Charlotte Land Development Forum

Mark your calendars NOW for our Charlotte Land Development Forum, Wednesday, February 22, from 8:00 am – 9:30 a.m. in Room 280 of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. The purpose of the Forum will be to foster an open dialogue among the development industry and Charlotte’s Land Development division. We’ll be discussing a range of issues, including, but limited to:

• Bonding Requirements
• Electronic Plans Management
• Streamlining the Plan Approval Process
• Charlotte’s Ordinance Alignment Initiative

Space is limited, so make your reservation TODAY by e-mailing Yvonne Case at case@REBIC.com. Bagels and coffee will be provided, thanks to our sponsor, DPR Associates.

NAIOP Design Competition: “The Office Building of the Future”

NAIOP invites member architectural firms to participate in an inaugural competition featuring the design and operations of an office building to be opened in 2020. Four firms will be selected and invited to present their concept at Development ’12: The Annual Meeting for Commercial Real Estate, October 23 – 25, 2012, in Washington, D.C.

Read full details of the competition and submission procedures. Proposals are to be submitted by 5 p.m. (ET) on Friday, March 16, 2012.

If your company is planning to enter this inaugural design competition, please send a confirmation e-mail to designcomp@naiop.org by Friday, February 17, noting your intent to participate.

Required Design Proposal components include:

• Summary of Concept Plan
• Vision/Concept Plan
• Site Plan View(s)
• Perspective Sketches
• Hard Cost Budget Estimate
• Company Description
• Project Team Resumes
• Sample Presentation Video
• Speaker Information Form
• References

The four winning firms will each receive one complimentary full conference registration and designate a representative to present their plans during a conference general session. Additionally, the winning entries will be featured in NAIOP’s Development magazine.

Read the description and requirements for the “The Office Building of the Future” Design Competition. Contact NAIOP with questions at designcomp@naiop.org.

Commercial Real Estate’s Positive Economic Contributions Despite Spending Decline

Commercial real estate development and construction is a perpetual and valuable economic engine, with spending and directly related outlays generating a significant financial impact despite slowed growth and the nation’s economic strain, says a new report issued by the NAIOP Research Foundation.

The compounded economic impact of commercial development and construction spending reached $231.7 billion in 2010:

• $120.2 billion in hard costs (actual construction costs) 
• $111.5 billion in soft costs (architecture, engineering, marketing, legal, management), site development and tenant improvements
• $1.86 billion in building operations (maintenance, repair, custodial services, utilities and management)

Total construction spending fell in 2010 for a fourth consecutive year, reflecting both the length and depth of the economic contraction of the national economy. Construction hard costs took the biggest hit, with spending for office, industrial, warehouse and retail totaling $41.7 billion – down 53.2 percent from 2007.  A total of 228.4 million square feet of building space was added to the inventory – a decrease of 72.8 percent compared to 2007. 

Click here for the full release

City Proposing Expanded Use of Marquee Signage

By: REBIC 

Charlotte’s planning staff has proposed an amendment to the zoning ordinance that would amend the definition of a marquee sign, permit their use on commercial buildings in the MUDD (Mixed-Use) district, and remove a restriction on their use in UMUD districts. 

For the full article click here: http://bit.ly/w2HU7z

State Building Code Effective Dates

By: REBIC

At its December meeting, the North Carolina Building Code Council met in Raleigh and voted to delay the required use of all 2012 building codes, except for the Electrical Code, until June 1, 2012. The change was made because of the limited availability of the Residential and Energy Code books, as well as the need to simplify the certification process for code officials. It was later determined, however, that state law mandates the use of the new codes by March 1, even though no code books are expected to be available by that time.

For the full article click here: http://bit.ly/zoxDOo

Save the Date!

NAIOP’s 2012 State Conference!
Hosted by NAIOP Research Triangle

Wednesday, March 21 – Thursday, March 22, 2012
The Umstead, Cary, NC

Focus is on the two BIG E’s for 2012:
THE ECONOMY and ELECTIONS

Network with North Carolina’s most influential commercial real estate professionals.

Hear stimulating speakers and panelists discuss the overall economy and political environment for 2012. Learn the strategies and drivers behind the success of the Research Triangle Region.

Find out what the Research Triangle Area is doing to “get it right” and any “soft spots” that may exist.

Reserve your room today. Don’t miss this year’s state conference filled with informative and time sensitive topics.

Hotel Booking Information:
Click Here to reserve your room online. Or call 919-447-4000 and use the reference code NAIOP0312.

