Office vacancy rates have hit a 45-year high, with predictions that one-quarter of U.S. office space could sit empty by early 2026. Currently, 11 major metros face over $1 billion in empty office space. Philadelphia, while just below this threshold, saw 27.6 million square feet of vacant office space mid-year, translating to an estimated $801… Read more »
Plans to build over 400 apartments near City Avenue in Bala Cynwyd are advancing on the grounds of a recently cleared former office building. Houston-based developer Hanover Co. acquired the 8.5-acre property at 111 Presidential Blvd. for $21.3 million from Amerimar Realty Co., as confirmed by Montgomery County property records. The Bala Pointe Office Center,… Read more »
Brandywine Realty Trust CEO Jerry Sweeney anticipates a rebound in office sales by 2025 as interest rates stabilize or decline, improving access to capital. Speaking at the Urban Land Institute’s 2025 Real Estate Forecast at the Bellevue Hotel, Sweeney noted that office transaction volumes remain historically low, at just 30% to 40% of typical levels…. Read more »
Law firm Polsinelli, which expanded into the Philadelphia market earlier this year by hiring 35 local lawyers from Holland & Knight, has signed a long-term lease for two floors at Three Logan Square. The firm will occupy the 11th and 12th floors, totaling 40,790 square feet, and plans to move in next summer. Currently with… Read more »
After seven years of rising office sublease availability, Philadelphia’s office market shows signs of recovery. By late 2024, the proportion of sublet space in the total available inventory dropped to 15.1%, down from a peak of 16.8% in mid-2023. This marks a shift after years of increasing sublet availability, indicating that the worst of the… Read more »
Office landlords nationwide continue to face numerous challenges in the post-pandemic recovery, yet one Philadelphia developer is finding renewed optimism with a gradual rise in leasing activity. Brandywine Realty Trust, a Philadelphia-based REIT, reports increased touring and leasing across its U.S. office portfolio as companies regain confidence in expanding their real estate presence. CEO Jerry… Read more »
The asking office rents in Philadelphia have remained resilient and even increased in recent years. However, effective rents, which account for inflation and concessions, paint a more complex picture. As a result, asking rents are no longer as reliable an indicator of occupancy costs and office market performance as they once were. From 2010 to… Read more »
Despite concerns about Philadelphia’s downtown office market, Center City’s Market Street West remains a key leasing destination, leading the region. In the first half of 2024, it secured 548,000 square feet in new leases. Notable deals include Clark Capital’s 37,500-square-foot lease at One Liberty Place and Ballinger’s 46,500-square-foot lease at 1650 Arch St. Several law… Read more »
After a citywide revaluation, the assessed value of Philadelphia office buildings fell by nearly 6%. The City of Philadelphia expects this decline to deepen as property owners appeal their assessments. The 2025 property assessments, released this week, show a $635 million drop in taxable value, bringing total office valuations to about $10.73 billion, down from… Read more »
To an outsider, Philadelphia’s office’s use of statistics might suggest it should be one of the hardest-hit cities, struggling with reduced foot traffic and empty buildings. However, the City of Brotherly Love is thriving, offering a model for other urban office markets facing high vacancy rates and quiet downtowns as they recover from the pandemic…. Read more »
