We're beginning the fifth week of the session, and bills must be passed out of policy committees in one week's time--Monday, Feb. 15, is the deadline.

The early action COVID relief package is expected to pass the Senate this week (HB 1368). Both chambers now have transportation packages in play and a capital gains bill has been introduced in the House. 

Yesterday’s press conference with Governor Jay Inslee, medical professionals, and other leaders from our region brought a message none of us wanted to hear, and that we can’t afford to ignore: COVID cases are on an exponential increase curve. November 15 was the most dangerous public health day in over 100 years in our state, according to the governor, with no signs of today being any better. In Seattle, 20% of all COVID cases have occurred in the past 2 weeks, said Mayor Jenny Durkan. And the numbers aren’t better elsewhere in the state or across the country.

What does it mean to go first? In celebration of NAIOPWA’s Night of the Stars inaugural “Sustainable Development of the Year” category, here is a closer look at the two nominees, each of whom elected to be on the front edge of sustainable real estate development. Read below to learn more about these two industry-leading endeavors.

What is the first thing many developers or investors think when they hear the words “sustainable” or “green” as their architects describe their building design? For decades the common perception has been that it is difficult (if not impossible) to make a deeply green building pencil financially. However, by definition “sustainability” is the nexus of environmental, social and economic progress. We interviewed key participants representing both Watershed and Inspire at the Russell W. Young Building to learn how they overcame perception to create these very special properties.

NAIOP, along with AGC, requested clarification on Governor Inslee's recent “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order as it relates to construction activities. The newly released Construction Guidance Memo is online.

With target dates for code implementation changing quickly, this webinar is a must for NAIOPWA members. Our experts will cover the three new pieces of legislation upping the ante for energy efficiency throughout Washington state for both new construction and retrofits: the Seattle Energy Code, the Washington State Energy Code commercial section, and the state's new Energy Performance Standard for [Existing] Commercial Buildings.

In support of our 1,000+ association members, the commercial real estate business industry and the community at large, NAIOP Washington State has submitted an official request to Governor Jay Inslee and to the State Building Code Council requesting a 6-month delay in implementation of new building codes, to January 1, 2021.

Programming Committee Co-Chair Ed Scherer introduced the October panel about augmented, virtual and mixed reality technologies and how they are changing the commercial real estate industry. These technologies are becoming more and more seamlessly embedded and integrated into the design and delivery process, providing immersive experiences, and streamlined and more efficient construction and maintenance.

Report: Commercial Real Estate in Washington State Supported 43,130 Jobs and $6.3 Billion of GDP in 2016

SEATTLE – In late February, the NAIOP Research Foundation released the NAIOP Economic Impacts of Commercial Real Estate report (2017 Edition). The report is conducted for purposes of estimating the annual economic contribution of commercial real estate development to the U.S. economy. 

National highlights from the 2017 report include:

• Commercial real estate development supported 6.3* million American jobs in 2016 (a measure of both new and existing jobs).
• Commercial real estate development contributed $465 billion to the GDP* in 2016.
• There were 410.1 million square feet of commercial real estate space built in 2016, with capacity to house 1.1 million new workers.

Locally, 2016 economic impacts in Washington State included: 

Davis Property & Investment is pleased to announce that construction is underway for a new 36,237 square foot flex building located at 2750 Williamson Place NW, DuPont, WA. This will be DPI’s 7th building under construction in Washington State in 2015.

Located at the premier corner of DuPont-Steilacoom Road and Center Drive, Center Plaza Building 1 will have elegant glass store front entrances with grade-level loading doors and a typical suite size of 2,400 square feet. Center Plaza project is a six-building project consisting of approximately 180,000 square feet located within the 3,500 acre Northwest Landing campus.