NAIOP Colorado

NAIOP Corporate Research Foundation Report Details Development Model for the Middle Ring Suburbs

As the demographic and physical landscape of cities across the United States evolves, commercial real estate developers will need a sophisticated framework to identify valuable opportunities in the Middle Ring suburbs, says a new report commissioned by the NAIOP Research Foundation.

The Middle Ring is defined by its demographic, geographic and physical characteristics, including:

• Diversity - Both ethnic and cultural, with a significant foreign-born population.
• Income Level - Incomes are typically at or below the Metropolitan Statistical Area median.
• Employment Type - Higher levels of employment in constructions, maintenance and personal services.
• Transit Proximity - Situated close to both major automobile and public transit infrastructure.
• Older Housing Stock - Majority built prior to 1969.

With Middle Ring suburbs identified as an area of opportunity for re-investment, this study, Toward a Development Model for the Middle Ring Suburbs, uses the city of Boston as a case study (see specific Middle Ring site study locations below) to address the questions of a new development model by analyzing demographic and situational characteristics, as well as determining strengths and weaknesses for development. It concludes by outlining the steps that could be taken for development site selection and proposes a model to be implemented.

The report was done in partnership with the Organization for Permanent Modernity at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology. The full study, including detailed maps, investment diagrams, graphic models and case studies, is available at www.naioprf.org.

Icons aren't Old, They are Stars

Submitted by Whitney Hake, Cassidy Turley Fuller Real Estate

Year after year, Dinner with the Icons is a successful event for NAIOP's Developing Leaders, and 2012 was not an exception.  The energy at The Magnolia Hotel was palpable, and it felt as if the commercial real estate market was picking up in Denver with each positive word spoken by the Icons.  As a newbie to this particular NAIOP event, I found the audience and conversations to be especially engaging becuase there was a true mix of experience and naivety in the room.  A mixed environment, like Dinner with the Icons, is the real reason why young professionals should donate their time and energy to Developing Leaders.  I walked away from this event with several useful nuggets of information that will help me further my career in commercial real estate:

Announcing the 2011 Award of Achievement Winners at the NAIOPOLY Awards on February 23

Denver, COLO. - On February 23, 2012, the NAIOP Colorado Chapter honored those members of the local Commercial Estate Industry who were selected as the "Best of the Best" at the 2011 Annual Awards of Achievement Luncheon.  This year's luncheon featured the fun "NAIOPOLY" theme and awards were handed out by 2012 Chapter President Mike Komppa of Corum Real Estate Group and even  “Mr.NAIOPOLY” himself at the event held at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Seawell Ballroom.

The NAIOP Colorado awards luncheon recognizes the accomplishments of its members, whose collective efforts in 2011 resulted in nearly $1.2 Billion dollars in transactions for finalists of the Investment Broker of the Year category. The price per square foot figures the investment nominees achieved are among the highest in the United States. The volume of office leasing transactions submitted for 2011, totaled over $1.3 Billion in over 850 transactions and represented over 700,000 square feet of space.  

President Mike Komppa said these numbers are a reflection of “Commercial real estate business in the Front Range is not only alive and well, it is improving rapidly as people realize what a great place Denver, Colorado is to work and live.” 

Broker awards were given to the following as recognition of their outstanding efforts in 2011:

• Office Broker of the Year – Doug Bakke, Ty Ritchie & Frank Kelley, CB Richard Ellis, Inc.
• Investment Broker of the Year – Mike Winn & Tim Richey, Cushman & Wakefield of Colorado, Inc.
• Retail Broker of the Year – Jon Weisiger, CB Richard Ellis, Inc.
• Land Broker of the Year – Mike Kboudi & Jim Capecelatro, Cassidy Turley Fuller Real EstatE
• Industrial Broker of the Year – Jim Bolt, Mike Camp & Bill Thompson, CB Richard Ellis, Inc.

Sherman Miller, former Manager at Cushman & Wakefield of Colorado, Inc. and now serving as Executive Director of the CU Real Estate Center, was awarded the “Broker Outstanding Achievement” award in recognition to his unique and extraordinary contributions to the real estate industry and community throughout his career.

The Chapter’s most prestigious award, the President’s Award of Community Excellence, was given to Bill Reynolds of The WW Reynolds Companies in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the industry.  Throughout his career, Mr. Reynolds has developed more than two million square feet of office, commercial and residential buildings in Boulder and Fort Collins.  Mr. Reynolds and his company are strong supporters of the NAIOP Colorado Chapter and their legislative advocacy efforts. The WW Reynolds Company has been honored twice as the Chapter’s Developer of the Year.

There were several strong development projects that deserved and received recognition for 2011, to include:

• Industrial Development of the Year – Majestic Commercenter/GE Primestar Solar developed by Majestic Realty Company
• Office Development of the Year – Fitzsimons Village Phase I by Corporex Colorado, LLC

Bill Mosher and Trammell Crow Company received the coveted title as Owner/Developer of the Year, as they continued to be a leader in another extremely challenging year in real estate, through a variety of significant public and private projects, with an aggregate and multi-year construction volume in excess of $1 Billion.  

The NAIOP Award of Excellence was given to Marshall Burton of Opus Development Corporation for his contribution as 2011 Chapter President and helping the Colorado Chapter to achieve NAIOP Corporate Large Chapter of the Year.  

Gregg Barker of Colliers International was named Member of the Year in recognition of his creativity and strong marketing push for the NAIOP Property Tour in the fall of 2011 which featured a “Traveling Circus” theme.

Under the Chapter’s Developing Leaders Program, a program developed to encourage participation among those real estate professionals aged 35 or under, two individuals were recognized for their contributions to the Chapter through their volunteer activities.  Those individuals receiving the “Developing Leader of the Year Award” were current NAIOP Colorado Programs vice Chair, Celeste Tanner of Opus Development Group and Morgan Landers of EFG Brownfield Partners, currently serving as Vice Chair of the Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge.  

The luncheon festivities included prize drawings for the attendees and other fun “NAIOPOLY” titled awards such as 2nd Place in a Beauty Contest which was humorously give to Stephanie Lawrence, Granite Properties by President Mike Komppa. 

NAIOP Colorado congratulates all finalists and award winners for their efforts and accomplishments in 2011.  

2012 Developing Leaders - Get Involved!

Submitted by Joanna Bartnik and Brinley Kelly

Before we get down to the nitty gritty, we would like to say THANK YOU to First American Title Insurance Company, our official sponsor for the 2012 DL committee.  

We hope the new year is off to a great start for everyone. It’s time for resolutions - hopefully more involvement in NAIOP DL is part of yours.   Click on the following link to read an article that outlines some potential resolutions that participating in the NAIOP DL programs can help you to attain (Download Five Resolutions for Aspiring Leaders.1.23.12). Apply this year to our Mentorship Program, attend our signature events – Dinner with the Icons, and Rookies and Rockstars, and volunteer with our group.   2012 will hold many opportunities for you to get involved and get the most out of your membership.   

As this year's DL co-chairs, we encourage you to contact us with any questions that you might have.
 
Sub-committee Chairs are listed below.  Click on the following link to view the organization chart that details opportunities where you may want to get involved (Download DL Org. Chart 1.5.2012).     

• Finance:  Matt Lyons, Weston Solutions     
• Membership:  Rob Boydston, Grubb & Ellis     
• Programs:  Justin Pless, Pless Law Firm     
• Community Relations:  Jim Miller, Consolidated Investments      
• Legislative:  Kyle Brunger, Shepherd, P.C.

