New Orleans is returning to the global stage
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending GNO, Inc.’s annual meeting appropriately themed “GNO Global.” The event focused on the reflection of New Orleans’s “global past, present progress, and world-class future.”
New Orleans was once the most diverse city in the country—the largest in the South—and served as a premier export metropolis. But during the course of history, we have become eclipsed by other major cities competing for the global spotlight. GNO, Inc. illustrates how the Crescent City is triumphing and coming back brighter than ever as a true global leader.
As we approach the 300th anniversary of the City of New Orleans, there is much to be proud of. From new international flights to workforce development and tourism growth to public policy reform, our region has recently celebrated many significant accomplishments.
Stirling Properties is pleased to be a continued supporter of economic development in New Orleans and the entire Gulf South region. We look forward to many more successes in the years to come as New Orleans re-establishes itself as a major economic partner.
Check out this video with Professor Richard Campanella, Historical Geographer and Author from Tulane University, that showcases New Orleans’s unique global history:
To view the video in its entirety, please click here.
Marty Mayer
Past Chair Emeritus, GNO, Inc.
British Airways to connect London & New Orleans with nonstop flights
This morning, British Airways announced it was initiating a direct flight between New Orleans and London. This is truly a “game changer” for our region and a confirmation about the outlook for the Gulf South economy.
The effort to bring British Airways back was years long and required presenting a strong regional business support throughout Louisiana and over to Mobile.
Michael Hecht, CEO of GNO Inc. stated:
“Mobile (Ala.) was a major support for us because we talked about starting up a bus service for executives from Mobile into New Orleans, so they can fly direct into Europe instead of going into Chicago.”
Beware the Broad Brush
There has been much debate in the media this week about Donald Trump’s taxes and the need for Congress to overhaul America’s tax system. In yesterday’s editorial debate of the USA Today, the editorial board makes its point for real estate tax policy reform and the overly generous tax benefits received by commercial real estate property owners.
The opposing viewpoint, authored by Real Estate Roundtable President and CEO, Jeff DeBoer, emphasizes that all business investments, including real estate, be allowed to recover its capital investment cost through depreciation and amortization. He goes on to point out that it is irresponsible to specifically target the tax structure of the real estate industry, which accounts for a large percentage of America’s jobs and economic activity.
The current value of the US commercial real estate investment is approximately $6.0 trillion, leveraged conservatively at approximately 55% (over $2.7 trillion of equity; $3.3 trillion of debt). This investment is responsible for billions of dollars in economic activity, supports approximately 9 million American jobs, and contributes 13% of the nation’s gross domestic product. Real estate activity accounts for nearly 25% of the taxes collected at all levels of government, including income, property and sales taxes. Property taxes alone constitute 40% of the state and local tax base. Taxes derived from real estate ownership and transfer represent the largest source, which in some cases, is approximately 70% of local tax revenues, helping to pay for schools, roads, law enforcement and other essential public services.
Further, the US real estate industry is an inherently domestic product that cannot be offshored through inversions or other tax schemes. If Congress does take on Tax Reform in 2017, it should be noted that much of our country’s real estate investment is made locally by individuals seeking solid, long-term returns with a desire to improve their neighborhoods and serve the communities in which they live.
Let’s not use Mr. Trump’s personal tax situation as a means to hurt our local communities and our nation’s economy by using a broad brush approach!
Mid-City Market 100% Leased!
Addition of new retail & restaurant tenants
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company welcomes new tenants to Mid-City Market in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is pleased to announce that the center is 100% leased.
ASI Federal Credit Union will occupy the last remaining 2,541 square feet of space. Build-out of the space is underway, and the company plans to open in January of 2017. This will mark the 2nd Mid-City location for ASI Federal Credit Union.
Previously announced Mr. Ed’s Oyster Bar & Fish House successfully opened earlier this week, marking the 4th location for the popular New Orleans restaurant. It occupied the former Pei Wei Asian Diner space.
Stirling Properties Sales & Leasing Executive, Joe Gardner, handled both transactions.
Located on 6.5 acres at the northwest corner of North Carrollton Avenue and Bienville Street in Mid-City New Orleans, Mid-City Market is a 109,000-square-foot urban infill shopping center. Anchored by Winn-Dixie, the center is home to a diverse mix of local and national retailers and restaurants including Office Depot, Jefferson Feed Pet & Garden Center, Panera Bread, Verizon Wireless, Felipe’s Taqueria, Mr. Ed’s Oyster Bar & Fish House, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Ochsner Health Center, GNC, Pinkberry, Pizza Hut, Shine Spa + Specialties, LA Nails Spa, and Mariposa Salon & Spa. Stirling Properties developed Mid-City Market and currently manages and leases the center.
Stirling Properties broke ground on the development in early 2012 and celebrated a grand opening in July of 2013. Mid-City Market is Stirling Properties’ largest ground-up retail development in New Orleans and represents one the of the most significant retail developments in the city following Hurricane Katrina. Stirling Properties acquired the vacant, blighted site and returned it to commerce after a $40 million investment. Mid-City Market now serves as the retail and restaurant center of the community, delivering new jobs, new tax revenue and new energy to this vibrant corridor. The retail center is credited with creating over 500 new jobs for the area.
