, zoning, operational, and financing challenges associated with utilizing properties for cannabis uses.
The value of a pre-construction and development manager
Construction and development has time and time again proven to be an unpredictable environment. That is especially evident in today’s climate amidst the rollercoaster of material and labor costs, shifting demand of assets and challenges navigating political landscapes. For any novice or even seasoned property owner, this provides an extra layer of challenges when it comes to development. A proactive solution for owners to mitigate risk and explore additional value is to secure a strong Construction Manager.
Designing carbon neutral warehouses and last mile facilities
The phrase ‘Carbon Neutral’ is the latest climate-based trend we are seeing amongst some of the world’s largest companies, including Amazon, FedEx, Ford and many others. Becoming carbon neutral is the process of a building, or company, achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon neutrality is achieved by reducing carbon emissions or a combination of offsetting emissions where they would be generated elsewhere.
What you need to know today: the like-kind exchange strategy
A 1031 exchange (like-kind exchange) is one of the most significant tax advantages available to a real estate investor selling a property with large realized gains. By implementing this tax strategy, it is possible to defer tax payments on the sale of an investment property indefinitely. While like-kind exchanges are common, there are still many complexities to navigate. Given some of the proposed legislative changes put forth by the Biden administration and members of Congress, it may make sense to accelerate transactions into the 2021 tax year.
Autonomous vehicles will bring big changes to New Jersey real estate
As far back as 1957, advertisements in the nation’s leading magazines promised that, “one day, your car may speed along an electric super-highway, its speed and steering automatically controlled by electronic devices embedded in the road.” In the 64 years since then, there has been tremendous technological progress that makes this vision on the brink of becoming reality.
At long last, new development incentives on the horizon in New Jersey
The state’s newly created Aspire Program — the successor to the Economic Redevelopment and Growth (ERG) Grant Program — is an aggressive tax credit program designed to encourage redevelopment projects using incentive awards to reimburse developers for certain project financing gap costs. The Aspire Program includes incentives for the development of both commercial and residential projects.
As with its predecessor, developers must show that the project is in a qualified incentive area, that without the incentive award the redevelopment project is not economically feasible, and that a project financing gap exists. There are additional requirements based on the nature and overall scope of the project.
The Rock Brook Consulting Group: Pushing the limits of design
As we adapt to a new way of living and working amidst a global pandemic, the concept of adaptive reuse has been more attractive than ever. For commercial real estate, the strategy of repurposing empty, ubiquitous office space into profitable areas has been a game changer in reducing low occupancy rates and reviving development deals.
