Denver Office Market Update Q2 2020

Denver’s commercial real estate market entered Q2 2020 in a strong position, even as COVID-19 forced the majority of the state to shut down starting in mid-March. While Denver’s office landscape is starting to shift as companies re-evaluate their space needs, there is steady activity across the Denver metro area.

Here are some highlights of Denver’s commercial real estate activity in Q2 2020.

 

Downtown Denver

  • The market continues to shift as 58 new subleases have hit the downtown market since April 1.
  • Facebook announced plans to double the size of its office at 1900 16th St.
  • Occidental Petroleum Corp. is looking to sublease six floors totaling 130,068 square feet at 1099 18th St.
  • Dispatch Health raised $136M in Series C funding.
  • A parking lot at 1300 Cherokee St. in the Golden Triangle sold for $6.7 million.

 West Denver

  • Bancroft acquired Union Terrace Building for $11,327,200 or $132.62/sf. The building was 86% leased at the time of the sale.
  • Tap Rock Resources leased 23,000 sf at 523 Park Point Dr. in Genesee.
  • Golden View Classical Academy acquired a 54,396-square-foot building at 601 Corporate Circle for $7,783,400 or $143.09/sf.
  • Next Level Sports Performance acquired a 10,875-square-foot building at 4670 Table Mountain Dr. for $2,325,000 or $213.79/sf.

Northwest Denver

  • Rowdy Mermaid, a kombucha startup in Boulder, raised $3.5M.
  • Crocs opened its new headquarters at ATRIA in Broomfield.
  • Office Evolution, a Louisville-based coworking franchisor, opened its 15thColorado location in Northglenn.

Colorado Blvd/Glendale/Cherry Creek

  • The Citadel building in Cherry Creek sold for $33M.
  • Former Inn at Cherry Creek announced plans to reopen next year as The Clayton.
  • BMC Investments broke ground on a 6-story building in Cherry Creek, anchored by Equinox fitness club.

 Denver Tech Center

  • Vectra Bank submitted plans to build a nine-story HQ within Belleview Station.
  • Boom Supersonic, a startup looking to build commercial supersonic jets, raised $3 million.
  • The landlord of the six-story Tuscany Plaza in Greenwood Village sued Red Robin for unpaid rent.
Denver Office Market Update Q2 20202020-10-07T22:13:35+00:00

Re-Opening Your Office Space Recap: Video + Key Takeaways

Re-opening office spaces across Colorado requires thoughtful planning, clear communication and patience for employers, employees and property managers alike. During Tributary’s recent “Re-Opening Your Office Space” virtual panel moderated by Partner Amy Aldridge, local industry experts weighed in on what it looks like for companies to create and implement a successful re-entry plan. (more…)

Re-Opening Your Office Space Recap: Video + Key Takeaways2020-05-15T19:59:38+00:00

Resource Guide: How to Re-Open Your Office

There are many factors to consider as you look to re-open your office while navigating COVID-19. With so much information out there, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are some helpful tips and resources for creating a plan that supports employee health and safety, while allowing you to resume your ‘normal’ business operations as much as possible.

Finding the Right Time

Across the US, different states and municipalities are lifting stay-at-home orders, including in Colorado.  It’s important to understand the scope of these new orders before making a decision to re-open your office. We recommend reading these orders in full to see how they might impact your specific business. While Colorado’s state government has issued guidance, there is no mandate as to when you should open. Make the best decision for your employees and business.

Resources:

The Denver Post: FAQ about new “safer at home” phase of Colorado’s coronavirus response
Colorado Public Radio: Gov. Polis’ “safer at home” guidance breakdown
City of Denver: COVID-19 Resources
State of Colorado: COVID-19 website and updates
Denver Metro Chamber: COVID-19 Resources for Businesses

Designing a New Kind of Space

The pandemic has led many design experts to reimagine office layouts. While it’s too soon to tell how this will impact the office of the future, in the near-term there are some specific space considerations re-opening businesses should take into account. The clearest rule is to implement social distancing measures within your office. This means decreasing the density of individual work spaces and limiting use of communal spaces. There are even some ideas around creating one-way walking patterns in the office to limit how often people interact. And if you currently use a ‘hoteling’ system with open seating, consider assigning designated seats for all employees to limit unneeded exposure.

