The global head of corporate real estate at one of the world’s biggest banks told attendees at the 2024 ULI Europe Conference in Milan that a lack of sustainable office assets is “one of the biggest challenges” the company faces.

In May, Barry Sternlicht capped investors’ ability to exit his $10 billion real estate fund—a strategic move to avoid a fire sale of properties at a less-than-ideal time. Sternlicht lowered the limit on monthly withdrawals from Starwood Real Estate Income Trust (SREIT). That limit, previously 2 percent, went to 0.33 percent of net asset value (NAV), the value of SREIT’s assets minus its debt.

On Thursday, CREW DC, AAREP DC, and ULI Washington delivered the third and final program in a series intended to demystify valuations and provide practical insights on negotiating equity and debt.

New studies on urban planning continue to uphold ULI’s 2017 list of 10 best practices in creative placemaking. They underscore three of those practices as essential to optimizing the value of real estate development projects: shared vision, early artist/community engagement, and clear stakeholder benefits.

People are the lifeblood of any city, and they define the urban environment that we covet. Our cities have always been alive and dynamic. How do we keep them that way? One answer: ground-floor activation. When the right spatial considerations are met, cities stay dynamic and, in turn, help us all thrive. The design tactics we use at the ground level are second nature—energized, active frontages; mixed-use developments that open onto streets or plazas; punctuated by pedestrian-friendly design with clear signage and plenty of greenery.

Berkeley, California, is emerging as a hub for life sciences and technology firms, with new developments opening in the West Berkeley neighborhood. In June, ULI San Francisco hosted a walking tour through two campuses targeting life sciences research and development tenants at the eastern edge of the San Francisco Bay: theLAB Berkeley and Berkeley Commons.

ULI has announced the appointment of Mick Cornett, the former mayor of Oklahoma City, as the ULI Canizaro/Klingbeil Fellow for Urban Development. Cornett served as mayor of Oklahoma City from 2005 to 2018, leading a major redevelopment plan for the urban core, securing an NBA franchise to the city, creating an entertainment district that now attracts 2 million visitors a year, and generating 80,000 new jobs.

Real estate investors recognize the need to incorporate physical climate risks—including wildfire, hurricanes, and excessive heat—into their business models as the prevalence and severity of extreme weather events increase. Climate-risk analytics tools have proliferated in recent years to help investors assess, price, and mitigate these physical climate risks. Investors have welcomed these tools but face challenges selecting the right provider—or providers—to meet their business needs.

The history of Denver is closely intertwined with the South Platte River. From the city’s initial settlement along the riverbanks in 1858 to subsequent urbanization that altered its natural course, the South Platte has played a significant role in Denver’s evolution. For much of the 20th century, however, metropolitan development turned away from this vital waterway.

Shenzhen’s Nantou Ancient City project represents a groundbreaking approach to revitalizing China’s historic urban villages in a way that preserves their cultural heritage and community fabric. After China’s government designated Shenzhen as a Special Economic Zone in 1980, the city’s more than 400 urban villages grew rapidly to provide informal housing for an influx of migrant workers. The result: high-density residential areas that maximized rental income but often compromised on fire safety and hygiene standards.

Climate considerations have increasingly become a critical focus for real estate owners, operators, and investors over the past few decades, particularly as the frequency of billion-dollar weather and climate disasters has surged. Beyond the headline-grabbing events, more frequent temperature extremes and less stable energy costs have real financial implications for owners and residents. Key changes in our operating environment include:

As California pushes toward a clean energy future, the city of San José has emerged as a leader in building electrification, offering valuable lessons for other cities nationwide. With residential buildings representing the largest source of natural gas use in the city, San José’s initiatives aim to reshape how these buildings are powered while prioritizing community needs, equity, and affordable housing. In 2022, ULI partnered with San Jose on an Advisory Services Panel (ASP) to inform this policy direction for multifamily buildings of all types. The aim of the ASP was to support the city in enabling property owners to step up their electrification retrofit efforts, encourage the adoption of on-site solar and batteries, and move the market forward.

Making infill development easier, adding a state role to local land-use controls, and connecting housing with transit were some of the top trends in housing policy that emerged on May 9 at the 2024 ULI/Charles H. Shaw Forum on Urban Community Issues. The forum topic, “State and Local Innovations to Expand Housing Opportunities,” reflected something that many communities around the United States are grappling with: dire housing shortages.

A panel of real estate experts convened by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) offered dozens of recommendations to create a more vibrant, active, and inclusive Downtown St. Louis by transforming the historic Gateway Mall, outlined in a new report.

A close look at trends shaping today’s best economic and talent hubs that offers valuable clues into how to create equitable, sustainable innovation districts that prosper.