Urban Land - April 2009 - Table of Contents

Infrastructure Ventures 

Urban Land looks at infrastructure issues in light of the U.S. federal economic stimulus plan and the opportunities and challenges it poses for the development community.

Public/Private Partnerships in Transportation
By Jeffrey Spivak

Public/private partnerships in transportation, long prevalent in other parts of the world, are becoming increasingly popular in U.S. states and cities searching for infrastructure funding alternatives. Yet political fears and the financial credit crunch are beginning to affect the emergence of this financing tool.

The Emperor Has No Clothes
By  Colin Galloway

China's infrastructure-based stimulus package will be big, but not big enough to right all that is wrong in the world economy.

Private Investment in Middle Eastern Infrastructure 
By Abraham Akkawi and Mike Lucki

As governments increasingly form public/private partnerships to build and operate infrastructure projects, private investors and contractors will encounter new business opportunities in the Middle East.

Airport Cities 
By John D. Kasarda

Even in today's rocky economic times, airports and their immediate environs are becoming 21st-century commercial anchors, taking on many features of destination retail and urban centers.

Logistical Demand
By Sam Newberg

Even as the global recession affects global trade and the movement of goods, logistics remain important. Locations that are near and with access to major roads, airport hubs, railways, and waterways will generate demand for real estate development opportunities that take advantage of the logistics of global trade. 

Structured Parking for Transit-Oriented Development
By Timothy H. Haahs and James M. Zullo

Federal stimulus money could be used to bridge the financial gap associated with the cost of structured parking in transit-oriented development projects and provide a meaningful strategy to advance such projects and smart growth.

Land Writes

U.S. Infrastructure Spending: How Much Is Enough?
By Sarah Jo Peterson

Although the private sector does invest in infrastructure, much, if not most, of the billions in spending comes from taxpayers. How much is enough? The guidance of engineers, economists, and environmental innovators shows that the answer depends on what people want out of infrastructure.

Emerging Trends Europe 2009
By Chuck DiRocco

Central city office space is ranks as the top property sector in which to invest, with hotels offering the best development opportunities. But even with interest in these two areas, a hold strategy of all property types might be the right move this year.

Keeping Faith in Real Estate during Deleveraging
By George Jautze

The dramatic reversal in global real estate markets since the onset of the credit crisis could have been expected to shake the confidence of investors in brick and mortar for the long term. Yet the biggest single group of real estate capital owners in Europe reports that it is keeping faith in the asset class and expects this confidence to pay off in future returns.

Economic Crisis a Long Time Coming
By Alex Zikakis

The current economic situation in the United State scan be attributed t a variety of forced, including the increased wealth and power of newly industrialized countries.


Developments

Dialogue: Transportation

An Interview with Judith Rodin
By Rachel MacCleery

Dialogue: Reform

Transportation Reauthorization Options
By Jeffery Spivak

A virtual who's who of transportation associations and interest groups is calling for an entirely new federal approach in the next long-term transportation bill.

Dialogue: Foreclosures

Stemming the Flow?
By John K. McIlwain

The Obama Administration's economic stimulus plan will help millions of U.S. homeowners, but is likely to only temper the foreclosure crisis.

ULX

Orienting toward Transit
By Ron Nyren

Ten transit-oriented developments link a mix of uses in pedestrian-friendly environments to encourage reliance on public transportation.

ProActive

At Issue

Infrastructure Projects Ready to Go
By Jeff Finkle

Currently, thousands of shovel-ready projects in the United States await stimulus funds. Certain criteria should be met in choosing which projects to fund, and spending should be targeted for long-term capital investments to increase the country's productivity.

Capital Markets

Tough Market Conditions in Europe 
By Lauren Parr

Until banks resume lending, the European real estate sector will remain dysfunctional.

In Practice 

Ways to Partner with the Federal Government
By Patrick J. Keogh

With the United States needing to get infrastructure projects going quickly, this is time to employ the kinds of public/private partnering approaches that get projects underway faster and provide the government with better, smarter deals.

Design

Multimodal Parking Can Help Ease Congestion

Trustee Profile

Back Page

Update on the Troubled Assets Relief Program
By Trisha Riggs

There is "still a lot of opportunity" for investment, and for capital to be provided to businesses and working individuals, according to former U.S. Senator John E. Sununu (R-NH), who spoke at the first of a series of economic forums hosted by the Urban Land Institute.

Departments

Mailbox

Publisher Note

This Issue 

Regional Spotlight

Texas

Urban Land: April 2009
© 2009 ULI–the Urban Land Institute, all rights reserved.