Resources:

Denver Business Journal: Denver offices need to adapt after COVID-19. Here’s what’s most likely to change.
Gensler: Design responds to a changing world
IA Architects: What Happens When We Return to the office
Elements/Knoll: Considerations for Returning to a Healthy Workplace
Duet Design Group: Post-Pandemic Restaurant Design

Ensuring Health and Safety Measures

Top health officials expect COVID-19 to stay with us for quite some time. Once we get through this initial peak, maintaining social distancing, implementing health checks and increasing sanitation measures will be paramount to the health and safety of your employees. While not yet widespread, some landlords are considering temperature checks for employees and visitors entering their buildings. At the very least, be prepared to increase your office cleaning protocol. It’s also important to remember that your employees’ mental health and well being will be affected as they return to a not-so-normal workplace.

Resources:

Gensler: How Should Office Buildings Change in a Post-Pandemic World?
Centers for Disease Control: Resources for Businesses and Employers
OSHA: COVID-19 Control and Prevention
National Institute of Mental Health: Supporting Mental Health During COVID-19 Pandemic

Managing Your Team

Working from home has become the new norm for many of us. Re-opening your office may provide a welcome solace for people wanting some heads-down focus time and human interaction. For others, it may cause some anxiety. Be aware of your employees’ state of mind and help set the tone for reopening with clear communication, expectations and support. To help limit the number of people in your office at once, consider implementing a staggered schedule for employees who want to come in. By grouping teams who need to work together, you can instill a stronger sense of camaraderie and productivity. Also consider the individual schedule needs of employees during this time – some may need continued flexibility to care for older family members or children who can’t go to school.

Resources:

Denver Metro Chamber: Managing Employees Through COVID-19
White House/CDC Guidelines: Opening Up America Again
BCLP: U.S. Employer Guidance for Reopening the Workplace

Tributary is here to help you consider your office solutions and strategy during this uncertain time. Click here for a downloadable version of this guide.

Resource Guide: How to Re-Open Your Office2020-05-05T21:57:47+00:00

Video + FAQ: Navigating Your Office Lease During COVID-19

Tributary Real Estate recently hosted a virtual panel with top commercial real estate experts to discuss how companies should navigate their office leases during COVID-19. Our panelists answered some of the most pressing questions we’re seeing from our clients and others in the business community – from how COVID-19 is affecting real estate decisions to legal options for lease terms to how you should be negotiating with your landlord, and more. If you weren’t able to attend, please watch the video below. We’ve also included an FAQ that highlights our panelists’ key insights. A big thank you to all of our panelists:

  • Andy Cullen, Managing Broker, Tributary Real Estate (Moderator)
  • Amy Aldridge, Partner, Tributary Real Estate
  • Jeff Miller, Attorney, Husch Blackwell
  • Sarajane Goodfellow, Market Leader, Unico Properties
  • Aubrey Ebbs, Executive Vice President, FirstBank
  • Makey Towne, Vice President, Moody Insurance

WEBINAR VIDEO:

WEBINAR FAQ:

Here are some notable excerpts from the panel discussion, moderated by Managing Broker Andy Cullen. Please note: Responses have been paraphrased for brevity. Please reference time stamps for more information in the video.

Click here to download FAQ.

How are office tenants navigating this crisis right now?

Time stamp: 2:40 (Amy Aldridge, Tributary Real Estate)

There’s no doubt that retail is being hit the hardest. However, there are many industries that will be affected by this at some point. Right now, we are advising clients in traditional office settings to assess their current financial situation and negotiate with their landlords if there is a need for any type of rent relief. We are currently helping clients make sure they have all necessary documentation.

Are rental rates changing due to COVID-19?

We are not seeing any immediate rent compression right now. As we’ve learned from historical downturns in 2001 and 2008, there is a lag time before we see an impact on rental rates.

What are my legal options regarding my office lease?

Time stamp: 7:48 (Jeff Miller, Attorney, Husch Blackwell)

There are not many legal options under leases that allow tenants to stop paying rent because of COVID-19, including force majeure (which refers to “Acts of God” and is often included for the benefit of landlords). Most leases count on business interruption insurance to help cover these types of events.

Any rights you have are set forth in your lease. Read it carefully and send it to a broker or attorney to determine if there are any clauses or provisions that might cover this type of event. Those may include:

  • Force majeure clause
  • Major tenant provision
  • Continuance use provision

Reach out to your landlord as soon as possible to discuss your options. Try to create a dialogue and specifically discuss the “Go Dark” provision, if applicable, that addresses potential defaults in the lease if you are not using your office space for a period of time.

What are future considerations for leases?

Going forward, lease agreements will include more information regarding situations like this, but it’s too soon to know what exactly that will be.

Will my business insurance help during COVID-19?

