Stories by Mike Berry
Business
CRE Opinion: Technology’s Next Breakthrough Could Be in North Texas
With its notable tech history, North Texas is poised to experience a new wave of technological innovation.
Business
Mike Berry: Building Health and Wellness into Urbanized “Town Centers”
The walkability movement, in addition to designing for overall wellness, is here to stay as residents and employees seek convenience and access to amenities.
Business
Mike Berry: Proposition 1 Vital to Improving DFW’s Infrastructure, Economic Health
Each year, congestion costs Texans 472 million extra hours of travel, $10.1 billion in delay and fuel costs, and $2.1 billion in truck freight moving costs.
Commercial Real Estate
Mike Berry: Developing the Region’s Workforce is Key to Continued Growth
As a region and state, we’ve done a wonderful job marketing ourselves as “open for business.” But the best marketing will only get you so far if you can’t deliver on your promises. We need to take a hard look at our local workforce development efforts to ensure that the jobs that are being created are not going to go unfilled.
Business
Mike Berry: Water Referendum—Why It’s Critical to Our Economic Development Future
State lawmakers took an important step toward addressing future water supply needs by voting to establish a revolving fund that helps pay for water and conservation projects across the state for years to come. Their action has been placed in the hands of Texas voters to decide on the Nov. 5 ballot as Proposition 6. With early voting beginning next week, it is imperative that we, as a real estate community, lend our support to passing this vital referendum. Our economic prosperity depends on having an adequate water supply for the future.
Stories by Mike Berry
Commercial Real Estate
Mike Berry: DFW Industrial Market Gaining Steam
With 2013 well underway, we’re certainly seeing an upswing in industrial activity at AllianceTexas, highlighted by the recent Amazon announcement and our record year of leasing activity. As market occupancy continues to rise, I and others agree that it will support the development of spec industrial projects.
North Fort Worth
Mike Berry: AllianceTexas Surpasses $1 Billion in Paid Property Taxes
Earlier this week, the Hillwood team made its annual presentation to the Fort Worth City Council on the progress of the AllianceTexas project. This year was especially fulfilling as we were able to report that AllianceTexas has eclipsed the $1 billion mark in paid property taxes to the eight governing entities that cover the development.
Tarrant County
Mike Berry: AllianceTexas Among Fastest-growing Corridors in Nation
Although AllianceTexas is more than 20 years old, it wasn’t until 2001 that I began to fully realize how much a large real estate development could change the landscape of an area. That realization manifested itself one morning, when my typical 20-minute commute from downtown Fort Worth took nearly an hour.
Tarrant County
Mike Berry: I-35W Expansion—Regional Cooperation Pays Off
The recent announcement that the North Tarrant Express is in line to receive a $415 million TIFIA loan for the expansion of Interstate 35W represents a tremendous victory for our region. This news certainly ranks as one of the major milestones in the two-decade history of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development; it’s also a major achievement for North Texas.
Uncategorized
Mike Berry: Get Off the Sidelines and Get in the Game
As 2012 kicks into gear, many have made all sorts of New Year’s resolutions of a personal nature. This year, I challenge you to make a New Year’s resolution of a professional nature. Many of our industry’s visionary leaders—people like Trammell Crow, Ben Carpenter, John Stemmons and Bob Folsom—understood the symbiotic relationship between the public and private sectors, and they played an important role in bridging the two for the betterment of our North Texas region. Today, we have an opportunity to carry their example forward.