Author: Brett Widness

Brett Widness is the online editor of Urban Land. Previously, he worked in online editorial at the Washington Post, AARP, and AOL, now part of Verizon Media.

Articles by Brett Widness

• In Brief: 23 Billion-Dollar U.S. Disasters and Counting in 2023
  Published on September 13, 2023 in Sustainability
  According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, there have been 23 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect United States in 2023.
• Audio Files: Discussing 15-Minute Cities
  Published on August 28, 2023 in Economy, Market & Trends
  ULI visiting fellow Yvonne Yeung, who authored Building 15-Minute Communities: A Leadership Guide, recently appeared on the Talking Headways podcast. She chatted about how the guide can help create good development that reduces the need to drive, and supports  climate emissions reduction goals.
• Celebrating ULI Visionaries: Jeanne Gang
  Published on July 14, 2023 in Planning & Design
  In September 2022, ULI honored architect Jeanne Gang with the ULI Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development. Gang is the founding principal and partner of Studio Gang, an architecture and urban design practice based in Chicago, with offices in New York City, San Francisco, and Paris.
• Summer 2023 Issue of Urban Land
  Published on July 14, 2023 in Inside ULI
  The Summer 2023 issue of Urban Land is now available for ULI members. The cover topic is “Design for Net Zero: Taking a holistic approach to sustainable development.”
• Using the Tactics for Disruption in Turbulent Times
  Published on May 19, 2023 in Economy, Market & Trends
  It could take 10 years for the world to settle into a “new normal” after the global COVID-19 pandemic, innovation expert Jeremy Gutsche said in his closing keynote at the 2023 ULI Spring Meeting in Toronto.
• Pippa Malmgren: Focusing on the Future while Navigating the Present
  Published on May 16, 2023 in Economy, Market & Trends
  During the Opening General Session of the 2023 ULI Spring Meeting in Toronto, Dr. Pippa Malmgren looked at global economics, geopolitics, and the future.
• Inspired to Lead: ULI’s Global Leaders Welcome Industry to Spring Meeting in Toronto
  Published on May 16, 2023 in Economy, Market & Trends
  To open the 2023 ULI Spring Meeting in Toronto, members of the Institute’s global leadership team gathered for a fireside chat. ULI Global CEO Ron Pressman, global chair-elect Diane Hoskins, and outgoing global chair Peter Ballon, who also serves as the global head of real estate for CPP Investments, discussed the future of ULI and the broader industry over the next two years. Hoskins begins her two-year term as global chair starting in July 2023.
• Spring 2023 Issue of Urban Land
  Published on April 28, 2023 in Inside ULI
  The Spring 2023 issue of Urban Land is now available for ULI members. The cover topic is "Urban Suburbs: Innovative strategies to solve the global housing shortage."
• U.S. Senior Housing Occupancy Increases for Seventh Consecutive Quarter in Q1 2023
  Published on April 07, 2023 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The senior housing occupancy rate increased 0.3 percentage points from 82.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022 to 83.2 percent in the first quarter of 2023, according to data from NIC MAP Vision released by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care. The occupancy rate has increased 5.4 percentage points overall from a pandemic low of 77.8 percent in the second quarter of 2021 but remained 4.0 percentage points below the pre-pandemic high of 87.2 percent in the first quarter of 2020.
• AFIRE Survey Shows Investor Preference for American Assets in 2023
  Published on March 27, 2023 in Development
  AFIRE, the association for international real estate investors focused on commercial property in the United States, has released its AFIRE International Investor Survey: Q1 2023 Pulse Report, underwritten by Holland Partner Group. U.S. market shows stability as a preferred global destination for investment with allocations up 6 percent from 2022, relative to a 5 percent decline in European investment.
• In Brief: U.S. Convenience Store Count Inched Up in 2023, Breaking Four-Year Decline
  Published on January 18, 2023 in Economy, Market & Trends
  There are 150,174 convenience stores operating in the United States, a 1.5 percent increase from a year earlier, reversing a four-year decline, according to the 2023 NACS/NielsenIQ Convenience Industry Store Count.
• Winter 2023 Issue of Urban Land
  Published on January 13, 2023 in Inside ULI
  The Winter 2023 issue of Urban Land is now available for ULI members. The cover topic is "Exacting Standards: Outlook for property and development in 2023."
• RCLCO: Sales Decrease 20 Percent Year Over Year at Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities
  Published on January 05, 2023 in Development
  Real estate consulting firm RCLCO has released the results of their semi-annual survey of the top-selling master-planned communities of 2022.
• View from the Top on Capital Markets: Takeaways from Allen Matkins’ 2022 Fall Roundtable
  Published on December 19, 2022 in Capital Markets
  The ULI/Allen Matkins Capital Markets Roundtable, now in its eighth year, brings together investors, developers, lenders, managers, and intermediaries to share insights and perspectives on the current and future outlook for real estate capital markets. topics discussed included which sectors of the market are strong, which should be avoided; and what the thoughts and strategies of some major players in real estate financing and investing are for the coming year.
• ICYMI: Most Popular UL Articles of 2022
  Published on December 13, 2022 in Economy, Market & Trends
  As we close the books on 2022, we look back on the topics that resonated most with the online readers of Urban Land in the past year.
• Governor Shares Vision for a More Livable Bangkok at ULI REImagine
  Published on November 21, 2022 in Planning & Design
  Boosting livability is at the heart of Bangkok’s ambitions to thrive and develop as a global city, Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said in a dynamic presentation to ULI Asia Pacific’s REImagine conference. The governor explained that livability was the Thai capital city’s target because it is key to attracting and keeping global talent.
• Haven Realty Capital, J.P. Morgan Launch $415 Million Joint Venture Focused on Build-to-Rent
  Published on November 17, 2022 in Capital Markets
  Haven Realty Capital and institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Global Alternatives have formed a programmatic joint venture to acquire and develop more than $1 billion in new build-to-rent communities throughout the United States. The joint venture comes at a time when new for-sale housing starts have fallen to a two-year low.
• Fall 2022 Issue of Urban Land
  Published on October 19, 2022 in Inside ULI
  The Fall 2022 issue of Urban Land is now available for ULI members. The cover topic is "Changing Locations: Transit-rich Destinations Embrace a Hybrid Future."
• Dodge Momentum Index Rose in September
  Published on October 17, 2022 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The Dodge Momentum Index, a monthly measure of the initial report for nonresidential building projects, improved 5.7 percent in September from the revised August reading. In September, the commercial component of the index rose 2.9 percent, while the institutional component also increased, seeing a double-digit gain of 11.7 percent.
• In Brief: U.S. Commercial Lending for Fourth Quarter Expected to Scale Back as Rates Rise
  Published on October 14, 2022 in Capital Markets
  Total commercial and multifamily mortgage borrowing and lending are expected to fall to $766 billion this year, down 14 percent from 2021 totals. This is according to an updated baseline forecast released today by the Mortgage Bankers Association.
• Hurricane Ian Is 15th Billion-Dollar U.S. Disaster in 2022
  Published on October 13, 2022 in Sustainability
  The U.S. has been hit with 15 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in the first nine months of 2022, according to scientists from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information.
• In Brief: Commercial/Multifamily Mortgage Debt Outstanding Increased by $99.5 Billion in Second Quarter of 2022
  Published on September 21, 2022 in
  The $99.5 billion increase in commercial and multifamily mortgage debt outstanding in the second quarter was the second largest quarterly rise since the inception of MBA’s data series in 2007.
• In Brief: Vietnam, Philippines Among Top Countries for Cryptocurrency Adoption
  Published on September 14, 2022 in Capital Markets
  According to the 2022 Global Cryptocurrency Adoption Index, four of the top five countries for cryptocurrency adoption are emerging markets, with the United States listed in fifth place.
• New in Knowledge Finder: Technology and the Built Environment
  Published on September 01, 2022 in Inside ULI
  The latest Reading List from Urban Land, sponsored by RunwayProptech, is now available on ULI's Knowledge Finder.
• Reader Survey: Back to the Office
  Published on August 22, 2022 in Economy, Market & Trends
  In early August, Urban Land asked readers how their organizations are adapting to the evolving landscape of COVID-19. 100 percent of the respondents said they were going into the office at least one day a week, with 37.5 percent saying they are back full time in the office.
• In Memory of Michael F. Kelly
  Published on July 28, 2022 in Inside ULI
  Michael F. Kelly, a ULI Trustee, Foundation Governors, and a former president of ULI, passed away at the age of 91 in May. Kelly was chairman of Marquette Partners until his retirement.
• Biden Announces $2.3 Billion in Climate Funding
  Published on July 22, 2022 in Sustainability
  U.S. President Joe Biden has announced $2.3 billion to help build infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather and natural disasters. Tens of millions of people in the United States were living under heat warnings as temperatures hit record highs in the United Kingdom.
• Dodge Momentum Index Hits 14-Year High with Slight Gain in June
  Published on July 12, 2022 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The Dodge Momentum Index increased less than one percentage point in June to 173.6 from the revised May reading of 173.1, pushing the measure to a 14-year high.
• Climate-Related Flooding and Drought Expected to Cost World’s Major Cities $194 Billion Annually
  Published on June 24, 2022 in Sustainability
  New research quantifies the dire impacts of climate-driven drought and flooding on the world’s largest cities and their residents.
• UL Interview: How One Fund Sees Opportunity in Smaller and Mid-Sized Industrial Properties
  Published on May 17, 2022 in Capital Markets
  While much of the focus on U.S. industrial is on large, single-tenant facilities, with big names like Amazon taking whole facilities. But multi-tenant industrial may offer diversification and risk reduction while helping small manufacturing firms grow over time. BKM Capital Partners spoke with Urban Land
• New in Knowledge Finder: The Global Parking Industry
  Published on May 02, 2022 in Inside ULI
  The latest Reading List from Urban Land is now available on ULI's Knowledge Finder, covering the nearly $100 billion worldwide industry of parking.
• Investing in Mexico: Seeing Opportunities in Industrial and Hotel
  Published on April 21, 2022 in Capital Markets
  At the 2022 Spring Meeting in San Diego, panelists shared some of the opportunities they see in Mexico, while addressing some of the perceived challenges, both real and imagined.
• Strong Dollar and Growth Driving Capital Flows to U.S. Real Estate
  Published on April 19, 2022 in Capital Markets
  A panel of capital markets experts opened the 2022 ULI Spring Meeting with a discussion of the direction of global markets and capital flows in an environment of rising interest rates as well as global uncertainty such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
• ULI: Where the Future Is Built
  Published on April 19, 2022 in Inside ULI
  ULI global CEO Ed Walter welcomed attendees to the 2022 ULI Spring Meeting in San Diego with the debut of a new mission tagline: “Where the Future Is Built.” Walter and ULI global chair Peter Ballon then discussed in a fireside chat how ULI has fared through the past year of the pandemic.
• Survey Finds Broad Support for More Housing in 26 U.S. Metro Areas
  Published on April 12, 2022 in Economy, Market & Trends
  There is broad support to allow accessory dwelling units, duplexes and triplexes in residential neighborhoods, according to a new Zillow survey covering 26 U.S. metro areas. A clear majority of homeowners surveyed (73 percent) voiced support for at least one of these “modest densification” options, and support was higher among renters (84 percent).
• Spring 2022 Issue of Urban Land
  Published on April 11, 2022 in Inside ULI
  ULI MEMBER–ONLY CONTENT: The Spring 2022 issue of Urban Land is now available for ULI members. The cover topic is "The Housing Issue: Smart solutions to meet a growing need."
• Trammel Crow Industrial Lights Up Rooftop Solar with Altus Power
  Published on April 01, 2022 in Sustainability
  As reported by the Wall Street Journal, solar-power company Altus Power and commercial real-estate developer Trammell Crow have reached a $600 million deal to install solar panels on U.S. industrial properties. The deal will create 300 megawatts of capacity and is Altus' largest to date.
• In Brief: Which U.S. Cities Are Attracting Generation Z Renters?
  Published on March 29, 2022 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Applications for U.S. apartments from renters of all generations increased by an average of 10 percent year over year from 2.9 million applications in 2020 to 3.2 million in 2021, according to Yardi's RentCafe. The increase in activity was mainly driven by the youngest renter group, the oldest of whom are 25 years old.
• McCoy Symposium: Looking for Bright Spots and Opportunities in Commercial Real Estate for 2022
  Published on March 25, 2022 in Capital Markets
  ULI MEMBER–ONLY CONTENT: With a growing risk of recession in the next 18 months, U.S. commercial real estate faces uncertainty but remains attractive to investors seeking yield and stability, two experts said during a recent ULI webinar.