Time stamp: 14:50 (Makey Towne, Vice President, Moody Insurance)

On a case-by-case basis, each company should look at their policy terms with an insurance agent and evaluate if they should move forward with a claim or not. It will potentially take a lot of time to work its way through the system.

Regarding COVID-19, here are five policy forms to look for:

  • Covered cause of loss
  • Business interruption
  • Extra expense
  • Civil authority
  • Contagious disease exclusion

How should tenants work with their landlords during this time?

Time stamp: 23:39 (Sarajane Goodfellow, Market Leader, Unico Properties)

The majority of landlords have a large amount of empathy. The most important thing tenants can do is to be proactive and open lines of communications with their landlords in a collaborative approach. Taking a hard-ball approach is not productive.

Approach your landlord before they approach you for rent. If you can pay your rent, then do it. Just as you have rent payments, landlords have loan covenants they need to uphold. It’s important for both sides to have grace with each other. Before going to your landlord, put together a business package that includes:

  • Current financials
  • Previous two years of financials
  • Projections on how COVID-19 will impact your business
  • How you’re using additional financial relief efforts under the CARES Act and Paycheck Protection Program

What are you doing as a lender to work with landlords and tenants on mortgages and the new Paycheck Protection Program?

Time stamp: 32:00 (Aubrey Ebbs, Executive Vice President, FirstBank)

Regulators have given banks a lot of flexibility to work with companies right now. Different banks are doing different things. FirstBank is generally deferring up to 3 months of payments on certain loans, assessing each request on a case-by-case basis.

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is an SBA loan that is fully forgivable as long as that money goes toward payroll or other business expenses, which can include rent, mortgage interest and utilities. Please note that at least 75% of it has to be used to keep your employees paid.

While the rollout of PPP has been challenging, it continues to move forward. So far, the SBA has processed $70 billion through this program. To put that into perspective, in 2019 the SBA processed $32 billion.

For tenants who have lower payroll and higher expenses, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan might make more sense, and that’s administered directly through the SBA.

How long is it taking to process PPP loans?

While each bank is different, FirstBank is trying to get applications through and approved within 72 hours. New SBA guidance is requiring banks to fund those loans within 10 calendar days of approval, which is subject to change.

What will commercial real estate look like over the next 1-2 years?

Time stamp: 38:50 (Sarajane Goodfellow and Amy Aldridge)

We’re in a period of disruption, and office space is going to be forever changed. Space needs will evolve, especially now that we have figured out how to work from home. With social distancing, we might see the need for a little more space in the office for people.

Both tenants and landlords will change how they evaluate real estate needs, including lease terms as well as how buildings are designed and operated from a health and sustainability perspective.

Video + FAQ: Navigating Your Office Lease During COVID-192020-04-14T20:42:24+00:00

Coronavirus (COVID-19): How to Navigate Your Office Lease

Millions of businesses around the country are trying to settle into a new normal for their workplace routine. For office tenants, this means a huge shift towards working from home for the majority, if not all, of their employees to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

As you continue to navigate this new virtual reality as a business leader, there are thousands of questions running through your mind: Will we make it through this? Are my employees OK? What does this mean for productivity? How will this impact my team’s culture? How do I continue to motivate? What are our opportunities for business growth?

And one more big question: What do I do with my office lease during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak?

As more companies are asking their employees to work from home (or as they are required to do so in some major metropolitan areas), their office spaces are emptying out. With real estate being one of the top expenses for your company, what are your options?

While there are very limited legal options you can exercise during this time, there is an opportunity to be proactive and limit your financial exposure.

Now is the time to negotiate rent reductions and abatement with your landlord.

There’s enough on your plate right now. Let a trusted broker help guide you through this process:

  1. Assess your current situation. How you approach this conversation with your landlord will depend on your current status in light of the evolving COVID-19 situation. It’s important to look at how your company is responding and adapting now, as well as what your needs will be in the coming three, six or nine months. Be prepared to show the economic impact that this situation has had or is projected to have on your business, as well as any additional measures you’ve taken to mitigate your financial risk.
  2. Read your lease agreement. Unfortunately, there is most likely no protection for this type of scenario included in your lease agreement, even if there is force majeure language. If you have an attorney, have them review and provide insight into your legal options (which, per our current understanding, are extremely limited).
  3. Name your best-case scenario. While this is a new situation for everyone, decide what your best-case scenario would be for your company in terms of your office lease. Then, work with a trusted broker to help craft what those terms would be to present a clear, concise proposal to your landlord.
  4. Negotiate with your landlord. Landlords are particularly busy during this time making sure their buildings are safe for their tenants and trying to figure out the ripple effect of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on their properties. Some landlords may be willing to work with their tenants, while others may not. Using brokers who have a strong relationship with multiple landlords will help you find the best solution.

