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Charlotte Future 2040 Policy Map Survey

A special thanks to Elizabeth McMillan at Crescent Communities for sharing this information below.  Please pass along to your colleagues.

As a follow-up to the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan, the Charlotte Planning Department has moved into Part 2 of the implementation phase, the Charlotte Future 2040 Policy Map. This part of the process will translate the plan’s place-based policies to specific locations throughout the community.  The Planning Department has put out a survey to collect data and input from residents and professionals to help influence the Policy Map, which will help guide the UDO.

Please feel free to share this email with others in hopes that more of our voices can be heard.

Complete Survey

** The first page sets the stage for the previous work and gives an overview of the process, so may be helpful if you need a refresher.

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Important Government Affairs Update

Top 3 Items to Note:

  1. We are making significant progress on our efforts to identify and bring aboard a seasoned individual to provide additional eyes and ears on the ground in Iredell County and Cabarrus County.  More on that to come later this week.
  1. The City of Charlotte is seeking development/real estate representatives to serve on two advisory boards created by the passage of the policy section of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.  It is essential we engage qualified and knowledgeable individuals to fill these positions.  We have an incredible opportunity here and I could use your help.  (Deadline is Friday, August 27th, details follow)
Charlotte Equitable Development Commission
The Charlotte Equitable Development Commission was created with the adoption of the Future Charlotte 2040 Comprehensive Plan by City Council resolution on June 21, 2021. The Commission is charged with advising in the assessment of infrastructure throughout the city and recommending strategies that balance equitable investments in areas most in need, including areas with absent and insufficient facilities, areas growing fastest, and areas targeted for growth. The Commission will work with the Office of Strategy and Budget to provide input on the development of the city’s proposed Capital Investment Plan. The Commission will provide regular updates to the Budget and Effectiveness Council Committee and quarterly reports to the entire Council.  The committee will consist of individuals with significant backgrounds in community development and infrastructure assessments. Examples of preferred experience shall include consulting engineers in the project development business; attorneys specializing in development; developers; independent business representatives; construction contractors; bankers or insurance agents engaged in the financial aspect of development; representatives from homebuilder's association; homeowners or neighborhood association representatives.
9 Members (3 appointments by Mayor, 6 appointments by City Council), Term Length – 3 years, 1 term
 
Charlotte’s Neighborhood Equity and Stabilization Commission (Charlotte’s NEST)
The City of Charlotte needs to address displacement caused by gentrification in a comprehensive, broad, and systematic, intentional manner. The recently adopted 2040 Comprehensive Plan includes the establishment of the Charlotte Neighborhood Equity and Stabilization Commission (Charlotte’s NEST). The City currently has an adopted Affordable Housing Framework coupled with a number of neighborhood programs that are used to address gentrification. However, the City desires to engage the community in developing additional strategies to limit displacement. Therefore, the Charlotte Neighborhood Equity and Stabilization Commission is established for a 3-year period and is charged with reviewing and recommending specific anti-displacement strategies and specific tools for protecting residents of moderate to high vulnerability of displacement. The Commission will make regular reports to the Great Neighborhood Council Committee, quarterly reports to the entire Council and provide recommendations for combatting displacement prior to the implementation of the Plan.
15 Members (5 appointments by Mayor, 10 appointments by City Council) who shall be appointed according to the following criteria:
- 3 appointees - Housing Advocates (1 appointed by Mayor, 2 appointed by Council)
- 3 appointees - Neighborhood Leaders or Community Organizers (1 appointed by Mayor, 2 appointed by Council)
- 3 appointees - Involved in the Real Estate Development Industry as specified below:
- Non-Profit Affordable Housing Developer (1 appointment by the Mayor)
- For Profit Affordable Housing Developer (1 appointment by the Council)
- Market Rate Housing Developer (1 appointment by the Council)
- 2 appointees - Residents who have experienced or are experiencing displacement (1 appointed by Mayor, 1 appointed by Council)
- 1 Urban Studies and Planning Representative with experience in displacement and gentrification and implementing equitable inclusive development strategies (1 appointment by the Mayor)
- 1 Housing Finance Representative with experience in rental housing finance and homeownership and affordable and subsidized housing (1 appointment by the Council)
- 1 Land Use Representative with expertise and experience in historic preservation and landmarks, zoning, and development rights (1 appointment by the Council)
- 1 appointee - Neighborhood Conditions Representative with expertise and experience in economic development, health, racial/ethnic segregation, schools and education and crime (1 appointment by the Council)
Term Length – 3 years, 1 term
 

