Articles About Development

Author:
Matt Ward
Posted:
08.24.2010

Westin River North Hotel Sale Proves Neighborhood’s Viability

A sign of Chicago’s River North neighborhood’s inherent commercial strength is the recent $165 million sale of the 424-room Westin River North Hotel at 320 North Dearborn Street.  The purchase price was approximately $389,000 per room, an excellent price considering that the hotel market nationally has struggled.  The price was 37 percent higher than Tishman […]

Read More ›
Author:
Mark McDowell
Posted:
08.23.2010

Green Metropolis Takes Aim at Environmentalists’ Conventional Wisdom

David Owen, a staff writer with The New Yorker, has expanded on his 2004 article entitled “Green Manhattan” that roughs up some of the environmental movement’s most closely held beliefs in a new book entitled Green Metropolis.  A review by Catherine Tumber, originally published in The Wilson Quarterly, notes that “Eco-friendly suburbanites and small-town residents […]

Read More ›
Author:
James I. Clark III
Posted:
08.18.2010

Investors Showing Scant Interest in Mid-Tier Office Properties

Although property investment – especially for trophy buildings – is coming back more strongly than industry analysts had anticipated, mid-tier properties are not yet enjoying a similar rebound.  According to Real Capital Analytics (RCA), properties valued at $20.6 billion were sold during the 2nd quarter of 2010, an 86 percent increase over last year. According […]

Read More ›
Author:
Matt Ward
Posted:
08.17.2010

Chicago Boasts 2010’s Biggest Commercial Transaction

In Chicago’s – and one of the nation’s — largest commercial transactions of 2010, the 60-story, 1.3 million SF 300 North LaSalle Street skyscraper was sold for a whopping $655 million.  That adds up to $500 PSF. The buyer was KBS Real Estate Investment Trust II (KBS REIT II). The LEED Gold certified building, which […]

Read More ›
Author:
Mark McDowell
Posted:
08.13.2010

AIA Edges Closer to USGBC Standards for Green Buildings

It’s surprising that the AIA still does not endorse LEED standards for green buildings.  There has been some progress in forming some kind of strategic alliance, but that is only in the area of advocacy, education and research.  There is still nothing concrete.  Nevertheless, the Architecture 2030 Bulletin and the AIA 2030 Commitment story are […]

Read More ›
Author:
Mark McDowell
Posted:
08.02.2010

London Supermarket Grows Its Own Produce on Roof

A North London supermarket is growing organic fruits and vegetables in a rooftop garden tended by 20 volunteers aged from three to their 60s.  Thornton’s Budgens calls its project Food from the Sky. The nonprofit venture is a collaboration between Thornton’s Budgens, The Positive Earth Project (a local social enterprise) and the Crouch End community.  […]

Read More ›
Author:
Kristian Lee
Posted:
07.28.2010

Illiana Expressway to Bring Growth, New Jobs to Will County, IL

A historic partnership between the states of Illinois and Indiana gave the green light to constructing the Illiana Expressway, a 56-mile superhighway whose goal is to ease traffic congestion, create jobs and promote economic growth.  Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels recently signed an agreement to construct a roadway that connects Interstate […]

Read More ›
Author:
Tom Silva
Posted:
07.27.2010

John Vivadelli: The Real Estate Perfect Storm

Commercial real estate is currently experiencing a perfect storm, one that will utterly change the way corporations utilize their office space in the future.  This is the opinion of John Vivadelli, CEO and founder of AgilQuest Corporation and a well respected industry expert in the fields of alternative office environments; real estate metrics and cost […]

Read More ›
Author:
Mark McDowell
Posted:
07.26.2010

Let the Sun Shine!

A once-abandoned 40-acre industrial site in Chicago’s West Pullman neighborhood has become home to 32,000 solar panels since December, part of the nation’s largest solar plant capable of generating 10 megawatts of clean power. That’s enough to power 1,500 homes.  According to Kevin Lynch, who trains electricians to install solar panels for the International Brotherhood […]

Read More ›
Author:
Matt Ward
Posted:
07.22.2010

European Nations Look Into Selling Public Assets to Resolve Debt

Debt-laden European governments seeking ways to raise money are considering the possibility of selling public properties such as office buildings.  Countries considering selling assets include Germany, the U.K., France and Greece, all of which were hit hard by the global banking crisis. “It is clear that several European governments are looking to secure disposals on […]

Read More ›

Categories

Archives