Marketplace – Eaten at the Olive Garden lately? You probably thought more about the bread sticks than who owns the building — fair enough. However, Darden Restaurants, which owns the Olive Garden, Long Horn Steakhouse and some other chains, announced Tuesday that it’s going to spin off its real estate into something called a REIT — a real estate investment trust — and then lease the properties back.
Real Estate
50 Years of Excellence
Gala Evening Celebrates Accomplishments of UConn’s Prestigious Real Estate Program
Some 300 people—from real estate legends to revered faculty to soon-to-be graduates—filled the Rome Ballroom on the Storrs campus to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Center for Real Estate and Urban Economic Studies.
The tight-knit commercial real estate community came out to laude the program’s accomplishments, honor those who have shaped its success, reminisce about the growth of the program over the decades, and to look enthusiastically toward the future.
The UConn Real Estate program has long been regarded as one of the best in the country. Director John Glascock announced that the program’s Advisory Council has secured $2 million in endowed funds for the program during the last four years. At the dinner it was announced that an endowed scholar position would be created in honor of William Kinnard, the first director of the Center. Long-time Professor John Clapp will be named as The William N. Kinnard Research Scholar. Continue Reading
Real Estate: The Practical Approach
International Real Estate Moguls Share High-Stakes Tactics with UConn Protégé
As the CEO of one of the largest real estate advisory firms in the world, David J. Reilly has plenty to keep him busy.
His company, Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers, is immersed in the development of the much-anticipated Fan Pier—an upscale, 21-acre office, retail, residential and restaurant complex along Boston Harbor.
But despite his many commitments, the man at the helm of a $44 billion, Hartford-based real-estate empire, along with three members of the company’s executive team, devotes one evening a week to teach a realistic, challenging and pragmatic course to UConn real estate students.Continue Reading
Academic Symposium
UConn Center for Real Estate 50th Anniversary Academic Symposium
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics Studies, the Center hosted an international academic symposium. Attendees included research professors from countries such as the United Kingdom, Singapore, The Netherlands and Italy as well as top academics from across the United States.
The event held from March 26 through March 28 drew the submission of nearly 60 papers, from which 14 were presented. The process was very competitive, which was evident in the conference through spirited research and lively and engaging debate.
The Center would like to thank C.F. Sirmans and Dean Gatzlaff of Florida State University, and David Ling and Wayne Archer of the University of Florida for paving the way and allowing the Center to step in and hold the conference that would annually take place within their institutions. This group also promoted the conference and ensured the successful attendance. We also thank the UConn Center symposium committee of John Clapp, Jeff Cohen, John Glascock and Steve Ross. A special thanks and appreciation to John Harding for direction and guidance through out the symposium planning.
Numbers Are In: High Hopes For 2014 Connecticut Home Sales Went Unfulfilled
Hartford Courant – A new report from Connecticut Realtors shows that the promise early in 2014 for a third year of gains in home sales fizzled by the end of the year. “They are being cautious and more conservative before they make a big purchase like a home,” said Jeffrey P. Cohen, associate professor of real estate and finance at the University of Connecticut’s Center for Real Estate in Storrs.
Builders See Promise in Homes for the Aging Set
ctpost.com – “The over-55 group needs to sell their current homes before they can think about buying into an over-55 community, so I see the market for existing homes as an indicator as to the future of over-55 home construction,” said Katherine Pancak, professor-in-residence of finance and real estate at the University of Connecticut School of Business.
UConn Women’s Basketball Game CREW Event
The Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) of Connecticut and the Center for Real Estate will host the first annual CREW CT UConn Women’s Basketball Event on Tuesday, February 3, 2015. Students and professionals from CREW will have an opportunity to network at a reception to be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at McCarter English LLP, 36th Floor, CityPlace, 185 Asylum St., Hartford, Conn.
Following the reception, the UConn Women will take on the Cincinnati Bearcats at the XL Center at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $26.00 and available through the registration link.
To register for this event and purchase tickets click here.
UConn Men’s Basketball Game
The 2015 UConn Real Estate Center Alumni & Friends Basketball Event will be held on Sunday, March 1. The Real Estate Center Council will host a pre-game brunch and reception at 12:00 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel’s Connecticut Ballroom, 315 Trumbull Street, Hartford, Conn.
Following the reception, the UConn Men will play the Southern Methodist University Mustangs at 2:00 p.m. at the XL Center. Tickets are $36.00 and are available through the registration link below.
To register for this event and purchase tickets click here.
REFA Student Field Trip
The Fairfield/Westchester Chapter of REFA will be hosting students from UConn’s Center for Real Estate on February 26 at the UConn Stamford branch to introduce students to the different sectors of the commercial real estate industry. Professionals from the REFA membership will include: Ernest DesRochers and Deanna Polizzo of Northmarq Capital to discuss Mortgage brokerage; Jeff Gage of CBRE and Al Mirin of Cushman & Wakefield to discuss Leasing Brokerage/Capital Markets Brokerage; Brian Heelan of the Ashforth Company and Bob Hartt of Hartt Realty Advisors to discuss Asset Management and In-House Leasing; George Yerrall of RiverOak Investment Corp and David Genovese of Baywater Properties to discuss Development and Investing; and James Lane of Webster Bank and Bob Palermo of Bankwell to discuss Banking.
These roundtable discussions will take place from 12 pm to 5:30 pm and will be followed by a social from 5:30 pm to 7 pm, allowing the students additional time to network with REFA members. The event will take place at the UConn campus on Broad Street in Stamford.
National Association of Realtors ACE Awards
Each year the National Association of Realtors (NAR) honors accomplished REALTORS® in commercial real estate by celebrating their individual achievements with ACE awards. Honorees have received awards from their local association, state association, community organizations or brokerages, making them eligible to be nominated for this NAR recognition.
The Connecticut Commercial Real Estate Alliance together with the Greater Hartford Association of Realtors received an honorable mention in the Education/Professionalism category for their collaborative work on the Connecticut Commercial Real Estate Conference held on Oct. 2, 2014 in partnership with the University of Connecticut Center for Real Estate.