• Amazon Announces Transit-Oriented Housing Projects in Washington, D.C, and Seattle Areas
  Published on March 18, 2022 in Development
  Amazon has announced plans to provide more than $124.4 million to build 1,060 affordable homes near four public transit sites while working in partnership with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and Sound Transit to complete the developments. This is part of Amazon’s $300 million transit commitment from 2021 to create 3,000 new affordable homes in collaboration with the transit agencies in each region.
• Facing the Hidden Cost of the U.S. Housing Deficit
  Published on March 10, 2022 in Economy, Market & Trends
  At the 2022 ULI Housing Opportunity Conference, a session looked at the high cost of the gap between U.S. population and job growth and the creation of housing where people want to live.
• Dodge Momentum Index Recovers in February
  Published on March 10, 2022 in Development
  The Dodge Momentum Index, a leading indicator for U.S. commercial real estate activity, increased 4 percent in February to 158.2, from the revised January reading of 151.9. In February, institutional planning rose 9 percent, and commercial planning moved 1 percent higher.
• Breaking Ground on Placemaking Projects at Northern Virginia’s National Landing
  Published on March 09, 2022 in Planning & Design
  Washington, D.C.–area real estate investment trust JBG Smith has broken ground on two new outdoor placemaking destinations in Northern Virginia's National Landing. The area will eventually be home to Amazon’s HQ2.
• Most Innovative Urban Development Companies for 2022
  Published on March 08, 2022 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Fast Company has released the magazine's annual Most Innovative Companies list for 2022 across 52 categories. ULI member firm Avison Young was named in the category of urban development.
• In Brief: New Vision Unveiled for Toronto Waterfront
  Published on March 07, 2022 in Planning & Design
  In February, Waterfront Toronto announced the winning submission for a new vision to transform a 12-acre (4.9 hectare) site into a community for residents and visitors to live, work and play.
• In Brief: Cross-Border Investment into U.S. Commercial Property Rallied in 2021
  Published on February 10, 2022 in Capital Markets
  According to Real Capital Analytics, acquisitions of U.S. commercial property by overseas investors rebounded sharply in 2021, with investment concentrated on the apartment and industrial sectors. Cross-border deal volume totaled $70.8 billion in 2021, almost double the 2020 level.
• In Brief: Ten Brick-and-Mortar Retail Brands to Watch in 2022
  Published on February 04, 2022 in Economy, Market & Trends
  According to Placer Labs, these 10 growing retail chains had the foot traffic in 2021 to set them up for future growth in brick-and-mortar retail.
• ULI Resilience Summit: Interconnected Systems Show Vulnerability to Climate Change
  Published on January 28, 2022 in Sustainability
  Speaking at the 2022 ULI Resilience Summit, which was held virtually, Alice Hill, senior fellow for energy and the environment at the Council on Foreign Relations, talked about the role of both the public and private sectors in mitigating climate change.
• In Audio: Not Just Wires, Pipes, and Roads
  Published on January 24, 2022 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Michael Spotts, a senior visiting research fellow at ULI’s Terwiliger Center for Housing and head of Neighborhood Fundamentals, recently appeared on the Talking Headways podcast. Spotts chats with us about takeaways from the Shaw Symposium on Urban Community Issues, the definition of infrastructure, and the importance of taking a systems approach to important interconnected topics like transportation, education, and health care.
• Winter 2022 Issue of Urban Land
  Published on January 18, 2022 in Inside ULI
  ULI MEMBER—ONLY CONTENT: The Winter 2022 issue of Urban Land is now available for ULI members. The cover topic is "Outlook 2022: Real Estate Proves Resilient."
• 2021 Saw Second-Highest Rate of Billion-Dollar U.S. Weather Disasters
  Published on January 18, 2022 in Sustainability
  A warm December fueled tornadoes and other storms to bring the total number of multi-billion dollar disasters to 20 for 2021, as reported by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the second-highest annual number since 1980.
• Audio: Owen Thomas Appears on Leading Voices in Real Estate
  Published on January 13, 2022 in Inside ULI
  Former ULI Global Chairman Owen Thomas, CEO of Boston Properties, joined Matt Slepin, founder and managing partner of Terra Search and a ULI Foundation Governor, for a recent episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate. Thomas discussed his commitment to the industry in key leadership positions, including serving as the immediate past Global Chair of the Urban Land Institute and his significant contribution to ULI’s Net Zero Imperative Initiative working to reduce our industry’s carbon footprint.
• MBA: Originators Are Bullish on 2022 Outlook
  Published on January 12, 2022 in Capital Markets
  Commercial and multifamily mortgage originators anticipate 2022 will be another strong year of borrowing and lending, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's 2022 Commercial Real Estate Finance Outlook Survey. Every commercial/multifamily firm polled expects originations to increase in 2022, with almost two-thirds (63 percent) expecting an overall increase of 5 percent or more across the entire market.
• In Brief: Fourth Quarter Occupancy Increased in U.S. Senior Housing
  Published on January 07, 2022 in Economy, Market & Trends
  U.S. senior housing occupancy increased for the second consecutive quarter and rose to 81.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021, a 1.0 percentage point increase from the third quarter and a 2.3 percentage point increase from a pandemic-related low of 78.7 percent in the second quarter, according to data from 31 metropolitan markets covered by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care.
• Slower Sales at the 50 Top-Selling U.S. Master-Planned Communities of 2021
  Published on January 05, 2022 in Development
  According to RCLCO's survey data, home sales in the 50 top-selling U.S. master-planned communities grew by a modest 5 percent compared to 2020, with a 14 percent decrease in sales during the second half of the year compared to the first.
• Most Popular Urban Land Articles of 2021
  Published on December 23, 2021 in Economy, Market & Trends
  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 2021.
• In Brief: Dodge Momentum Index Declines in November, Up Year over Year
  Published on December 08, 2021 in Development
  The Dodge Momentum Index fell 4 percent in November to 171.7, down from the revised October reading of 178.1. In November, U.S. commercial planning fell 8 percent while institutional planning moved 5 percent higher.
• In Brief: Mixed Signals for Downtown Office in Washington, D.C.
  Published on November 29, 2021 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The economic recovery in Washington, D.C., continued through the close of the third quarter of 2021.  Office leasing activity is ongoing, though at a slower pace than years past, while asking rents are rising (up 2.1 percent from 2020 according to Newmark). The overall D.C. vacancy rate is just over 18 percent, according to CBRE.
• In Brief: A Path to a Net-Zero America
  Published on November 17, 2021 in Sustainability
  How many electric vehicles should be on America's roadways by 2030 to meet climate goals? How much land will be needed for solar or wind farms? Princeton University has released the final report of its Net-Zero America study, which answers these questions and others.
• Affordable Housing Providers Look to Infill Modular and Rehabbing Older Properties
  Published on October 14, 2021 in Sustainability
  With more than a half a million people experiencing homelessness on any given night, the United States needs 6.8 million more affordable housing units, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Speaking on the “Affordable Housing through Alternative Strategies” panel at the 2021 ULI Fall Meeting, Bryan Esenberg, managing deputy commissioner, Department of Housing, City of Chicago, said that there is a 120,000-affordable-unit gap just in Chicago and that at the current rate you likely cannot just build your way out of it.
• WLI View from the Top: Taking Professional Risks, Building Networks
  Published on October 13, 2021 in Inside ULI
  Speaking at the 2021 ULI Fall Meeting, two mid-career professionals who participate in ULI’s Women’s Leadership Institute talked about building their networks, taking positions you aren’t completely ready for, and leadership.
• Fall 2021 Issue of Urban Land
  Published on September 30, 2021 in Inside ULI
  The Fall 2021 issue of Urban Land is now available for ULI members. The cover topic is "Urban Living: How the Pandemic Is Shaping Cities." Other topics include "Net Zero: Chicago's C40 Competition" and "Infrastructure: Managing Stormwater."
• In Brief: Growing Number of U.S. Suburbs See Renters Outnumber Owners
  Published on September 20, 2021 in Development
  Renters are now the majority in more than 100 U.S. suburbs that were previously homeowner territory 10 years ago, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by Yardi's RentCafé. Another 57 suburbs are expected to follow suit in the next five years, with many of these suburbs belonging to the Miami, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles metro areas.
• In Brief: Faith-Based Institutions Adding to the Housing Stock in Cities
  Published on September 14, 2021 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The city of San Jose, California, is considering encouraging churches and other institutions to convert underused parking lots to create much needed affordable housing. Other cities such as San Antonio and Montgomery County, Maryland, are looking at how other assets or acquisitions could be better used, particularly to accommodate refugees.
• Life Science Investment on Record Pace for 2021
  Published on August 23, 2021 in Development
  Life science investment volume is on a record pace in 2021, reaching $9 billion for the first half of 2021, according to 2021 Mid-Year Life Science Overview & Market Clusters, a new report by Newmark.
• Tampa Becomes Latest U.S. City to Pledge Clean Energy Transition
  Published on August 19, 2021 in Sustainability
  Tampa’s city council approved a resolution for a community-wide transition to 100 percent clean, renewable electricity by 2035. Tampa is the 12th city in Florida to make this commitment.
• In Brief: U.S. Parking App Usage Surpasses Pre-Pandemic Levels
  Published on August 17, 2021 in Economy, Market & Trends
  According to data provider Apptopia, mobile applications, such as SpotHero and ParkMobile, have now exceeded their January 2020 levels by 6.2 percent in terms of monthly average U.S. users.
• Now Arriving: Amazon Air Launches State-of-the-Art Air Cargo Hub in Northern Kentucky
  Published on August 13, 2021 in Economy, Market & Trends
  After more than four years of planning and construction, operations have begun at the Amazon Air Hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. This $1.5 billion investment in Northern Kentucky will eventually create thousands of jobs for people from various backgrounds, including load planning, management of package sortation, and robotics technology.
• In Brief: Leading Indicator for U.S. Commercial Real Estate Pulls Back in July
  Published on August 10, 2021 in Development
  The Dodge Momentum Index fell to 155.8 in July, a 6 percent decline from the revised June reading of 164.9. The index, issued by Dodge Data and Analytics, is a monthly measure of the initial report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which has been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. The two components of the index fell in July—commercial planning by 3 percent and institutional planning by 9 percent.
• A Code Red for Humanity: Latest U.N. Report Reveals Many Climate Changes Irreversible
  Published on August 09, 2021 in Sustainability
  The latest report from the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change confirms that the last five years have been the hottest since 1850, and that "it is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, oceans and land." As the built environment accounts for nearly 40 percent of annual global carbon emissions, action needs to be taken.
• ULI Chicago Outlines Foundations for Resilient Neighborhoods, Focusing on Infrastructure
  Published on July 19, 2021 in Sustainability
  A new ULI Chicago report seeks to focus the attention of policymakers on issues stemming from decades of disinvestment. The city needs to work long term on addressing racism, promoting diversity in housing, increasing jobs citywide, and investing in public works.
• Summer 2021 Issue of Urban Land
  Published on July 15, 2021 in Inside ULI
  The Summer 2021 issue of Urban Land is now available for ULI members. The cover topic is "Airport Connections: Development Ties Travel, Logistics, and Cyberspace."
• In Brief: RCLCO Reports on Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities of 2021
  Published on July 13, 2021 in Trends
  According to an annual survey by RCLCO, the top-selling U.S. master-planned community so far in 2021 is Lakewood Ranch in Sarasota, Florida, with 1,535 sales through June, 83 percent ahead of last year’s pace. Home sales in the nation’s top 50 communities exceeded expectations in the first half of 2021, with a pace that indicates the potential for a 12 percent increase at year’s end compared with 2020.
• In Brief: U.S. Construction Starts Slip in April as Housing Cools
  Published on May 21, 2021 in Development
  Total U.S. construction starts fell 2 percent in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $853.5 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. Single-family construction posted a sizable decline following months of strong activity, while nonresidential building and nonbuilding starts both gained.
• A Post-Pandemic Workforce and Its Impact on the Workplace
  Published on May 11, 2021 in Planning & Design
  An “urban exodus” may be a myth, but a hybrid of office-based and non-office workplaces may become a norm, say panelists Richard Florida of the University of Toronto, Diane Hoskins of Gensler, and Mark Grinis of EY.
• In Brief: Kroger to Test Drone Deliveries Near Dayton, Ohio
  Published on May 10, 2021 in Trends
  Kroger, one of the largest U.S. grocery store chains, has partnered with Drone Express to begin testing grocery delivery via autonomous drones in Centerville, Ohio.
• Spring 2021 Issue of Urban Land
  Published on May 03, 2021 in Inside ULI
  The Spring 2021 issue of Urban Land is now available for ULI members. The cover topic is "The Need for Housing: Finding solutions for an enduring problem."