Dinner with the Icons is scheduled for Thursday, March 1st.  More info to follow. 

If you know of anyone interested in joining the DL committee, please have them contact one of us.
  
Make a New Year's resolution to come to the DL meetings or to participate in DL events!  Our next committee meeting is on January 19th at 7:30am.   

We hope to see everyone soon! 

 

2012 President Mike Komppa Looks Forward to 2nd Term

Be sure to visit the NAIOP Colorado website to read the welcome letter from Mike Komppa, NAIOP Colorado's 2012 incoming President.  Having previously served as Chapter President back in 1988, Mike brings a unique perspective to his leadership position and the history of the Chapter.  Here's just a sample:  "As I prepare to serve as Chapter President for 2012, I reflect on my prior experience in this position in 1988, when our chapter was relatively new.  It is gratifying to see how much NAIOP has grown in membership and influence over the years as a real force in the world of commercial real estate." 

Click here to read Mike's entire letter, as well as to take a moment to browse the website and see where you would like to get involved in 2012!  Contact the NAIOP Office at 303-782-0155 if you have any questions or would like to join a committee.

NAIOP Builds Trails at Wash Park with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado

Submitted by Karen Van Heukelem, Colorado Hardscapes

On Saturday, October 15th, volunteers from NAIOP Colorado joined Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado to re-build a trail at Washington Park in Denver. NAIOP Colorado, along with hundreds of volunteers from around Colorado, worked together to spread and compact new crusher fines trails around the border of the park. Making it safer for runners and walkers alike, these new trails are an asset to the community of Wash Park. As we were constructing the trails, people were already trying to use them and showed their gratitude for the work of the volunteers. From NAIOP Colorado, Jennifer Taylor of Mile High Banks, Jason Newcomer of City Projects, Chris Gray of the City of Westminster Economic Development and Karen Van Heukelem of Colorado Hardscapes. If you’d like to know more about future volunteer events NAIOP Colorado is involved in, reach out to the Community Relations Committee. 

October Means Mustache 4 Cash/Color 4 Kids - Don't Miss Out on the Fun!

Submitted by Pete Tobin, Ascendent Development Corp.

The leaves are changing and football season is upon us.  On September 29^th, we kicked off the 2011 Mustache 4 Cash/Color 4 Kids Event.  For those of you unfamiliar with the event, M4C/C4K is a fundraiser where participants either grow a mustache or add color to a streak of their hair for the first three weeks in October and get others to sponsor their efforts.  The beneficiaries for this event are Byrne Urban Scholars (www.byrneurbanscholars.org) and Colorado Youth at Risk (www.coloradoyouthatrisk.org).  These organizations are dedicated to working with at risk youth in Denver’s less affluent communities through scholarships, mentoring, and tutoring.  These organizations make it possible for inner-city youths to compete more successfully for employment, become better qualified for further education, and contribute more productively to society. 

NAIOP Developing Leaders have organized a team and participated in this event for the past two years.  In 2009 & 2010, our teams have been among the Top 10 Teams each year and have raised a total of $8,784.  All of the funds raised go to the beneficiaries, and myself and a number of DL’s can attest that this event not only supports a great cause, but it is a great time as well.  Now that the Kick Off Party is over, there are weekly How’s it Growing Happy Hours and the event concludes with a costume party Bash featuring live entertainment. 

I encourage each of you to consider participating in this year’s event, or at minimum, supporting the DL Participants.  To register, go to http://www.mustache4cash.org/users/new and fill out a profile.  Be sure to Select “2011 NAIOP Developing Leaders” as your team.  You can also click here to see more information on the NAIOP website.

Some key dates for this year’s event are as follows:

- September 29, 2011: Kickoff Party at The Matchbox (2625 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80205) from 5:30-7:30 PM 
- October 6, 2011: How’s it Growing at Highland Tap & Burger (2219 W. 32nd Ave. Denver, CO 80211) from 5:30-7:30 PM
- October 13, 2011: How’s it Growing at Interstate Kitchen & Bar (901 W. 10th Ave. Denver, CO 80204) from 5:30-7:30 PM
- October 22, 2011:  The Bash at Temple Events Center (1595 Pearl Street, Denver, CO 80203) from 7:00-12:00 PM

Thank you in advance for your time and we look forward to another successful year of NAIOP participation in this event.  If you have any questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 303-551-7172.

Congratulations to our NAIOP Young Professionals of the Year!

Each year, NAIOP looks at the Young Professionals within the organization across the country to see who stands out among the crowd.  NAIOP evaluates the nominees to find out who among them is at the top of the class.  The judges look at the Young Professionals'  accomplishments, career goals, lessons learned, obstacles overcome and how they are using their membership in NAIOP to influence the industry.  Click here to learn more about our local winners, Brian McDonald and Deidra Gonzales.  Brian and Deidra will be honored at the Development '11: The Annual Meeting for Commercial Real Estate next month in Scottdale, AZ. 

Congratulations Brian and Deidra!

NAIOP Launches Developing Leaders National Forum at Development '11

NAIOP will be launching the new Developing Leaders National Forum (DL Forum) at Development ’11 in Scottsdale, and we are currently in the recruitment period for members.

The DL Forum provides industry professionals who are 35 years, and under, and who have four or more years of related industry experience, the unique opportunity to network with and learn from fellow members and seasoned industry leaders at the national level. Like the senior National Forums, the DL Forum will feature peer-to-peer case study presentations and analysis, and moderator led discussions that demonstrate successful strategies to address the challenges facing the industry today. Throughout the two-year term, there will be regular presentations by senior Forum members, conference speakers and special guests on core industry issues. Concepts covered throughout the Forum period will be reinforced at the end of the term in a case study that will be critiqued by senior Forum members.

One of the goals of the DL Forum is to ready its members for senior National Forum membership and NAIOP staff will proactively work with members to prepare them for the application process at the end of the program.

The program runs from October 2011 to October 2013 and the cost for the entire period is $995. More information about the Developing Leaders Forum can be found at the following link – DL Forum. The application can be accessed here – Apply. (Our stated deadline for applications is this Friday, July 29, but we will be accepting applications up to the beginning of September.)

Please contact Bennett Gray at the NAIOP Corporate Office (703–674–1436) if you have any questions about the DL Forum.

DL Project Tour – Garrison Station

Submitted by Matt Lyons, Weston Solutions, Inc.

On Tuesday July 26th, Weston Solutions, Inc. (WESTON®) hosted the NAIOP Developing  Leaders 2011 Project Tour at Garrison Station. The transit oriented development (TOD) is located along the RTD FasTracks West Rail Line at 1435 Garrison Street in Lakewood.  Phase I of the Garrison Station project includes a 30,000 square-foot LEED® Gold pre-certified office building and a Chase bank branch. The planned Phase-II of the mixed-use development will encompass approximately 100,000 square feet of office and retail space.

The focus of the tour was the 30,000 square-foot office building that will be the home of WESTON’s Rocky Mountain regional headquarters.  Al Colussy, Klipp Architecture, highlighted sustainable features including a roof-top deck and GreenGrid® green roof, superior lighting through creative design, and energy efficient features all of which contributed to the LEED® pre-certification.  Due to these aspects of the development, WESTONs building received Lakewood’s 2011 Sustainability Award.

Following the tour speakers from WESTON and Lakewood Economic Development spoke to the attendees. Steve Blarr, WESTON Vice President, shared insight into the challenges of the project including environmental remediation, site selection, and project financing.  Michelle Hadwiger, Lakewood Economic Development, explained  how Lakewood’s master planning of the Colfax corridor has helped spur developments such as Garrison Station and how Garrison Station is expected to be a catalyst for future redevelopment along the corridor.

