Commercial Development

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GUEST OBSERVER
Going green has gone from being a luxury option to a necessity for the built environment sector today.
For cities around the world it has a key role to play in helping to cut their long-term carbon footprint. In Singapore, for example, the built environment is responsible for almost a quarter of our carbon emissions.
To reduce this we need to change not just the way buildings are constructed and run but also the perception of sustainability.
In the early stages of Singapore’s green building movement, green building practices were not perceived to offer any competitive advantage. However, today, we are seeing a shift in mindset with green buildings now regarded as a form of value creation for developers. Adding green building certifications such as Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Mark to a development’s list of credentials can help boost the developer’s corporate image and the prestige of such developments.
Singapore: A green work in progress
Such moves are driving rapid change. Over the past decade, Singapore has greened almost one-third of its building stock including improving energy and water efficiency, using eco-friendly construction material and creating healthier indoor space. It is well on track to achieving the target of greening 80 percent of all the buildings by 2030 to meet the standards set by the BCA Green Mark certification process.
Other cities can learn from the initiatives used to make progress. The Singapore government, for example, offers incentives for higher green building ratings. One of the most popular for developers is to obtain up to 2 percent additional Gross Floor Area when they achieve higher Green Mark ratings for new developments.
For older buildings, BCA also provides support to building owners to co-fund up to 50 percent of the energy efficiency retrofit cost. We’ve seen that retrofitted commercial buildings can benefit from an increase in their capital value of about 2 percent.
This is proof that profit and eco-consciousness can go hand-in-hand for green real estate.
The rise of green-minded tenants
It’s not just developers embracing sustainability; increasingly, green real estate is driven by tenants. Businesses which strongly advocate corporate social responsibility are increasingly expecting a better indoor environment, lower operating costs and enhanced market value for their spaces.
Once again, governments can help boost demand for sustainable buildings by extending green building certifications to tenants. In Singapore, the public sector champions this by leasing office spaces only from buildings which are at least certified Green Mark GoldPLUS. Public sector events are also required to be held in Green Mark-certified venues.
Real estate intermediaries are also stepping up to meet such demands. Through green leases and green facilities management, they now offer prospective building tenants a way to differentiate themselves by making a positive commitment to the environment, without undermining the viability of their business.
However, there’s a flipside to this as more buildings meet green standards, the additional value these currently provide is likely to decrease. To truly reflect the advantages offered by green buildings, more efforts by real estate appraisers will be required on how best to capture the value of green attributes.
All of this is just the start of a long-term sustainability commitment. The next challenge for cities is to ensure that green building practices are self-sustaining. A critical factor is to have a business environment that values green spaces and the people who created them.
Building for the future
Regulation will have huge impact on the future of green real estate around the world. Following the Paris agreement which came into force on 4 November 2016, sustainability regulations will become even more relevant to global real estate investors. For example, in the European Union, cities will be going beyond just greening buildings, to having net-zero buildings as a regulatory requirement.
Jurisdictions will also be created to mandate public disclosure of building energy use data, further intertwining energy use into decision-making on leasing and investment.
Stepping out of the “business as usual” approach may appear daunting, but with strong industry leadership and greater collaboration among all stakeholders, coupled with a forward-looking mandatory framework, the road to having “future-ready” green buildings and cities is a promising one.
This article by Ang Kian Seng, group director (Environmental Sustainability) at the Building and Construction Authority in Singapore, appeared in <a href="https://www.jllrealviews.com/viewpoint/why-green-real-estate-is-the-way-forward/" target="_blank">JLL Real Views</a>.
 
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Why green real estate is the way forward

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Positioned at the gateway to the proposed $2 billion integrated resort and casino precinct ‘Queens Wharf’, 41 George Street Brisbane is set to attract both local and international attention when it goes to market this week.
The asset likely to attract bids of circa $150 million.
The 27 level commercial office building with 29,960sqm of net rentable area is on a 2,811sqm elevated corner site.
The State of Queensland is the major tenant bringing in a net passing income of $13,939,713 per annum.
The property is being marketed by Tom Phipps and Jason Lynch of Colliers International and Shaun Douglas and Ken Lucht of Chesterton International, on behalf of QIC in an international expressions of interest campaign. 
Mr Phipps said the lease to the State of Queensland provides exceptional cash flow security until 2021. 
“This asset is unique to any other CBD offering currently on the market as it provides a combination of secure income from a government tenant and considerable potential for future upside. 
According to Mr Lynch opportunities to acquire major assets with WALE in excess of five years such as 41 George Street will be rare for the next several years due to the current CBD market being so tightly held by long term investors.
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QIC to release office space in Brisbane CBD tower