• In Brief: Trend Toward Larger Vessels at Major North American Ports Continues
  Published on April 30, 2021 in Economy, Market & Trends
  According to the North American Ports Report by Cushman and Wakefield, U.S. ports rebounded strongly in the second half of 2020. Volumes for the full year changed only modestly—a 2 percent increase in loaded inbound twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and a decline of 5.5 percent on loaded export units.  
• With Inventory Near Record Lows, When Could the U.S. Housing Market Decelerate?
  Published on April 05, 2021 in Development
  Speaking at the 2021 ULI Housing Opportunity Conference, Ali Wolf, chief economist with Zonda, formerly Meyers Research, said that the homebuilding industry has been a bright spot in the U.S. economy over the last year. But rising mortgage rates and limited inventory are among the issues that may hamper that growth in 2021.
• ULI Capital Markets Forum: What a Difference a Year Makes
  Published on April 05, 2021 in Capital Markets
  As part of the 2021 ULI Virtual Europe Conference in February, high-level ULI members from across the global finance and investment sector gathered virtually to discuss capital flows, real estate market dynamics, and debt and equity markets. Among the trends discussed were an acceleration of deglobalization, shifting from “just in time” to “just in case” deliveries, and more interest in the hyperlocal, also characterized as “love thy neighborhood.”
• In Brief: Nontraditional Investors Eye Hotel Assets, Driving Optimism for 2021
  Published on February 22, 2021 in Hotels/Resorts
  Though investor interest in the hospital sector was muted for most of 2020 in response to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and global travel, the lodging industry is poised to rebound in 2021, according to JLL Hotels & Hospitality’s annual Hotel Investment Outlook.
• In Brief: U.S. Multifamily Industry Likely Owed More Than $11 Billion
  Published on February 16, 2021 in Capital Markets
  A study by the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia showed that tenants who lost jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic may have already amassed $11 billion in rental arrears. Procedures for evictions and foreclosures may be failing the most vulnerable tenants and landlords.
• Honoring the Winners of the 2021 Urban Land Institute European Leadership Awards
  Published on February 12, 2021 in Inside ULI
  ULI has announced the two winners of the 2021 ULI European Leadership Awards as part of its ULI Virtual Europe Conference.
• Winter 2021 Issue of Urban Land
  Published on February 12, 2021 in Inside ULI
  The Winter 2021 issue of Urban Land is now available for ULI members. The cover topic is "Real Tech: Technology gains speed as new needs arise."
• Despite Pandemic and Other Issues, Future of Cities Remains Greener, Cleaner, and More Desirable
  Published on February 09, 2021 in Sustainability
  Speaking at the 2021 ULI Virtual Europe Conference in February, leading architect Norman Foster said that he remains optimistic about the future of cities.
• In Brief: New Home Lot Supply Drops to Cycle Lows
  Published on February 01, 2021 in Economy, Market & Trends
  According to data provider Zonda, the U.S. New Home Lot Supply Index came in at 63.5 for the third quarter of 2020, representing an 8.9 percent drop year over year. Hear more about trends in U.S. housing policy and development at the 2021 ULI Housing Opportunity Conference.
• ULI Denmark Launched as 15th National Council in Europe
  Published on January 29, 2021 in Inside ULI
  ULI Europe has officially launched ULI Denmark, its 15th national council. Jesper Bo Hansen, head of corporate finance at Catella, will be the chair, serving a two-year term on a voluntary basis, and will be joined by an executive committee of local industry leaders.
• In Brief: “The Great Real Estate Reset”
  Published on January 25, 2021 in Economy, Market & Trends
  ULI full member Christopher Coes has jointly published a multimedia essay through the Brookings Institution titled “The Great Real Estate Reset,” which cites the cyclical nature of the U.S. real estate industry as a whole and the opportunity to think differently in the year ahead given the current economic situation.
• Lord Norman Foster among Keynote Speakers at 2021 ULI Virtual Europe Conference
  Published on January 22, 2021 in Inside ULI
  There is still time to register for ULI Europe’s flagship event, the ULI Europe Conference, taking place February 8–10, for the first time as a virtual event. Keynote speakers participating in the conference include Lord Norman Foster, founder of Foster + Partners; Carlos Moreno, associate professor at Sorbonne University Paris and a leading proponent of the 15-minute city; Peter Frankopan, professor of global history at Worcester College, Oxford University; Philippe Close, mayor of Brussels; and Ric Lewis, executive chairman of Tristan Capital.
• Highlighting Best Practices for Climate Resilience from Five Global Cities
  Published on January 19, 2021 in Sustainability
  A new publication from ULI and Singapore's Centre for Liveable Cities calls on cities worldwide to recognize their common challenges in building climate resilience. It sets out a strategy for mobilizing individuals—whether in business, government, or civic organizations, or as residents—to act as global citizens and take steps toward making their cities more climate resilient.
• In Brief: 2020 Ends with Record-Setting Quarter for U.S. Industrial Sector
  Published on January 15, 2021 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The U.S. industrial real estate market finished 2020 with a remarkably strong quarter, much of its resilience hinging on the acceleration of e-commerce, according to data from Cushman & Wakefield. The fourth quarter was the strongest for absorption ever, accounting for 89.8 million square feet (83.4 million sq m).
• Top Takeaways from the Allen Matkins/ULI Capital Markets Roundtable
  Published on January 14, 2021 in Capital Markets
  In fall 2020, Allen Matkins and the ULI Center for Capital Markets and Real Estate held a roundtable discussion, in two parts, featuring several industry leaders. Each speaker shared insights regarding the effect that COVID-19 has had on capital markets, mainly in real estate, as well as their forecasts for the coming year.
• In Brief: Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities for 2020
  Published on January 11, 2021 in Trends
  The Villages, a retiree-focused community northwest of Orlando, in 2020 once again topped RCLCO’s listing of the 50 top-selling U.S. master-planned communities. Total new home sales among the communities were 20 percent higher in 2020 than the previous year, RCLCO reported.
• In Brief: Preserving the Past While Creating the Office Spaces of the Future
  Published on January 04, 2021 in Trends
  Over the last 100 years, more than 4,200 buildings have been converted into office space through adaptive use across the United States, according to a report from data provider Yardi’s Commercial Search. Primarily, those conversions were from industrial space (61 percent), followed by retail (19 percent) and residential (5 percent).
• In Brief: Why Investors Are Shifting Focus to Life Sciences Real Estate
  Published on December 07, 2020 in Capital Markets
  Real estate investors are increasingly targeting the life sciences sector, according to JLL, a bet that the critical role it has been playing during the pandemic is set to continue.
• Yesterday’s Factories, Today’s Apartments: Multifamily Conversions Reach All-Time High in the United States
  Published on November 04, 2020 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Nearly 800 structures were converted to apartment buildings during the 2010s, the highest number in the past seven decades, according to research by data provider Yardi Matrix. Chicago tops the list of U.S. cities with the most adaptive-use apartment buildings, whereas New York City is home to the most converted apartment units in total.
• African American Real Estate Professionals Recount Development Challenges and Successes
  Published on October 15, 2020 in Fall Meeting
  A three-part series of interviews at the 2020 ULI Virtual Fall Meeting examines the issues that have led to underinvestment in neighborhoods that have been predominantly African American, displacement that can occur as part of gentrification, and other topics.
• The View from the Economist: Planning for the 90 Percent Economy
  Published on October 15, 2020 in Fall Meeting
  Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor in chief of the Economist, outlined several trends accelerated by the global COVID-19 pandemic in a presentation at the 2020 ULI Virtual Fall Meeting.
• Improve Access to Education and Better Health for a Brighter American Future, Says Political Analyst Bakari Sellers
  Published on October 14, 2020 in Fall Meeting
  Speaking at the 2020 ULI Virtual Fall Meeting, CNN political analyst and former state representative from South Carolina Bakari Sellers said he has two questions for America in 2020: “How far have we come, and where do we go from here?” Sellers was elected to the lower house of South Carolina’s state legislature in 2006 at the age of 22, defeating a 26-year incumbent and becoming the youngest African American elected U.S. official at the time.
• In Brief: Understanding the Regulatory Landscape for Increasing High-Rise Modular Construction
  Published on September 03, 2020 in Planning & Design
  Arup has developed a report, commissioned by the Canadian Standards Association, analyzing the state of the high-rise modular construction industry. Demand for modular construction in North America has increased in response to urbanization, pressure on housing affordability, construction labor shortages, and persistently stagnant construction productivity.
• Drawing High-End Consumers Back to Mixed-Use Retail
  Published on May 27, 2020 in Economy, Market & Trends
  In a discussion of the ongoing transformation of U.S. retail, panelists participating in the 2020 ULI Spring Meeting Webinar Series agreed that the authenticity, differentiation, and transparency creating a sense of place in mixed-use retail spaces are likely to be what consumers seek in the future. Single-use spaces are about convenience, but that is only half of what consumers say they are looking for.
• In Brief: Where the Residential Growth Has Been in U.S. Neighborhoods
  Published on May 27, 2020 in Economy, Market & Trends
  RCLCO's Neighborhood Atlas framework initially examined the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the country to classify each of their suburbs into one of five categories. RCLCO has expanded its analysis to cover six different types of urban neighborhoods as well, expanding to 100 of America’s largest metropolitan areas.
• In Brief: London and Hong Kong Remain the Most Expensive Cities for Construction
  Published on May 11, 2020 in Trends
  New York and San Francisco are the most expensive cities in the United States for construction, according to Arcadis’s 2020 International Construction Cost Index, produced by international design and consultancy firm Arcadis. Both are in the top five internationally, with London, Hong Kong, and Geneva leading the list overall.
• Audio: Leading Voices in Real Estate
  Published on March 30, 2020 in Inside ULI
  ULI Los Angeles recently hosted a recording of Leading Voices in Real Estate, a podcast hosted by Matt Slepin, founder managing partner of Terra Search and a ULI Foundation Governor. Now in its third year, this podcast also recently featured Spencer Levy, chairman of Americas Research and senior economic advisor for CBRE, talking about COVID-19 and the early signs of impact on the commercial real estate market.
• In Brief: Recognizing Tree Cities of the World
  Published on March 06, 2020 in Sustainability
  The Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have announced the first cities to be recognized through the Tree Cities of the World program, including Paris, Toronto, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. A total of 59 cities earned this international designation.
• In Brief: Fourth-Quarter Lending Momentum Rises Year over Year
  Published on February 13, 2020 in Capital Markets
  The U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate reductions, combined with continued economic growth, supported strong commercial real estate lending activity in the fourth quarter of 2019, according to the latest research from CBRE. The CBRE Lending Momentum Index, which tracks the pace of commercial loan closings in the United States, reached a value of 263 in December 2019—virtually unchanged from its third-quarter 2019 close and up 4.2 percent from a year earlier.
• Capital Markets Roundtable: Where Investors Say the Market Is Headed
  Published on November 18, 2019 in Capital Markets
  The ULI/Allen Matkins Capital Markets Roundtable, now in its fifth year, brings together investors, developers, lenders, managers, and intermediaries at the ULI Fall Meeting to share insights and perspectives on the current and future outlook for real estate capital markets. Panelists discussed what is working for their firms.
• In Brief: Dodge Momentum Index Moved Higher in October
  Published on November 08, 2019 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The Dodge Momentum Index, a monthly measure of the initial report for U.S. nonresidential building projects in planning, rose 6.9 percent month over month in October. The increase was due to a recovery in institutional planning projects, which had stepped back over the previous few months. Institutional planning moved 22.8 percent higher in the month while commercial planning lost 0.5 percent.
• Preview the 2019 Tech Special Issue of Urban Land
  Published on November 04, 2019 in Inside ULI
  The cover package for the 2019 Tech special issue is titled “Technology: Searching for practical solutions.” Other topics include “Smart Cities: Sidewalk's Toronto,” “Transportation: From Scooters to Skyports,” and “Big Data: Putting Data to Work.”
• In Brief: CBRE Sees Tech Companies Taking Increased Share of Available U.S. Office Space
  Published on November 01, 2019 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The tech industry has claimed an increasingly larger share of major U.S. office-leasing activity as real estate and economic indicators point to continued momentum for the sector over the next two years, according to CBRE’s annual Tech-30 report. CBRE’s analysis found that tech companies accounted for 21 percent of major office-leasing activity in the first half of this year, up from 11 percent when CBRE began tracking the figures in 2011.
• In Brief: Dodge Momentum Index Posted 4.1 Percent Gain in September
  Published on October 14, 2019 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The Dodge Momentum Index moved 4.1 percent higher in September to 143.6 from the revised August reading of 137.9. The gain in September was due entirely to an 8.9 percent increase in the commercial component, while the institutional component fell 4.8 percent.
• 2019 Fall Issue of Urban Land Is Available Now
  Published on September 03, 2019 in Inside ULI
  The cover package for the 2019 Fall issue is titled “Planned + Community: Drawing together people with common interests." Other topics include “Winners: Global Awards for Excellence,” "Fall Meeting: Washington, D.C.," and "CRE Business: Playing Catch-Up on Diversity."