Weston Solutions, Inc. (WESTON®) is a global leader in environmental solutions, sustainable development, design/build construction, green buildings and clean energy. Dedicated to making a difference in the world, the company’s 1,800 people reach out from 60 offices around the globe to build strong stakeholder relationships and provide solutions that work. WESTON has been responding to its clients’ toughest problems for more than 50 years. WESTON has full-service offices in Lakewood and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

For more about WESTON, visit www.westonsolutions.com.

Mid Year Commercial Forecast - Denver Poised for a Rebound

If you missed the Mid Year Commercial Forecast on July 12th, there was some good news that you will want to know about.  Dennis Huspeni from the Denver Business Journal was at the event and posted a great summary about the information shared by the speakers.  Click here to read that posting.

Shedding Light on the Boys & Girls Club

NAIOP Colorado worked with the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver to help them implement sustainability initiatives in their metro area facilities. The focus of the effort was to implement energy conservation strategies, improving the indoor health environment, and educating the children on the importance and relevance of sustainable buildings.  The committee leading this directive is proud to announce the completion of a successful project with special thanks to Catamount Constructors and Sturgeon Electric Company for their contributions to make it a reality.
 
This project facility is the Boys and Girls’ Shopneck Club at 1800 Longspeak Street in Brighton. The project will save the club energy by providing more control over their lighting resources. The project has a meaningful impact on the facility and provides a great opportunity to teach the children through example about the importance of lighting energy efficiency.
 
The energy conservation measure included rewiring sixteen fixtures and replacing existing lamps with low-energy consuming LED fixtures. Five photocells, which respond to daylight, were also installed to control these fixtures.

With the help of Catamount Constructors and Sturgeon Electric Company, the club improved their energy efficiency by a significant margin. Catamount Constructors provided the materials and Sturgeon Electric donated their time and labor to make the professional installations possible.

The NAIOP Colorado committee that came together to make this possible comprised of a wide range of expertise. The team believed in the importance of helping the Boys and Girls Club, with an emphasis on sustainable practices. Members of this committee include Stephen Sanders of First American Title Insurance Company, Ben Woolf of The Conscience Bay Company, Jason Newcomer of Diversified Consulting Solutions, Lisa Kissler of Catamount Constructors, JD Praeger of Gensler, Sumaya Vanderhorst of Snell & Wilmer, Jeff Kroll of Frontier Renewal, and Karen Van Heukelem of Colorado Hardscapes.

NAIOP Colorado would like to thank Catamount and Sturgeon for providing the knowledge, materials, and labor to complete this project. NAIOP gives back to the community by helping to educate and shed light on a sustainable future.

To learn more about The Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver, visit: http://www.bgcmd.org/

The Sponsors:
Catamount Constructors: www.catamountconstructors.com
Sturgeon Electric Company: http://www.myrgroup.com/

Announcing Government Affairs Leadership Change

submitted by NAIOP Colorado Chapter Board of Directors

Bob Moody will be stepping down as the Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the NAIOP Colorado Chapter to broaden his engagement in the public policy arena and to expand his legislative, political and election related activities benefiting the business and real estate communities he cares so much about.  As such, Bob Moody will no longer directly represent NAIOP as its in-house Vice President for Government Affairs; however, Bob has agreed to transition his role through the remainder of June and to advise NAIOP as Chairman of C3 through the balance of 2011.
 
NAIOP would like to thank Bob for his long association with NAIOP both as a member and a volunteer leader (the only two-time President of the Chapter).  In 2000, NAIOP decided it was necessary to develop a full-time legislative advocacy program and the Common Cents Fund (CCF) was born.  As the director of CCF and the person responsible for its development, Bob Moody has insured that the commercial real estate industry is well positioned for the future.  Over the past 11 years Bob has had a steady hand at the helm of the public policy debate as it surrounded our industry.  Bob has brought together an impressive team of NAIOP volunteers, industry leaders, community leaders and expert lobbyists, all with the intent of insuring that the commercial real estate industry is strong and protected and has a respected voice in the public policy debate. 
 
NAIOP and its leadership are dedicated to the continued success of the chapter and its focus on education, networking and legislative advocacy.  Kathie Barstnar has been the Executive Director of NAIOP Colorado since 1999 and will be assuming the responsibility for directing and managing the organization's legislative and lobbying efforts effective June 1, 2011, including NAIOP's important work with Axiom.  She was instrumental in assisting Bob Moody in the development and successful implementation of the legislative advocacy process and the CCF and was named as the future leader in the succession plan developed in 2008.  Kathie has a Bachelors of Science Degree in Political Science and is a 2010 graduate of the Leadership Program of the Rockies.  This background and her familiarity with the program will ensure that NAIOP Colorado will continue to be the voice for commercial real estate development into the foreseeable future.
 
For more information, please contact Kathie Barstnar at the NAIOP Office at 303.782.0155.

Colorado Chapter DL Member is featured on NAIOP Corporate Website

Have you read the most recent edition of NAIOP Source, the weekly eNews update from Corporate?  If not, you can Click Here, to read about important updates for membership, upcoming conferences and more.  You will even find information about one of our local DL members, Jeff Kroll, who is currently featured on the Corprate website, click here to see Jeff's profile.  

DL’s benefit from first Leadership Insight Breakfast

Submitted by Brinley Kelly, Workplace Resource

Thank you to those of you who joined us for our first Developing Leaders (DL) Leadership Insight Breakfast.  This was the start of our Leadership breakfast series and it was a great success!

Dan Murphy, COO of Continuum Partners, gave the group valuable insight into leadership during our current economic downturn.   The DL Committee has received quite a bit of positive feedback!!

Speakers are lined up for May and June, with July and August presenters already in the works.

For those not familiar with the Leadership breakfast series, we will be hosting these once a month.  They are a great opportunity to network with your peers and leaders in the industry in an intimate setting.  Please Click Here to visit our website and stay tuned for upcoming breakfast dates, times and locations.

You think your job interview was tough? Try presenting at 2011 Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge!

Submitted by Stephen Sanders, RMREC Committee Member

After beating out 40 of their classmates the winning teams from University of Colorado and University of Denver showed up Tuesday night, May 3^rd, to be judged not only by 13 industry leaders such as Michael Winn of Cushman & Wakefield, Chris Ernst of Aardex, and Stephanie Lawrence of Granite Properties just to name a few, but over 650 commercial real estate professionals. 

The evening started out festive with lots of shop talk by the sell out crowd and a beautiful ball room at the Marriot (kudos to the NAIOP Management and RMREC Committee for a wonderful setup).  As the attendees settled in the mood turned serious quickly and University of Colorado took the stage.   The superb support by OZ Architecture, RNL Global Design, CLC Associates, SEM Architects, The Mulhern Group and semplebrowndesign was evident as each team took the stage and their presentations came to life.  While both teams were polished and their proposals well thought-out, there could only be one winner.  After the dust settled University of Denver was presented with the winning Challenge Trophy and $5000.00 Scholarship by City of Aurora’s Mayor, Ed Tauer.  By the tone of the attendees the evening and the presentation was a great success!

A special thanks has to be given to John Buckley for sponsoring the event and providing such a great Challenge Site for the teams to work on. 

NAIOP’s next major event is a great cause Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver Gates Camp Clean-up!  On June 4th from 7am-2pm help get the camp ready for the kids!  This is a great team event for a great cause!   Hope to see you there!

