Commercial Developers Favoring Transit Access

Getting to work without a car has its charms, especially for the young professional set. Increasingly, commercial developers are prioritizing projects within walking distance of transit hubs. 

Joe Gose writes, "Office buildings with access to transit are outshining those without, fetching rents nearly 80 percent higher. That amounts to $45.57 a square foot versus $25.39 a square foot, according to a report released this year by Jones Lang LaSalle. Those same buildings have a vacancy rate 3.7 percentage points lower than offices without transit access."

As new transit gets built, office districts are liable to spring up nearby. "Areas that have experienced development near new rail systems or station openings include Fulton Market in Chicago; downtown Kansas City, Mo.; Austin, Tex.; and the RiNo neighborhood of Denver, to name a few."