• In Brief: Tech Employment Growth Spilling Over to Less Established Markets
  Published on August 19, 2019 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Tightening availability of tech talent in leading markets has spurred hiring momentum in smaller and upstart markets in the United States and Canada—such as Tucson, Arizona, and Waterloo, Ontario—as expanding tech employers seek additional labor pools, according to CBRE’s annual Scoring Tech Talent report.
• In Brief: Washington, D.C., Named America’s Best City Park System for 2019
  Published on July 29, 2019 in Sustainability
  Washington, D.C., has the best city park system in the United States, according to the Trust for Public Land’s eighth annual ParkScore index, which was released in May by the nonprofit organization. Saint Paul ranked second, and three-time defending champion Minneapolis dropped to third.
• 2019 Summer Issue of Urban Land Is Available Now
  Published on July 12, 2019 in Inside ULI
  The cover package for the 2019 Summer issue is titled “Hospitality: New services make a difference across property types.” Other topics include “Development: Esports Arenas,” “Zoning: Benefits of Car Sharing,” and “Hotels & Resorts: Buying into Sustainability.
• 2019 Asia Pacific Special Issue of Urban Land Is Available Now
  Published on June 07, 2019 in Inside ULI
  The cover package for the 2019 Asia Pacific special issue is titled “Finding Balance: The quest for smart buildings, smart tourism, and smart climate strategies.” Other topics include “South Korea: Heritage at Jeonju Hanok Village,” “ China: Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland Hotel,” "Thailand: Dealing with Bangkok's Climate Challenge,"and “Interview: Chairman Nicholas Brooke.” This special issue will be available at the ULI Asia Pacific conference in Shanghai and mailed to ULI members in Asia.
• In Brief: Four Demographic Trends Spurring an Overhaul of the U.S. Food and Beverage Industry
  Published on April 24, 2019 in Economy, Market & Trends
  A CBRE analysis of U.S. consumer spending and demographic patterns suggests significant changes for food-and-beverage operators and the real estate they occupy, including a greater push for convenient, prepared foods; a growing millennial influence; and the emergence of inner-ring suburbs as the industry’s hottest market.
• Author, Historian Jon Meacham: America Must Be Able to Face Facts, Has Faced Worse in the Past
  Published on April 18, 2019 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Speaking at the ULI Spring Meeting in Nashville, bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize winner Jon Meacham said that as far back in America’s history as the Revolutionary War, Americans have been able to change their minds and switch sides on many issues. “America was founded on the idea that we could think our way through problems,” he said.
• Five Tours Highlighting the Best of Both the Old and the New Nashville
  Published on March 04, 2019 in Inside ULI
  More than 3,000 ULI full members are expected in Nashville, April 16–18, to attend the 2019 ULI Spring Meeting. Music City was ranked fifth among markets to watch in Emerging Trends in Real Estate^© 2018. Don't miss these five tours of both the past and the future of Nashville.
• In Brief: Allen Matkins/UCLA Anderson Forecast Has California’s Office and Retail Lagging, Industrial Still Surging
  Published on February 22, 2019 in Capital Markets
  The latest Allen Matkins/UCLA Anderson Forecast California Commercial Real Estate Survey shows that despite the recent uncertainty in the stock market, increasing cap rates, and slower economic growth, developers’ views on California commercial real estate markets have not changed much from six months ago. Following the trends of the past two years, industrial space remains hot despite the economy’s fluctuations; multifamily housing remains strong in most markets; office has reached its peak; and retail markets continue to struggle.
• Inspiring the Future: UrbanPlan in the World
  Published on February 22, 2019 in Inside ULI
  Attendees at the ULI Europe Conference heard from the teachers and students benefiting from ULI’s realistic and engaging program to bring the discourse of urban regeneration to the classroom.
• In Brief: Minneapolis, San Diego Are Top U.S. Multifamily Markets for 2019
  Published on February 08, 2019 in Economy, Market & Trends
  According to a forecast by Marcus & Millichap, Minneapolis/St. Paul climbed two spots to head this year’s National Multifamily Index, as sustained apartment demand kept vacancy persistently tight, allowing for steady rent growth. San Diego also inched up two notches on solid rent growth to claim second place.
• Winter 2019 Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on January 15, 2019 in Inside ULI
  The Winter 2019 issue is available for all to view online. The cover package for this issue is titled, "Deploying Capital: The Hunt for Opportunity Shifts to New Markets." Other topics include "Advisory Services Panels: Charity Hospital in New Orleans," "Last-Mile Logistics: Fulfillment Centers Go to Town," and "Awards: 13 New Global Awards for Excellence."
• In Brief: The Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities of 2018
  Published on January 11, 2019 in Development
  The 50 top-selling U.S. master-planned communities (MPCs) during 2018 surpassed their sales totals for the previous year by an average of 5 percent, according to data from RCLCO Real Estate Advisors. The top two communities were both in Florida: the Villages, with 2,134 home sales, is once again the top-selling community in the country, followed by Sarasota, Florida’s Lakewood Ranch.
• Most Popular Urban Land Articles of 2018
  Published on December 17, 2018 in Economy, Market & Trends
  As we close the books on 2018, we look back on the topics that resonated most with the online readers of Urban Land in the past year. Thank you to all of ULI’s members who contributed their expertise to many of these articles.
• In Brief: New U.S. Apartments Are Getting Smaller and More Expensive
  Published on December 03, 2018 in Development
  According to data from Yardi Matrix, the average size of a new U.S. apartment has shrunk 5 percent over the last 10 years, while the average price has risen 28 percent. The average floor plan of a new apartment measures 941 square feet (87.4 sq m), but that is still larger than the overall average of 882 square feet (82 sq m).
• In Brief: Dodge Momentum Index Declines in October
  Published on November 26, 2018 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The Dodge Momentum Index moved 4.2 percent lower in October to 150.5 (2000=100) from the revised September reading of 157.0. The index is a monthly measure of the initial report for North American nonresidential building projects in planning, published by analytics and workflow provider for the construction industry Dodge Data & Analytics, which has been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. October’s decline was the third-consecutive monthly decline.
• In Brief: Costs Rising but U.S. Office Vacancy Stable in Third Quarter
  Published on November 13, 2018 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The overall availability rate for U.S. office space was unchanged as of the end of the third quarter of 2018, remaining at 18.1 percent, according to the latest Savills Studley Report: National Office Sector from commercial services firm Savills Studley. San Francisco remains the tightest market in the country, with an availability rate of 9 percent, followed by Boston/Suffolk County, 9.7 percent; New York City, 11.6 percent; and Austin, 12.8 percent.
• In Brief: U.S. Construction Starts in 2019 to Hold Steady with 2018
  Published on October 31, 2018 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The 2019 Dodge Construction Outlook predicts that total U.S. construction starts for 2019 will be $808 billion, staying essentially even with the $807 billion estimated for 2018, according to industry data provider Dodge Data & Analytics.
• ULI Member Perspective: Buffalo Bayou and Resilience in Houston (Video)
  Published on October 12, 2018 in Sustainability
  How can a park protect a city from extreme flooding? Houston’s 160-acre (65 ha) Buffalo Bayou Park demonstrated resilience during Hurricane Harvey, surviving the storm with minimal damage and providing critical green infrastructure to the city during the peak event. In this video, learn about the park’s design and development firsthand from members of ULI’s Houston district council.
• In Brief: Six Midyear Trends in the U.S. Hotel Sector
  Published on September 24, 2018 in Economy, Market & Trends
  According to research by Marcus & Millichap, the accelerating U.S. economy, supported by strong employment growth and rising confidence levels, bodes well for continued hotel property performance. Elevated consumer and business confidence levels will likely buoy room demand through the remainder of the year, keeping occupancy at a record high and supporting growth in revenue per available room.
• In Brief: Singapore Retakes Lead as Asia’s Largest Outbound Investor, Says CBRE
  Published on September 17, 2018 in Capital Markets
  Asian outbound capital deployment remains robust amid a recent slowdown of Chinese outbound real estate investment. In the first half of 2018, outbound investment activity totaled US$25.3 billion, led by Singaporean capital, which accounted for 36 percent of the region’s total, according to recent data compiled by CBRE.
• Video: Social Psychologist and Author Amy Cuddy to Speak at ULI Fall Meeting
  Published on September 10, 2018 in Inside ULI
  Social psychologist and bestselling author Amy Cuddy will give a keynote at the 2018 ULI Fall Meeting. Cuddy is an expert on the behavioral science of power, presence, and prejudice. Cuddy, who teaches leadership at Harvard, earned her PhD from Princeton University and has served on the faculties of Harvard Business School and Northwestern University. Her book Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges is a bestseller and has been published in 30 languages.
• In Brief: Investors Say Coworking Space Well Positioned for Potential Downturn
  Published on September 07, 2018 in Economy, Market & Trends
  According to a new report from Cushman & Wakefield, flexibile office space could triple in size in the coming years, representing 5 to 10 percent of office inventory in many markets. Investors also believe coworking is well positioned to weather an economic downturn.
• In Brief: U.S. Data Center Leasing on Pace for Record Year, Says CBRE
  Published on August 31, 2018 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Demand from growing cloud-computing providers has set the U.S. data center market on pace to break 2017’s record leasing activity, according to CBRE’s latest U.S. Data Center Trends Report. Northern Virginia and Phoenix are also seeing significant new construction to meet demand.
• In Brief: Nine Projects Transforming Boston
  Published on August 27, 2018 in Development
  In July, real estate website Curbed highlighted nine significant projects including the Hub on Causeway and Fenway Center, plus two projects in the Seaport area. Several of these will be highlighted either as tours or sessions at the ULI Fall Meeting in Boston in October.
• In Brief: Dodge Momentum Index Increases in July
  Published on August 09, 2018 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The Dodge Momentum Index, a leading indicator for construction spending for nonresidential buildings, moved 1.4 percent higher in July to 169.8 from the revised June reading of 167.3. The commercial component of the Momentum Index grew by 3.3 percent, while the institutional component fell 1.5 percent.
• In Brief: Prime Office Rents Rise across Three Major Regions, CBRE Reports
  Published on July 23, 2018 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Hong Kong Central remained the most expensive office market in the world, according to CBRE’s annual Global Prime Office Occupancy Costs report. Hong Kong Central’s overall prime occupancy costs of US$307 per square foot (US$3,305 per sq m) per year topped the “most expensive” list, followed by London's West End, Beijing's Finance Street, and Hong Kong's Kowloon.
• In Brief: CBRE Finds That Increases in Prime Logistics Rents Have Accelerated Globally
  Published on July 16, 2018 in Industrial
  Prime logistics rents increased globally during the 12 months ended March 31, accelerating their growth in many markets due to strengthening economies around the world and greater demand for distribution of goods bought both online and in stores, according to a report from CBRE. Prime rrents increased by 3.2 percent across the globe in this year’s first quarter from a year earlier, exceeding the previous 12-month period’s 2.2 percent global increase.
• In Brief: Industry Optimism Pulls Back Slightly in RCLCO Midyear Survey
  Published on July 09, 2018 in Economy, Market & Trends
  According to a survey by RCLCO, sentiments about the real estate conditions in the U.S. remain at a relatively high level, but slightly below where they were six months ago. Just over one-half (51 percent) of RCLCO’s Mid-Year 2018 Sentiment Survey respondents say U.S. real estate market conditions are moderately or significantly better today than they were 12 months ago, five percentage points lower than in the year-end 2017 survey.
• In Brief: Dodge Momentum Index Up in May
  Published on June 12, 2018 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The Dodge Momentum Index eked out a small gain in May, moving 1.8 percent higher to 167.8 (2,000=100) from the revised April reading of 164.9. May’s gain was the result of a 4.7 percent increase by the commercial component of the Momentum Index, while the institutional component fell 2.4 percent.
• Audio: ‘Detroit Rising’ Podcast Previews the ULI Spring Meeting
  Published on April 20, 2018 in Inside ULI
  Jill Ferrari, a partner at Shelborne Development and vice chair of ULI Michigan, and Eric Larson, chief executive officer of both the Larson Realty Group and the Downtown Detroit Partnership, who is also serving as a co-chair of the ULI Spring Meeting Host Committee, were recently interviewed on a podcast produced by Crain's Detroit Business.
• Video: View from the Top of the Comcast Technology Center in Philadelphia
  Published on April 16, 2018 in Planning & Design
  In January 2014, Comcast Corporation announced that it would build a second skyscraper at 1800 Arch Street in Philadelphia’s Center City, near the Comcast Center headquarters that it had moved into just six years before. The tallest building in Philadelphia is set to open its doors in 2018.
