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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…

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…

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 –…

“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…

 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…

“Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it, if it keeps moving, regulate it, and if it stops moving, subsidize it.” Ronald Reagan, 40th U.S. President, 1981 to 1989   I have become increasingly optimistic about the long term prospects for growth in the economy while at the same time becoming bearish on the newly reformatted democratic party’s view of economic popularism. It seems to me that the lack of accountability on the part of federal officials is beginning to rival the cowboy mentality that made Wall Street so…

Here in California, there’s a buzz brewing in the construction industry that’s going to have quite a future.  As you may know, our state has imposed upon itself a noble goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions drastically over the next forty years or so.  You may also be aware that buildings—their construction and operation–typically account for about forty percent of the GHG produced in the United States.  Therefore, those of us who plan and design new buildings and communities are intently interested in figuring out how it will ever be possible to meet the stated goal.  The quick answer, of…

“In Russia, we only have two television channels. Channel One is propaganda. Channel Two consists of a KBG officer telling you: Turn back at once to Channel One.” Russian Comedian Yakov Smirnoff Hello Comrades. the next message you see may be from the Commissar’s office thanking you for contributing your information freely to the Motherland. Russian company Digital Sky Technologies just bought into Facebook and while there aren’t a lot of bells going off at the Federal Trade Commission, you can be sure the National Security Agency is working late nights trying to combat this one. If you happen to…