Commercial Developers Favoring Transit Access

While the debates around transit-oriented residential development continue, commercial TOD is picking up speed. Offices with nearby transited to fetch much higher rents than their car-only counterparts.

1 minute read

June 1, 2017, 11:00 AM PDT

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


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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."

Tuesday, May 23, 2017 in The New York Times

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