The Weekly Take from CBRE

Mixed-use real estate can be thought of as several discrete projects—executed in parallel—within a block-by-block area, to create a whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts. Three seasoned CRE professionals, Katie Grissom of Nuveen, Sondra Wenger of CBRE Investment Management and Colin Yasukochi of CBRE, discuss the metrics that matter most when measuring synergies across residential, retail, hospitality, office, medical and entertainment.Insights to Share: Mixed-use real estate is key to creating vibrant neighborhoods.Strong, vital neighborhoods are a critical amenity that helps office tenants attract the most productive talent.Investing in mixed-use environments is a key way to help differentiate investment strategies.

Kimco Realty’s (NYSE: KIM) President and Chief Investment Officer Ross Cooper says that retail and mixed-use property owners and tenants have become partners. In a wide ranging discussion he talks about the challenges facing real estate investors today, the evolution of the shopping experience and the possibilities for mixed-use properties.SOME KEY INSIGHTS:1. Taking on equity partners through joint ventures can offset high capital costs and support diversification efforts.2. For e-commerce companies, a physical retail presence can often complement digital platforms.3. Now is the time to explore investment opportunities outside conventional real estate, such as infrastructure projects or green bonds targeted at energy-efficient construction. 

Serial entrepreneur Marc Lore revolutionizes the food delivery business with his latest venture, Wonder. Lore discusses the booming food delivery market, the unique features of Wonder's restaurant brand, and their ability to deliver a variety of 'fine-fast' food quickly.

Rob Lilwall was a high school teacher who, in need of a new direction, decided to walk across Siberia. This was the start of an avocation that he parlayed into a profession. Rob’s story is about conquering fears, overcoming setbacks, building inner resilience and reaching for higher goals, whether it’s climbing mountain or closing real estate deals.“One of the great things about an expedition, which just simplifies life so much, is you have one very, very clear goal.” ABOUT THIS WEEK'S GUESTRob Lilwall, AdventurerRob started his career as a high school geography teacher in England, but has transitioned into a career of adventuring and motivational speaking. His expeditions include a three-year expedition cycling from Siberia to London, a solo walk across the Taklamakan Desert and cycling across the U.S. Across his adventures, he has learned that our abilities are not fixed, and that we can grow in many ways, including to become more positive, courageous and resilient, especially when put in positions outside of our respective comfort zones.

One’s an office occupier—Orrick’s Laura Saklad—and the other’s an office investor—CBRE Investment Management’s Julie Ingersoll. From opposite sides of the table, they discuss how property investors and occupiers can work together to facilitate return-to-office strategies and make the workplace a magnet for talent attraction and retention.Insights to Share:·      Successful office occupancy strategies are about balancing employee flexibility with collaboration and professional development opportunities.·      The surrounding neighborhood is an important amenity for office space.·      The pandemic has brought landlords and tenants closer together, changing the relationship from adversarial to a partnership.Laura SakladChief Operations OfficerOrrickLaura is responsible for leading and directing all operational functions of Orrick, a law firm with more than 25 global offices. She works closely with the Orrick’s Board and Management Committee to execute the firm’s strategy. Julie IngersollChief Investment OfficerAmericas Direct Real Estate StrategiesCBRE Investment ManagementJulie joined the firm in October 2021 from CPP Investments, an approximately $500 billion Canadian Pension Plan, where she was Managing Director overseeing portfolio strategy design and execution for 50 million square feet of U.S. residential and retail investments. At CPP, Julie focused on core-plus, value-add and development risk profiles, leading efforts across the investment lifecycle from identifying new strategies, originating and structuring joint ventures, acquisitions, asset management and dispositions.

Marc Ganzi, CEO at DigitalBridge, and Pat Lynch from CBRE discuss the growth and opportunities in the digital infrastructure industry, the trade-off between latency and location in data centers, the concept of hybrid cloud and the challenges of power constraints, the recent acquisition of Switch for $11 billion, and strategies to address water scarcity in data centers.

The Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles and a representative from South Carolina Ports discuss the impact of the pandemic on seaports and the resurgence of trade activity. They explore strategies to alleviate congestion, the fluctuations in shipping container costs, challenges of finding land near ports, and the importance of workforce in the shipping industry. The podcast also touches on the changing manufacturing landscape in the US and upcoming episodes on data centers and disruptive entrepreneurship.

Former Fortune 500 CEOs, Oscar Munoz and Sol Trujillo, discuss their experiences in business transformation and leadership while embracing their Hispanic heritage. They highlight the economic power of Latinos and the importance of celebrating Latino heritage. They also discuss the use of street slang to connect with workers, bridging societal divides through heritage, and the value of self-awareness. The podcast concludes with advice on being true to oneself, giving back, and embracing diversity.

Tech leaders from Blackstone and CBRE discuss the integration of AI in the real estate industry, exploring its potential to enhance efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and improve workplace experiences. They delve into the concept of PropTech and its significance in real estate, showcasing its applications in building management and tenant management platforms. The speakers emphasize the importance of data in commercial real estate and highlight its role in efficiency, productivity, and providing valuable insights. They provide advice for partnering with Blackstone and CBRE in the technology prop tech space.

Jacob Morgan, futurist and author of Leading with Vulnerability, discusses the importance of leading with vulnerability in different industries and job functions. He explores the relationship between vulnerability and productivity, and shares a CEO's journey of rebuilding trust after a major mistake. Morgan also highlights the impact of fatherhood on embracing vulnerability and teases upcoming episodes on data centers, serial entrepreneurship, and business lessons from adventure travelers.