The look, feel and function of the post-pandemic workplace is still uncertain, but a technology firm’s recent expansion in Jersey City is a reminder of why companies will still need office space going forward.
On the money
I’ve spent a decade watching Devco tackle some of the state’s largest, most ambitious redevelopment projects with complex capital stacks and broad coalitions of stakeholders. It’s a topic that we feature in this month’s cover story, which follows a year in which the organization broke ground on more than $1.5 billion worth of development. That makes it all the more timely for us to highlight an operation that is seemingly unlike any other developer in New Jersey.
Third-party inspectors would solve shrinkage of public employees
As of this writing, legislation to facilitate the timely review and inspection of construction activities, which have been on the rebound now that the worst of the pandemic is behind us, is awaiting Gov. Phil Murphy’s signature. We need the third-party option because the number of public-sector inspectors has substantially diminished over the last 10 years and will continue to do so.
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.
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.