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GUEST OBSERVER
Pop-up shops may have started as a way to derive temporary rent from opportunistic tenants. But today the concept is a permanent fixture in many retail management strategies.
Demand for pop-up spaces from retailers is strong, given the lower risk and minimal capital required compared with a standard lease. 
For new or incubator retailers, the appeal is obvious: minimising costs is important for any business starting out.
Established retailers are increasingly using pop-up stores to test new concepts and experiment with new approaches.
But what about the benefits to landlords?
Pop-ups have always been around as temporary income generators for vacant tenancies. The rationale was that income, albeit short term, and activation is better than a hoarding that screams unwanted space.
This strategy was predicated by the ultimate objective of securing a long term tenant.
However, given demand for these spaces, select centres can actually dedicate a high value space to a pop-up or revolving retail concept instead of looking for a permanent tenant.
It’s a valid strategy if all the pieces fit. When executed well, pop-ups can drive a sense of urgency in purchasing behaviour and inject life into the centre. 
Pop-up retailers that build brand buzz take care of the marketing leg work and can amplify the centre’s reach. Short term sales can be more productive and monthly rentals above market, even with some downtime.
Of course there are challenges, including high labour intensity to curate, downtime risk and the valuation impact of not having a permanent lease in place.
The key to success is in the execution. First, the tenancy must be appealing. A pop-up is no solution for a plagued tenancy.
It should use flexible, movable fixtures that can be stored, with clever signage solutions that can be changed cost effectively. A flexible lighting solution is essential.
Landlords could consider partnering with someone who can curate the space in line with guiding principles. Urban market operators often have ties to incubator retailers.
A branding concept could be considered for the space, with engaging marketing helping to fill the space during downtime, giving people a reason to use it.
It’s also important to see the commitment through. If a landlord commits to a pop-up or revolving retail concept for a tenancy, they must frequently swap the offer. If a particular retailer is performing well, convert them to a permanent deal elsewhere in the centre, as was the case with Doughnut Time at Central Park Mall in Sydney.
Doughnut Time launched to the Sydney market via a 15sqm pop up at Central Park and, having successfully tested the market and delivered very strong sales, has now been converted to a high value 400 sqm permanent tenancy.
The new Doughnut Time tenancy will also showcase Alfredo’s, another new brand to the Sydney market. Alfredo’s is a hip pizza concept out of Brisbane by Doughnut Time founder Damien Griffiths. 
The new tenancy, incorporating the two strong concepts, will be open by October 2016. It’s a prime example of the flow-on benefits of a well-executed pop-up retail strategy.
Pop-ups can add real value to a retail centre and provide for a better customer experience. If you can accept or mitigate the challenges, then the concept of a permanent revolving retail tenancy can be an exciting and profitable one. 
Felicity Armstrong is retail asset manager, Frasers Property Australia and can be contacted <a href="https://www.frasersproperty.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Pop-up and revolving retail: here to stay

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The Sydney developer TWT Property Group has reportedly taken a majority stake in the $40 million amalgamated five-lot residential site including the Mill Hill Hotel at Bondi Junction (above) in Sydney's east.
TWT will develop the site at 59-69 Oxford Street, which comes with a development approval for a mixed residential/commercial project with 70 apartments with original owner, Allen Linz's Rebel Property Group, according to the Australian Financial Review.
It includes heritage conservation works for four commercial terraces at 63-69 Oxford Street. 
TWT and Rebel will develop the 12-storey residential tower with a ground floor public hotel and three levels of basement car parking as a full-equity project.
TWT is formerly known as Auswin TWT.
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TWT to JV with Allen Linz on Mill Hill Hotel, Bondi Junction redevelopment