Mid-City Market was designed to incorporate extensive pedestrian features, contextual urban and adaptive reuse architecture, and to complement the adjacent Lafitte Greenway pedestrian and bicycle pathway, melding the retail center to the culturally rich urban neighborhood and extensive architectural history.
“Stirling Properties remains committed to the City of New Orleans and surrounding communities. Our mission is to create economically sustainable retail developments that produce long-lasting benefits to the communities in which they are built—and Mid-City Market is a perfect example of that,” said Grady Brame, Executive Vice President for Stirling Properties. “This center provides services to a great number of local residents and visitors, and is a dynamic economic contributor. We are proud of its progress and success.”
Stirling Properties has been at the forefront of commercial real estate management, investment and development in the greater New Orleans area and surrounding Southeast Louisiana region. Stirling Properties has developed more than 3.7 million square feet totaling $465 million since 2010, and currently has more than 114 million square feet of property and land for sale or lease. Other Stirling Properties management and development projects in New Orleans include, Offices at Mid-City Market, Magnolia Marketplace, Fresh Market and Pan American Life Center, just to name a few.
Stirling Properties Announces New Tenants to Offices at Mid-City Market in New Orleans
Stirling Properties is pleased to announce new tenants Sola Salon and Billes Partners to the Offices at Mid-City Market in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Billes Partners–a planning, project development, architecture, interior design, and graphic design firm–will occupy roughly 3,000 square feet and plans to open by early-March 2016.
Sola Salon Studios, a 4,295-square-foot franchise hair salon plans to open this summer.
Previously announced Gallo Mechanical, LLC and Orangetheory Fitness are currently open and operating. Exceptional Dental and H-3 Aesthetics & Dermatology are on track to open this spring.
A formal ribbon cutting ceremony is being planned and will be announced in the near future.
Offices at Mid-City Market, is a 54,000 square foot, mixed-use complex in the burgeoning Mid-City neighborhood of New Orleans. Located adjacent to Stirling’s recently completed Mid-City Market development, this building was originally constructed in 1954 and was most recently the home of Loubat Foodservice Equipment Company. Throughout the course of this development, Stirling Properties has maintained the historic integrity of the existing structure while renovating the interior into a combination of office and retail space and consequently brought a prominent neighborhood building back into commerce.
For more information and leasing opportunities for Offices at Mid-City Market, contact Joe Gardner at jgardner@stirlingprop.com or 504-620-8140.
2015: A Big Year for Pensacola
With Stirling Properties’ having an office in Pensacola for just over a year now, I can say it is exciting to experience first-hand the revitalization of downtown Pensacola and the economic energy happening along Florida’s “western gate”. 2015 was a vital year for economic development, job creation and community vitality in Pensacola, Florida.
The most significant single event that is shaping the future of Pensacola’s economy, by creating the most jobs and bringing in the largest investment, is Navy Federal Credit Union’s $850 million two-phase expansion of its Pensacola Campus. Phase 1 of the expansion began in early 2015, and both buildings are expected to be ready for occupancy in June 2016. These buildings will house an additional 2,000 employees. Phase 2’s ground breaking is expected to begin in November 2016 and will bring an additional 5,000 work stations. By 2020, the Pensacola campus will total 2 million square feet of space and $1 billion in capital investment; employing 10,000 people.
Downtown Pensacola saw several major projects that either began or were completed in 2015.
- One Palafox Place is a complete renovation of historic Brent and Blount Buildings. The restoration and redevelopment will transform it into a new live, work play community.
- The Pensacola News Journal building at 101 E. Romana Street was demolished and construction for a $51 million, 260-unit apartment and retail building will begin in early 2016.
- Adjacent to the apartments is a new 52,000 square foot, $15 million YMCA that will be competed in late 2016.
- The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition’s Alcaniz Street headquarters will be ready in March 2016. This expansion will take their office and workspace to 30,000 square feet.
- One51 Main at the Community Maritime Park is complete and ready for occupancy. This 27,000 square foot, mixed-use development on Pensacola Bay will house office, retail and condominium space.
- A 100-room Holiday Inn Express located on Main Street is under construction and will open in late 2016 or early 2017.
The Bluffs, an industrial park near Cantonment, Florida, will host up to 60 individual industrial sites and bring 5,000 new jobs.
A contract with VT Mobile Aerospace to build a $38 million aircraft maintenance and overhaul facility at Pensacola International Airport is setting Pensacola up as an aerospace hotspot. The large hanger facility will begin construction during the second half of 2016 and is expected to create 300 jobs.
Hosted by the University of West Florida’s Center for Entrepreneurship, EntreCon, a two-day conference for entrepreneurs at the Rex Theater, was successfully launched in November 2015. Over 225 people attended and EntreCon 2016 is already scheduled for November.
2016 brings big economic growth opportunities in entrepreneurship, cybersecurity and aviation. I can’t wait to see what else is in store for Pensacola in 2016.