Our state conference kicks off with a social followed by a Carolina Hurricane’s Game.

2012 NAIOP Charlotte Slate of Officers

This year, NAIOP Charlotte will join together at the Annual Meeting Luncheon on December 15th at the Bank of America Corporate Center’s 60th Floor to elect our new officers and directors. Below is the 2012 slate of officers up for nomination:

Executive Committee (Expiring in 2012)

• President – Charles Jonas, Trinity Partners
• President Elect – Scott Phillips, Bank of America
• Secretary – Clifton Coble, Bissell Companies
• Treasurer – Chris Thomas, Childress Klein Properties
• Immediate Past President – Sean McDonnell, KDC Real Estate

Development & Investment

• Past President – Trey Dempsey, Lincoln Harris

Directors (Expiring in 2013):

• Massie Flippin, Liberty Property Trust
• Chris Squier, Charlotte Housing Authority
• Mark Thigpen, King & Spaulding
• Chris Truitt, Cherry Bekaert & Holland
• Karen Clark, Schaffer & Clark Law

Directors (Expiring in 2013)

• Mike Harrell, Beacon Partners
• Scott Wilson, Childress Klein Properties
• Barry Leasure, Greer & Walker
• Brendan Pierce, The Keith Corporation
• Terry Brennan, Trinity Partners

Ex-Officio Members (Expiring in 2012)

• Dustin Read, UNC Charlotte School of Real Estate
• Joe Padilla, REBIC

National Board Liaison (Expiring 2014 – Ex-Officio)

• Chris Kirby, Carleson Real Estate Company

Lease Rule Would Hit Profits

By: Emily Chasan, The Wall Street Journal

Retailers, banks and airlines, which often use long-term leases to add to their locations or aircraft fleets, are pushing back against a proposed accounting rule that would act as a drag on their profits.

U.S. and international accounting-standards setters appear ready to reconsider the proposed rule, which has emerged as the most controversial piece of their effort to overhaul accounting rules for leases. The outcome could influence the length of commercial leases, how fast some companies grow and how much exposure they might have to the real-estate market.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s No. 1 retailer, and drugstore operators Walgreen Co. and CVS Caremark Corp. are among the big companies that could be hit hardest by the proposed rule, part of a long-term project by the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board and its overseas counterpart, the International Accounting Standards Board, to make balance sheets more accurately reflect a company’s assets and liabilities.

For the full article, click here http://on.wsj.com/tGDR67

2011 NAIOP Charlotte Annual Meeting | Dec. 15th

December 15, 2011
Bank of America Corporate Center | 60th Floor
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Join us December 15th on Bank of America Corporate Center’s 60th Floor, from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm, for our Annual Meeting.  We will be electing our 2012 slate of officers and recognizing one of our industry’s brightest stars with our Award of Excellence.  Make plans today to join us for our last event of 2011!

Registration
For registrations received by Tuesday, December 13th, the cost to attend is $25 for NAIOP Charlotte members and $65 for non-members.  After 12/13, registration costs increase by $10.

Click here to register online.
Click here for a printable registration form.

Questions
If you have any questions about the Annual Meeting, please contact the NAIOP Charlotte offices at 704-940-7383 or send us an email at info@naiopcharlotte.org.

2011 Award of Excellence | Nominations Deadline is Tomorrow!

In an effort to recognize individuals who positively influence our community and industry, we are proud to announce the 2011 NAIOP Award of Excellence Program. In conjunction with NAIOP’s Annual Meeting, we hope you will join us for this exciting reception as we give out the NAIOP Charlotte Award of Excellence.

For an Award of Excellence nomination form, click here.

The award will be presented at the annual meeting and awards reception on December 15th at the Bank of America Corporate Center.

Award Judging Criteria
The recipient dutifully gives time and energy to a focused non-profit organization or community cause and humbly serves others in the community without concern for recognition or compensation.  The nominee champions the commercial real estate industry on a national, state and/or local level and passionately seeks to be an agent for change, even in the face of diversity. This person is seen as a real estate industry ambassador at any level of government or community.

Nomination Process
Complete the nomination form and mail or fax to the NAIOP Charlotte offices at 1300 Baxter Street, Ste. 360, Charlotte, NC 28204; fax 704-365-3678.  You can also email your nomination information to Theresa Salmen at Theresa@naiopcharlotte.org.  Deadline for nominations is 12:00 noon on Tuesday, November 15, 2011.