HOLDING PATTERN

NAI Robert Lynn EVP Rick Medinis and Grubb & Ellis managing director Kathy Permenter flank UCR prez Mickey Ashmore, as he goes over his forecast. Mickey says one major obstacle to retail recovery is high unemployment. Until people start spending money again, don’t anticipate a spike in activity.

You know it’s a gripping speech when a plane hurtling toward the ground receives not even a glance. (Don't worry, nobody got hurt.) Rick’s take on what’s hurting industrial: the gap between bid and ask. Tenants are seeking deals and landlords are coughing up capital, free rent, allowances, extra land to park trailers, as well as the fencing around that parking.

Dallas Central Appraisal District commercial supervisor Robert Evans (here with The Okpa Co's Edward Okpa) says the CRE market is near the bottom, as rates and values are coming down. Edward is excited for mixed use projects in the works near the Dallas Convention Center Hotel. Gloomy attitudes have a snowball effect that leads to nothing  getting done, he says. Spoken like a true politician—Edward is a former Dallas mayoral candidate.

Highland Builders prez Steve Westbrook, estimator Tim Robison, and VP Shane Cloud. Shane says the average project size has declined in the past year, but he expects that level to stay about the same in the coming year. He adds  lease rates are going down, which offers promise that firms will have some movement from one space to another, requiring Highland's services for the finish-outs.