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A crystalline commercial building fit for the new knowledge economy is set for Melbourne's Cremorne.
ICON Developments and architects Wood Marsh have gained development approval for the eight-level office building.
It comes with ground-floor retail, on a prime site on the corner of Balmain and Church streets.
Providing for 5,264 square metres of office space and 535 square metres of retail space as well as a rooftop terrace, the light-filled design takes its inspiration from the facets of a cut diamond or shattered ice, explains Wood Marsh director Roger Wood.
“The new business paradigm is one of transparency and shining light onto thinking and ideas. That’s what our design reflects. We were interested not only in the way light refracts through cut stones such as diamond but also in the strength of diamond, and that’s how we developed the facade.”
“What we’ve tried to do is craft the building with set-backs incrementally folding away from the street so it looks like a sculpted object. It has the muscularity of an industrial building but it also has the translucency of a cut diamond.”
The new building’s 600 Church Street site, previously occupied by the low rise Nuttelex warehouse, is a major landmark when coming towards the suburb from the Yarra River, and, according to Wood, deserved an architectural response of distinction.
It will be double glazed, reflective and highly rated for energy conservation.
The building’s other amenities include a rooftop garden so that people working in the building can have lunch in the open or socialise after work.
That rooftop level was recently a matter for the Victorian Civil and Appeals Tribunal, which overturned the City of Yarra’s modifications and approved Wood Marsh’s original design. For Wood, the VCAT decision sets an encouraging design precedent.
“VCAT recognised the architectural quality of the building. In an unprecedented move, the tribunal adjourned early and effectively ruled that the design deserved to go ahead without being tampered with,” Wood explains.
“It’s important to note that our appeal really was about the design: it’s not like we were trying to double the height of the building. Hopefully council sees that as a positive result and that if they get good quality architecture being brought forward then it should be supported.
“There are a lot of good architects in Melbourne and I think the outcome is encouraging for good quality architecture not just in Cremorne but throughout Melbourne.”
Developer ICON has been based in Cremorne for almost 20 years. Chief executive Ashley Murdoch says the new building will be a worthy addition to a suburb on the rise.
“As a hub for tech-focused companies and those in the creative industries, Cremorne needs more of the kind of thoughtfully designed commercial space we are putting forward here. Wood Marsh’s design is highly innovative and shows great integrity in the way it contrasts a contemporary response with the area’s industrial heritage,” Murdoch says.
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Architecturally-designed crystalline building approved in industrial Cremorne, Melbourne

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The Byron Bay Holiday Village located at 116-118 Jonson Street, one of the last multi-storey developable sites in the heart of Byron Bay, is to be offered for sale.
The 4,282 sqm Local Centre zoned property will be marketed by John Musca of JLL Hotels &amp; Hospitality in conjunction with Elliott O’Shea of JLL Metropolitan Investments, via a formal expressions of interest campaign.
Owned by the same family for over 37 years the business currently operates as the Byron Bay Holiday Village Backpackers with a capacity of up to 200 guests and was the first purpose-built backpackers in Australia when built in 1983.
Having sold the Beach Hotel in Byron for $104 million Mr Musca noted that the measured approach to new development has assisted in maintaining the areas unique coastal culture, whilst also amplifying the interest in those last remaining sites offering favourable zoning.
Byron’s commercial focus is continuing to extend along Jonson Street where the recently completed Mercato complex will eventually be flanked by a proposed 4-star hotel on the former Woolworths site and a new hospitality and retail complex planned for 90 - 96 Jonson Street. That 5390 sqm property was sold for $29.8 million in January this year, representing $5,528 per sqm.
Mr O’Shea expects that interested groups will appreciate this short-term income strategy however the highest and best use for the site is likely to be development.
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Byron Bay Holiday Village set for sale

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A one hectare beachside development site at Scarborough Beach, around 13 kms from Perth’s CBD, has been taken to the market through JLL.
The 242 West Coast Highway holding is the largest development site currently on offer within the Scarborough Redevelopment Area - one of the largest high density mixed-use sites to be offered in the Perth metropolitan area in recent times.
The 10,165sqm White Sands Tavern site, close to Scarborough and Brighton Beach foreshore, is being offered through a JLL expressions of interest campaign.
Scarborough Beach is undergoing a $57.4 million redevelopment which will see beachfront upgrades and several high-end multi-storey apartment projects coming up.
The existing 2,892sqm (NLA) two-level building generates an annual gross income of about $212,490 plus GST.
The campaign follows the sale of the neighbouring 17,695sqm Luna Maxi site in December.
JLL’s Nigel Freshwater, Phillip Fogliani and Sean Flynn are handling the campaign.
"Combined with its dual frontage to West Coast Highway and Hastings Street to the east, the scale of offering will significantly enhance site circulation, flexibility of development and potential to achieve maximum building height,” said Freshwater.
Scarborough and Brighton are rated amongst Australia's top beaches, he added.
Fogliani said that proposed development guidelines allow a base building height of 12 storeys, which can be increased to 18, over the majority of the site and generous site coverage of up to 80 per cent.
"Existing improvements comprise a 1,438 sqm upper level which is sublet to a gymnasium operator, while the 1,114sqm ground floor incorporates a licenced bar and TAB betting area, drive-through bottle shop, conveniences and tavern infrastructure facilities,” Flynn said.
The lease, with redevelopment clause, will expire in July 2017 with a five-year option.
The EoI for the White Sands Tavern site closes on March 17.
The site last traded for $20 million in 2010 having gone backwards from it's 2007 trade of $21.5 million.
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Scarborough Beach site with mixed-use potential on the market 