For more information on the new advisory boards, please visit: https://charlottenc.gov/CityClerk/Pages/BoardsandCommissions.aspx

 

  1. The next phases of CLT Future 2040 (mapping and UDO) are underway –
    • Alan and I had our second monthly meeting with Taiwo and Alyson last Thursday.  As a result of that meeting, REBIC will be putting together a small group of design professionals that will meet with planning staff every two weeks (for as long as necessary) beginning a few days prior to the public release of the UDO on October 4th.  These meetings will allow REBIC representatives to provide feedback and to receive an immediate response, much earlier in the process, on elements of the proposed ordinance that could be problematic if implemented  It also allows us to be a cheerleader for those things in the UDO that help streamline the process and reduce development time frames.
    • Brenda Hayden will be joining Alan and me for the monthly meetings beginning in September.
    • A brief presentation containing the projected schedule for mapping/UDO is here.
  • Due to recent and higher than anticipated COVID infection rates, the Government Center has been closed to the public for the time being.

A Few Spots Remain! Networking Social Next Tuesday – Register Now!

September Networking Social
A few spots left!
September 21 | 4:30pm – 6:00pm | Cordial

Next week’s social at SouthPark’s first rooftop bar is almost sold out! Enjoy some after-work beverages while catching up with friends and making new connections. This event is for NAIOP Charlotte members only. Limited space is available.

Thank You to Our Event Sponsor!

 

Registration

Registration is $15 & pre-registration is required. Onsite registration will not be available.



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Four Perspectives on the State of the CRE Economy

Originally published on September 1, 2021, by Marie Ruff for NAIOP News.

Commercial real estate professionals always seek to determine where markets stand now and what to expect for the future. That future is particularly uncertain today as we see the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

JLL Chief Economist Ryan Severino shared his economic analysis in a keynote address at NAIOP’s I.CON West this week in Long Beach, California. In his role at JLL, Severino is responsible for global and regional economic research, analysis and forecasting, as well as property market forecasting. He presented four perspectives on the economy ranging from the short-term to the industrial-specific.

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The Acceleration of E-commerce and the Modern Supply Chain

Originally published on September 1, 2021, by Kathryn Hamilton for NAIOP Newsletter.

The term “supply chain” was coined on June 4, 1982, when the Financial Times published an article that used it as a replacement for “production and inventory management.” Now a permanent part of our lexicon, looking back at just how the supply chain has grown and changed over four decades is how a panel of industry leaders began their presentation at NAIOP’s I.CON West, held this week in Long Beach, California.

“Take a walk back to the 1980s,” invited Rich Thompson, international director, supply chain & logistics solutions, Americas, JLL. “There were no laptops, no internet, no cell phones, and no Amazon. Catalog orders took around 14 days to arrive, and retail real estate was hot.”

Today, the supply chain is an increasingly popular field of study, Amazon is the second-largest employer in the U.S. and the third most valuable in terms of revenue, and online orders are delivered in two days – or less – at no change. Industrial is hot.

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Survey Shows Progress in Diversity Efforts in Real Estate Investment Management

Originally published for NAIOP's Development Magazine Summer 2021 Issue by Trey Barrineau.

However, a lot of work remains despite tangible advances in recent years.

Women and minorities have made some progress in reaching the C-suite in commercial real estate investment management firms during the past few years, but the 2021 NAREIM Diversity & Inclusion Survey shows that there is still a lot of work to do.

“Material, sustained changes will take time to show through in the data,” said Zoe Hughes, CEO of NAREIM, in a release. “But what is clear is that there is a mandate and momentum for DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) to be a priority within the real estate investment management industry.”

