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Hampton Roads May 2022 – Key Take-Aways

John Berotti – Whiting Turner

  • Whiting Turner won the casino bid in Danville Virginia.  A half billion-dollar job.
  • Healthcare is still strong in the market.
  • Whiting Turner is currently at about 60 offices and 60 regions around the country.
  • They are seeing a continued growth of industrial work around the country.
  • Workforce still continues to be a problem.

Dan Shelton – Whiting Turner

  • Still seeing a lot of healthcare work with RFPs are still rolling in.  Higher-ed is starting to rear its head here and there.
  • Materials are still an issue especially with electrical.
  • It is a lot of the same song, warehousing, distribution and multifamily is still very strong.
  • No real slow down at the moment.

Josh Gerloff – RRMM

  • There is some positive commentary surrounding office.
  • Retail and redevelopment world still very strong.
  • They are in discussions with a higher-ed institution about some development.
  • We are seeing the NET 0 trend rev up.
  • Soon the state requirements will be mandatory for providing a compliance path.

 Greg Schmitt – Kimley Horn

  • They are seeing a lot of people be cost conscious up front, but no sign of slowdown in doing business.
  • They are currently sitting on 10 months of backlog.
  • There is a big focus on finding properties to develop multi-family.
  • There is a lot of focus currently in Isle of Wright County.  Lot of retail focused development in the Smithfield area.

 Jeff Parker – Colliers

  • Rates are pushing up and local lenders are getting a bit more stringent.
  • Things are strong retail and office from the brokerage aspect.

Ashton Williamson – Colliers

  • Market is red hot at the moment.
  • Rent has gone up about 42 percent in the last 40 years.
  • There is a challenge right now with declining inventory.
  • There is a problem right now with appropriate zoning.  Rezoning is becoming an issue as sites are primarily going towards multifamily and retail.

 Steven Wright – City of Chesapeake

  • Things are strong in Chesapeake even through COVID, they are having some of their better years.
  • Economic Development for the City of Chesapeake is a combination and implementation of strategies that really center around job creation, capital investment and ultimately an improved quality of life for each of our citizens.
  • They understand that in Chesapeake it is the economic development revenue that leads to our citizens being able to have great schools, safe communities, etc.
  • Chesapeake is the second largest city in the state when it comes to landmass.
  • Chesapeake target industries
    • Logistics and supply chain management
    • Defense and security technologies
    • Advanced manufacturing
    • Professional business services
    • Healthcare technologies and services
  • They are a very diverse economy.  There is not one company nor industry that dominates the city.
  • They promote themselves as part of Hampton Roads.  But their location is key.  Their position and the roads that surround them allows them to act as a hub for Hampton Roads.
  • Strengths for the city of Chesapeake:
    • Diverse economy
    • Workforce
    • Abundant land
    • Transportation hub
    • Triple A rated
    • Quality of life
    • Access to ports
  • Product development is one of the most important things done in the City of Chesapeake.  They have spent the last 6 to 7 years making product and site development important.

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