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Wonderful change is afoot in one of LA’s most notorious neighborhoods. Jordan Downs, located in the heart of the community of Watts, in South Los Angeles, is targeted for redevelopment. The design team, led by the capable staff at the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) is in the midst of the community outreach for the project. Jordan Downs may be noted as one of the last public housing projects to be developed in the city of the angels back in the 1950s. Regrettably, it is probably better known for being in the middle of the neighborhood…

 Last week, I had the opportunity to meet with some of the industry’s most green-oriented executives, whom MHN had invited to judge our Second Annual Green Initiative Awards. Needless to say, it was quite an experience to get together with a group of four individuals who are so completely devoted to sustainability that, in at least one instance, they have actually spearheaded the movement. (And let me add that I learned quite a bit when some heated debates broke out.) In reviewing the submissions, the panel of judges—which included Anthony Morena, principal of The REDD (Real Estate Design & Development)…

Last month, I attended a press briefing given by Prudential Real Estate Investors (PREI), which invests in real estate on behalf of institutional clients. Here is what PREI CEO Allen Smith said. The company has sold more than $1 billion in commercial real estate this year, and Smith said that a lack of liquidity has not been a problem with its buyers. Buyers in these transactions were able to do get financing, if they were willing to pay a price for it. We are talking about commercial real estate in general, and not only about multifamily. One encouraging sign in…

Some time ago I wrote about a new senior housing community that was being proposed in my neighborhood. Since this is a product type that my company also designs, I was quite interested in who was proposing just what, so I followed the process. I can’t recall exactly how it happened, but I ended up on the mailing list of the association that represents my neighborhood, and is called upon to review proposed projects for design consistency. (As a curious aside, when I first moved here about fifteen years ago, I attended a couple of meetings in an attempt to…

Last month, I attended a press briefing given by Prudential Real Estate Investors (PREI), which invests in real estate on behalf of institutional clients.   Here is what PREI CEO Allen Smith said. The company has sold more than $1 billion in commercial real estate this year, and Smith said that a lack of liquidity has not been a problem with its buyers. Buyers in these transactions were able to do get financing, if they were willing to pay a price for it. We are talking about commercial real estate in general, and not only about multifamily. One encouraging sign…

“Should 5% appear too small, be thankful I don’t take it all.” Taxman (c) The Beatles, 1965 Property values are declining in virtually all sectors of commercial real estate and with local governments seeking relief any way they can get it, assessments are rising. In New York, starting in January the Department of Finance released their tentative assessment listings planned for 2010. Not surprisingly the assessed value was up for all major groups. Most notably, apartment buildings rose 7.8% and commercial buildings went up 9.9%. Single family residences didn’t escape the increases either, rising by 4.41%. All of this designed…

Consider for a moment the above inquiry. It is merely a simple (if not terribly creative) tactical question, designed to engage a prospect in conversation. Think about it for a minute—even if you don’t use the phrase yourself, have you ever seen it fail to evoke the desired response? Me neither. There’s a similar phrase that’s been circulating through the design and building industry for the last few months; it may sound somewhat different, but, in reality, it’s pretty close to prodding about the weather. The question is “Are you staying busy?” What a layered and peculiar question that is!…

Sometimes news events remind me of the ancient plagues. Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, frogs rain down from the heavens or a comedian gets elected from Minnesota. In a way, that kind of makes sense because after electing a professional wrestler governor, a comedian was the next step. I do wonder if they ever called Jess Ventura the First Wrestler, instead of governor. (Expect to see a clown from Minnesota in the House of Representatives in 2012. There are quite a few there already.)   Florida is one of those states in transition, with elderly residents…

Delaware Apartment Association Expands Scope of Services Since the economic crisis began, the apartment industry has looked for a variety of ways to help renters stay in their apartments. But sometimes, despite these efforts, residents do lose their homes. The Delaware Apartment Association wants to help. As Kevin Wolfgang, President of the Delaware Apartment Association, points out, multifamily professionals are on the front lines of this hardship and they witness the devastating impact on families. “Renters want to know where they can turn for information and help. Through our own experiences as apartment operators and our involvement in task forces,”…