News

This article appeared in the November/December 2020 issue of NAIOP-MD InSites Newsletter. Developments in the solar energy sector have made the prospect of placing solar panels on the roofs of commercial buildings both more intriguing and more daunting. The price of generating energy through photo voltaic (PV) panels has dropped…

Current efforts to determine a path to meet Maryland’s goal of lowering greenhouse gas emissions are stoking new discussions about the energy efficiency and carbon footprint of commercial real estate properties. Members of a state climate change working group have proposed mandating higher energy performance standards and reducing the use…

B-More Kitchen in the Govans neighborhood hosts the operations of about three dozen food companies. Bakers, product makers, a nonprofit and other tenants contain their costs by sharing commercial kitchen space. (Photo courtesy of B-More Kitchen) It is one of the biggest consumer trends of 2020. In the midst of…

Robust growth in the data center market has landed Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) in two new joint ventures, valued at $293 million in total, with Blackstone Real Estate. The ventures involve eight single-tenant, data center shell properties in Northern Virginia, totaling 1.3 million square feet. Blackstone has already acquired…

Commercial office developers should evaluate their building amenity packages to address the shifting values, needs and usage of today’s modern office worker. Industry experts already suggest the desired amenities of tomorrow may focus on digital offerings and experiential environments. Those were some of the insights shared during a recent NAIOP…

The Maryland Commission on Climate Change has declined to endorse a fossil fuel ban in new commercial construction and, instead, is recommending a more deliberate approach to energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. A determined effort by environmental and climate nonprofits sought a ban on fossil fuels in…

The presenters’ visions for a new mixed-use development stretched beyond a blend of commercial, retail and residential properties. Delivered via Zoom, the project proposals included design elements focused on sustainability and wellness, a business development fund to help local entrepreneurs, tax credits for low-income housing and gorgeous patches of green…

With colder weather looming, how can restaurants continue to adapt to attract consumers? Chung GobellDirector of Interior DesignHeath Design Group “Restaurants and bars will need to be more intently focused on customer service to survive the cold months ahead. Some ideas may be to create custom home delivery or express…

The Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) has endorsed accelerating the state’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets. That accelerated schedule would require the state to achieve a 50% reduction in GHG emissions (compared to 2006) by 2030 and reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2045. Maryland’s climate law currently requires a 40% reduction…

Despite the widespread “flee for the suburbs” that has occurred primarily among the commercial office and residential real estate sectors during the pandemic, leaders representing several real estate organizations predict a rapid recovery for real estate situated in the downtown core. The group also presented their opinions about ecommerce, the…