• In Brief: Growth in Online Grocery Sales Expected to Increase Demand for U.S. Cold-Storage Warehouse Space
  Published on April 02, 2018 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The growing popularity of online grocery shopping could result in demand for up to 35 million square feet (3.25 million sq m) of U.S. cold-storage space shifting from retail stores to warehouses and distribution centers within the next seven years, according to a report from CBRE.
• In Brief: Investors See Upside in Coworking Spaces—Up to a Point
  Published on March 19, 2018 in Economy, Market & Trends
  While commercial real estate investors generally take a positive view on coworking, maintaining a balance of traditional and coworking space in a building is critical when it comes to creating long-term capital value. According to a CBRE survey, investors say that a coworking occupancy of a third of the space or less, with a qualified operator, supports a healthy capital value.
• In Brief: Seattle, Los Angeles Are Top Multifamily Markets for 2018
  Published on February 20, 2018 in Development
  The top two markets for the multifamily sector from last year trade places for 2018, according to Marcus & Millichap’s 2018 Multifamily North American Investment Forecast. Driven by robust employment in the tech sector and soaring home prices that keep rental demand ahead of elevated deliveries, Seattle-Tacoma ranks first on the chart. The metro area outperforms last year’s leader, Los Angeles, which slid one spot.
• In Brief: Residential and Mixed-Use Developments Continue to Drive High Crane Counts in Toronto, Seattle
  Published on February 06, 2018 in Development
  The North American tower crane tally is holding relatively steady as of the first half of 2018, according to the Rider Levett Bucknall Crane Index. A total of 383 cranes were counted in January 2018, up two from July 2017, a 0.5 percent increase.
• In Brief: The Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities of 2017
  Published on January 05, 2018 in Development
  According to a recent report from RCLCO, home sales at America’s 50 top-selling master-planned communities surpassed the 2016 totals by more than 17 percent last year. The Villages in Central Florida's 2,231 sales puts them in the top spot again, while California's Irvine Ranch, with sales of 1,814, comes in at second place, followed by Florida's Lakewood Ranch, with 1,206 total sales.
• Urban Land’s Most Popular Articles of 2017
  Published on December 18, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  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 2017.
• In Brief: Hong Kong Becomes World’s Priciest Office Location
  Published on December 11, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Hong Kong has surpassed London’s West End as the world’s most expensive office market, according to new research from Cushman & Wakefield. Using proprietary data, the report ranks occupancy costs per workstation as well as workplace densities for newly developed or refurbished office space globally. At a global level, the average annual cost per workstation rose by 1.5 percent over the past 12 months.
• Finding the Right Mix for Ten New Product Councils
  Published on December 04, 2017 in Inside ULI
  In response to growing interest in the Institute’s product councils, ULI is expanding the program, adding five brand-new councils and five new flights of existing councils in 2018. Two of the new council chairs share what makes the council experience unique and what makes a good candidate to join a council.
• In Brief: London’s New Bond Street Ranked Third Most Expensive for Retail Rents
  Published on November 29, 2017 in Retail/Entertainment
  Soaring rents have seen London’s New Bond Street rise to become the world’s third most expensive retail street, according to a report by Cushman & Wakefield. The annual Main Streets Across The World report, now in its 29th edition, tracks 451 of the top retail streets around the globe and ranks the most expensive in 68 countries by prime rental value using proprietary data.
• Video: Emerging Trends in Canadian Real Estate
  Published on November 10, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  ULI Toronto and PwC hosted a trends event to present the latest findings for Toronto and the rest of the Canadian market, including a keynote by Andrew Warren, director of real estate research for PwC.
• Video: Building the Future with ULI Los Angeles Chair Clare DeBriere
  Published on October 16, 2017 in Fall Meeting
  Clare DeBriere is former chief operating officer and executive vice president of The Ratkovich Company. In 2017, she founded neighborhood development firm C+C Ventures and is the current chair of ULI Los Angeles. In this video, DeBriere talks about what she loves about the energy and creativity that's found in Los Angeles, and how ULI brings together the best practitioners in every field of land use.
• In Brief: Framing Lumber Prices Already Up 20 Percent Year-over-Year
  Published on October 16, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Framing lumber prices could be approaching the highs of the housing bubble by next spring, according to data from the National Association of Home Builders. Random Lengths prices are up 22 percent from a year ago, and CME futures are up about 19 percent year-over-year.
• Video: Building the Future with Wayne Ratkovich
  Published on October 09, 2017 in Inside ULI
  A native of Los Angeles, Wayne Ratkovich, a ULI Life Trustee and Americas Executive Committee in addition to being founder and CEO of The Ratkovich Company, talks about the importance of ULI in his career.
• In Brief: Multifamily Rents’ Growth Outside of Big U.S. Cities
  Published on October 09, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  National rents have barely moved through the entire peak rental season and into September, according to data from Yardi Matrix, marking the longest period of stagnation in recent history—four consecutive months. Coming in at $1,354 for the month of September, the average rent is only 2.2 percent higher than this time last year.
• In Brief: Investment in U.S. Data Centers Already above Record Levels for 2017
  Published on October 02, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  According to a new report from CBRE, investment in the U.S. data center sector reached record levels in the first half of 2017. First half of 2017 investment totaled $18.2 billion, more than double that for all of 2016 (inclusive of all single asset, portfolio and entity-level/M&A transactions). At this pace, investment in the data center sector is on track to surpass the total for the three previous years combined.
• In Memory of Nina J. Gruen
  Published on September 18, 2017 in Inside ULI
  Longtime ULI leader Nina J. Gruen, who pioneered the use of behavioral research to predict market demand for commercial and residential real estate, passed away on September 15, 2017. She was 83. Gruen and her husband, Claude Gruen, joined ULI in 1971, not long after founding Gruen Gruen + Associates, a renowned San Francisco–based firm that continues to provide research-based consulting and implementation services to the real estate industry and public land use and planning policy makers. Gruen, who remained active in ULI throughout her career, was elected as the Institute’s first female trustee in 1982, and was named an honorary member in 1996.
• In Brief: Can Growth in Health Care and Other Categories Save America’s Malls?
  Published on September 11, 2017 in Industry Sectors
  A new report from CBRE highlights that the two categories occupying the most space in U.S. malls—department stores at 48.7 percent of gross leasable area, and apparel, accessories, and shoes at 29.4 percent—also posted relatively tepid retail-sales growth from 2011 to 2016. In contrast, categories with stronger retail-sales growth, such as health care, still account for relatively little occupancy of U.S. malls
• In Brief: Apple’s High-Yielding Retail Space
  Published on August 09, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Sales per square foot at all but a few public retailers have declined to an average of $325 ($3,498 per sq m), down from nearly $375 ($4,036 per sq m) in the early 2000s, according to research by CoStar. But while e-commerce has been disruptive to traditional retailers, several companies, including Apple, Tiffany, and lululemon, have managed to increase sales.
• In Brief: Though Optimism Has Decreased, More Than Half See Continued Strength in U.S. Real Estate
  Published on July 31, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Respondents to RCLCO's latest Market Sentiment Survey are feeling less optimistic than they were six months ago, but most still see continued stability in market conditions for the near to medium term. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of respondents believe the next U.S. real estate market downturn will not begin until at least 2019.
• Video: Timelapse of National Building Museum’s “Hive” Installation
  Published on July 18, 2017 in Planning & Design
  The National Building Museum’s latest Summer Block Party installation – “Hive” – in Washington, D.C., is now open to the public. Designed by Studio Gang, an American architecture and urban design practice with offices in Chicago and New York, Hive is built entirely of more than 2,700 wound paper tubes featuring a reflective silver exterior and a vivid magenta interior, and reaches a height of 60 feet.
• Five Places U.S. Employers Are Finding New Tech Talent
  Published on July 05, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  JLL’s latest report analyzes markets with a high concentration of in-demand, affordable tech talent and available real estate, much of which is located near research universities that can be tapped for new employees.
• In Brief: Global Prime Office Rents Rise 1.9 Percent Year-over-Year
  Published on June 26, 2017 in Development
  Central Hong Kong and London’s West End topped the latest list of prime office occupancy costs, according to CBRE Research’s latest annual Global Prime Office Occupancy Costs report. “The global top ten list reflects the ongoing strength of global gateway cities in attracting and maintaining a successful occupier base,” said Richard Barkham, global chief economist at CBRE.
• Video: Technology’s Impact on Our Lives, Jobs, and Business
  Published on June 16, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Vivek Wadhwa, a futurist and a distinguished fellow and adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering, shared his insights on technology’s impact on our lives, jobs and business, at the ULI Asia Pacific Summit in Singapore, followed by an interactive discussion with Richard Price of CBRE Global Investors and ULI Global board member.
• In Brief: Median Home Size Dipped in 2016, First Retreat Since 2009
  Published on June 13, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  According to the Wall Street Journal, the median size of a new single-family home declined for the first time since 2009, slipping 2 percent to 2,422 square feet (225 sq m) in 2016. This is only the third time in the last 20 years that it has fallen, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
• In Brief: Dodge Momentum Index Resumes Growth in May
  Published on June 12, 2017 in Development
  Following a dip in April, the Dodge Momentum Index advanced 4.0 percent in May to 139.1, up from the April reading, which was revised down to 133.7. The index is a monthly measure of the initial report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year.
• In Brief: Rate of Multifamily Rent Growth in U.S. Slowing
  Published on June 05, 2017 in Industry Sectors
  U.S. multifamily rents increased in May for the third month in a row, according to Yardi Matrix’s monthly survey of 121 markets, but the rate of growth continues to decelerate. On a year-over-year basis, U.S. monthly rents were up 1.5 percent nationwide in May. The year-over-year growth rate has decreased for 13 straight months since peaking at 5.4 percent in April 2016.
• Panelists Weigh Policies That Could Boost U.S. Growth Near End of Economic Cycle
  Published on May 12, 2017 in Capital Markets
  The current U.S. economic expansion is already one of the longest since World War II, but because most investors have been relatively conservative in their investment choices, few reasons exist for concern about a sharp downturn in the near term, panelists said at the 2017 ULI Spring Meeting. They also agreed that certain policy changes like corporate repatriation of profits or tax cuts would increase the possibility of further growth.
• In Brief: Strong Rent Growth in European Prime Office
  Published on May 01, 2017 in Office
  Hong Kong remained the world’s highest-priced office market last year, according to CBRE Group’s latest survey. Four of the top five fastest-growing markets for prime office rent were in Europe, with Stockholm, Berlin, and Dublin joining Belfast on the list.
• Four Trends Driving the Shifting Demand for Traditional Bank Branches
  Published on May 01, 2017 in Development
  According to JLL’s 2017 Banking Outlook, increased use of mobile banking could decrease the need for traditional bank branches by 20 percent in the next five years, although some underserved markets are still seeing new construction.
• In Brief: Dodge Momentum Index Increases 0.9 Percent in March
  Published on April 17, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The Dodge Momentum Index increased by 0.9 percent in March to 144.4 from its revised February reading of 143.2. The index, produced by Dodge Data & Analytics, has risen for six consecutive months, with much of the gain being driven by institutional projects entering planning while commercial projects so far in 2017 have receded slightly. Plus, interest rate survey results from Trepp.
• In Brief: Multifamily Market Springs to Life with Solid Gains
  Published on April 07, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  After a lackluster winter, U.S. rents posted solid gains in March, according to Yardi Matrix’s monthly survey of 121 markets, although the rate of growth continued to decelerate. Average monthly rents rose $6 to $1,312, with the largest rent growth seen in California's Sacramento, Inland Empire, and Los Angeles markets.
• Four Trends Driving the Evolution of Grocery Stores
  Published on March 21, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Last year was above average for U.S. grocery store openings as they anchored developments ranging from apartments to malls to even some hotel concepts. Here are four trends driving changes in the modern grocery store concept, based on JLL's recent Grocery Tracker, including scan-and-go payment apps and more prepared meals.
• In Brief: Seattle-Tacoma, San Jose Are Top U.S. Office Markets for 2017
  Published on March 16, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  San Jose, California, and Seattle-Tacoma, Washington, hold the top two spots in Marcus & Millichap’s latest National Office Property Index (NOPI). Both markets boast vacancy rates below the national average and significant completions forecast for 2017.
• Video: U.S. Mayors at South by Southwest Discuss Tech Economy in Cities
  Published on March 15, 2017 in Sustainability
  Two of the current ULI Rose Center fellows, Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C., and Mayor Sam Liccardo of San Jose, California, gave brief interviews on what their cities are doing for the tech sector. housing affordability, and infrastucture. Liccardo said, "We are starting to recognize that the suburban tilt-up campus of a generation ago are not what young creative people want to work in today and we need to think more and more about how we’d retrofit a city that was really largely built for cars into a city that’s built for people."