Public Officials Support 2011 Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge

Submitted Thursday, April 14, 2011by Stephen Sanders, RMREC Committee Member

By the end of business today the winning teams from both the University of Denver and the University of Colorado will be determined for this year’s NAIOP Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge.   The importance of a project with the potential of Nine Mile Station, located at Parker Road and I-225, to the surrounding neighborhood and City of Aurora as a whole cannot be overstated.  The officials from the City of Aurora will have a front row seat for the team’s presentations May 3rd.  Additionally we are excited by having both State Senator Suzanne Williams from District 28 where the project resides and State Representative Nancy Todd representing House District 41 making introductory comments at the event.  To wrap up the Event, City of Aurora’s Mayor, Ed Tauer will be presenting The Challenge Trophy and $7500 prize money to the winning team.

 This is the 9th year of the Challenge for NAIOP Colorado and we are sure to have a sellout crowd again of over 600 commercial real estate professionals.  There will be plenty of time to network before the event.  Sign up early to make sure you get in! The 9th Annual NAIOP Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge takes place on May 3rd at the Denver Marriott City Center, networking starts at 5pm.  2 hours of Real Estate Continuing Education credits are awarded for attending.  Tickets and tables are now on sale, click here for more information or call 303-782-0155.  In the next Blog we will begin looking at who’s on the DU/CU teams and who’s coaching them!

Day at the Capitol Event Recap

NAIOP, the International Council of Shopping Centers and the Colorado Apartment Association co-hosted a Day at the Capitol for their respective members on Monday, March 7.  The half-day event featured short speeches by several prominent figures within the Colorado Government including:

• Senator Mark Scheffel – Senate Minority Caucus Chair, and NAIOP legislator of the year
• Representative Amy Stephens - House Majority Leader
• Representative Sal Pace - House Minority Leader
• Representative Tom Massey
• Representative Jerry Sonnenberg
• Representative David Balmer
• Henry Sobanet - Director, Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting      
• Walker Stapleton - State Treasurer                          

Countdown to the 2011 Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge

Submitted by Stephen Sanders, RMREC Committee Member

This is the first of a few Blog comments on NAIOP Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge coming up May 3rd.  We are only 5 weeks out from the Challenge and both the University of Denver and the University of Colorado’s teams are working feverishly to prepare for what is sure to be an exciting night for both the team and audience participants.  This year’s location derives its name from the light rail station opened in 2006 Nine Mile Station (RTD) and has all the elements of a great development site.  As a TOD District the Site has some particularly exciting sustainable development opportunities. They include places to live, work, shop, and recreate within close walking distance of each other and the transit station.  Matthew DeBartolomeis, Vice President of CBRE has been working with owner/developer John Buckley (also the Event Sponsor) for the past several years to position this site for the maximum ROI development investment with no encumbrances.  Nine Mile Station (RTD)is located in the city of Aurora and has the second largest population in the metro area, with just over 308,000 residents.  This mixed use location, comprised of 15 +- acre, plus an additional 7 acres currently occupied by King Soopers , enjoys aggregate traffic counts of 250,000 VPD, Light Rail Ridership on the weekends of 63,000 (est.) and a population of over 136,000 with average household income of $65,506 within 3 miles!  Could you say this is the best TOD \ Multimodal development site in the City?  In a word, “location, location, location”, yes!

The presentation by the CU and DU Teams are assisted in their design/investment strategies by a wide range of local commercial real estate leaders.  Each year the presentations are superb, creative and are not to be missed!  Across the nation this is NAIOPs' premier event. 

As this the Colorado Chapter 9^th year we are sure to have a sellout crowd again of over 600 commercial real estate professionals.  Sign up early to make sure you get in! The 9th Annual NAIOP Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge takes place on May 3rd at the Denver Marriott City Center, networking starts at 5pm.  2 hours of Real Estate Continuing Education credits are awarded for attending.  Tickets and tables are now on sale, click here for more information or call 303-782-0155.  In the next Blog we will begin looking at who’s on the DU/CU teams and who’s coaching them!

 

NAIOP's Careers in Real Estate Program Expanded to Law Students at DU

Submitted by Beth Mankamyer, Associate at Benjamin, Bain, Howard & Cohen, LLC

On February 28th, the University of Denver Sturm College of Law hosted the NAIOP’s Careers in Real Estate Program. Historically, this has been a program for undergraduate university students and those in real estate graduate programs to learn more about the various professions within the real estate industry that shape the life of a project. This time, the program was also opened to DU law students. Over 39 students attended this event.

NAIOP’s Careers in Real Estate Program implements a small group format designed with the intention of fostering discussions between the industry professionals and students.  The students are able to inquire about specific professional experiences, challenges encountered, and obtain advice as to approaches into the real estate industry. The students are able to go beyond the area with which they may be familiar and get a better idea of all of the moving parts and people involved in a project.

Don’t miss the Premiere Commercial Real Estate Event of the Year!

Submitted by Leanne Toler, 2011 RMREC Chair

The 9th Annual NAIOP Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge takes place on May 3rd at the Denver Marriott City Center.  The Challenge is a dinner and competition event with over 600 commercial real estate professionals in attendance.  It is a great place to network and meet established real estate professionals from Denver and Colorado.

The Challenge brings together the best and the brightest real estate students from the University of Denver and the University of Colorado’s master’s programs, to compete to be named the best developers for Nine Mile Station, an urban in-fill TOD site at I-225 and Parker Road.  Come see the re-development plans to turn this blighted shopping center into a thriving live-eat-work-shop urban hub.

The Challenge is a complex 4-month real estate project undertaken by real estate and MBA programs at University of Colorado and University of Denver.  It is sponsored by John Buckley, owner of Nine Mile Station, and includes involvement from City of Aurora, RTD, hundreds of real estate professions all across Denver and Aurora and the support of Colorado NAIOP Chapter.

Come, network and watch the exciting presentations.

NAIOP Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge, Tuesday May 3rd, networking starts at 5pm.

2 hours of Real Estate Continuing Education credits are awarded for attending.
Tickets and tables are now on sale, click here for more information or call 303-782-0155.

You can also join the group on LinkedIn at “NAIOP Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge” for event and competition updates.

If You Could Have Dinner With Any Three People…

Submitted by Celeste Tanner, McWhinney & NAIOP Colorado Chapter Developing Leader

We’ve all been asked that question at least once, but at NAIOP, we ask: why limit yourself to just three?

On February 24th, the NAIOP Colorado Developing Leaders were able to meet, network   with and learn from ten different “icons” in Colorado real estate. The fourth annual Dinner With the Icons was heavily attended by Developing Leaders from all areas of the industry, who were excited by the opportunity to benefit from the experience and candor of today’s leaders in real estate.

Brian McDonald of Stewart Title said of the event:“That was my first time attending dinner with the icons.  I was impressed with the ability to intimately connect with each of the icons and also the caliber of other professionals in attendance.” 

Attendees participated in a round robin format, allowing time to meet and converse with multiple leaders in an intimate dinner setting. With no prepared script or preconceived agenda, Developing Leaders and Icons engaged freely in topics ranging from leadership and career management to comparing thoughts on the future of real estate. 

NAIOP Celebrates Chapters' Exceptional Accomplishments with Annual Chapter Merit Awards - Inlcuding the Colorado Chapter!

More Than 36 Awards Bestowed upon This Year’s Winners

HERNDON, Va., February 15, 2011 – NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, honored several NAIOP chapters for their outstanding achievements during its annual Chapter Merit Awards ceremony, held in Washington, D.C., on February 9.