The survey, conducted by NAREIM and executive recruitment firm Ferguson Partners, reveals that the real estate investment management industry as a whole is mostly male and white. Men, who are 49.2% of the U.S. population according to the U.S. Census, comprise 60% of full-time employees in the real estate investment management, and non-Hispanic whites, who are 62.8% of the U.S. population, represent 73% of workers. (Blacks make up 6% of the industry, while Asians and Hispanics each represent 10% of CRE investment-management staffing.)

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House Ways and Means Committee Continues Markup as Senate Returns

Originally published on September 14, 2021, for NAIOP E-Newsletter.

The House Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Rep. Richie Neal (D-MA), will continue its committee markup this week of provisions to be included in the estimated $3.5 trillion reconciliation legislation to be considered by the House. The committee is conducting the markup remotely, as the full House is not scheduled to return until next week. The Senate returns this week, and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) has tasked Senate Democratic committee chairs with having their reconciliation bill language ready by Sept. 15.

 

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New Report: Industrial Space Demand Forecast

Industrial Space Demand Remains Strong 

Demand for industrial real estate continues to be strong as the long-term trend toward e-commerce (and away from in-store sales) continues with no end in sight. With nearly 100 million new square feet delivered nationally since the beginning of the year, 450 million square feet currently under construction and another 450 million planned, the demand for industrial real estate still outpaces supply.1

Because of this, authors Dr. Hany Guirguis and Dr. Michael Seiler forecast that the total net absorption in the second half of 2021 will be 162.6 million square feet with a quarterly average of 81.3 million square feet. In 2022, the projected net absorption is 334.6 million square feet with a quarterly average of 83.6 million square feet. An improvement in the outlook for the economy in 2021 and 2022 is behind the upward revision of the 2022 forecast. For example, the real GDP growth rate is now forecast to be 7% in 2021, above the previous forecast of 5% growth. As economic growth is projected to revert toward long-term growth rates in 2023, net absorption in the first half of the year is forecast to be 160.5 million square feet, for a quarterly average of 80.2 million square feet. 

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Transformative Lessons for Commercial Real Estate Leaders

Originally published on August 24, 2021, for NAIOP News.

Through his experience leading a turnaround as the former CEO of Prologis, Walt Rakowich realized leaders today must lean into timeless values and principles, but with a fresh perspective on the new and complex realities of our leadership climates. In a keynote address next week at I.CON West: The Industrial Conference, Rakowich will share advice on engaging your values and your organization with purpose and passion. Join the 700+ industrial real estate leaders planning to attend I.CON West next week in Long Beach.

 

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Networking Social on September 21 | Register Now!

September Networking Social
September 21 | 4:30pm – 6:00pm | Cordial

Network with NAIOP at SouthPark’s first rooftop bar! Enjoy some after-work beverages while catching up with friends and making new connections. This event is for NAIOP members only. Limited space is available. 

Thank You to Our Event Sponsor!

 

Registration

Registration is $15 & pre-registration is required.


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Two for Tuesday - 2040 Comp Plan Town Hall!

#1) 2040 Comprehensive Plan - Next Steps with Councilmembers Renee' Johnson and Victoria Watlington

The first draft of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is expected to be released to the public on or around October 4th. A recent presentation from Planning Staff to Charlotte’s Transportation, Planning, & Environment Committee contained the following:

  • 6-foot sidewalks everywhere (increased from the current 5-foot regulation) (pdf page 20)
  • All parking to rear or side of attached housing (pdf page 18)
  • Future right-of-way exactions (pdf page 20 & 21)
  • The developer provides bus shelters as a condition of approval (pdf page 20)             
  • Traffic Impact Studies (TIS) for all development even “by right” (pdf page 21)
  • “By right” infill may be subject to greater stormwater regulations and tree save (pdf page 22 and 23)
  • Greater tree save rules (pdf page 23) 

These provisions will add substantial costs and likely disincentivize future infill development. We will continue to track them through the process and voice our concerns regarding adverse consequences.

 

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State and Local Governments Receive Federal Recovery Funds Under Interim Rule

Originally published on August 18, 2021, by Toby Burke for NAIOP.