• In Brief: Boomers Continue to Drive U.S. Remodeling Market
  Published on February 28, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  According to the latest forecast from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, spending on home improvements is projected to strengthen in the majority of America’s largest metro areas in 2017, with many markets in the East and Midwest expected to post double-digit annual growth. The residential remodeling market reached a record high of $340 billion in 2015—surpassing its previous peak in 2007—and is projected to increase 2 percent per year on average through 2025 after adjusting for inflation.
• In Brief: U.S. Industrial Markets Maintained Record Pace in 2016
  Published on February 08, 2017 in Development
  Last month, Cushman & Wakefield reported that U.S. industrial markets absorbed 63.6 million square feet (5.9 million sq m) of space in the final quarter of 2016, which propelled net absorption for the year to a record-setting 282.9 million square feet (26.3 million sq m). According to the company, the U.S. industrial vacancy rate for all product types continued to decline in the fourth quarter, falling 30 basis points (bps) from the prior quarter and 100 bps from the prior year to 5.5 percent.
• Jan./Feb. Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on February 03, 2017 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The latest issue of the magazine is now available for download through the Urban Land app. The cover package for this issue is titled "Safe and Welcoming: The challenge facing developers of public places."
• In Brief: Los Angeles, Seattle Are Top Multifamily Markets for 2017
  Published on February 02, 2017 in Development
  Los Angeles is now the top city in Marcus & Millichap’s National Multifamily Index, moving up 11 spots from a year earlier. The move was fueled by a forecast for further tightening in vacancy and minimal supply growth. Robust job growth pushed Seattle-Tacoma seven spots higher to place second on the list.
• Seattle Bikeway Named America’s Best New Bike Lane for 2016
  Published on January 26, 2017 in Sustainability
  Seattle’s Westlake Avenue bikeway was named America’s best new bike lane of 2016 last month by People for Bikes, an industry coalition of bicycling suppliers and retailers, as well as a charitable foundation. What makes the $3.6 million project notably effective is that it takes advantage of the flat topography close to Lake Union which is beneficial to cycling while also connecting an existing network of trails to a desirable destination.
• Video: How Seattle Is Growing into a Great Transit City
  Published on January 17, 2017 in Sustainability
  Seattle is one of the fastest-growing cities in America, and the city is making bold investments to ensure most residents live within walking distance of frequent transit, according to a new video produced by StreetFilms and TransitCenter.
• In Brief: U.S. Construction Reaches Cyclical High in Q3 2016
  Published on December 22, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  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.
• Remembering Mayor William H. Hudnut III
  Published on December 19, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  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.
• Urban Land’s Most Popular Articles for 2016
  Published on December 19, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  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.
• In Brief: U.S. Renters Have Higher Credit Scores, More Access to Debt
  Published on December 15, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  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.
• Nov/Dec Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on December 12, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  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.”
• Video: The Well-Tempered City and the Future of Urban Life
  Published on November 23, 2016 in Sustainability
  Speaking at the 2016 ULI Fall Meeting, Jonathan Rose, founder and president of the Jonathan Rose Companies, discussed creating a higher purpose for cities as outlined in his new book, The Well-Tempered City.
• Developer’s Perspective on Real Estate’s Hardest Decision: Sell or Hold
  Published on November 03, 2016 in Development
  Speaking at the 2016 ULI Fall Meeting, John McNellis, partner at McNellis Partners, a northern California–based developer, shared part of his perspective, as captured in his book, Making It in Real Estate. For those looking to get into the real estate business, McNellis advised trying to take a 20-year approach to your career.
• Sept/Oct Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on October 12, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The latest issue of the magazine is now available for download in the Urban Land app. The cover package for this issue is titled "Dallas: Restless for growth in north Texas." Other topics include "Saving Energy: Inside the Empire State Building," "Asia Pacific: Capital on the Move," and "Europe: Brexit Sinks In."
• White House Recognizes Need for Creative Policies to Facilitate More Housing in Growing Cities
  Published on October 11, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  A new “Housing Developers Toolkit” released by the White House outlines a range of zoning and local policy changes that can spur development of affordable housing. Among them are the elimination of off-street parking requirements, which the paper states “generally impose an undue burden on housing development, particularly for transit-oriented or affordable housing.”
• Capital, Shipping Flows Likely to Buoy Development in U.S. Southeast
  Published on September 12, 2016 in Capital Markets
  Many macroeconomic trends continue to favor U.S. commercial real estate as an asset class, Jimmy Hinton, a managing director of research at HFF, told attendees at a ULI South Carolina capital markets conference in early September.
• Audio: Highway Removal and the Plan to Put Dallas Back Together
  Published on September 12, 2016 in Infrastructure
  ULI member and urban planner Patrick Kennedy recently appeared on the Streetsblog podcast, Talking Headways, to discuss Kennedy's highway removal campaign for Dallas, known as "A New Dallas," and the recent Texas DOT CityMap Plan to re-imagine the freeways and roads in the city’s downtown.
• Audio: The Challenges of Unbuilding a City
  Published on August 29, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  National Public Radio's podcast Planet Money recently looked at why demolishing a single block of abandoned homes in Baltimore took more than a decade.
• Video: New York City’s Lowline Gets First Approval
  Published on August 15, 2016 in Planning & Design
  In mid-July, New York City's Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen and the New York City Economic Development Corporation announced the selection of the Lowline as the designated developer for the underground trolley terminal at the base of the Williamsburg Bridge that has been disused for nearly seven decades.
• Zillow Models Nearly 2 Million U.S. Homes Flooded by 2100
  Published on August 08, 2016 in Sustainability
  Using maps released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), real estate listing provider Zillow is predicting that almost 300 U.S. cities would lose more than half of their housing stocks by the year 2100 due to rising sea levels associated with climate change. The estimated value of these homes is $882 billion.
• July/August Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on August 01, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The latest issue of the magazine is now available for download in the Urban Land app. The cover package for this issue is titled "Home Sweet: Softening the Edges for Dense, Urban Living." Other topics include "Housing: Repurposing Office Space," "Japan: Calling Uber," and "Technology: A New Kind of Tenant."
• Video: The Hills at New York City’s Governors Island
  Published on July 15, 2016 in Planning & Design
  This month, Governors Island, the 172-acre (70 ha) island in the heart of New York Harbor, will open to the public for the first time its newest addition to the park, The Hills, with Fast Company calling it “an engineering marvel built for resiliency and recreation.”
• Video: Gabe Klein on the Start-Up City
  Published on June 27, 2016 in Planning & Design
  Based on his unique combination of experiences as a food truck entrepreneur, a Zipcar executive, and as the head of transportation for the cities of Chicago and Washington, D.C., author, investor, and entrepreneur Gabe Klein spoke at the 2016 ULI Asia Pacific Summit about the secret to success in the new global economy.
• May/June Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on June 13, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The latest issue is now available for download in the Urban Land app. The cover package for this issue is titled "Water: Recreation, Refreshment, Resilience." Other topics include the following: "ShanghaiTech: A 'Silicon Valley' for China," "Resilience: Taming Golf's Thirst," and "Peter Calthorpe: China's Urban Design Revolution."
• Video: Vanguard CEO F. William McNabb III on Cybersecurity and Systemic Risk
  Published on May 13, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Speaking at the ULI Spring Meeting in Philadelphia, William McNabb, chairman and CEO of Vanguard, shares his thoughts on systemic risk for financial institutions, two-factor authentication, and what keeps him up at night.
• In Print: Start-Up City: Inspiring Private & Public Entrepreneurship, Getting Projects Done, and Having Fun
  Published on May 10, 2016 in Infrastructure
  In choosing the title for this book, Gabe Klein, best known as the former head of the city departments of transportation in Washington, D.C., and later Chicago, refers to the entrepreneurial mentality that public sector workers can bring to government.
• Buying It Right: Advice for Aspiring Developers from Industry Veterans
  Published on April 28, 2016 in Development
  For aspiring developers, panelists agreed that choosing a sector—whether it be residential, office, industrial, or something else—does not particularly matter, but that you have to start somewhere, start small, and specialize within whatever sector you do choose. “All happy real estate deals are alike—they start with a motivated seller,” said John E. McNellis of McNellis Partners, speaking at the 2016 ULI Spring Meeting.
• Will There Be “Extra Innings” for This Lower Leverage Cycle?
  Published on April 21, 2016 in Capital Markets
  Speaking at the 2016 ULI Spring Meeting in Philadelphia, panelists said that while valuations are quite high, the relatively low levels of leverage may mitigate some of the boom-to-bust tendencies of past building cycles.
• Mar/Apr Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on April 15, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The latest issue is now available for download in the Urban Land app. The cover package for this issue is titled "Philadelphia: A History of Innovation." Other cover topics include: "Tokyo: Rising Values and Redevelopment," "Janette Sadik-Khan: How Pedestrians Won Times Square," and " The New Comcast Center: A Vertical Silicon Valley."
• Data Journalist Nate Silver to Speak at the ULI Spring Meeting, April 19–21
  Published on April 14, 2016 in Spring Meeting
  Nate Silver, founder of the FiveThirtyEight website, is scheduled to deliver the closing keynote address at ULI’s Spring Meeting, which is being held in Philadelphia this week.
• Video: Why Rustbelts Are the Emerging Hotspots of Global Innovation
  Published on April 13, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  A new book, The Smartest Places on Earth , examines this changing dynamic and the transformation of “rustbelt” cities, the former industrial centers of the U.S. and Europe, into a “brainbelt” of design and innovation.
• Video: Janette Sadik-Khan Speaking About Streetfight, Times Square
  Published on April 11, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Janette Sadik-Khan, New York’s transportation commissioner from 2007 to 2013, recently spoke at Politics & Prose, one of Washington, D.C.'s premier independent bookstore and cultural hub, promoting her new book, Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution. Look for an excerpt from the book in the current print issue of Urban Land and online next week.
• Video: 10 Parks That Changed America
  Published on April 01, 2016 in Planning & Design
  PBS will broadcast a new documentary, 10 Parks That Changed America, on April 12th. Produced by WTTW in Chicago, the program identifies the 10 most influential urban parks in the country, from the era of America’s early settlers to the present day, ranging from the Squares of Savannah, Georgia, to the High Line of New York City.
• Video: Baltimore Hosts First U.S. Light Festival
  Published on March 28, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Premiering this week, Light City Baltimore is the first large-scale, international "light festival" in the United States. Similar festivals have been held in Berlin, Singapore, Rio de Janeiro, and Sydney, Australia. Light City Baltimore provides a backdrop for the celebration of ideas, ingenuity and creativity through art, music and innovation.
• Former ULI Chairman Joseph W. O’Connor Dies at 70
  Published on March 25, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Joseph W. O’Connor, 70, of North Palm Beach, Florida, passed away at home in February surrounded by family and friends following a courageous ten-month battle with cancer. O’Connor founded Copley Real Estate Advisors, one of the largest and most successful real estate investment firms in the United States. He was cochair of AEW Capital Management and chairman of the Urban Land Institute from 2001 to 2003, in addition to being a ULI Foundation governor and trustee.
• Video: Trailer for City of Trees Documentary
  Published on March 16, 2016 in Sustainability
  A film about the intersection of public stimulus and a community's fight for equal access to good jobs and safe parks, City of Trees will be shown as part of the Environmental Film Festival this month in Washington, D.C
• At SXSW, DOT Secretary Foxx Announces Seven Finalist Cities in Smart City Challenge
  Published on March 14, 2016 in Infrastructure
  Seven cities—Austin, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; Denver; Kansas City, Missouri; Pittsburgh; Portland, Oregon; and San Francisco—have been named finalists for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Smart City Challenge. DOT has pledged up to $40 million to one city to help it define what it means to be a “smart city.”
• Video: Drone Flyover of Apple’s Campus Construction in California
  Published on March 10, 2016 in Planning & Design
  This video, captured by drone by photographer Duncan Sinfield, shows the progress on the spaceship-like main building, plus a 100,000 square foot fitness center, parking structures for nearly 11,000 cars, a research and development facility, and 1,000 seat underground auditorium. Once completed, the Apple Campus 2 will house some 12,000 employees.
• Video: Inside New York’s WTC Train Station
  Published on March 04, 2016 in Planning & Design
  Downtown Manhattan got a new architectural landmark last week, with the opening of architect Santiago Calatrava’s World Trade Center Transportation Hub. The distinctive structure with wing-like ribs connects the PATH commuter trains from New Jersey to the New York subway system, as well as the trans-Hudson ferries. Take a virtual tour with this video by Bloomberg Business.
• Jan/Feb Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on February 22, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The latest issue is now available for download in the Urban Land app. The cover package for this issue is titled "Finding Delight in Density." Other cover topics include: "Emerging Trends: Top Markets in Europe and Asia," "Technology: Advances in Smart Glass, and Design," and "Chile's Alejandro Aravena."