The volunteer panel of judges did not have an easy job selecting the award winners from among the more than 125 outstanding nominees representing a host of categories, including the coveted Chapter of the Year award.

“NAIOP has a long tradition of honoring its chapters, and this year’s event was no exception,” said Thomas J. Bisacquino, NAIOP president and chief executive officer. “Our panel of volunteer judges had a challenging task in choosing the award winners from the many outstanding nominations that were received. On behalf of the association, I congratulate each and every nominee, and offer special recognition to all who were honored during our celebration.”

Click on the link below to see the full list of winners, including the award won by our Colorado Chapter!

2011 Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge Kicks Off!

Submitted by: Richard Morgan, Mutual of Omaha Bank

Competition has come to the rarified air of the NAIOP Challenge!  On January 27, Leanne Toler, Chair - Real Estate Challenge Committee, kicked off this year’s event by welcoming students and faculty from the University of Colorado and University of Denver; honored guests from the Colorado legislature, Sen. Suzanne Williams and Rep. Nancy Todd; esteemed Challenge judges; architectural resources, and the media. 

2011 Project Sponsor, John Buckley, provided a detailed overview of the project site, Nine Mile Station, a planned transit-oriented development, located at I-225 and Parker Road.  The highlight of the evening was the coin toss, where CU won the toss, electing to present second to the judges in the afternoon and first to the audience during the evening dinner event.  Students spoke excitedly about the project and the challenges and opportunities it presents.  All are eager to get started on their development plans and looking ahead to the final competition on May 3, 2011 at 5pm at the Marriott City Center in Denver. 

Watch your mail or visit the website at www.naiop-colorado.org for table sale and registration information.  You can also join the group on LinkedIn at “NAIOP Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge” for event and competition updates.

University of Colorado

 

 University of Denver

Annual Economic & Business Forecast

Submitted by: Lea Ann Fowler, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

The Annual Economic Forecast, held on January 11, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton, featured a panel of local experts, including Bruce Alexander, Patty Silverstein, Thomas Wootten and moderating the panel, Leonard Sahling, First Vice President of Pro Logis.

Patty Silverstein, Chief Consulting Economist for Metro Denver Economic Development, opened the program with a presentation on Moving the Economy Forward: Lessons from Driving School, which was an interesting parallel of our local and national economic trends with that of car racing.  Primary highlights discussed in moving the economy forward were (i) "Road Hazards" including minimal job opportunities, duration of unemployment and federal, state and local government budget issues and (ii) "Green Lights" including corporate profits rising (after tax profits up 17% YOY in Q3), consumers spending again, outstanding consumer credit decreasing (down 3.5% YOY in Q3), residential real estate stabilizing, commercial real estate potentially having hit bottom and local infrastructure development activity (DIA, FasTracks).  She stated that while the recovery does feel slow and that job growth will remain slow, with only a 1% expected job growth rate in Colorado for 2011, consumer confidence is actually getting better, evidenced by a decline in spending of only 4.3% in 2010, compared to an unprecedented 11% decline in 2009.  Expected growth industries include the professional services and health care sectors.  Click Here to view Patty's slides.

Industry Clusters Position Region for Economic Recovery

Sixth annual report details the Metro Denver and Northern Colorado region's competitiveness compared to the 50 largest U.S. metro areas

A major step in crafting a region's economic development strategy focuses on the types of industries to target for company growth and retention. Today, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation (Metro Denver EDC) released its sixth annual Industry Cluster Study, a competitive analysis of industries leading the nine-county Metro Denver and Northern Colorado region's recovery and future job expansion.

The study, completed by the Metro Denver EDC's Chief Economist Patty Silverstein of Development Research Partners, analyzes seven major industries in the nine-county region: aerospace, aviation, bioscience, broadcasting and telecommunications, energy, financial services, and information technology-software. The analysis factors new employment data from third quarter 2009 to third quarter 2010.

Click here to read the full story as well as find out more about the complete study.

MDEDC Reports Commercial RE Market Making a Comeback in Metro Denver

Earlier this month, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation (MDEDC) sent out an email sharing some good news for Commercial Real Estate in Denver.  According to data compiled in its recent Monthly Economic Summary for January 2011, the MDEDC reported that the commercial real estate market appears to be recovering from the economic downturn. 

Click here to read the full article to learn more about the trends in vacancy rates and to access full Economic Summary for January 2011.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS COUNCIL OF COLORADO: A GROUNDBREAKING MODEL FOR COLLABORATION IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

U.S. Green Building Council Colorado Chapter organizes the state’s largest alliance of building industry associations

CONTACT:    Jessica Pascoe
                        U.S. Green Building Council Colorado Chapter
                        (303) 292-6182
                        jessica@usgbccolorado.org

DENVER, Colorado –  The Sustainable Buildings Council of Colorado (SBCC) is an alliance of building industry associations that meets regularly in order to maintain productive communication between organizations working to improve Colorado's new and existing built environments. A former U.S. Green Building Council Colorado Chapter board member championed the SBCC initiative in order to help better serve a growing community of professionals in search of educational opportunities.  

“Sustainability at its root is all about being efficient with our resources.  This ‘council of councils’ is intent on bringing the industry together to work more efficiently with our own resources in pursuit of our common interest in sustainability within Colorado's built environment.  The collective efforts of the SBCC will be both more efficient and more effective than what could occur independently,” Mike Lowell, SBCC Chair, said.

SBCC chose to organize the collaboration around a common theme that united all of the organization’s respective members: sustainability. A shared calendar is just one example of how SBCC will strive to minimize the gaps and overlaps in the available information and education throughout Colorado’s building industry.  For further information go to www.sbccolorado.org.

The mission statement of the Council is:

“The Sustainable Buildings Council of Colorado (SBCC) is an alliance of industry associations that is focused upon the Colorado built environment.  Its mission is to provide a conduit for resources and education that fosters cooperation and collaboration for a sustainable Colorado.”

The Council membership currently includes the following partners:

Colorado Chapter, American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
Colorado Component, American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Colorado Chapter, American Planning Association (APA)
Rocky Mountain Chapter, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
Colorado Chapter, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
Colorado Chapter,  Associated General Contractors (AGC)
Denver Metro Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA)
Colorado Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) 
Colorado Chapter, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP)
Colorado Chapter, Urban Land Institute (ULI)
Colorado Chapter, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

NAIOP's Careers in Real Estate Program a Success at CU

Submitted by Brian Hall, CVL Consultants

On October 26th, the University of Colorado hosted the NAIOP’s Careers in Real Estate Program. This program educates university students on the various professions within the real estate industry that shape the life of a project. This program implements a small group format designed with the intention of fostering discussions between the industry veterans and students.  The students are able to inquire about specific professional experiences, challenges encountered, and obtain advice as to approaches into the real estate industry.

Susan Hebel Watts, Executive Director of the CU Leeds School of Business offered this insight into the program:

“NAIOP’s Careers in Real Estate Program provides a great opportunity for our CU Real Estate students to hear from professionals about various career opportunities in a small setting. Each year, our students tell us how much they gained from this dialogue.”

With gratitude, NAIOP would like to recognize the team of volunteers at this year’s event:

Al Colussy with Klipp Architects                     Brian Hall with CVL Consultants
Celeste Tanner with McWhinney                    Dan Murphy with Continuum Partners
Jason Newcomer with DCS, Inc                    John Ikalowych with Wells Fargo
Jon Weisiger with CBRE                                Pete Tobin with Ascendant Development
Richard Morgan with Mutual of Omaha          TJ Johnson with Cassidy Turley Fuller

NAIOP is very thankful for its members who continue to support this program with their time and talents to share with the University students.

