This Week in Comments

Two bidders emerge for convention center work
How could they award the contract to a company who has overbuilt in South Florida, who has delivered [a] sub-par product as well as contaminated product, causing a huge surplus of residential and commercial space, leaving the counties unable to collect revenues, and contributing to the downfall of our economy? It’s absurd. I think they should re-visit the proposals and re-think their contenders as all I see is just another white elephant and giant gorilla in the room.

Is bulk buying of distressed assets dictating market prices?
I think it’s too soon to sound the death knell on population growth in Florida. There [are] a bunch of reasons [for why] the population numbers are down for the first time in decades, not the least of which is homeowners can’t sell their properties up north to come down south. People who were planning to retire might be delaying. I think it will prove to be a statistical blip. Sun’s still shining last time I looked.

For office brokers, do you have to do more hand-holding for landlords you represent?
I want my guys to cut prices to move inventory. Before, I wanted them to stop overpricing to move inventory. Your job is to fill the space at the highest price possible. The market’s warmth or coolness doesn’t affect my reaction to landlords — they both end in me screaming at them. A good landlord rep is tougher on the landlord than the tenant rep, because the landlord’s job is to rent his space.