• Urban Land’s Most Popular Articles for 2015
  Published on January 04, 2016 in Economy, Market & Trends
  As we turn our calendar over to 2016, we wanted to look back on the topics that resonated with the readers of Urban Land Online in the past year, including rebuilding vibrant downtowns and ExxonMobil's new campus in Houston.
• Nov./Dec. Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on December 07, 2015 in
  The latest issue of Urban Land is now available for download via the app. If you have not downloaded it before, you can do so now at no charge. The cover package for this issue is titled "The Age of Data."
• Modeling Latin American Redevelopment after Miami’s Success Story
  Published on November 23, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The focus of most panelists at ULI’s Latin America Conference, held in late October, was on the stronger markets, including Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile. There also was optimism about a turnaround in Brazil and Argentina’s most recent election.
• Sept/Oct Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on September 29, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The latest issue of Urban Land is now available for download via the app. If you have not downloaded it before, you can do so now at no charge. The cover package for this issue is titled "San Francisco" and focuses on the host city of this year's ULI Fall Meeting.
• EPA Recognizes Three Communities for Smart Growth Achievement
  Published on September 23, 2015 in Sustainability
  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized projects in communities in New Jersey, Ohio, and Tennessee as winners of the 2015 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement.
• Video: 606 Trail Opens in Chicago
  Published on September 08, 2015 in Planning & Design
  After more than a decade of planning, Chicago this June opened the first section of the trail, now known as the 606. An elevated railroad right-of-way converted to a pedestrian greenway, the 606 is a multifunctional park system that also includes a bike path and five neighborhood parks on the ground level along its 2.7-mile (4.5 km) stretch.
• Video: Explaining the Benefits of a “Road Diet”
  Published on August 31, 2015 in Planning & Design
  Jeff Speck, planning expert and author of Walkable City and coauthor of Suburban Nation , has created a series of videos that illustrate how cities are reducing on-street parking and better utilizing their existing roads to create calmer traffic patterns, wider sidewalks, and dedicated bike lanes.
• Video: Here Come the Married Millennial Homebuyers
  Published on August 24, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  According to forecasting firm Demographic Intelligence, a wave of millennial marriages and parents is on its way.
• July/August Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on August 14, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The latest issue of Urban Land is now available for download via the app. If you have not downloaded it before, you can do so now at no charge. The cover package for this issue is titled "Crafting Authenticity: Designing retail spaces that consumers embrace."
• Video: How San Francisco Is Striving for Zero Waste
  Published on August 10, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Only one third of the waste in the United States is recycled or composted. Racing to Zero, a highlights some of the amazing solutions in San Francisco, which is successfully taking the necessary steps to reach zero waste by 2020.
• Video: Can Redesigned Corner Stores Make Us Crave Healthier Foods
  Published on July 17, 2015 in Planning & Design
  Healthy Retail SF is a program designed to help retailers in high-poverty neighborhoods in the Bay Area transform their markets into places that offer a variety of affordable and healthy food options.
• Time Lapse: A 57-Story Tower Built in 19 Days in China
  Published on July 07, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  On the outskirts of Changsha in southern China stands a new tower. At a mere 204 meters (669 feet) it's less than a third of the height of Shanghai's tallest, but a time-lapse video by the BBC shows it shooting up at the rate of three floors per day.
• May/June Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on June 22, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The latest issue of Urban Land is now available for download via the app. If you have not downloaded it before, you can do so now at no charge. The cover package for this issue is titled "Crafting Authenticity: Designing retail spaces that consumers embrace."
• Video: Designing for Social Impact
  Published on June 22, 2015 in Sustainability
  In a talk for TedXMidAtlantic, a local version of the nonprofit TED Talks, Liz Ogbu explains why she sees herself as an architect that designs for social impact, not buildings. Ogbu is an expert on sustainable design and spatial innovation in challenged urban environments and will be one of the keynote speakers at this year's Housing Opportunity conference.
• Timelapse: See Two Years of Construction on the SFMOMA
  Published on June 11, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Snøhetta, the architects behind the expansion of San Francisco Modern Museum of Modern Art, posted a time-lapse on Instagram, condensing the past two years of construction down to roughly six seconds.
• Video: What If Your Commute Inspired Yourself and Others?
  Published on June 10, 2015 in Planning & Design
  A project called SubArt is has launched a video campaign to bring the kind of interactive art installations more common in Paris, Taiwan and Montreal to name a few examples to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system.
• Houston as a Vision for the Future of American Cities
  Published on May 21, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Welcoming attendees to the ULI Spring Meeting in Houston, Mayor Annise Parker said that the lessons learned by her city about diversity and entrepreneurship have resonance across the United States.
• Aging Office Parks Revitalized with Healthy Amenities
  Published on May 20, 2015 in Sustainability
  While office tenants may not realize the significance of healthier buildings, experts speaking at the 2015 ULI Spring Meeting said that in the kind of office that tenants want, most of the amenities center on wellness and health.
• March/April Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on April 20, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  For those of you who have already downloaded the Urban Land app for tablets and smartphones, the latest issue is now available. In addition to the Apple and Android app stores, you can now download the magazine on your Kindle Fire and Windows 8 devices.
• Commercial/Multifamily Originations Rose to $400 Billion in 2014
  Published on April 16, 2015 in Capital Markets
  Commercial and multifamily mortgage bankers closed $399.8 billion worth of loans in 2014, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s 2014 Commercial Real Estate/Multifamily Finance Annual Origination Volume Summation.
• New York Tops Walk Score’s 10 Most Walkable U.S. Cities
  Published on April 09, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Walk Score, now owned by internet brokerage Redfin, has released its 2015 ranking of the most walkable U.S. cities with populations exceeding 300,000. New York, the nation’s most walkable city, has increased its lead over San Francisco, which came in second.
• Third Time’s a Charm for Jacksonville’s Crowdfunding Festival
  Published on April 06, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Now in its third year, the OneSpark festival highlights entrepreneurial projects in both a juried competition and a popular vote in what is touted as the “world’s biggest crowdfunding festival.” There will be 555 official OneSpark creator projects this year.
• Creating the Leading Urban Think Tank in the Sun Belt
  Published on March 30, 2015 in Sustainability
  Last fall, William Fulton, a former mayor and planner by training, left Southern California to take a new position at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University in Houston. Leveraging Rice’s strengths in computer science, architecture, civil engineering, and other disciplines, Fulton hopes to establish the leading urban think tank in the Sun Belt.
• U.S. Office Occupancy at Seven-Year High
  Published on March 30, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  According to a new report from CBRE Research, annual tenant demand, as measured by net absorption, totaled 52.7 million square feet (4.9 million sq m) in 2014—the highest annual amount since 2007.
• Report Estimates Sprawl’s Cost to United States at $1 Trillion per Year
  Published on March 23, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Urban sprawl costs the U.S. economy more than $1 trillion annually, according to a new study by the New Climate Economy, a global commission on the economy and climate.
• McKinsey’s Kirkland Says to Prepare for “A.I. Spring”
  Published on March 16, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Rik Kirkland, director of publishing and principal at consultancy McKinsey & Co., believes that one story has the potential to “change everything” between now and the year 2100. Speaking at ULI’s Midwinter Meeting in Paris, Kirkland said, “The biggest story unfolding around us today is we’re witnessing the dawn of the era of machine learning and artificial intelligence.”
• Reimagining Houston’s Transit System
  Published on March 12, 2015 in Sustainability
  After a two-year process, Houston’s existing bus system will be restructured to give better coverage and boost frequency to key areas without cost. Could other systems be similarly optimized?
• Google Rethinks Its Office Needs
  Published on March 06, 2015 in Planning & Design
  Google has announced plans to add approximately 1.1 million square feet to the existing 2 million square feet of office space at the company's corporate headquarters in Mountain View, California, in collaboration with architects BIG and Heatherwick Studio.
• Visualizing 60 Years of Change in Houston and Other Cities
  Published on February 18, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  See how downtown Houston and other American downtowns have been transformed over the past 60 years with these illustrations.
• Video: Where Am I? The Power of Uniqueness
  Published on January 07, 2015 in Economy, Market & Trends
  In this talk for TEDxJacksonville, ULI senior fellow Ed McMahon sets forth an argument for the economic, psychological and social value of uniqueness.
• In Print: ULI’s Bestselling Books for 2014
  Published on December 22, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  This past quarter, three new books were published by the Urban Land Institute. Here is a complete list of the top 10 bestselling books for the fourth quarter of 2014.
• Urban Land‘s Most Popular Articles for 2014
  Published on December 22, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  As we look forward to turning the calendar over to 2015 in a few days, we wanted to look back on the topics that resonated with the readers of Urban Land Online in the past year.
• November-December Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on December 08, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  For those of you who have already downloaded the Urban Land app for tablets and smartphones, the latest issue is now available. If you have not downloaded the app for Android or Apple devices, feel free to do so now, also at no charge.
• Greatest Development Opportunity in History in Global Urban Migration
  Published on October 30, 2014 in Development
  Citing the estimate of 2.5 billion people moving to cities by 2050, Rob Speyer, president and co–chief executive officer of Tishman Speyer, said that cities are more important than ever in bringing people together in a keynote address at the 2014 ULI Fall Meeting.
• Real Estate Representatives in Fortune’s 40 Under 40
  Published on October 09, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Airbnb's Brian Chesky shares the top spot in this year's Fortune 40 under 40 with Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. Both companies have faced their share of controversy, but are influential in the built environment and the "sharing" economy, particularly as both look to expand internationally.
• October Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on October 06, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  For those of you who have already downloaded the Urban Land app for your smartphone or tablet, the latest issue is now available.
• The Lowline: A Park Beneath the Hustle and Bustle of New York
  Published on September 17, 2014 in Development
  Dan Barasch is the co-founder and executive director of the Lowline, a proposed park beneath the streets of New York City—in the old Williamsburg Bridge Trolley Terminal. In use from 1908 to 1948, the terminal is long abandoned. The Lowline will be a one-acre park in a neighborhood where green space is hard to come by.
• Time Lapse: 1 WTC and the Return of the Lower Manhattan Skyline
  Published on September 12, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  For the last three years, photographer Benjamin Rosamond has been watching the construction of the 1,776-foot skyscraper at 1 World Trade Center from his living room in Brooklyn. From 30,000 images, Rosamond created this two-minute time lapse video.
• Bringing Keycard Technology to Smartphones
  Published on August 21, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  This past July, a company called Kisi took the grand prize at a “Hacker Challenge” for real estate–based apps sponsored by RETechNYC, an advisory firm, and ULI New York.
• Dimon, Isaacson among Keynote Speakers at ULI Fall Meeting
  Published on July 31, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  More than 7,000 of the world’s foremost leaders in the real estate and land use industries are expected to convene at the 2014 ULI Fall Meeting, set for October 21–23 at the Javits Center in New York City.
• Resilient Cities Challenge Looking for Next Candidates
  Published on July 23, 2014 in Sustainability
  Last December, the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities Challenge announced the first 32 cities selected in the program. The second round of the challenge has just opened.
• NYU Program to Look for Solutions for Rising Inequality
  Published on July 21, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Though New York City recently surpassed its own high-water mark with more than 4 million private sector jobs, the unemployment rate is well above the national average at 7.9 percent.
• When Will Millennials Save the U.S. Housing Market?
  Published on July 15, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The U.S. housing recovery should regain its footing this year, concludes The State of the Nation’s Housing report released by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University.
• July-August Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on July 11, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  For those of you who have already downloaded the Urban Land app, the latest issue is now available.
• President Obama Calls for Renewal of Highway Trust Fund
  Published on July 01, 2014 in Infrastructure
  U.S. President Barack Obama called on Congress to patch the Highway Trust Fund saying that a transportation funding shutdown could cost some 700,000 jobs.
• Submit Your Ideas for the Fall Meeting in New York City
  Published on June 05, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Once again, ULI will crowdsource a session for this year’s Fall Meeting in New York City. Using the ULI Meeting Idea Generator, participants can suggest topics and vote for their favorites. In 2013, a panel on the use of micro-units and the shared economy was named the winner.
• Video: Would You Buy a Driverless Car With No Brakes?
  Published on May 29, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Following rumors about a venture capital round that would put Uber's valuation at more than $10 billion, ULI senior visiting fellow Gabe Klein was on Bloomberg TV's Street Smart to talk about Uber, car-free households, and other startups.
• Video: Are Uber and AirBnb Worth $10 Billion Each?
  Published on May 23, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Following rumors about a venture capital round that would put Uber's valuation at more than $10 billion, ULI senior visiting fellow Gabe Klein was on Bloomberg TV's Street Smart to talk about Uber, car-free households, and other startups.