 

NAIOP Approves the 2011 Board of Directors

At the end of November, the votes were counted and the 2011 Board of Directors slate was approved.  The Nominations approved are as follows:

Nominated to serve as Director members:

John Logan (2nd Term to run through 2013) Laff Campbell Tucker & Gordon, LLP
Jason Newcomer (2nd Term to run through 2013) DCS Inc.
Jeff Riggs (1st Term to run through 2013) Essex Financial Group

Nominated to serve as Developing Leader Board Member:

Morgan Landers (Term to run through 2011) Brownfield Partners, LLC

Nominated to serve as Corporate Board Member:

Tracy Wilkes (2nd Term to run through 2013) Castle Keep Developments

Nominated to fill remaining term open due to vacancy:

Doug Jones (Term to run through 2011) The Jones Realty Group, Inc.

Nominated to serve as Officers:

Marshall Burton, President                                             McWhinney
Michael Komppa, President-Elect                                Corum Real Estate Group, Inc.
Rick Woodruff, Finance Chair                                       The WW Reynolds Companies
Jason Newcomer, Community Relations Chair           DCS, Inc.
John Logan, Legislative Affairs Chair                           Laff Campbell Tucker & Gordon, LLP
Paul Luber, Membership Chair                                      Duff & Phelps
Lea Ann Fowler, Program Chair                                    Brownstein | Hyatt | Farber | Schreck
Stephanie Lawrence, Immediate Past President        Granite Properties
Doug Jones, At-Large Officer                                        The Jones Realty Group, Inc.

To see a complete list of the 2011 Board of Directors, click here.

Developing Leaders Real Estate Panel Discussion a Success!

by Whitney Hake, Cassidy Turley Fuller Real Estate and Justin D. Pless, Pless Law Firm, LLC

The Mentorship Panel was a success! After working the room, the attendees snagged a stadium seat in the audience to learn from Bill, Bob, Dave, Jason and Leanne. As the first Panelist up to the plate, Bill Lucas, from Cassidy Turley Fuller Real Estate, discussed  whether the glass is half-full or half-empty for office markets. He concluded that there is not an oversupply of office space in Denver, especially in the central business district (CBD). In fact, many California corporations are moving their office headquarters to Denver’s CBD market, like DaVita. The glass is half-empty for buildings in the Denver Tech Center (DTC), like Terrace Towers (Alliance Commercial Partners’ recent acquisition).

Next, Dave Ramsay and Bob Holmes addressed how deals are getting done in today’s commercial real estate (CRE) market from a business perspective and a legal perspective. Bob, from Holme, Roberts & Owen, LLP, concluded that it’s better to purchase a distressed asset before it goes into foreclosure. Dave, from Alliance Commercial Partners, cited the inconsistencies and outliers of buying distressed assets across the United States. These two Panelists had enough material to talk about for days! Jason Newcomer, from DCS, Inc., followed up this class act with a unique perspective of development. Jason shared his redevelopment ideas for medical users and his realization of deeply-discounted construction and design costs with the audience.

Commerical Real Estate continues to recover as Vacancy rates decline in Metro Denver

According to the recent Monthly Economic Summary from the MDEDC, vacancy rates in Metro Denver's industrial and retail markets declined in the 3^rd  quarter.  Results of a survey released by PricewaterhouseCoopers suggests commercial property investors are returning to the market in many areas, including Metro Denver.  Investors are generally focused on high performing, Class A assets, and some respondents said debt financing is again available.  Respondents also said Metro Denver remains a buyers' market for office property but is on-track for recovery.

Click here to read the full report.

Metro Denver EDC releases 6th Edition of Toward a More Competitive Colorado

This annual benchmark study examines competitve factors related to economic growth.  In this sixth edition, the MDEDC reports its annual benchmarking of Colorado's strengths, challenges, and opportunities for future job growth. 

“Our findings in this latest edition show that Colorado continues its trend toward becoming a weaker competitor for new jobs and investments,” explained Patty Silverstein, chief economist for the MDEDC and author of the report.  “In many respects, the state continues to live off of the investments it made in the past.”

To read the full story and find out how you can get a copy of Toward a More Competitive Colorado, click here.

Jeff Kroll Receives NAIOP 2010 Developing Leaders Award

Award recipients will be honored at Development ’10: The Annual Meeting for Commercial Real Estate in Orlando

Denver, Colo., September 16, 2010 – Jeff Kroll has been named as one of the recipients of the 2010 Developing Leaders Award, presented by NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association.

Kroll currently serves as vice president of real estate with Frontier Renewal and is responsible for all real estate activities related to the acquisition, redevelopment and disposition of brownfield properties across the United States. He has been an active member in NAIOP Colorado for several years, serving on the Legislative Affairs Committee. Kroll also served as chair of the chapter’s Green and Sustainable Subcommittee and was instrumental in organizing the Green and Sustainable Education Series in both 2008 and 2009.

Kroll was involved in the chapter’s highly publicized efforts related to ResourceSmart Colorado, a partnership between NAIOP Colorado and Denver area utility providers to promote awareness of energy conservation. Kroll’s charitable efforts include working with a group of fellow NAIOP volunteers to renovate Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Metro Denver.

This year, the Developing Leaders Award was bestowed upon 15 up-and-coming professionals who have distinguished themselves in their profession and show great promise as future leaders of the commercial real estate industry.  Click Here to see the full list of winners.

NAIOP President Thomas J. Bisacquino spoke of the importance of the Developing Leaders Award, stating, “The Developing Leaders program advances NAIOP’s agenda and enhances our diversity by acknowledging and encouraging the involvement of these accomplished young professionals who will lead our organization and the commercial real estate industry into the future.”

Recipients of NAIOP's Developing Leaders Award will be celebrated at Development '10: The Annual Meeting for Commercial Real Estate, where they will benefit from unique networking opportunities and publicity surrounding the award. Development '10, which takes place October 27-29 in Orlando, features three days of education, interaction and events all tailored to help NAIOP members achieve success.  Leading-edge education sessions, distinguished keynote speakers, innovative project tours and the popular CEO Insight Series all provide invaluable experiences designed to keep NAIOP members ahead of the industry curve.

In an effort to engage and encourage up-and-coming young commercial real estate professionals, NAIOP established the Developing Leaders Award in 2006. The honor was designed to engage tomorrow's leaders and connect them with NAIOP's increasing education and benefits available to new and developing professionals.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Kathryn Hamilton
(703) 904-7100, ext. 165
hamilton@naiop.org

Introducing NAIOP's Mini City - Inaugural Property Fair

The NAIOP Colorado Chapter has completely reformatted their annual property tour for 2010.  That means no buses, no stuffy auditorium, and no virtual presentations!  Instead, NAIOP’s Mini City: 2010 Property Fair , scheduled for Wednesday, October 13, 2010, will feature an extensive showcase of both company and property exhibits in unique setting with an Oktoberfest Theme! 

Attendees will enjoy Colorado inspired cocktail reception along with other exciting highlights including:

• Over 30 property and company exhibits
• Guided tour through property showcase with representatives from all of Metro Denver’s submarkets
• Exclusive Guide Book with details for featured projects and companies
• UNLIMITED Networking Opportunities

This unique Property Fair will also include a Continuing Education Slideshow featuring a FasTrack Update from Phil Washington, General Manager, Regional Transportation District and NREL Zero Energy Building by Jeffrey Baker, Director, U.S. Department of Energy. 