The federal government has provided additional support for state and local governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) into law on March 11, which established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. The new federal funds provide $350 billion to support state, local, territorial, and tribal governments in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and spurring economic growth. These federal funds are a windfall for some governments that did not experience a fiscal shortfall, particularly at the state level.

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Stairs on the Rise

Originally published by Shantala Weiss for NAIOP's Development Magazine.

Monumental stairs can inspire greater interaction, reduce energy costs, and improve employee health and fitness.

In the wake of COVID-19, workplaces are presented with a unique opportunity to shape corporate culture's future and use physical space to foster a sense of community and innovation that can’t be offered when working from home. Building elements that align with the goals of active, sustainable, and universal design have the potential to play a crucial role in post-pandemic commercial real estate. 

COVID-19 has challenged vertical transportation strategies in buildings, which have historically relied on elevators. Ongoing concerns about physical distancing and touching surfaces mean that people may be reluctant to use elevators.  A well-dimensioned stair offers enough space for people to ascend and descend simultaneously, giving occupants more room to move than a narrow fire escape or elevator.

“COVID-19 noticeably accelerated the trend of monumental stairs in offices and other commercial spaces,” said Jim Admiraal, executive vice president of sales and preconstruction at Synergi, a national stair design-led subcontractor. “We saw an immediate spike in design plans featuring stairs as a primary vertical mode of transport for major projects all over the U.S.”

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New Report: Industrial Space Demand Forecast

Originally published by Hany Guirguis, Ph.D., Manhattan College and Michael J. Seiler, DBA, William & Mary in August 2021

Industrial Space Demand Remains Strong 

Demand for industrial real estate continues to be strong as the long-term trend toward e-commerce (and away from in-store sales) continues with no end in sight. With nearly 100 million new square feet delivered nationally since the beginning of the year, 450 million square feet currently under construction, and another 450 million planned, the demand for industrial real estate still outpaces supply.1

Because of this, authors Dr. Hany Guirguis and Dr. Michael Seiler forecast that the total net absorption in the second half of 2021 will be 162.6 million square feet with a quarterly average of 81.3 million square feet. In 2022, the projected net absorption is 334.6 million square feet with a quarterly average of 83.6 million square feet. An improvement in the outlook for the economy in 2021 and 2022 is behind the upward revision of the 2022 forecast. For example, the real GDP growth rate is now forecast to be 7% in 2021, above the previous forecast of 5% growth. As economic growth is projected to revert toward long-term growth rates in 2023, net absorption in the first half of the year is forecast to be 160.5 million square feet, for a quarterly average of 80.2 million square feet. 

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Senate Passes Infrastructure Bill, Budget Resolution

Originally published on August 17, 2021 for NAIOP E-Newsletter.

The Senate last week passed the INVEST in America Act (H.R. 3684), a bipartisan infrastructure package that had been backed by the White House, by a vote of 69-30. The spirit of bipartisanship was short-lived, however, as Senate Democrats moved quickly to pass a $3.5 trillion budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 14) by a vote of 59-49, with all Republicans present voting in opposition. Adoption of a budget resolution is the first step in developing budget reconciliation legislation that could pass the Senate with a simple majority and not be subject to a Senate filibuster that would require 60 votes to overcome. Senate Democrats, who control 50 votes, can pass legislation since Vice President Kamala Harris casts the tie-breaking vote under the U.S. Constitution.

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Asset Managers Can Play a Key Role in Tenants' Return-to-workplace Plans

Originally published by Rob Naso for NAIOP Development Magazine Summer 2021 Issue

A new framework for mitigating disease in the office focuses on air quality, changing behaviors and building occupant trust.

The COVID-19 pandemic has redefined the role that office landlords play in creating safe, healthy work environments. While most office workers packed up their laptops and headed home to ride out the pandemic, building owners and property managers had to pivot quickly to elevate safety measures for the essential workers who remained, in an environment with fast-changing public health guidelines. Now, they face the next stage of recovery — ensuring tenants feel comfortable returning to the workplace as vaccination rates increase.