• May-June Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on May 19, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  If you have not already downloaded the Urban Land app for your tablet or smartphone, ULI members can do so now and enjoy the latest issue, plus a year of back issues.
• Chief Executive of Hong Kong to Address ULI Asia Pacific Summit
  Published on May 16, 2014 in News
  The Honorable C.Y. Leung, chief executive, Hong Kong S.A.R., and founding chairman of ULI Asia Pacific will be among the keynotes at the third annual ULI Asia Pacific Summit later this month. Titled “What’s Next? The Dynamics of the Future,” this year’s summit will take place May 20 to 22 at the Grand Hyatt in Hong Kong.
• Three Growth Models Embrace Healthy Principles
  Published on April 14, 2014 in Sustainability
  Health and wellness are driving part of the offering at Whole Foods, Westin Hotels, and the Baja California resort industry in a way that is likely to increase over time, panelists said at the ULI Spring Meeting last week in Vancouver, British Columbia.
• Zakaria: Look Past Turmoil for Global Growth Story
  Published on April 14, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Despite the turmoil and general unease around the globe, Fareed Zakaria focused on the peace and prosperity of the current decade in his remarks at the ULI Spring Meeting.
• Vancouver’s Mayor on Affordability, Walkability, and Sea Rise
  Published on April 10, 2014 in Sustainability
  Gregor Robertson spoke at the ULI Spring Meeting, delving into the city’s increasingly car-free lifestyle and how Vancouver is dealing with climate change and creating world-class public spaces.
• Monday’s Numbers: April 7, 2014
  Published on April 07, 2014 in Capital Markets
  Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are off to a strong start in 2014, showing returns far in excess of alternative public equity investments. REITs continue to have access to both equity and debt capital in size and at low cost, fueling their ability to selectively acquire property on an accretive basis.
• Previewing the ULI/EY Real Estate Consensus Forecast
  Published on March 28, 2014 in Capital Markets
  Next week, ULI will release the ULI/EY Real Estate Consensus Forecast, a semiannual report based on a survey of 39 of the nation’s leading real estate economists and analysts. The report looks at several broad benchmarks including gross domestic product and the unemployment rate, but also indices specific to the real estate industry.
• March/April Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on March 24, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  If you have not already downloaded the Urban Land app for your tablet or smartphone, you can do so now and enjoy the latest issue, plus a year of back issues.
• Illinois and Maryland Are Top States for LEED
  Published on February 24, 2014 in Sustainability
  The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its ranking of the top 10 states for LEED, the widely used green building rating system. Illinois was named the top state for 2013 with 2.29 square feet (0.213 sq m) of space per capita certified during the year, followed by Maryland and Virginia.
• EPA Recognizes Seven Communities for Smart Growth Achievement
  Published on February 05, 2014 in Sustainability
  The Historic Millwork District (pictured) in Dubuque, Iowa, was one of seven winners of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Award for Smart Growth Achievement.
• January/February Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on February 03, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  For those of you who have already downloaded the Urban Land app, the latest issue is now available for download.
• Building Happier, Healthier, and More Sustainable Cities
  Published on January 27, 2014 in Planning & Design
  While many books have recently focused on making cities denser, more walkable, or more functional, asking how to make urban populations happier is a slightly different question. Charles Montgomery makes his case in his new book The Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design.
• Most Popular Articles for 2013
  Published on January 06, 2014 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Now in its third year, Urban Land Online saw a record traffic month in July. While we hate to play favorites -- Apgar Award notwithstanding -- we did want to recognize the articles from last year that helped make our traffic numbers possible.
• Report Identifies Ten Critical Imperatives Facing U.S. Cities
  Published on December 20, 2013 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The National League of Cities (NLC) today released a new report that identifies “The 10 Critical Imperatives Facing America’s Cities” and proposes innovative strategies to address these challenges and improve the nation’s communities.
• November/December Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
  Published on December 16, 2013 in Economy, Market & Trends
  For those of you who have already downloaded the Urban Land app, the latest issue is now available for download.
• Darwin’s Retail: Survival of the Fittest
  Published on November 18, 2013 in Retail/Entertainment
  Shopping centers, having survived the worst contraction in 50 years, are often turning to restaurants and specialty retailers to replace department stores as anchor tenants.
• Next Evolution in Micro-Housing: Smarter, Shared, and Modular
  Published on November 18, 2013 in Residential/Multifamily
  During a panel at the ULI Fall Meeting in Chicago, Chris Bledsoe, chief executive officer of Stage 3 Properties, illustrated the ongoing crisis in affordable housing in places like New York City by showing a craigslist post for a “room” with three-foot (1 m) ceilings.
• Building Gigabit Internet into More Developments
  Published on November 18, 2013 in Residential/Multifamily
  As Americans spend more and more time online using multiple devices, higher-speed internet connections are shifting from a luxury to a necessity, panelists said at the ULI Fall Meeting in Chicago.
• Education, Immigration Reform Are Keys to a Brighter Future
  Published on November 13, 2013 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Prior to beginning his career in politics, Jeb Bush worked in commercial real estate in south Florida. Immigration and education are two areas he sees needing reform.
• Space, Place, and the Future of Higher Education
  Published on November 06, 2013 in Development
  Higher education is in many ways as vulnerable to disruption by new technologies as retail was a decade ago, said panelists at the ULI Fall Meeting.
• The Future Is Not What It Used to Be
  Published on November 06, 2013 in Planning & Design
  By 2050, 70 percent of the world's population will live in just 200 cities. While some gateway cities will prosper, how will the others stay competitive?
• Event App Helps Attendees Get the Most from the ULI Fall Meeting
  Published on October 31, 2013 in News
  Those attending the Institute’s 2013 Fall Meeting in Chicago November 5–8 will find it easier to get the most out of the event thanks to a new mobile app for iPads, iPhones, and other smartphones capable of browsing the web. The free app is designed to help attendees plan their schedules, communicate with each other instantly through Twitter, comment on programs—and even find nearby restaurants.
• Urban Land Coming to Mobile Devices
  Published on October 21, 2013 in News
  This fall, Urban Land will be available for the first time as an app for tablets and smartphones on either Apple’s iOS operating system or Google’s Android. As a preview, the Urban Land magazine app will offer our September/October issue free of charge to anyone wishing to download it. Starting with the November/December issue, an authentication feature that restricts access to ULI members will be added.
• ULI Forecast Sees CMBS Issuance Rising to $100 Billion in 2015
  Published on October 21, 2013 in Capital Markets
  A new U.S. forecast from the Urban Land Institute and EY projects continued improvement for real estate capital markets and commercial real estate fundamentals. The latest findings reveal high expectations for growth in the housing sector, as well as improved confidence about commercial mortgage–backed securities (CMBS) issuance, existing single-family housing prices, and industrial-sector fundamentals when compared to responses from just six months ago.
• City in Focus: Chicago
  Published on October 21, 2013 in Fall Meeting
  Leading up to this year's ULI Fall Meeting in Chicago, Urban Land will highlight projects and topics of interest from the Chicagoland area. Chicago Coverage
• Suburban Revitalization: Adjusting to the New Normal
  Published on September 27, 2013 in Planning & Design
  In her book The End of the Suburbs, Leigh Gallagher argues that while the suburbs suffered the worst during the housing bust, the recession is a catalyst for a much larger trend, driven by high fuel prices, the decline of the nuclear family, and the resurgence of cities. But she also says, "Not all suburbs are going to vanish."
• “Rate Risk” Tops Real Estate Issues for 2013
  Published on June 17, 2013 in Capital Markets
  Interest and capitalization rate risk, shifting demand for health care, and the resurgence of capital markets are the top three risks to real estate for 2013, according to the Chicago-based Counselors of Real Estate (CRE).
• Innovation Fuels Cities
  Published on May 31, 2013 in Economy, Market & Trends
  While innovation is often associated with Silicon Valley’s high-tech industry or New York City’s financial giants, programs like Google Fiber and incubators are bringing growth to cities like Portland and Kansas City, according to panelists at the 2013 ULI Spring Meeting in San Diego.
• Online Models for Community Engagement Emerge
  Published on May 22, 2013 in Economy, Market & Trends
  While public hearings aren’t going away, two companies talked about how they are helping developers and civic leaders get input from community members at the 2013 ULI Spring Meeting.
• Hutchison Calls for Energy Independence, More Businesspeople in Congress
  Published on May 21, 2013 in Economy, Market & Trends
  The former Texas senator says she is optimistic about American energy independence by the end of this decade, but wishes more business people would run for office, as their perspective is needed on issues like Dodd-Frank, the fiscal cliff, and the Affordable Care Act.
• Four Growth Strategies for Uncertain Times
  Published on May 16, 2013 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Whether it comes in the form of the federal sequestration budget cuts or a new startup disrupting an entire industry, Geoff Colvin, author and senior editor of Fortune, says companies and individuals are increasingly have to do work around higher levels of uncertainty.
• ULI Spring Meeting: May 15–17 in San Diego
  Published on May 03, 2013 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Registration is underway for the 2013 ULI Spring Meeting, taking place May 15 to 17 in San Diego.
• Cities Leading the Way on Sustainability
  Published on May 03, 2013 in Sustainability
  At the second New York Times Energy for Tomorrow conference, titled “Building Sustainable Cities,” panels covering topics ranging from self-driving cars to clean-tech investing in China were hosted by Times columnists, including Thomas Friedman, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Joe Nocera, and Bill Keller.
• Colvin Sees Rapid Obsolescence As a Challenge for Builders
  Published on March 22, 2013 in Capital Markets
  Geoff Colvin, longtime editor and columnist for Fortune, spoke with Urban Land in anticipation of his keynote in May at the 2013 ULI Spring Meeting in San Diego. One of the issues he sees for the built environment is adaptability to ever-changing business models.
• How Singapore Builds Smarter Density
  Published on February 01, 2013 in Planning & Design
  A new report draws upon Singapore’s successful urbanization experience. Despite its population density, the city-state has consistently ranked favorably in various surveys measuring the livability and sustainability of cities around the globe.
• Hines Competition Focused on New Land Uses for Area Near Proposed Stadium
  Published on January 14, 2013 in Planning & Design
  With the Super Bowl just a few weeks away, this year’s ULI Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition looks at how stadiums can spur redevelopment. A Minneapolis site, adjacent to the proposed location for a new NFL stadium in Downtown East, has been selected as this year’s focus. The ideas competition, open to graduate-level students will provide multidisciplinary teams the opportunity to propose a long-term development plan that creates value for property owners, city residents, and the greater Twin Cities region.
• India May Outpace China by 2032
  Published on January 07, 2013 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Although the World Bank projects the Chinese economy will grow by more than 8 percent in 2013, developers may find better bets in India and some other Asian countries over the next 20 years, according to a report from Hong Kong-based Global Demographics.
• University Library ‘Goes Green’ For Finals
  Published on December 06, 2012 in Planning & Design
  Cornell University students looking for a break from the winter weather and the pressure of finals can still get a hint of warmer weather, thanks to a temporary grass installation in several buildings on campus.
• Seven Communities Honored with EPA Award for Smart Growth
  Published on December 06, 2012 in Sustainability
  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized seven communities with its 2012 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement. Honorees included projects in Portsmouth, Va., Brattleboro, Vt., and Lancaster, Calif.
• Tending to Ireland’s Green Shoots
  Published on December 03, 2012 in Capital Markets
  After five long years of fiscal crisis, there appears to be some stabilization in commercial real estate, according to a CBRE report issued in November. CBRE analysts cite four consecutive quarters of positive returns in Ireland’s commercial real estate sector.
• Approaching the Fiscal Cliff
  Published on November 30, 2012 in Economy, Market & Trends
  In the past few months, unemployment has fallen, the housing market has strengthened, gas prices have fallen, and consumer confidence is at a five-year high. Would those positive indicators be negated by the economic shock of falling off the fiscal cliff, and plunge the U.S. back into recession?
• London Gets the Gold in Mori’s Global Power Index
  Published on November 26, 2012 in Economy, Market & Trends
  For the first time since the Mori Memorial Foundation began compiling its Global Power City Index in 2008, New York City fell from the top spot. Mostly due to the activities surrounding this year’s Olympics, the Japanese-based researcher found that London ranked the highest in terms of "magnetism."
• Storm’s Aftermath Casts New Light on Familiar Topics
  Published on November 06, 2012 in Economy, Market & Trends
  Whatever form natural disasters take, cities need to incorporate resilience and sustainability into their existing infrastructure and in their plans for growth.
• ULI-Greenprint Center Report Suggests Improvements in Carbon, Energy Emissions
  Published on October 17, 2012 in Fall Meeting
  A new report being released today by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Greenprint Center for Building Performance showed a 4.4 percent reduction in year-over year energy consumption in a portfolio of properties from 46 countries.