Don’t miss the must attend event of the year.  Join us for NAIOP’s Mini City: 2010 Property Fair on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 from 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm at the Marriott City Center in downtown Denver. 

For more details and registration information, click here.

All of this is made possible through the generosity of our Major Sponsors:

Title Sponsor:

 

Thank you to our Silver Sponsor:

Thank you to our Program & Bag Sponsor:

Full sponsor list

Want to see your name listed in the full list of sponsors, there are limited marketing opportunities still available!  Click here to learn more.

NAIOP Supports Lee National Denim Day - Friday, October 8, 2010

Submitted by:  Karen Van Heukelem, Colorado Hardscpaes, Inc.

Did you know that one in every eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime? That's one every three minutes. There's something you can do to fight back against this disease, and we are asking for your help.

Lee National Denim Day is one of the largest single-day fundraisers for breast cancer. On Oct. 8, millions of people nationwide will slip into their favorite jeans and make a $5 donation to support the Women's Cancer Programs of EIF, who are bringing together world-class scientists to develop an early detection blood test and working in Lee Labs nationwide to find less toxic, more effective treatments for breast cancer patients.

NAIOP Colorado supports this event and the fight against breast cancer.  Join the NAIOP Colorado Team today by visiting http://www.denimday.com or Click Here to donate directly to the NAIOP Colorao Team.  You can also Click Here to access a printable flyer a printable flyer to share with your colleagues, family and friends.

Tags: Cancer, Breast+Cancer, Lee+Denim+Day

ReENERGYze Your Real Estate Education Series Wraps Up!

by Blair Daniels, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

The fifth and final session in NAIOP Colorado's "ReENERGYze Your Real Estate" Education Series, held on September 22, 2010 at ProLogis, focused on the myriad of public policy, legislative and regulatory issues affecting the future of renewable energy, advanced biofuels, climate change initiatives and clean technology from a global, national and statewide perspective. 

David Bernhardt, a Shareholder in Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck's Washington D.C. office and member of the firm's Natural Resources, Government Relations and Litigation practice groups, discussed the inherent challenges of drafting meaningful renewable energy legislation based on the numerous stakeholders working in the United States Congress, the White House and related federal agencies and explained the "life cycle" of the most recent renewable energy legislation passed by the United States Congress.  Additionally, David provided insight as to the potential effect of the November 2010 election on future renewable energy legislation. 

Mike McAdams, President of the American Biofuels Association and Policy Director in Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck's Washington D.C. office, discussed the diverse array of second generation biofuel technologies and the need for the federal government to promulgate functional, fair policy initiatives to support the further development of such technologies.  David and Mike encouraged attendees to engage in a lively question and answer session, where the group focused on public policy and international issues related to renewable energy and solutions for the future.  Attendees were urged to participate in influencing policy decisions by joining NAIOP-Colorado's Legislative Affairs Committee, contributing to its Common Cents Fund and supporting NAIOP's lobbying efforts in Washington D.C. through their membership dues and contributions.   

DL Mentor Commencement and Kickoff Event

by Jennifer Friednash, Fairfield and Woods, P.C.

The NAIOP Colorado Developing Leaders (“DL”) Mentor Graduation of the Class of 2010 and Kickoff of the Class of 2011 was held on August 18, 2010 on the scenic rooftop veranda of Herman Miller’s Workplace Resource office.

NAIOP’s dedicated Mentors (many of whom have served year after year) have made dramatic impacts upon the careers and shaped the thinking of many of NAIOP’s bright and ambitious real estate DL members. The new Mentor Class contains 46 participating Mentors and Mentees - 23 Matches.  Since the NAIOP Mentor Program began in 2007, 224 individuals and 112 successful Mentor/Mentee matches have been made. 

The Mentor Committee meets throughout the year to plan programs for the Mentor Class, recruit Mentors and match potential Mentee candidates with those Mentors.  The selection process for Mentees begins in early summer of each year with the submission of Mentee applications followed up by a formal interview of the Mentee candidate by members of the Mentor Committee.  The Committee then spends hours making the best matches based upon the experience, interests, personality and goals of the Mentors and Mentees.  Any Mentee applicant who was not selected this year is encouraged to apply again next year.  Also, we encourage all Mentee applicants and future prospects to get involved by attending DL and NAIOP General Membership and Committee meetings and through volunteering opportunities. 

Addressing the Real Estate Needs of the Renewable Energy Economy

By John V. Miller, First American Title Insurance Co.

The fourth session of NAIOP-Colorado’s Educational Series “How to ReENERGYze Your Real Estate” addressed the real estate needs of the Renewable Energy Industry. Erik Abrahamson of CB Richard Ellis, Dan Belin of Ecology and Environment, and Greg Vallin of Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Schreck discussed market trends, critical information about siting of generation and transmission facilities, and tips for streamlining the zoning permitting and land use processes.

Erik Abrahamson’s presentation focused on recent deal activity and trends in the marketplace. He cited statistics that point to ever increasing demand for energy in the years to come and linked that phenomenon with real estate absorption in Colorado, thanks, in part, to policies designed to foster a “New Energy Economy.” Erik showed the clear connection between growing energy needs and the demand for real estate from the Renewable Energy Industry, demonstrating that economic factors are driving growth of renewable energy providers as well as their need for space. Click Here to read Erik's presentation.

Dan Belin discussed the practical considerations in siting renewable and non-renewable energy developments and transmission facilities and mapped the labyrinth of the Federal, state, and local permitting process. Dan demonstrated that, while the permitting process is rife with pitfalls, it can be expedited. Early coordination, consultation, and communication with key stakeholders, along with an understanding of the regulatory environment, will make or break a project. It was invaluable information for anyone considering an energy related project.  Click Here to see Dan's presentation.

Greg Vallin brought elements of Erik’s and Dan’s presentations together in a discussion that weighed the regulatory and policy considerations that make Colorado a great place to do business if you are in the renewable energy industry against the growing “Not In My Backyard” sentiment found in many communities across the country, Colorado included. He discussed the state and local incentives that are driving activity, the state of Colorado’s policy decisions that have expedited the development process, and practical considerations when putting a project together. Click Here to view Greg's presentation.

The speakers delivered three excellent presentations that captured the difficulty and the opportunity offered to real estate practitioners as they meet the needs of the Renewable Energy Industry.

Project Finance Opportunities in Energy Generation

By Greg Johnson, Patton Boggs, LLP

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the amount of project finance opportunities for energy generation.  In part, these developments have been the result of an increased public awareness of the desire for energy independence, and a desire for cleaner sources of energy.  This has created opportunities to increase demand for clean-burning natural gas to fuel large central power plants for generating electricity throughout the U.S., and for applying wind and solar technology to generate electricity.  As a result, Patton Boggs represents and works with many developers of electrical generation and transmission facilities, and financial institutions, which are involved in construction and financing of projects using a variety of state and federal assistance to access the capital markets.  The new finance and regulatory environment has made it possible to finance generation and transmission facilities on a more cost effective basis.

Build Green, Save Green - Energy Tax Deductions Benefit More Than Building Owners

By Lee H. Johnson, CPA, CCIFP
Clifton Gunderson LLP

High energy costs have always been an incentive for improving the energy efficiency of commercial buildings. Now the threat of global climate change and record-high costs has ratcheted up the urgency of efforts by the government to promote energy-conscious building practices.

Federal tax deductions passed in 2005 give commercial property owners, and in some cases architects, engineers and contractors, generous allowances for the construction or renovation of energy-efficient commercial buildings.