The landlords that return their buildings to thriving, active communities will be those that expand the definition of their role to also become socially-minded strategists charged with creating safe and healthy environments, setting the stage for tenants to safely return to the workplace. Positioned at the forefront of containing future outbreaks while enabling businesses to resume activity, the responsible asset manager has become the tenants’ partner in their return-to-workplace strategy.

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One Sponsorship Left for CRCBR/NAIOP Charlotte Fall Golf

One Tournament Sponsorship Opportunity Left!

There is one opportunity left to participate in CRCBR/NAIOP Charlotte’s annual golf tournament that will be held on September 27 at Carolina Golf Club!

Make plans to join us as the Longest Drive Contest (Female) sponsor to get your company name in front of developers and brokers and catch up with your industry peers at this fun and valuable event! This opportunity includes player registrations.

Sponsorship opportunities are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

At this time, player spots are only available through sponsorship of the tournament. 

To become a sponsor, click the button below and send the completed form to Sandy Hower at [email protected].

 
Become A Sponsor

 




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Upcycling: Reimagining Underutilized Commercial Space as Public Space

Originally published by Philip Wilkinson and Teresa Bucco for NAIOP Development Magazine Summer 2021 issue.

A project in Pittsburgh demonstrates the potential of activating common areas in older retail destinations.

For nearly two decades, online shopping has seen steady growth in both traffic and sales, which has forced traditional retailers to think of new ways to draw people into brick-and-mortar stores. In more recent years, shifts toward experiential retail saw many retailers overhauling store designs to give shoppers more hyperlocal, boutique or high-end encounters while encouraging online buying and in-store pickup. 

However, concepts such as Wal-Mart’s Neighborhood Market and Target’s City Target — launched to reach transit-oriented communities and supplement declining sales at traditional big-box locations — were often slow to catch on or showed mixed results, according to a 2019 Mashed article.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the decline of in-person buying. Digital Commerce 360 reports that total online spending in 2020 reached $861 billion, up 44% from 2019, accounting for 21.3% of total retail sales. Adobe’s Digital Economy Index shows that 2020 accelerated the typical year-over-year growth of e-commerce by four to six years. Conversely, sales from brick-and-mortar retailers fell an estimated 14%  to just $4.2 trillion in 2020, according to a June 2020 Insider Intelligence study. Due to the rise of e-commerce and the economic effects of the pandemic, it’s clear that commercial centers must evolve to become more than just shopping destinations.

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Get Involved in a City of Charlotte Stakeholder Group

The City of Charlotte is seeking applications for two community commissions. The application deadline has been extended to August 27, 2021.  Nominations will occur on September 13 and appointments will occur on September 27.  Below is more information on the opportunities. 

Charlotte Equitable Development Commission

The Charlotte Equitable Development Commission was created with the adoption of the Future Charlotte 2040 Comprehensive Plan by City Council resolution on June 21, 2021. The Commission is charged with advising in the assessment of infrastructure throughout the city and recommending strategies that balance equitable investments in areas most in need, including areas with absent and insufficient facilities, areas growing fastest, and areas targeted for growth. The Commission will work with the Office of Strategy and Budget to provide input on the development of the city’s proposed Capital Investment Plan. The Commission will provide regular updates to the Budget and Effectiveness Council Committee and quarterly reports to the entire Council.

The committee will consist of individuals with significant backgrounds in community development and infrastructure assessments. Examples of preferred experience shall include consulting engineers in the project development business; attorneys specializing in development; developers; independent business representatives; construction contractors; bankers or insurance agents engaged in the financial aspect of development; representatives from homebuilder's association; homeowners or neighborhood association representatives.

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Vote on Senate Infrastructure Bill Expected This Week

Originally published on August 3, 2021, for NAIOP E-Newsletter.

The bipartisan group of senators negotiating infrastructure legislation finalized legislative text over the weekend and officially introduced the measure Sunday night. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has stated he plans to hold a vote on the bill later this week.

Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) officially introduced the 2,702-page Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, emphasizing the bipartisan nature of both the process and the legislation. The bill includes $550 billion in new spending and provides more than $1 trillion in total spending on roads, bridges, ports, and broadband. The package also includes spending on Biden administration priorities, including electric vehicle charging stations, climate resilience, and water infrastructure.

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