This is a first for all of us, and we want to do what we can to support you during this very fluid situation. Please let us know what we can do to help.

Andy Cullen
andy@tributaryre.com
720-933-9411

Amy Aldridge
amy@tributaryre.com
720-217-7340

Coronavirus (COVID-19): How to Navigate Your Office Lease2020-03-24T19:46:54+00:00

Coronavirus (COVID-19): The Impact on Commercial Real Estate Lending

As this unprecedented situation with coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to impact communities around the world, people are seeking answers, particularly regarding the current state of financial markets. How will commercial real estate lenders respond as uncertainty continues to overshadow the market? Here’s some insight.

Recently, the federal government pumped $1.5 trillion into the economy in an effort to calm the market and provide liquidity so that business and property owners can maintain operations and keep people employed.

For commercial real estate owners in Colorado, this could be one of the greatest borrowing opportunities in our lifetime.

As the market responds to this dynamic situation, we’re seeing changes in lending behaviors across the industry. Some lenders are choosing to pull out completely; some are planning to close approved deals in the pipeline and re-evaluate; while others, primarily privately funded bridge lenders, are moving ahead in full force.

For commercial real estate owners/buyers in Colorado, this can be a particularly tricky landscape to navigate. During turbulent times, it’s important to have an experienced debt advisory advocate on your side to help evaluate a current situation with existing debt and/or assist with a new purchase.

Need debt advisory guidance?
Tributary Lending provides debt advisory services to assist our clients to effectively maneuver up-cycles and down-cycles using both bank and non-bank lending options.

If there’s anything we can do to help, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@tributaryre.com.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): The Impact on Commercial Real Estate Lending2020-04-14T14:50:12+00:00

Denver’s Commercial Real Estate Market Update: Q4 2019

It’s no secret that Denver’s commercial real estate market has been incredibly strong for the past few years. In 2019, this uphill trend continued, revealing sustained strength across nearly every sector. Meeting the high demand for commercial and industrial real estate, including downtown high-rises, suburban business parks, warehouses and manufacturing facilities, Denver continues to heat up with new developments to keep pace.

Here’s a round-up of Denver commercial real estate activity in Q4 2019.

Downtown Denver:

While Downtown Denver experienced a decrease in active construction during Q4, plans for more development were announced, further strengthening the area’s reputation as a major business hub for the Front Range.

  • Denver-based developer Jordon Perlmutter & Co. unveiled plans for “Paradigm River North,” an eight-story, 200,000-square-foot office development at 3400 Walnut St. in the RiNo Art District. Slated for completion in 2022, the building is designed to appeal to the next-gen office user.
  • Law firm Fisher Phillips is nearly doubling the size of its Denver office with a move to a new office in the Central Business District. The new office is in a 20,235 square foot space on the 24th floor of the 25-story building at 1125 17th Street.
  • The Downtown Denver Partnership, along with the City and County of Denver and the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District (BID) launched the Urban Forest Initiative to grow Denver’s tree canopy from 4% to 10%. From the funding of the City, BID, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, FirstBank, the Zoellner Family and additional philanthropic support, 17 grantees have been awarded funding for 113 tree plantings in downtown Denver.
  • EF Education First, a foreign language training and travel company, announced plans to move into the new Platte Fifteen building, which is nearing completion on the corner of 15th and Platte streets. Reports say Platte Fifteen is the city’s first commercial building utilizing cross-laminated timber.

 West Denver:

Despite a slight increase in vacancy rate, West Denver experienced strong building sales.

  • The Union Walk Retail, a 12,000-square-foot retail space at 180 S. Union Boulevard in Lakewood, has sold for $5.025 million. The space was fully leased at the time of sale, featuring strong national tenants including Bruegger’s Bagels and Floyd’s Barbershop.
  • An eco-friendly developer broke ground on the Parkview Residences, a 45-unit townhome project in Lakewood. The project will offer a mix of two and three-bedroom units ranging from 1,200 – 1,500 square feet across nine buildings. The units are expected to sell from the high $300,000s to more than $500,000.
  • Clear Creek Commons, an active senior living community in downtown Golden, has sold for $18.75 million. The buyer Griffis/Blessing Inc. paid $416,667 per unit, and the 45-unit community was 100% occupied with a waiting list at the time of the sale.
  • Suite Office Solutions LLC leased 6,257 square feet at 274 Union Blvd. in Lakewood. Dan Bartell represented the landlord.
  • Kiowa Engineering leased 2,177 office square feet at 7175 W. Jefferson Ave., Suite 2200, in Lakewood. Eric Gold represented the tenant.