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Construction has started on a $14 million Gold Coast building that holds promise for a tech hub and is expected to be operation in October 2016. 
Located at 120-122 Siganto Drive at Helensvale, the three-level, 4,491 square metre building will be home to AMMA Private Equity.
The building will also house the head offices of AMMA’s key investments: Guvera, Sportkix, Tapp Commerce and App Investments.
It also aims to serve as an incubator for tech start-ups by providing serviced office space.
“The tech hub has a very funky tech look and feel – both inside and out. It will provide our team with state-of-the-art technology that will allow them to work on delivering the next generation of mobile innovations,” said AMMA Private Equity Global CEO Paul Jansz.
"Helping to get the creative juices going will be the building’s roof-top bar and entertaining area, golf simulator and indoor cricket pitch.
“It will be the ideal space for creatives, technologists, designers and developers to generate new ideas, experiment and bring innovations to market.”
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AMMA invests in Gold Coast tech hub 

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Capital Corporation and Bluestone Property Group have merged to create a developer with a current pipeline of more than $2 billion worth of projects.
The new entity, <a href="https://capitalbluestone.com.au/" target="_blank">Capital Bluestone</a>, will have Capital Corporation founder and managing director Steve Grant as executive chairman, while Bluestone founder and managing director Ben Fairfax will continue in that role. 
Capital Corporation’s 25-year track record covers residential, commercial, industrial and retail property development. They concentrate on joint ventures around long term projects especially with a speciality in asset-strong entities including religious organisations and league clubs.
Its achievements include Sydney’s 172-hectare Norwest Business Park.
Capital has delivered a $700 million portfolio of 45 buildings, and accommodated the workspace needs of more than 1,000 businesses since 1990.
Since 2010, Capital has delivered a further $570 million in development partnerships, and as a combined group Capital Bluestone has delivered over $2.5 billion in total project completions.
“Formally joining together was a natural evolution of our relationship,” said Grant.
Bluestone Property Group, founded by Ben Fairfax in 2009, is aiming to complete work at its $750-million Sutherland shire project Woolooware Bay Town Centre in 2016.
The project will have more than 600 apartments, a shopping, dining and entertainment precinct and a rejuvenated new club for joint venture partner the Cronulla Sutherland Leagues Club.
All 460 available apartments have sold out in Woolooware Bay since launching in January 2014  – 97 percent to locals.
Other major projects includes a $143-million project called Veridian, a joint venture with Kogarah RSL Club, which will deliver the club with a new 2,000 square metre floor. Above the club, two 11-storey buildings will include 220 apartments in a mix of mainly one and two-bedroom types.
Also in the works is Esplanade, which will redevelop the existing Sydney Ice Arena on Norwest Lake into an integrated vertical waterfront community comprising residential towers, offices, cafes and bars.
“It’s something totally different for this part of Sydney. You say Norwest and people think business. It’s time to turn this into an absolute destination for high-end dining, business and apartment living,” said Grant.
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Merged entity Capital Bluestone has projects worth more than $2 billion

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The planned development and expansion of the Busselton Central Shopping Centre has been approved by Western Australia’s Southern Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP).
The shopping centre is owned by the Australian Unity Diversified Property Fund (DPF), an unlisted property fund that invests in retail, office and industrial properties in Australia.
Busselton is about 230 kilometres south-west of Perth. 
Over the five years to June 2013, Busselton has experienced an average annual growth rate of 3.9%, which is significantly higher than the national average of 1.7% over the same period. The residential growth area is also a popular seaside tourist destination and is recognised as one of Western Australia's premier tourist spots and events capital.
Nikki Panagopoulos, property portfolio manager with Australian Unity Real Estate Investment, said JDAP’s approval was a significant milestone.
“This is the first step in developing Busselton’s main shopping centre, increasing in size by 40% to 16,000 sqm. The expansion will include a discount department store, additional specialty shops, and an entertainment precinct with cafes and a restaurant."
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