Recent Articles

• In Brief: U.S. Construction Reaches Cyclical High in Q3 2016

  December 22, 2016

  According to a report by JLL, U.S. construction spending reached $317 billion in the third quarter, a one percent growth increase year-over-year, compared to 7-10 percent increases for the same quarter in previous years. “The construction industry is cyclical and a national slowdown is to be expected,” said Todd Burns, JLL president, project and development services.

• Seattle to Host ULI’s 2017 Spring Meeting

  December 21, 2016

  ULI will hold its 2017 Spring Meeting May 2–4 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. A major focus for the 2017 gathering will be innovative development resulting from the influence of the technology industry, which is transforming cities across the United States. The Seattle urban region, which is the headquarters for Microsoft, Amazon, and a host of other major technology-related companies, is a prime example of this urban evolution.

• Opportunities in the Year Ahead for China

  December 21, 2016

  Though next year could be a tough one for investors in Chinese real estate, the country’s economy is also more entwined with that of the rest of the world than ever before, speakers said at the 2016 ULI China Mainland Winter Meeting in Shanghai.

• How U.S. Communities Are Adapting to Climate Change

  December 21, 2016

  Taking the necessary steps to prepare for climate change—and the extreme weather events that go along with it—can be a daunting task. A new report includes separate case studies of distinct adaptation actions from a diverse group of 17 communities across the nation from Boston to El Paso, Texas.

• Remembering Mayor William H. Hudnut III

  December 19, 2016

  Former Indianapolis Mayor William H. Hudnut III, who served as a ULI senior resident fellow and the ULI/Joseph C. Canizaro Chair for Public Policy from 1996 to 2009, passed away on December 18 after a lengthy illness. He was 84.

• Access to Public Spaces, Waterfront Locations Driving Healthy Luxury Condo Market in South Florida

  December 19, 2016

  Amid reports that U.S. luxury condo sales are slowing, many developers and real estate speculators are wondering whether Miami is perched on the edge of another recession. Or will it remain one of the world’s strongest condo markets?

• Urban Land’s Most Popular Articles for 2016

  December 19, 2016

  As we close the books on the year, we wanted to look back on the topics that resonated with the readers of Urban Land Online in the past year. Here are the top five most popular articles from 2016.

• Industrial REITs on the Nice List, Continue Strong Performance

  December 19, 2016

  Industrial real estate investment trusts recently hit their second-highest year-to-date return for 2016 at 24.98 percent. While industry professionals have raised concerns that supply and demand issues may plague the next 12 to 24 months, the industrial sector has been noticeably active as it has posted high aggregate occupancy and low delinquency rates. Plus, interest rate survey data from Trepp.

• Global Award for Excellence: St. Joseph’s Campus (Oakland, California)

  December 19, 2016

  Located in the heart of Oakland’s Fruitvale District, the St. Joseph’s Campus comprises the historic St. Joseph’s Senior Apartments and Terraza Palmera at St. Joseph’s, which together form a multigenerational, mixed-use campus.

• The Growing Need for Senior Housing in China

  December 19, 2016

  Though still in its infancy, the senior housing market in China has attracted the interest of major domestic institutions and foreign players alike. However, Chinese retirees’ requirements are subtly different from those of U.S. seniors, said delegates at the recent ULI Chinese Mainland Winter Meeting, held in Shanghai.

• In Brief: U.S. Renters Have Higher Credit Scores, More Access to Debt

  December 15, 2016

  According to a report from American credit bureau TransUnion, U.S. renters, as a group, are getting older, but they also have better credit scores and greater access to debt than previously.

• A Tax Credit Turns 30

  December 13, 2016

  The low-income housing tax credit has helped house millions, and it remains a vital driver of development. The 30-year track record of the LIHTC offers compelling evidence that affordable housing is good business, a stable asset class, and a strong driver of economic activity and neighborhood improvement.

• Treasury Yields Weigh on REIT Returns in November

  December 12, 2016

  As the year winds down, returns on real estate investments trusts have continued to slump as gains in interest rates put downward pressure on the sector. According to the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), the total returns for the FTSE/NAREIT All REIT Index dropped 2 percent in November while the Standard & Poor’s 500 gained 3.7 percent. Plus, interest rate survey data from Trepp.

• The Tenant Energy Revolution Starts Here

  December 12, 2016

  The ULI Tenant Energy Optimization Program may revolutionize the design of office space by turning energy efficiency into a way to generate economic returns. Here’s what it could take to make it the new real estate industry standard.

• Building the Case for Tall Wood Buildings

  December 12, 2016

  Taller buildings constructed mainly of wood are an inexpensive, attractive, and environmentally friendly option, but current building codes in the United States make them hard to build, said panelists at a U.S. National Building Museum event.

• Nov/Dec Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download

  December 12, 2016

  Take a full copy of Urban Land along on your tablet! The latest issue of the magazine is now available for download through the Urban Land app. Top stories: Introducing this year’s Urban Land 40 under 40; “Global Capital: Outlook for 2017;” and “Energy & Resilience: Practical Ways to Boost Return.”

• Canada: Five Cities Poised for Growth in 2017

  December 9, 2016

  Despite the perennial speculations of a housing market crash, there is room for growth in the Canadian real estate market, according to Emerging Trends in Real Estate ®, as investors are moving east and toward more mixed-use developments. Canada seems poised for a year of stability regardless of concerns about a possible pullback in the Vancouver and Toronto housing markets.

• Capitalizing on TOD

  December 8, 2016

  As the Denver metropolitan area has topped 3 million residents, potentially accelerating toward 4 million, a sustainable land use template for future mobility and economic, social, and environmental health is emerging within the framework of the 122-mile (196 km) FasTracks rail and bus rapid transit network, which includes expansion with five new transit lines this year. A ULI Colorado event in early November attracted participants from Colorado and beyond to tour various transit-oriented development sites and hear about lessons learned and future trends.

• Global Awards for Excellence: Denver Union Station

  December 8, 2016

  By connecting the Denver metropolitan area with the rest of Colorado—and the world—through multiple modes of transportation, Denver Union Station has transformed a vacant neighborhood and created a global touchstone for large-scale mixed-use projects.

• In Print: Slum Health: From the Cell to the Street

  December 8, 2016

  In Slum Health, University of California, Berkeley, professors Jason Corburn and Lee Riley show that poor health in slums cannot be addressed separately from the social conditions that bring it about.