That’s good news for property owners and the environment. Additional good news is that this law doesn’t expire until after 2013.

NAIOP Features Metro Denver's Southeast Market Update

Submitted by:  Bob Blodgett, Principal, R.S. Wells LLC/Clifton Gunderson LLP

NAIOP Colorado’s August 10th breakfast meeting program featured key players in Denver’s southeast market sharing information about current and future projects along the I-25 corridor, projections for office and retail demand, major lease and sales transactions and future trends.  The panel consisted of four speakers with diverse backgrounds in the corridor:  A commercial real estate broker, the new President of the Southeast Business Partnership, the IKEA U.S. Real Estate Manager and the Development Director at the RidgeGate mixed use project. 

Metro Denver Site Selection Conference

The MDEDC invites you to Breakfast and Panel Discussion with National Site Selectors on August 27th at the Hyatt Regency at the Colorado Convention Center from 7:00am - 9:00am.  Click here for more information and to register.

High Performance Building Program - Request for Applications

From the Colorado Governor's Energy Office, there is a new grant opportunity that provides Recovery Act funding for soft costs associated with achieving High Performance Design for partners accepted into the High Performance Building Program.  Funds can be used for such tasks as enhanced commissioning, third-party building rating system certification costs, energy modeling as a design tool, and other fees that might otherwise prevent a partner from utilizing these services to their full extent.  For more information about this request for applications, click here and look under "August Grants."

Ten great days for Metro Denver - Good news arrives in many packages

A recent Investor e-Alert from the Metro Denver Ecnomic Development Corporation shared that "Good news is hard to find these days, even for Metro Denver.  But the last 10 days have given us renewed confidence in Metro Denver's ecnomic rebound".  Click here to read why Tom Clark, Executive Vice President of the MDEDC, is so optimistic.

2011 NAIOP Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge Call for Projects

Submitted by Leanne Toler, 2011 RMREC Chair

Do you have an urban infill, redevelopment or mixed use real estate project that would benefit from a semester of study by some of the best graduate students at the University of Denver and the University of Colorado?

The Client of the Real Estate Challenge receives the benefit of:
- Comprehensive feasibly and financial study by several real estate teams, resulting in 4 – 8 proposals and creative development ideas.
- Schematic designs completed by the top architectural firms in Denver.
- Verbal presentations and written reports from all real estate teams.
- An afternoon of local ‘celebrity’ real estate judges critiquing the best verbal presentations and written reports.
- 2 teams showcasing their vision for your project to over 600 commercial real estate professionals at The Challenge event.
- Your opportunity to address the 600-person audience about your project.
- Comprehensive media coverage of The Challenge focused on your project, in local print and national and local on-line news channels.
- Greatly increased market knowledge of your project.

Also:

- Your company logo on all marking materials and the NAIOP homepage, with a hotlink.
- A VIP table at the RMREC event, with over 600 professionals in attendance.
- A Premium table at the NAIOP Annual Awards Luncheon.

Learn more by contacting NAIOP at 303-782-0155 or by email to khoffman@wmrdenver.com by August 15, 2010. 

NAIOP Colorado Developing Leader Member in Development Magazine!!

David Grissom, director of capital markets for Alliance Commercial Partners, LLC, is featured in the cover article, “Reinventing Finance” in the latest issues of Development Magazine.  Click here to read the featured article!

 

Developing Leaders Tour Solera

Submitted by Jim Schroder, Real Capital Solutions

Last month, David Zucker of Zocalo Development hosted the NAIOP Developing Leaders 2010 Project tour at the Solera, downtown Denver’s newest apartment building scheduled for occupancy in July.  The group of 30 DL’s began with a tour of the Solera’s model unit to see first-hand the benefits of a LEED Gold Certified Multifamily building.  From the energy monitor in every unit to recycled floors and countertops to a 96% efficient boiler, participants witnessed the key features at the forefront of sustainable design for multifamily buildings. 

Following the tour of the model unit, Zucker hosted a question and answer presentation in the building’s future lobby that covered a wide range of topics that included: sourcing the deal, relationship with the equity partner, issues related to LEED construction, and energy savings for future residents.  One of the most impressive facts, based on a 1-year study of Zocalo’s previous project, shows that Solera residents will use 38% less energy than typical apartment users in Denver. 

Overall, the 2010 Project tour was a great success.  The DL’s thank David Zucker and Zocalo again for hosting a great project tour, and we encourage all NAIOP members to check out the Solera next time that are downtown.

June ReENERGYze Series Focused on Renewable Energy Profits

Submitted by Drew Torbin, Vice President – Renewable Energy, ProLogis

The second session of the NAIOP “How to ReENERGYze Your Real Esate” series focused on the opportunities in photovoltaics from a landlord’s perspective.  Representatives from  ProLogis gave a detailed overview of the market demand drivers, the approach that ProLogis has taken, some project case studies and the technical considerations for a project.

Wayne Barrett, Vice President and Market Officer for ProLogis, kicked off the session by introducing the crowd to the company, the markets they are active in and the type of product they build.  He then passed the microphone to Drew Torbin, so that he could take the group through the macro demand drivers in the industry.  Mr. Torbin touched on the need for an inexhaustible, cheap, clean source of energy and the country’s current strategy to achieve this.  Building on that concept, Torbin next discussed the solar supply chain and real estate’s role in it.  Given that most other constraints have been or are in the process of being removed, real estate is emerging as the predominant bottle neck in many of these projects.  An active and educated real estate sector can have a positive impact on the efforts in this space.  Next, Torbin covered the typical ownership structures of these projects and the roles played by each stakeholder.  Additional time was spent explaining the landlord and construction management roles that ProLogis plays.  Mr. Torbin concluded by talking through a few of ProLogis’ projects and one in-depth case study. 

Matt Singleton, Vice President – Renewable Energy at ProLogis, took over at this point.  He built upon what was previously discussed by walking the audience through ProLogis’ Spain tranche I project.  Next, he went through an in-depth technical explanation of photovoltaics.  Matt covered the history of the technology, the different types of modules, the make up of a typical system, the other balance of system components, some example pricing and even discussed cell efficiency and his view of what the future may hold.  

To conclude, the ProLogis representatives took questions from the attendees.  Most questions centered around policy and other macro drivers with a few audience members keying in on projects that held specific interest for them.  Click Here to see copies of the event presentations.

NAIOP Looks “Inside the Deal”

Submitted by Jim Creighton, First Vice President, ProLogis

NAIOP Colorado’s June 8 breakfast meeting program was an insider’s look at key, high profile transactions and new projects along Colorado’s Front Range.  The audience learned how these projects came to be and who made them happen.  The presenters shared their assumptions, deal structures, targeted returns and other key deal elements to provide attendees with a glimpse “Inside the Deal”.

Centerra and Lake Vista Apartments – Chad McWhinney, President and CEO of McWhinney recounted the history and current status of what is today known as Centerra in Loveland.  Chad and his brother, Troy, purchased a small family farm in the 1990’s, assembled additional parcels and have created what is today a vibrant mixed use development featuring office, retail, apartments and healthcare facilities.  In addition, McWhinney is developing NorthPark on the former Anthem commercial property at Highway 7 and I-25. 

Chad provided insights on his firm’s decision to proceed with several apartment projects in Colorado that are now under development and will total approximately 1,000 new multi-family rental units once completed.  He also shared his vision of “Getting in Front of the Inevitable” based on projected demographic trends and population growth projections for Colorado.