I’ll admit it: The prospect of writing about technical, complex environmental policy can be daunting and frustrating. Especially when it’s not your everyday beat. But there’s no getting around the importance of one policy in particular, at least when it comes to the future of New Jersey commercial real estate. If you polled a group of developers and service providers, many would tell you that the state’s Licensed Site Remediation Professional program has been critical, helping to unlock new opportunities at formerly contaminated sites and adding to the momentum of red-hot product types like industrial and multifamily. Some might find it hard to believe that next May will mark a decade since the program was born under the landmark Site Remediation Reform Act. But with that milestone fast approaching, the LSRP system is getting a fresh look from policymakers and stakeholders.
NAIOP panel: Building trends pointing toward employee health, ecofriendly design
Amenities, collaboration space and access to transportation will all remain important in the office sector, experts say, but those features must be increasingly focused on wellness, sustainability and energy savings. That’s not to mention diversity and the ability for employees to choose how they work.
Growing fiscal problems demand action
Business as usual is just not possible anymore. New Jersey’s underperforming economy, bloated public sector spending and rising cost of living, along with Congress’s decision to reduce the state and local tax deduction, are forcing our collective hands to do better. There is no better place to start than at home in our local municipalities and school districts, where consolidations and sharing of services can produce both real financial savings and better outcomes. Simultaneously, state and county governments need to do likewise. Taxpaying businesses and residents deserve accountability, and this may require audits of how and where every dollar of taxpayer money is being spent.
DEP plans new and improved online permitting system, commissioner tells NAIOP
The Department of Environmental Protection is taking a page out of the TurboTax playbook — at least when it comes to permitting for land use and other areas — with plans to roll out a new electronic submission system for more than 100 permit activities in its ongoing effort to streamline New Jersey’s regulatory structure.
Logistics, workforce could help Jersey weather next downturn
With the incredible growth of this sector in recent years, could logistics help make New Jersey cliff-proof? I think so, but only if we take steps to address serious workforce challenges, especially those related to affordability and accessible transportation. With the increasing likelihood of a recession in 2020, we need to act now. The importance of the port region to New Jersey’s economy cannot be overstated, and continued investment is critical. We also need to solve the “last mile” conundrum that presents transportation and lifestyle challenges.