Blog
‘Who’s Leading the Green Movement?’ Guest Blog with Matt Voorhees
Individual homeowners are going green in record numbers, but they are not the ones who will be the leaders in the green movement because they are going green slowly. As much as they might want for circumstances to be otherwise, most are not in a position to run out and buy, for instance, a high efficiency clothes washer when the old one is still running just fine. It’s a big expense, and while they will ultimately recoup all of the money from the savings on their water bill, the immediate savings does not justify the price of such a big-ticket…
‘Gimme Shelter’ with Daniel Gehman: Cars
“Here is my car, I feel safest of all; I can lock all my doors, it’s the only way to live, In cars.” Perhaps you have the good fortune to remember this ‘top ten’ song from 1980 sung by Gary Numan. I suppose this piece could be the un-official theme number of the City of Angels, where I do most of my work. Over the last two weeks, I have experienced both ends of the spectrum of love/hate for the projectile ICE (Internal combustion engine, for those of you new to the discussion) personal transport system. First, I had the…
‘The Green Picture’ with Erika Schnitzer: Energy Management, Technology and You
At GreenBuildingsNY—held in conjunction with BuildingsNY at the Jacob Javits Convention Center June 16-17—yesterday, I attended U.S. Energy Group’ s presentation, “The Art of Managing Buildings for Energy Efficiency.” David Unger, chief operating officer, discussed how building owners and mangers can reduce fuel usage by 10 to 30 percent by implementing an energy management system. As I’ve previously discussed, part of Mayor Bloomberg’s plaNYC initiative proposes a new energy code for existing buildings, as well as a mandate that would require these buildings to make energy improvements to pay for themselves within five years. According to Unger, implementing an energy…
‘Guest Blog’ with Scott Yahraus: Stimulus Package for your Complex
In this month’s issue of Multi-Housing News, Christy Freeland, CEO of Riverstone Residential said, “We know that people like to be social, so we’re offering things like movie and game nights, or bringing in guest speakers on topics like physical fitness. We’re not having to spend a lot of money on those things, but it’s the idea of providing a sense of community that will keep residents around longer.” (MHN, June 2009, pg. 13) I could not agree more with Freeland. Your residents are your customers, so it is wise that you treat them well. To me, this means going…
‘Gimme Shelter’ with Daniel Gehman: Aggressive Passive
At least out here in California, “building carbon neutrality” is the new black. In this curious epoch, while we are all waiting to see who will build what next, I have heard it speculated that the “green” movement will fade to a mellow chartreuse until it is clear where the money will come from for new developments. Mmmmm . . . maybe not so much. Most of what I’ve been hearing suggests that the high performance/resource sensitive sensibilities (some folks still say “sustainable,” but I find the word inaccurate and highly charged, so try not to use it) are actually…
Foong on Finance with Keat Foong: Worse Is Yet to Come
If you have been reassured by President Obama’s calm demeanor and are feeling more relaxed these days, there is an opinion article in a recent issue of The New York Times entitled “The Economy is Still at the Brink.” In case you miss the point, an illustration accompanying the article says, in big, black, artistic, letters, “The Storm Is Not Over, Not By A Long Shot.” In the multifamily sector specifically, if the number of outfits being created that are specializing in turnarounds is any indication, players may be expecting the trickle of distressed assets and property owners to…
‘Capital Insights’ with Jack Kern: New York City Rents Stable but Still Down Y-O-Y
Sometimes, the power curve shifts and the resident gets to call the shots. Reminiscent of the Godfather, 1972 when Michael Corleone talks about how his Father made an offer the band leader couldn’t refuse, residents are seeing the benefits of negotiating lower rents (without horses or large menacing guys like in the movie). Rents for doorman buildings, according to the latest release from the May Manhattan Rental Market Report (see www.tregny.com <http://www.tregny.com> ) showed these declines: Studios – down 9.84% One BR – down 8.96% Two BR – down 4.53% Rents for non-dorman buildings performed this way: Studios –…
‘Guest Column’ with Scott Yahraus: Using Facebook at Your Properties
It is not a question any more, rather a certainty. Facebook is here to stay. It has become a part of our everyday lives. Once thought to be used only by Generation “Y”, social media has transformed our lives. The largest growing demographic happens to be females 40 years old and above. If the first phase of the Internet was to get everyone connected, then this second phase of the Internet is about getting the human network connected to each other. I recently heard on NPR (National Public Radio) that the epidemic of workers checking their Facebook pages was the…
‘Capital Insights’ with Jack Kern: Technology in Multifamily
“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” Albert Einstein In the Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test there is a line that says, “…we are all doomed to spend our lives watching a movie of our lives – we are always acting on what has just finished happening. It happened at least 1/30th of a second ago. We think we’re in the present, but we aren’t.” The increasing use of technology in the multifamily arena has become so prevalent it’s hard to believe we can’t survive without Twitter, or Facebook or Friendster or some other GPS…
Countdown to San Diego: Gain Insight into the Urban Landscape at Multi-Housing World
With gas prices steadily on the rise once again, developers and architects alike are looking more closely at alternatives to new construction in the suburbs. The antidote to sprawl, urban infill development has served as a catalyst for the urban revitalization process nationwide. Part of this process involves a closer examination of transit-oriented development. While the easy solution would be to simply place housing near public transportation, many urban areas are lacking in resources and funds. Around the country, the industry is asking how the market will affect the creation of new transit options that are meant to enable further…