Northwest Denver:

With a rise in office inventory from 11.8 million SF in Q3 to 21.9 million SF in Q4, Northwest Denver reached $642 million in total building volume sales – a $390 million increase from the previous period.

  • Partners Group, a $91 billion Swiss investment firm, opened its 129,400-square-foot North American headquarters at 1200 Entrepreneurial Dr. in Broomfield. The company is predicted to grow its headcount to 450 employees within the next five years, adding more than 250 jobs to the region.
  • Schnitzer West was chosen as the developer of two office sites in Downtown Westminster totaling up to 650,000 square feet.

Colorado Blvd/Glendale/Cherry Creek:

In Q4, Colorado Blvd/Glendale/Cherry Creek experienced monumental growth. With the vacancy rate down by 3.6% from the previous period, the total building sales volume reached $1.2 billion – a significant increase from the previous quarter’s $186 million total sales.

  • Florida-based TerraCap Management paid $77.5 million for the 14-story, 168,486-square-foot Centerpoint I and the 16-story, 205,534-square-foot Centerpoint II at 1777 S. Harrison St. Combined, the deal works out to about $200/SF.
  • The four-story building at 101 University Blvd. sold to MDC Realty Advisors for $26 million – that’s more than triple what it sold for in 2011.
  • Equinox Fitness agreed to take space in a new six-story, 75,000-square-foot office building at 240 St. Paul St. The project will be developed by Denver-based BMC Investments.

 Denver Tech Center:

The Denver Tech Center experienced an increase in average rental rates (up by $1.62 from Q3), while also remaining attractive for real estate investment, reaching $247 million in total building sales volume.

  • ML East Tufts LLC sold the Stanford Place II building at 7979 E. Tufts Ave. to Los Angeles-based Lowe for $62.25 million. At 366,184 square feet, the deal works out to $170 per square foot.
  • Schnitzer West announced it will break ground on its latest office development in Q3 2020. Located at 6363 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, the three, sixteen-story Class-A office towers will include a tower with approximately 290,000 RSF, an efficient standard floorplate size of 30,800 RSF and a parking ratio of 3.0 per 1,000 RSF.

 

 

 

 

 

Denver’s Commercial Real Estate Market Update: Q4 20192020-01-06T16:13:13+00:00

CRE CATCHES UP TO LATEST TECH

Commercial real estate, as an industry, has traditionally been slow to adapt to new technology. From brokerage to development to investment, the processes have been relatively static (and heavily reliant on good ol’ fashioned paper), but CRE is finally starting to embrace the efficiencies technology affords, and at Tributary, we aim to lead the way.

While we’ve already made the shift to using tablets and iPads rather than printed packets to lead potential investors and tenants through walkthroughs of available developments, we’re in the process of making an even bigger transition that we believe will allow us to better serve our clients. Tributary is going completely paperless.

According to Real Estate Tech News, technology start-ups are increasingly realizing the latent potential in the CRE industry as firms like Tributary look for ways to modernize practices. As a result, we’re seeing more in the way of new solutions geared specifically to the needs of the CRE industry:

  • Lending marketplaces – We’re increasingly seeing marketplaces expanding beyond residential real estate and connecting commercial investors to lenders, and exploring new ways to secure funding.
  • Property management platforms – These platforms are shifting toward CRE properties, including multifamily developments and office buildings. Similar to residential property management platforms, the user-experience focuses on real-time updates, and provides information on things like maintenance requests and a property’s operating income.
  • CRE-specific analytics platforms – Investors are now able to analyze countless aspects and trends within a property or business’s data, resulting in more informed investing decisions.
  • Investment marketplaces – These online marketplaces are making it easier for lenders to connect with borrowers looking to invest in properties.
  • Improved listing and search functionality – As the search criteria become more specific to our needs, it’s expediting the process of finding and sharing properties that are a fit for clients.

While all of these technological advancements shifting to serving the needs of CRE brokers, investors and developers, we’re entering an exciting time for our industry. Rest assured, your Tributary team will always be on the lookout for ways we can provide more tailored solutions and streamlined services.

CRE CATCHES UP TO LATEST TECH2018-01-16T19:11:59+00:00
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