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Brett Widness

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

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Economy, Market & Trends
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News
In Brief: Multifamily Market Springs to Life with Solid Gains
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.
April 7, 2017
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Brett Widness
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Economy, Market & Trends
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News
Four Trends Driving the Evolution of Grocery Stores
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.
March 21, 2017
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Brett Widness
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Economy, Market & Trends
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News
In Brief: Seattle-Tacoma, San Jose Are Top U.S. Office Markets for 2017
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.
March 16, 2017
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Brett Widness
Resilience and Sustainability
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News
Video: U.S. Mayors at South by Southwest Discuss Tech Economy in Cities
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 infrastructure. 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.”
March 15, 2017
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Brett Widness
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Market Trends
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Housing – Active Adult Senior and Retirement Communities
In Brief: Boomers Continue to Drive U.S. Remodeling Market
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.
February 28, 2017
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Brett Widness
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Development and Construction
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News
In Brief: U.S. Industrial Markets Maintained Record Pace in 2016
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.
February 8, 2017
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Brett Widness
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Economy, Market & Trends
Jan./Feb. Issue of Urban Land Is Available for Download
The latest issue of the magazine is now available for download through the Urban Landapp. The cover package for this issue is titled “Safe and Welcoming: The challenge facing developers of public places.”
February 3, 2017
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Brett Widness
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Development and Construction
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Residential
In Brief: Los Angeles, Seattle Are Top Multifamily Markets for 2017
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.
February 2, 2017
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Brett Widness
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Resilience and Sustainability
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News
Seattle Bikeway Named America’s Best New Bike Lane for 2016
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.
January 26, 2017
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Brett Widness
Resilience and Sustainability
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Infrastructure
Video: How Seattle Is Growing into a Great Transit City
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.
January 17, 2017
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Brett Widness
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