Creating a thriving mixed-use property is not nearly as simple as putting retail space on the ground floor of a multifamily residential building, even though that is just what many local officials and planners like to dictate, according to a panel of experts at the ULI Spring Meeting in Houston.

The explosion in e-commerce continues to disrupt the real estate industry, with no end in sight. E-commerce may affect demand for retail space, said panelists at the ULI Spring Meeting, and it is already increasing demand for warehouse space.

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.

Strong growth in e-commerce is driving demand for industrial space. Real estate investment trusts like Prologis, whose $20.5 billion market cap represents 66 percent of the industrial REIT sector, are at the forefront of these changes. Plus, interest rate survey results from Trepp.

Driven by increasing demand from tenants and investors, real estate developers and owners of all sizes are beginning to make significant, tangible strides in embracing energy-efficient, sustainable buildings for the future.

ULI has announced the winner of the 2015 ULI Apgar Urban LandAward, written by Dan Malone and Richard Peiser. Their article, “The Making of Miami Beach’s Mixed-Use Garage,” was published in the September 2014 issue of the magazine.

New research sponsored by UDR Inc. and published by ULI shows that 26 percent of gen Yers currently own homes and virtually all expect to own a home eventually.

The real estate investment trust market in India took an important step forward when Finance Minister Arun Jaitley stated that India’s minimum alternative tax will apply to REITs only when an actual transfer of units occurs. The lack of clarity on whether REITs are subject to MAT, as well as to a dividend distribution tax, are two of the factors that have prevented formation. Plus, interest rate survey results from Trepp.

Nearly four years in the making, a new federal law authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to jointly create a voluntary Tenant Star program aimed at providing national recognition to tenants who design, construct, and operate highly energy-efficient leased spaces in commercial buildings.

Real estate investment trusts pulled back in April, with a –4.95 percent total return for the month. Interest rates edged up during the month and signs of economic weakness also affected REITs and the broader markets with first-quarter GDP growth slowing to just 0.2 percent. Plus, interest rate survey results from Trepp.